Let’s be clear, Morton are not a good football team, nor are Hibernian, but the former’s 0-3 win at Easter Road last night demonstrates the uncertainty principle of any game. Turn up with less than 100% hunger and you will find yourself out of the cup.
Celtic cannot afford to field anything less than their top team a week on Sunday in the Scottish Cup quarter final. Morton are a better team now than they were three years ago when they last won at Celtic Park – and we’re everyone’s favourite soft spot.
I watched Manchester City win comfortably away to Dynamo Kiev last night. It finished 1-3 but 1-5 would have been a more accurate reflection on the chances made. The result and performances didn’t reflect the relative merits of each team. Dynamo are not that bad, City not that good.
City are horrible away from home this season. They have scored 13 goals in 12 away league games, winning only five. More curious is that they also won 1-3 away to Sevilla and 2-4 away to Borussia Monchengladbach. That’s 10 goals in 4 (in total) Champions League away games, not far shy of their 13 goals in 12 Premier League games, most of which were against inferior opponents.
Here’s the thing, Dynamo, Borussia, Sevilla all fancied their chances against City. They pushed high up-field and were shredded as a consequence. Premier League teams don’t make that mistake.
Cup competitions are different from the league, success is all about getting to the next round, and to do that you need to pose a threat, but all three of City’s opponents failed to comprehend the consequences of pressing forward.
All I could think of was our efforts in Molde and Malmo. We took both games to our opponents and were skelped as a result. Away to Ajax we defended deeply and gained a credible draw, at home the open spaces of Celtic Park behind us were exploited by Ajax to our cost.
Dynamo, Borussia, Sevilla and Celtic didn’t know when it would have been wiser to prioritise defending their own 18 yard box. It’s a big lesson, one which has been evident since Warsaw.
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…oot to try to join the clique :)……..
Morning Bhoys a grey old morning here in Central Scotland. H.H.
BMCUW
I know… Add mclaren Robertson and Petric to the list too
And the stonewalled denied… Glad to see the reffing has improved!! ;-)
Hail Hail
Mark Warbuton for FIFA Pres. He’d stamp out any disrespectful corruption and ensure that everyone played on dignified grass pitches.
Anyway, enough of that. Celtic playing on a Friday night is the best thing since bagels came already sliced in half.
Summer football and Friday night matches will save Scottish football….
Well….sorta….
But mibbe no…
For those who were reading about the 1916 phase of it wish freedom , there is a write up in today’s Derry journal about a fella from Derry called Dan Black.
He worked on the boats and joined the IRA in Greenock in 1919.
Good morning CQN
not long before te oops can put 9 points between them and the sheep….COYBIG
Talking about cliques…………………………..
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/02/britain-remains-country-dominated-independently-educated
Clique fall for very funny spoof twitter account…………enjoy
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/02/25/britain-first-queen-twitter_n_9315530.html?1456407873
Kev J
Sorry just on quick during my break. You can join online just by going to the Trust website. Any problems, let me know.
You keep yer spirits high sir!
Hail Hail
Very small crowd at last night’s Napoli v Villareal game ..
A significant number of those who did turn up jeered the owner / President as he took his seat .
Big banner unfurled –
” De Laurentiis – We’ll Take This Seriously When You Do “.
Europa League highlights on MTV ( yes , MTV ) featured the talking heads debating whether Napoli cared about progressing in the competition or not
Expect a comfortable win tonight.
After a few years punching above their weight there are signs Hamilton are on the slippery slope. Fancy them to end up in the play off spot.
Hamilton 0-3 Celtic
HH
TRYING OUR PATIENCE
———————————–
Cragleabhoy – agree with you that players must be allowed to “make mistakes” as the team/squad develops – only point that I would make is that we are yet to see any sustained development and/or improvement.
I want the whole ‘Ronny thing’ to work – it was a bold and imaginative move to appoint him and stick by him.
It showed that we were taking seriously the peculiar nature of our position, i.e. a big club stuck in an inappropiate league, having little TV money and having to generate practically all our income from within the club.
A new approach was needed – the days of £5 million transfers and their corresponding EPL level of wages are long gone – bringing through our own, recruiting young and hungry players and attracting the right sort of loanees like Roberts, is without question our only way forward
The problem for me is probably down to impatience and expectation – when are we going to see some progress and a clear playing pattern emerge – let’s hope soon HH.
I’m reading a fascinating book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.
Trad,
I hope your right neebs. I think it’ll be a bit tighter.
Recent years haven’t seen us win by more than two goals.
HH
Away from home, obvs
Doh csc
Afternoon Timland from a spring like hun free mountain valley
Mr Pastry
It’s the expectation that is the problem, I’m still on the Ronny bus as I believe once the kids are established we will see the fruits.
I agree with you when you say to play the kids in the cups, been advocating that for years, but the support in general won’t wear it, they even expect us to win pre season games and bitch and moan when we don’t, quite sad really.
HH
Per the Herald:
THREE former Celtic players have been named among the 500 most important players on the planet.
Victor Wanyama, Robbie Keane and John Guidetti have been hailed by World Soccer magazine on a list which includes all the superstars of the game.
Keane, who spent just a few months at Celtic Park, is still scoring goals for LA Galaxy and the Republic of Ireland at 35.
“An example of an ageing Designated Player who has done exceptionally well in MLS, with 73 goals in 108 games since 2011,” said the magazine about the popular Irishman.
Wanyama has been superb for Southampton and is expected to join Tottenham this summer for a fee close to £20million. He is captain of Kenya and was described rather accurately as “a feisty midfielder.”
And a new entry to the annual list is Swedish striker Guidetti who had a patchy time at Celtic where his goals never quite matches his own hype.
He is now with Celta Vigo and has scored six goals from 22 La Liga starts.
Half time draw?
http://martini.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/celtic/14304540.She_wears_the_Hoops__American_comedian_Tina_Fey_spotted_wearing_Celtic_scarf_in_new_movie_Whiskey_Tango_Foxtrot/?ref=rss
Well said RD, win the battle first, then go on and win the war, early goal would be nice, but not an easy game. Celtic to get the first yellow, that’s a given.
http://thehoopsblog.com/2016/02/26/scott-allan-ryan-christie-and-patrick-roberts-set-to-stay-on-the-bench-as-celtic-bid-for-league-and-cup-double/
Give Ronny time to develop young players. Maybe the under 17s. Failing that get him out of paradise asap.
NEW ARTICLE POSTED
No, honestly, there is.