Last night’s performance was a vast improvement on the horrible displays against Legia and gave us our second insight (after United) into how Ronny Deila is changing the way Celtic play football.
Key to the performance was the movement of his two Norwegians, Stefan Johansen and Jo Inge Berget, Callum McGregor and Beram Kayal. Johansen, who closed down space high up the field, pressurising defenders, played his best game for Celtic. Less said about his clearance of a Virgil van Dijk header the better.
Watching Kayal was like meeting an old friend again. The player, who in 2011 kept Victor Wanyama out of the team, has been a shadow of his former self since returning from injury two years ago. He is another player who enjoys closing space.
I’m an acknowledged cynic when it comes to even remotely hyped young players breaking through the ranks, but Callum McGregor has now delivered repeatedly. There is a long hard season ahead of him, and let’s remember, form fluctuates, but he has looked like one of the best players in the team so far. I doubt any Celtic player has opened the scoring in three consecutive European away games.
The first 35 minutes saw Maribor sit deep, which allowed Celtic to build patiently. Movement was good during this period, players in possession always had options, so we were able to switch play, force opponents to chase the ball, and penetrate with purpose.
Play was bound to change when Maribor started to close down higher up field, but Celtic reacted by playing low-percentage balls forward, which invariably resulted in possession being lost. I would like to see us look for less-ambitious passes more often.
There were several concerns, not least of all at the back. A defence which was impregnable for much of last season is now being cut open with regularity. I don’t subscribe to the view that players suddenly lose instinct and awareness over the summer, so it’s likely that a change in the midfield shape is exposing frailties in defence.
Maribor players found themselves clean through on a couple of occasions last night, echoing what happened in Warsaw and at Murrayfield. Ronny needs to find a fix.
Despite clearly being the better team, there is still a big job ahead for Celtic next week, better teams don’t always win, but a disciplined performance, no red cards, no mistakes at the back, should see us through.
Take no chances at Inverness on Saturday, make sure players are rested and fit.
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I’m not gonna back against the man who gave us a 22/1 shot yesterday. Even though I missed it!
So I’ll go for TED VEALE at YORK 350
Let’s all bash the bookies for a change!
Intrinsic
1555 Newmarket.
All the best folks.
15:50 @ York – De Rigueur – NAP!
Good luck everybody.
Good morning folks
Clever Cookie@ 3.50 York
Hail Hail & good luck
Morning All
Nanton 530 Redcar
Good luck
Morning Fleagle
3.50 Retirement Plan YORK
Thanks and HH
CRC
Penhill 2.40 York HH
De Rigueur 3:50 York,with apologies to 16 roads.
Lads,
naps on here today, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease…
fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 1 results & standings
Cathal was fastest out of the stalls in week 1 – Accession @9/2.
Other winners : Elharto (3/1), Som mes que un club (11/4), Eurochamps67 (5/4), and What is the Stars (8/11).
+£ 4.50 Cathal (1)
+£ 3.00 Elharto (1)
+£1.25 Eurochamps67 (1)
+£ 0.73 What is the Stars (1)
-£ 1.00 16 roads
-£ 1.00 ABZMike
-£ 1.00 Bada Bing
-£ 1.00 BigJoe
-£ 1.00 BMCUWP
-£ 1.00 Burgas Hoops
-£ 1.00 Celticrollercoaster
-£ 1.00 Che
-£ 1.00 fleagle1888
-£ 1.00 green T
-£ 1.00 Gweedore Celt
-£ 1.00 hashadenough
-£ 1.00 Hotel de Paris
-£ 1.00 Hutchybhoy
-£ 1.00 Jobo Baldie
-£ 1.00 leftclicktic
-£ 1.00 Nye Beavans rebel soldier
-£ 1.00 PFayr
-£ 1.00 Raymac
-£ 1.00 Rockon
-£ 1.00 TheBarcaMole
-£ 1.00 tommytwiststommyturns
-£ 1.00 twists n turns
-£ 1.00 voguepunter
-£ 1.00 Zihuatanejo
*No selection posted (wk 1) : BigJoe
Can the following napsters please send me an email to – fleagle29@ymail.com – if you want to be included in the competition.
Once received, I will update the league table accordingly.
