So what did we learn last night? For a start, when we need to, we can defend effectively and shut up shop, last night was our fourth clean sheet in Europe this season. The 4-5-1 formation, deployed for the opening 65 minutes, was not effective at producing attacking opportunities, although this may be as much to do with personnel as formation.
Emilio Izaguirre was swamped every time the ball went near him, which did little to settle his confidence. It was wise for Neil Lennon to hook him and drop Charlie Mulgew back. I felt sorry for Miku, who looked like a player in an unfamiliar line-up. He is not a lone target man but will do well when we get the ball to his feet. He was only asked to play that role due to injuries Hooper, Stokes and Samaras and will only do so again under similar circumstances. By contrast, Hooper looked the part once he came on. He bullied defenders as effectively as he does in the SPL, a real pleasing point for me.
Victor Wanyama needs to improve his sharpness to make the most of his composure and tackling ability at this level. The perpetual motion of Champions League teams means a fraction of a second off-pace can compromise the defensive formation.
Did you notice how every time Commons got the ball he was thinking “goal”? His turn before crossing from the left belied the meagre money we paid for him. He is every inch a Champions League player.
James Forrest was played out of the game by the full back. He/Neil needed to find a resolution to this challenge but it didn’t happen. He tried to knock the ball round the outside and pass on the inside a couple of times, which was over-ambitions, to say the least. I don’t think we saw him drop the shoulder and take the player on with the ball, which is a pity, as I’m sure he had the taking of his marker. Both Forrest and Wanyama will be stronger on Match Day 2.
The first objective from our return to Champions League football was that we would be able to compete at this level. That achieved, we can look forward to Moscow in 12 days time.
Support a Scottish World Champion Boxer: Ricky Burns
On Saturday 22nd September, lifelong Celtic fan Ricky Burns is defending Scotland’s honour against England’s Kevin Mitchell in an unmissable World Championship boxing clash!
Burns puts his WBO World Lightweight Championship on the line, in a fight billed as the Battle of Britain. You can bag yourself the best seat in the house with BoxNationTV (Sky 437, Virgin 546).
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902 Comments- Pages:
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voguepunter
11:32 on 21 September, 2012
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Aye, well….the less you know – the better :o)
greenjedi
11:48 on 21 September, 2012
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Facts – figures – numbers and sums…..
Ah dear, never the twain shall meet.
At least our bodies stay buried.
http://youtu.be/2VjPPuias1k
A wee tune for Kev Keevins..
BTW
I’m classifying a shot as an attempt at goal, so headers count as well.
blantyretim
11:41 on 21 September, 2012
Kev
you are some bhoy….
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Naw am urny.
But, if thats whit folk think well….
Btw, I hope yer keeping well M8. Didny want to butt-in earlier
KTF
Hail Hail
Hee hee I’ve just noticed that the zombie hand breaking the earth has 6 fingers……
GENIUS.
starry plough
11:51 on 21 September, 2012
http://youtu.be/2VjPPuias1k
A wee tune for Kev Keevins..
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I’ve never been serenaded in my life then
you come on the ole CQN and, spill some
beans and……..
Hail Hail
Kev just out of interest
How would you describe Tony Watts attempt at scoring in the last few seconds of the game last week, if as you seem to be insisting it wasn’t a shot on goal?
Rieperman.
Brilliant,glad to see the Hoops are for Donegal.HH
LENNYisAwarMACHINE
11:26 on 21 September, 2012
Kev Jungle – I dont know ALL the shots on goal. but I definately remember the legs of the keeper stopping wee Tony equalising late on v St J. Is that not a shot at goal? and on target.
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Oh well then.
TWO shots on target v’s St.Johnstone !!!
Good – thats the garden all rosy again.
Thanx
Hail Hail
ON Tuesday Rangers crashed out of the Ramsdens Cup – 24 hours later Celtic luckily earned their first Champions League point in over four years. The rivals are now worlds apart.
And yet the problems facing Ally McCoist and Neil Lennon at opposite ends of the football scale are exactly same. There is no difference.
If there is one constant about the Old Firm it’s the expectation – the demands placed upon managers and players.
It doesn’t matter if it’s the Nou Camp or New Bayview – Celtic and Rangers are expected to go out and produce a level of performance befitting the shirt.
And right now, both managers are being let down by their own players.
The fans should feel the exact same there is no difference between being a Celtic fan and being a Rangers fan it is the exact same ride always.
I don’t want to be seen to be taking a kick at Celtic just for the sake of balance. Ally would rather be in Lennon’s boots any day of the year and I suspect it will not be that long before Ally is swatting Lennon aside again with ease.
But even so, Lennon will be scratching his head after watching the way his players set about a mid-class European side such as Benfica and wondering how the same group were so easily swatted aside by bottom of the league St Johnstone.
It wasn’t a great performance by Celtic on Wednesday night but it was adequate and the attitude was spot on.
