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Plaudits, Brendan not for changing

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  2. the_huddle on

    Tom Waits – Chocolate Jesus

     

    https://youtu.be/1wfamPW3Eaw

     

     

    I love this comment from youtube:

     

     

    You might think that this video is grainy, discolored, and low-quality because it was recorded on VHS off a 90’s TV show and copied several times, but that’s actually just what happens when you look directly at Tom Waits.

  10. MadMitch on

    MJ @ the edge of reason

     

     

    I fear your analysis / sources are partial, slanted and forced.

     

     

    DH was responsible for the Somme, Passchendaele and various events around Ypres — slaughter based on poor preparation, a lack of planning and no follow up.

     

     

    Things got so bad that reinforcements were help back to stop him planning any new offensives.

     

    Plus remember that the Germans focused on the French army for over 3 years so we had it easy.

     

     

    As for the US bombing campaign — if they had issues they fixed them.

     

    They used fighters to escort the bombers — engineering to the rescue.

     

     

    Haig was saved from the sack by his friends in high places.

     

    BH was saved by WC and his bloodlust — huge amounts of men and material were squandered on a revenge mission. Others suffered for this folly.

  13. fan-a-tic on

    PETEC on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 10:50 PM

     

    Jozo’s head has been scrambled.

     

     

     

    Like the Genius Manager we have – it seems Brendan has unscrambled his heid?!

     

     

    Unscrambling the scrambling he created?

     

    Jozo was a regular before Brendan and has been infrequently used in the last two seasons.

  15. petec on

    fan-a-tic,

     

     

    He has played like a Player totally unfocused, he even wore light blue boots when he was at his Worst performances…. A guy not giving a F?

     

     

    He was excellent again in defence for Celtic and that was some Test @ the Mestalla. He was my MOTM.

     

     

    Kristoffer has that amazing ability to get to their penalty Box – Brendan is Mega Knowloedgable Bro.

  16. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    MADMITCH on 23RD FEBRUARY 2019 12:25 AM

     

    MJ @ the edge of reason

     

     

    I fear your analysis / sources are partial, slanted and forced.

     

     

    =============================================================

     

     

    Partial ? You bet.

     

    Partial to the truth. And to the decision to respond to the Prussian militarism which resulted in the massacre of thousands of Belgian civilians at the start of the war which in turn induced the British to enter the war .

     

    A justifiable war.

  19. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    DH was responsible for the Somme, Passchendaele and various events around Ypres — slaughter based on poor preparation, a lack of planning and no follow up.

     

    =================================================================

     

     

    Responsible ? Not true.

     

     

    The French requested an earlier start to the Somme campaign to take the pressure off the French at Verdun.

     

    The British acquiesced to the request.

  21. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    An overview.

     

     

    The British fought two world wars against evil opponents.

     

    While others chose to sit on the sidelines.

     

     

    The criticism levelled against the individuals involved in defending democracy against these fascist criminals is churlish in the extreme.

     

     

    The wisdom of hindsight from the Monday morning quarterbacks .

  23. petec on

    Mental that My Dad always said Callum was doing Nothing in the Big games.

     

     

    I’m Truly astonished by the Development of Callum by Celtic to where he is Right now.

     

     

    Incredible we have even better Coming through.

     

     

    I Hope Pedro and Brendan have sorted things and we canter getting the CrossmagLEN.

  27. SydneyTim on

    Shocking scenes from police brutality in Spain

     

     

    As for game. The Spanish had won it. No need to exert themselves They knew that in Europe we have no goal threat due to lack of investment

     

    We go into CL qualifiers against clubs from eg Croatia , Norway , Sweden etc Clubs in a fraction of our turnover

     

    We have money in bank and massive salary CEO

     

    They will use all their spare cash to have players on the field

     

    Go figure

  29. An Tearmann on

    It’s called the machines 9.45

     

     

    Glad you got there to pay your respects mate.

     

    My directions were very rough.:-)

     

     

    HH

  30. An Tearmann on

    ITSCALLEDTHEMALVINAS on 22ND FEBRUARY 2019 9:45 PM

     

     

    Glad you got there to pay your respects mate.

     

    My directions were very rough.:-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    Apologies for pred text

  31. Dbhoy on

    Staggered in late to the party as usual, pesky time differential.

     

     

    The Huddle- enjoying your Billy Bragg tunes.

     

     

    HH

  33. Dbhoy on

    Karamoko Dembele turned sixteen yesterday and is eligible to play for the first team. Enormous potential in this kid.

     

     

    I wonder just how close he is to making an appearance for the first team?

     

     

    If we manage to win the league with a couple of games to spare we may see him get some minutes off the bench. Listening to him speak in interviews he comes across as very driven and focused on what he needs to do.Very exciting prospect for the hoops faithful…

     

     

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=02AdwuJdez0

     

     

    HH

  34. Fool Time Whistle on

    Dbhoy

     

     

    Here’s hoping that both of those things transpire.

     

     

    Wrap the league up pronto & give the young man a taste of playing on that turf.

     

     

    Personally I think he’ll make the bench before that.

     

     

    HH

  35. Dbhoy on

    FTW

     

    I remember all the hype around Islam Feruz a few years ago . Unfortunately for him and us that never worked out.

     

    I have a feeling it’s going to be different with this kid.

     

     

    Here’s hoping.

     

     

    HH

  36. Dbhoy on

    I think there were other CQNers in Valencia ( Matt Stewart, Bhoylo 83 ) spring to mind . I hope they’re home safe and would like to hear their accounts of going’s on in Spain.

     

     

    Militarised police response looked way OTT which is probably an understatement.

     

     

    HH

  37. Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on

    Macjay,

     

    Defending democracy ?

     

    There was no pretense that democracy was being defended in either war, your delusion is looking more like a medical condition, hope it’s treatable.

     

    WWI – was all about imperialist empire building zero to do with democracy. Britain never gave a monkeys about democracy in fact were the opposite, using its might to slaughtered millions who wanted democracy for their own “countries”.

     

    WWII – forced to war because appeasement failed. The idea that fighting against fascism or pro democracy was anything to do with it is an absolute joke proffered by useful idiots. I agree with madmitch, the majority understanding of those wars is primary school level which demonstrate perfectly.

  42. David66 on

    Good morning CQN from an even milder than yesterday Garngad

     

     

    Wonder which 5year old club 1872 (or whatever the feck the morons are called) got to write that stupid, meaningless and bigoted statement.

     

     

    Absolute idiots. A minor incident and a few individuals, anytime I am unfortunate enough to see one of their games on TV there are 50k of men, women and children singing to a man the Billy Boys.

     

    The Sevco cheerleader that is BFDJ says ” wot are the polis tae dae like, arrest 50k” , so what do we do DJ just let it continue ya fat Bassa moron.

     

    Do what your beloved establishment do to Celtic fans and film them, then liaise with the club, then knock on doors and charge people. Ffs.

     

    His statement and that of club KKK, let us know that nothing will ever change in this Orange/UVF/UDA stronghold.

     

     

    All we can do is bring our kids and grandkids up to respect EVERYONE regardless of creed, colour or religious beliefs. For them to become the good future of this stained country and hopefully through time the KKK and the Klan will crawl back under their stone or die off and take their beliefs with them.

     

     

    Sorry for the rant

     

     

    D. :)

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