-
Alright guys, long time no post. Been having PC issues (like not having one) for a while due to getting married and moving house. Hopefully getting a laptop sometime soon but i'm having to make do with stealing internet time at my Mum's house or at the library.
Enough about me,
I know alot of the guys like to take part in a wee bit of fantasy football fun (a threeser???) so check this one out.
Its the official EUFA
Champions League Fantasy Football site.
I've created a private league called 'the Champeens League' which anyone is welcome to join.
If you dont have a team already then you can register at
Fantasy Football Fun
Once you've logged in and picked your team, click 'Leagues' at the the top of the page.
The code to join is 6960-25496.
You know what to do!!!
Deadline to register for the games tonight is 19:30 this evening. Sorry it's short notice but i'm sure there's a few guys out there with more than enough time on their hands.
Have a good one and a big GIANT MON the hoops for tonight
Laters, Michele (previously Codi36)
-
-
Paul, any luck with the bag?
What is the mood in the city their side, our side in regards to the game.
Seems like things are positive on the blog.
BF
-
3rd (maybe even 2nd)
How childish am I?
-
Paul - 3 hours 35 minutes before the game starts is a new record for a 'live updates' thread....
I hope you'll be being sensible out there with the extra time.....
....or doing your Jason Bourne bit in hunting down the perp in the case of the missing case.....
Sorry you've had that trouble...its even less funny than one of my jokes.....
Enjoy the game.
TB
-
Haven't been able to post recently so pardon me if I'm covering old ground but I just had to mention this: I watched the Hearts v rangers game on Saturday (I have never intentionally watched rangers before; it pains me too much) and couldn't believe that Cuellar for his two footed lunge from the back, Weir for his elbow and McGregor for what can only be called an assault were not red carded. I don't think the English commentator could quite believe it either. I know they get a lot of dodgy decisions but that ref's performance was unbelievable. I take it Gordon Smith has been conspicuous by his absence in his comments.
On to more pressing matters: I hope Paul Hartley reprises his International role and that we get a wee bit of luck. For the rest, I'm sure they will all give their all.
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED.
-
Just one thing to say
Mon the HOOPS!
Trust in Ghord!
-
Michele Cocozza
Congrats on getting married/moving house, whichever your more chuffed about. Will have a look at your fantasy league but i'm already in an EPL fantasy league and a Serie A not sure i could really put the research into another.
Prediction for tonight -Shaktar 1-1 Celtic. Big Mick with eqaliser so dont panic if we go behind :-)
-
I think JVoH will be very tightly marked tonight and be lucky to get even a sniff at goal. The midfielders are the ones most likely to score, particulary Brown and of course Naka from a FK.
We may see Hartley coming in for McD but that would be the only change from Saturday. Personally I would go with the same side.
Given up trying to predict the CL scores but I'll be happy to see Collie proved right at 3-0 or Declan at 1-1 :)
Back just before KO ...
Hail Hail
-
Ulysses McGhee, @16.39 (Repeat... frum an earlier)
Der is wan thing, dat ye left oot...
Oor Elation an' Satisfaction, which wull soar oor Spirits up...
WHEN WE WITNESS OOR BELOVED CELTS...
LIFT DA EUROPEAN CUP!!!
Och Aye!..... an' AU CONTRAIRE!
Der is NAE SMA' CHANCE.. dat we wull see DAT DAY
Jist Bide ye Time...
Dat day WULL Happen!
AN' ISNAE,SAE FAUR AWAY!
Dis Time Roon? Whae Knows?.... NOT I!
NAETHIN' IS IMPOSSIBLE...
Mebbe, PIGS... CAN FLY!
Celtic 14 Don'Ask 0
(Dat Score is fur, KOJO!)
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
Thanks Declan.
I just realised that the link is not showing in the above post as i copied from the previous thread.
Here it's here
Fantasy Football
MC
-
Go to Portugal last week - wake up and Scotland have beaten France and by the end of the weekend we're top of the league !! Now I'm back, let's hope that good fortune continues to smile upon us. 2-2 draw for me.
-
-
Can i just point out that since i've been married (Sunday 12/08/07) Celtic have not dropped points in any league based competition and neither have Scotland. My marrige is good luck for my temas. Here's hoping i dont get divorced before 21:30ish tonight.
Got to go now so hope everyone is as happy as me later tonight!!!
Hoopla! MC
-
will there be radio commentary for the CL match on clyde1?
-
collie ill thank you for not equating celtic winning the champions league with aviating porcines :( as we only ever lose out because of our own tendancy to shoot ourselves in the foot so bound to get it right sooner or later :)
oh god is it time yet hate the wait :(
captialist commies 1 celtic 2 :)
-
we will make 2 defensive errors and get beat 2 nil.
pessimist csc
-
spanish ref so most likely a non contact sport tonight
-
Joined your league Michele. Should be fun
Anyway, Mon the hoops. 3-1 the nite!!!!
-
I belive Celtic win 1:0 tonight. Time to win away. "Brake on throught to the other side"
-
BelfastKev
Ah see ye hae trouble wi my American Slang...
Ah nae way EQUATE Celtic tae dat ANIMAL, dat ye mention!...
Tae dae sich a Silly thing wiz NEVAH, ma INTENTION!
Translation:
"Ma line aboot dat Pigs..simply means dat Fur Celtic Tae win da EUROCUP... is MEBBE... it's no sae IMPOSSIBLE, EFTER AWE!"
Sorry, it ye dinna UNDERSTAUN', ma Argot!
Ma trouble is dat ah FORGEET,whit is, da type o' Audience dat ah got!
Celtic 3
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
My prediction: 1-1. A controlled defensive performance by us, with Artur pulling off a couple of big saves.
Scorer, MacDonald 38mins.
-
dave
The match is on Clyde.
-
i know what you meant collie :)
-
UEFA/ESPN live match purchase complete and now I'm about to barricade myself in my office for the match. Hopefully this time my assistant won't be as surprised when I start howling at the computer screen (she had to share office space with me during the Spartak shootout).
2-1 the 'tic (Hartley early again, Naka with a late screamer from open play)
-
Hartley in for Aiden according to BBC Scotland. No other changes from Saturday.
-
thank gord for that
horrible nightmare last night about wgs recalling virgo and playing him as lone striker :( shudder!!
-
Just about every previous CL section away match has seen the same optimism from us all. It would be nice to be rewarded for once. Come on the Bhoys!
-
Pan Zee
Ah admire da "Naethin Daunted"... CHUTZPAH... dat ye Reflect!
Ye ur no a Fearty Cat!... ye dinna gie a HECK!
Dat is da Attitude o' a Winner!
Who knows? Ah might , drap in wan day, tae meet ye!
Mebbe, even share A DINNER!
Hey,amigo... why stop at One Goal to None?....
Why no go fur THREE GOALS?
Even if it's Jist fur FUN?
Main thing in ma eyes...
ONLY A CELTIC WIN wull be da thing.....
DAT Surely, SATISFIES!
Forgeet awe diz Shilly Shallying Aboot a DRAW!
Celtic WULL WIN.....
An' if dey dinna.... den...den...den...
I'll JIST HIV TAE CONSOLE MASEL'
wi' Goin' HAME, GREETIN', TAE MA MAW!
( Hope ye understand that line,Pal?... ah hope, it is no lost in Translation!)
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
Team as expected, c'mon the hoops!!!!
Over to Al...
Now I can't make you do it. You've got to look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes. Now I think you're gonna see a guy who will go that inch with you. You're gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team, because he knows when it comes down to it, you're gonna do the same for him.
That's a team, gentlemen. And either we heal, now, as a team, or we will die, as individuals. That's football, guys. That's all it is. Now, what are you going to do?
-
Hail Hail,
Not posted in a few weeks but just wanted to wish the Bhoys all the best tonight and to get us off to a flier. Prediction 0-1 or 1-2 for the Tic. Off to watch the Daily Huddle and start the match build up.
Come on the Tic!!!!!
Nakagod.
On a side note. odd stat, 4 of our goals in the last 5 games have come from o.g's.
Michele, cheers for the league invite.
-
Come on the hoops..
My heart says 2.0 for the Bhoys, but my head says 1.1
-
Looks like Nery Castillo is starting on the bench, really didn't expect that. 20 million euros and he only gets on the bench...either a big gamble, or the players starting are worth a lot more!
-
From Celticfc.net...
1 Boruc Artur
3 Naylor Lee
5 Caldwell Gary
12 Wilson Mark
44 McManus Stephen
8 Brown Scott
11 Hartley Paul
18 Donati Massimo
25 Nakamura Shunsuke
10 Vennegoor of Hesselink Jan
27 McDonald Scott
-
Стахановец
We have Aiden, who's worth a lot more than that on the bench
Let them be afraid..Very afraid
-
Themanwiththebhoybandlooks.
No matter how often i read it,it never has the same impact as when A.P. delivers it.
Inch by Inch.
I plan for nothing from this game but hope for so much.
C'mon The pit belts.
-
Belfast Kev,
Ah'm gled ye did... fur AH canny be too careful..
Der ur guys oot der, dat ur jist champin' at dat bit..
Wan even challenged me!
Which is no sae amusin'..... frae where... AH SIT!
Dey ur ayeways Sharpenin' der Knives,
tae stick in me...oan dis very, very Blog!...
Naethin' wid please dem Bettah...
DAN TAE STICK IT TAE, DIS DOG!
Ah ah'm da livin' proof...
Dat ye kin,
"NEVAH PLEASE DEM AWE!"
Someboady thought o' dat, before...
Fur ah heard it frae MA MAW!
Celtic 3 Don'Ask 0
collie.
Tails Awaggin, Awaggin'
-
Celtic:
Boruc
Wilson
Caldwell
McManus
Naylor
Hartley
Brown
Donati
Nakamura
McDonald
JVOH
Subs: Brown, Kennedy, O'Dea, Sno, McGeady, Killen, Zurawski
Shakhtar:
Pyatov
Srna
Hubschman
Kucher
Rat
Lewandowski
Ilsinho
Fernandinho
Jadson
Lucarelli
Brandao
Subs: Shust, Duljaj, Castillo, Gay, Bielik, Gladkiy, Yezerskiy
-
Tinytim
Just for you Al Pacino
I'm looking for 5 points from the opening 3 games and think tonight might just be the hardest of the lot.
Do us proud.
-
Hey Michele,
I joined up too. Thanks for the invite.
0-2 Celtic tonight. Mon the hoops.
-
Are we ready?
-
Collie
Of course I understand you.Right, who knows, maybe one day I will share a dinner with you. Live is beautyfull and cruel becouse you cannot presume what will brings you next day.
Why only one goal? They have Lewandowski, the other Pole. I wish him to explain tomorrow that the good result was so close.
-
Getting mildly concerned. Can't seem to get my UEFA live video to work. Anyone know where I find the link to the game I've alreay purchased
-
OK all working now. Need to go calm down
-
Gordon Strachan picks a team that everybody expected surprise. Who would have thunk it? Maybe he's been listening to us after all.
Or maybe he's just educated us.
Mon the hoops.
Got to go downstairs now. This split level living is taking a bit of getting used to.
-
mncelt:
Maybe through here? Sorry if its wrong, I am not really sure how you would view it.
http://video.uefa.com/video/index.html
-
As Richard Keys just said after Gordon's pre-match interview there...'He is always worth listening to'.
I'm sure a few scottish journalists just choked on their pies after hearing that.
-
how do you watch the games on uefa.com
-
COME ON THE BHOYS
Fans in full voice in the stadium
-
toomebridge - It costs $8 to watch the ESPN feed on UEFA.com
-
This is what it's all about.
C'mon the Hoops.
-
Come on Celtic - you can do it!!
Hail! Hail!
Yrcul
-
Paul is surrounded by Shakhtar fans, he is feeling very confident. (He always does)
Hope he is our good luck charm
Kevin
-
Bhoys in the tunnel - here we go ...
-
Good luck Gordon and the Bhoys.
-
There's a free video feed on www.stv.tv for those with a UK IP address, but unable to watch STV on the box.
C'Mon the hoops!
-
Mick reminds me of our greatest ever captain when he lines up like that.
-
Bhoys in the huddle
-
kick off time
C'MON THE HOOPS
-
chance for Shakhtar - header over the bar
-
Early cross into the box from them and a header over
-
SD have knocked a few long balls forward already - good sign for us - they can do that all night
-
C'mon Celtic, do us a turn tonight
Hail Hail
-
goal Shakhtar
-
0-1 defensive mistake
-
Bad control by McManus leaves striker with space to run into.
-
Way too casual at the back - similar to TG last season. I think it was Brown but not sure with the sloppy back pass.
Almost a second for them there. We need to get a grip
-
once again we look absolutely flat-footed in a big euro away game...
-
0-2 ffs
-
thats that tonight.
-
2 - 0. Disaster.
-
2 - 0 Help
-
We didn't close the winger down at the right back position. A good cross and headed finish. Naylor couldn't get close to his man
-
Awful, awful start.
Basic mistakes which we can get away domstically, haunt us on the bigger stage.
Need to get the next goal or we'll get absolutely hammered.
-
embarrassing start. we are not competing.
-
AC lead Benfica 1-0.
-
rabbits in the headlights
frightening stuff here
-
exactly the same as copenhagen, benfica, shaktar all those years ago... woeful.
nothing to do with money, all to do with attitude. we are asleep!
-
second goal naylor ball watching , could have defended it with some conviction
-
Celtic get in the Shakhtar box, McDonald cross goes behind.
Booking for Brown
-
Our first spell of possession ends in a gk to them. None of our players have shown anything yet. Brown booked
-
Boruc saves. Should have been three.
-
Artmedia take 2 looming large.
-
Shakhtar goal offside. It was not.
-
Don’t know what’s going on. I do know we seem to be capable of leaking goals far too easily.
We’ve got to concentrate tonight or we’ll be going for the usual 3-0 scenario. Dear oh dear.
HH
-
3rd goal ruled offside.
Should have been allowed.
Carved WIDE open yet again.
-
does anybody else feel physically sick? Whats the point of beating teams like ICT 5-0 and then getting turned over like this? SPHell GTF!!
-
off side goal for them - we were very lucky. They strolled through our defense with ease. Way too much backing off them in midfield
-
that was lucky lol
-
I don't know if I can watch anymore...
-
Looked onside. Easy pass though the defence.......should have been three
-
UEFA buffering is a nightmare. almost as bad as the performance so far
-
Shell-shocked
should have been 3. God bless that linesman.
Our 1st break though. Keep the heads up. We can get something outta this, even if it is just pride
-
Think we dnt know we are here yet
-
I'm not sure I've ever seen us so outplayed in Europe, and I'm including all our recent horror shows in that.
great save from Artur again...