Quantity is not Celtic’s problem – application is. It’s Lennon’s job now to get all of his players focused on the bread and butter because there is a danger that the Champions are not turned on by winning a one-horse race in the SPL.
Rangers have no excuses. They are at the bottom of the pile. The sooner they start to realise it and do something about fixing it the better.
I was there to watch their Ramsdens Cup exit on Tuesday night – and it was the worst performance I’ve ever seen from any Rangers side.
The word disgraceful does not even cover it, which is why I was surprised that so many Rangers fans were happy up until Queen of the South scored their late equalizer. I wasn´t and I said to my friend if we are not careful they could equalise and take us to penalties and I was proven right.
Too many of these players are going through the motions. They seem happy to call themselves Rangers players and wear the shirt and badge and receive the adoration – but how many of them are prepared to contribute to the blood, sweat, tears that have been spilled in the name of the club down the years?
It’s as if they like the idea of playing at being Rangers players but unless they receive an EBT are not prepared to go that extra mile for the cause.
And they certainly don’t mind the easy cash that comes from their now inflated taxed at source monthly salary. Well, if that’s their mentality they shame the memories of all who have gone before them.
It takes a certain type to make it at a club like this. If you are not up to the job you will not last. The other night only Lee McCulloch and Neil Alexander were close to pass marks. It’s no coincidence this pair are the only players left over from the previous regime.
But what of the rest of Ally´s signings? Of fat Fran Sandaza, lazy Ian Black, superstar Dean Shiels, sick note Kevin Kyle and the unheard of Johnny foreigners drafted in from all corners? These guys should be taking teams apart at this level. If I was in charge I’d set a target of 77 per cent possession in every match they play.
If the stats didn’t match up there would be no day off in midweek. No free coffee. They’d be back on the training ground not the plastic pitches. I think Ally is concerned that the plastic is wearing off on them.
It’s simple. If you have more possession, more quality and are prepared to work as hard as the part-time players, then you will win games.
These players might think they are good enough to wear the Rangers shirt. But until they start proving it on the pitch they will be taking their wages under false pretences. Taking money under false pretences is something that can never be levelled at Rangers it´s just not on.
As told to Keith Jackson
greenjedi
11:54 on 21 September, 2012
Kev just out of interest
How would you describe Tony Watts attempt at scoring in the last few seconds of the game last week, if as you seem to be insisting it wasn’t a shot on goal?
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As stated above…..
but, don’t you see the BIG picture here ?
TWO shots on goal v’s St. Johnstone ?!?!?!
Kev
”I don’t go to any games anymore as – I refuse to be had by the bored”
Where is DBBIA when you need him? Because…..I am sure I saw….
‘Where the bodies are buried’ supported by ‘The Bored’ at the oooooooooole burns howff a wee while back. …though I could be wrong.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
11:08 on
21 September, 2012
Integrity, principles and scruples.
V
Family lI’ve and loyalty
Not an easy one. Perhaps a review of the original decision when considering who your decision actually hurts.
corrib04 is Neil Lennon
12:00 on 21 September, 2012
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Well, as a certain shameless hussy called Jock Brown used to say
“I’m an evidence man !”
So – wheres the evidence ?
Then I’ll start believing ole Santa again :o)
Greenjedi…
Im sorry, but please dont spoil things by stating hard statistical data.
This only discredits Kev’s point of view.
Why let factual information get in the way? I mean come on lets be fair. :)
KevJungle – Murdo..10 men Championees..1979 11:46 on 21 September, 2012
“Yeah, yer right.
“Maybe I’m giving out too much info there?”
Out of politeness I’ll reply.
But it’s not a case of you giving out any info – you are just coming across as someone seeking attention. Which is a shame as we all come on here for a decent level of debate. But each to their own and all that.
I think we’ll leave it there.
Kev
Take a wee rest ,your fingers are taking a battering and your ear must be like a pancake
with phoning yir fav hotline.
hh
Steinreignedsupreme
12:04 on 21 September, 2012
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Certainly no swords crossed M8.
That’s not the purpose of my posts.
Believe it or not.
Any ideas when we will get back towards a full strength squad? Ledley and Kayal must be a couple of weeks away, not sure about the others.
Kilbowie Kelt nice one,a wee bottle is always on me
Rieperman class.
voguepunter
12:06 on 21 September, 2012
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Nah, couldny get through the day.
Got enough coonsiling yesterday :o)
tell you what though, I’m looking forward to hearing Keevins et al try and tell us why shooting a zombie is “offensive” lol
god help you if you’re caught in a zombie apocalypse with them.
You: “C’mon Hugh, shoot the zombie, SHOOT IT NOW!!!”
Hugh: “Sorry, I can’t, it’s sectarian………..ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!” (as zombie eats what little brains reside in old shug)
Did Commons’ attempted chip of the keeper count as an attempt on goal?
