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Celtic Diary Wednesday August 20: Here We Go Again.

Celtic get a second bite at the champions League cherry tonight in Slovenia against Maribor. The game is live on Sky Sports so with any luck we’ll get a result and Neil McCann will suffer some sort of apoplectic seizure to add to the evenings entertainment.

Sky Sports have been running a poll asking whether or not Celtic should be playing in this game, and at the time of writing, 63% of their viewers think that Legia Warsaw should be playing.

What they don’t say is that its actually 63% of calls, and they have all been traced to a Mr. McCann, and not the one in Bermuda.

There was a little bit of confusion over the eligibility of defender Efe Ambrose, meaning he didn’t fly out with the team yesterday, but he’s going today, after a call to UEFA cleared things up.

“Why didn’t we think of that ? ” said Henning Berg. Manager Ronny Deila explained;

“There was some complication with communication problems,”

“We didn’t think he was ready, because he got two matches. But, in the end, it is one match.

“He didn’t come with us today but he is coming tomorrow now. I am very happy about that, because we need defenders.” 

 And then someone will ask Ambrose if he’s fit to play, just after he gets off an aeroplane, he’ll say yes, and then Maribor will be one up inside six minutes. We’ve seen that film before.

 But Deila is a lot more comfortable about tonights tie, now that he’s a bit more familiar with certain aspects of the players, such as remembering their names, and where they play.

“When we played Legia, I hadn’t been with the players for long, but I feel more comfortable with them now. I know what kind of team I have, I know the strengths of the players now. “Also, the players are looking in much better shape. They are fitter than they were against Legia and have adapted more to working under me. So that puts us in a better position than we had the last time. “I think everyone wants to prove Celtic are still a Champions League team. The players really want to get into the group stage. “We have got another chance but I don’t think that puts any extra pressure on us. There is always pressure to get to the Champions League. “But if we don’t make it, it’s because we are not good enough and we’ll have to take it from there. But I think we have improved in the last two weeks. We are more prepared and I have a good feeling that we can make a good performance in Maribor and get a good result to take home to Glasgow. “Of course you have to think long term with what you want to do as a manager, but in the short term everything is about a result against Maribor now. “We will focus on the right things. My energy, and the energy of the staff, is that we know what we are going to do. We know the players much better than we did in Warsaw.” 

Except the new boy, Wakaso Mubarak, but thankfully it looks like he won’t be signed in time, thus removing any temptation to start another qualifier with someone who nobody knows. To be fair to Deila though, he doesn’t look like he’ll make that mistake again. In fact, there was clear evidence that the player is not one of his signings when he mentioned that he’d never spoken to the player before, and wanted a chat, presumably to find out what motivates him, before he does anything…

“He will be an important player to have in the squad, especially with James being out, Mubarak is a very good deliverer of the ball and also very good both defensively and attacking wise.

“I know African players and have had good experiences working with them. Sometimes they come from tough backgrounds where there’s not so much education. You have to adapt to that when you are leading people from those places. The first year or two in Europe can be difficult for them.

“They have the hunger, that’s true. It is important they keep that hunger. Sometimes when they get a bit of success, they can become individualistic. If he gets here in time, I’ll have to speak to him first and see how he is. I’m not a gambler.” 

 Although he may have been referring to tonights game.

Please, no.

 James Forrest, who managed nearly a couple of hours this time before getting injured-he pulled up with hamstring problems on Saturday- will miss the game, as will Adam Matthews, who has calf problems. Unlike most Welsh people who have sheep issues.

 I know, they do that to them, and then we eat them, so who’s really the winner ?

 Striker ( sort of ) Anthony Stokes summed up the attitude towards the unexpected reprieve in the Celtic camp. ( Surely Lawwell could have put the extra to it and booked a hotel ? )

 “We have to grasp it with both hands, which we failed to do in the two Legia games.” 

 I’d rather he used his feet, but you get the point. Stokes has yet to impress at this level, and hopefully tonight he can make his mark.

 “We have ridden our luck, obviously, getting the second chance. But if anything it will be even harder to take if we don’t grasp the opportunity after everything that’s happened.We need to get through to the Group Stages.” 

 Drop the talk about what you will feel like if we lose. Just go out there and win.

Speaking of feelings after a defeat, Deila said after the Legia debacle that he;

“ couldn’t sleep much – I felt like I had killed someone,” 

which is a remarkable coincidence because I couldn’t sleep much because I felt like I wanted to kill someone.

“If you don’t hurt when you lose matches something’s wrong. It took me one day then I realised I had to move forward. The first day was hard but you have to admit what level you are at. On that day we were at that level and we have to work from there.

