Celtic’s season will open up if they can take Dinamo Zagreb down a peg or two tonight. The Croatian champions have read the stories about the debacle against Legia and subsequent humbling by Maribor, who turned out to be anything but humble, if their draw away to Schalke this week in the Champions League is anything to go by.
All they know about Celtic is the trauma we’ve come through in recent months. Details, like the aforementioned under-appreciation of Maribor, or the extremely credible away performance against top seed, Salzburg in the last round, will be difficult to fit into their match planning.
Salzburg was a sign that there is more to come from this Celtic team than was previously evident, and unlike Maribor, who arrived in Glasgow aware of our potential, Dinamo confidently predicted they are “here for the win”. Even Juventus were more cautious at Glasgow Airport.
European football gives players an opportunity to stamp their name at the club, and on subsequent team sheets, just ask Wakaso Mubarak, who put a stake in the ground 13 minutes into his debut in Salzburg, or Callum McGregor, who stamped his authority all over our European campaign already this season. Tonight is the game Stefan Scepovic has been waiting for since arriving (without a proper preseason) on deadline day.
I’m not expecting a flowing game tonight, nor do I think such a game would be beneficial to us. Keep it tight and exploit our chances, and we’ll shut Dinamo up.
Don’t want to get drawn off course today, but a quick point:
Remember what I detailed about Fraser Forster’s professionalism? Ronny Deila is 100% correct on what he said on fitness recently; big Fraser was one end of a spectrum.
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Afternoon all.
My attention was drawn to our manager’s comments in the Herald. It strikes me that apart from the journalist trying to create friction between him and our previous manager, our current incumbent is 100% right and that is not to disparage Neil Lennon 1 iota. We must needs be as professional as we can be. It seems, so far, a lot of the players are finding the adjustment pretty hard. Shame. Hopefully, we’ll see the fruits in the not too distant future.
No matter what Tony Mowbray did, it was pre-ordained by the highest uncrowned mortals in north of the Tweed Britain (known to me as Scotland) that he was on a hiding to nothing with the authorities, and Celtic did not back him, or at least I got the impression – Celtic did not back him. If I remember rightly, was that not the time of the ‘portfolio’? Celtic hung him out to dry and for my love of Celtic I cannot understand why. Then when he was sacked he was treated shabbily by the club.
The Neil Lennon years did have a wee bit more spice to them.
Dougie McDonald admitting lying to Neil Lennon and others and then Dallas compounding the lie with more televised lies was the catalyst for mohair revolution. Dr. John Reid… “We’re not asking for special treatment, but neither will we be treated as less than anyone else, those days are gone.”
Paul McBride QC and the hilarious concurrent sentences farce; the bombs and bullets; the mad Hearts Supporters; the Edinburgh jury; the farce of the Rangers administration; all some of the events that galvanised the support and drove a non-fatal Excalibur stake through the heart of the not-dead-yet SFA.
Tony Mowbray lived in different times, just like Ronny Deila does. But still all fond and painful memories aside, I am still left not lying to myself and stating that for me, this is the most dysfunctional team I have ever watched. I’m at a loss to explain it and like every other Celtic supporter I hope Ronny can manifest his vision, but it has been painful in the process.
Credit is due where it is due and if Ronny delivers he’ll be showered with it but I have a horrible feeling he does not have long to get things sorted. And I don’t believe he was given the club’s full support in his efforts to transform the team into his creation either.
It is not just our midfield players who need to be able to pass and move; it is every one of our outfield players. Otherwise, as they have done for what seems forever, we will be condemned to watching them passing it from side to side and back to the goalkeeper. Dire, boring stuff.
I haven’t read the comments, but it seems to be a regurgitation of things already said.
I don’t think Ronnie is saying we don’t want football players we want athletes. Fitness, diet, skill and attitude are all needed to be better players improving on any of these factors will make for better players.
Let’s give him time, time will tell if he improves things.
We have been unlucky with injuries this season. Our right back position and midfield have been weakened. Our downsizing is such that we crave for Scot Brown to return. Years ago we would only accommodate him as a right sided player..
He hasn’t become a superstar its a result of our selling our better players..
BGX
I base my opinion on what I have seen AND heard. I would not ignore any evidence from any source.
I had my doubts before Ronny arrived that his preferred style of play would lead to us shipping more goals and losing more matches. So that part of my expectation has come true.
I hoped that he would get us playing in a style like Red Bull Salzburg and Dortmund, albeit with weaker players than the latter team. Only one game, Dundee United, has provided any evidence in support of that.
Ronny seems to me to have swung from too fast an introduction of his (and JC’s) ideas, compromising and allowing some of the old habits (e.g. hoofed clearances) to be accommodated. As a result, we are definitely between stools just now (that might explain the sh**e playing style). I am hoping that we move beyond this compromised stage and get back to a more pressing game, albeit controlled so that players do not exhaust themselves after 70 minutes.
I hope to start seeing evidence of this on the field in the next month but I am not claiming there is a lot of current or recent evidence in support. I travel tonight in hopeful anticipation of a few good signs.
Jude-tried that mate,no joy ta
John Reids quote ‘Were not asking for special treatment , but neither will we be treated as less than anyone else, those days are gone’… hope that comes back and bites his Red Tory ass…..
vinniethedog
14:11 on 2 October, 2014
Dooooooooooooohhh …… !!!!
