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Celtic Diary Tuesday August 13: Bring Back The Thunder

Celtic host Cluj tonight in the second leg of the third round qualifier for the Champions And Assorted Other Teams League.

Technically, by virtue of the away goal, the hoops are ahead in the tie, which is when it all usually goes pear shaped.

However, the odds of victory are still slightly better than average, although it could well be a long night. Cluj are no mugs, and Celtic will have to improve on last weeks performance to be certain of avoiding a drop into the Europa League and a play off against Sherriff Tiraspol or AIK Stockholm.

In one interview, Lennon asked the support to play its part..

What I want from the crowd is just the noise, like they always bring on a big European night. The players can feed off that.”

Celtic Park can be an intimidating venue for visitors, as long as we stop all this nonsense about being nice to them, and hoping they enjoy the experience.

The big danger is that Cluj get an early goal tonight, which is where the support can do their bit. Intimidation, noise and above all hostility. Not the coin throwing kind, the loud kind.

Dan Petrescue, the Cluj manager, has been at it with the mind games again…

“We need to score and scoring at Celtic Park is not easy. We have looked at all their competitive matches this season and they concede some goals but they create so many chances in every game. The danger is coming from all over the pitch.

“This Celtic team has some very, very good young players. I’m sure in two years’ time they will not be here. They will be at big clubs in the Premier League or Spain.

“I have watched all the games, I have a good eye after 16 years of coaching and 20 years of playing and I am sure of this, these players will go to the top level. That’s why it’s going to be very tough.

“The players who will go to another level will be (Kristoffer) Ajer, (Ryan) Christie for sure, a fantastic player, and (Odsonne) Edouard also. But other players, they have four good players on the wing, and I heard they have six but I haven’t seen them because they are too young.” 
That’s a clue as to who will get the attention of Cluj players tonight, but it’s also an indicator that he has certainly done his homework, and that homework will include a section on how he can get a result.

cue the usual nonsense about the great stadium..

 

Then there was this, which suggests he hasn’t done any homework at all…

The crowd will help them but it’s a great challenge for us and it’s good for the players because none of our players have played here before. 

Ovidiu Hoban was in the Hapoel Be’er Sheva side that lost 5-2 in Glasgowa few years ago, yet he’s not been named in the squad for tonight.

For all his harping on about it, he clearly hasn’t asked his players of they know anything about the experience.

Though he kept mentioning the stadium…

“Before we play Maccabi Tel Aviv, I told my players that we have to qualify because we have to go to the best stadium in the world,” 

“The players on the pitch were impressed about the stadium and they will be more impressed when the stadium is full. 

So, putting ourselves in his shoes, what would you do ?

Long diagonals to the corner, with the midfield in support. That forces Celtic to back pedal and stretches the full backs, who will usually be found anywhere else but at full back. By then cutting the ball back, it creates chances for those racing into the box.

Piece of piss this management lark.

However, Neil Lennon can be quite pragmatic in Europe, and will instruct his defenders to be disciplined, and not to leave space behind them.

One man who will possibly have an important role tonight is the reborn Olivier Ntcham. If given the number ten role, with Brown and MacGregor supporting, he could inflict serious damage, as he looks very good going forward. that could mean a role for Christie on the left, as he has the energy to support Boli, with Forrest on the other flank, and Edouard doing what he does.

Biton and Ajer look the best bet for central defence, a combination of Ajers strength and Bitons guile may yet prove to be our strongest paring, which leaves the two new guys at full back.

Piece of piss this management lark.

Celtic should be too strong for the Romanians, but nerves will play a part, and we can only hope that experience plays a bigger part.

If Celtic play as they can, we should be okay.

However, lets remember that the important thing is to get through, and if that means standing three deep on the goal line, then thats we we must do.

Lennon is more than aware of that… and although he is more than happy with the form and confidence of his players, he urges that wee bit of caution..

“It’s a balance. The goals give you confidence but you can’t be over confident. There was enough in the game last week for me to think we can score and hurt them when we get the ball into certain areas.

“That gives me encouragement but we look like we concede, too. The onus is on us to take the game to them as much as we can.

“We try to get the ball into forward areas a little but quicker, shoot more and shoot quicker. Sometimes we were looking for the perfect goal but every goal is perfect in its own way.

It certainly won’t be dull…

 

Elsewhere, and there’s at least £25m quid burning a hole in the pockets of fans and media alike, with several names being thrown about as possible additions to the squad.

And by the way, the money is in the bank…

We are aware that all of the money will not be spent on players, and we are also aware that some of the players we would want to spend it on are asking a little more than the club thinks they are worth to move to the sun kissed shores of the Clyde.

Throw in the policy of only signing players that we-or trusted advisors -know, and you’ll see why its more likely that Greg Taylor will be at Celtic before the kids go back to school, as indeed, may Scott McKenna.

