A polished and enthusiastic performance from Celtic swept away Icelands champions at Murrayfield last night. The hoops scored four, van Dijk and the re-born Pukki getting two apiece, while the visitors tried, but weren’t really allowed to keep the ball for very long.
Deilas pressing game worked, the players stuck to their tasks , and now we can relax and wait for the outcome of the St. Pats -Legia Warsaw game tonight.
Celtic didn’t give their opponents any space or time, and when they moved forward themselves it was with speed and precision, all of which makes me wonder why I was even remotely worried. If this improvement continues, and if the players can keep this sort of effort, then this could well be a season to remember.
Todays word is “fickle “. Which I always have been, and always will be.
Apart from the goals and the movement, the most interesting, and encouraging aspect of the game last night was the way the players kept it going until the end. Even with the game well and truly won, they kept harassing the opposition, they kept looking for more goals, and they didn’t seem to tire, especially as this was only the second competitive game of the season.
The match stats, taken from UEFA.com, tell their own story. Celtic had 27 efforts on goal, 14 on target. Thats an attempt roughly every three minutes. Which is some going no matter who you are playing.
Murrayfield , the replacement venue which also had me worried a bit turned out in the end to be an excellent venue. Great atmosphere, and according to those who were there, largely surrounded by friendly police and helpful stewards.
That was when you got there, the m8 traffic and problems with the trains meant that several fans missed the kick off-including Holmbert Fridjonsson, who at half time ,tweeted this, with a comment to tell us he was “finally here ”
The club had tried its best pre match to help organise the trip, but it looks like most people had just figured that it was only a short hop to Edinburgh, and even though they had left plenty of time to get to the capital, it seems like everyone started out at the same time.
Hopefully, it won’t happen for the next game, as we should all be the wiser.
After the game, manager Ronny Deila was happy enough.
I think.
“I think that the first half was good. We started the game well and we’ve been talking about set-plays a lot in the past two weeks and we got a result through that, so that’s something we are happy about. We created some good chances.
“The pitch was better. I wanted us to be even quicker. We have to work in training and in matches so we can get the tempo even better.
“We want to create things and entertain the fans. You need the ball and the tempo in matches. Today was a good start but this is not the best opponent that we are going to get.”
Of course, the Scottish press were over the moon with Celtics win, and they show it on todays papers;
Celtic turned down a “derisory ” offer from southampton for Forster yesterday, but it means that the end game has begun. Well, really begun this time, some would argue the acquisition of Craig Gordon was when it really started, and there’ll be more to come.
Deila, obviously , wants to keep the big Englishman, who , to be fair, is in no rush to get away.
“We want to keep Fraser because we want to qualify for the Champions League and build our team.
“We want to do what we can to keep him here.”
“He came to Celtic and did a good job, but Celtic have also been fantastic for him.
“And I hope that will continue because we need our best players.
“He is a fantastic goalkeeper.
“We will see because in the end something will happen.
“Whether that’s now or in the winter or next summer I don’t know.
“We have to keep on going and things are happening around my players all the time.
“But they have to train good every day, and that’s one of Fraser’s best skills.
“He is an unbelievable professional and I know he really wants to play in the Champions League.”
Meanwhile, as the real stuff takes precedence with Scotlands top clubs, others have had to make do with friendlies. A report from the Daily Record attempts to show that things are still on track for Scotlands newest club over in the USA;
ALLY McCOIST praised Darren McGregor for giving Rangers their bite – even though it was Ian Black who delivered the sandwiches in Sacramento.
The Ibrox boss was delighted to see his summer signing from St Mirren score the equaliser with his first touch after coming on as a half-time sub in their 2-1 win over Republic .
However, McCoist insists it wasn’t just the big defender’s strike which made the difference, but his attitude.
The Rangers boss, who was annoyed at a lack of tempo in the first half, said: “I was disappointed as there was a lack of aggression in our play – and by that I don’t mean running round kicking people.
“I mean a tempo to the game, attacking the ball, to go and pass it quicker. The difference in the second half was that McGregor and Marius Zaliukas attacked the ball.
“In the first half Sacramento were taking a touch and turning. Suddenly, Darren was right up their backsides.
It influences everyone.”
Black, meanwhile, was a hero with both sets of fans. The Rangers punters were hailing him after his last-gasp winner while the home fans were cheering him when he got booked.
Any yellow card for a Rangers player was to result in one section of the ground being given a voucher for a free chicken sandwich from the fast-food counter and Black did the business with his first act.
