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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Beaton manages to look directly at an incident from 10 yards distance & no obstructions and NOT see Scott Wright deliberately kick HIbs Mark Milligan on the head as he lies on the ground.
Gutless or pathetic or blind?
Awful refereeing from the toast of yon bar in Bellshill.
I saw the Scottish justice minister on the news tonight. He mentioned sanctions against clubs who’s fans indulge in sectarian chanting or behaviour. Closing part of the ground-docking points. Think we know how this will end up. The mere mention of Ireland by the the Celtic support will be seen as sectarian.
Thanks to An Tearman for his directions to Tommy’s grave last week. I did find it and paid my respects. HH
itscalledthemalvinas on 22nd February 2019 9:45 pm
It is turning into a set up given that the definition of ‘Sectarian’ seems to constantly change, especially in Scotland. Whereas the term Sectarian was mainly associated with religious intolerance it now encompasses many things. No doubt soon to include haircuts likely to offend religious / political / ethnic etc groups.
FOOL TIME WHISTLE on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 9:38 PM
Absolutely right.
Quite an assault . Knee to head .
Aussie Milligan can clearly be heard telling Wright to fook off .
Don`t blame him .
BGFC
That case was from 2011 or 2010 … I cant find the name of the accused, but here is a link to a scotzine article on it, with some links at the bottom.
http://www.scotzine.com/2011/03/court-ruling-opens-new-can-of-worms-over-old-firm-sectarianism/
Club 1872 fully supports the stance of Rangers and Rangers’ manager, Steven Gerrard in condemning all unacceptable behaviour in Scottish football. It is absolutely clear to us that Rangers has done and continues to do what it reasonably can to address this issue, which remains a problem amongst a minority of all clubs’ supporters and wider society. We will be happy to work with the club on future initiatives in this area.
Unfortunately we see absolutely no viable way to eradicate these sporadic instances of unacceptable behaviour, as long as elements of the Scottish media, Scottish politicians and interest groups continue to sensationalise incidents based on their own prejudice or self interest.
We are in the absurd situation where last weekend Sky pundit, Andy Walker, laughed about sectarian abuse of Kris Boyd and then days later took the polar opposite approach to similar abuse of Steve Clarke. We have seen four BBC Scotland pundits and journalists completely ignore the sectarian abuse of Kris Boyd but comment extensively on social media following the Steve Clarke incident.
This is not just a media phenomenon, however. James Dornan MSP, a self styled sectarianism crusader who himself posed in front of a terrorist flag, ignored the sectarianism directed at Kris Boyd by fans of the club he supports, Celtic, but has now publicly demanded talks with Rangers over the Steve Clarke incident.
Groups like Nil By Mouth and Show Racism the Red Card Scotland have taken the same approach – they completely ignored “orange b****rd” chants directed at Boyd but immediately sprung into action when Steve Clarke spoke about the subject.
If the Scottish establishment is serious about tackling these issues then we should have a real debate about the causes and possible solutions. This will require discussing not just football, despite its higher profile, but having a fair and honest discussion about other contributing factors in society.
We sense absolutely no appetite in Scotland to have that debate – almost every comment on the subject is superficial, one eyed or sensationalised. The term ‘whataboutery’ is now routinely used to shoot down any voice that requests parity in the treatment of these events. In fact, the sum total of the debate thus far has been manufactured media outrage, politicians with an agenda to raise their own profile and groups who rely on the publicity around these issues, as they relate to football, for funding.
Club 1872 will be happy to take part in any honest dialogue on this subject, if such dialogue ever begins.
Issued by Supporters Voice Limited, a Club 1872 company
Cris Sutton
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/975113132?-10583:834
Chris Sutton
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/975113132?-10583:834
DAVID17 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 10:06 PM
Bad timing on my part. Just on.
Moderators, get this shite to hell.
Interesting stuff from the Killie fan.
It even has an impact on the “growth agenda” we need to develop.
Do we broaden the support or do we just deepen it?
The away support are rapidly turning into a self selecting group of Uber fans.
