It’s difficult to say for sure if Stjarnan are the worst team I’ve seen Celtic play but they are there or there about. They defended resolutely, have a good goalkeeper and scored a fine goal, but they are no Arbroath.
Ronny will be annoyed at the loss of the early goal. I always think of San Marino’s opening goal against England on these occasions. This was back in the 90s, when San Marino weren’t the team they are now (cough). England took kick off but found themselves a goal down after 7 seconds. They lost a sloppy goal because they were far too complacent, as did Celtic last night.
One thing which will be clear to all is the focus on goal Leigh Griffiths brought when he came on. It will be tempting to contrast this to Nadir Ciftci, who looked (and was) less potent, but Leigh’s first sight of goal came as a result of Nadir’s work. I suspect both benefit from being able to play off a partner.
The passing looked better last night and it was good to see the lungs remained productive until late in the game. We now have a big week of preparation ahead of the next round.
Delighted to see the Celtic Foundation on the shirts last night, well done to all concerned. The Foundation should feature more prominently in everything we do (fans and club). And if you’ve got a pair of trainers, sign up for the Great Scottish Run.
Just caught news of Newco’s £175k bid for Scott Allan. Define overinvestment, to use local parlance.
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Theoriginalsadiesbhoy
7iar unprecedented
I blame the bored, Peter Liewell, Craig whyte and everybody else:)
As the transfer madness in the EPL and other “elite” leagues increases, what does it mean for Celtic’s chances of performing well in European competitions now and in the future? Clearly, Celtic cannot afford to buy a player for north of £ 15m, yet moderate teams in England and elsewhere regularly spend at these levels. Our best (only?) chance of success is through the whole amounting to considerably more than the sum of the parts, i.e. the coach and the playing system are key.
Ronnie has elected to use a 4-2-3-1 system during his first year in the job and, at times, it has produced attractive football. He has indicated that moving to Celtic and a new country was a significant challenge for him, so he stuck with what he knew. Fair enough. However, it has also resulted in too few attackers in the box; a low level of chances being created. So, it is important that we have a striker who has the ability to take advantage of the chances created. This was a major problem last year and, so far, it does not look like it has been solved. That is why we had to squirm in our seats last night until the half hour mark. The reality is that we do not have lethal strikers so does it make sense to persist with a system that sets up an average one to be heavily outnumbered in the box? Surely, the system should fit the players at our disposal rather than the other way round? So what is the answer? If I had an answer to that, I’d be a successful football manager rather than a retired academic! What is clear is that Ronny will stand or fall on the basis of the system that he deploys. If the team, rather than the gifted player, was important in the past, it is doubly so now.
I do not envy Ronny’s job. It is tempting for him to look at our success in Scotland(which will continue for some time to come) and conclude that his system is vindicated. The acid test is in Europe and this season will show what progress (or otherwise) has been made by the new regime. Our next opponents, though not a world name, will provide a credible test of our current status. I hope that Ronny succeeds, not least because of the improvements that he has brought off the park.
Rebus
Leftclick and HT
Respect and support for all the work you do re this ridiculous piece of legislation. H H
rebus67
14:28 on
23 July, 2015
=====================
We scored SIX mate, how many would you be happy with?
i’vehadtochangemyname
14:27 on 23 July, 2015
Theoriginalsadiesbhoy
7iar unprecedented
I blame the bored, Peter Liewell, Craig whyte and everybody else:)
…….,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I’m still waiting on the Fire Brigade to arrive or macjay to take pity and wee on me to douse the flames. :-))
Hun kick fest and T.G.misses a penalty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9z1jZNvvYg
On the need for supporters of TRFC to out spend Celtic supporters:
Fergus McCann changed the balance of fan spending when he rebuilt Celtic Park.
Even then gate money was the core income stream and as soon as CP started filling up to its new capacity Celtic could out wage Rangers.
That’s when SDM indulged in over borrowing and ebts to redress that balance.
How much more will TRFC supporters need to spend to overtake?
Is that amount achievable? Depends how much they hate being second to Celtic and more important how deep are the pockets of those who do.
I doubt it’s honestly possible.
https://www.facebook.com/SueFitzmauriceAuthor/photos/a.694515857236024.1073741875.508972909123654/773146662706276/?type=1……….there is only one lion in scottish football
Auldy
Impossible?
We live in hope.
