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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I see in the Herald today that Dave Cunningham King (DiCK) is actually a tycoon, will they ever learn?
People are asking how the living wage would cost Celtic £500,000, I’m not sure how they came to this figure, but if I was on a certain wage (on or about the living wage) and someone on a lower scale got a increase I think I would be entitled to ask for an increase, and then the domino effect happens the person above me then looks for a rise.
Also (not that you should follow anyone else) I heard it is only the new Manchester team that Scholes, Butt and Giggs started that are paying this.
Lawwellsacountant
Away back where you belong.
Astra beat Lyon in the qualifiers and narrowly lost to Salzburg.
Shame you don’t enjoy our club winning ugly.
We did plenty of it in the MON days even with the luxury of a once in a lifetime genius in Larsson in our team.
Still chick young says Astra are rubbish so they must be eh ?
BM
Great link – I don’t know as much about Gill Scott Heron as I should but I will spend some time following up your link.
Many thanks.
Bada bing
Legia have won 3 from 3 in uefa and are a top team in a league much more competitive than ours.
If we draw them in say last 16 or quarters of Europa then it would be a huge challenge still.
burnley 78
surely you are not comparing RD with MON?
The man is a dud and everyone knows it
Chic Yungs a legned!!
How bluddy well dare yoo!!
last season there was a debate about how celtic would compare against mid level and low level EPL sides. Aston villa in particular were made as a comparison and I was surprised to see how many felt that last season celtic were as good as Villa
If i ask the same question again, i wonder if the same fans who felt we were the equal of villa would still hold that view?
HRVATSKI JIM
Thanks,mate.
You are in for a real treat.
He has a real hatred for ‘The Man’ and he doesn’t hide it!
tamrabam-we were/are in a position of strength,the current shambles was totally avoidable IMO
Tamrabam
I disagree! MON is a legend!
BMCUW,
Since then,it has been downhill.
The bottom of this hill is not an attractive prospect.
_____________
Hence the fall in the support, amongst other reasons…financial being a big player as well.
I see philvisreturns gave you a nod for your podiums…the battle commences… Do it for the working classes Bobby:))
Transition ?
A mighty fine album..Recorded the same year as the majestic – A Love Supreme.Fabulous piano from McCoy Tyner and wowee drumming from Elvin Jones
Well worth a record token!
BmCUWP/Hravtski Jim
Gil Scott Heron? A genius!
I knew there was a reason I liked you two!
HH
Just read this- Livingston could face a points deduction,after defaulting on tax payments………..anyone?
sipsini
Aye I see the rising terror of the huns return gracing the pages of CQN, I doubt that is why we didn’t spend this window, I think the trust just wasn’t there for the scouts or the manager, sad state of affairs that!
Maybe it’s more than the diet of the players that needs to change, it’s the single item menu of compliance all the way through the club that needs sorted right out.
John Park coming with two year old targets for Ronny, feck off John and earn your crust instead of you personal wee agent ring!
Predicting 4-0 at the weekend.
We will look better with Guidetti in. Scepovic needs some game time though.
Celtic still in all competitions at a time of the year when we would usually be out of one cup at the hands of a diddy team and frequently aiming for a third place finish in a CL group. We are sitting top of a tough EL group, unbeaten, beat a decent Hearts team in the cup (would you have bet on a NL team winning such a cup tie?) and only a possible 3 points off the top of the PL. Some of our supporters are calling our manager a dud. We are doing the MSSMs job for them
the downsizing spiral is now completely out of control
the board can do nothing to stop it
it is out off their hands now
lack of ambition
poor signings
GB issues etc
its gone too far now and the good ship Celtic will take some massive effort to turn it around
Alas Ronny could turn a rowing boat with one oar in whiteinch park
Its a shame really that we had so much advantage over sevco and have somehow managed to eff it up
@Tamrabam
Bit dramatic
Stairheedrammy
Post of the day Buddy!
C’MON THE CELTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
C’MON THE RON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello, and welcome to Jazz Club. Mmmmm. Nice.
south of tunis ….
Love JC’s albums with Duke and Hartman…. (2 of my all-time favourites) …. but Love Supreme is on a whole different level … that is music that changes lives.
17 of our 27 games this season have been against foreign clubs.
Burnley78
Under MON we occasionally won ugly, just now its certainly not the exception to the rule. I’m really hoping we turn the corner but at present we seem to be stumbling from one poor performance to the next, one or two exceptions. I’ll be there to support us whatever but I just cant get too optimistic about our current regime
HH
Philip Nash has stepped down from the board of RIFC plc with immediate affect #Rankers
Article in The Guardian today about big-boned players.
Including Jan Molby.