-
Paul is always telling us about tactics. Where are they tonight? Midfield all over the place - did we watch this team at all before the match??? ball watching, lack of concentration...basics
-
Paul is always telling us about tactics. Where are they tonight? Midfield all over the place - did we watch this team at all before the match??? ball watching, lack of concentration...basics
-
Paul is always telling us about tactics. Where are they tonight? Midfield all over the place - did we watch this team at all before the match??? ball watching, lack of concentration...basics
-
Maybe get McGeady on as this has not worked.
Best form of defence etc...
-
Stating the obvious but they are a very good team.
-
Celtic looking totally stagestruck, as always away in europe.
Can't seem to make a single bread-and-butter pass, that they could do all day in the SPL.
-
2-0 AC Milan
-
defence is atrocious
naylor is a liability can`t pass , can`t defend and has no positional sense
all of us are murder however
-
AC 2 up on Benfica.
Chelski trail at home to Rosenborg.
-
why is Hartley in this team?
-
I don't think this side are as good as others we have played. We just haven't turned up tonight, particulalry in midfield where we have looked strong in the last few games
-
Shot by McDonald - corner
-
wtf
-
1st shot from McD - better stuff
-
Sometimes I'm glad not to see or hear how we're playing when it gets wobbly; it kind of seems unreal though to see us 2-0 down in next to no time. However if we can steady ourselves we may yet pull one back. Come on Celtic.
HH
-
better play there, if we keep it on the deck and play we are still in it
-
Poor corner by Naka
-
Naka scythed down - booking
-
JVOH should have scored with header from 6 yards.
Better delivery from Naka
-
Naka freekick, JVOH over with header.
Better.
-
good ball by Naka, Big Jan should of scored i feel
-
Good chance by JVOH from Naka free. over the bar
-
Great delivery from Naka and a header from JVoH - could have scored
-
1st spell of possestion in the Shakhtar half.
-
Now we're starting to play - pity we have a mountain to climb
-
Time to show a little faith guys. It's a bad start, nothing more. We have a remarkable group of players with real character at our club as well as a coach who knows what he's doing. Don't write then off yet.
-
C'MON Bhoys - give us a goal before HT
-
Good shot by McDonald from good play - corner
-
Another poor corner from Naka
-
Shot from McD - good save. Corner
-
Good effeort by MacDonald, well saved for corner.
Brandao reminds me of Drogba. Big and awkward but goes down too easily.
-
Shot ny Naka, wide
-
Good shots from McDonald and Naka.
Shaktar sitting back.
-
2 bad corners from Naka - not like him
-
Beginning to play a little. 2 very disappointing corners from Naka tho.
-
This video feed is cr@p.
-
Scott MacDonald our only player so far.
-
From bbc.co.uk/sport:
-----------------------------------
MATCH STATS: AT A GLANCE
POSSESSION
95% Shakhtar Donetsk
5% Celtic
-----------------------------------
-
after 15 mins BTW
-
Great save from the pole in the goal.
-
The Pole in the Goal saves us again.
Poor marking at the back post as all defenders sucked in and cross picks attacker out.
-
GET NAYLOR OFF
HE`S WORSE THAN A MAN DOWN
-
Big Jan, header at goal couldn't get enough power on it.
Signs are encouraging we may score, but we look like conceding also
-
JVoH and McDonald looking lively. If we could just get one....
-
I just hope WGS can get us sorted out at HT
HH
-
HT 2 - 0
-
Corner in injury time.
Wouldn't fall to Celt.
HT 2-0.
Poor, poor start. Defense cut open to often
-
We're getting nothing from this one, bhoys.
As Deckard says in Bladerunner "I was quitting when I walked in here, I'm twice as quitting now"
-
HT 2-0
Dreadful stuff from us. Torrid torrid first half, SD could have scored on at least five separate occasions. The only reasons we are not 0-3 down are Artur and a blind linesman.
This might not be the time... but the folly of not buying a decent leftback is once again all too apparent.
Midfield looks lost, with the occasional exception of Donati. He and Boruc apart, only McDonald has shown any kind of fight or guile. The rest may as well have stayed in the dressing room.
-
Time to regroup. They spotted what any good team would spot and that is that we are slow starters. This is something GS needs to address quickly. However we are also strong finishers so let's hope we give them plenty to think about in H2.
-
HT Shaktar 2-0 Celtic
The first 25 mins were woeful. Things get better after that but I can;t see us getting anything out of this game now.
Both audio and video from UEFA.com has been very poor. Probably missed about 60% of the game.
From what I saw, no-one desrves pass marks. Hopefully Gordon will do something at HT. This is not a must win game but it would be nice to put up a better show. Let's get Aiden on for Hartley.
-
Disaster in first 10 minutes but we came back into it. An early goal for Celtic in the second half and its game on. Artur has already earned his wages tonight.
-
HALF TIME 2 O
could have been much worse
came into the game in the latter part of the half
i think that we could score from a set piece , Naka`s delivery has been poor
we gifted their goals but they made a number of other chances
mon the hoops
-
skysports online, video but no sound. rubbish
was listening to clyde and watching the game, had to turn it off as yer man on there was enjoying the game too much
not out of it, but if Paul hartley is not gonna break up the play in the middle then take hime off, get mcgeady on srna who is on a booking and have a go t them. we can deo score agaisnt this side, but whether we can stop them scoring again is doubtful. come on lads.. early goal and we are back in it
Come on the Hoops
-
Artur Boruc. The one man defence.
-
A memorable season indeed.
I can see us scoring, unfortnately i can see them scoring as well
-
Couldn't agree more italiabhoy.
Donati looks classy, MacDonald looks up for it, Boruc looks solid. The rest look lost.
-
Sky stats have it Shaktar 55% to Celtic 45%
-
The problem from the start was in midfield. Brown and Donati may have dominated against ICT but this is a different league.
We only stopped the tide a little when Hartley moved into the defensive role - dare I say the Neil Lennon role. But that's how I thought we would have played from the start.
The front two are linking up well. JVoH looking more mobile than of late.
We need to get the next goal. Then who knows?
-
if we get the next goal it could be interesting,if they score next then artmedia mark 2 here we come,look out the mine shafters are coming,in fact some are already here
-
Frightening start,but settled down after that.
Coming inot it a lot more.
Keep their full backs busy and its a different game.
PFAYR.Give it a rest.
Lee Naylor is not playing at his best,but he is certainly not alone.
How come you don't point out Scott Brown who gave a way the first goal,and then got himself a stupid booking and has been useless all game?
Oh sorry,forgot,cos you don't have a clue and just like to abuse Naylor.
There can be no other reason for your vitriol.
Lee Naylor has been beaten for a header by a very big guy,and given the ball away once.
Scott McDonald has lost the ball about six times and been beaten for every header.
Naka has given the ball away three times and Naka twice.
Can't you see these guys playing,or are you just blind to their mistakes.
-
This is a learning experience and a half. We`ve been here before, all too often. :-(
-
Gordon J - i agree . It is not a coincedence that we have improved comparatively since hartley switched to centre. He has been one of our better players.
-
For all those moaning about bad streams...
http://myp2p.eu/Weekdays.htm
-
Should have been Donati twice,sorry
-
Was their disallowed goal offside? Chick Young has been in 7th heaven at half time going on about how it was clearly on-s9de.
-
Shaktar coach will want them to start the same way in the second half. Really important not to lose a goal. The full backs haven't been totally to blame but it looks as if they're seen as the weakness.
-
Kano
because Naylor has been a liability all season and in our 3 big games thus far has been absolutely atrocious
we compromised our team structure today to cover him , and they ran around him and through our midfield
i agree others are complicit in this mince but enough is enough
-
irishman
At 18/09/07 18:21
Any predictions for the lottery this weekend?
cheers
Freddiebhoy
-
No confidence on the park tonight and it showed in the first ten min.
Gordon's got to settle them down and remind "them we are the Glasgow Celtic",and start playing for the jersey.
Shaktar already look tired, we can change this game with our second gear!
C'mon bhoys let's get the finger oot and show them what we're made of.
BF
-
what was the half time score the last time we played here?? sense of deja vu...
-
Knao can tagree on Lee maybe he has only given the ball away once but the ball is getting out in behind him all of the time.
We have said all season if we come up against a team who put the ball to the back post our 2 full backs cant deal with balls in the air.
Shaktar are switching the balls behind both full backs.
I started the game with 5 of my family in the room after 10 minutes I had only myself as company. I really felt we were for a drubbing. Remember we usually lose 3 away from home in the CL.
Hopefully back on after the game.
-
Good interception and pass from Lee Naylor,or did nobody see that?
-
PS i dont think Lee is fit in his defence tonight
-
well done Lee excellent son , keep up the good work
-
Thank god i have a pc working again! the joys of talk talk broadband. Work that busy no time to post during the day
We started slowly but if we can keep hartley in the middle and allow naka to feed Mcdonald and JVOH we may get a goal.
The worrying thing is this team look like they can score at will.
We have been poor but i didnt expect any points from tonight and still believe on our last 20 minutes of the first half we could take this team at parkhead.
-
Brown's been poor, but he always seems to play better second half.
Still, can't see us getting anything here. Celtic only seem to perform away in Europe in knockout stages.
-
good spell of possession from the bhoys
-
Boruc - outstanding again and not at fault for goals
Pass marks for Hartley McDonald and Artur as far as I'm concerned.
Brown MIssing
Venegoor- doesn't try enough for me gives up if it doesn't reacc and I'm fed up making excuses for Naylor.
He's getting paid well and is not at the races, although that's strachan's fault for picking him. But the goal he was beat by a guy diving away from goal and downwards. Only thing- he's in good company tonight.
-
We're commiting men forward now. Leaving us exposed at the back. Nothing to lose I suppose
-
Good chance missed by Shakhtar
-
great chance for Brandao - missed.
Did he go for goal or was he setting his mate up. Either way he knocked it past the post.
Allowed them to much time and they created a gilt edged chance.
-
Scott Brown on a booking and diving in. He needs to be very careful.
-
Evenin all.
First 15 mins was woeful.
Now I think Donetsk are happy to hold what they have, although they are also looking a wee bit nervy.
The midfield look as though theyvare afraid to tackle.
Naka looking disinterested.
Brown treading warly after his booking.
C'mon the Hoops.
-
Blunder by Naka 25 yards out, gives ball away and they nearly score, then at the other end Naka redefines powder puff tackle.... come on Naka ! a wee bit of magic
-
Liverpool down to 10 men.
Pennant sent off.
-
Pennant sent off for two bookable offences in Porto v Liverpool game.
Fear Scotty Brown may suffer same fate.
-
Phew ! another chance missed by shaktar - acres of space outside and behind naylor.... not looking tight at all at the back
-
If it was my shout.....
Take Naka and Naylor off, bring on McGeady and O'Dea.
-
I wonder when all the learning experiences will finally result in us competing better in these big games
-
need a switch to try to get some pace into the attack,if we get a goal back then you never know
-
Brown needs to watch himself or he will be off.
McGeady getting ready.
-
appears now that no one is playing left midfield when they are attacking - they are strolling down our left - am having flashbacks to big joos in the CL....
-
Aiden coming on
-
McGeady coming on - for Naka according to Sky.
-
Nakamura has certainly been poor tonight.
-
Aiden on Naka off
-
naka off, aiden on
-
Naka off. If he is not injured, that is a strange substitution
-
We're losing the ball too easily when in posession and we should be getting stuck into the 50-50's.
BF
-
panic stations at the back again - killen getting ready to come on.
-
McDonald off Killen on
-
Killen for McDonald, who played well. Lots of balls into the box then.
-
killen on, skippy off - time for punts up the middle !
time to start drinking..... heavily
-
GL2,if the balls are getting put in over our full backs,they should either be cut out,or a midfielder should be picking up the runner from midfield,in this case Donati,who has offered no help on the left for Naylor.
Don't get me wrong,I don't think Lee Naylor is playing well.
But picking him out is a bit rich in this game.
Killen on for McDonald and Naka off for Aiden
-
-
Good header by JVOH from Naylor cross, just past.
-
JVoH inches wide from great Naylor cross. Thought it was in.
-
Jan header past the post.
Should have scored.
-
Header just wide from JVoH. Good delivery from Naylor - his first decent cross tonight
-
whooosh ...Yo! peeps what gives???
bedlam is now put safely sedated to bed....
crap... same old same old...i know we always play better after being a goal down but not at this level...
naka off mcgeady on... 20 mins left...
heard goals on radio saw half time updates... not good at all....
a goal would hopefully tighten game up for us... JVOH being outjumped by oompah loompahs... not gonna criticise a player but cmon :-)
-
Big Jan,nearly scores,header from a great cross.
-
Naughty by Broony, wee stand on the ankle there. Free kick 35yds out...well wide.
-
We lack pace up front :((
-
shaktar now at the diving. Every time skoosh goes near them....
JR having a bit of a blinder at the moment - looks the most composed and effective Celt on the pitch.
still recovering from thinking JVOH had scored
-
has scott brown got the thanatos urge to grab some early soap? already on a yellow but then again its a big ask to have him playing for 2 jerseys...
doin the work of 2 men....
looks like double headers against benfica will determine our destiny...
free kick to shaktar..mcmanus foul...
25 yards out
-
Stupid foul by Mick on edge of box
-
Brown,with another dodgy tackle,he is really pushing it.
A goal here could mean quite a lot if we end up tied with this mob at the end of the group.
Two would mean more of course,but even one could help.
-
McManus..stupid foul by him, 25 yds out, central. Another poor effort over the bar.
-
free kick to shaktar 30 yards out central - missed - clumsy charge out from Mick clipping castillo - schoolboy stuff
-
over...
-
...and over ...we will follow you....
-
skoosh will be off in the next 5 mins - thats 5 fouls this half - none bad, just every time its a foul, it's skoosh....
we are an SPL club in the CL - and playing like one.
-
McManus...free header 8 yds out...heads it backwards, out the box, ffs.
-
mn,
Do you mean tonight or the whole tournament?
Another chance, this time for McManus in the air, misdirected more like a clearance.
-
Good cross from Naylor but a poor header from Caldwell
-
sorry mn celt thought you were starting a webby blog type singalong...
shot just over, corner to shaktar...
new pants for me mum!
-
great save from artur, great block by caldwell.
we are simply not at the races.
gutted.
-
Good save by Artur,and covering by Caldwell and Naylor
-
Boruc to the rescue again. Corner, eventually cleared
-
I meant the FK :)
Great save by Artur, mopped up by Naylor.
Lee has played well the last 15
-
the only player worse than naylor tonight has been wilson
full backs eh?
who needs them?