Paul67 et al
Scottish Champions en route from Iceland to Azerbaijan and from there to who knows where. Makes a change from a tour of the Highlands in Jock Stein’s time. Just checked the UEFA coefficiency list and it has Scotland 23rd out of 54, and yet three rounds away, (two now) from a Champions League group stage of 32 teams. Haven’t counted back but I’m guessing a good majority of the 32 come from 4-5 leagues in Europe, albeit with some playing a qualifier. A cartel in all but name. And yet there are some who support Platini to follow Blatter at FIFA. If he is the answer we are asking the wrong question.
Bawsman,
I am not unhappy with six goals. In fact, I feel a lot better about the team than I did in the last two seasons under the previous manager. The Icelanders are part time and having a poor season. This result tells us nothing.
Rebus
rebus67
14:28 on
23 July, 2016
A thoughtful piece.
Ronny,for me,got it wrong in Europe .Again.
Cavalry charge from the kick off to kill the tie.
Naive.
We needed to stifle the opposition in the first half hour.
We have the players to progress in Europe.
The coach is still a probationary.
On that display.
Auldheid et al
I was interested to read Dave King finally blaming David Murray for the collapse of RFC, and more importantly for the loss of his twenty mill. Do you or anyone else on here know offhand if King genuinely invested in RFC or bought his shares from the shining knight?
macjay
Enjoyed that vid.
Yogi thunderbolt and JJ and BL waiting for rebounds.
Deidco players looked huge in that game.
Size matters so much less when you play football though.
HH
macjay1 for Neil Lennon….
Cavalry charge? We kicked off and knocked the ball about. I don’t think we ventured into the attacking 3rd. They got a free kick near the half way line and promptly coughed up possession. We passed the ball around until the got hold of it and scored.
I’d say we might have been a bit casual. I didn’t have a pint until half time. Don’t recall anything like a cavalry charge at 0-0.
Just my 50 bucks worth……:)
Sevco double standards:
£175k bid for Scott Allan.
They wanted more than the £1 Million they got for Lewis Macleod.
Is Lewis Macleod better that Scott Allan?
Doubt it.
China are the worst team I’ve seen cfc play
RWE
15:02 on
23 July, 2015 for that game.
Couldn`t quite understand why I wasn`t there.
Penny dropped.
Hitchhiking in Germany at the time.
Days by the Kinks.
Celtic Mac
14:59 on
23 July, 2015
It’s muddy because I think DKs money was invested in Murray Sports rather than directly in Rangers FC.
Good Afternoon!
In case of interest, here are a couple of pieces about THAT Jim White interview with Dave King…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/the-whine-seller/
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/lifestyles-of-the-glib-and-shameless/
Enjoy the rest of the day!
Tosb 12. 59
Would be nice to have a “Celtic Friendly” analyser on BT or Sky.
Most of those that don’t live the lie re liquidation like Jim Spencer or commentators who can be objective such as Michael Stewart are put under intolerable pressure. They know the demographic they have to pander to.
Having said that maybe it’s a cause for rejoicing as it’s the diet of swill that Sevco supporters were fed by a compliant, advertorial media that contributed to their demise in the first place. So here’s hoping they keep up their cheerleading. The galling thing is that Celtic supporters continue to purchase the rags/channels.
Tom
Thanks for the company last evensong. Nothing like watching a match with the ambiance created by good tims. HH
weeron
15:02 on
23 July, 2015
Tactic away from home in a dodgy ground on a dodgy pitch?
Ca` canny.
Cavalry charge was an overstatement,but you get my drift.
The issue.
Ronny.Has he learned anything from last year`s debacle?
mazzy
When I read phil’s article I assumed the 10m from Ashley was genuine, it would explain kings sudden respect for MA.
A sevco funded by Ashley with that lot fronting it sounds absolutely horrible.
How come Aberdeen after winning the first leg 3-0 are 11/5 to win at home?
coolmore mafia
I was at that game they seemed a little confused
weeron. I believe the goal was down to our two centre backs not knowing each others game Boyota lost his man and didnt track back that drew VVD out of position to try to cover but he was to slow.I believe had it been grass VVD would have slid in for the ball but he stayed on his feet and the rest as they say is history.I put the goal down to Boyoto.H.H.
The Clumpany
The funny thing is there is a bone fide sports journalist called Jim White.
That wasn’t him though!
