There’s a remarkable lack of nerves ahead of tonight’s game against Inter Milan in the San Siro. Perhaps, for many of us, all we expected from this tie was a sign that the progress we believe has taken place in recent months, would stand up to the scrutiny of European examination. Last week, it did.
So with a Key Performance Indicator delivered, thoughts turn to knocking Inter out of Europe. My expectations are wide open, literally, anything could happen tonight, from an historic win to a painful lesson, but we know enough about Ronny Deila to know that this afternoon he will explain to the players the plan to win the game. We will not pack our 18 yard box, nor bring catenaccio home.
Celtic will play with the freedom enjoyed by a team with nothing to lose. Inter have home advantage and three away goals on the board, but they also have the weight of expectation. No one in Italy expects Celtic to progress.
The key Inter expectation is that they will score enough against a weak Celtic back line. Based on last week’s 90 minutes, this is not unreasonable. What Inter don’t know, is if Celtic’s back four and Craig Gordon had a one-off exceptionally bad day.
The greatest football stories are made when triumph is grasped from failure. Celtic can score tonight, but if they win, it will be because Craig Gordon and his defenders have decided: None shall pass.
Our good friends at Magners have offered a pair of premium tickets in the Jock Stein Stand for Sunday’s SPFL game. To win the tickets, answer this question:
Who do Celtic play on Sunday?
Put your answer IN THS SUBJECT LINE of an email to me at celticquicknews@gmail.com. Competition closes at 5pm tonight. Winner will be notified tomorrow, so check your inbox.
While entering, if you would like to donate a £1 – a single pound – to the campaign to build a kitchen at Chibwata Primary School in Malawi for Mary’s Meals, you can do so here. £1 – that’s all, and for that pound, you get the warm glow of the knowledge that when you see the photos of that kitchen in a few months, you paid for some of it.
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A shufti at shortie………
………………. would leave the huninitiated
…………………………. thinkin’ there wasn’t a big game the nicht!
Aye.
evening all…top weather in Milan…12 C light wind no chance of rain ,sleet or sna …braw ..
will be happy if we are not 2 down after 14 minutes …as then my Beer tastes sad….3 to 1 for the good guys …. :) … but a sneakey 1.to zero wid be awfy braw as well…
got a pressie of a case of Veltins ..so hoopy days …
win ,lose or draw …Celtic to the core !
braw
Griffiths defo injured.
*Geordie puts the tar and feathers back into storage.
Jungle Jim –
Superstition is for wimps.
☺
Hoping the old heart will hold out during tonight’s game. More importantly I pray that those who are representing us in Milan will put on a good show on and off the pitch. We do not require silly games with flares, etc. Just show the world what it means to be real Celtic supporters.
jungle jim hot smoked
16:41 on 26 February, 2015
Livibhoy
There you go. Opinion from two teachers. No need to look any further 0:-)
Cough,cough, cough,cough,cough,cough WOOFT.
JJ
Two of us? That’s hardly reassurance :-)
leftclicktic
Team I picked this morning. Shame Griff is out because I felt late in the game he could be a pest.
Goals in that side. Let’s hope we can keep that mob out.
HH!!!!
Lets get into them
LB
Geordie Munro
16:54 on
26 February, 2015
Who’s name was on the Tar and feathers??
i think we have the makings of a very very good team (always seem to say that but the board doesnt seem to add the final piece of the jigsaw just when we need it) – has been thus down the years.
Anyway , tonight our inexperience will be exposed. Our defensive flanks are very weak , they are ripped up in the SPL and i expect the same tonight (if the team above is confirmed). I was hoping for a more defensive line up , protect izzy and/or mathews , frustrate Inter then make a push for it in the last 15-20 mins (fitness).
What do i know tho – head says 3-0 , heart says 1-2 (we are due a big gun away from home)
hope the fans behave themselves , but more worried about plants! (no jokes please)
nerves have kicked in
only an hour to go ………………………enjoy the game bhoys
HH
Still a strong line up, and a good bench, it is what it is, deal with it, and get tore in.
Excath,
Robcfc,
He broke the news.
Turns oot the man knows his stuff.
Prediction for tonight: Celtic to go thru on away goal rule 4-4 :0) :0)
Paul The Tim saying same team as last week on Twitter.
Celtic score an early goal then watch that Inter Milan mob crumble.
HH.
If it does come down to fitness the likes of JF and MW would do for me.
Still think we have a chance of a player in Wakaso.
No scepovic on the bench ? Only stokes as a striker
Am Happy with Ronny’s Team fur the evening.
Noo..all we hiv gotta dae..
Is Go oot there.. n..
Win This Game.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
Scep played for dev team today scoring 2.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/noisy-losers-and-quiet-winners/
Phil’s Up
Rat.
Stefan Scepovic and Jamie Lindsay both scored two goals apiece, while there was a stunning right foot strike from Derk Boerrigter, who was making a return to action following a lengthy injury lay-off.
Right foot Boerrigter?
Pundits in studio are big bad John and Hargreaves on BT Sports 1.