Rangers move on to Canada tonight for the third match of their tour against Victoria Highlanders with Ricky Foster and Fraser Aird injury doubts.
Good to see everythings coming along nicely, and they are making plenty of friends on their journey. Free food for bookings ? We believe that family club Motherwell have dismissed plans to introduce a similar scheme at Fir Park for their first home game of the season, as it would see them go out of business early in the second half.
Theres bad news for AS Cannes, the French side which gave the world Zinedine Zidane.
The club has officially been placed in liquidation as of this morning and will cease to exist as the same entity. #ASC
We hope that someone from the SFA, or the Scottish media will be able to get in touch with them, and tell them that this is not the case at all.
Although outside of Scotland, those words may be treated with the contempt they deserve.
Tommy Burns, Love Street, 1986. One of the finest days ever as a Celtic fan. The picture featured in the diary yesterday, and seemed to evoke a few happy memories.
The tasteless “joke ” about aeroplanes didn’t, and for that one, i’m truly sorry. It was in bad taste, and if anyone was offended, then again, I’m sorry.
Today, a little bit of merchandising the club a few years ago. but when ?
Thats from Celtic Collectibles on twitter, as is this one, which made me laugh, and probably would have Peter Lawwell screaming if it came out today;
Remember S&S well and Tiger thereafter, with which it merged. The home of Hotshot Hamish, the teuchter with the thunderbolt strike and Billy’s Boots, making him do all manner of things skilfull and then a bit shite. So one minute he would be scoring a hat-trick for England schools and the next he couldn’t get a game for Sevco U-12s.
Yesterday wasn’t really your best day, eh? Sick jokes and losing the plot and calling our manager “out of his depth” based on no evidence whatsoever.
You’ve lost any moral authority to have a dig at the MSM for their reporting on us, when yesterday you sounded like Keevins on a particularly hysterical night on Radio Clyde.
I take the Diary for what it is, and appreciate the effort that goes into it. It’s voluntary, takes time, and to compare to “professionals” like Keevins is unfair.
I didn’t like the plane comment, but the guy made an apology mate.
Whilst whinging about comments from other users, the guy who said “we deserve better players” made me shiver and think that’s exactly what the vermin said circa 2007.
Anyway, I’ve been pretty impressed with Deila so far. I’d go so far as to say I am cautiously optimistic.
Glad you are feeling a lot more positive today, think you may have had a slight bump on the head yesterday. I was very impressed by the high pressing game last night and the atmosphere was excellent. Hail Hail
The ponchos – were they not distributed to those fans lucky enough to get a seat in the temporary stand at the Celtic end and in anticipation of getting soaked in sunny Glasgow.
Paul Lambert scored a cracker at that end against the old hot very cross buns.
OFT
Can,t think why anyone would be nervous about last night,after
watching the first game iv,e seen better junior teams,than the whale murderers
we won in second gear,still worried about our midfield Johannson kept giving the ball away ,and Henderson is a better player than mcgreggor and should start
Still going on about the whales then, are you from Wales?
I didn’t think we played very well either game, I’m really surprised at how bad Reykjavic were, their keeper had such a shocker I’d recommend a transfer to ibrox. When Scott Brown isn’t playing we seem to lack a bit of dig but we pressed very well.
Last season, if you said Pukki would be our top scorer the white van would have carted you away but there might be a player in there somewhere (he still missed a sitter last night)
Here’s hoping we keep getting better and, fingers crossed, we get wee trip across the sea next leg.
Johansen supplied 2 of the best passes of the entire game in the first half.
We are still in pre Season and the guy is running box to box what more do you want from him?
Last night was a stroll but Ambrose was caught under the ball or letting it bounce too often, mulgrew was caught in possession a few times too many and we desperately need a number 9 (or 88). But all in all a good early season performance
Well so far under Ronnie so good. I prefer these non competitive matches to get the team match fit and sharp rather than the preseason friendlies that we play at this time of year. However the price for failure would b e pretty serious so the element of risk is there but maybe that has to be part of the season’s preparation too.
I see the quick passing game they want to play but I see where it still has away to go, a classic was Johansson’s pass into space in front of the bench for Ambrose to have anticipated the move, but sadly Effe remained 30 yards away watching in admiration, there were other examples of some players sped of thought and control; being too much for their team mates. Pukki can look really classy and yes he did muscle an opponent off the ball but only once, if could add a bit or robustness he could be excellent.
