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Celtic Diary Thursday July 26: Manager Admits He’s Mortal

When you get something wrong, its a true test of your inner strength to not only admit it, but to put it right as soon as you realise the mistake.

Enormous credit must go to Brendan Rodgers who set the team up, er, imaginatively last night in an attempt to confuse visitors rosenberg in the second round Champions League qualifiers, but ended up only confusing his own players, who looked nervous and uncertain of what to do.

And for those of us watching, or listening, I can vouch that I was sweating like a South African businessman at a Takeover Panel hearing.

As a result, Rosenberg took a shock early lead-it certainly shocked me-and for a mercifully short while supporters were checking the times of trains to Cork.

Celtic responded to the early set back with goals from Oddsone Edoaurd (2) and Olivier Ntcham to make the trip to Trondheim next week a little easier, and after wards rodgers confessed that he’d initially made an arse of it.

When the game started we tried to work the same way as we had done through the pre-season without trying to change so much.

“That has worked very well when Moussa (Dembele) has played, so we tried to do a similar thing by putting James (Forrest) up there.

“For the first 20 or 25 minutes I wasn’t overly happy with the shape of the team and that was my fault. 

Everyone could see it. We tried to play Jamesie on the inside and couldn’t get him onto the ball.

“We just adapted it and went into a much cleaner shape that the players know. We could then press the game and attack from a better base. The fluency was better.

“Then the quality comes through. We scored three very good goals and could have had a few more. 

“The last 15 minutes of the first half and the whole of the second half the players were absolutely magnificent.

“It was a real demonstration of their maturity, staying calm under that bit of pressure.

“You could probably sense a wee bit of apprehension in the crowd when it went to 1-0 but the team is maturing and evolving all the time.

“We have a lot of young players in there for this stage of the season. But it was a joy to watch the team this evening and not just all the good stuff either.

“Dealing with all the adversity in the game is a part of it. It is not always clean and pure and scoring five or six goals.

“You judge your team when they’re down as well. They were fantastic at that and really showed that mentality to win the game well. By the end we could have had five or six goals.

“I sat here after a 0-0 last year happy and I thought we could have been better. This year I’m sat in a much-better place with a two-goal advantage but we know it’s going to be tough over there.”

Only the Rosenberg keeper and the woodwork kept the score respectable as Celtic more or less turned the game into a session of shootie- in, and once the defence realised there was much to be gained by keeping things simple, they too looked a lot more at ease.

Rini Coollen, the Dutchman who is in charge of Rosenberg for the moment, was admirably stubborn, but also clearly disappointed..

“Celtic were the better team and deserved to win, no doubt about that. But we will not give up.

“It will be very difficult, very tough. Celtic are at a different level but that doesn’t mean a team wins.

“We are at home and play in front of our home crowd which will help us a lot so we will not give up and you never know.” 

Image result for yes we do

There were outstanding performances from Christian Gamboa, who, if he wants it, may still have a place at Celtic, Olivier Ntcham, when he wasn’t taking set pieces and Oddsone Edouard, who is now the subject of a police investigation over in France, as PSG have reported him stolen…

Jack Hendry and Kristoffer Ajer deserve a mention as well, as the early goal conceded could have thrown them off their game. It didn’t, and they will both emerge more confident after last night.

Sometimes its better to love the one you’re with than fantasize about exotic , tanned foreigners…

 

All in all, a potential banana skin has been avoided, and Celtic should progress to face Greek champions AEK Athens with a similar performance in Norway, and then we’ll be halfway there.

 

 

Daniel Arzani, an attacking midfielder about to join Manchester City, may only stop briefly in the English town to say hello to his new manager, as he is tipped to be the next City employee to head north for a bit of experience in the field.

An attacking midfielder.

Perhaps we’re hoping UEFA will sanction thirteen a side.

Perhaps it might be an idea to sack whoever is our defence scout and ask the guys who find the forwards and midfielders to take over his duties.

Or just sack him and advertise in the paper for defenders.