And someone called James Horncastle.
“massive task”. BBJ.
The old nerves starting to go now. C’mon Celtic just do it. Keep it tight for the first 20 minutes and grow into the game.
BSR
Volume levels seem fine!
Livibhoy
Less hassle if you just had lucky pants or something mate!! :-)
BBJ’s maths letting him down there.
“If they (Celtic) concede an early goal tonight then they need to score four…”
Not.
If Celtic win 2-1 they are through.
Td67
Hoose or brazen?
Sutton and McAllister in the stadium with Darryl Curry.
LG scan tomorrow on ankle. Worrying.
I hope Craig Gordon has been practicing for corners during the week. If the score is at 0-0,1-1, 2-2, or 3-2, then I expect him to go up, in injury time, if we get a corner.
Off to watch the game in the Docksiders.
Celtic Strong CSC
On the munich airport bus – keep thinking about the game – so dying to spend a penny – autobahn heavin ‘
C”mon celtic – keep it tight first 20
Just in, so same team as last week then. Come on you bhoys in green…!
JG for LG only change from last week.
Sutton on Celtic.. .. ” They show a great spirit and togetherness, they just fight back all the time”.
SPFL Premiership Development Squad League
Thursday, February 26 @ Lennoxtown
CELTIC 5
(Scepovic 2, Lindsay 2, Boerrigter)
Inverness CT 0
CELTIC’S Development Squad recorded their fourth victory in a row and their seventh consecutive clean sheet in an impressive 5-0 victory over Inverness Caley Thistle at Lennoxtown this afternoon (Thursday)
Stefan Scepovic and Jamie Lindsay both scored two goals apiece, while there was a stunning right foot strike from Derk Boerrigter, who was making a return to action following a lengthy injury lay-off.
And from the first whistle, the Dutchman was causing Caley Thistle problems down, getting beyond his man and delivering some dangerous crosses into the box.
And it was from one of those deliveries that Celtic took the lead. Boerrigter skipped past the right-back, Brown, and his cross was met by Scepovic who powered home a header beyond Hoban in the Caley Thistle goal.
Celtic were already dominating proceedings with their captain, Lindsay, alongside Joe Thomson who was playing a central midfield role, dictating the pace of the game.
And it was no surprise when the Hoops doubled their lead on 15 minutes. Lindsay showed great battling qualities to win a tackle and push the ball wide where Boerrigter gathered the ball, cut inside and fired an unstoppable right-foot shot into the top left-hand corner of the visitors’ net.
It may have been his weaker foot, but the power on the strike left the keeper with no chance.
Celtic pressed forward in search of a third goal, and there were chances for Michael Duffy, whose shot was blocked just inside the box, while Boerrigter saw a left-foot shot from 20 yards just go narrowly wide of the post.
Indeed, it took until the 40th minute for Inverness to fashion a chance, with Baptie attempting to chip goalkeeper, Jordan Hart, but his effort from the edge of the box sailed harmlessly wide.
And on the stroke of half-time, new Bhoy Jaison McGrath directed a header narrowly over from a Calum Waters cross
Boerrigter came off at half-time, having enjoyed a first 45 minutes back, to be replaced by Calvin Miller, and Celtic continued in the same vein, pushing forward at every opportunity.
Lindsay was finding space in the inside-right channel and found himself in space inside the six-yard box when the ball fell to him, but he couldn’t direct his shot on target. He would soon make up for that, however.
But when Celtic got their inevitable third goal, it was Scepovic who was once again on target on 52 minutes. Waters delivered a cross into the box which found its way to the Serbian. He took a touch before firing home a left-footed shot for his second of the afternoon.
Jamie Lindsay finally got the goal that his performance deserved on 65 minutes. He slotted a pass towards Michael Duffy inside the box which was blocked, but he was the first to react, following up and hitting a shot that took a slight deflection and ended up in the back of the net.
And he followed that up four minutes later with his second and Celtic’s fifth of the afternoon. Scepovic’s shot beat the Inverness keeper but came back off the post and Lindsay headed home the rebound.
The Hoops captain went in search of a hat-trick and was frustrated when he didn’t get a lay-off at the edge of the box after he had fashioned some space.
But it was an impressive performance from Stevie Frail’s side, who will now face Aberdeen on Monday.
CELTIC (4-2-3-1): Hart; Fisher, Breslin, McCart, Waters (McIlduff 78); Lindsay, Thomson; Duffy, Scepovic, Boerrigter (Miller 46); McGrath (Lafferty 72).
Subs not used: McAdams; Wardrop
Emdy catch Ramon Vega on talksport today?
In total praise of CFC. guys like him make up for the ultra negative smsm.
Soz
No JG starts in place of LGriffiths who has injured his ankle,
Right away this time wae my unsuperstitious fitba socks on :))))))))))))))))))))
Sitting in San Siro. Phils latest read, hoops starting to take their place. Just need a victory to make it a real carlsberg Thursday .
Hamiltontim
17:03 on
26 February, 2015
Rat.
??????
HH