-
zura on JVOH aff
-
blah blah blah
-
blah blah blah
-
blah blah blah
-
Killen 1 on 1 goal keeper saves
-
Kileen forces a save after great McGeady pass...unlucky.
Then Donatti forces a corner.
-
Unlucky Chris Killen,nearly there.
Good play from Donati.
Corner
-
Great move and a chance for Killen saved well by keeper
-
donatti forces corner... at least naka cant pass it to 1st shaktar defender...however.. hartley has it...
killen ballet dancing with huBschmann...
mcgeady fouled nae free kick... shot from shaktar over the bar... 3 -0 would just extract more urine...
-
Great effort by Castillo, just over.
Games bye, two mins to go. We will not score
-
Double chance for Killen both blocked.
Good move by McGeady. Bit unlucky.
Boruc, Caldwell, Hartley and Donati in flashes have enhanched their reputations. Scotty Brown tried hard.
Played better since the midfield got re-jigg
ed but by then the game was over.
Champions League away from home - same old story I'm afraid.
-
-
SPL defending at the start killed us.
Artur has been incredible and JR has been decent but everone else has varied between poor and ineffective at best.
Bit of a shock to the system tonight
-
FT 2 - 0
-
2 - 0 final. We never recovered from an awful start. And it could have been more. Our defensive formation was wrong from the start.
We now need something at home to Milan.
-
FT 2-0.
Cheap, cheap early goals that gave Shaktar all the confidence in this game. Thought Wilson, McManus and Naylor were asleep for the first 15 mins, and they never really improved throughout the match.
Pass marks for Artur (our MOTM), Hartley, MacDonald and Donatti.
The rest were all below avaerage.
-
Declan,
Thanks for the tip last night. Worked a treat - don't know whether I'm fortunate or not to have been able to see that. For periods Shaktar made us look like a very poor team.
-
FT 0-2
I thought we showed in flashes that we can be a good team, but we cannot afford to give any side in the CL a two-goal lead inside 10 mins.
The bhoys definitely woke up after 25 mins or so and we did create a couple of very decent chances, but you always felt they were capable of stepping up a gear if they had to. We can beat this team at home but it is going to be down to them or us to determine who goes through with Milan. It's advantage them right now.
Thought Scott Brown was poor tonight, as was Donati. Defence tightened up after going 2 down. Boruc was outstanding again.
Up front was also poor. To finish the game with Killen and Magic up front says it all. Poor show from our leading players.
All's not lost. We might have to pick something up in Benfica now.
-
just seen the replay of the first goal,how does mcmanus not just thump the ball clear,maybe some posters can find a way to blame lee naylor,the new scapegoat,who was as poor as many tonight but not the worst
-
Cant believe this has happened again. Disappointing and frustrating are the only two words I can think of just now.
After all our previous away CL horror shows, to lose 2 goals in the first ten minutes is quite simply unforgiveable.
-
First 15 minutes apart, we played about as well as we could.
We don't carry enough goal threat from open play at this level.
-
Thrashed no matter how you look at it. They scored 2 and then sat back but still created a shed load of chances. Totally totally thrashed tonight.
-
Full backs were the difference tonight, theirs were speedy and effective going forward, ours were off the pace and unable to cross
Not good enough for this level against an opposition as quick and skilfuls as tonights
-
On the one hand it did look like Artmedia II after 8 minutes.
After the Hartley change the defence was better generally. Clearly the full backs were under the cosh but I thought Nakamura and Donati were very poor and Brown was lucky not to pick up two yellows.
But it was better not to go for broke and risk losing by three or four. It's not impossible to equal them for any head to head.
-
full time, 2-0 shaktar.... acmilan 2-0 ..
poor start to the game and the group stages..
played ok after shaky start..isnt it always so??
front line had the gonads of a gnat..zura and killen as our hopes and dreams??? hmmm
midfield way too far from back 4 at start of the game...tightened up later. not many get pass marks from me.
need to look at tactical set up. 3-5-2 would have marginalised the full backs being exposed.
JVOH/mcdonald sacrificed for aiden in starting line up. over to you gordon.
im now going to dig out my 'rot' VFB top from my wardrobe and hope that tomorrow nights game goes to plan. i could not digest the press if the other mob have any sucess tomorrow night.
is it just me but every time i see the back page of the gutter press in quoting 'GORD' i see gastro-oesophegal reflux disease?
disection and post mortem to follow over next few days ... basically regurgitated 'chewin the fat' as we seen it all before... wouldnt matter who played in full back positions ... we still leak goals...
-
While we gave away 2 goals, they could and should have scored more. That's what £40 million buys you. They might do us over again in Parkhead. They looked a class act, to me anyway.
There weren't really any plus signs apart from our great goalkeeper.
Here's hoping that doesn't dent our confidence in the SPL.
-
2-0
fair result on the play.
Shocking start,but poor performance on the whole.
Mistake from Gordon Strachan at the start to have Hartley on the left.Should have been the covering midfielder,where he moved him to after the two goals.
Artur,Paul Hartley,Scott McDonald and the centre backs,were the only ones who done what was to be expected and nothing more.
Big Jan looked a bit more interested than usual,but he had two very good chances from headers which he should have scored with.
Everyone else a poor night at the office,both fullbacks,but particularly Brown,Naka and Donati.
Midfield was overrun by theirs,particularly at the start,and they looked capable of running over them at will.
Absolutely no cover for the fullbacks from either Donati or Nakamura.
Maybe games like this,we just bite the bullet and leave Naka,Aiden a nd Massimo Donati out,and play a defensive midfield of five!!!
Something we should seriously consider.
-
Kano i'll reply later when the 2 of us are on again together. I was nto picking out Lee especially I was just answering your question or what I took it to be. I think he is carrying an injury and I would like to see our cup final hero playing for a wee while to take Lee out of the way to get fit.
I will stick by my view that I think our 2 full backs are suspect to balls behind and above them.
Talk to you later.... im away to bury my head in a bottle of something...so much for the no drink during the week.
Disclaimer if im back on later all scroll by me.
-
Just finished reading all previous posts. Nice to see the revisionist historians getting their licks in early. I won't name names but a few examples ....
Bad pass by Brown for the first goal? (Of course it was - because no one is allowed to say a bad word about "Big Mick")
AND
Wrong defensive formation? More like we have 4 defenders who cannot defend.
All these optimist posts pre-match reminded me of CQN on the night of the Benfica match last year when great things were predicted and then we got hammered.
Collie - How does it feel knowing that your tongue in check 14-0 to Celtic prediction was no more ridiculous than many others?
Hail Hail
-
Just finished reading all previous posts. Nice to see the revisionist historians getting their licks in early. I won't name names but a few examples ....
Bad pass by Brown for the first goal? (Of course it was - because no one is allowed to say a bad word about "Big Mick")
AND
Wrong defensive formation? More like we have 4 defenders who cannot defend.
All these optimist posts pre-match reminded me of CQN on the night of the Benfica match last year when great things were predicted and then we got hammered.
Collie - How does it feel knowing that your tongue in check 14-0 to Celtic prediction was no more ridiculous than many others?
Hail Hail
-
OK - I know. It was hardly worth posting once, never mind twice.
Just had to get it off my chest!
-
AC Milan 2 Benfica 1 FT
-
PS meant to post at half time . I believe with the rule on off side the goal they got disaalowed was off side as the first pass through the guy was in an off side postion.
If you dont understand tha tthen your a burd
-
I know its early days but I feel we now really need to take something from Milan at home, a point at least. To be 2 games in without any points would give us an almost impossible mountain to climb.
Its clear that this team ,while being good enough to win the SPL has some way to go at this level.
-
AC Milan 2 Benfica 1 FT
-
a poor game but about as much as we have come to expect in CL away games
imo our positional selections cost us dear
we started with Hartley wide left , i can only think to try to tighten that side up
this left us short in the midfield as they played with a narrow three
dreadful defending in the first half hour ended the game before it started
we looked a lot better after hartley moved into the centre
we clearly have a problem defending both our wings ....a problem which we`re just going to have to get used to as we`ve no alternatives at full back
every team will attack our full back areas with gusto , particularly our left side
we`re a much better tweam at home ...let`s hope we show it in a couple of weeks
-
GL2 ten to five in the AM here,way for a couple of hours kip before work.
Work should be fun!!!
-
Greenlion2 - what you drinking ? I've had to resort to the emergency jamesons and drambuie combo to dull the pain.
-
newsletter, i did indeed ask about mcmanus at the first goal but none of his champions replied,all quite happy to blame scott brown,but only because they could not pin it on naylor
-
17/10/01 Porto 1st minute
10/12/03 Lyon 6 minutes
29/9/04 Milan 8 minutes
1/11/06 Benfica 10 minutes
6/12/06 Copenhagen 2 minutes
18/9/07 Shakhtar 5 & 8 minutes
I remember arguing with a guy in Copenhagen airport last year about who should shoulder the blame for what was an inspid performance. He criticised the manager but I felt that the players should take most of the responsibility.
Tonight I'm not so sure. Yes, several players were found badly wanting but given our abysmal record of conceding early goals in these games I think we should have played our way into the game much more cautiously.
-
andy walker - "maybe strachan will use some of that money he has to strengthen in the january window"..... aye, thats incisive cutting edge meeja work.
-
payr
Many people predicted we would be in trouble if we didnt address the lack of cover or competition for places in the full-back area. We didnt and now we're playing catch up in a group we were reasonably confident of going through from.
Still we,ve plenty money in the bank.
-
Tough to watch tonight.
McManus guilty of the kind of mistake (on the big stage) that Balde has been crucified for.
Pass marks to Boruc and Hartley. Other than that, very poor indeed.
-
For what they are worth, my player ratings tonight............
Artur..9...Without him, we could have been looking at another Artmedia.
Wilson..4... Poor defensive start, never recovered, crossing was poor.
Caldwell..5...Probably the best of the back four, tried hard to play it from the back.
Naylor..4... Got better in the second half, but again, a woeful start. They got in behind him all too easily.
Brown..4...Thought his booking was unlucky, considering the referee actually awarded a foul to Celtic. After that, he was treading very warily.Not enough going forward.
Naka..4...Honestly, he really needs to toughen up both physically and mentally. He did not look interested.
Hartley..7... Settled well into the holding role and offered some much needed protection to the back four.
Donatti..7...All too often, looked up for a player who should have been but never was there. Might have been better defensively.
JVOH...4... For a player of his experience, really poor. Missed our best chance with a free header. Not looking up to the task.
MacDonald..7...Tried all night, showing for the ball and linking well. Got away agood shot, unlucky to be subbed.
McGeady...4...Tried hard, but never really made an impression.
Killen..5... Tried hard, unlucky with a chance near the end.
Zurawski..3..Not on long enough.
Overall, as much as I am a Strachan fan, I believe he got it wrong initially and it was only when Hartley moved into the middle that we looked comfortable.
Bad start to the group.
Lets get behind the Bhoys when Milan come to town.
-
I guess that was what happens when it's 40million v. 2million.
Depressing, and the thought of them on the counterattack at CP is already scaring me.
Maybe we should spend some money and ease the global liquidity crisis.
-
I cannot remember drinking a bottle of red with so little effect.
Could be worse, you could be a Chelsea fan tonight :-)
-
Greenlion the ball was passed forward to a Shaktar player who was onside. Brandao was off side but his position is as shown below in the FIFA definition of offside.
An attacker (C) is in an offside position, not interfering with an opponent, when a team-mate (A) passes the ball to player (B1) in an onside position who runs towards the opponent’s goal and passes the ball (B2) to team-mate (C).
Attacker (C) cannot be penalised because when the ball was passed to him, he
was in an onside position.
-
Gordybhoy - apologies. I missed your comment.
If the club is to go forward we need to be realistic about the abilities of our current players.
Our back four consists of 3 very ordinary defenders and a wee boy. This combination will not take you to the level we all aspire to.
-
BTW Beating France really help the scottish players tonight. McManus howler and Brown trying his best to leave the park early.
-
Dick Byrne,
Yip, we've been here before. Insipid performance, easily as bad as Porto, Copenhagen, Benfica Anderlecht, etc etc.... So disappointing as it seemed after Milan and Spartak, we had actually worked out how to play away from home.
The full back issue is now beyond a joke. Naylor and Wilson are SPL-level defenders who are utterly utterly out of their depth at this level. No-one is to blame for our terrible wide defensive positions apart from our manager. His failure to strengthen in this area is the biggest black mark against him.
I cannot see any positives in tonight's game. None.
We are staring fourth place in the face.
-
Deckchairs stright onto the LD.
Just noticed 2 things when I looked around the rest of the results. Benfica scored in the last minute hope that does not hurt us.
There were less than 25000 at the Chelsea game tonight.
Poor crowd their pricing policy must be killing their fans.
-
Michael - I see you have beaten me to it.
We reap what we sow - its not Naylor's fault nor Wilson's - nor is it any of the players.
We knew we needed to strengthen in defence and up front and we did nothing.
When we watch these games do you feel happy at all that money we allegedly have in the bank? Or at our lack of ambition?
Then again - we had to sell Miller to "balance the books"
Is there still any Jam left?
-
It kinda bites we're one game and already thinking about UEFA Cup after Christmas, but if I'm honest we're gonna have to play a helluva lot better than that to achieve even third place in the group.
To cap it all off, what price the Hun getting a result against the other Huns tomorrow night :(
Finally, let's not get into needless arguments about who is and isn't to blame - the players win as a team, get beat as a team. Tonight, the team got beat. No point in us all fighting within ourselves over it.
-
Andycolo im a burd
-
I reckon we need 9 points from the next 5 games to go thru.
I reckon we can do it.
I reckon jamesons and drambuie is an effective anaesthetic
-
Newsletter,
I don't know what is revisionist about criticising the midfield set up we started with. Things looked better when we changed it around. At this level you need a defensive midfield player a la Lennon or Lambert. Hartley has showed recently that he can play the position well.
-
michael collins,i think most realists were hopeful of getting out of the group as opposed confident,we are up against the holders and a fourt pot team who spent 40million in the summer,but unless you know that no attempts were made to sign players then your last comment is unjustified
-
Has Strachan cracked one of his side-splitting quips yet...?
-
I think you should calm lads it is the big boys playground. The entire team started nerviously.
Which lead to bad mistakes.
Our inexperience at this level was there for all to see.
It very much looks like some on here have been desperate for our Captain to make a mistake.
From ICT to CL it's a huge step up. However once we got Hartley in front of the back four only one player looked out his depth.
We've had worst nights in Europa. As a survivor of Xamax I would say that. 5-1 defeat in a ground that makes Dens Park look modern. That really was the pits.
-
Paul
Ah canny gie any opinion oan ,if it wiz Celtic, dat wiz jist sae Bad...or...
