It was all so promising. 35 minutes in, eight Celtic attempts on goal, zero for Valencia. Even when Jeremy Toljan left the field for a second yellow card, there were still positives. We both know that last night’s game was never really about qualification for the next round, so too did Valencia, but it was a useful yardstick for where we are now and where we can hope to be in the summer.
Scott Bain was already established as first choice ‘keeper, but, without seeing much of him before joining Celtic, I think we can say this was the best performance of his career to date. He can play at this level and has been an excellent acquisition to the team.
Brendan Rodgers felt sore about Jeremy Toljan’s second yellow. The full back was pushed before falling into Guedes. It was harsh and the referee probably failed to spot the push, but Toljan was caught in the wrong position and his fall was unnecessary. Jeremy is undoubtedly an upgrade on Mikael Lustig, but small lapses like this is why he’s not at Dortmund right now.
The three central defenders were stand-out successes. Kristoffer Ajer will replay in his head, the header from the free kick and volley from the corner. They were chances to open the scoring but his all round play came close to Man of the Match levels.
I had written off Jozo Simunovic’s usefulness, largely, but not exclusively, on the basis of his fitful availability. However, he showed again last night that he can contribute to the team and deserves a place in the squad. Like Scott Bain, Jonny Hayes had the game of his life. He looked intent to make his mark at the Mestalla and did so.
Callum McGregor was my pick of the midfield players. He was forever tidy under pressure, operating with calm in very tight spaces. Scott Brown was at his best, although a rash tackle brougth an early booking that looked ominous. We got little from the more creative mids, James Forrest and Ryan Christie.
The entire Oliver Burke story was there to see. Great pace and strength, clumsy touch. There is an inverse relationship between speed and control.
Odsonne Eduard made a quick impact when he came on but was eventually subdued. The occasion looked too high a step for Mikey Johnston.
In his post-match interview, Brendan addressed suggestions that he should change his style of play for these matches, citing Leipzig and this game as certification that it can work. Last night had the concession of a third central defender, at the cost of an attack-minded player. We should also caveat that Valencia were two goals up from the game in Glasgow, with little to prove.
The manager is not for changing his high press game, so devastatingly successful domestically, but so open to debate in Europe.
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fairhill bhoy, how are you keeping, I like both,hh,
Hello again all you young rebels.
TONY ROME
Good morning from a lovely sunny Melbourne thought i’d try
and cheer you up a wee bit and not feel too bored.
Had visitors over from U.K yesterday for a bite to eat and a
swally, i’d played soccer with one back in the day on the
black ash parks in K.P. and elsewhere he wanted to see our
new football facilities and he was awestruck that our local
council would provide such amenities for local kids.
After gushing praise for a while he quickly clammed up when
he seen some of our bhoys having a Sat. afternoon kickabout.
Two in the hoops and a big African bhoy in the away top.
My big grin made him comment ” see yiv goat this place sown
up anaw ”
That’s right, he’s a hun but imo a decent one.
H.H Mick
Where is eveyone :)))))
HomealoneCSC
Leftclick
As B.B. says, ain’t nobody home
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeMgICwXe1k
Hi bhoys
Quiet tonight?
Packie break the blog?
On to support Steve Clarke
………….BUT……….
I AM A FENIAN
UNREPENTANT
………..AND………….
………….PROUD……..
UTLR.
THE ONLOOKER: Your tale reminds me of an event from my childhood too.
My aunt took me to the local markets. One of the stalls was selling jewellery.
The trader tried to sell us gold chains and crosses….
“… and here’s one with a wee manny on it….”
I was stunned that he had no idea who that ‘wee manny’ was.
Even to this day I totally fail to understand the fixation so many in Scotland (most especially at Ibrox and Tynecastle) have with the cross and with people blessing themselves.
Surely these people claim to be Christian too!?
How can any Christian not know who the ‘wee manny’ is?
Why do they go so ape-sh*t when someone blesses themselves?
Do they act in the same way when a Muslim blesses him/herself? I haven’t seen any such reactions.
Sadly, it is from a culture of specifically anti-Catholicism which is ingrained deep within the heart of Scotland and the only solution authorities can ever think of is to rid the country of Catholic schools.
Do these same free-thinking individuals ever call for the Orange Order to be disbanded? Do they campaign to stop the Orange walks? Nah, I thought not.
To my knowledge, Catholic schools have never taught intolerance, quite the opposite in fact.
Yet the OO exists for one reason only, their bitter hatred of Catholicism.