There’s a reason Jack Hendry hasn’t gone anywhere yet…

This swap and cash deal was touted back in January, but didn’t happen for a number of reasons, the main one being that Brendan couldn’t find the debit card, which wouldn’t have mattered anyway, as Peter had changed the PIN.

Other names being tossed around include Yannick bolasie, a winger at Everton. He’s thirty, and kind of lost his way on Merseyside after a bright start. But at thirty, he doesn’t fit the template, and this looks to be nonsense considering his wages and the fact that wingers are plentiful at Paradise.

Birger Melling of Rosenborg caught the eye of the support in the double header against them last term, but again the Norwegian full back is unlikely to be a serious option, and any specualtion is more down to fan desire than actual interest.

If we are looking to add a wee bit of experience to a relatively youthful back line, we could do worse than talk to Gareth Barry, who is out of contract and would add a wee bit of calmness and maturity to the squad…

 

One that might not be nonsense, however, is Robert Gumny, of Lech Poznan. the right back has been the subject of claims in the Polish media that link him with a move to Celtic…and thats not the only reason it might be a goer..

Journalist Glos Wielko said;

But Robert would see another club from the British Isles, namely the Scottish Celtic. However, this is not a club from the leading European league, but it could tempt Gumny to play in the Champions League, and in addition the Scots are able to meet the financial expectations of the footballer and Lech Poznan. 

Maybe he’s waiting to see if we qualify first…

 

Yesterday, we pondered this poor fellows circumstances..

Image

Puggy67 August 12, 2019 at 12:48 pm · Edit · Reply →

Caption: Hallo hurray! What a nice day for the bleatin’ rifles,bleatin’ rifles,bleatin’ rifles,bleatin’ rifles. 

today..

Image

 

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JTT
4 years ago

Caption: £5 gets yer windaes washed missus.

Patrick Street
4 years ago

Dan Petrescu goes to great lengths to spy on Celtic’s preparations for the match tonight .

JTT
4 years ago

Caption: Phone the polis Senga, this chancer’s effter oor Milk Tray!

4 years ago

Lawwell would stop at nothing to find a cheap full back

portpower
4 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

Dermot clicks Like button.

Mike
4 years ago

“Goals win games” and we have a lot of players who do just that, score goals. Sometimes we underplay just how good some of these young players have become, for years I have wanted to see a “settled side” and now that we have just that, we can all see the benefits. We wondered at the delay in finalising the K.T. transfer, it turns out that Irish mafia were down in London poking the eyes out of the Arsenal accountants to make sure that the money was all paid up front. Who else does that in football? getting the money paid up front? its usually 10% paid in ten yearly instalments, whatever do they need the money for? The interest perhaps, Glamis castle, the new club training facilities for retired board members. Island in the sun, good if you are the lucky one. Send in the players, get rid of the clowns… COYBIG.

TicToc
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Brilliant line Mike, “Send in the players, get rid of the clowns…” Couldn’t agree more.
HH

jimmybee
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

10% in 10 yearly instalments haha the sevco way eh
🙂

4 years ago

CAPTION

Rapunzel,what happened to your lovely hair?

Gerard Reilly
4 years ago

I wanna be edourde….AKA FAST EDDIE

4 years ago

You got the game on that front row sports has chucked it

Yoker Bhoy
4 years ago

Caption: And all because the lady loves milk tray.

Hoop hoop hooray
4 years ago

Aw i really thought ah coulda seen them from up here

charlie
4 years ago

gareth barry ..calmness and security ffs ralph hees 390

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  charlie

“Only” 38 1/2 and he’s the most booked player with over 100 yellow cards, so not sure about the calmness!

charlie
4 years ago

caption theyl be jumpin oot thur windaes when we win

dingbat
4 years ago

Delivery from Interfloora

charlie
4 years ago

if he plays we need tae watch the guy culio tonight he never layed last week and dan sais hees the best player they ever had he also scored and made an assist in the last round away tie COYBIG

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Hopefully it won’t be Gangsta’s Paradise.

The Bahia Emerald
4 years ago

CAPTION: A Young Brendan Rodgers stages a graphic dramatisation of his feelings, as he pledges to give “his life” to his first wife Susan.

Southside Bhoy
4 years ago

Charlie Saiz; He would look out of place in a World Cup Final with commentators asking “why the feck is there a wee Scottish guy playing for Germany”

Caption “Sorry Missus, someone told me the Rangers were coming”

Honest hoops
4 years ago

Caption; gonna turn the tv over to the fitba missus….