Don'ask's Display... wiz sae BRILLIANT AND TORRID!
Da reason fur dat?
It wiz SOUND ONLY...
An' Chan67's Commentators Joab PERFORMANCE, tae put it MILDLY...
WIZ DREADFULL AN' HORRID!
Ah know da Score.
If dat is Any Help!
An' Celtic LOSIN' TWA GOALS....
MADE DIS WEE DUG, GIE A YELP!
Ah'll Get back tae ye later, when ah See da T.V. da night...
But, accordin' tae whit a gether...
CELTIC DIDNAE HIV ANY FIGHT!
Silly wee Bhoys... if dey jist could hiv a wee bit mair o' a SWAGGER!....
DEY SHOULD HIV COME OOT SNARLIN' An' SPITTIN'...
LIKE A BIG BLOODY TIGER!
Howevah......
When ah think aboot it NOO..
Der APPROACH ,IN DER AWAY GAMES...
IS MAIR LIKE ...A WINNIE DA POOH!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
italiabhoy - he's on Sky just now. No quips but a pretty reasonable & accurate assessment of the night's events.
-
Kevtic - yellow card for mentioning the Xamax...... it's still a scar.
Still, at least you never mentioned partizan bel...... oh b8llox.......
-
The result was disappointing, but not a huge surprise and defintely not a disaster in itself.
The worry for me is that SD simply looked a better side and will surely trouble us in Glasgow - but lets be optimisitic - we can still raise our game and win at home.
SD will not fear Benfica at home and will also give Milan a hard game.
The Benfica double-header starts to look big for us in games 3 & 4. It is highly likely that we will go to Lisbon looking for our first point and trying to build a bit of momentum for the last 3 fixtures.
But no need to panic - yet.
-
kevtic...you put that in a 'neuchatel'
italiabhoy... not yet but he did say ' why did the banana go to the doctors?'
...cause it wasnt peeling well
-
Once again it's game over before 15 minutes have been played. We need to get at least three points from our next two games to get back on track. If we get four then last nights game will be forgotten.
NegativeAnon
It appears that the jam has been replaced with marmite which some love and others hate.
I hate it..........
-
Simple lack of investment in the summer especially in defence has cost us.
My worst fears have been realised tonight. Our defence is not good enough certainly at this level. Full backs and centre halves.
Basic stuff controlling a ball which led to the first goal. That's was an awful mistake to make at this level. You get punished for it big time.
Full backs are getting destroyed. Wilson crossing can't pick a man out. Something Paul Telfer got slated for. Also allowing to many balls to get into the area.
My gripe is that we have all known from where the problems lie for quite some time. We thought it be sorted in summer but it wasn't. With all of the scouts we have recruited as well, surley at least we could find someone.
In my opinion you get what you deserve if you only spend £2 million overall in the summer.
HARSH BUT TRUE.
We are competing for 3rd spot and UEFA cup place in this group. If we do the impossible and qualify then Gordon deserves the noble peace prize.
We have gambled yet again with spending very little and it has backfired. I'm just suprised it has came now. I thought it would have happened in the last round.
Oh well roll on AC at Celtic Park more than hope than anything else.
-
RELAX we lost the first game last season.
Mind you second game was not against the Champions league champions :-O
-
Kevtic,
are we any more inexperienced at this level than SDonetsk?
Doubt it. We just seem to have the unhappy knack of making exactly the same mistakes again and again...
-
I came on-line to escape from Chick Young... reading through some of the coomments I detect Corporal Jones running all over the place.
I think it is impossible to read much into this game because of the disastrous start. That dictated the rest of the game, so we don;t know how SD would have performed had they failed to score in the first 20 mins, given that they would have been unable to keep up that pace for 90.
Are SD better than AC Milan? No, of course not. But we held out against them for 180+ minutes.
Paul said that they (SD) weren't sure they were as good as Spartak Moscow. He was almost certainly right.
What if that early Spartak goal in Moscow had been allowed? It could - maybe would - have been very different.
Lessons to learn? Of course - the most important one being DON'T PANIC, DON'T PANIC....
-
lanarkcelt,
a lot of ifs and buts in there... fact is we didn't defend well at all, and didn't create enough to get a point.
whether SD would have done this if that had happened is irrelevant I'm afraid...
-
WGS needs to put his hand up for 2 howlers tonight.
First wrong formation - only changed it after we were 2-0 down.
Second leaving Scott Brown on to walk a tightrope meant that we were playing a man down in midfield.
Artur and Paul H were our best with Massimo only slightly behind.
Soooo disappointed in the first 8 miuntes and the lack of ambition of the board £2M investment really shows up at this level.
Surely WGS can find the two big, fast , aggressive fullbacks to fix the weakness that we all can see.
NothappySeville67
-
We played tonight like we where just off the plane 30mins and got changed and went on to the park.
One thing about that team, they where good, very fast and skillful.
Look at this way, last time we played them we lost 3.0
-
off to talk to wife. things are that bad.
depressed, fed up. same old same old... questions need to be asked...
the only thing that will improve things is stuttgart stepping up a gear tomorrow night...
buona notte ragazzi...
-
ghordy bhoy
If you look at the posts from before the game you'll see that most predicted at least a point. Very few people expected a doing which,but for Artur, we would have got. The good start to the SPL and the Spartak game raised expectations to a level where people thought we would do well in the group.
If you believe that we couldnt find any full backs in the world who were better than Naylor and Wilson and would come to Celtic then fine. I dont and believe 100% that the manager was denied funds. His commenst towards the end of the transfer window bear this point out.
Teams 1,2 and 3 were all found wanting at various times at this level. If anyone can tell me how the club is moving forward then I'd love to hear it.
-
Yeagh, I kind of agree, Italiabhoy... though the thing that depressed me was the lack of any real goal scoring chances by the Celts.
-
Im glad i stayed on now I will apologies to kano later.
Neganon I think we would all agree that we needed at least really good back up for our full backs but probably new full backs and use our 2 as back up.
A few things I dont know and I think 99% of this blog dont know is who did we scout and who were we offered.
Like it or not we could have all the money going but not able to entice the right player. We are all supporters (well some names on tonight you dont see unless its bad news, not you) but we need to realise we work in an a controlled environment due to top players not wanting to come to our league and secondly due to the laws of extended country for good young players as Gordon pointed out today.
I hold my hands up and say I dont know all of the best full backs which come into our category of being able to get but I place my faith that our management team do. These guys may have then broken the pay structure of the club to get them. I am a supporter and a customer but I still sit at nights and shudder if it was not for Fergus.
Gordon and his management team will make mistakes anybody choosing people to work from them will as you have probably done in the past.
If you have not read them please read 2 books which are intersting are Michael Kelly's book and Jock browns.
In reality just read the last chapter of Kellys and read it in teh library so he does not even get his 7p. He makes out he does well for his family holding the deal back.
This is a ramble but from a bhoy who is very dissapointed tonight but is not surprised by the result.
We have not had many outstanding full backs in my lifetime.
Please tell me who you would ahve bought
-
An outstanding performance from Boruc.
I also thought Hartley, Donati and McDonald played well.
I'm obviously disappointed, but not totally downbeat as I'd set my expectations accordingly at the end of the transfer window.
We have 4 very average defenders who are out of their depth at this level.
Simple as that.
I'm confident we'll win the league, but unfortunately not expecting European football post Christmas.
Nothing against them, but the defence is simply not good enough.
-
gordon_j. I take on board what you say about the defensive midfield requirement.
My point is that to solve a problem you have to look at the root cause of the problem (no matter how uncomfortable that may be) and take it from there.
We did not lose the first goal because of the absence of a defensive midfielder. We lost it because Stephen McManus made a howler.
We did not lose the second goal because of the absence of a defensive midfielder. We lost it because Lee Naylor stood still at a cross whereas the goalscorer moved from one side of Naylor to the other in order to head the ball.
-
Michael Collins.
You claim the manager was denied funds. I don't believe so. He himself said that he was quoted funny money for full backs that he did not believe were better than the ones already in the team.
The only real grip i've got about the full back situation is that having brought Doumbe back, he, and maybe Darren O'Dea,should be getting some playing time to try to let the two incumbents know that they are not the only options.
-
GM / WGS/ GL2
We all agree on the defence
We knew if after Lisbon last year.
We knew it after Copenhagen last year.
But we did nothing about it.
Scoring 15 in 3 games in the SPL tells you nothing about how these guys will cope at this level. It is a big step up - but it's not like we have not seen it before.
Seville67
-
Re players that we should have signed during the summer.
Didn't WGS say that we went for a player for cover at right back and we where quoted 5m for that player.
What do we do, take that player for 5m or keep looking?
-
michael,i think most pre match posts were more wishful thinking than honest assessment,but there were far more at fault tonight than our full backs,our captain giving away the first goal was far worse than the defending for the second goal,but still too many focus on our full backs,who i agree had a poor game,along with our midfield and ourfront men with 1 or 2 exceptions
-
GL2
No-one is arguing that the club is better than it was in the days of Michael Kelly and Jock Brown. It clearly is but quite how much our current custodians had to do with it is up for debate. The argument now is wether the present board are taking the club forward or treading water.
We were told as early as last Christmas that 5 players had been identified for each problem position. We both agree that we need two full backs so therefore we can assume 10 full backs were targetted. Now I think we can assume that guys like Cafu were not among them as theres was never any chance that a player like him would come so therefore either 10 full backs turned down the chance to play for Celtic or the manager spent his allotted funds elsewhere. If all these guys did turn us down then you have to ask questions about the guys targetting them. The alternative to this is that the manager doesnt think we need full backs. I have huge respect for Gordon and dont believe he's that naieve.
Celtic are a plc, its simply not acceptable to say we tried and failed to strengthen. Can you imagine the CEO of Marks and Spencers saying well we tried to recruit some top staff but we failed. I think you'd find he'd be out of a job.
After tonights game the question is are we any better than last year or the year before. It certainly doesnt look like it and that is the issue.
-
Defensively we were found out tonight, again. But I don't just blame the back four. The midfield shape was wrong and we didn't give the full backs enough cover. Their full backs raided forward all night and that's where the majority of the problems came from. A sitting midfielder from the start would have helped to plug the gaps.
Several of us pointed out on Saturday that we didn't defend well. The difference at this level is that if you allow a good side to create chances they wil take them.
-
same old same old...........which really is not good enough.........why has GS not learned that we are no way good enough to go away from home and play 4-4-2.
Sames as virtually all our previous away CL games we are 2-0 down after 15 minutes.
Even teams with far stronger defences than ours play 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 away from home......so why don't we?
Just try to keep it tight, crowd the midfield, god knows it done to us most week at CP, - even if it is just for the first 15/20 minutes to build our way into the game.
As soon as Hartley move to the "lennon role" we improved albeit far to late, damage done.
So GS has one more chance to show he can change the system and has some tactical nous - otherwise we will be doomed to more of the same.
BTW - interesting to read GS comments about our £2m verses their £40m spend - is that a wee dig? Seems like it and quite rightly so.
I must say that board lost a little bit of the respect and goodwill they had generated by failing to stregnthen after great financial results and CL qualifications and after tonight it is clear that insufficient funds have been made available.
-
match, if it was that, review on www.thelordofthewing.blogspot.com
you wont be suprised to find it concerns oor full backs.....
-
GM feeling much the same way here.
I believe we have been over achieving in Europe for a few years now, and we can't really expect to keep that up over the longer term.
Without proper investment, which isn't going to be forthcoming, and with the financial gap growing every season, it's only going to get harder to compete.
When you compare the budgets of ourselves, and the clubs we are expected to compete with, we are up against it from the start every time.
-
Positives: I thought Macdonald was really good tonight. Donati did all that could be expected of him. Hartley seemed to cut out most of their chances after switching to the holding role, which could be something to remember for the remaining away games. McGeady looked lively when he came on. Boruc was, of course, very good.
Negatives: Naka was AWFUL tonight (Strachan should bench him for away games in Europe.) Naylor just lacks a football brain, it seems. (He got away with those deep crosses in a team playing poor football last season, but those hit-and-hope efforts have no place in our pass-and-move Team 3.) Mcmanus' poor touch for the first goal is unforgiveable at this level, anywhere on the park but especially within 30yards of the goal.
I think Benfica and Milan will struggle in the Ukraine. It's just as well that Shaktar travel as badly as we do!
I'd drop Naylor at the weekend(play the slight-better Wilson at LB with Doumbe at RB) -- just to make him realise that he isnt assured of a place in the team.
We should have made the substitutions earlier, IMO. I think a hungry/cocky player like Riordan may have helped to at least make a game of it in the second half.
-
moisey17
Good post. I can't disagree with a word of it.
We should play a 4-5-1 away from home in all our CL ties as we've shown in Milan that we can do it. 2 or 3 points from our 3 away games coupled with at least 7 from the three home games would see us through every time.
If only it was that simple I guess.
I fear we may now need a win in Lisbon to raise a bit of belief as three points against Milan at home is a tall ask.
-
If you buy players for £40m there is every chance they have more experienced than our team or just simply better.
The point is it a huge step up from our SPL.
The biggest lesson we learned tonight was not to start a CL match as though it's SPL. Our defence and midfield were simply too far apart at the start of the match. Hartley will be in the holding role for the remaining matches which will hopefully ensure we get atleast a foothole in the match.
-
to those who say we should have spent money,maybe offers were made maybe not,but you only have to look at the money the russians are spending and at what is available in england to realise that very big money would be needed to make any top quality signings,and we all know spending money does not guarantee success
-
Would be interested to hear what others believe to be the reason why Gordon Strachan seems to get his starting tactics so wrong in so many matches. Just look at other CL matches and the number of early goals we lose. We were all over the place in the 1st twenty minutes tonight. Made for painful viewing. Tactical naivety perhaps?
But, as others have said, you reap what you sow and none of us should really be that surprised by that defensive performance (although I would absolve Caldwell from any blame - I thought he had a fairly decent match).
Anyone else think that Naylor's loss of form has coincided with McGeady's introduction to the side (and before anyone points out the obvious, I do realise that McGeady didn't start tonight - but neither did Naylor's decline)?
Are our fullbacks being coached to stand off their man and to allow them to cross freely and without impediment? Basic, basic stuff - ffs, what are they being coached all week?
Contrast in the quality of ball into the box from both sides was quite startling.
Credit to the SD striker for the quality of the 2nd goal.Did we not concede a very similar goal earlier in the season or even pre-season. Good to see lessons are being learned..... Pity JVoH could not do similar with his easier chances. Guy's a waste of space - harsh I know but I just don't see what the guy brings to the team, especially at this level. Cannot work out why he remained on the pitch while wee McDonald was hooked. Made no sense to me at all, especially as we weren't getting to get the ball into the box. At least SMcD worked the channels.