SFTB…..so ,one game ,a game in which D UTD were abject ,,i believe my eyes ,he has done nothing yet to inspire hope in me…i HOPEwe win 5-0 tonight ,,enjoy the game…
I was going to head over early, but
is the Kerrydale bar open? It says on the website * Facility is not available for high-risk fixtures.
Is this high risk?
Quietly and unusually confident about tonight
Just wish Guidetti was available and we had Lustig back
Mucky dee
Should be. Just head into Blane valley where you will meet Oldtim Richie at and a few more bhoys hopefully.
Siesta time zzzzzzzzzz
Parkheadcumsalford
14:33 on
2 October, 2014
Have not read the Herald article but is RD saying anything much different in essence from Gordon Strachan?
“Scotland have a system which is getting better, but it’s players who win and lose games. Look at England. They have a system, but if the opposition players jump higher, tackle harder and shoot better, your system is in trouble.”
B B
What abt TOOLS????
Bada
Where is AW naw when you need him?
Wait for the wean coming home from school, sorted in jig time
Just seen the England squad on Sky. As poor a collection of players as they’ve ever had. Half of the defenders play for the team with the worst defensive record in the league this season (Everton).
Thanks bhoys
Looks like the pieman might be walking away after their game at Livi on Sat according to oor Phil
Total guff from those who rule..
Two men who were among 13 people held by police during a march by the Green Brigade group of Celtic fans have been given one year football banning orders.
Nicholas Diplacito, 29, from Lanark, and Mark Glancy, 24, from Glasgow, were arrested during the unofficial march in the Gallowgate area on 16 March 2013.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard they behaved in a threatening manner and struggled with police officers.
Diplacito must also carry out 135 hours of unpaid work. Glancy was fined £630.
‘Shameful behaviour’
Stephen Ferguson, football liaison prosecutor for the west of Scotland, said: “These men were part of a disorderly crowd and seemed intent on causing trouble. Such shameful behaviour will not be tolerated.
“Police officers carrying out their important role in maintaining public order should not be subjected to assault and abuse or hindered and obstructed and we will continue to do all in our power to bring those who perpetrate such crimes to justice.”
Almost 200 officers were deployed to the gathering outside the Chrystal Bell pub in Glasgow’s Gallowgate area prior to the Celtic v Aberdeen match last year.
At the time, police said the crowd “appeared to be attempting to stage an illegal street procession and officers were deployed to prevent this”.
The Green Brigade had posted on its website ahead of the protest that it would be holding a “corteo to Celtic Park to raise awareness and show support for the growing list of Celtic supporters receiving and facing bans”.
It warned those taking part that police would “use every and any excuse to instigate trouble”.
@CollectCelticFC: Rumours Salary has handed in his resignation and will ” Walk Away ” after Livingston Game. #AllyMustStay
Make of this and Phils piece as you wish. :-)))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
bada
Awe naw sorted my ipad problem nae bother last night. Genius. :-)))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
BT
Hope the op went well, when will you know? :-)
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
I hope sleekit does walk away but to show I’m not bitter towards him, I hope his replacement does much worse :)
In trying circumstances McCoist has taken Sevco through the lower divisions, sweeping all in front of him, now standing just 6 points off the leaders in the Championship, and they want rid of him?
What ungrateful fickle supporters they are. Humph!
Does anyone have a link to Phils article on the fat sleekit one ? H.H.
RD is trying to shift the mentality of professional footballer at Celtic. This is decades overdue. Mainland euros are fitter faster and more technical , this is the standard. He should buy from there while it takes time to instill these disciplines at Celtic as the effects/benefits don’t occur overnight.
Pisses me off when a pro can’t shoot comfortably with both feet – that’s not professional !!! Being an athlete is paramount in today’s game. Rd mindset change is an absolute must!!!
Noooooooooooooo……………. the hopes and dreams of millions of people rest on the fine, dignified shoulders of Mr McCoist. #Allymuststay
Gordon
Deneyer Van Dijk Mulgrew Izzy
McGregor Brown Biton Wakaso
Commons
Scepovic
B-)
Joe – there is no real article about sleekit other than a couple of lines where he asks their press offfice to come back to him with an aswer re. whether he is stepping down after Livingston game or not.
There is nothing else mentioned or expanded upon.
bhoylo83
15:43 on 2 October, 2014
Mulgrew injured. As is Lustig, Matthews & Forrest.
Techy help sought.
I am in Belgium and took out a VPN with Watchtvabroad.co.uk.
I can get every UK channel except BT Sport which tells me I can’t access the app (I have BT Sports) because I not in the UK. Viewtvabroad abroad can’t help. Any ideas guys?
DeniaBhoy. Thanks for the up date. H.H.
Can’t see Sally leaving them after an away game – surely, he’d want to bow out at home? Regardless of the rising tide of negativity towards him from the media, I would bet they’d get 10,000 more on the gate if they told the bears it was his last game in charge as they’d want to show how much they really, really love him despite him being so crap.
Just passed Queen St station there, a large crowd of away fans having a pre match beer. Not the friendliest looking crowd I’ve ever seen I have to say.
Is Mulgrew still out?
Damn
Lustig, Mathews and Forrest would all be my starters if fit
Sleekit wull NO walk away……
….he wull
slink away………………………….
Aye.