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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proudbhoy
Good luck with your bet!
On my way to Glasgow.
Planning to have a beer or 2 en route to Paradise.
Are any of you guys doing the same?
Kris Commons (is he injured or is there a ‘problem’ twixt him & Ronny?) is key to winning v Kilmarnock today. Play him up front with Guidetti and Stokes.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Gordon ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ambrose ::::::::::::::: Denayer :::::::::::::::: Van Dijk :::::::::::: Izaguirre
:::::::::::::::::: Brown ::::::::::::::::::: Bitton ::::::::::::::::: Mulgrew :::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Guidetti ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Commons ::::::::::::::: Stokes ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Che
Mailed you. Heading out soon. Getting organised.
lymmbhoy
09:40 on 26 October, 2014
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Happy days
Looking forward to seeing him nxt saturday
Serious lack of rebelness in perth
thunder road
09:43 on 26 October, 2014
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Cheers buddy
The relative calm before the storm.
Well, not a storm actually, just 20mph winds, gusting to 40mph, and 4 inches of rain forecast.
And a game of football to play in it all.
In a world before 3 and 4G pitches, the game would have been cancelled due to an unplayable pitch, allowing me and the boy to get along to Celtic Park to watch the bhoys.
Not now.
Good luck to all with an interest in the SYFA Scottish Cup today. Best bring a change of gear, whether you’re playing or not.
proudbhoy
Will keep an eye on the score but there already seems something that is just wrong about shouting cmon chelsea!
TSD & ryecatcher appear to be gone and that’s OK with me. However I must admit I did like Kojo and will miss him if his flounce is permanent, Yes, he held right wing views in some departments but he is not alone in the Celtic family in that regard. The main thing for me is that I firmly believe that he is a genuine Tim, and when you did take the trouble to decode one of his rambling Fitbaw posts he did talk a lot of sense. Now to balance that he also talked a lot of nonsense but he is not alone in that department either. I liked his input in the Live Updates blog so if you are lurking Kojo, kind regards & Keep the Faith.
thunder road
10:01 on 26 October, 2014
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I hear you.. Me da would say exact same thing.
Iv cursed and wished them bad luck all my life , be surprised if they do me a favour.
Today must be the day when Celtic start to show they mean business in this league.
A win today moves them into Third place with a game in hand.
They place Thistle midweek for a place in the semis of the League cup.
They then play Inverness next weekend to leapfrog them into at worst second place depending on what Hamilton do.
Now is the day for Ronny Deila to show there is improvement.
Another performance like Thursday and the period of grace until Halloween will well and truly be over. He, his players and his staff need to step up today and not only step up but obliterate Kilmarnock.
In political news Johann Lamont leaving was entirely justified but the interviews and analysis are even more interesting. There is going to be more trouble ahead for Labour and I am delighted. They are getting ready for a humiliation in May and yet again all us YES campaigners will be proved right about what will happen in that regard.
We warned everyone. A shame 6% of the required number didn’t listen.
We will have the last laugh here.
Morning tims.
I hope that RD picks both Guidetti and Scepovic today. Scepovic needs game time and as Thursday showed may take some time to get his eye in. Won’t make the game today as working again but will try to pick up a dodgy sausage. To all those going, have a good one and cheer the bhoys on to the rafters.
corkcelt- tend to agree re Kojo.
An Tearmann – doing fine big fella. Sorry I missed you on Thursday
Weefratim – echo your sentiments about last night
HH to tims everywhere.
Ach for $770 id be cheering them on!
Fingers crossed they dont make you dislike them even more!
I’ve got the flu after my soaking on Thursday night at the Astra game but I’ll tell you what I’m going to get wrapped up in waterproofs so that you’ll only be able to see my eyes and I’m going in to support the Bhoys. If you’ve got a season ticket, get yourself along to see Big Bad John Guidetti score 3 and Big Bad Stefan Scepovic score 2.
Strepsilcsc
G67-heard from a player who has same agent as Henderson,that RD doesn’t rate him and will move him on.
Corkcelt
You talk sense my mhan , totally agree re Kojo.
Hope your daughters wedding went well?
Away to look out the hoops for the game.
I think Killie are in for a helluva skelping!!!
HH
!!bada bing!!
