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Celtic Diary Friday September 22: Calm Down

Now that all the wailing and whining has more or less died down, we can look back on Celtic’s loss to Feyenoord with a little more rationality.

 

Yeah, we got beat…though to be honest anything else would have been a bonus. And there was something else.

 

If you can stomach watching the game back, listen to the crowd in the first half.

 

You’ll probably have to turn the volume up.

 

Celtic got it right tactically. now there’s a sentence I’d never thought I’d type.

 

 

At least until we decided to make it a handicap event.

 

 

Two young players making their first appearances at this level had a rush of blood to the head.

 

 

As they say, shit happens. The trick is not to let it happen again.

 

 

The optimistic side of me is hoping that’s the duff game out of the way.  We’ve still got three home games to go.

 

The pessimistic side of me is fully aware that we have three home games to go.

 

 

Celtic Park is now on the bucket list of players to play at, as opposed to being a venue that scares the dinner out of them.

 

It’ll be interesting to see how we deal with that.

 

 

One of the most alarming things about the defeat on Tuesday is the way we’ve turned on the probably already fragile confidence of those who have stepped into the fray in the absence of others.

 

Liam Scales has done well again, and until he was sent of, Gustav Lagerbielke was coping quite well.

 

Midfielder Thon was the obvious choice to replace a tiring Hatate, who unfathomably had his attitude questioned, but his enthusiasm got the better of him.

 

 

We are down to the bare bones , not because the board haven’t backed the manager, but due to a series of unfortunate circumstances.

 

 

And we’re still in with a shout.

 

 

I expected Rodgers to approach this game differently, and he did.

 

How about we judge him at the end of the campaign ?

 

 

I’m genuinely worried about the reation of the home support should things not immediately go our way in the next game.

 

 

Whether or not it’s down to a sense of entitlement, or the media hype around the current bank balance, a sense of reality needs to sink in somewhere.

 

We’ve got five central defenders, for instance, and one on loan for emergency cover . Under normal circumstances, that’s more than enough. There may be an argument to have a look at why they’re all injured, but there’s certainly not an argument to rush out an buy even more.

 

They’d probably get injured anyway, but with a wage bill of around £8m a month, it’s little wonder the money men have elected to decide what we have should be enough.

 

 

I ignored social media for the last couple of days, to an extent, as I’m tired of players, such as Luis Palma, being slated after just a couple of hours in a Celtic shirt.

 

And Joe Hart saved a penalty, in case you’d forgotten, but he’s still being blamed for conceding a more than decent free kick …that he got a hand to…after Kyogo Fuhruhashi had been rolled by a forward in the wall.

 

 

We’re a work in progress, and whilst there is an argument that we always seem to be a work in progress, we should maybe start to look for and encourage the positives that we are seeing.

 

 

A full strength Celtic is far and away the best side in Scotland, it just needs to learn a little more for the higher levels, and that takes time.

 

 

So give them that time.

 

 

 

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Dziekanowski's nightclub child
1 year ago

Agreed, I was annoyed at the result but heartened by the display, it felt as if we had 11 men on the park we would not have been beaten.

Bawsman
1 year ago

Enough of this common sense shit.

Jamie
1 year ago

Fully agree. Work in progress. Series of injuries, young players in CL (Feyenoord as well I know)….we held our own against a decent side away from home with 9 men. First half display was on par. Few poor judgements in front of goals. Free kick, Kyogo shouldn’t have been on the edge of the wall.

Morto
1 year ago

Lot of folk seem to be forgetting we were playing the Pot 1 side away with half a team missing.
Just because they aren’t Bayern or Man City we’re expecting a win and that’s unrealistic, how often have we beaten Pot 1 teams even with a full strength side?
There’s lots or surrounding arguments, recruitment, development, injuries and so on but given our starting 11 A 2-0 loss wouldn’t be unexpected, 5-1 last year mind.
Playing for half an hour with 9 men I’d say we did a good job not to concede a lot more.
So, glass half full and lets move forward together.

the real Anton Rogan
1 year ago
Reply to  Morto

Half a team missing? We’ve 3 starting players out and we signed a shit load in the summer.