TROONCELT on 23RD FEBRUARY 2019 10:45 PM
—————
the blog is dying on its feet because some right wing posters have become dominatant, and lots of the previous contributors are away posting in other places.
Popping in to say hello
The blog has gone downhill for sure. But i cant give up on it.
Plenty good people.
Used to love the old arguments debates etc.
Still do
Wits.
The blog was great till you started giving tips.
Just joshing. Keep it lit.
Wee repost from this morning
MEA CULPA on 23RD FEBRUARY 2019 8:32 AM
So, the joke red card for Killie goalie is rescinded, too little, too late.
The obvious conclusion (apart from the obvious match fixing) is that Kamara is guilty of simulation.
If the keeper isn’t guilty of the red card offence then it Kamara wasn’t pole-axed and he deliberately simulated injury with the sole intention of getting the keeper sent off.
That in itself, should lead to his suspension and also should be referred to the players union.
Going back to the start of the game…. again, if not a penalty and a red card, then surely the Killie player is guilty of simulation. Was he booked?
Way back in the early days of the RFC death throes, I recall a tribunal actually using the term match-fixing with regards to RFC activities.
RFC have been engaged in match fixing for just about their entire history. It has now progressed on to Sevco FC. The fix has many components:
Grooming of referees, this starts at youth level and continues all through to grade 1. The school you attended is still a major factor in your career.
Having carefully groomed and selected referees throughout the system, it is almost impossible not to select officials who aren’t of the Sevconian persuasion. There’s basically no-one else to choose from. Hence the truth behind the call for non-Scottish officials. That will never be allowed to happen as this is the primary method through which Sevco control/fix matches.
Of course, having populated all the top tiers of referees with Sevconian supporters, appointing members of the match review committee with past match officials also leads to a panel of Sevconians.
The SFA itself has always been a conveyor belt of Ibrox leaning ‘brothers’.
As I have said before, it is truly astonishing how RFC died. They had control of every element of the SFA, the referees, the media, police, politicians, the lot. They even had the head of the BOS feeding the an endless stream of cash.
Despite all of this they still went bust.
Just how bad do you have to be to make such a balls-up of things.
As has been said over and over again, the SMSM are a constant source of squirrels to deflect attention away from any sensitive spots to Sevco. In this case, the heat drawn to match fixing, needs some major deflection. Thus we have the sectarian abuse stories, with King telling us all how appalled he is and promising to sort it out. Has this guy ever spoken the truth in his life? Has anyone heard him say anything in his life which even remotely resembled the truth?
The blogs of every other club in Scotland should stop referring to the rampant cheating by the Sevconian brotherhood. It is match-fixing, plain and simple. Cheating doesn’t convey the whole truth. Match-fixing. From the appointment of the match officials, right through to the match review committee.
Sevco would be buried way down the table and out of the cup had they not benefited from a steady stream of match-fixing decisions. Look back through the season and make your own assessment. Time and again, critical decisions against Sevco were overlooked, resulting in a successful outcome for Sevco. When the heat got too much after the 4 penalty match fix, the match review committee ran for cover and actually applied suspensions. Still not the correct suspensions but better than nothing.
The deflection from match fixing is now in full swing, it’s too hot again.
Representations should be made to the SFA, appropriately worded, that no more match fixing will be tolerated. Everyone can see what is going on. It’s time for other clubs to stand and be counted. Oops. I forgot. There’s the brotherhood again.
When Celtic fans attack PL and the club in general for not acting. you have to bear in mind, Scottish football is first and foremost a den of iniquity, a masonic cabal. If the others had their way, Celtic would be long gone.
St stivs
Well that is a worry,but if our host Paul does not engage with the blog apart from his leaders,which some have been very poor what do we expect?.
I have been on other site also which in my opinion has a very broad church but encourages a good platform of debate regarding the issues concerning Celtic without fear or favour or moderators(ss).
I happened about this site 6yrs ago,mainly a lurker thoroughly have enjoyed all contributors input.Hope it gets back on its feet,cause at the time it was the place to go to for Tim news.
26+6=1
UTLR
WHAT IS THE STARS on 23RD FEBRUARY 2019 11:09 PM
HEAR HEAR.
Goodnight all and thank you for being here.HH
:)))))))))))))))))))
What is the stars
Your right,plenty and I mean plenty of very good people on here,to many to mention for the Celtic ethos they carry out on their daily lives.
May God Bless them all for all the work they do on our behalf.