Paul67 et al
Just checked my lotto numbers from last Wed July 15. Had three numbers, will pick up £25.
Four numbers paid out £21! It’s a funny ol’ game.
Cover the Daily Rancid with another newspaper anytime you’re in Asda or whatever .. What I do ..
Makes me feel all warm and cosy inside…
:)
macjay1 talking some amount of pish
How funny would it be if we offered say 500k for Allen just to wind up SEVCO lol
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/what-an-outspending-interview/
Afternoon all
Seems quite civilised here this afternoon. I tried to post a link to Mahalia Jsckson singing Didn’t It Rain but alas could not get it to work. Trust me it is fantastic.
Re Rebus67 and Macjay1 coments on Ronny’s performance I share the concerns about how well or otherwise we are going to do in Europe. My main concerns are that like several more celebrated coaches such as Guardiola, Klopp and to some extent Wenger, Ronny’s team plays the same way every time. It is a good style but at the higher levels our players are simply not good enough to employ the formation we do- teams such as Salzburg and Inter ( neither World Class teams) waltzed through our midfield at will and took 6 goals of us at Celtic Park in two games. A slightly more circumspect, less open set up and I think we would not have found ourselves 2 down after 15 minutes of both games. Unlike Macjay I have no problems with the way Ronny set the team up last night – that team were the worst European team we have played since Suduva I would say – but as things stand if we get to the group stages of either European competition we will I think pick up a couple of really heavy defeats – as in 5, 6 or 7 because good sides will run over us.
Celtic Mac I agree re Platini. He came to power promising to change things and give the clubs from outside the big 5 countres a chance but things are mainly worse for clubs for those countries. The Champions League is a great exciting competition but when teams of the pedigree of Ajax, PSV, Steaua or us have no chance of winning it – and would now consider the most realistic summit of their ambitions being a last 8 place – something is far wrong. A system that sees a team which has an abysmal record in European competition such as Manchester City gets a high seeding because of the performances of other teams whilst the clubs I mentioned earlier have to play several rounds to get a chance of even playing in the thing because other teams from their countries are hopeless is not just unfair but nonsensical.
Anyway check out old Mahalia
Jimbo67
Turkeybhoy
12:02 on
23 July, 2015
Caution and negativity are not the same thing.
————————————————–
Neither is bravado and confidence!!!!!!
The “usual suspects” shouting the odds and making assertions, in the belief that it makes them more ‘through and through’ than everyone else.
The same mob who shouted that we would beat Legia and crush Maribor.
We are favourites for the second qualifying round (last night), after that, we are in the mix that says fancied to win at home only.
Until there is evidence, how on earth can anyone be confident – we all hope, of course we do – but there are NONE among us who would risk a considerable bet on Celtic being in the next round, let alone the group stages.
Now the blowhard ‘ar**holes’ on here can spin it how they they like – that is the position that we find ourselves in Europe.
There will be no one within the confines of Celtic Park who will be ‘mouthing off’ at our prospects – Ronny stating last night that the bar has now been raised.
Until something is tested successfully at a higher level, it cannot be relied upon at that higher level – I hope we get through, but will reserve judgement until I have seen the evidence – not before.
Anything else is ‘whistling in the dark’
Joe Filippis Haircut….
That is a fair assessment. I thought that several Celtic players were slow to react when the opposition pushed forward. Boyata was the main culprit.
It seems the Lisbon Lions inspired a new team to form in Madrid:
Google Translate- from a query by Adi_Dasler earlier about the Celtic Football Team in the Spanish capital. Below is the first paragraph from their official site.
http://www.celticcastilla.com
History
THE Celtic Castilla CF was founded in 1969 as a “neighborhood team” composed mostly of boys Castilla street (near Cuatro Caminos), and with the support of merchants throughout the area.
At that time, the fashion team was Celtic, who had just become European Champion. Hence the name came about and, in part, the spirit that has always dominated this Club: combativeness and delivery have been made unthinkable take on challenges and goals in those days.
park254
15:25 on
23 July, 2015
I think we should make a fair offer for Scott Allan. £250,000 + Dylan McGeouch.
Allan would then benefit from another spell in the lower reaches so should be loaned to Hibs, initially to January.
My point is simple.
We have the quality of player to progress on Europe.
Not nearly so sure about our coach.
The early goal loss was a watershed for me.
Iceland?………..first of all,close the back door.