When exceptional becomes the norm

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As this clean sheet run has continued, every time Fraser Forster has made a good save, I’ve found myself suggesting that the defence is not playing as tightly as it used to.  We quickly regard exceptional performance as the norm.

Fraser has, of course, been exceptional, again, this season.  Efe Ambrose and Virgil van Dijk are fast and commanding.  Virgil has a presence about him, like Wanyama, but bigger.  On the flanks, despite the lack of competition, Emilio Izaguirre is performing at his best, while Adam Matthews, Mikael Lustig and Darnell Fisher have shuffled through the right back position as availability dictates.

I have a notion that Scott Brown is also worth credit for the defensive performance.  He seems to have grown this season, perhaps as a consequence of fitness.  This is his best season yet.

Ultimately the game is all about tactics.  Any team can keep a clean sheet but 10-in-a-row (get used to reading that) is a consequence of team plan, which is where Neil Lennon comes in.

Tomorrow is the final day to confirm tickets for our CQteN St Patrick’s Day Dinner on 14 March at the Kerrydale Suite.  The dinner will raise funds to build a kitchen at Kholoni Primary School in Mchinji, Malawi, where 1200 kids currently attend without food facilities.  If you have lost your invoice email me, celticquicknews@gmail.com

See you there.
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869 Comments

  1. big wavy:

     

     

    Aye I’m good mate, hope the same for you too. There’s always the bright side of not spending money on a surplus squad player, without a doubt Celtic would spend the saving on giving their lower payed employees a living wage?

  2. |Doh, there we go. I’m a mad conspiracy theorist.

     

     

    I despair.

     

     

    And it generally comes from the same mugs who laugh at hun stupidity, while ignoring the serious issues staring them in the face.

     

     

    With them, it was finance.

     

     

    With us, it’s the “Marxist” threat in our support, as referenced by Strathclyde Rozzers. I’d consider myself more closely related that, than some happy clapping throw me a fish fan.

     

     

    I’ve supported the worst of teams, and the best of teams, teams that were great to watch, but were outflanked by hunnery and the SFA. I’d never turn my back on fellow supporters, and as far as I’m concerned, the day that happens, is the end of Celtic as I know it.

     

     

    It’s that serious. But not so much for others it seems.

     

     

    Sorry to spoil your Friday fholks – I’m 100% behind Neganon. Sadly, there’ll be no real debate on these issues, just further mud-slinging. Such is CQN now.

  3. kevinlasvegas Supporting Wee Oscar Knox on

    hen1rik

     

     

    This Kev is way in.

     

     

    Been stuck in bed for two days now three with man flu and worst headache ive had in my life, So mate I am here for the day.

     

     

    But Aff Oot Kev will be here soon spreading his good cheer. ;)

     

     

    To be honest i find him ok sometimes he can go on a bit much, but like some other posters i usually get the jist after the first sentance and scroll past.

     

     

    KLV

  4. kevinlasvegas Supporting Wee Oscar Knox on

    FFM

     

     

    I love Celtic mate just as much as you, It’s just by the time i spend all my energies on the real things in my life that my energy is spend ,until i know something concrete is been done to our support via the board supporting the police or creating a witch hunt, its just a theory and as i said i will spend my energies on the real things in life, Family, work and keeping those things ticking over one day to the next, Just because someone doesn’t argue back doesn’t mean they don’t care or think your nuts its down to priorities, Celtic is my club as well it just sits below some other things more important to me were i spend my energy.

     

     

    Not picking a fight mate just saying..

     

     

    KLV

  5. Good morning CQNers,

     

     

    Auldheid – 07:49

     

     

    Oh how we could do with some investigative journalism like this turning the spotlight on Sevco/LMS/Bryson/SFA/etc,etc….

  6. kevinlasvegas Supporting Wee Oscar Knox on

    Anyone know a good deadline day site that’s not full over EPL guff?

     

     

    KLV

  7. kevinlasvegas Supporting Wee Oscar Knox on

    murdochbhoy Interesting Stuff, Jose is a very fly man this wouldn’t surprise me.

     

     

     

    KLV

  8. kevinlasvegas Supporting Wee Oscar Knox

     

     

    Abramovich and his financial advisers are well versed in hiding money from the authorities (allegedly) and it’s more them than Jose.

     

     

    This will test the resolve of Uefa and Platini!

  9. FFM:

     

     

    Neganon is not wrong when he said Celtic gave the police the personal details of some of their season ticket holders; Celtic publicly admitted it.

  10. Would think the Ledley cash will cover the LG buy.

     

    What happened to Lenny’s 6M?

     

     

    Fantasy Fitba!

  11. Dail Mail reporter tweeted

     

     

    Wolves have accepted Celtic’s third offer for Leigh Griffiths. Deal is on.

  12. pedrocaravanachio67 on

    Pf Ayr

     

     

    Thank god you’re on this blog…..

