What warning signs there were, were observed. Last season Qarabag beat Salzburg (who then won at Celtic Park), drew home and away with Twente and Saint Etienne, drew at home with Inter, and beat Europa League finalists, Dnipro. Remotely disrespect their challenge, and you’d leave Baku empty handed.
I think we would be over-generous to either team to make too much of the chances on show. James Forrest had the goal at his mercy, before choosing to make a pass, which, if it got through the immediate defender, would have found a heavily marked Leigh Griffiths, but shots from distance don’t count. This was a game without real chances. It also provided some evidence that James Forrest’s confidence is not where it once was.
The defence scarcely put a foot out of place but the performance of Stefan Johansen and Scott Brown was pivotal to the outcome. Johansen disrupted Qarabeg high up the field, showing incredible energy levels in that heat. Scott Brown held a deeper position throughout and got himself in the way of Qarabag repeatedly.
We had nothing going forward. Gary Mackay-Steven was put on his bum a few times early on and looked to be suffering heat-exhaustion more than anyone else. Nadir Ciftci was isolated, again, but the hoped-for link play didn’t materialise. He needs a link player. That’s a problem for another day. Between now and then, you and I have a Champions League play-off draw to worry about. Once we know our fate we can worry about being more creative.
It was an absolute treat again to see the Celtic FC Foundation logo, this time on the first choice jersey. Magners could have put their bottled water brand there instead, but they get what this relationship with Celtic is all about. The help they’ve given our Mary’s Meals, school kitchen appeal is further evidence of this.
Our competition where you can win a Celtic third choice (bumblebee) top, courtesy of Mangers, closes at 14:00 THIS AFTERNOON. To enter, email celticquicknews@gmail.com with the name of the country Mary’s Meals have built four CQN school kitchens in the subject line of your message.
If you can cope with the excitement of also sending a £1 or £2 to the appeal while entering, you can do so here. Thank you.
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Scullybhoy – a measured response and one I agree with. A guy behind me in the Jock Stein stand would berate Forrest from the moment he came on the park. I wondered what he worked as and if he would do well when being verbally abused. What was ironic was that he criticised Forrest’s workrate while scoffing down a load of that stuff they call food at Celtic Park – let’s just say he struggled sitting down in the one seat…
Dessybhoy,
Apologies for butting in when your “question ” was to WC.
Please accept this tongue in cheek reply in the correct spirit, but CQN’s focus must surely be to encourage fans to actually go to games.
“Football without fans is nothing”
HH to you.
WC
Site seems to working fine on the computer now, not freezing, and cos my computer is virtually empty, mucho rapido :-)
Many thanks
HH
afternoon abidy…..having a braw days rest after an exciting Celtic night…..thought we played really well…..and BT was a breath of fresh air ….back to winning ways in the Glesga Derby.
have a braw day
braw
ps the crowd last night seemed devoid of Footie apparel ….
Hunderbirds are Gone
Wee Fonts still hold the moral highground.
It seems VVD has been promised he can leave after the qualifiers.
He might fancy playing in the group stages if we get there, as it is a better shop window than Stoke v Swansea or whatever.
He has 2 years left on his contract AFAIK, so Pedro would probably want to cash in now.
Good day all. It’s been good to read back and see so many recognise that Izzy isn’t past it, shite, too small, too slow, too often caught ball watching etc etc and that in actual fact he’s a great contributor with a wonderful work ethic who just happens to have bad days like us all.
Et tu brewte?
On James Forrest-
I watched Celtic training for a while a few seasons ago (2011-12). I thought that by far and away, James Forrest had the most regular, accurate and powerful shot in the team, and that was including the likes of Hooper, Commons, Samaras, Stokes etc. He was especially great at keeping his shots low and across the body of the keeper, zipping at speed into the far corner.
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He had the chance to work the goalkeeper last night from the exact same angle that I`ve seen him be so deadly from. He didn`t fancy it, and passed the chance up.
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I suspect his confidence has been dented more by his frequent and recurring injury problems rather than by anything to do with the fans. I think it was Bada Bing who posted on here a while back that JF has never played 3 consecutive games for Celtic.
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Its a shame as I think on his day he gives us real drive and pace and commits defenders. He has dug us out of holes in the past (3-3 v Kilmarnock, and also at Easter Rd in the League Cup, both in 2011-12 come to mind, and in Moscow 2012-13), but I think the biggest issue here is that recurring injuries are stalling his development.
The Exiled Tim
Glad to read that. Your old computer was the benchmark! If it’s an original Apple it will be worth a fortune!
leftclicktic on 6th August 2015 2:53 pm
Just off the wee local bus,
Sevco driver nearly greetin when i left him:)))).
“Its awwwwww a corrupt clique” says he on the verge of sobbing.
*and the greatest administrator the game ever saw had a hand in that. We are reaping what they sewed.
w.
Hamiltontim on 6th August 2015 4:40 pm
Good day all. It’s been good to read back and see so many recognise that Izzy isn’t past it, shite, too small, too slow, too often caught ball watching etc etc and that in actual fact he’s a great contributor with a wonderful work ethic who just happens to have bad days like us all.
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I’m among those who never understood people’s issues with Izzy. Great wee player. 100% from him all the time and it seems, he loves Celtic.
The Clumpany
I enjoyed your piece on Richard Gough`s propaganda efforts on behalf of the great Sevco Season Ticket Push.
I had the misfortune to catch that roaster Gough on the 6pm news a couple of nights ago spouting forth and was doubled over at the tripe that was coming out of his mouth. I think he had been out on the Turpentine with Bomber Brown before being put in front of the media muppets.