“Now we have a chance to see how far we have improved in 14 days. I am confident we are going to reach the right level.

“It was a very difficult position to be in. I had only been at the club for four weeks. But you learn quick in this job. I also felt tired because I had maybe pushed myself too much.

“I feel very different right now. I know my team, I have my head up and I have control.”

 Oddly enough, I feel a lot more confident about this game than any of the other qualifiers. The team played very well on Saturday, with players working hard and for each other, and goals came from all over the pitch.

There were many, many different reasons why it all went wrong in Warsaw, but the key ones do seem to have been eliminated.

Craig Gordon looks much more focussed than Fraser Forster, the defence looks like they can defend again, and in the middle to front, the high pressing game is becoming more familiar to the players, with more cohesion off the ball.

I’ve always said that you cannot judge how a team is playing unless you are sitting in the stands. Television, only shows you the action through someone elses eyes, and therefore you can only comment on what is on the screen. From the north stand on Saturday, we looked like a good side again. Lets hope we carry that over into tonight, and then we can put this rather shaky start fully behind us.

Personally, I’d go with Craig Gordon in goal, with Lustig and Izaguerre at full back. Denayaar and van Dijk look like they have been playing together for years, so that would complete the back four. With Johansen, Ambrose and Mulgrew protecting the middle of the park, that leaves Commons and Berget to support Leigh Griffiths who has the pace and work ethic to possibly snatch an away goal. Deila will probably go with Stokes instead of Griffiths, but although the Irishman sounds keen to perform well tonight, I’d leave him out for this one.

His inclusion would mean we have no striker in the side to capitalise on any half chances, which could prove vital for the return game. I mean, look at the difference Calum MacGregors goal made in Warsaw.

With regards to MacGregor, he looked tired on Saturday, and while he has done superbly well since he came back from Nottingham, a wee rest will do him good. But I’d still have him on the bench tonight.

Incidentally, perhaps Ronny should be a little more careful when letting people take his photograph… Celtic manager Ronny Deila at Glasgow Airport as the club fly out to face Maribor.

As long as we can see progress, most people will give Deila the time to mould his own team. We saw that progress on Saturday, and if the rate of improvement continues tonight in Slovenia, then we’ll get a result.

This time, hopefully, we won’t need UEFA to alter it for us.

By the way, anyone else hear Peter Lawwell shout ” feckin telt  yeez ” when he heard that Robert Snodgrass has dislocated his knee, and is out for six months….?

It was Gerry Creaney, Brian O’Neill and Mark McNally in the photo yesterday, taken at a time when things were quite gloomy at Celtic Park.

Heres a happy chappy. From Retro Celt on twitter. Who is he ? Embedded image permalink

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Tourtenay
9 years ago

I think that is King Kenny

Danny Bhoy
9 years ago

Can’t decide between Charlie Nicholas and Frank McGarvey

Danny Bhoy
9 years ago

Dom Sullivan?

Danny Bhoy
9 years ago

Fergus McCann, I’ll keep guessing……..

Danny Bhoy
9 years ago

told yeez… Pearse O’Leary?

FrancoBarese
9 years ago

Tom McAdam??

FrancoBarese
9 years ago

looks like the number 2 on the shorts which would rule out most of the strikers.

Sydney tim
9 years ago

It’s of course charlie scoring the equaliser v the deid team in a 3 -1 snowstorm

Sydney tim
9 years ago

Ops zoomed in. Looks more like chicken George

Old Father Tim
9 years ago

Its Kenny – when he was one of the best in Europe

OFT

yestim
9 years ago

First reaction was, Dom Sullivan, late 70’s early 80’s

tullybhoy
9 years ago

choco eclair

9 years ago

Don’t think that’s a 2 on the shorts since you can only see the top of the number.

The celebration is Kenny D all over so I’ll go for him.

WeeWizard
9 years ago

Is that not Brian McClair with Super Salary and Craig Paterson possibly Le Petit Merde in background !!!

chris
9 years ago
Reply to  WeeWizard

Murdo McLeod in the background 🙂

Bongo
9 years ago

Chicken George scoring against the Mankie Mob

deadhead67
9 years ago

Kenny the traitor
why has henderson not got a game a much better player than
mcgreggor, he was not sent out on loan and was great in the latter stages of last season,we could piss him off and he might want away

JRB1
9 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

“Kenny the Traitor”..? “Henderson ‘might’ want away”?

FFS Dickhead get a life, will ye. And please, please, fuck off somewhere your constant pessimism might be appreciated…

Celtic125
9 years ago
Reply to  JRB1

Stop biting JRB1 and ignore.