Now might be the time to clean out the stable — aka the ticket office — and start to democratise the process of handing out the away tickets. Plus I would want the away support to spend more money at CP rather than keeping the SPL afloat with their purchase of over priced tickets for away games.
Unfortunately the walloper element of the support is very much with us and it is growing — the concept of the “Green Hun” is not the joke it once was and is now starting to define us as a club in certain situations.
Plus we have the descent into rampant hypocrisy of the GB where they have become very selective regarding Burton’s Commando militarism — they rightly slag off the childish attempts of a rotten establishment to hype up every military anniversary while turning themselves into a sect of groupies celebrating a particular brand of physical force republicanism and its use of indiscriminate use of revolutionary violence.
Butcher Harris is rightly condemned for his wanton destruction of human life.
The same could be said for those who put bombs in pubs and trusted The GPO to get the message through.
Consequently we need to change — we will never be able to out shock the TFOD2.1 mentalist faction. The issue now is that we shouldn’t even try.
For those that cannae make it to the Holy Ground.
Although the Night didnae turn out the way we ALL wanted it to, I Njoi’ed the Light Show and the Sonics that Should Always drive the Lights.
Here We Go again.
I thought this wan had bin bucketed as weel?? Sumdy’s asleep…….
tic / toc
DAVID17 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 10:06 PM
Interesting.
Wad some pow`r.
Kristoffer Ajer – Feed the Bear.
D17 @ 10.07
They think they are clever but in fact they just reinforce their own stupidity.
Give them enough rope / publicity and they will happily destroy their own argument, their own credibility and their own worldview.
KB — he was only interested in the coin throwing because all the name calling is part and parcel of his own existence / community / personal experience.
It is not a memorable event worth comment so the media took their cue from his response and surprise, surprise they had a much simpler story with a lot fewer issues to deal with. You could say they are lazy or they have an agenda.
That is not to say he is directly involved in the name calling but it is part and parcel of his day to day life.
SC — he commented on the name calling because his worldview is much bigger and much more mature. He made his point and he was right to make it as he does not want to work / live / exist in that environment.
The issue is now out in the open and it needs to be addressed.
And that includes a healthy dose of introspection by ourselves.
Jozo’s head has been scrambled.
Like the Genius Manager we have – it seems Brendan has unscrambled his heid?!
All I know is that I know Nothing, Nothing at all.
Brendan is the Man.
MADMITCH on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 10:30 PM
I can understand where you`re coming from generally .
However ,
” Butcher Harris is rightly condemned for his wanton destruction of human life.”
The Haig syndrome.
http://etims.net/?p=13935
Good that the guy holds a mirror up for Tic fans to reflect on.
Surely we can all see it’s not an issue of ‘problem fans’; one side being worse than another, kind of argument…
We’re talking about undiagnosed drink problems enabling antisocial, ugly attitudes, and influencing bad judgement calls and behaviour. Heading to a local derby tonite with my Leeds-supporting mate; neither will be pishing publicly, singing provocatively or throwing tumblers at cops from within a bar.
We’ll enjoy the game anyways if the teams play well.
There used to be an old Ad; “Can you handle your drink, or does your drink handle you?’
HH.
QUADROPHENIAN on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 10:57 PM
Drug usage is rife, particularly the easily accessible and cheaper than ever cocaine. We cannot expect folk to behave rationally when they are full of drink and drugs. In my view it is not a Celtic problem or a football problem, it is a result of the deterioration in social conduct and behaviour, also fuelled by social media, over the past 10/15 years. There is no easy answer to this.
MJ @ 10.51
Haig syndrome — my understanding is that he was a useless twat with a messiah complex and some good friends in high places. He did not fight a war he just operated a meat grinder.
BH was so named because of the slaughter in the air and the slaughter on the ground.
WC backed him with a ruinous bombing campaign out of revenge and a bloodlust.
The US at least bombed during the day against a list of military and industrial targets.
The RAF bombed at night by postcode and tried to “de-house” the German civilian population.
All the effort put into building heavy bombers meant more ships were sunk in the Atlantic through a lack of resources and the army went without heavy equipment until after the war.