However, I thought we played well until Kyogo inexplicably shat it in the wall leaving a huge gap to aim at.

It seems the manager has learned his lesson regarding Europe. Hopefully the players will learn to.

Gringo
1 year ago

Kyogo was fouled by the Feyenoord player and VAR should have seen this and awarded a free kick to Celtic.

In the laws of the game no attacking player can be within one metre of the defensive wall as the free kick is taken yet for some reason both the ref and the VAR chose to ignore this clear law of the game, quite aside from the ref looking like a homer all game.

Still, there’s a lesson in there anyway and that’s to never put the diminutive Kyogo in a defensive wall again, that is quite specifically NOT his job.

And Joe Hart, and everyone else involved, should well know this.

highseastim
1 year ago

Were the fourth seed team, whether it happens or not we’re supposed to finish bottom.

henrik
1 year ago

that poor feyenoord team were there for the taking but we decided to pass it sideways until tactically sticking a smurf in the wall .we never looked like scoring and the soft red cards glossed over how bad we were

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  henrik

Thank F for that, henrik! Someone else saw what I saw. That crap above about a “Pot 1” team has absolutely no point to it. They were awful on the night (which IS the point), we just managed to ‘out-awful’ them.

Morto
1 year ago
Reply to  henrik

Were they a poor team or did we make them look poor (for an hour)?
Tune in to the next round of fixtures to find out.
I expect Feyenoord and Madrid to progress and we will fight it out with Lazio for third so next game is crucial.
Hope for more of course but realistically that’s where we are at currently.

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  Morto

Careful, Morto, the Hate squad are out in force today.

If it’s any comfort just wait til you see the reaction my comments get.

Doughball will be calling in the whole Glasgow Uni English department! 😀

I’nt that right, schoolboy?

Morto
1 year ago
Reply to  Gringo

Football is all about opinions and I’ll respect those of even my harshest critic.
I’ve put my views there for all to see, I’ve said how I think things will go and, come the end if the group, if I’m wrong then I can live with that too and pay compliment to those who knew better.
Do you think this sensible approach will ever catch on?

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  Morto

Good man, Morto, what’s the point of setting up a blog to gather opinions then to turn round and censor those expressing their opinion?

I’m 100% in agreement with you but as for the sensible approach ever catching on I doubt that it even could be possible when we’re largely surrounded in the blogosphere by self serving reactionaries and idiots.

And they know who they are, to their eternal shame.

HH

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  henrik

100% agree, I couldn’t believe how ineffectual they looked in that first half and could believe even less how weak Celtic looked in their powder puff ‘attacks’, if they’re worthy of the name.

I thought we could get something from it right up til the goal went in, though to give them their due, they did a decent job playing half an hour with 9 men and a ref who looked like he wanted to do a pirouette all game to show how great he was.

Funkyy
1 year ago
Reply to  henrik

That has been my main reservation/doubt since Rodgers came back…that he
would start that side to side passing that gives the other team time to get men back
and organize their defense before we get anywhere near their box, while we get cut
open by one long pass forward by the opposition.
As for the two that got sent off after already being yellow-carded ffs. They’re supposed to be “professionals” so they should already know that if they go in careless and make any contact that doesn’t get the ball then the other “professional” is gonna go down faster than the value of *rangers shares to get the second yellow. So none of this “they’ll learn from this” nonsense…they should get a rollicking from the manager not sympathy and cuddles.
If we’re in a position to finish 2nd or 3rd with a win against Feyenoord in Glasgow I still think we can beat them….but I dread what could happen before then in the away matches if we continue to play
like we did in Holland.

Paul Black
1 year ago

% agree, Lazio result was good for us, not over by any means.

gash67
1 year ago

Comments about silencing the crowd spot on. I was in Main Stand ?? and at start of game couldnt hear our support. As game went on home support were getting more and more subdued and all you could hear were Celtic support. What had me screaming (into myself) was Hart in 43 minute running as fast as he could to get a ball from a goal kick… WTF get to HT and kill game. I did say to mates suppose we never complained when he did at the pox a few weeks ago BUT new defence young team you have calmed the storm NO need to recycle ball as quick as we could. HART probably most experienced player on pitch should be the one leading by example.