The ones we have may not be world class, but they are learning. There is a worry that one of Europes top sides will embarrass Celtic later in the tournament, but if a defence containing Klevin Wilson and Efe Ambrose can contain Barcelona at their peak, there is perhaps a little to be said for more a pragmatic tactical approach.

Thats not to say a central defender or two wouldn’t be welcomed, but for the qualifiers at least, lets stick with guys who know each other.

We can moan about it later.

 

We’re going to be stuck with four qualifying rounds for a while yet, and we need to get behind the other Scottish clubs-I know- as they attempt to progress ( lol ) in the Europa League.

Hibernian face Greek side Asteris Tripolis, and you can’t blame them for keeping John McGinn to help them out. Its only what Celtic did with Virgil van Dijk a few years ago.

McGinn may well now have to wait until Christmas to begin his Celtic career, whilst Rod Petrie, it appears, can forget about phoning the bank to see if the £4m cheque has cleared.

This is the man who wants to be the boss at the SFA, though an outsider would struggle find a reason why he should be.

In fact,  based on this decision, which has  cost his club £2m , one could understand if his wife doesn’t even let him decide what they should have for tea.

Aberdeen face Burnley, and all of us who follow Scottish football will need no encourage to dig out the old inflatable sheep we keep for special occasions to wave at the telly in the hope of encouraging the Dons to a victory that will silence a few of the critics we have down south.

Down here, they find it important to feel superior to their northern neighbours, and with ten times the customer base and obscene amounts of money pouring into what is ultmiately a piss poor product, its all they have to make themselves feel better.

After Brexit, and the impending restrictions on foreigners living and working in England. one can only salivate at the prospect of all those players being deported and paid up in full.

Oddly enough, pro Brexit politicians steer clear of that particular debate, as its one that the masses could understand, and could cost them their off shore tax havens.

For me, I’ll happily put up with tinned food, bottled water and ghetto conditions if it shuts fucking Talksport up.

 

Oh, and “rangers ” are playing as well.

Good luck to them, I’ve no issues with them if it helps us.

And anyway, as they should discover if they gaze into the Croatian stands,

Some Celtic fans are attending the game tonight, and they’re taking this banner with them.

there’s a long way to go to improve the co-efficient, and there’s no time like the present to make a start.

Moravcik 67 on twitter explains how it works…

1. Some info on what would need to happen for Scottish teams to play less qualifiers in Europe, based on this season’s access list. The round a club starts in is based on the Scottish coefficient – which is itself based on 5 years worth of the results of Scottish clubs in Europe 

2. The points a club contributes to the Scottish coefficient are –

During qualifying:

Win = 1pt,

draw = 0.5pts –

Group stage onward:

Win = 2pts,

draw = 1pt

Note that the points a club get for its own coefficient during qualifying is based on the round the clubs gets reaches

3. For example, if Hibs lose both legs to Asteras, they’ll have contributed 2pts to the Scottish coefficient for their 2 wins in the 1st round, but will only get 1.5pts for their own coefficient because that’s what you get for reaching R2 of the EL qualifiers. 

4. Once all the points of all the clubs are added together in a season, the total is then divided by the number of clubs. This gives the national coefficient for the year. The picture here shows the 17/18 Scottish coefficient

5. The 4.0 pt national coefficient comes from –
7 qualifying wins (7pts) –
2 qualifying draws (1pt) –
2 post-qualifying wins (4pts) –
4 bonus points (Celtic, for reaching the CL group stage)
That’s 16pts in total. It’s then divided by the number of clubs (4), to give 4pts total 

6. In short, for the national coefficient, every match matters. For the club coefficient, during qualifying at least, the only thing that matters is progressing. Scotland was ranked 23rd for this season. That meant, the starting rounds for each club are

7. So what impact would moving up the rankings have for Scottish clubs? Based on this years access list, here’s what would happen if Scotland acheived the following positions on the list. Green for CL, blue for EL.

