Last night’s win didn’t look on the cards until the opening goal; Astra were passing the ball better and creating as many chances as Celtic. It looked like the game we expected – without Commons or Guidetti. However, we find ourselves top of the group with 7 points from 9 at the halfway point, having recorded a draw away to top seed Salzburg.
There’s still a lot of work to do, a win away at Astra next time out in no way guarantees qualification, but we stand an excellent chance of progressing and a decent chance of topping the group.
Having thumped Ross County at the weekend there was a notion we’d turned a corner, which fed some of the frustration last night, despite the result. What we saw was very poor passing from a disjointed team. Players were receiving the ball in too little space, where options were already closed. This impacted the effectiveness on Callum McGregor and Mikael Lustig in particular, but it seemed when every Celtic player looked up there wasn’t a good pass on.
This is all a consequence of change. We look disjointed because we are disjointed. We’re disjointed because we’re rebuilding.
The relevant questions are:
Do we need to rebuild?
Are we making progress?
Yes, we need to rebuild. The squad, tactics, training and other processes are all going through change. For so long we watched Celtic squads remain constant and grow old (under Martin O’Neill), or out tactics become rigid (under Martin and Gordon Strachan), to the point that we were crying out for some experimentation.
The above is seldom disputed but the question of progress is more important. Right now Celtic need results. They need to survive in the Europa League long enough to test and improve their passing, movement, instincts and, where necessary, squad.
Last night’s win wasn’t pretty but it was vitally important. The next challenge for this team is also important; we need to go to Romania and put on the kind of performance we did in Salzburg. If we can do that, we’ll have earned a platform to build on.
Caesar & the Assassin, the accounts of Billy McNeill and Davie Hay as Celtic managers, is available below.
Billy and Davie will both sign the early orders we get to them, more here.
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CRC
Wear a poppy or not is not a division it is a choice.
Poppygate has been used against us, you and me, Celtic supporters in general, for years.
My point is, IMO, a real attempt has been made this year to reclaim the concept of Remembrance to it’s original state, i.e. Much the same message as the White poppy appeal.
Why not embrace that rather than advocate an alternative that will only induce negativity?
EC67
WilldiscusstomorrowatcqncornerifnottoowetCSC
NN Celts.Ronny DEE
Belfast is going to be Amazin’.
Any Fianna boys out there?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT1y76F0EqI
Petec,
It’s a little known fact that all pool tables in Clydebank slope towards Ireland ;) unless your in the Atlantis that is ;p
HH
Owen…..i think that from my point of view i would like my club to show the way…thats all …just stand up and say…we are doing this….if other companys dont do it ..fine….be MORE THAN A CLUB…be an EXAMPLE…in a more caring ,thoughtful SCOTLAND…
.
Just Another Tim
01:30 on 26 October, 2014
Petec,
It’s a little known fact that all pool tables in Clydebank slope towards Ireland ;) unless your in the Atlantis that is ;p
HH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I heard a comment similar that All languages point towards Jerusalem.
Defo outie now
nn & hh
BGX
I have worked , in my 30 odd years of working life, in some crappy jobs and some good ones you know the only difference? The pay. I worked for 13 years in a dole office and loved it, I worked in an Abattoir and loved it, I loved the Civil Service more because I got paid more than £2 per hour.
I know what it is like to work for crap wages I just do not blame Celtic for all life’s ills.
owen
01:13 on 26 October, 2014
———————————————-
Says it all really… if in doubt, blame it all on Celtic.
I lost the lot in the bookies today, not my fault though… It’s Celtic’s fault, sure.
My girl ditched me yesterday.. Feck all to do with me… Celtic done it so the did.
The greatest punchbag on God’s green earth – Celtic.
HH.
BGX
Why not hold the politicians who decide the minimum wage levels to the same standards as we demand of Celtic?
I want everyone to earn a living wage.