Chris
1 year ago

Rlph
What a load of pish.
The £8 wage bill per month is because we have a squad of 35 squad players, most of whom were projects, rather than having a squad of 22 where we could sign quality rather than mediocre quantity.
Granted, the injuries to defenders has weakened us but the midfield needed quality for playing at that level.
As Brendan said, pace and power.
We sign a Korean 2nd division player and a 5ft 8 player on loan.
Nobody is asking the board to spend money we haven’t got but the chance was there this season to really kick on, instead we are weaker than last season.
In your blog today you sound more like Paul ‘Smithers’ Brennan than your usual self.

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  Chris

Spot on Pal!

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  Chris

Aye, said, man, it really is disturbing how little the room is being read here these days.

kevlar
1 year ago
Reply to  Chris

Chris, I get what you’re saying about quality over quantity, and you are right. The thing is, when it comes to quality, none of them want to come to the SPFL sadly. Even if we were to guarantee group stage champions league every year they wouldnt come. We have to do the best we can in lour market price. I do think some of our younger less experienced players that are stepping in are “OK”, but we cant expect world beaters from guys that have never played even a champions league qualifier.

For my own thoughts, I think Lagerbielke is OK, a bit of the Boyata about him, but if he gets paired with CCV and can learn from him then hopefully he will cut out the mistakes. Scales for me has been our most cosistant player of the season so far, and thats because we have so many injuries for players that would and could start before him. Im more surprised about that because I thought he was either away for another loan year, or getting sold. Mcgregor has been slow to start this season, but after the current bun game is starting to come onto his usual game. Up front, well its the usual no height, but plenty of movement, so long balls through the middle arent working, but down the sides we should be making more of an impact. I think weve not been lucky with the front 3 and the balls into the box, or for the second ball. Sadly that seems to be us every year in Europe.

Lets hope we get results at home, we might surprise a few people.

C’mon the hoops HH

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  kevlar

when it comes to quality, none of them want to come to the SPFL sadly’ …

That’s why we have seven or eight international players in the side, and the Liverpool CB who covered for Virgil et al when they were on the sick.

All Celtic have to do is switch from ten players in the myopic 1-3 million price range to the experienced 8-12 million price range and their future European participation, and riches, would be complete.

So why don’t they?

They’ve had a quarter century of looking at it, ffs.

But no one even thinks of this question, far less ask it, and that can only be due to what the answer might be.

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  Gringo

Dermot’s priming the beef.

kevlar
1 year ago
Reply to  Gringo

Personally I think this is more likely as well

kevlar
1 year ago
Reply to  Gringo

Yeah, I get that, and agree we should be spending 6-10 on 1 or 2 each year. It is that market that seem to want to go to the English Championship or relegation battles in the EPL. But the constant 1-3 millions, like you said weve got about 8 internationals. Sadly most are internationals in perceived lower nations with not much Champions league or international tournaments.

There were a couple of names in the transfer window mentioned, but were they just paper talk, or did the board try and lowball signings like the John McGinn fiasco.

What we have though should be enough to win the SPFL each year, but 1 or 2 decent signings that could add that European experience would then raise our team squad higher than anyone in Scotland, and then hopefully improve our chances in Europe. I was disappointed to see Starfelt go, and CCV injured, I think theyd have managed the Feyenoord attack better than Scales and Lagerbielke, but our problem is we always seem to loose a couple of the decent players in the team every summer, and have to start from scratch. That could be down to a number of issues though. Starfelt left cause of romance by the looks of it, which for us is rubbish, but for him, hes got to follow his heart and mind.

So saying that, if we did bring in players of a better quality then we are likely to loose them pretty quickly as they would outshine the rest of the league. We have been lucky with some players staying longer, but they are few and far between. Most move to bigger leagues for bigger wages that we wouldnt be able to compete with. But we live and hope that we can keep the better players for longer and have a settled side for more than 1 season or maybe 2 seasons and see how we can cope in the ECL.