I guess, looking on the bright side, at least we went one better than MON's side and also one better than each away group game last season. Thank goodness for small mercies!
-
Just a thought.
One sure fired way to close the gap financially is to sell;
Boruc and Nakamura ,now.
Between them we would raise the best part of £15-£20 millions.
The warning signs were there on Saturday against Invernes.Yes we were brilliant at times going forward but when pressed we were poor.
I would love to keep our best players but,if its got to be assett management sell the two players now.
Now where's my pit helmet.
JonG
-
Ah ha! what a poor night to return from a long lurk in limbo.
Lots being said here about a poor defence, surely no one missed the signs over the last few weeks, when we have been running on luck (posts) and a brilliant keeper.
Clearly we can't do too much about the composition of our defence before the next transfer window. So we have to find a system to play without leaking goals, until the situation can be remedied - or by some miracle the defence sorts itself out. I do not fancy that aspect of WGS' job.
By the way does anyone understand what the hell Collie is on about? I can't be bothered translating it. I read this for fun, if I want puzzles there is always Sudoku. No offence Collie but its just not for me.
-
Same old story.
I was quite confident before the match that we would get something from the game tonight, even if only on the often mentioned law of averages. You would think one day, but now I'm starting to think an away win in the Champions League will never come.
What can you say about tonight that we didn't know already? The defence is woefully inept at this level. The full backs are nowhere near up to the job at this level, I mean Naylor was even giving it the half-hearted tackles and waiting on the ball that made Boruc lose the rag v Moscow at Parkhead. McManus was the one that angered me most tonight. Scott Brown seems to be taking the rap (from what I've heard on Clyde) for the first goal but in my mind anyway it was our Captain. He had two options, spread the play to Naylor in space or empty it up the park. No way should he be thinking he's Beckenbeur and try beating a man on the edge of the box going straight into the crowded centre midfield area. The guy then scores from the position McManus was in. he is a very basic defender at the best of times, great when defending under pressure with little option but to header or blooter the ball away for throws and corners. What was he thinking about?
The midfield wasn't as bad, but the lack of a defensive midfielder cost us in the early stages. To be fair we looked a lot more comfortable when Hartley was moved inside, but when are we going to get it right in there from the start? How often did Strachan have to make big changes to the midfield in last years CL and now this already. Hopefully one day we will get the right formation from the start.
Big JVOH always looks like he's keeping plenty up his sleeve which is not on. He cost and is paid big bucks but you get the feeling he doesn't give 100%. I may sound out of order but that's how it appears to me. MacDonald I felt had a good game and I was surprised to see him come off.
I just can't beleive we never strengthened the defence over the summer. Even early on in pre-season there appeared to be big problems at the back and yet nothing was done.
I suppose when you only spend £2million then tonights like this are what you can look forward to. I'm fed up just turning up and being grateful for the money. I want us to be competing every year. The focus of competing I feel is being taken away by the importance of getting the money. A net £2million outlay is unacceptable in my opinion on the back of record profits and 53,000 season tickets.
By January it may well be all too late I fear to rectify it.
-
To YE KNOW WHO
Ah hiv noticed yer comments which is aye gien Da BOARD A BAD RAP!
Yer no whit ah'd term ,a Jolly Young CHAP!
It sure looks tae me ye actually ENJOY it... when da Celts fa' in der Face!
So, ah wid be interested tae know ..
IS DAT REALLY DA CASE?
It's time dat ye showed dat ye dae understand..
Dat...
Sure! Celtic wull struggle...
fur by da look o' group "D"...
WE'VE NO BIN DEALT, A PAT HAND!
Cheer up!
WE MAY AMAZE WAN AN' AWE....
An' mak it tae da SWEET SIXTEEN...
in spite o' da DRAW!
Ye Must remember....We loast da Foist Game...last season, an awe!
Yet, we feenished SECOND IN DA LEAGUE!
Didna dat, DAT PLEASE YE AT AWE?
Noo prove tae me, dat ye ur no da kind o' guy dat ah Think,
Who is happy as Larry when Celtic's Fortune's Start tae Sink!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
Evening. well what happened there! I didn't think we'd be two down after 8 mins...but you know what the way SD played, they knew they would. It's as if they lept from a Trojan horse, got stuck right in and done the damage while we were all sleeping.
The thing is if were honest,that we didnt spot this galloping great brute, recognise that we had met him before and put up a bigger hurdle.
I am still optimistic and sure our home games are the key but we need to get grips and bloody hell the game starts at minute zero.
-
Away from home in the CL you must play with a holding midfielder. A week ago in Paris, Paul Hartley plays magnificently in that role against one of the best teams in the world.
How fortunate Gordon Strachan was. A week before the opening CL game, he is given a full demonstration of the key to snuffing out the Ukrainians. Not many managers would get such a timely notice of what can be achieved.
So what does Strachan do? He starts with no holding midfielder and has Hartley playing out wide. Within 8 minutes we are 2 goals down. THEN he moves Hartley to the holding position and the difference in the game from that point on is there for all to see.
I am a big fan of Strachan, but he made a big tactical mistake tonight, especially given the fact that he could see what Hartley contributed in that position for Scotland.
How can I see it and Strachan apparently cannot? Sometimes Gordon can be his own worst enemy.
And please don't let's have people coming on and abusing me for criticising the manager. He has done a marvellous job at Celtic and I love him but, when he makes such an obvious tactical error, we are entitled to speak up and say so, just as we praise him when he gets the tactics spot on in Europe, which he often does.
-
GL2 - lots of folk seem to want me to tell them who we should have bought - I am not qualified to answer that.
Fact is Michael has covered it - failure to buy properly and to have ambition is simply that - failure.
When you step back and think that we have actually spent nothing net for 2 years and you see the obvious weaknesses in the team it really brings the Board's policy home to you. That they continue to expect the support to cough up for evey wheeze they come up with (will they ever stop sending me the buy a home in spain and we'll show you around CP stuff??) - whilst continually downsizing the team is really rather startling.
BQ has told Paul he has no ambition and that we dont budget for Eurpoean football. Dont budget for Eurpoean football - what nonsense - thats like saying Companies dont budget for big sales. Breathtaking stuff really.
Yet the support are continually asked to cough up - of course this takes us dangerously close to the supporter v customer debate - with our host does not want to have (oh I wonder why).
Its quite simple this - the Board wont spend (even in good times) - so we watch games like tonight and criticise players who are put in positions they shouldnt be in.
Value for money???
IF IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE
I have deliberately said nothing about the financial results - because the excuses are running out now - all the jam in summer, jam in winter blah blah is going nowhere.
Ask yourself - does the Board policy make sense now?
-
Michael C
Yes we are a plc, but only in name. You cannot compare Celtic to Marks & Spencer (or indeed to Northern Rock) as the nature of the shareholding is very different, i.e. I would be utterly astonished if any pension fund held shares in Celtic! (I hope mine doesn't!)Do they cheer at M&S AGMs when (not that they do) announce that there is no dividend!?!
It's difficult to argue against the current board. On hard results they have been an amazing success. The "lack of ambition" tag is a dead debate. There's a big risk trade-off in football, as an industry that is so dependent on individual skill, team work, luck AND what your opponents do. Go too far and you're Leeds United.
As a business model the biggest risk Celtic face is the uneasy position we sit in between domestic dominance without European success. It was OK 10 years ago when all that mattered was domestuic success. The stadium was packed for a Sunday evening game vs St Johnstone even though it was on telly.
Even in MON's first season being put out by Bordeaux hardly created a ripple. Imagine how Strachan would be slaughtered if that happened now!
Now we expect more, much more. We take domestic success for granted and become very unforgiving at the slightest domestic slip up (like Killie).
For tomm many Celtic Park has become a drop-in centre with season book holders using their tickets as a passport getting tickets when we play Man U. Now quite a few don't turn up at all for domestic games... or just arrive late and leave early, and spend most of their time at the ground groaning, and picking on Lea Naylor.
The attendances have been falling for several years. I'm not sure we get accurate figures even now as they seem to count absent season ticket holders as being there even if they're not.
But they do admit to 56,000, not 60 now.
... it's a worry. We seem to be stuck in an awkward middle position...
-
Thomas
Spot on
read my post at 22.45
looks a bit similar
now if you , me and just about all other commentators here tonight can see that..........what is the manager/coaches watching?
-
New Champions League campaign + same old defence = same old problems + usual away result.
In the 2 goals we lost, damming evidence of why we fail so regularly in the league format away from home was plain for all to see - Personnel and Organisation.
For the first goal, not a great pass by Brown but in a tight area facing his own goal he found his man. That McManus then attempted to control the ball rather than clear it as far out the danger area as possible when under pressure was just stupid.
The second goal however was an utter defensive shambles from start to finish and typified our complete lack of organisation and leadership in central defence. Anyone who believes we have an organiser in there should watch that goal again.
To begin with, we have a centre half (Caldwell) chasing a midfield runner out to the corner flag, leaving the centre forward Brandao (who Caldwell had been marking) to stroll unmarked into the centre of the penalty area.
Before the cross comes in, the goalscorer Lucarelli is picked by McManus. McManus however ball watches while Lucarelli steps off him onto Naylor (who has correctly tucked in and ends up picking up the unmarked Brandao). At the point the cross comes in McManus has no idea who he is picking. There is absolutely no communication between Naylor and McManus. It is a defensive mess with no one leading or taking responsibility.
Did Shakhtar do their homework? It's almost the same goal we lost against Falkirk and Spartak Moscow (away). Get the tall centre forward isolated onto the full back.
I'm not sure what we do about it though. It appears we can't fix the deficiencies through coaching, yet we've allowed yet another transfer window to pass without fixing the same old problem.
Hopefully enough points in the home games will keep us in Europe until the next transfer window.
-
NegAnon...
Others have asked you before, and failed to get an answer. I'll ask again tonight.
Exactly what is it YOU would have the club/board do?
Do you know for a fact that no attempts were made to purchase players during the window?
Everyone on here hurts after a bad result, but I am not prepared to blame the board for all ills.
-
neg anon and others,walter smith spent a fair few quid and look at the quality he managed to get,would you be happier to have done that and spent just for the sake of spending
-
The nearer we got to the kick off the more worried I became listening to the 40m that Shaktar had spent. Didn’t have a problem with Hartley coming in to the team but I would have played him in his Scotland position and left JVOH out.
BORUC ….…. 7 Had no chance with either goal but continued to show his real class with several great stops.
WILSON….…. 4 There I was thinking that he was back to his best but unfortunately the better the class of opposition the less assured he is. Perhaps he’s just a good SPL player.
CALDWELL…. 6 Was part of a defence that was torn apart in the first 20 mins but he stuck to his task and had one great saving clearance.
McMANUS……..6 Was directly culpable for setting up the first goal with an uncharacteristic first touch but to his credit he did not let his head drop and played well.
NAYLOR….….. 4 I don’t think we can go on much longer waiting for him to rediscover his form. He couldn’t cope with the pace and skill of the opposition.
NAKAMURA … 3 The poorest game he has had in the Hoops and was rightly replaced by McGeady.
DONATI ….. 4 Was invisible for large parts of the game although when he did get on the ball you could see his class.
BROWN …….. 5 Ironic that he chose this game to have his poorest game since coming to Celtic and was very fortunate to stay on the park.
HARTLEY…. 7 MOM Had no impact on the game until he was rightly moved into a central position playing just in front of the back four and he once again showed that he can play there with great effect.
McDONALD ……….. 6 Was the only player in those awful first 20 mins who showed any ability and continued to strive to make a mark but he found it so difficult.
JVOH…. ……….5 Had one great attempt which just missed the target and had another good opportunity but failed to get his header on target. Really we should be seeing a greater impact from an ‘international’ player.
SUBS ………….
McGEADY..….. 5 Came on tried hard but really achieved very little.
KILLEN . … 5 Made one good opportunity but that apart he still failed to show that he has the quality to enhance the team.
MAGIC…. …..4 Was on for too short a time to impress.
REF ………….7
THE GAME ……6 It wasn’t dirty, it was fast, it was skillful and it had a great goal. Unfortunately Celtic did not contribute much to it.
COMMENTS ….. 1. I listened to GS’s pre-match interview and listened to him saying that he would have to approach this game with different tactics to the Spartak game as Shaktar play a different game to Shaktar. It’s a pity he was not true to his word!
2. Celtic’s big problem was in the method they started the game. Even before a goal had been scored you could see that this was not a confident Celtic team. I doubt if they struck more than 3 passes to-gether in the first 15 mins.
3. It is unbelievable that after 14 away games in the C.L Celtic have still not won a single game! I’ll stick my neck out and say that it will happen in Lisbon t.y.
4. A few Celtic supporters (inc. myself) expressed disappointment that Celtic had not strengthened the team during August, it’s nights like to-night that we may well live to regret the inactivity. Our full back position has been screaming out for competition to be brought in.
5. We must hope that Milan win all their games with the exception of ours and that Benfica and Shaktar draw their games. Celtic of course will have to win their home games but if they do then we’re through…… . it’s that easy!!!
-
neg anon another small point,what players were put in positions that the should not have been?
-
Not unexpected to be honest. However I still think we can et through this group - no one will fancy a visit to Ukraine!
On specifics - Mick tried to play football at the 1st goal - something he never tried in Paris. Against France he blocked and blootered and it worked - we needed the same tonight, I put that down to the manager.
We all knew how weak our backs were(are) and we did not strengthen during the window - I put that down to the board hoping we could scrape through another season. Financial strength is admirable but if the results don't come the bank balance will be eroded just as certainly as signing a new player. The trick is to weigh the outlay aginst benefits - our board seems only to consider the outlay.
Well we reaped the benefits of that policy tonight.
Hail hail - the team but not the accountants!
-
Guys,
We need to keep a sense of perspective here. Fact is, we lost an away game to a decent side.
I think that the real disappointment and hurt was that the game was effectively over in the first 10 minutes - a huge anticlimax given the build up.
Shaktar Donetsk are not Aberdeen or Dundee United. They are probably entitled to expect to win their home CL games against most opposition.
The biggest misfortune for us is the way the first 3 fixtures have panned out - we could desperately have done with a home game against SD or Benfica early in the campaign. We just need to keep our heads up, stick at it, keep focused on beating SD and Benfica at home and hope that one or two other results go our way.
-
celticlover,reasonable ratings but mcmanus does not deserve his mark,wholly to blame for the first goal which,who knows,may have changed the whole game,and our goalie was clearly our best player,did he lose 3 points for poor kick outs?
-
Hamptontim
Sorry but if this had been the 1st time then I would accept your point, however, we have now 'thrown' 3 games in the same fashion in recent years - Benfica, Copenhagen and to-night (not to mention Artmedia)
This is a common and replicable fault - any technician could sort it!