HH
St Stivs
10.55
There’s your dinner…
HH
TROONCELT/WITS
Keep it lit ghuys ,yes it’s a lot quieter on here but still a great site despite a few ghuys defecting to elsewhere ! Anyway back to the Hendricks !! ?
Park rd
Might have guessed your local brew lol
Should be a crackin match tomorrow.
‘Well on good run of form, like us. Lookin forward to a narrow win I think.
YNWA
DD
At least 3 to the good ghuys
TROONCELT
Need to keep Jim the Tim and a few other Bhoys in a job ! Hendricks CSC !
After Stevie Clarke, I guess Brendan is the next one to chase.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.facebook.com/northernirelandsundayworld/posts/854898954668447&ved=2ahUKEwiJuv_2hdPgAhUkq4MKHUoACRIQFjAAegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw0ZOY-2_SvYrS3vPc22JeYw
TroonCelt
Will take 3 for us pal.
Keepin my eye on Hastie. Looks a good yin.
3-1 or 3-2 would do. ?
YNWA
Park rd
You keep believing that,got to mèet up in the market for a bèer soon
DELANEYSDUNKY
How’s the Dalmuir foxes getting on Garry ? BHANKIEVIXENSCSC
DD
3/0 or 4
Going for Celtic -2 and -3
Confident.
Utlr
Big Kristoffer (Feed the Bear) I reckon wullnae be risked the morra.
Jeremy just caught a bad break on Thursday, he is a defo starter.
I dinnae ken how Callum does it – he is Everywhere All the Time – I’d normally say gie him a rest but naw let him lose and let him control things from just in front of the back 4.
Seeing how gutted Jonny was in the interview efter the game – despite giving everything, I’d let him lose against the Well (Respect for doing so well playing the youngsters).
I expect Timo to start – not sure where. :))
Scottie will start Left side.
If you want a good laugh – Check this oot
It is cool to hear some of the jibber jabber from inside the Celtic dressing rooms. ;))
TROONCELT
Aye need to arrange a swally in the Market whenever suits !
PR67
Doing their job, controlling the vermin.
Go Reynard ?
Park rd
Off the bevy till st Patrick’s day then for the rest of lent apart from the hun game,so after that anytime but that may change lol
https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/celtic/news/17453532.brush-with-orange-walk-in-glasgow-transported-celtic-manager-brendan-rodgers-back-to-the-troubles/?ref=mr&lp=3
TROONCELT
I’m in Puerto Del Carmen for St. Patricks day back home on 22nd so anytime after that ,
LANZAPROVOCSC
Just back from St Andrews to see Miss BGFC – thanks all who replied earlier today.
Thanks again to Mike in Toronto. Embdy know how I can contact The Battered Bunnet?
I see others have the same problem as I still do in relation to the posting box ‘losing focus’.
Thanks Moderator for passing this problem on – it is still happening, and from the earlier replies it isn’t just me, so is site-related rather than device-related.
Another characteristic is that the text box responds to key strokes very slowly – it seems to be … considering … every keystroke before reflecting what I have typed on the keyboard as a letter on the screen.
Some background process seems to be reading what I type before it allows it to appear on-screen.
At the bottom of the screen, the following text appears in a wee pop up – “dfbg191zmafd4.cloudfront.net”.
Searched the internet, but couldn’t find anything about it – I hope this might help the tech folks.
HH
BGFC
Tough game later today but looking forward to it.
CQN still the go to blog for me despite very obvious attempts by rogues to undermine and foment division among the faithful.
Stayed clear for a few days rather than rant at our host for his defence of BBC Scotland.
Beggared the belief of this particular beggar!
Still, IMHO, he gets it right most of the time.
Good night and respect to all Celts …
And respect to Wales while I am at it – wish our rugby team could play with your spirit.
Hail hail
Re: Wales Vs England – me and Wee BGFC were going mental when Wales’ cliniching try went in – bouncing around like a Celtic winner in the last minute.
Brilliant, committed performance from Wales. Scotland earlier – during the last minutes of the game, and into the overtime period – they had no hope of winning, but the effort they put in was nevertheless phenomenal.
HH
BGFC
Anger is an energy.
Work last week was really annoying. Celtic is Massive in getting enjoyment.
Every game since Brendan has been here has had me very excited to see who is being picked to start, I’d say it has actually grown.
Back to basics
Why not name the poster you refer to?
As I have not rèad of anybody who has undermined this site,only gave an opinion not brought this site down
WITS must go….any available airport drivers??
Rumours of a mega kit deal ….