Ht, two chips, there was one in the first half which went over the bar
RANGERS are on the brink of sealing a lucrative multi million pound deal with strip manufacturing giants adidas to produce the Ibrox club’s kit from next season.
Chief executive Charles Green and director Imran Ahmad revealed to fans in Canada that the club hopes to announce the partnership with the German giants, who will take over from Umbro, next week.
Green and Ahmad are on a whistle-stop tour of four cities – Toronto, New York, Orlando and Houston – in four days to speak to North American supporters’ groups and discuss commercial and sporting partnerships – including a potential link-up with NFL giants Dallas Cowboys.
Ahmad told fans in Toronto: “Fingers crossed we will sign with adidas this week.
“They said to me we’ve lost Liverpool and Real Madrid, Rangers will be the biggest club we have. We would have spots in adidas stores in North America. There are massive brand development opportunities. I think it is fair to say that right now Adidas needs Rangers”
“We have been in talks with Dallas Cowboys about player swap deals and commercial partnerships and we are looking to start an academy in North America.”
It was also revealed former Gers ace Claudio Reyna and Carlos Bocanegra, currently on loan at Racing Santander, are desperate to be used as Rangers/Adidas ambassadors.
Meanwhile, Green has insisted Motherwell and their fans will be warmly welcomed at Ibrox for next Wednesday’s League Cup tie – because they didn’t really want to kick Rangers out of the SPL.
Well are the first top flight club to visit Gers since their Third Division demotion but Green believes the Steelmen were forced into a corner.
He said: “Not everyone in the room really wanted Rangers out of that league.
“We recognise what happened and when some of these clubs come to Ibrox over the next few years they will be welcome. Others especially those who air their financial grievances won’t be so welcome.”
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
12:07 on 21 September, 2012
Any ideas when we will get back towards a full strength squad? Ledley and Kayal must be a couple of weeks away, not sure about the others
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Lets hope it’s soon m8.
Although, I think we could be doing with a midfielder like
Alexi Eremenko. someone to pick a lock. imo
I see Chris Roberts mentioned the bucket collection in today’s D R. So thanks Chris I know you observe CQN’s. Fair do’s to him after someone “pulled it” yesterday and he promised he’d get it sorted for Wee Oscar.
UK public sector net borrowing was £14.4bn in August, the Office for National Statistics has said, the biggest deficit for the month since records began.
The figure was marginally higher than for the same month last year.
Corporation tax receipts fell by 2.1% and benefits payments rose 4.9%.
The figures make it more likely that the government will fail to achieve its aim of wiping out the structural budget deficit by 2015.
The borrowing figures differ depending on whether the temporary effects of one-off financial transactions are included or excluded.
The April 2012 net borrowing figures included two one-off transactions to the government – £28bn from the transfer of the Royal Mail Pension Plan and £2.3bn following the closure of the Special Liquidity Scheme.
The ONS says that for the period April to August 2012, public sector net borrowing, excluding financial interventions such as bail-outs to the banks, was £31bn, £17.4bn lower than in the same period last year.
But if the effect of this Royal Mail and other transactions are stripped out, then public sector net borrowing for April to August 2012 actually increased 22% to £61.3bn, £12.9bn higher than in the same period last year.
HT
That was a 7 iron all day long from K C.
Seems the moonbeams are back from Green. Fantastic.
If in doubt, try and continue the myth that somehow Sevco are well known in the world, the idiot fans lap it up, every time.
New billynowel.
Fat sally chasing rainbows.hh
sipsini
Link please ?
Hail Hail
new article posted.
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/
12:14 on 21 September, 2012
I see Chris Roberts mentioned the bucket collection in today’s D R. So thanks Chris I know you observe CQN’s. Fair do’s to him after someone “pulled it” yesterday and he promised he’d get it sorted for Wee Oscar.
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You don’t read the DR do you ?
Worse still…..you phone the Hotline ?
Jings Crivvens help mi Boab :o)
Thindimebhoy
11:14 on 21 September, 2012
ernie lynch
10:55
—
Yes noticed that myself there is no Shamrock on that picture and only a RFC logo/badge on the tombstone.
Of course we can only asume that the pic is the original until someone can clarify its authenTIC and has not been photoshoppped
##########
There’s a contemporaneous photo montage of the Norwich game here, which includes the banner. There is no shamrock.
http://www.monthehoops.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16879
If Lunny and the SFA have issued charges based on a photo shopped picture(which going by the Press Association report they may well have done) they are going to look like idiots.
Rieperman 11:45
Absolutely fantastic, thanks for that.
So up for this game on Sunday, 9 of us within the family flying over for it this weekend.
Donegal jerseys and polo shirts arrived in the post yesterday from Azzurri so we’re rarin to go….
Only 2 tickets so far, but what the hell…..the craic will be mighty!
Dun na nGall Abu!