I was widely predicting 3-0 last night so the result didn’t come as a disappointment. Bayern could have punished us (or pretty much any team in Europe) by more, while we could have scored a deserved consolation in the second half.
It is seldom a manager will make three changes which improve the team, but Brendan Rodgers did just that last night. Tom Rogic grabbed the stage like no other Celtic player when he replaced Stuart Armstrong. Celtic’s game plan left Leigh Griffiths isolated against towering defenders. This was never a fair fight, but plays to Moussa Dembele’s strengths. The French youth international looked back to his pre-injury best.
Patrick Roberts is our most accomplished player at unlocking packed defences, but that was never on the agenda in Munich. Instead, he most often took possession acres from goal, forcing him to dart into space before being blocked by the weight of red jerseys.
The game was more suited to James Forrest, who needs space in front of him to be at his best. The winger regularly stressed the Bayern defence and created chances.
Bayern clearly identified Cristian Gamboa as Celtic’s potential weak spot. Cristian was isolated repeatedly but used his pace and agility to put in a performance few of us expected.
When was the last time we lost three cross/header combination goals? Bayern are a tall team. Celtic played with two small(er) full backs, where they would otherwise play the ubiquitous Mikel Lustig at right. A lack of height perhaps contributed to Bayern’s third, an inexcusable free header at a set piece, but we switched off at the loss of the first two goals.
We didn’t execute our normal (simple) passing game during the first half. Lots of things can contribute to players not passing the ball, rushing their passes, or, more crucially, not making themselves available for a pass.
The most obvious contributory factor was the ability of the opposition, but the problem was not as superficial as this. We didn’t pass well during the opening period, even without Bayern pressing particularly high.
Football is a game of 1000 small decisions, where to move on the field being the most common decision. Repeatedly last night I couldn’t see good options for an easy pass for the Celtic player in possession. For Celtic to play their natural game there needs to be a close proximity between players when we are in possession.
Last night we stretched the game. Sinclair, Armstrong and Brown were too far forward, often by as little as 10 yards.
Special mention to Craig Gordon, who having picked the ball out of his net three times, kept the score from reaching the epic proportions that Arsenal recently endured at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern will be confident ahead of the game at Celtic Park in two weeks, but Celtic know they can play better. I’m sure when Brendan Rodgers looks at the Champions League table, he will concede nothing yet.
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Celtic Fans in Allianz Arena pic.twitter.com/EGbQbkWt6G
— Celtic Videos (@CelticVideo) October 19, 2017
OUR SECOND CQN PODCAST this week, featuring interviews with ex-Celts Alan Stubbs and Chris Sutton, previewing the big games this week against Bayern Munich and Hibs at Hampden on Saturday.
Stubbs gives an insight into Liam Henderson as a player and talks about where his career should go from here.
Speaking on behalf of BT Sport, Alan Stubbs also spoke about his regret at leaving Hibs, and looks ahead to the League Cup semi-final between two of his former clubs.
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It’s ironic but would Celtic be considered a bigger club than Bayer Munich. Celtic I imagine has A bigger fanbase and greater tradition. The surprise result for me was Spurs holding Real Madrid after nearly conceding a couple of goals in the first five minutes. They recovered well to give a superb defensive performance.
HANKRAY
Give BR circa £90m to spend on a back four and we’d be competing with the likes of Real, Bayern, Barca, PSG etc.
How many times have we watched the celts on tv , how many of us can recall , peter Thomson . Ian archer , Arthur montford . . But last night was the worst , most blatantly bigoted , performance of commentary I have ever heard , this guy really needs help . In saying that ,I can’t believe that he is not getting worked from the back . He was under orders at the Beeb , but his anti celtic venom is now being produced on BT. Sport . Rob McLean get checked out pretty dam quick .
my issues with our defenders is the failure to block out crosses and not dealing with them when they are made into our box, defenders were dozing, the lack of awareness and positional sense is frightening at times, we don’t have defenders who can make a decent clearance header, if we do get a head on the ball it usually falls into a dangerous spot or an opposition player.
Sloleybhoy
if you e mail Lennybhoy at lennybhoycfc@gmail.com he will pass your details on to me and i will contact you.