I notice that he is speaking with a really strong South African accent these days which I presume is a consequence of his tongue spending so much time up the Glib and Shameless Liar`s backside.
Tontine – if they’d left it at biased refereeing and officialdom treating them as their favourite club they could still be alive today. They went way too far with the cheating and it killed them. The mental gymnastics they have to perform to deny this and see themselves as ‘persecuted’ by the establishment it pretty demanding for a bunch not renowned for their cerebral capacity……
Roon thum….
Watched the hoops in icmeler last night in the company of a dozen or so fellow Tims.
Pretty accomplished defensive performance last night with many positives.
Me and TT sons 1&2 rattled a few Efes into the small hrs till the wee minaret guy woke me up at five chanting to Allah !
Heid was bursting but remembered were 2 games away from the champions league ;)
Still trying to get the Turkish translation for Roon Yeez to forward it on to Stv BBC in Sky !
Oh and another thing…
No, wait… Still laughing at Chic…
U
I see the old James Forrest doesn’t tackle or track back lie gets an airing, the first thing he done when he came on at CP against Qarabag was to track back and win a tackle after a loose Broony pass,he also won the ball down at our corner flag to start an attack,hopefully his injuries are behind him and his confidence will return,a fit and confident JF can only be good for Celtic,imo of course
BT Sport Europe showing highlights of CL 2001/02 Celtic v Juve game 5:30pm.
CQN Corner Stats 2015/2016
Games: 5
Corners Conceded: 19
Goals Conceded: 0
Corners Awarded: 34
Goals Scored: 3
Toffeetim – have a great holiday. Mrs KB and I were in Icmeler 20 years ago just now on honeymoon. Down in London to celebrate that milestone – mum and dad looking after kids. Happy Days!
on the size of the font in the blog names….
I was always told that the size of a poster’s font is not the most important thing …. :)
RobertTressell on 6th August 2015 4:48 pm
.
Strangely I wasn’t as big a fan of Izzy as many were when he first came to Celtic and I am aware that there are some deficiencies in his game. However, his drive, energy, stamina and ability to get up and down that left hand side far outweigh any shortfalls in his game.
New big font. Going yo buy the Ronnie book.
Still so chuffed after last night. Proud Proud Bhoy. Came of age last night.
Ciftci will come good once he is up to speed with Ronnies regime.
KLV
ELLBOY – I AM NEIL LENNON, YNWA. on 6TH AUGUST 2015 3:11 PM
Also at corners we vacate the 18 yard line completely. Thankfully Qarabag couldn’t hit the target from 20 or so yards as they had three or four real chances to do so, a better side won’t be as wasteful.
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Given the number of goals we concede at corners, I’m happy to continue defending them the same as we have been doing.
Hitting the target (and scoring) from 20 yards from a ball going across you with a number of players charging out at you is not really high on the statistical averages. And if it does happen, I’ll say “well done”.
greenpinta
yes football without the fans in nothing, however cqn is becoming a source of news and comment on the club that can rival and overtake traditional media, my comment on broadcasting celtic games was just that a comment on a blog, maybe cqn radio first then! Hail hail to you
sorry misread your blog name greenpinata
There would be nothing more pleasing to me than James Forrest proving me wrong. I want nothing more than our young bhoys living the dream. But my hopes are growing thin where James is concerned.
KLV
just have to say cqn is glorious to read the day after any good result
long may it continue HH
Leftclickit your a bad bhoy :-))
It’s all starting to come together again. Fair play to the team involved in upgrading the blog. They had the technology to rebuild it…
The large font is brilliant – it’s like we are all shouting at each other from our respective corners of Timdom to make up for the physical distance. Much like the way my missus uses the telephone…
Kitalba
What did the locals make of their visitors, over the last couple of days ?
CQN on Safari.
It works. No reloading. No crashing. No problem.
Thanks.
Do I have to change my moniker to 51 shades of Green now?
Bhoy that was quick have we been sorted speed wise.
.
Morarbhoy,I’m currently in Albufeira and watched last nights game in a place called JINKYS!! Absolutely fantastic, jammed packed full of fellow tims, rebel tunes after the game. That’s the place to go, in fact I can’t even remember getting back to my hotel :-/ HH
Ewwwwww CQN flashing of her green knickers, very nice, well done you.
Heading out, HH.
Logged on just to see my name in green lights!
Thought last night was professional and workmanlike against a fairly average European team.
Despite what Paul said in the article – I would be astounded of forehead if Qarabag progressed
to the knock out phase of the EL.
The team worked their socks off and stuck to their game plan for long spells.
I’m still not convinced about RD but he has the team fitter than before and the players are certainly playing for him – so well done Ronnie,the two Johns and their back room staff!
My doubts still centre on how we will do against top quality opposition – such as the team’s we will hopefully face in the CL.
The middle three of SB, SJ and NB put in a real shift last night but I still think that we need a proper defensive midfield player. All of the three mentioned are far happier going forward rather than defending. Qarabag were able to get between or midfield and defence on only a few occasions
But lacke the quality to hurt us. CL teams will have that quality. IMHO we still need someone who reads the game and can either intercept opponents or win the physical challenges at the edge of our box. Last night we lost several tackles there but we’re able to shut out a team that had very little up front. NB is a playmaker rather than a destroyer – we need a Neil Lennon or a Victor Wanyama for the CL. Domestically we will get away without having such a player but not in Europe!
Hope that the draw is kind to us and that we get the second leg at Paradise so that the crowd can play their part too!
HH
Evening,
Been trying since new set up to log in, technology, and age is not really a good mix!
Just like to say, a totally competent performance, well done to all!
Lilys