8. As you can see we need to jump up to 19th before there’s any change. After that, nearly every increase in position brings about a benefit to at leaest one of our clubs. By the time we reach 15th, we have 2 CL clubs again, 5 clubs in total, and all skipping the 1st round. 

9. Sadly, we’re going the wrong way just now. Next year we’ll have dropped from 23rd to 26th. This is the country rankings used for the 18/19 season

10. As you can see, we’re not that far (<1pt) behind 19th position, the 1st position that would have an impact on where Scottish clubs start. But beyond that, it’s a much steeper climb – to the point where we almost need to double our national coefficient to get to 11th.

11. The problem is that we need to take into account that 1pt in that table is not the same as 1 qualifying win. Remember that we need to divide points gained by clubs by the number of clubs? An increase of 1pt in the table is equal to 4 extra qualifying wins over 5 seasons. 

12. To reach 15th, and all the advantages that go with it, we’d need an extra 6.5pts. That’d pretty much require every Scottish club to contribute an extra qualifying win and draw each year for 5 straight years. It’s that level of consistency we struggle with. 

13. To reach 11th place, and get the automatic CL group palce, we’d have needed an extra 14.25pts on the Scottish coefficient over the last 5 years. That’s not far off needing every Scottish team to provide 3 extra wins per season for 5 straight years. It’s a huge task. 

14. Sadly, we make it difficult for ourselves. We drop too many stupid points. That 19th position could have been achieved had – Celtic beat Lincoln Red Imps – Rangers beat Niederkorn – Aberdeen beat Fola Esch – Hearts beat Birkirkara Not too much to ask for, is it?  

 

Thats that then. We’ll just have to win the bloody thing.

 

Back to last night, and we’ve been asked to pass on a safety message..

Message to all young cheeky wee Buckfast drinkers. See if you canny handle your bevy, then don’t bring it in with you and annoy the fkn life out folk that have turned up to watch the game. 

They should do what I do, and just go to sleep.

Yesterday we had this picture…

basqueceltic July 25, 2018 at 11:52 am · Edit · Reply →

Caption.Akze…….Accsen……Accentuate,FFS Ralph gies a fuckin break,i’m a footballer FFS. 

today…

 

 

 

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D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

Well done to everyone involved last night.

HH

Daziekanowski's nightclub child
5 years ago

Caption: Why don’t you just fuck off you horrible little man, I hear you didn’t clap for Jinky and just to let you know I touched Lourdes with these hands before I came here.

Bognorbhoy
5 years ago

Caption ..

Look jimmy I’m here for a good time no a long time so calm down lar

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Caption….”are you really an orange bastard then Mr Bell?”

The tie is not done yet. An early goal by Rosenberg and the heat could be on, as BR states we’re evolving and learning to cope better with pressure. I suspect we’ll make it.

As for co-efficiency that betters things for our game, I can’t and never will want William to do well, never. But each to their own. It’s a joke when you hear fans of other clubs giving us pelters about CL qualification, I’m sure the chairmen are squarely behind us as they get monies if we reach the group stages.

Bognorbhoy
5 years ago

Caption 2

Look i hear we’re playing the crow nations jimmy….and we arra people so what can go wrong eh ?

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Caption….Jimmy, you better get the old strips out and spruce them up as the market vendor in Turkey says our chairman hasn’t got a credit line with a bank, so no new tops.

Fra Stone
5 years ago

Caption, we’re having a 1st Communion party for my wee girl Lourdes, you have to attend and smile

DannyBhoy
5 years ago

CAPTION:
That’s right Jimmy my daughter is called Lourdes and me ma and da are Patrick and Mary, Jimmy?… Jimmy? Someone call an ambulance!!

The Cha
5 years ago

Caption “Yer club’s deid, mate. Beat it”

VooDude
5 years ago

Caption: Hey, Garry, is it true? If you look through Jimmy’s ear you can seem my arm?

Fudball
5 years ago

But you promised that I could be the goat.