Thats just my thoughts though. Not everyone is going to agree, and I accept that

HH mate

Chris
1 year ago
Reply to  kevlar

‘..The thing is, when it comes to quality, none of them want to come to the SPFL sadly. Even if we were to guarantee group stage champions league every year they wouldnt come. We have to do the best we can in lour market price..’

That’s because you have been conditioned to believe that.
Players are desperate to move to the EPL and we can be the shop window.
But those players cost more and we aren’t prepared to pay them the wages.
Ange said he wanted to sell higher and buy higher as his next aim.
If he thought they wouldn’t come here he would have said that.
Look at Lawwell saying they want a rainy day fund.
That’s because they would rather do that than pay for quality.

kevlar
1 year ago
Reply to  Chris

Yeah, I agree. Lawwell always comes out with the “Rainy day fund”. Speculate to accumulate. leave the rest of the league behind and go for knockout ECL

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  kevlar

The player churn is way too high to ever be able to build a Euro level team on, particularly when it’s always 20 year old rookies we ‘re hoping to flog on within a couple of years.

With a manager like Rodgers in charge it should be a relatively simple task for him to sell the Euro dream to 3 or 4 experienced players and be prepared to pay up to 12 million for their services when we have 72 million sitting in the bank.

It took Martin 3 years to gel the Seville side and some reckon they were an even tighter unit the following year, so I don’t see how difficult it can be to lay out the framework for Europe and insist the new lads stay at least three years to see out the project.

TicToc
1 year ago

I think that’s probably the worst Diary I’ve ever read and has as many errors of judgement as Celtic had on Tuesday night. FFS, they couldn’t complete a proper pass and that was when they had 11 men on the park throughout the FIRST HALF. I love Big Joe but he was way out of position (too far to his right) for their goal which was not a great strike and from nearly 30 yards out. YES he exonerated himself by saving a penalty and I’m glad you mentioned that Ralph as it’s about the only thing you wrote worth reading. Hatate was tired when replaced? He looked ILL all the time he was on the park.
Acceptance of garbage like that on Tuesday is not “supporting” the team it’s downright delusional. Did Broxburn Bhoy send you some of his stock? 🙂

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  TicToc

Oh and BTW I didn’t think their penalty WAS a penalty, the ref was a complete clown all night. And Brendan starting with Maeda (who was still one of our better players) on the right was stupid at best. Maeda’s far better on the left and he shouldn’t have started Palma but rather Yang. FFS, why am I even having to point all this out?

kevlar
1 year ago
Reply to  TicToc

Totally agree with Maeda comment. Best on the left, but often got started on the right depending on who else played last season and so far this season. Yang should have been on the right

BroxburnBhoy
1 year ago
Reply to  TicToc

Thank you I’m still opTIMistic. Could be wrong of course we’ll see

BJF
1 year ago

The Dutch were a decent opponent away from home but we are not a settled entity. Still Rodger’s did ok, we can better judge how well he is doing in Europe after a few more games. Kyogo and Hart must share the blame for the goal. I think Holm is trying to make a name for himself with our support by getting stuck in, witness Cantwell at Ibrox. Sadly I like at least one player in the team with a bit of ‘dig’. Liam Scales is worthy of a first pick with his current form, can he play left back? I worry the Board has ear marked some of the money for the case involving an affiliate organisation albeit one we founded.

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  BJF

Insurance covers that and Scales actually IS a left back.

Not that anyone knows seemingly, not even Ange or Brendan.

BJF
1 year ago
Reply to  Gringo

Good response gringo

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  BJF

Cheers, BJF, there was always a player in him and I think his development and confidence in himself has been the one true highlight this last month and I’m delighted for him given the top quality level performances he’s shown recently.

A maturity beyond his years and all power to him as he grows into his role in this side.