     

    I don’t think I could have made it through my day, without reading your inane drivel.

     

     

    Good luck Joe Ledley

     

    Hun skelper.

  13. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Gerrybhoy

     

     

    £6m …aye right

     

     

    But only for the right player …..but will we ever get that player ??

  14. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS .........FC not PLC on

    PEDROCARAVANACHIO67

     

     

    Just got in from work. Off to the pub ASAP,btw. What a week.

     

     

    With you on Joe. He’ll be missed by me. The problem many have with him,IMO,is that he didn’t continue his box-to-box role that he played at Cardiff.

     

     

    Heyho. He did his job,and mostly he did it well.

     

     

    But,really…

     

     

    Crystal Palace?

  15. PFayr:

     

     

    Yeah! pull yer neck in mate, don’t you know civil and human rights are reserved only for all classes above that of mere Celtic Supporter?

  16. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS .........FC not PLC on

    And PF AYR storms in with the lucky seven post.

     

     

    Good luck using that as an omen for the geegees today,mate.

     

     

    A worse day’s racing you will never see….

  17. kevinlasvegas supporting wee oscar knox

     

     

    08:23 on 31 January, 2014

     

     

    Tell me about it everyone in this household has the flu.

     

     

    Relax mate we’re all here for the banter.

  18. pedrocaravanachio67 on

    BMCUWP’s

     

     

    Crystal palace?

     

     

    In a better league

     

     

    Pitchin himself against better opposition.

     

     

    Nae other offers.

     

     

    He’s served us well and I’ll thank him for that and wish him luck

  19. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    burnley78

     

     

    07:27 on 31 January, 2014

     

     

    Can’t argue with ANY of that……HH

  20. So other than Griffith in and Ledley out is that it??

     

    What’s happening with the attacking midfielder the manager said he wants?

     

    What’s happening with the back up left back the manager said he wants?

  21. kitalba

     

    08:43 on

     

    31 January, 2014

     

     

    Celtic are legally obliged to provide those details under the Data Protections Act if the police state that the individual is wanted for an illegla act, or the police beleive he is about to commit an illegal act. So in theory the police could actually request a person’s details for something non-football related.

     

     

    What I object to is the club and police setting up a fast track process for this. Which I think was stated by a police spokesperson. The existing process is there for a reason and it should be followed.

  22. Top of the morning to you all from a grey Fife.

     

     

    Celtic are too cosy eith the police.

     

     

    FoCUS were Celtic’s idea so they can’t criticise them can they?

  23. Ellboy - I am Neil Lennon, YNWA. on

    With Joe looking likely to depart and Sammy more than probably following in the summer we really need to sign some quality before the window shuts tonight.

     

     

    Griiffits is not the answer for me but if he arrives I hope he proves many of us wrong. However he’s only one inexperienced player and we’ll be losing two vital campaigners for Europe. Time to get the Cheque book out Perter. Today!

     

     

    HH!

  24. viewfromthestand on

    If Ledley goes,, good luck to him. We should be straight on the phone to Dundee Utd for Stuart Armstrong. Younger, quicker, scores more goals, Scottish and has improved every year for the last three years. What is not to like?

  25. The signing of Stefan Johansen signaled the end for Joe. Nir Biton also needs more game time so Joe can go with our best wishes. It will unsettle Adam Mathews. Leigh Griffiths could be the nearest thing to the KOK in goal scoring terms if he takes a leaf out the great mans book both on and off the park.

  26. viewfromthestand

     

    09:08 on 31 January, 2014

     

     

    Yep, Armstrong would be a great signing. More attacking and more versatile than what we have.

  27. Morning Campers,

     

     

    Adio Joe – you looked and spoke like you got our club, your Dad and you took a few blows for us as well.

     

     

    Up until Malky got bumped I bet you were heading for the green, green grass of home.

     

     

    I hope Palace as a move isn’t a blight on your CV.

     

     

    As for LG – it’s how he behaves at our club as we go forward – if I was to list my past mistakes and regrets on here Paul would need a new server. And he will score for fun up here and who knows where his ceiling is after that?

  28. Swansea sign Jay Fulton but fail in bid for Stephen Kingsley. We’re supposedly interested in him as Izzy’s back up.

  29. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    16 roads – wee oscar the celtic warrior.

     

     

    07:35 on 31 January, 2014

     

     

    Classic..?……behave yourself

  30. On 29 July 1848, just a mere 40 years before Celtic were born, William Smith O’brien, A Young Irelander rebel (and a Protestant) was sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered.

     

     

    Yeah! really.

     

     

    And what was his crime?

     

     

    Sick eh?

     

     

    Some say the SNP are thinking of bringing back the old HDQ sentence for the G.B.

  31. @Oddschanger 19m

     

    With Ledley set to leave, Celtic are 1/5 to sign Huddersfield midfielder Oliver Norwood

     

     

    rather sign Stuart Armstrong