10:16 on 26 October, 2014
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What age is Liam ?
Was very impressed anytime i saw him last season… Hard worker and can pass it about.
Be very dissapointed if thats the case.. Frustrating with how badly are midfield had been biton and henderson havent been given a fair chance.
Tonev, derk,berget, pukki and balde are the 5 need shipped out asap. Must be 40/50k a week going on them.
Surely we could sign 1 quality player for that.
I see james mcclean got a couple yday.. He would be great signing.
Despite what that tune ryecatcher said i belive there is some good players in that championship who would jump at chance to sign for us.
Strange …in resounding defeat victory is seen
Sturgeon as First Minister…FFS
Off to the game ….yeeha
RIP Jack Bruce.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n2NeLxV8zs
I got caught on Thursday night, soaked right through to Ma underpants, so if you see something that resembles a condom wi a celtic scarf an a Fergus Bunnet heading up the Gallowgate today, jist shout, how’s IT gawn tony ;)
proudbhoy
Wee taster for next weekend.
http://youtu.be/gwOmYNvISnM
Gary Og – Irish Soldier Laddie
HH
BT
Can you mail me ACGR,s phone number please .
HH
Bada bing / proudbhoy
With the amount of crap players on show this season it beggars belief that Henderson is being overlooked
Not a fan of Deila …..not impressed with his eye for a player…footballing idealist …
Corkcelt – agree re: Kojo. Always liked his rambling football-related posts, has good insight re: youths, kc in europe, etc.
Apparently let down by some seriously inappropriate posts – I haven’t seen many of these personally, but certainly seen comments from others about them so couldn’t say too much about that.
He has taken criticism re: style of posting – I like it, I must say – somthing different, in fact his posts were some of those that attracted me to CQN when I was looking to supplement my RCT fix (and would be great to see some RCT input again).
HH
BGFC
Thanks Burghbhoy, Wedding was absolutely brilliant, we had a ball.
We keep saying today must be the day when the new era begins, but I genuinely believe today is indeed a vital one. Nothing less than 3 points will do plus a decent performance. We need a strong 3 man line ahead of defenders, Brooney & Stefan are bankers but there must be a question mark over Charlie, Biton, Kayal or Efe to fill in for me.
Canny believe I slept in for 10am mass this morning,
Anyway, just over 2 hours for the hoops to bring a smile back
Bada, seen your comments on Henderson, find that astounding, and some have said, tells us a lot about Ronny
My team for today, same as I have put up
Gordon
Lustig, Denayer,VVD, Izzy
Brown, Henderson, Biton, Johansen
Scepovic, Guidetti
I believe Commons still injured, and time to play others in their actual positions
Hail Hail
Oh and 3 – 0 to the Bhoys
CRC, mind Ma tickets :-)
I give up!!
Naw a don’t!!!!!
C’MON THE CELTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
C’MON THE RONNY BHOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cowiebhoy
10:41 on 26 October, 2014
I’ll text you CRC’s number in case he slept in as well.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
The Live Updates article will be up at 12:30, could someone leave a note here?
Thanks.
Cowiebhoy
Brown’s natural position is RM? Johansen is LM?
Rethink needed there.
Would like to see both Guidetti and Sceptovic start.
However, after Ronny saying he took a risk on Thursday by playing 2 up front when we needed a goal and then reverting back to 1 up front as soon as we scored, I don’t think he will do it.
Any win for Celtic will do me, if so, that will become 3 victories in a row and hopefully help build confidence.
Lennybhoy I have it , thanks
Spare ticket available today Bhoys – lefty you about ?
Daughter just told me not going, as she needs to get ready for the Lola Commons do
CQN corner about 12.30 if anyone wants it :-)
Hail Hail
Only one I would give a chance today is Grithiffs, he at least deserves a chance to make an arse of it like some have been doing week in week out, other than that I’m happy.
Where’s the CQN corner? I’m assuming it’s at Celtic Park?
Up and over,
Browns best position is Right Mid
Agree on Johansen not Left mid, but neither is Stokes
Johansen just needs to offer some protection and support for Izzy, and can step inside and support front
Just my opinion :-)
Hail Hail
Nice words from Tony Mowbray on SS1.
Clearly still loves the club.