HH

Last edited 1 year ago by Gringo
Andy
1 year ago

Poorest pot 1 team we will EVER face. Feyenoord were there for the taking but as usual Celtic always find new ways to shoot themselves in the foot. We weren’t playing particularly well either yet we looked very comfortable until the first goal. Anyway I want to talk about Hatate…………he has an alarming habit of taking an awful long time to get into a game, last night was a classic case he must have given the ball away 6 times in the first 15 minutes. This isn’t new though, he’s done the same thing in a number of games last season. I dont know what the problem is but Rodgers needs to deal with it. The other issue with Rio Hatate is he seems to be only concerned with Rio Hatate, if he touches the ball to Kyogo at the edge of the box at 0-0 we probably go ahead and it could have been a totally different game. It was selfish in my view and he needs to focus on Celtic as a team player or he won’t fulfil his undoubted potential

Damian Smyth
1 year ago
Reply to  Andy

I doubt if we will ever be a force in Europe again . I agree fully with Kevin the std of player we want, don’t want carpets & bent referees . We continuously try to rid ourself of a noose around our neck, but can’t shake it off . Yr after Yr our supporters , yes people who claim to be our Celtic Supporters won’t go away & leave us alone. Don’t jump to conclusions I am not saying fans who support us win, lose or draw should leave us . No way we can’t do without them . However we have fans on twitter & every Celtic forum & at matches who continuously ridicules & abuses our players and or manager . Of course players & manager will underperform, that’s a given . Do we not know that support & or encouragement will help these people to improve performance. Do we not encourage the bloody horse we have backed to run faster , or from the outset of race do we attempt to throw obstacles or abuse at horse . Surely we must help our players. Celtic supporters Yes Celtic Supporters if we want to be successful, we have to create the sweet smell of success around club , have every player waiting hoping to get on to pitch to try their best , not afraid of been called up by BR & hear & see the jeers & abuse from those who should know better

Damian Smyth
1 year ago
Reply to  Andy

Celtic have definitely outgrown the opposition in Scotland. Apart from the odd fluke decision no other team goes close . That can be the only explanation why a number of our supporters have joined up with Rangers2012 fans & their SMSM fellow travellers and abuse & ridicule our Board Manager & players . This is very sporting of these fans to attempt to make domestic more competitive

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  Andy

last night was a classic case’ …

What, the Huns gave him a run out tae? 🙂

Kevin
1 year ago

100% agreed. Fell out with friends in the last couple of days. Not a good look.

I don’t know what people expect.

How do you sell the scottish game to up and coming stars?

Carpets and bent refs, buy we will develop you.

KLV

portpower
1 year ago
Reply to  Kevin

I don’t think the ball to Kyogo was on with the two defenders’ positions, though a ball to run onto to Palma was.

Cartvale88
1 year ago

Too many do not appreciate where Celtic have come from, we are in the UCL another pot of cash coming, The Board over the moon yet again. The team underperforms because the powers that be seem to believe in the ‘Old Firm’ mantra, which is deid.
They are not looking forward as football/soccer will be different in the next five years, so many streaming platforms, elite competitions, however our mob will be happy to compete at the level of Sevco and think they are doing well.

Damian Smyth
1 year ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

As far as I know Celtic club are paying off a bank debt of many millions,building new training complex at Barrowfield , renovating & improvements to Lennoxtown & stadium . All at request of manager & supporters .

MabozzaRitchie
1 year ago
Reply to  Damian Smyth

dont forget the hotel, thatll be back on the agenda soon.

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  MabozzaRitchie

Floating pitch next.

Woof Charlie
1 year ago
Reply to  Damian Smyth

Wildly speculative but is record money in the bank and a huge payout over historical abuse coincidental? Of course we focus on the players on the pitch but….

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  Damian Smyth

Which ‘bank debt of many millions’ is that, Damian?

The Coop debt?

If they’re making record pretax profits of 40 million they could pay off all debts in one swoop.

And the insurance covers the other outstanding case.

MabozzaRitchie
1 year ago

Hatate was minging and is now in ryan christie mode, trying to show himself off whilst on the exit ramp. How many times did kyogo make space and all hatate had to do was make the pass. get him tae if that his attitude. btw when it comes to europe we have been a work in progress for f.decades.