We are living a lie regarding the true story of WW2 — we have a Commando comic understanding of what went on.
Motherwell are on a very good run. Young ones wanting to make a name for themselves fitba wise should mean a good game Sunday.
There is always the spectre …. the MIB.
DAVID17 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 11:02 PM
Good to point out the drug dynamic too – we agree it’s about intoxicants of every type.
Including the social media ones that fuel ego-driven madness..
Complex. But as Michael Jackson said: I’m starting with the man in the mirror.;)
HH
Is the new James Bond film – “SHATTER-HAND” – about, the ending of the craft ?
Oh for the old days — Hibs away @ Oct 1987.
Self policing when the concept actually meant something.
What was the song — CFC and casuals don’t go.
You could have fed 5 thousand KB’s with the coins that were aimed at them.
The Auld Reekie plod put them out the ground for their own safety.
Hibs end — there would have been another fight.
Our end — there would have been a massacre.
That is where the CSC Casuals went wrong.
They were too working class — what they needed was some intellectual support from the St Al’s sixth form common room.
Just like the GB.
QUADROPHENIAN on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 10:57 PM
The bigger picture.
Every Club has its share of supporting INDIVIDUALS who exhibit unacceptable behaviour.
Viz. Celtic supporters peeing in the street . No matter whether its a ” nice ” street or not .
I`d hazard a guess that there is the distinct possibility that Killie supporters have relieved themselves in locations where they shouldn`t have.
Nothing to do with you , me , Killie or Celtic.
Criminal offence. Call the cops.
Group behaviour is in a different category .
Rome Wisnae Built in a day.
MACJAY1
Group behaviour vs pack behaviour?
We called the cops about an atttempted break-in next door on NYE here – “What do you want us to do” was the reply…
The Haig syndrome.
Today`s standards imposed on a hundred year old conflict.
Virtue signalling writ large.
Why no mention of the Commanders of the German , Italian , Japanese , US , Canadian , French , Polish air forces who performed in precisely the same way as Harris ?
And in many cases with far less concern for human life than Harris and the Brits.
Viz. Guernica , Nanking , Hiroshima , Nagasaki .
mm/macjay1,
douglas haig is on my betting slip for over 2.5 goals in accumulators.
I had no idea.
QUADROPHENIAN on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 11:17 PM
MACJAY1
Group behaviour vs pack behaviour?
We called the cops about an atttempted break-in next door on NYE here – “What do you want us to do” was the reply…
=============================================================
And you said ;
” He was wearing a sash ”
:-)
MADMITCH on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 11:03 PM
MJ @ 10.51
Haig syndrome — my understanding is that he was a useless twat with a messiah complex and some good friends in high places. He did not fight a war he just operated a meat grinder.
========================================================
Your understanding needs tweaking.
Haig was a winner.
Howsabout Ludendorff and Hindenburg whose mortality rate was higher than Haig`s ?
Having come in from dad taxi duties I wanted to settle in and catch up on my old favourite cqn Friday night music and quiz night.
Instead it’s dominated by a pair o wallopers.
MADMITCH on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 11:03 PM
The US at least bombed during the day against a list of military and industrial targets.
=================================================================
Until their bomber loss was so unacceptably high that they belatedly took the advice originally given to them by the Brits and joined them in night bombing .
Auldheid- a sobering but unsurprising wake up call to Celtic supporters, anyone who disagrees ,try and get to an away game.
Celtic playing the way they did over in one of the most initmidating stadiums in Europe was Excellent for the lads who are likely to be here longer term. Granted they might have been different if we had not lost the first leg so weakly.
Callum is Growing into a 9 out of 10 player every week.
Goodbyee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVavtX80m3Q
I hope the Celtic Board realise just how Good Brendan is, as Brendan knows how amazing the Celtic Board have been in steering Celtic through the choppiest of waters.
Please for Petes sake.
KTF.
” Bless them all ”
Much loved by Celtic supporters .
With some lyrical variations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf4jhb9p2v8