Still hail hail through adversity and frustration!
-
Celticlover,
Generous ratings to to give Mcmanus and Caldwell 6 whist you only give Donati 4, especially considering you gave Naylor and Wilson 4 also.
-
jinkyredstar,seen it all now,blame the manager for something that you,me and everyone else saw,mcmanus should have blasted the ball to row z,to blame anyone else for the goal is ludicrous
-
21:54, Dick Byrne
Good stats Dick. If I was GS I would be taking note of that.
-
GB64
You make my point for me - in Paris Mick gave it row Z time after time - why not tonight.
As I said in another post - if this was the first time then we could learn but this is the third game we have blown in the opening 15 mins - surely the coaching team must have a say in this?
Either way I'm not argiung with anyone just putting a point of view. I am a Strachan man, just don't undersatnd how badly wrong he gets the away group games (except Man U of course - which makes my puzzlement even deeper)
Hail hail the team not the accountants
-
I am risking the wrath of the happy clappers but... my prediction is that we will finish 4th in our group. That's not wholly pessimism, its tinged with a touch of realism. While we have been winning in the SPL, we have also been threatened by the teams we have played - I recall a 40 year old putting the Dons in front with a goal my pet goldfish could have defended against better than those on the field. When we step up to Champions level, the opposition is stronger - more lethal up front, frugal at the back and more creative in midfield. So our strikers and midfield don't have it all their way (far from it!) but crtically, the defence is punctured more often with more severe consequences.
In short, as a team whose weak defence remains at least as weak as it was last season (if not weaker, we cannot compete with a team that has spent 40 million on players, with a team that won the CL last season, nor with a team that has a healthy relationship with South America. So what is the cure ? Well, in the short term, if we have to live within our means, we should also play within our means. This translates into playing the, dare I say it, the "Scotland" way - defend, defend, defend. We are partly to blame - we feed this frenzy that Celtic will attack and light up European football. I look to my prediction of a 2-2 draw tonight and feel like slapping myself for succumbing to the enthusiasm and passion we share for the club. However, zero points in away CL matches tells its own story and frankly it is a hugely embarrassing one. We shouldn't let the "Fortress Celtic Park" myth/legend camouflage that. What we fail to realise and appreciate is that the rest of Europe don't think that much of us - well, they respect us in a patronising way, but each and every team in the CL thinks itself more than capable of beating Celtic. That's not good. We need to start with the aim of preventing defeat. Winning in an away arena will surely follow if we achieve the principal aim.
As a postscript - although Caldwell has his moments, his errors such as his first touch preceding the first goal, confirms that he is not of the class required to play for Celtic. But it is unfair to focus on him. The defence is weak and we will reap the rewards come Christmas by being able to concentrate on the league title.
-
Jinky,
Believe me, I am not a happy-clapper, just a realist. I didn't really expect anything from tonight, but we always travel in hope.
Celtic, Benfica and SD will all fancy our chances at home to the other two. Second and third place will hinge on one or two unexpected results in the group.
One of the biggest dangers for us is that our heads could go down if we don't get something out of the next two games - but even if we only manage one or two points, there is still hope while we have those two home CL games to come.
-
23:34, Sharon
I would stand by the 6 for Caldwell as he was staedy but would not argue with McManus being marked at 5 due to his mistake although over the 90 mins he also was steady.
Re. Donati I agree that he was more effective than our full backs and so deserves a 5 but watch the game again and note how many times he is involved.
How did you rate JVOH?
-
Have resisted posting for some time in the belief that Celtic have flattered to deceive. Our failure to improve the team by committing significant net expenditure to address glaring weaknesses in defence has been cruelly exposed in SD by a "good, good" side.
However the quality of the opposition is really no better than you should expect if you step up to the CL Sections competition. In my view we failed to make the financial commitment during the transfer window demanded by the competition.
We also see different things in the game and I don't expect that my view will be shared by one and all. For what its worth, here it is:
Our defence is inadequate for this level of competition. I agree that the full backs were exposed time and again by pacy, tall & clever moving opposition. However the problems were equally evident, if not more so, in the performance of our centre backs. Brown was entitled to play the ball back to McManus and expect him to show basic skills and composure - McManus didn't and we went a goal down. The positional play of our centre backs was woeful with Caldewell repeatedly defending in front of 4 or 5 Celtic players. McManus failed to command and organise the back line, look at his inept organisation and positioning leading to the second goal - some blame Naylor but McManus failed to take command of the emerging threat and looked uncertain as to which player he personally would mark up, leaving Naylor to second guess his captain.
I'm not a big Hartley fan but I thought he deserves a lot of credit for his committed play while other around looked lost to the clever movement of SD.
Nakamura failed to perform at the level that we might expect, with remarkably poor delivery time and again from corner kicks. Brown simply looked as though he was on a learning curve, with the pace and quality of the opposition providing competition that he rarely experiences.
I thought JVOH and SMcD did as much as the service to them allowed. Chris Killen looked unlikely CL quality, confirming my impression of him in his few SPL appearances.
My biggest concern of the night was reserved for WGS and his game of Russian roulette by keeping Brown on the park for the full 90 minutes. That the referee didn't show Brown a second yellow was an unexpected stroke of luck rather than self control by the midfielder or good judgement by WGS. If Brown had walked on a second yellow our team for the home tie against Milan would have been seriously weakened.
Let's hope that the team have learned quickly from the experience playing against SD. On tonight's showing we will do well to see the UEFA Cup as 3rd place finishers.
Tomorrow's another day, another game! Bring on Milan, and let's support the team every kick of the ball in every game. I've got my three match package, I'll be there. C'mon the Hoops!
-
malceye,stephen mcmanus was to blame at the first goal,does that help make him not good enough for our team?
-
Hamptontim
I subscribe to your realism - this could go down to a rebound off someone's backside in the 3rd minute of injury time - just hope it's in our favour.
All the best
-
Ratings ?? Who cares whether its a 5 or a 6 or a 4 or a 7 ?!!! As a team we are not up to scratch to play and compete at this level. Yes we qualified last season but by goodness, we did so by the seat of our pants - MU had umpteen chances to secure victory before Naka scored. Any team taking to the pitch this season reckons they can score against us. Ratings ?! For goodness sake, the Shaktar coach is suggesting that it could have been 6-2 to his team - and who would disagree ? Indidivual performances mean very little at this level of football.
-
WizardofOz
I'll answer for Neganon if you dont mind.
What I would do is quite simple. Sign a couple of full backs and a striker as well as a wide mifielder to compete with McGeady/Naka. Its quite simply not enough to say well we tried to sign someone. If too many players knocked us back then the failure is with the scouting process. If we had no money to buy players then the failing is with the board. Either way its till a failure.
Now I'll ask you a question. Do you think the team is improving year on year.
-
Gordy - McManus, Caldwell, Groucho Marx, whoever plays that sort of Dalkeith Thistle class of clearance/pass/rebound (delete as appropriate) is not of the required class to play CL football.
-
Celticlover,
Thought your marks for JVOH were jsut about right. Like most, I can't help thinking we're not getting as much as we should from him. Service to him wasn't great tonight, although he had a couple of chances with his head he maybe should've got on target.
As a massive Nakamura fan, it upsets me that I can't really disagree too much with your assessment of his performance (although I wouldn't have singled him out as the worst on the park)!
Here's hoping we're disagreeing over 9's and 10's after the Milan game!!!!
-
I am definitely a happy clapper, but am not a McManus fan. I do not believe he is captain material, I don't like his decision making and I don't think he is a better centre half than either Kennedy or O'Dea.
Then again, I'm not the manager.
-
Celticlover,
maybe I shouldn't have replied to your post as malceye seems to be getting as upset with our conversation as he is about the result of tonights game.
And here I was thinking this was blog was about tonights game......
-
malceye,cheers gary caldwell will be relieved to hear he is now available for the milan game.
-
sharon,at least you got a reply from celticlover,hes no talking to me
-
Shakhtar Donetsk V Celtic 18/09/2007
-
I wish Sky Sports, and some on here, would stop already with the 'never won an away game in Champions League'. It's irrelevant and compares apples with oranges. We weathered a calamitous storm and played some decent stuff at times - far better than 2 from 3 last year, Porto under MON and so many others.
We lost to a better side. It's a tough, tough draw to have them as 4th seeds. Shaktar played with 2 at the back and surprised everyone - you, me, even the old fool that is the tactical genius Davie Provan. Gordon is guilty of one thing tonight - believing that similar tactics that gained a draw in Moscow would have sufficed this evening. Despite the hindsight of Provan and others, everyone thought PH was going to play left, not central. He tried to win a game with 4-4-2. Sorry, but I'll take that over 4-5-1 - heroic failure gets my goat and I'd rather try and win every time - Corinthian spirit sure, naivete maybe but we're a tad hypocritical to call for football the Glasgow Celtic way then ask for 10 men behind the ball and sneak a point. They played better than us, but then again, spent £40million for pace and power in most positions, we're never going to spend that amount. Serious question to those who want big spending - I know it's an extreme, but would you take a Ukrainian billionaire's cash to realise the dream - or the chance to go for it?
Michael Collins - is the team improving year-on-year? Damn right. Half as many games to score this many goals this season to last? Better players, better passing. One game lost to a good, good side is no disgrace. A sore one, but no disgrace.
And ain't it funny how players who can win 3 CL home games and play well in Milan can suddenly be classed 'not good enough for Champions League'? Most if not all Chelsea's team is, yet they draw at home to Rosenborg, a game you would put money on us winning. I nearly typed 'funny old game' there.
Anyone take me on 6 points from next two CL games?
-
Michael Collins.
Just spent ages typing out a long reply then blog crashed on me.
So short answer to your question is Yes we are better than last year.
-
A lot has been made on here tonight about Shakhtar spending £40m compared to our £2m. Does that £40m mean Shakhtar have a better chance of winning the CL than us?
If only it was all about net spend, Chelsea would win everything (starting with their home games).
-
Let's get real. Who really expected us to win tonight using their head and not their heart. I got pelters off my famiy for taking Shaktar to win in the uefa predictor competition. I am a happy clapper who still thinks everything in the Celtic family is good. I do not think that Gordon Strachan sent his team out to defend like amateurs. The biggest disappointment for us all (what a generalisation) was that our worst fears happened after 8 minutes and not 80! Bring on Milan!
-
OK! My family is not speaking to me. CQN is not speaking to me! Just as well I've got a spare room!
Good night and we will beat Milan!
-
Bloke 109
Against Porto away we lost two early goals made midfield adjustments and although competing well for the rest of the game never looked like scoring. Shakhtar tonight we lost two early goals made midfield adjustments and although competing well for the rest of the game never looked like scoring. Can you tell me whats different now from then.
Theres no question the midfield is more dynamic but is it better defensively ,apparently not and like it or not we are missing Neil Lennon perhaps not at home to ICT but certainly last night. Defensively and up front we're no better and why should we be the personnel are still the same.
In short at CL level we have not improved at all and as such are not moving forward as a club. No-ones asking for us to spend 40 million , however it is not unreasonable to ask why we didnt spend more than 2 million. Its also a reasonable question which Paul failed to ask BQ during there interview to ask why Gordon Strachan said in the last week of the transfer window that sometimes you have to sell players to balance the books. Funny how he never asked BQ that, or did he?
Wizard of Oz. Dont worry mate if you're down under we have all day to debate this so get typing.
-
some thoughts ...
- I think a bit of overconfidence on our manager's part after France and ICT
- I think we should have rested the intls. against ICT, esp. McManus, although clearly Strachan was hoping for the opposite effect, e.g. to keep the positive momentum going
- of course, we should have started with Hartley holding
- I would have liked Doumbe integrated into the team at this point, Mark Wilson is SPL quality, we won't know if Doumbe can step up until we give him a chance
- I think the SPL works against us, in that apparently our defense (full backs) are conditioned to not be punished for mental lapses
(no need to go for crossed balls etc.)
- Naylor was clearly playing with an injury, which has lowered his game, he can step up though (2nd half Spartak) although his body can't take it, at this point, I'm losing confidence in his ability
-
I'm as gutted as anyone else, however this is a young team we have and they have a lot of learning to do in Europe. We need to cut the team and the boss some slack.
Its a journey we're on not a quick trip. We will improve, just wait and see.
hail,hail
-
Just a note for the foreign crowd:
I was so fed up that I stayed up late and completed a report on the Under-19s win over Inverness.
I'm off to bed, so I'll answer queries tomorrow.
Check out:
http://celticfcblog.blogspot.com
Ta,
JohnBhoy
-
People need to stop and take a breath here.
Before the match I was hoping for a score draw - they are a good team - by far the best from pot 4 particularly at their home matches. They were a good team 3 years ago and have spend God knows how many millions since then.
Having missed the game live due to work I watched it knowing the score and the dreadful start we made.
Apart from the first 15 minutes it wasn't one-way traffic.
Donati, Hartley, McDonald, Caldwell and Boruc got pass marks and the rest were woeful. We had a bad night at a bad time.
I'm confident we can beat them at Celtic Park.
I'm confident they'll take points off Benfica and if they are not overwhelmed by the 'names' AC as well.
For me the problem tonight was our inability to adapt to playing a team on a huge pitch who chopped and changed positions from middle to front dragging our players all over the place.
Once we settled down a bit we coped fairly well with their attacking threat and could have had 3 or 4 ourselves, JVOH's headers in particular should have found the net.
-
A Memo from a (drunk) Long Term Happy Clapper & GS Fan:
To Whoever it may concern......
A wee bit down?
Aye....Me too....
But....
Did y'all hear that....?
.....That Fat Burd Singing?
No.....I didn't hear her either...
I posted the other night that I would be DELIGHTED with a draw....
Previous to that I posted the following...
AFTER the transfer window shut.....
"I waded my way through many downtrodden posts this evening....It followed flying through the elated posts after a magical session at the Parlour roughly 48 hours ago"(Aye..Remember that night?)
The posts on here this evening have ranged from the Highly Insightful....
To the Logical....
To the Downright Snide....
We are a Broad Church Indeed.
Yes....We have been on an emotional roller coaster...ALL of us...
How do you think the Young Bhoys feel?
I will repeat that....
How do you think the Young Bhoys feel?
Over the last few weeks the posts on here have been a roller coaster of emotions that would make the management of Northern Rock or any Wall St brokerage feel completely at home.....
A connection....Moral Certainty there is...
Optimisim is Contagious...But so is Pessimism...
Ah The Markets...Our Glorious Context!
Never said this before...
J'Accuse the Gaffer of Misconduct!
I think he was guilty...He NAIVELY Trusted his Young Guns...Who were a tad too Niave (His word)....And ended up shell shocked.....