MabozzaRitchie
1 year ago
Reply to  MabozzaRitchie

The idea is that this work in progress will take longer than the basilica in barcelona.

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  MabozzaRitchie

It’s been 56 years since Celtic won their one European trophy and 20 years since they last reached a final, while Rangers Mks1 & 2 have been in two finals in the past 15 year.

So if Mark Lawwell is anything like his faither and adopts the same policies by a rough estimate we should next see Celtic in a European final around 2056 …

Though none of us here will see it unless that ‘Elixir of Life’ that guys like Biden, Soros, Kissinger et al seem to have at their disposal is made available on the NHS.

Except then there won’t be an NHS either.

Ach well, at least it’ll be a novelty for the grandweans, a distraction from the inevitable Hunger Games reality that their lives will have become thanks to our dumb compliance and servile gullible stupidity by trusting the world governments and the potions they concocted for us and our kin.

Last edited 1 year ago by Gringo
Woof Charlie
1 year ago
Reply to  MabozzaRitchie

And he was minging for the first 25 mins at Ibrox needlessly losing the ball, failing on the easy pass (should have set Kyogo for a sitter midweek too). He’s talented but needs some serious coaching.

portpower
1 year ago
Reply to  MabozzaRitchie

The physiological side of Reo Hatate`s game is immature. A simple pass is pressure when back from injury.

If he doesn’t want to be for us Brendan will let him go, if allowed.

1 year ago

I am fed up giving them time, same mistakes, same lessons not learned, if the policy is to buy youg and then sell when do we get out of the circle of give them time and lessons to learn. Answer never, had enough of this board with their no ambition,we the fans suffer for it so I’ll stick to the domestic game because that’s all the money men are interested in. Oh and I was asked a question who I thought was hated the most by Celtic fans Peter Lawell or Mo Johnston, too close to call for me.

Gringo
1 year ago

Is that wage bill of around £8m a month squad wages or the whole kit and caboodle, Peter included?

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  Gringo

You talk as if this is One Man Operation trying to turn a dime while working off the Gallowgate, Ralph, which is clearly disturbing more of your readers than me.

Celtic are an internationally established world renowned football club, in case you’ve forgotten, mate, and I don’t think it’s too much for our support to expect at least a European quality side out on the lark rather than a bunch of rookies who didn’t even know each others names far less their games a few weeks ago.

Are the seats comfy?

1 year ago

I file this article under “Why we continue to fail in Europe”, Example “Fans tolerate and excuse failure”.

There’s almost no point in going through it, as there can be no reasonable debate between Keep the Blind Faith adherents (pro-article) and Rationalists, who look at evidence, precedence, opportunity etc.

I won’t rehash what others have said, just a couple of points.

Phillips was signed as we had a CB crisis but was unfit and injury prone, which is completely wretched. Do we have some kind of rule whereby we can’t sign match-fit players?

re Wages. Our total expenditure in the last accounts was £96m ie £8m per month. The exact amount for wages isn’t known at this stage but in last year’s accounts was £52m ie £4.3m per month. I’d imagine it would be something similar but perhaps higher due to permanent signings of CCV and Jota. It had increased from £44m the previous year but that was Covid affected so would be a lot lower.

There was an article on Celtic Star saying it was as low as £23m but this would only equate to 25% of turnover and I’m sure its nearer 55-60%.

There was another article saying we spend £18m more on wages than Feyenoord but their squad is valued substantially higher.

Valuations are, obviously, subjective but this seems disprortionate and I found it odd that we were dishing out improved contracts to McGregor, Maeda, Forrest and probably others.

I would imagine that the only Feyenoord players in the same position would be those on very small wages who had vastly over-performed, which none of ours fit into.

charlie
1 year ago

hail hail ralph canny argue wae that

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  charlie

Because you’re drunk or ..?

portpower
1 year ago
Reply to  charlie

Ralph bought me 2 pints charlie.

portpower
1 year ago

GuysandBalls@hooligans.cz

sevco optimal utilisation front runners FC.