That brings me to Leigh Griffiths, such a breath of fresh air last season, but has he the speed of thought to match his natural football instincts to make it in this team. Is he being played out of position, is there position for him when Brown comes back
Anyway 6 out of 10 so far for Celtic’s European mission but minus 3 for the transport and stadium arrangements. It gave me no pleasure to see my mates form Greenock arrive after the 3 rd goal, note to bus Convenors leave an hour earlier for Murrayfield next time, Edinburgh doesn’t welcome travelers except weird cyclists and peculiar ramblers.
To the large gentleman who nearly burst a blood vessel at the top of the queue for the Tram at the end of the match, did you really think the abuse you vented on the woman tying to marshal the queue was warranted or achieved anything except let Celtic supporter’s reputation as good humoured supporters take a hammering. You were in the right but you needed to know what happened at the bottom of the queue that led some of us up the right side and past those who were queuing properly like you. The Tram stewards pointed at your queue and said City Centre this way and something the other way which I and other assumed was to the Gyle/Park and Ride. So we got up to the platform wanting to cross the tracks but the tiny platform was already occupied so we had to wait until a tram came in and cleared, I know some did get on the city Tram and they were chancers but we should have been told “all trams this way” instead of “City Centre “which implies a different arrangement.
However if it is any consolation you were immortalised in song by a group of Irish supporters who sang to you a dirge along the lines “why pick on the Oppressed, why are the Irish always to blame.”
Finally to those with whom I shared a too intimate contact on the tram out to Murray field thanks you for your humour and well done the guy who kept his pint in the air and hardly lost a drop
Horrible diary yesterday – much better today. Respect for acknowledging your error of judgement. Time to move on.
I only listened to the game on Radio Scotland, and by the miserable tone of voice from “Doddsy” “Chico” “Uncle Tom” et al it seems Celtic played pretty well. They were a pretty rubbish team to be fair, and its too early to make any real judgements, though glad to see Pukki score a couple. I think we can all see a player in there, the frustration is he doesnt seem to believe it himself. Maybe he s starting to now. I d like to see the Boa constrictor given a couple of games back to back now, he looked good in his cameo in Iceland, and maybe when he said he was finally fit and ready to show what he can do he wasnt just talking BS.
Ralph is more than capable of defending himself, but I ll just say Ive met him a couple of times and he does this diary because he loves Celtic and a laugh. There is no hate in him (execpt of course for the 2nd Rangers truth deniers).If he was Keevins he d be trying t say his words were taken out of context and twisted by peoople with an agenda. Luckily there is only one “bonkers”
The comment yesterday was in poor taste but it takes a big man to admit he is wrong so fair play, move on, case closed.
Deadhead: I m not sure that that team themselves murder whales. Scottish people go on Orange Marches celebrating perceived religious and cultural supremacy at the expense of other sections of society. By the same rationale then does that mean we are Celtic, from the land of bigots?
£8m and the Holy Goalie for FF. I’d take that as fast as Ally can hoover a pie!
Yeah comment on crash was in bad taste but who hasn’t said something like that in the past..and apology is well accepted…this diary is doing something right as I read it faithfully enjoy it and wouldn’t if it were mince.
Before I get ahead of myself – it isnt always the best individual players that wins but a team and dare I say it could we be developing a team here?
I know Ralph from when we used to travel together in a supporters club and I’d like to echo the comment that there isn’t a bad bone in his body. Unfortunately, we have lost touch somewhat now I travel independently plus a few years where I haven’t gone celtic as much due to taking in barca games (glory hunter, moi?) but he is a top man, very passionate about the club (Celtic that is, not Barcelona) and hey, let’s be honest, who here hasn’t pulled a joke which didn’t hit the spot? He’s been man enough apologise, move on.
Any way, I immensely enjoy these articles and to produce a witty, articulate and entertaining diary day after day is a hell of a task and not easily accomplished. I know I couldn’t do it. Keep up the good work Ralph HH
The diary is ususally a good read and the effort must be truly time consuming, and the quality is rather good methinks, we’re all allowed off days, I feel Ralph writes this cos he loves the club not for the shekles so comparing him to MSM is a wee bit sqewed.Diary is much more insightful.
Anyehoo…good result yesterday, shame St Pats got hammered 5 – 0 ( purley cos it would have been an easier away game for us ) .
Speaking only for maself Ralph; apology accepted and respected.
HAIL HAIL !!!!!!!!
My only head scratching moment of last night was the substitutions ..
Took off 2 strikers and left Commons up front when he had Watt and Boerrigter sat on the bench?
Made no sense to me Commons never has been and never will be able to play up front..he’s slower than a wet weakend in Renton.