JRB1
9 years ago
Reply to  Celtic125

You sound like sons Celtic 125?!

9 years ago

IZZYS A TIME BOMB AT TIMES ,HE GAVE A WAY THE BALL ,AND NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS FOOTBALL CARRER,AT MURRAYFIELD THEY LEGIA SCORED THERE 2ND GOAL.THROUGH HIM MESSING ABOUT, FOR GOD SAKE IF YOU ARE NOT TO SURE WHAT TO DO, JUST KICK THE BALL OUT FOR A SHY,ITS THAT SIMPLE, NO THE TROUBLE WITH HIM IS THERE IS NO OTHER LEFT BACK AT THE CLUB. SO HE THINKS HE JUST GETS THAT POSITION TO HIMSELF. SO RONNY SEE IF YOU CAN FIND A DECENT LEFT BACK,BUT BACK TO-NIGHTS GAME YOU KNOW THAT FEELING THAT YOU GET, OF NOT BEING COMFORTABLE.A DRAW WOULD BE GOOD , BUT WHO KNOWS.

9 years ago
Reply to  timbhoy 2

I understand Huns using all caps, as they’ve not evolved opposable thumbs, but this baffles me … 😉

FrancoBarese
9 years ago

The strip is the from 84-85 as prev strip had central badge and subsequent strip had round neck. Too late for Kenny.

andy bhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  FrancoBarese

Previous strip was just the hoops with a v-neck and the badge on usual side, previous to that was the strip with the badge in the centre which was worn in the 4-2 game in 79.

fredcdobbs
9 years ago

I would drop izguire and play mulgrew at LB. kayal in the middle. def def def 4-5-1

mattgallscot
9 years ago

brian chocy mc clair,

charlie
9 years ago

COYBIG

andy bhoy
9 years ago

Jim Melrose, the night the McStay brothers both scored against the the scum, remember it well.

Aurelio Zen
9 years ago

does anyone know where I can see the game tonight in York?
Celticbars says O’Neills but I have been caught out before by plastic Paddy pubs on there.

Chris
9 years ago

His name is George Mclusky he’s the leader of
The team, the finest centre forward the world has ever seen he’s here he’s there to score the vital goal and as for
Derek Johnstone you can stick him up yer hole !!!! Even if it isnae big chicken George that was a great fecking song in his days at Celtic Park

Doc
9 years ago

Watched the interview on the news, is it just me or does it look like Ronny has aged afew years in the last few months?
Gordon
Lustig (the furniture murderer)-Ambrose-Denayer-Izzy
Van Dijk
Johansen-Mulgrew
Commons
Griffiths-Stokes
Eight hours to kick off, can’t wait. Hope we’re in the hoops.

Gerry
9 years ago

I agree with most of your team, but if Bit(t)on can’t get a game in his position ahead of a centre half/right back or a useless Mulgrew I’d be gutted if I was him. He is a bit slender but still has a physical presence, especially at set pieces. Mulgrew can get a game when he finds his first touch, never a Celtic captain!

Doc
9 years ago
Reply to  Gerry

I would like to see Van Dijk playing there as if feel his defensive qualities would help break up counter attacks plus he has the passing accuracy and range to set up moves for us. Mulgrew should be doing the same.
Biton, McGregor and even Kayal have played well enough not to be left out, rather have too many players on good form than not enough. With so many players on form we should be able to keep going for the entire game with no lag or dip when subs are made.

Bawsman
9 years ago

Brian McClair

9 years ago

Was in York a few weeks ago and was in Oneils, although they don’t have a CELTIC SC running from there they will have the game on, HAIL HAIL, COYBIG

TheRetroCeltic
9 years ago

I know, I know, pick me ! Pick me !

TheRetroCeltic
9 years ago

Jim Melrose ! HH

funder67
9 years ago

Mark McGhee?

Phaco
9 years ago
Reply to  funder67

Agree.hh

John Murray
9 years ago

That’s definitely Jim Millsop Melrose wearing no.12, as he did for much of his time with us. Had a brief scoring spell at Leicester City, under Jock Wallace, and Coventry City and we were convinced he was the man to fill Prince Charlie’s boots.

He’d be a prime candidate for ‘They wore the Hoop’s’ in Not the View.

9 years ago
Reply to  John Murray

He was. My mate wrote it.

9 years ago
Reply to  alvysinger

And it was “They Emabarrassed The Hoops”, which was the best thing in NTV when it came out. Shamefully the editor pulled it after being criticised by Jack McGinn for running the articles. They didn’t ewant to be seen as the “malcontents” McGinn had called them and cravenly stopped running the articles. Their loss.

andy bhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  John Murray

He started that game and was wearing the number 9.