But he is right in one thing...They Will Learn!
A lot was posted tonight about the financial limitations and lack of spending...(Aside from personal attacks on those whose shoulders will carry our hopes in the not too distant future).
Nobody knows what occured and what was attempted...But logic would dictate you plan for unforseen circumstances...
So how do you Plan with our limited market place...?
With an eye on the Future (business) and with Faith (support).
Faith.... And an Appreciation that we are in the priviliged position of watching Young Bhoys grow and develop....Into something Magical... I BELIEVE this will happen in My Time....It is also far better than simply Buying Success...But hey maybe I am an Old Romantic.....And maybe the market men will prove me foolish beyond their dreams...
Yes I did have a weak moment where I thought they would collapse into Artmedia 2.
But you know what...
They did not...
They got over the Shock...
These Young Bhoys rolled their sleeves up.....To quoyte The Gaffer...... Against a Very Good Team.
Despondent Ones... Keep The Faith!
Snides........Know Thyselves!
.......And wait till The Fat Lady Sings.
Drunken Rant (nearly) Over
PJ.......
A SUPPORTER
NOT A DEMANDING CUSTOMER.......
WHO TOLD EVERYONE ALL ALONG THIS FAST FOOD RESTAURANT WAS CRAP.....
-
Celtic v ICT and Celtic win in great style.
CQN has 480 posts in in 48 hours.
Shaktar beat us in the CL.
Result 368 posts in 12 hours.
No comment
'GG resting
-
Surely now we will go to 4-5-1 in the remaining away games?
It helped make us hard to beat in Milan by filling the middle.
Gordon Strachan said before the game players win games not tactics.
Sorry Gordon not true, I hope this will be a lesson learned.
As a matter of interest did anyone think we would survive without conceeding in the first 20 minutes?
At work yesterday 5 of us were talking about the game and we all thought we would lose an early goal because that's what we often do away.
-
lostrambling
The problem with 4-5-1 is that althoug it tightens up the midfield it cuts your opportunities to get forward and score a goal or two and even,shock horror, win an away match. We need roughly nine points to go through and if we fail to beat Milan at CP then picking somehing up on our travels is a must. Its unlikely we'll win in Milan so the away match in Lisbon will be our best bet. Thats all assuming we can beat Benfica and Shakhtar at home. Even this early in the group it looks far more likely that we're chasing third place.
-
Avast there,shipmates-disappointed but not surprised at last nights result.I don't know what gets said in the Huddle before the game but I'm sure not conceding an early goal gets mentioned.
Bullying the diddies of the SPL is of limited value when the proper football starts.Naylor is going to be picked on in every game by the opposition,like a schoolboy pulling the legs off a daddy longlegs.We are looking at 1 point out of 9 for the first 3 games.
Irishman@18.21-excellent post.
Anyways,it looks like Rosenborg still have the spirit of Harald coursing through their veins.
-
NegAnon - a bit naughty last night. It was clearly explained to us on here that our player budget was based on us qualifying for the UEFA Cup group stage.
I agree though with the main point you are making, that we didn't invest in enough quality in the transfer window. We had previously been led to believe that there would be a net spend of circa £7M each summer, so is there £5M burning a hole in the wee man's pocket?
Personally, I believe that we have taken the hit on paying off Lennoxtown this year and cut our cloth to suit. It's a major investment in our future, but there's a price to pay now.
In the long-term interests of the club, I can live with it, but I wasn't saying that during the first 20 embarassing minutes of the game last night!!
When the transfer window closed, I posted on here that my ambitions for the season were the league and any European football after Xmas. I don't see any reason to change my mind.
TTTT
-
My apologies to Scott Brown,whom I mistakenly blamed for the pass which set up Shakhtar's first goal.
It was,it seems Stephen McManus.
Simple early mistake put us right on the back foot.Very poor.
Haven't read through the comments yet,but I can guess.
Don't know about you all,but I wasn't that confident about last night anyway.
Think Benfica and Milan(if they have already qualified)were always our best shout of something away from home.
We lost our first away game of the Champion's League,which is different from when?
I see from the amount of posts(without reading them) that the general opinion will have been,four or five players should never play again for Celtic.
Will hazard a guess that both fullbacks,Stephen McManus,and Gary Caldwell will feature in the list a lot more than Scott Brown,Masimo Donati,and Naka,who were by far our poorest performers last night.
Scott Brown could well have cost us in more than last night's game by his persisitent fouling after he had been booked.
I also thought Gordon Strachan got it wrong with Paul Hartley,and in playing Naka,Hartley should have been in the central role to start with Naka should have been left at home for a rest,and we should have played with one striker.
If we have injury issues with our other midfield players.I would have played Caldwell in midfield and played Darren O'Dea or John Kennedy at the back.
These games are not two legged affairs,we do not need away goals,we need a point,and if we get it ugly,then good.
None of the top teams are scared of going to play away and shutting up shop with a single striker.
Time we learned the same thing.
We can attack at home,where we are good at it.
Will be back later after I have read some of the vitriol I am sure will be there,mostly by people who were strangely absent at the weekend or before the game.
-
test
-
Other teams have lost away legs in the CL 0-2. We have, sometimes even 0-3, remember? Undeniably, it's a shock to reach that scoreline so early in the tie. WGS knew that, as he said in interview on BBC Scotland. But he also said that after that they played some reasonable football and that's what we saw on the big screen in the pub too. The team, quite new & young, is still learning and surely a big learning point will be how to switch from scoring loads in the SPL to dealing with fast, skillful outfits like Shaktar clearly are.
-
to get it in perspective they spent 40 mil, we spent net 2 mil. They are never a pot 4 seed team, that brackets them with the Orcs - no way Jose!
They are an extremely good team, technically brilliant and with full backs I would die to see in our team.
The reality is they have better players which is understandable when you outlay that amount of money.
I predict they will easily beat Benfica in Donetsk and wouldn't be surprised if they got 3 points against Milan at home.
I cant understand the blind optimism of some posters in the lead up to the game, yes we are an improving team but the hard facts lie in the investment, which we cannot match.
Last night is hard to take but it is a harsh reality check. How can we possibly think that we will beat a team with 40 million invested over the summer in their own back yard. A draw would have been amazing achievement but to predict 2-0 Celtic and the rest is really quite naive
-
Neg Anon... very quick reply apologies if I dont answer fully but I dont think you can blame the board for not spending money as we have spent enough on different areas of the team. We have also bougfht the 2 full backs we have over the last few years as well along with Camara and Doumbe.
I dont think its lack of money I think its not getting good enough players for the budget.
I dont think Ashely Cole is a good full back and def not for the money they paid.
-
Donati, Hartley, McDonald and Brown have never played CL group football. Wilson's injury meant he has very limited experience. Half the team.
A bad start but the learning curve is steep at this point.
Their '3rd goal' was clearly offside. When the ball is passed forward the boy who sticks it in the net is clearly offside and therefore since it is the same passage of play when he receives the next pass for the tap in from the boy who was onside when the through ball was played, is offside at the time of the first pass and the linesman called it correctly.
Bring on the Milanese. Seriously.
-
and for those of you watching in black and white the blue is behind the pink next to the red.
-
Brown made a mistake, McManus made a mistake, Wilson made a mistake. We deserve credit for recovering from that start but in fairness we made it easy for an already good team.
The fact that it is a young Celtic team was obvious in the opening to the game, individual errors which inflict themselves on our away performances of course don't help this.
I'm so pleased that in times of defeat some of you can take solace in the fact that you were proved right and come on here and gloat. Well done you, I bet it feels good!
Target now is 4 points from our opening 3 games.
-
thismancraig,
I dont think its gloating, thats what an Orc would do.
A lot of people are realistic about where we are and what the expectation level should be. Would you agree thet thinking we can beat a team with a 40 mil investment on their own patch is a bit fanciful.
We steadied the ship after the opening debacle but the truth is they could have scored a barrowload.
We are not mineshafting here, it's just the truth and it certainly doesn't feel good.
I think your target is possible.
-
I apologise. I just don't buy this "we played some decent football after we went 2 goals down". After 8 minutes Donetsk were cruising and frankly, they were entitled to take their foot off the gas. Their game plan was achieved before the first quarter. What's more - their coach has arrogantly expressed the view that his team could have 6. Now, of those who thought we played some decent stuff latterly, who would disagree with that assessment ?
-
The game I watched had a young team (in CL terms -- point well made above at 09.31) recover rather well from a rocky start and even begin to play some good away-leg patient stuff for significant spells.
That's it for today -- MUST get some work done.
-
TTTT 08.55
It was clearly explained to us on here that our player budget was based on us qualifying for the UEFA Cup group stage.
A UEFA Cup group stage budget ? 2 homes games against teams no one has heard of ? Wow !!
Are we ever going to get a CL budget ? Summer 2006 we knew for sure we were in the CL groups for the forthcoming season and we also sold Petrov. We also got to the last 16 of the CL that season. In addition we had a 50-50 chance of getting to the CL groups this season and we also sold Miller.
How that equates to a UEFA Cup budget is beyond me.
Transfer Budget : Tomorrow Never Comes
-
has embdy a link to the scotland rugby tries last night
go on the jocks
-
Shiver me timbers,if we win the SPL this year we should get a CL budget,as we'll go into the group stage[I think].We might have spent more money if we hadn't been drawn agin'those scurvy swabs from Spartak.
AAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR.Mark my words.
-
its better too have money in the bank than compete
in the champions league. u know it makes sense.
its a business afterall.
needed new full backs. didnt buy any. oh wait we did buy one, where is he?
needed a quality centre half. didnt buy any.
needed a quality striker. did not even look like getting one.
the midfield was strengthened with better players though.
but theres money in the bank. yeeehaaaaaa.
why is it our full backs hit the first or second guy
when crossing and never get it near the penalty spot?
scott brown was an abysmal.
nakamura for all his class can be a man down at times.
up front...lets not go there.
buy spl/championship quality, stay spl/championship quality. no excuse, just the truth.
the club are not interested in what the fans are wanting...competing
in the champions league. they are only interested in getting
there. the sooner we all accept this the better for us all.
boruc, donati, hartley and mcdonald were the only players worthy of
hoops.
when a team spend 20 times what we spend this is the only answer we
could possibly get. we do not have that kind of dough but it should only
be 4 times as much. whatever any board apologist on here will say.
gordon strachan changes half of his team every season. so to use the "this team
is learning excuse" does not wash as this will be the case every year.
-
I wasnt confident about getting anything from last night either.
This is such a young team and we need to support them. This is football after all. Players/management make errors. Its human nature. Get off their backs.
As for those who are constantly sniping at our club..long time no post?
I am content with the way the club is being run. Yes we need better full backs, better forwards but on a budget like ours these are not easy aquired. Its nobodys failure.
I am happy existing within a budget that means we will have a consistantly good team on the park and we may even better that. You have to be mindful of the environment in which Celtic are operating.
We will just have to try again next window and keep supporting those on the field who are doing their best.
Finally to all the club bashers dont go running off just because I think you should give the club a break. None of that 'trying to run us out of CQN' nonesense y'hear.
Malone19 where have you been?
Slán
-
free cod and chips
-
-
is better than my right
-
This was always going to be a hard group. i always thought given our summer transfer ins and outs we would be fighting for third place but hey uefa cup is still europe after christmas.
I also think that over the last few weeks we have played some great attacking football but the defence has been expecting a fright and last night we got it.
We have one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world and thank god for him.
We also have millions in the bank we have 3 months to find a defence for the uefa up let's get cracking.
This is not negative it will be a miracle if we get out of this group and we should not be to harsh on ourselves. The better team won last night and Benfica is who we must beat head to head.
Now 3 points against hibs is a must last night is history.
-
Ouch,
That hurt didn't it ? I was relatively confident about the game prior to yesterday but certainly underestimated what a good side we were up against. Wouldn't surprise me to see them claim 9 home points.
You certainly don't give good sides like that a 2 goal start and thankfully they didn't add as it looked like we were onto an Artmedia / Neuchatel joint scoreline territory after 10 minutes.
I see the mineshafters predictably made an appearance, feeding off the negative emotions naturally given out after the result and performance. Anybody wish to summarise their masterplan for avoiding last night's scenario for competing against a £40 mill team with our resources earned within a limited competitive environment.
I'm not saying we are not making mistakes as a club. The failure to at least buy a left back has us praying for the return of Lee Naylor of last season. And I'm on the record to say that we were crying out for quality in the centre of defence to help bring the 'learners' along, mick included.
Let's hope they don't travel well and that a breezy wet night at celtic park with a packed celtic house sees us through in the home leg.
Onto the Hibbees...3 more points and down with this sort of public flagulation thing......none of us can influence a swoop on the transfer market in the next 24 hours so why punish ourselves ????
Mon the Hoops.
Wavy
-
Killerheels
Some people gloat, some people come on here in defeat time after time desperate and happy to say 'I told you so'. There is the same pattern after every defeat.
Some people hurt, look at the right rev - I don't agree with everything he has said however it's obvious he's hurting and taking no satisfaction out of his post.
Anyway, the season has progressed well to date (better than expected) and we have to put our faith in the squad we have - all faults and shortcomings aside.
One positive, Paul Hartley has proved he has a Celtic career to look forward to.
-
Neganon and others,
Last nights result seems to be just what you have been waiting for so you can all come out from your little hiding places and say I told you so.
Wake up! we are never going to be able to spend the money you want to spend, it just is not possible, maybe you should be in charge of the club finances as you seem to know much better than the board how the cash should be controlled.
Are you on the board of a major company? Maybe Donald Trump is headhunting you as we speak.
To many people can't wait to bombard the blog with negativity at every setback rolling out the same old arguments every time, the board this, WGS that, net spend, net spend and net spend.
Any of you thought of working for the Daily Record or the Sun.
We are Celtic supporters Faithful through and through!
Yeah sure!!!!
-
Tighnabruiach..
Glenorchy Camanachd Rule the South! :)
-
corrib04.
Theres only one Kyles Athletic.
-
Well then shipmates-last night's goose is well and truly cooked;we need to set our course for fresh challenges.
Will we see any changes?Are we going to persevere with Mr Naylor?
Or is he going to be mad eto walk the plank for the good of the crew?
I hear rumours that there be a treasure chest full o'gold doubloons,guineas,pieces of eight buried somewhere out on the Main.
We might be diggin'it up at the turn o'the year.
Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr,Jim.
You marks my words.
Dead men don't bite...
-
An eternal optimist writes:
It's an improvement, if we continue at this rate , we'll draw our last home game. On top of three home wins that should see us through on ten points.
-
Tighnabruaich,
Thought you might say that!
-
Bloke109 00:21
Excellent post !