Bgx
Its how they play wearing the hoops is all am interested in.woe betide yi if your voting one way or other based on what an individual player or the club suggest.:-)
jeez it panics me thinking people are awaiting on what macavennie and a few other players are saying lol
HH
Owen…i done crap jobs mate…had money..been skint.ive made good and bad choices…i dont blame anybody..all my own doing….i just think that this is something the club could do…
OWEN 100% AGREED ON the politicians mate…
16 roads/owen
It was peter lawells fault I got soaked on thurs.if he had paid out in summer and got us thro to CL on tues/wed night I would have been dry :-)
Farfetchedcsc:-)
BGX
We agree that the living wage is the way to go, so that will do for tonight :-)
An tearmann….but what about my point that not one ex or player came out for YES….i found that odd…
Owen….AGREED…be well HH
Night All
macjay1,
You are probably right that the church pressed to keep Catholic schools…should we have bowed down and changed?
Once the peeple realised our education system worked and theirs didn’t is when
It only became an issue, when the stats showed that our schools have a higher achievement level.
Ach, why not change it to suit, that is their format regarding their deid team…and so it goes on….
Eurochamps67
Apologies if my posts has misled
My aim is to sell White poppies to help Shay and to commemorate our descendants that have laid down their lives before us.
Surely as the white poppy has been about for years then this is also a way of embracing the issue. It is not an alternative and why do you think it induces negativity? Surely not wearing a poppy is negative then by your comments? I would disagree as it would be the persons choice.
Don’t get your comments my friend, but put I will put you down as a no for a white poppy:-)
Ha, ha we now have a white or red poppy debate instead
HH
CRC
ATM – See all those indangered species of birds of prey – the ones that Scotland went to the trouble of presenting to Ireland, golden eagles and what not…
In your part of the world – it wasn’t selfish, greedy Irish farmers who killed the birds of prey – it was Celtic’s fault so it was.
I’m blaming Celtic here and now for it.
HH.
16roads
Petec and I had a great night in a Clydebank Fenian Pub tonight. We are both coming to visit you in Belfast in February. :)
CRC,
Plenty of huns will buy them if you give a free blue one with the White one :))
Sipsini
Amazing. You posted 59 minutes before me, after me. :)))
Bgx
Did you ask any?
Lol
Night hoopsters
Til the game tomorrow.
Night all
sipsini
I understand that it blends in well with emerald green
and I see that your post timeline is the first to go back in time :-)
HH
CRC
Glenveagh ATM.
I’m not accusing anybody, Catholic, Protestant or dissenter.
Most of those dead bitds were found in places like Tyrone and what not.
I know who’s fault it was anyway..
It was Celtic’s fault, er ya go, a just said it.
Celtic, directly, or indirectly – Celtic was responsible for the deaths of those birds of prey whom were sent to meet their maker, prematurely in Erin’s green isle.
HH.
CRC
Sipsini is the Real Dr Who! :))
DD/CRC
Is that better than a podium?
BMCUW/PHILVISRETURNS….get it round you:))))
Sipsini
A podium is a daily occurence. You have claimed the annual glory.
TIOCHFAIDH AR LA
Knock knock,
Who’s there?
Doctor
Doctor who?
Sipisini…..:)
Owen. 01.13
Do you suggest the Celtic supporters who are concerned about many factors around the way the club is being run just accept that paying a living. wage is beyond the club’s means ?
Propaganda my friend.Profit before principle. PLC before Celtic fc.
IMHO…. We should set the example.HH.
Life’s An Ocean
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmvY3NAvHtk
DD – The road to hell is paved with good intentions mo chara.
It would be brilliant if it happened.
HH.
DD,
Looking forward to Belfast, need to tighten my belt and save.
I’ve never been before, so I’ll do the the tour with a bottle of buckfast. HH
Knock, knock…… This page is a joke…
R.D is a joke
Let’s hope we don’t get newco in the cup…. Cos the joke will be on us.
16roads
It’s happening, God willing J. Could you source us cheap beds for the 14th & 15th Feb?
ruggygman,
If you have read my posts, you will realise I don’t take it lightly the state of our team.HH
Goldcrests,robins,great tits,coal tits,chaffinches,and the old starlings and pigeons into my garden regularly.
The problem is a fecken cat.