5 years ago

Caption:An OB smells some BO

Jebus
5 years ago

caption: Lourdes jimmy, her name is Lourdes. Stop calling her lorraine!!!

charlie
5 years ago

gerard sais i know ye hate me cause am a tim bt a hate you even mer ya wee hun bastard

charlie
5 years ago

good article ralph like you said weel jeest need tae win the fucker COYBIG

Mike Annis
5 years ago

Caption: See, is this being an DOB catching?

charlie
5 years ago

naw the europa league will do us this year champions league for next dont want to be to greedy weered he he

broxburnbhoy
5 years ago

Caption: Jimmy we both know we’re shite lar, just keep taking the money and we’ll be fine.

5 years ago

Caption. Where it asks DOB on the contract don’t put Yes,I am.

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  ralph malph

good yin ralph but will ye have the cheek tae pick yersel as the winner a dare ye ha ha ha ha

jazzerbhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

I think he deserves it Charlie for once.

jazzerbhoy
5 years ago

Caption: Look me in the eye and say your not rangers anymore.

jazzerbhoy
5 years ago

Great angle for the goals last night. Enjoy
https://youtu.be/q1t8qtaAHA8

henkesdreadlocks
5 years ago

Caption…………

I knew you were a strange and bitter little cunt Jimmy, but I didn’t know you had your cock transplanted for a dead hand.
It’s no a deid haund ffs, it’s a red haund.

The Cha
5 years ago

Weered – what’s the score here, as it doesn’t really explain it but suggests it should’ve been an internal Reds matter?

Rory Donnelly Cliftonville striker Donnelly suspended for three months

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44961446

5 years ago

Ntcham never gets flustered and has a massive football brain factor rogic in here and there’s amazing creativity happening. Odsonne finish for his second goal was inch perfect and gallus was pretty much sitting near behind the goal. Lucked out on good seats at the last minute.
Just hope we don’t do an Astana and bottle it because I’m sure the crowd played a big part in the comeback. No boos just positivity far cry from Ronny days

Monti
5 years ago

Caption: ” Awoma way awoma way awoma way awoma way “

5 years ago

Caption
Bad news mate need to build core strength with the team and our fitness advisers suggested dwarf throwing better get your crash helmet on

Monti
5 years ago

Caption: “Jimmy, when you set the table for the players lunches, you sit at a separate table by yourself….ok “

Monti
5 years ago

His name is jimmy bell 🙂

Jinkylarrson
5 years ago

Caption…right Jimmy after three…walk on.walk on and send in the clowns don’t bother their here.

Monti
5 years ago

Not so sure this guy Ian Maxwell is the right guy to have in charge at the SFA…
Disgusting reply to the questions of historical child abuse in Scottish football.

The guy is out of his depth i’m afraid!

SteveNaive
5 years ago

The crowd didn’t do that in Europe in the Ronnie days. Gamboa has the engine for this level and a bit more education he could do well. Jamesie tried like hell but it wasn’t happening. I wondered if Mc Clean was in there would he make it happen more, or not happen less. Brilliant from the Green Brigade again.

5 years ago

On arzani he’s pretty good more of a combination of Roberts and Forrest robust, skilful and full of confidence. Not as skilful as Roberts but stronger physically. Runs at players like Forrest and more direct than Roberts. Good aquisition if it were to happen

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Saw a bit of him at the World Cup and he was all of those things but also very greedy, who wouldn’t pass and finishing was louping.

5 years ago

Well he’s raw material he’s been playing in the a league

5 years ago

And tbh he’s no better than we have for now he’d do ok though hard to tell. If it was asigning and not a loan it would be good business. I’d rather plump for home based talent with the likes of Henderson and aitchison Arzani might be a world beater or a damp squib much like Forrest. Theyre of the same Ilk

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Musonda is what springs to mind and agree we should be developing our own.

I wonder if this is a sweetheart deal, where if he tears it up he goes back and we get 1st dibs on their rejects.