I didn’t know he could run this far,and I doubt anyone has seen it before as the TV cameramen were on strike.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5laOqk-ku0A
stair heed rammy
so much to comment on but
i recall NLs side beating hearts when they were a spl team not a second division team
we are only still in europe because of a paperwork error by legia
but hey there are still huns who think that fat sally is doing a great job at ipox, so i shouldnt be surprised when some celtic men still think RD is a genius too
but anyway thats just my opinion, (and maybe the opinion of another 40,000 who didnt go to last nights game )
cue the usual but we are better off without them claim…… ZZZZZZZ
MIKE IN TORONTO
Cheers,mate.
Nothing more to add to that!
!!Bada Bing!!
16:04 on
24 October, 2014
Philip Nash has stepped down from the board of RIFC plc with immediate affect #Rankers
——————————————————————————————————————-
That’s gonna put the cat amongst the pigeons for sevco, by all accounts he’s been the one running the show for the last few months..
As for Livi, they’ve been having a few problems with Hector for a while mate
http://www.sundaypost.com/sport/football/livingston-handed-transfer-embargo-1.520088
HH
Timaloy
okay i will retract it
Ronny could manage to make a one oared rowing boat go in a circle. (sometimes)
Mike in Toronto
My flights to Toronto are booked and I am (delicately) trying to ensure that I can get out to see the Aberdeen game at one of the venues suggested to me so I will be in touch.
Just to warn you – I got an email today purportedly from you (I think) via my work email address asking me to connect but my anti-virus warned me that it would take over my browser home page so I blocked it. I have had the same from a friend in Australia.
I won’t post any more details here but If it was you and is genuine, please contact me via hrvatskijim@gmail.com and I will connect through LinkedIn or something proper.
If not, just ignore it..
SIPSINI
I’m concerned about PHILVISRETURNS and his poor health,tbh.
Although it was very nice of him to offer his congratulations,I really feel for the fella.
Since having to let his henchmen go,he probably has to wipe his own snotters. This suggests he will return with a righteous wrath,and we are doomed to second-best.
My only hope is that he runs out of wet-wipes at the wrong time.
Bmcuw
Reading back I saw your conversation with travellerbhoy last night. I don’t know you but I know that you are a good mhan. Jist sayin’.
Hail hail
Holy FFin’ moly – Ashley’s offered them a loan:
” we need to take some vigorous ACTION!”
——
“Disorder is the way forward. Every time they thieving rat b*st*rds turn up at our home they should be hunted. they should need more protection than the president of the US requires in Iraq”
——
“go after these wrong uns……Time for action, both legal and militant.”
——
“I certainly would not condone violence but if someone was to snap that greasy rat b*st*rd Easedale’s neck, lets just say that I wouldn’t shed a tear.”
——
“It’s over.
The only real plan is to boycott 100% and force another liquidation episode.”
——
“The cow will be milked dry then shot.”
——
“any IT specialists who can bring down the Newcastle/Sports Direct websites?”
——
“I am all for outright mayhem at the next home game and I don’t mean silly chants or banners.”
——
“Time for a TOTAL BOYCOTT – Needs to be cascaded via UoF and it needs to be permanent.”
——
“We should be at Ibrox, outside the doors, tomorow and Sunday. Banners and all.”
——
“As transparent as a mud puddle.
Although predicted for months now”
——
“physical soloutions are required.”
——
“Ashley won’t even speak to anyone. He’s a fat Willy Wonkaesque recluse.”
——
“Previous generations will be spinning in their graves.
I wish we had some real bad b*st*rds in our support.”
——
“Stuff boycotts it is now public disorder required.
This is a messy divorce, we can either wimp away or stand up and say scr*w you bitch i want the kids”
——
” thats us up the river with no life belts”
——
“I will turn up at Ibrox for the next home game to protest outside.
If it is a damp squid then it’s over for me”
——
“Away to take up fishing” [see above]
——
“This is criminal
Mr Struth we have failed you”
Rangers Int. Football Club PLC
24 October 2014
Rangers International Football Club plc
(“Rangers” the “Club” or the “Company”)
Board Changes
The Company announces that Philip Nash has resigned from the Board of Rangers (“Board”) with immediate effect.
The Board would like to thank Mr Nash for his significant contribution to the Company during what has been a particularly challenging period.
Fishal
BMCUWP
Was in New York a few months back …. walking through Harlem on Sunday morning … had breakfast of fried chicken and waffles at Sylvia’s …. watching the old people coming out of church dressed in their Sunday finest …. the sound of gospel choirs coming from every corner …..it was like being transported back in time … almost expected to see Langston Hughes reciting his poetry on the street corner…. magical place!
DOCTOR WHATFOR
Thanks,bud. Interesting call as ever.
He’s a really smashing guy and he has a great support network on here.
He’s getting there,and I’ll pass on your regards.
@Tamrabam
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/3289611.jpg
I take it this will be you outside CP on Sunday?