Desmond and The Dekkers
4 years ago

Caption: Celtic are on the ledge of glory

alzyerpal
4 years ago

Caption : “Juliet says ‘Hey it’s Romeo
You trying to give me a heart attack?’
He’s underneath the window
She’s singin’ ‘Hey la my boyfriends back
You shouldn’t come around here
Singing up to people like that
Anyway, what you gonna do about it?”

“Juliet the dice was lo…Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah For feck sa… !SPLAT!!!

you

Mike
4 years ago

I feel a Derk Boerrigter or a Marvin Compper moment approaching, its stirring in my sphincter and I canny shake it off. Its like the iceberg-Titanic moment, when you hear that scraping sound as the ice rips intae yer baws, Oouch, mibbee its just my arthritis playing up, its what they do, when they make some money and Dafa-bet it away…

4 years ago

Caption,Sevco perv caught looking in bedroom windows tells judge he was just checking to see if they were coming,nudge nudge

Kenny
4 years ago

Caption: I climbed all the way up that pole and no even a sooky

Monti
4 years ago

Caption: ” Yes Mr. Epstein, Prince Andrew did leave using the same exit as you “

4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Good one probably a winner

Rebus67
4 years ago

Charlie,

I agree that Meling would be a good signing, better than Boli for sure. However, it will not happen quickly because Rosenborg are likely to move on to the playoffs for the CL. They will not let him go until that is decided.

Rebus

Rebus67
4 years ago

Let me be a little controversial here! Which players in the first team pool do not enhance tge team….i.e. they are fillers?

Let me start you off(if I have not already!), Griffiths, Morgan, Ntcham when he is not playing for a move, and Hayes. The jury is still out on Boli and the RB.

Rebus

4 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Don’t agree with Griffiths in that group, the guy is a free kick expert and the best finisher in Scotland, probably Bitton though he’s been ok. Ntcham is a good player great first touch and great vision and passing ability

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Hayes, Bitton, Ralston, Gordon, Hendry, Kouassi & Bayo!

Out!

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Harsh it is then but i’m seldom wrong!

Rebus67
4 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Ian,

I thought few would agree on Griff. My reasoning is he is not the type of striker we need. We need a target man so those crosses into the box are not wasted. Griff is a)a poacher, and b) a shoot on sight merchant. Johnson, Christie and sometimes Forrest can perform these roles but none is a target man.

I think we shall keep Griff and good luck to him. NL rates him.

Rebus

bgbhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

well he couldn’t header the ball last night when clean through on goal

charlie
4 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

ffs rebus sober up

Rebus67
4 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Charlie,

Why? What does your reality have to offer?

By the way, I am probably wrong but I agree with you on Bitton!
Prediction: His contract will not get renewed. He is going to let it run down and grab a signing on fee elsewhere.

Rebus

Rebus67
4 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Charlie,

See my reply above! If Griff has the best delivery at the club we are in trouble! Look at his corners, man.

Further, I am not a Celtic fan, I am an algorithm created by Atari that escaped from a trashed harddrive onto the Timternet!

Thought you were getting a bit personal there, Charlie, but I am sure I am mistaken. Opinions, opinions where should we stick them?

Rebus

4 years ago

Caption
John terry’s sex addiction has gone to James Bond levels

Mike
4 years ago

Everybody dreams, but none dream more than Celtic supporters. For example, we just signed a left back for around £3.00 million pounds, do you really think that they will spend another 3-4 million on Meling? no chance its Killies Greg Taylor. Lumny, no chance after just buying ElHamed, with Bitton as cover. Its what the press do, they feed of your dreams. And it just goes to prove how much our ambition is stunted, from top players to C.L. Qualifier mibbees. There should be a pill for it with a warning label “especially for Celtic supporters, Danger, there is Danger and frustration, when your expectations are raised”. Even the Sevvies, the Skinto club, who once were raised on Moonbeam bloated EBT’s can still show more ambition than us. But what is the £50.00 million pounds for? That is anyone’s guess.. Celtic the dream deniers, take it or lump it. And lump it, when every paper, the SFA the Lanarkshire ref. society, foist their agenda against us..

Monti
4 years ago

Caption: ” What time is Rory home “?
” You tell me Ryan, he’s your brother”

TicToc
4 years ago

Caption: “Sorry fur ra intrusion anat, jist wunnered if ye’d seen any eTims comments onywhere, they’re disappearin’ faster thin cats aff a hoat tin roof!”

Monti
4 years ago

Or Pizza ordering troops!

TicToc
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Ha, :-).
HH

Whitearra
4 years ago

Caption : Pint of lager please Mary. Quiet in here the night.

Rebus67
4 years ago
Reply to  Whitearra

Whitearra,

Good one.

Tell me. Where I live in Canada there has been an explosion in craft beers. Many from small breweries. Many of these have a citrous flavour.

Same where you are?

Rebus

Steve Naive
4 years ago

“Golly-Mbombscare”… ffs what is that?
Hunnite level post there, get a grip.

Bgbhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve Naive

He’s losing it Steve. To be expected

Bgbhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

LOL

Coming from the guy who would hide in bushes with men

Bgbhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

🙂

Gerard Reilly
4 years ago

Craig Gordon likely in goal tonite

Bgbhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  Gerard Reilly

I hope not

Yoker Bhoy
4 years ago

Obviously tonight we have to be solid and wary at the back as Cluj will be looking for at least a goal and can be very dangerous on the counter and at set-pieces but I can’t see our bhoys playing a defensive game by any stretch of the imagination. It’s vital to be on the front foot as much as possible and not allow the Romanians to settle. If we can gain the upper hand in the middle of the park and blitz their goal area with incessant attacks, notching a couple of early goals in the process, we should be well on our way to the play-offs. Their defence will be tight and tough to break down but several of our players have the speed, the technical wizardry and the goal marksmanship to do the necessary. Our superior fitness levels should also be a tellng factor. Defensively, Boli is looking too wobbly at the moment to be thrown into a game of such magnitude so I’ve gone for the more experienced Hayes at left back. I definitely think we can pull this off and am going for a 2-0 win to the bhoys. I’d love to see them blast in a couple more to make it a memorable night but any kind of win will do fine.

Bain

Elhamed Ajer Simunovic Hayes

Brown McGregor

Forrest Christie Johnston

Edouard

Subs: Gordon, Bolingoli, Bitton, Jullien, Ntcham, Sinclair, Griffiths

(Ntcham and Griff to cause a sensation in the second half).

COYBIG

The Cha
4 years ago

It’s from a clickbait site so as Ralph says “specualtion is more down to fan desire than actual interest”.

Puggy67
4 years ago

Caption: Man shouts “FFS do something before the window closes” and it’s not Monti.

Puggy67
4 years ago

Celtic Football Club have signed an e-sports team to compete in the Call of Duty World League (CWL) Championship. Is there a 15 year old out there that can explain this?

PeteCon
4 years ago

Caption: “Hoops target discusses personal terms before the window shuts.”

Benjamin Lynch
4 years ago

Love Bitton, but if he starts in central defense we will absolutely concede at least one goal tonight. Need Ajer to start, and then either Simunovic or Jullien alongside.

Also, putting Ajer out wide like we did at the weekend wouldn’t be a terrible idea. His pace, power, and ball movement are terrific, and his ability to simply overpower opposing defenses is something we haven’t seen for quite some time. He’s our best CB by far, but after the weekend I’m not sure if we aren’t better off using him, at least at times, in a position where he can run at the opposition and open up the game in the final third of the pitch.

Regardless, Bolingoli will be fine in the long run, but he’ll need some help tonight if we’re going to keep a clean sheet. Whoever plays LW will have to be diligent tracking back to cover for his overlapping runs forward. Morgan’s failure to do so last week was the primary cause of the goal conceded IMO, although the entire defense failed to cover themselves in glory on that sequence…

jimmybee
4 years ago

Ajer is a midfielder all day long.
Not a centre back. Yes done great filling in but really we should be pushing him into his perfect position beside Broony.
I would start Sinclair tonight to help Boli more his experience would be better suited tonight rather than Johnstone Hayes or Morgan.
COYBIG 4-1 the bhoys

Rebus67
4 years ago

Assists?

Rebus

Rebus67
4 years ago

Charlie,

I kick your shins, you kick mine! We shake hands after its all over.

Unless Griff scores an own goal and we lose 1-0.!

Enjoy the game.

Rebus(Hic, hic!)

Uralius
4 years ago

I don’t think “rangers” fans are capable of Zidane brilliance.

jimmybee
4 years ago

Caption: if the smoking doesnt kill me this smoking area will.

jimmybee
4 years ago

My selection tonight
Bain
Jozo Ajer Jullien
El Hamed McGregor
Brown
Forrest Christie Sinclair
Edouard.
Coybig

jimmybee
4 years ago

Team announced
ChampionsLeague
Bain
Elhamed
Simunovic
Ajer
Brown
McGregor
Forrest
N’tcham
Christie
Johnston
Edouar
Sinclair doesn’t even make the bench

jimmybee
4 years ago

Looks like McGregor at left back tonight.

jimmybee
4 years ago

Power in the middle to front lets hope for a great result from the bhoys 4_1

Bgbhoy
4 years ago

7 million on a defender and he can’t play in the biggest game of the season

Shambles

BJF
4 years ago

3 at the back we can look a bit unbalanced, left wing will
be exposed, either Johnston or McGregor will cover some ground tonight.

jimmybee
4 years ago
Reply to  BJF

BJF I think it will be a flat back 4 with McGregor at left back?

Uralius
4 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Aye

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