BJF
5 years ago

Really proud to be a Celtic supporter last night after Hendrie’s mistake the crowd got behind the team and drove them towards an excellent result. Rosenberg are a stuffy team, gave nothing away last season at CP but they should not have provoked us last night, better if they had just tapped the ball back to Gordon!
I am sure they will have a go next week, possibly they might win but they won’t stop us scoring. Glad I read the diary after the game half of those posting would have walked out when they went one up, so silly. Sinclair’s pass was great, Odsonne a class above everyone as were Ntcham and especially McGregor. Gamboa worth more game time, with a few more games and Mousse and Boyata back we might well get through all 4 qualifiers, always a big ask.

jazzerbhoy
5 years ago

BJF although I am proud f the team last night there is a nagging in me. It concerns our Brendan. Now iknow it shouldn’t after all back to back trebles invincibles and champions league qualification twice with Europe afterChristmas but?
We so easily could have been out after 20 minutes of this tie,due to our managers let’s say bravado but I would say folly.
In playing against a team who lost their general and are at 6s and 7evens we decide to change how we play.
We have looked strong in pre season yet on the night of the most important game so far we change tactics.
Sorry but this could have been fatal.
We survived yes but what was Brendan thinking about.
It may have been costly thankfully it wasn’t but truth be told in Europe Brendan has still to win me over.
I hope he gets it right, for Astana, hapoel etc aren’t games or tactics to be remembered for the right reasons.
I’m sorry t be a moaning faced git but this game could easily have swung against us in the opening 20 minutes let’s hope we sort it out. HH

Pensionerbhoy
5 years ago

Caption: “Hey boss. They orange strips dae shrink tae fit inferior players.”

H H

jazzerbhoy
5 years ago

Caption : Repeat after me : Faith of our fathers living still
In spite of Dungen Fire and sword
Oh how our hearts beat high with joy
Wheneer we hear the glorious word
Faith of our fathers holy faith
We will be true to thee till death.

jazzerbhoy
5 years ago

This is the BBC for you sorry but this is so wrong no matter if your an effe fan or not.
GOAL Hibernian 1-2 Asteras Tripolis
Efe Ambrose
He scored twice – albeit once at the wrong end – last week, and Efe Ambrose has bundled home a goal for Hibernian. Might that spark Neil Lennon’s men? They’ve still got plenty of work to do.

5 years ago

Let’s hope All Scottish teams do ok even them get this co efficient up so we don’t have to go to bumfuck Egypt in mid summer in the future

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Fuck off!
I hope the huns lose EVERY fucking game they play!

5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I expected that Monti and deep down so do I there was a time when their results didn’t affect us but they do now. Hey I’d take hibs and Aberdeen in the group stages that may get us over the line
It’s about mathematics here. But I’ll. Accept your fuck off and understand it and expect a years long grief for it

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Iancelt,
No hard feelings this end, i despise those cunts, it’s that simple!

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Defo in the same frame of mind as me Monti. I hope William gets beaten every time from the under 10’s right up to their 1st team, ladies team included. Lol

jazzerbhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Sorry Ian can’t agree with all Scottish teams I don’t give a fuck how many qualifiers we have to play, the rest of Scottish football deserves its place. Only Turnbull Hutton had guts from Raith Rovers so fuck Aberdeen the Hibs and Sevco. We are where are are because of them in a darker place.

5 years ago

Well in the cold light of day I may agree with you but in Europe the game isn’t straight and we are reliant on them getting good results. Personally nothing against the hibs or Aberdeen I have to swallow spit to wish the huns well but it’s to our benefit of they do. Highly entertained last night but would rather be put in automatic placing. Sort of an evil symbiosis going on here but the game had to be raised here and they are the teams to help us out

5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Well weered you have the worst of them in your neck of the woods and I fully empathise here i was trying to be the pragmatist in the wrong company. Respect

BJF
5 years ago

Ok Jazzerbhoy, good to think critically, keeps Celtic on its toes, I think Brendan makes mistakes as do his players the measure for me is how quickly they recover their position. Last night BR worked out not only the problem, the easy bit, he got the solution right. It is hard to wish the new club well because if some of their supporters, also if they do well they will
be delusional about supporting a dead club.