Celts 7-0.

portpower
1 year ago

Guys and balls at hooligans.cz.

sevco optimal utilisation front runners FC.

Celts 7-0.

portpower
1 year ago

‘It’ll be interesting to see how we deal with that.”

It is just two Boards pecking. They’ve haven’t seen each other for a while since their last wile.

Where are we now? Oh shit, kumbaya.

portpower
1 year ago

We are now moot as looped Hoops. Liam Scales is now part of, we had to fall back on the spine to avail.

Celts 8-0.

Yoker Bhoy
1 year ago

We were rank rotten for most of the match last Tuesday and there’s no getting away from that. After an energetic first half hour or so we had the stuffing knocked out of us after that freak free-kick before the interval. In the second half only Scales and Iwata (thought I’d mention him because no-one else has) looked decent and helped to keep the score down. It all made for a pretty galling night out and having a pub full of Feyenoord fans to rub it in didn’t really help. Does all this mean that we’ve been papped out of Europe? Certainly not. Are Lazio and Athletico unbeatable opponents? Nope, they also have their weaknesses and we’ve been seeing a very different Atletí over these last couple of weeks with injuries to key players taking their toll. It’ll be a very tall order to take points from one or both of them even at home but that’s a goal that’s not beyond us. If we are sitting on 0 points after the next two games, then and only then would it be safe to say that our European adventure for this season is well and truly over.

Thought it might be worth mentioning that we have league business to attend to today on the astro against a typically stuffy Livi side who have started their campaign well enough and were unlucky not to beat our nearest challengers St Mirren recently. They’ve been playing a 3-4-3 system lately but are likely to revert to a more defensive one against us. Their wing-backs Brandon and Penrice have been particularly effective so far while it’ll be necessary to keep close tabs on their centre forward Bruce Anderson, who is playing his best ever football at the moment with 5 goals scored in all competitions, Paulo Bernardo could get the nod tot start today whilst Aussie winger Marco Tilio could finally appear on the bench. I’d be delighted just to pick up full points this afternoon, especially with Beaton officiating. Still, a couple of trademark Kyogo golazos and a few lucky bounces off that plastic and we could all be smiling again. 🙂

portpower
1 year ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Martindale will play with his wide midfield players to cross over from each other while attacking and defending.

Celtic midfielders need to play zonally.

I am looking forward to watching Paulo Bernardo’s game. You watch Yorker Bhoy, thy hun pub swallier will send him off?

Something disgraceful is happening today.

portpower
1 year ago
Reply to  portpower

PS: Jamsie plays well on a plastic pitch.

Yoker Bhoy
1 year ago
Reply to  portpower

G’day Port. Whatever happens we can’t afford any more injuries. Fair chance we’ll see wee Jamesie in the 2nd half or indeed the new Aussie bhoy. Enjoy the game mate.

portpower
1 year ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Grand, An Eochair.

portpower
1 year ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

5 in the confessional cabinet, booth and stall canny keep a secret.

Forrest to start?

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Cracking comment.

BroxburnBhoy
1 year ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Whoops Celtic not that bad after all

portpower
1 year ago

Enjoy.

portpower
1 year ago

Brendan, this is the week I have got my boots off the sold direct, copper nail.

I can star jump? Put me on. (lost a nail hammering one of them bassas)

Climb Celtic Climb.

portpower
1 year ago

Inviting.

portpower
1 year ago

Only the one Well player will be booked for the rest of the game.

portpower
1 year ago
Reply to  portpower

That is a lie!

portpower
1 year ago

Yet our penalty was not a common red card.

portpower
1 year ago
Reply to  portpower

No intention to play the ball. Red card.

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  portpower

Double jeopardy, Port.

If it was outside the box it’s a red.

TicToc
1 year ago

Dearie me, we come back from that shambles on Tuesday, look like we’ve got over it and, on that shocking surface, we start to look good all over the park. But Beaton was chosen for a reason today and THAT is working. Two yellows and then Big Joe gets the 1st red in his career. It’s not always easy being a Tim, but ALWAYS worth it.
Come On You Bhoys In Green, grab 3 points from Livingston.

portpower
1 year ago

Amen 10 men.

