Don’t give me any semi-final chat for now, we have a league game ahead, the biggest threat to which is to take your eye of what’s in front of us. For the next six days, the season is one game long.
St Mirren did their homework before coming to Celtic Park yesterday. The Paisley club are five points adrift at the foot of the Championship but for almost an hour were as compact and competitive as any Premiership club against Celtic this season.
There was nothing particularly innovative about their strategy; two banks of four, which seldom had more than five yards between them, with a couple of runners trying to occupy Celtic’s back line, but it wasn’t until the introduction of Patrick Roberts, and, crucially, Leigh Griffiths, that Celtic’s shape was up to the task.
Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair were double-marked throughout as St Mirren sacrificed control down their left. We are at the stage of the season that there can be few surprises from any team, and certainly not from these two. The challenge for Celtic is to exploit other areas of the field.
While Brendan Rodgers was right to give credit to St Mirren for their performance, from what I gather there was a bit of an inquest behind closed doors. We lost a goal to a straightforward set-piece, could easily have been two down early in the second half, and created very little before the opening goal.
Much of the afternoon took on a familiar ‘Celtic treble upset’ look. You and I have been here before. Many times. We got away with it this time, partly because we were playing a team at home who have won only four of 25 Championship games this season, but mostly because we have so much in the tank this season we can raise our game.
St Mirren have marked a few cards; no game can be taken for granted.
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BAMBOO on 7TH MARCH 2017 10:47 AM
‘The security services will protect the establishment.’
##
More likely that the security services would blackmail the politicians into doing what the security services want.
BK
” I think McLean is the best referee in Scotland. And yes, I am aware. :-) ”
I said the other day that I thought he gave a good performance ie Honest, in Sunday`s game.
JJ
These debates about which ref will officiate our game against them or old them have been going on for as long as I can remember and a long time before that.
However has there ever been a time ,like now, where we don’t trust or rate any of them?
BORGO67
Aye. Since roughly 1888
BLANTYREKEV on 7TH MARCH 2017 10:48 AM
I would not argue about McLean being the best in Scotland (a reflection on the rest not on McLean)
But I have this impartiality issue – I consider myself to be a sensible Celtic fan, I try not to hate anyone and I behave in an even handed way i think I’m a fair minded person
However if I was the referee on Sunday – with a little bit of football knowledge – I could make it difficult for the Huns to win (I know its going to be very difficult for them anyway) but my point is if its a 50/50 tackle I could give in favour of Celtic, if the Huns are on top I could slow the game down I could talk to players and stop the game I could ignore certain tackles in Celtic’s favour – you get my point
If he is a Hun and he is – he will struggle to be impartial
67ECW
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
I’m laughing here, very good
Willie Collum was very good in the 5-1 game.
:)
McLean was the ref who ignored the Meekings handball wi ICT
Also Stuart Dougall was very good in the 6-2 game…
They retire the refs that early now that they don’t get to the age where they are bitter about how their chosen path hasn’t led to the riches they were promised and they now hate them as much as us.
Always thought Willie Young was like that.
Borgo
Was going to say : has ever not been a time but BMCUW summed it up perfectly.
JJ
The young guy Robertson, who missed the assault on KT is the best MIB.
Why ? The rest are ALL are proven duds: Collum, McLean, Madden, Thompson. And I’m being kind with the word duds.
Am I right in thinking all the top flight referees are Glasgow, Lanarkshire or Stirling association types ?
I don’t think we will have too much trouble from the mibs on Saturday , nothing at stake except bragging rights , so I expect if anything we will get the decisions , and leave the mib a free hand for the semi . Where they will try there hardest to scupper the chances of a celtic treble , as we all know the fix is on .
I also hope BR has told the players another performance like the first half on Saturday will not be tolerated , that was dire, and so unlike this present side . Another 5 will do me .
Bobby & Hot Smoked
Pretty depressing really. I’m always hopeful there will be one that bucks the trend. I gave McLean the benefit of the doubt before the Caley semi , won’t do it again.
MacLean also gave huns an advantage which they wasted then have them a FK at edge of the box at Hogmanay game.
BORGO67
I genuinely think that most of the refs who make the grade do so on merit.
It’s once they have made the grade that is the problem. They are clearly put in the picture as to “how things work”
Tell you what,few of us would be happy with that in our workplace. Maybe few of them are either. But there are a fair few examples of examples being made against graded refs who haven’t toed the line.
Callaghan,my oul’ pal Padden,McGinlay,Richmond et al.
The Paranoia of Refs is justified
How often to we talk about honest mistakes or terrible decisions in European games
67ECW
Whatever happened to the dougie dougie linesman , Steve craven . I imagine he would have been punted . Anyone know the guy
Bobby
Agreed. Sadly the same seems to happen with the journos
AN TEACH SOLAIS on 7TH MARCH 2017 6:11 AM
The immediate issue has been resolved by insurance, the Go Fundme page and we raised £1000 on Friday at a Race Night.
However we are always struggling to raise money for the renovation funding. Parishioners decorated the internal of time he Church; I’ve managed to get full wireless networking in place. We are currently upgrading the CCTV and hope to raise more money at the St Patrick’s night function for a that.
We managed to get some masonry work completed earlier this year but there is still urgent remedial work required for the exterior stonework and roof.
Then there is the renewal of the boiler. Last gas bill was just over £5k for the December to February period.
It’s an ongoing project!
KTF
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 7TH MARCH 2017 11:43 AM
The Paranoia of Refs is justified
How often to we talk about honest mistakes or terrible decisions in European games
67ECW
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I still talk about Hellmut Krug and the penalty he gave to Juve in 2001 as I believe it was a clear case of match fixing.
Similarly with Lubos Michel.
Madden got the gig.
Not that I don’t think we should be paranoid by the by…
Clancy 4th official, I was on the right track.
THETIMREAPER
As predicted yesterday, he’s no the worst in my opinion and gets the meaningless game. The semi will be up for grabs for someone on the ABC message.
The final league game at Travesty Mountain might well be vitally important for the Sevvies Euro ambitions and only the top DOB will do.
Same as it ever was!
VfR
Thanks for that. Is the GoFund Me page still available? I would like to contribute to your, Fr. White and the parishioners efforts. Good on you for your voluntary work. As the first “home” of CFC St.Mary’s Abercrombie Street should have a special place in our hearts. Thanks, again. HH
Thetimreaper
Here’s my favourite Bobby Maddenism (go to 1 min 25 secs):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPDeFjpRJh0
Or maybe it’s this one (4 mins 1 secs onwards):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xddwBPUNy8Q
DAVIDOPOULOS
Haha Bobby is a madhun that’s for sure but Thommo he’s the Ringmaster for me:))
new article posted.