jazzerbhoy
5 years ago

Fuck Sevco Fuck the SFA m8

jimmybee
5 years ago

I’ve seen some bad times as a Celtic supporter. Being one of only about 3, 000 to watch us against Clydebank hoping for a victory which never came at Kilbowie.
Raith Rovers Falkirk Airdrie Inverness Caley Ross County I’ve been there saw it and thought ok it’s football. We are Celtic this is what happens,
But I won’t forgive this board if they refuse to take up the fight against the ebt years. They named it as Helicoptor Sunday,we should rename it as the EBT Sunday or the weekend of shame.
For I stood and watched as it was taken out our hands,not on the football side,but with side letters and a governing body prejudiced in all it can give to its own.
Remember this
WITHOUT LONDON POLICE the side letters would never have seen the light of day.
They could have remained hidden and Rangers would be alive today. So forget wishing Scottish teams well fuck them.
HH to the one and only true club in fair Caledonia
Celtic a club like no other so fuckin prove it.

Monti
5 years ago

I see Scotland’s shame at the racism again in Croatia tonight?

Oh dear.

5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I was in a pub the other night and got dogs abuse from some beta male types and feminist types for asking if the pub was a Hun pub I was with my son at the time and scolded for encouraging indoctrination of sectarianism. I apologetically explained I was from another time and such parlance was merely bantet. One of the guys replete with a shoulder bag and bottle type glasses face went red and he stormed out

I’m all for pc in its right place but this was an argyll at pub on a Saturday night Fu of reptiles covered in tattoos pretty confused here

Munti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Racism unacceptable but blatant homophobia ok? Fuckin’ hypocritical double-standarded chunt that ye are.

5 years ago
Reply to  Munti

I don’t think you’ve a grasp on what homophobia means there feminists, beta males ?? I think political correctness needs to be defined properly to the adult population. The kids have it down we dont. Hopefully this forum recognises the difference between bigotry and racism is

Identity politics and homophobia? Alpha and beta?
A lot of important issues are thrown to the wind and bogged down with political correctness, it’s abused heavily and used as a smokescreen to hide more important issues. Personally wouldn’t attack anyone for being gay or of different colour and beliefs religious. I would however feel comfortable identifying faults in doctrines purported by the far left or right. Sanitising language is a crime in my book and no government should have the right to do it

5 years ago
Reply to  Munti

Ok not at me

jimmybee
5 years ago

Went into a shop in the London area today,the young man behind the counter politely asked when I purchased my irn bru if I was Scottish, on reply I said yes I am,are you a football fan he asks yes says I, Celtic is my team oh Catholics says he, I am said I but my club has many faiths and none and we support the oppressed wherever they may be from Palestine to Derry,form Pakistan to New Delhi Mandella in Africa and in Bombay. Wherever we are needed we will let them have there say.
He was curious to this and I gave him a history lesson for about 1 hour,he is now a Celtic fan.

5 years ago

Well I’ll retract the Hun doing we and put it to bed and leave it in the lap of the gods. Cause he’s a Catholic

jimmybee
5 years ago

Boy George is a Provo. The best of it is I still have that LP that he speaks of the freedom fighters.
Wee Farmer Guy think it’s Mike to be honest in front with his cap on and the tri colour fluting high behind him.
It was played by my auld granny every time the walk went bye full blast,the first LP I ever listened too. Then she gave me Elvis what a woman only because he sang you’ll never walk alone,and how great thou art. HH Annie. Best wee woman I ever knew. Xx

5 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

I suppose the Norwegian boy he captured tied up anfdraped was a Provo as well. How does someone get the latitude to bounce back from that? He’s on the voice in Australia and well revered

He’s played the gay left wing card well here when he’s a right wing tosspot. See pc gone wrong

jimmybee
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Yes right there m8

jimmybee
5 years ago
Puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: So’s I’m in this boozer and I grab this scally like this and punch fuck out of him and it’s on CCTV an all but I gets found not geelty. Do ya think that’s how I got the job chuck?

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