Oof.

Yoker Bhoy
1 year ago

Contender for goal of the season. Well done wee Daizen!

TicToc
1 year ago

What a result THAT is today. An excellent, all-round, TEAM performance and Daizen to get that reward at the end is just special. We certainly earned it at that horrid ground and everyone contributed. Fantastic performance, fantastic result.
Hail! Hail! The Glasgow Celtic.

highseastim
1 year ago
Reply to  TicToc

My three top Bhoys today, Taylor, Scales and Maeda.

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  highseastim

HST, they ALL played a part yesterday and it was a great result but Daizen’s consistently hard graft compensates for his occasional errors and he took his goal with all the style of the VERY BEST. Remember too, he’s still young and developing…….just think about that……

portpower
1 year ago

Do not blink. Matt O`Riley has the space. Half-time advice.

portpower
1 year ago

Quality, merit and appeal. Does the Zen Maeda put forth a task while not perspiring?

portpower
1 year ago
Reply to  portpower

whilst*

highseastim
1 year ago
Reply to  portpower

A classic on Fascist, Fascist today, quote “Celtic are awful, yet Livvy haven’t been able to get near them, that’s why I never watch their games”!!

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  highseastim

Ha, it’s maybe a ‘tongue-in-cheek’ comment HST but from THAT source it’s more likely head-up-arse. They cannae help themselves, poor wee scum!

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  TicToc

Irony is beyond them and they only ever put their tongues between their new manager’s and players’ cheeks.

But only til they prove how shite they are then, like every other bunny boiler, it’s all out screaming and blue murder til they get their next slice of entitlement met then the process continues, and long may it be so.

Gringo
1 year ago

David de Gea may retire if he does not receive an offer to be the first-choice goalkeeper at a major club. The former Man Utd and Spain No 1 has rejected several approaches, including from Saudi Arabia, with money not a prime motivator.’

Hurry up, Brendan!

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  Gringo

Strangely, a similar thought passed through my mind recently but I kinda quickly dismissed it as I don’t think the SPL is what he means. Who knows?
For sure, we need a ‘keeper to challenge Big Joe (but not necessarily guarantee a place as De Gea wants). Scott made a coupla decent saves yesterday but woulda cost us dearly when he was caught with the ball at his feet and a better player would almost certainly have scored when the big guy Livi chipped it onto the roof of the net.
In Europe that’s a goal every time.

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  TicToc

I like big Joe but he’s aging fast, Bain looked like a kitten at times yesterday and Siegrist has became a man of mystery.

No harm in contacting De Geo’s agent as he’d be crucial in Europe and first pick every game for me.

Woof Charlie
1 year ago

Getting called all sorts on Twatter for saying the lad at Livingston shouldn’t have been on the pitch. Does that mean every kid has the right? Where does that end? I went as a kid to watch my heroes. Seems kids feel entitled to be the focus of attention now.

Gringo
1 year ago
Reply to  Woof Charlie

Isn’t Twitter designed to make its members feel like the centre of attention?

Funkyy
1 year ago

That was a great 3 points yesterday all things considered…plastic pitch, down to 10 men,
and John Beaton given any excuse to show cards. The script was set for the media to
write about Celtic’s downfall at Livingston….but the players tore up the script and a wave of disappointment drowned the hacks.
The performance in the second half was great and we bossed Livingston instead of them
bossing us. And while all the players worked their backsides off, what can you say about Daizen Maeda?…nuclear powered Duracell batteries…and he never looks out of breath. What a one man goal to finish off the opposition as well.
PS:- Yesterday Paul Merson doing his punditry about the Arsenal v Spurs game said if Ange’s team come to press then Arsenal will “destroy them” and Arsenal will “Rip them to shreds” etc etc
Today Arsenal 2 Spurs 2…and Arsenal needed an own goal and a penalty. Another media “expert” who should keep his gob shut tight.

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