+£ 2.75 Som mes que un club (1)
-£ 1.00 BULL67
-£ 1.00 Cosy Corner Bhoy
Cheers, fleagle1888
Lads,
Elharto’s nap is :
Baitha Alga (3.15 York)
fleagle1888
Windsor 615 Certificate.
Good luck everyone.
Bhoys
Good Luck today, my cash is going on a wee pal of mine Cam Hardie’s back with Money Team in the 17:30 at York
COYBIG
Moonraker 4.25 York
Good luck everyone.
Tropics 15:55 Newmarket
mon the Hooooooops
Rocket Ship
2:40 York
Lads,
my nap is : Hors de Combat (3.30 Goodwood)
Cheers, fleagle1888
Wadi Al Hattawi
3.50 York
Good luck to all
Faaraaj 2:05 York
HH
Good luck
EC67
Wonder of Qatar, 2.10 Newmarket.
Cosy Corner Bhoy
13:12 on
22 August, 2014
===========================
I’m not from Kilwinning but neither am I a millions miles away from it. It would take you some time to remind all of the them! Interested in your user name – isn’t that a pub of the bluest persuasion?
Tall Ship 17:50 @ Goodwood.
Morning all…..Basil Berry 4.30 Newmarket for me,good luck all.hh
Newmarket 5.40 – Avon Breeze
Jobo
BOW CREEK 3:30 Goodwood
TBM
3.50 York. Van Percy
Good luck all,especially Celtic.
COME ON YOU BHOYS IN GREEN.
Building on my complete failure from last week…
Palasator in the 3.50 at York.
Right – game time…
Good luck all
Ted veale for me in the ebor at York 3.50
Glenard’s win yesterday is a positive for the chances of Pallasator, but so is Pale Simomas win for the chances of my nap….Mutual Regard in the Ebor at York.
Went to York yesterday…not even a sniff! Great day out though.
Good luck
TTTT
Kings Fete 4.40 goodwood
Once again COSY CORNER BHOY asks me to put his line on!
Anyway.
COSY CORNER BHOY selection is
NOTARISED 240 YORK.
Hopefully he will one day master this net thingy. Though I doubt it.
Sherlock Holmes couldnae decipher his text messages.
FARRAAJ .. 2-05
Email sent Fleagle, cheers – I’m going for True Story in the 6.45 at Windsor
ONLINE ALEXANDER YORK 5:35 for me.
Good luck to all
Hail hail.
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 2 results & standings
tommytwiststommyturns stole the show by napping the Ebor winner – Mutual Regard @20/1 !
Other winners : Che (6/1), Zihuatanejo (5/1), TheBarcaMole (9/2), Burgas Hoops (3/1), and leftclicktic (11/4).
+£19.00 tommytwiststommyturns (1)
+£ 5.00 Che (1)
+£ 4.00 Zihuatanejo (1)
+£ 3.50 Cathal (1)
+£ 3.50 TheBarcaMole (1)
+£ 2.00 Burgas Hoops (1)
+£ 2.00 Elharto (1)
+£ 1.75 leftclicktic (1)
+£ 1.75 som mes que un club (1)
+£0.25 Eurochamps67 (1)
-£ 0.27 What is the Stars (1)
-£ 2.00 16 roads
-£ 2.00 21-5-79
-£ 2.00 ABZMike
-£ 2.00 Bada Bing
-£ 2.00 BigJoe
-£ 2.00 BMCUWP
-£ 2.00 BULL67
-£ 2.00 Celticrollercoaster
-£ 2.00 Cosy Corner Bhoy
-£ 2.00 fleagle1888
-£ 2.00 green T
-£ 2.00 Gweedore Celt
-£ 2.00 hashadenough
-£ 2.00 Hotel de Paris
-£ 2.00 Hutchybhoy
-£ 2.00 Jobo Baldie
-£ 2.00 Nye Beavans rebel soldier
-£ 2.00 PFayr
-£ 2.00 Raymac
-£ 2.00 Rockon
-£ 2.00 timbhoy in spain
-£ 2.00 twists n turns
-£ 2.00 voguepunter
*No selections posted (wk 2) : BigJoe, hashadenough
Cheers, fleagle1888
The Battered Bunnet’s wing mirrors fold themselves.