Sean Cahill
9 years ago

It’s King Kenny (no. 8 on his shorts) scoring against the Huns at Parkhead in the early/mid seventies. Thought that might be Slim Jim behind Kenny, but he returned to Rangers in 1969/70 so way before this photo was taken – could be the Carthouse Forsyth, but defo The Girvan Lighthouse in goal, he he! Did all footballers have nicknames in those days?

John Murray
9 years ago

Thanks for the interesting background info Alvy, you’re spot on about it being the best bit. To pass the time on train journeys up to Glasgow we used to think up nominations for the accolade, which wasn’t very hard in the late ’80’s & early Nineties.

Would love to see Etim’s bring it back.

9 years ago
Reply to  John Murray

I think it had something to do with the Stein bust that they were involved in commissioning and gifting to Celtic. My recollection is hazy and I would need to confirm with my mate, but McGinn having castigated them and labelled them malcontents, used TETH articles as an excuse to refuse the bust. The editorial team wanted to be taken seriously and stopped the articles, despite them easily being the best thing in it and the first thing I turned to, even though I didn’t befriend the author until later.

9 years ago
Reply to  alvysinger

My mate still writes articles for it. He has written various reviews on Celtic books etc over the years for them and now does the Tales from The Crypt articles on shite huns from the past.

Bobby Zee
9 years ago
Reply to  alvysinger

Quality publication, always providing a belly laugh or 5. An essential part of the match day experience for me. Tell your mate to keep up the good work.

Admin
9 years ago
Reply to  John Murray

We only do originals!

Still cant think of NTV without remembering them using my STAN ( Collymore) Eminem Songs to Sing….permission….pah!

Buckie1967
9 years ago

Oh well can’t spell it but here goes darius djackenofski told u couldn’t spell it looks like something out of countdown.

Aurelio Zen
9 years ago

Thanks Keighly Bhoy I’ll give it a go.I thought about running down to Sheffield to see what Ralph looks like but it’s a bit far and I’m probably better keeping my illusions intact! Hail Hail

9 years ago

It is Melrose.

chris
9 years ago

Deffo not Kenny he left summer of 77 and these strips were later probably 80, 81……Could be Melrose, its not McLair and its deffo not McGhee(to early for him) Could also be Tam Macadam but I am sticking with Chicken George…good one this though many different views…makes a change!

andy bhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  chris

It is Melrose, game was April 1984, 3-0 and both Paul and Willie scored, this picture shows Melrose celebrating the Maestro’s goal in the first half.

Travellinbhoy
9 years ago

Think that’s Willie McStay. With big Craig shite patter Paterson behind him the other Huns I think are ally Dawson the girvan shite house mcloy and sandy jardine on his arse. Think the other Celt is wee Murdo.

saj
9 years ago

still subscribe to NTV excellent rag and still raises a laugh.

celtsfan67
9 years ago

Happy enough with the team selection tonight. Looks like Griffiths is not in the plans. Anyway – let’s go out and do it tonight!!

COYBIG

highseastim
9 years ago

Very impressed with Johansson tonight, my MOTM!,

fredcdobbs
9 years ago

good tactics tonight. Give ourselves a chance at home. Only half time but we have to be favorites now but lets not get complacent. Thought Gordon had a good match esp given his lack of matches in the past few years.

charlie
9 years ago

ronny opus deila is getting his message across aint life grand coybig

the wild goose
9 years ago

We know your a hun, we know your a hun, deadhead 67, we know your a hun.

charlie
9 years ago

somebody go and drag deidheid off the asbestosdome roof before he does hissssssself an injury

charlie
9 years ago

haha ha ha haha ha ha

charlie
9 years ago

[love izzy but we need to give him a bit of a challenge i would go for paul dixon fae huddersfild to keephim under pressure

bondibrian
9 years ago

ah used to really enjoy buying the NTV when ah lived in London 91-95 ah used to buy it from a cool sports shop of Shaftsbury ave ( still there? ) loads of retro strips & memorabilia, jesus those were dark days supportin the Tic.

BTW ah think we all know theat its a blue-nose troll on here, ignore and they may slither beneath the wet rock whence they came.

MON THE HOOPS !!!!!

John Murray
9 years ago
Reply to  bondibrian

Brian, the shop you’re referring to is Sportspages on Charing Cross Road. Still going strong and worth a visit when you’re next in London.

BTW, were you in the London No.1 CSC?

HH.

charlie
9 years ago

bondibrian there are no dark days for tims cause evenwhen we lose th company is good

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