We got beat 2.0 away from home in the CL yet we have blown SPL teams away. MON´s multi million pound team suffered the similar fates often and with Larrson in the line up. The same defenders (GC excepted) played magnificently last year against AC AC AC Milan and with last years whipping bhoy Telfer in the line up.
How many Celtic players played their first CL game last night ?
How fooled have we been having put out Spartak by teh narrowest of margins and playing free flowing football that we could take this into the CL campaign away from home and get away with it. I think Hartley starting position says it all and that was an attempt to prevent Naylor being the focus. Hence Shakthar´s two at the back was a master stroke. Although Mc Manus decision making proved poor.The second was a well taken goal. The fact that JVOH and Skippy were easily patroled one on one was the key issue here for me. Donati and Brown played well but need to be more streetwise defensively. Hartley being in there helped and this may be the way forward as Skoosh and Massimo are definitely more concerned with going forward. Brown´s booking didn´t help and the good partnership they formed has not had enough exposure to a tough away CL leg against quality opposition. Skoosh also let his frustration boil over and he had already won the free kick but little things like this count. I believe that Donati and Brown will take stock of this. Learning by doing or not doing as the case may be, but learn they will. I thought their third goal was also offside as the scorer was just offside facing the goal and made no attempt to become active. Phew !!
I have stated before that with Naka and Mc Geady normally present our full backs are asked to do an awful lot even at SPL level. Hence why the both of them look seriously jaded already this season. The fact that neither of them are current internationals is leaving me more and more perplexed about this WGS has to look at this and cant paper over the cracks at CL level. If that means putting in O´Dea and Doumbe more often in the SPL then do it. If it means going to a back 3 then do it (we have enough quality there to do so) but we can´t just go into these games as lame ducks with regards to Wilson and Naylors fitness and form.
Credit to Shakthar there game plan worked very well, we helped enormously and they will give all their visitors a stern test.
Hartley played superbly once he was placed in the middle and hopefully this will stand us in good stead for the rest of the campaign. It definitely did for the rest of the game. I also saw something in Killen that JVOH doesn´t offer with regards mobility and maybe he has more to offer than being the big target man.
Anyway I have been to most away CL game over the last 5 years so guess how many times I have seen Celtic winning in the CL and in the flesh. I´ll be at Celtic Park for the game against AC AC AC Milan my first champions game since Notts Forest... so please bhoys. I am begging you keep it positive.
Keep the faith - we shall not be moved - I hear no fat lady - Hail Hail - mon the hoops
-
-
At 19/09/07 10:06, danny said…
TTTT 08.55
It was clearly explained to us on here that our player budget was based on us qualifying for the UEFA Cup group stage.
A UEFA Cup group stage budget ? 2 homes games against teams no one has heard of ? Wow !!
Are we ever going to get a CL budget ? Summer 2006 we knew for sure we were in the CL groups for the forthcoming season and we also sold Petrov. We also got to the last 16 of the CL that season. In addition we had a 50-50 chance of getting to the CL groups this season and we also sold Miller.
How that equates to a UEFA Cup budget is beyond me.
Transfer Budget : Tomorrow Never Comes
Danny et others
While its a separate argument that we should have strenghtened certain areas i dont get this issue with budgetting on uefa cup as if this is a bad thing or limits our spending long term.
budgetting on uefa group stage seems eminently sensible to me. Why would we budget that we will reach champions league, leaving us with a possible hole in the accounts if we dont make it. If we do make it, it means we have more money the next year, so even when we then budget for that year on uefa stages we have the previous years money.
Only in football is ambition measured by how much money you lose...
-
AweNaw-it be Uefa Cup,in them old days,Celtic agin'Forest.
That Cap'n Clough-he be a right cove!An'they say fond o'a drop o' the rum.
AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!
-
John
'we have more money the next year'
So we spend the money the season after reaching the CL group stages ? I'll go with that policy. So as we qualified for the CL last season the spend is when ?
-
Excellent post Awe_naw.
Cant disagree with anything you wrote .
I think Jvoh is due a rest as I dont think he is contributing enough in games. I would be keen for Killen to get a run as I was really impressed by his workrate and presence before he got injured at Hibs.
I can only sympathise with you about the Forest match. I was at it as well and to this day I blame the sound man prematch for the defeat as he kept interupting the natural flow of the jungle with prompts for singalongs.
Nothing wrong with 'Celtic Celtic thats the team for me...' but I remember being stunned that everytime the jungle started to find its rythum the tannoy would blare out some song and spoil the moment.
So when the teams came out onto the park there wasnt the same buzz/natural energy from the crowd as there should have been.
Sorry, been wanting to get that off my chest for about 20 years..
The defeat might also have been due to Forest being a better team....Nah
-
DBBIA,
The European Cup.
MON playing against Celtic also.
If memory serves me right a youhg lad called FairCLOUGH (CB ?)played brilliantly that night and scored the goal.
I chose to go to this game over an U2 concert in the Barrowlands on the same night and at the same time. I usually smile when some Celtic fans ponder why U2 dont put money into Celtic... maybe they´re Forest fans really and Bono´s paying for Lenny´s wage
-
First chance to post this morning - feels like a hangover after yet another bad night. Too many what ifs in my head. Full backs, bad start, etc. But that's all gone now, in the pst.
Hibs on Sunday now becomes a big game for us. We need to get back on track and ensure we stay top. We kick off an hour before Rangers, so a win would add pressure to them, especially if they get hunped tonight.
The next CL game is a couple of weeks away. We need to focus on the league until then.
-
last nights match
Boruc, Caldwell and Hartley all did well JVOH I thought did okay, but Nakamura, Brown and Donati were all abysmal. I don´t know if it was tactical but it was obvious to even the armchair fan that your entire midfield sitting less than 10 yards in front of the back four and 60 yards behind the strikers is going to cause problems "too may cooks..", that kind of thing. It certainly didn´t take Shaktar too long to work out the flaw.
Thanks mainly to a very generous referee (possibly over-compensating for the joke of a ref during the first 45 of the Spartak game), but also to Boruc & Caldwell we finished the game with 11 men and only a 2-0 defeat which given the disparity both in terms of quality and form was an achievement in itself, particularly so given we are now 0-1-12 in the CL group stage away fixtures.
-
Things could be worse. We might have just been bought by a Russian Oil Gangster who had poughed a couple of hundred million into Celtic only for the "spirit of the bespecatcled one" to come back and haunt us and take points at home in front of 31,000 at Celtic Park.
CELTIC CELTIC THAT´S THE TEAM FOR ME
-
Awenaw-I believe it be them that they calls Ay-rabs were in the European Cup that year,and a right good run they had,an'all.
Here be the details of the game you mention,but too much grog can affect the mind in many ways.
It'll drive ye mad surer than any calico lass out o'Tortega!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Cup_1983-84
-
Please excuse general spelling in last post...too much coffee this morning. (Well it wasnt MY fault)
-
Danny/John - Paul has said many times on here that the board do not take gambles with the player budget on CL qualification.
They have also been known to wait and see if we were Scotland's sole representative before releasing further funds in the transfer window.
I thought that they and WGS took a HUGE gamble on the Moscow tie by not bringing in some very experienced CL defenders. They got lucky - very lucky.
Otherwise we would have been watching just the TFOD in the CL group stages!
A sobering thought.
TTTTdontshootthemessengerCSC
-
tmc
yep, we are all hurting and licking wounds today.
but come sunday at 14:00 ill be cheering on our
hooped avengers again wanting to banish last nights
performance. thats the way it is and thats the way it
always will be. and thank goodness for that.
during the match last night my old man said to me
"someones taken the real lee naylor away and brought us
back the real paul hartley this season"
hopefully paul hartleys game goes from strength to strength
now that we all know he can cut it at CL level.
i cannot understand why GS persists in a 4-4-2 away from home
in the CL. surely hes learnt something from all his scribbling
in his wee bits of paper. it would be nice to win spl cavalier style away from home in the CL but its never going to happen. its all about getting the result and thats certainly not the way to go about it.
we shall not be moved csc.
part of the footballmanager2007 csc
incorporating the iknownothing csc
-
Awe Naw
Good point re Hartley/Naylor. I'd been puzzling over why PH was not in his "Scotland" role from the start.
My view was that although it was grim viewing I agree with Gordon that we were shell-shocked by the start we had the first goal coming via a terrible error by Mc Manus who didn't put a foot wrong in Paris last week. The second? For me I'll prefer to give praise to Shaktar for some excellent play and for those who suggest that the Board aren't trying it is interesting to note that the scorer was approached by us during the summer.
After that Shaktar I felt were in cruise control for much of the game allowing us to come round and show a little more of the play we have been producing in recent weeks. A goal snatched by us might have seen a different outcome either way. We might have got back in it, they might have upped their game- who knows? Unfortuntely Naka had an absolute stinker and I'm certain he's in need of a rest - cue a Naka "special" come Sunday!
I'd like to see Killen given more of an opportunity to see what he can produce as JVOH can be subdued much to easily for my liking. Scott Macdonald? What a bargain. I reckon he and Kenny Miller as a twosome would have asked a few more questions of the Shaktar defence.
The full backs? Its all been said. Unfair for me that Lee Naylor is being criticised for everything and anything when he's clearly playing when not 100%. Never rated Mark Wilson defensively before we signed him. Now he's almost as bad offensively. He was however solid when playing left back and I reckon its time to give Doumbe a slot to allow Naylor to recover properly.
From the start I felt we had a "Group of Death " scenario where a 3rd place would be perhaps our best then when the fixture order came out I felt convinced that 3rd would definitely be our best. Anything that we do other than to come 4th will not disappoint me too much as with this "new" team the learning experience and seuring the tite this year are the really big prizes so that next year, both financially and in the playing sense, we may have the opportunity to go a little further than our best so far.
-
I don't think anyone really expected us to win last night-all the fhans I've spoken to would have bitten yer hand off for a point. But what is disappointing is that we didn't even compete.
I can't agree with posters who feel we came back into it in the second half. I think SD simply sat back. They knew the game was over and let us off the hook. I've no doubt that if we had come close to scoring, they would have upped a gear again.
We are no longer inexperiencied newbies in the CL. We qualify regularly. We have played away everywhere from Scandinavia to Iberia to the Warsaw Pact. And we get beat every single time, making the same mistakes every single time.
-
corrib04
Been posting as Malone_86_ for a while after the blogger format changed... although I've not been on as much due to increased hours at work.
-
italibhoy
Could not agree more. Shaktar would have scored at will if they wanted last night and if another keeper other than boruc was in goal. Also the third was never offside.
That aside they are a better team than us so no shame in be beaten by them
On boruc I wonder how long he will want to play for us with the sieve in front of him.
Big mick is never a cl class centre half and naylor needs a rest while wilson is a young raw lad but Caldwell did well.
Now we have been saying this for months so why was nothing other than Doumbe done about it.
For those watching the reserves on Celtic TV or in the flesh they will know Doumbe is pretty pants defending aswell.
My gripe is we have the money why was nothing done to fix this defence.
Those of us at celtic park on saturday also know it was never a 5-0 more a 5-3 game once again Boruc was class.
Anyway hibs will be a hard game at easter road so 3 points and 100% support is a must
-
DBBIA,
It´s nothing to do with the drink although a handy excuse
Dundee Utd. were Scotlands Champions entry that´s right.
Ah well then ... that makes me feel better , kinda less jinxed
-
Malone19
Work! Thanks for reminding me, I'd better do some.
-
Awenaw-ye've not been jinxed'til ye come rollin'out o'Miss Mollys Irish grog shop,a pretty calico girl on each arm,full o' the joys o' the briny when you hears the tap-tap-tap o'Blind Pews seein'stick an'afore ye can turnabout he's pressed the Black Spot on ye
Then ye be jinxed
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAArrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!
-
DBBIA,
are you presently wearing a bandana perchance ?
If so it´s time to take it off and replace it with a knotted handkerchief ;-)
-
Juat been debating last nights chopped off goal. I was wrong it was a legitimate goal. Player was not offside for phase 2 and never interfered with play. Or did he?
-
Anaw
i thought when the ball was played the guy was in an offside position but actually onside as he wasn't in active play.
if the guy had shot and scored on his own the goal would have stood. As he passed the ball his team mate then became active therfore offside...nae goal!
i think.....
-
and because of how confusing my last post was the blog packed it in...
-
Theoretical situation:
Gravesen plays the ball out wide to Arteta on the wing, Arteta is onside. In the middle, Yakubu was offside when Arteta received the ball. Arteta gets to the byline and cuts the ball back to Yakubu in the middle, and Yakubu scores.
This is a perfectly good goal because it's all about phases of play. Yakubu in phase 1 (Grav to Arteta) is totally inactive and not interfering with play, the fact that he is gaining or could be gaining an advantage by being "offside" (as we used to understand it) is totally irrelevant these days. The only way Yakubu could be offside in the middle of the pitch during phase 1 is if he is making a move to the ball (i.e. trying to get on the end of Grav's pass to Arteta) or by affecting another player's play (i.e. a defender or goalkeeper).
That was a perfectly good goal to me - unfortunatley. Mind you I only took 18 hours longer than the linesman
if you can be bothered, check out this link
http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/federation/laws%5fof%5fthe%5fgame%5f0708%5f10565.pdf
page 109 explains it perfectly - and I think this is what happened last night
-
Well that was a sore one to watch last night, i was reasonably optimistic before we started due to the excellent performance away to Spartak. Again individual error cost us dearly and we looked absolutely shell shocked after their 1st goal. The 2nd goal was just a tremendous header. Shaktar played some superb stuff at times and we never really played our own game all night.
I thought we should maybe have gone with 3 central midfielders leaving Aiden and Naka wide with JVOH on his own up front to prevent their full backs getting forward so often but it's easy with the benefit of hindsight. Artur was imperious last night and thank God for that.
Still think we will have good moments in this group, all the teams in it will beat each other at some point and as bad as our away form is, our home form is brilliant. Roll on the Milan game when we all get behind them.
-
-
Miketw10,
Thanks for that. We needed a bit of comedy to lighten the mood.
Kenny Miller is the ONE ? :)
Couldn't trap a bag of cement, nothing would stick to him, so guaranteed to come back at us and as per our humping in Copenhagen last year, when presented with his opportunities in front of goal, was about as composed as a drunkard down the gallowgate at midnight...
No, no and thrice no......put simply chances are few and far between at this level and we have to start learning to convert at a higher ratio than currently. Kenny won't get you that.
Big Wavy
-
wow...didn't realise I was that persuasive Mike :)
-
Would you bhoys be surprised to hear that KM reckons he's going to be at Derby for 1 season only?? Where do you reckon his next destination will be?
-
New Article posted:
-.... ages ago