I think the wide men and how they were marked summed up the difference in approach between the sides. Celtic were up against 2 wingers of the very top quality . We hardly ever doubled up against them and were skinned down both flanks many times. Bayern ,the home team had 2-3 men lined up against Roberts.
Tontine Tim on 19th October 2017 1:45 pm
Thank you for that post.
Hankray
This season the bottom team in the english premenstral league will get £100m for just turning up. How do you measure a big club ?
See what happens when you subscribe to the view that everyone is entitled to their opinions:
” Brendan Rodgers in my opinion is being found out he failed to strengthen at the back in the summer window and it is costing us big time in Europe. ”
JJ
I wonder if uefa have noticed these high score defeats – do they think it does anything to their competition? suppose they’ll be enjoying the monumental sponsorship – it’s weird as a pot 3 and 4 team fan – getting into the competition is the achievement, we know we’ll be destroyed in a few games, we’re only in it hoping we don’t get beaten too badly so we can get into another competition which we have hope in but the money we get in this competition is fuping amazing
what a mix the CL is !
Paul67
Can you through your contacts get a message to Brendan and tell him that CQN post match is a must read. :))
Gary67………….DD. Has just read your post. Money on the way to Brendan.
Hot smoked
We did try to get the SA lad – maybe too little too late
BIG JIMMY on 19TH OCTOBER 2017 3:35 PM
Former Labour MP, former cabinet minister. Born in Kenya and grew up in South Africa. Was a leading member of the anti Apartheid movement. Was charged with bank robbery having been framed by the South African security services.
You wouldn’t really want him to be on your case.
I’VEHADTOCHANGEMYNAME
There is a move by uefa to expand the entry to more big league clubs. In the future you may only have 8 places to fill and drop current pot 4 intake
Could not help thinking the last time Celtic played Munich under Martin O Neill with a powerful forward line. Of players like Hartson, Sutton, Agathe, Alan Thompson and the King.
Ernie
You forgot to say he was president of young liberals, privately educated and is a Baron in the upper chamber
ERNIE LYNCH on 19TH OCTOBER 2017 4:32 PM
BIG JIMMY on 19TH OCTOBER 2017 3:35 PM
Former Labour MP, former cabinet minister. Born in Kenya and grew up in South Africa. Was a leading member of the anti Apartheid movement. Was charged with bank robbery having been framed by the South African security services.
You wouldn’t really want him to be on your case.
……………………
Cheers ERNIE………he sounds a top bloke ?
HH
SLOLEYBHOY on 19TH OCTOBER 2017 12:31 PM
Passed your e-mail addy and mobile to JOHNBAY, good luck.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Just sent a complaint off to BT sport re McLean’s biased and negative commentary last night. I don’t expect anything but if enough of us did this we might get some sort of response.
Ernie
Bye always had a lot of time for him in the early years of his career
BIG JIMMY on 19TH OCTOBER 2017 4:42 PM
Bit of a Blairite I think but I suspect will be absolutely tenacious if he’s got a bee in his bonnet.
RON67
I thought the inability to block crosses by full backs was due to improper midfield set up.
Gamboa was obviously beaten for pace but as i posted earlier they often had a man cutting diagonally inside forcing the full backs to follow then immediately switching to wide man who had plenty time and space as full back had to come out again.
This was due to poor midfield coverage.
You need a proper set up and patience to play at this level.
We did not have.
Chasing is always going to get you in trouble as you expend to much effort for little reward.
We need a much improved psychology, patience and team structure to compete at this level.
G67-Qarabag drew with At Madrid, Basel wow away in Moscow, good results against teams with much higher budgets, Brendan more or less said after the game, he won’t set up a defensive team in Europe, could be a few more doings along the way.HH
JORHES
Specifically designed to create a super league by default and placate the rich owners who have subverted the once beautiful game as an actual sport in search of bigger profits.
Random thoughts after last night…
Worried about Jozo. Far too many injuries. if he cannot manage 4-5 games on the trot he isn’t much use to us I’m afraid.
It’s really noticeable how few long passes the top teams play these days. Even switching play usually involves a 3 or 4 player move across the pitch. It’s a brilliant way of keeping possession, but requires immense energy, movement, and discipline.
Is BR maybe a bit too romantic in his football philosophy? In our heavy European defeats under his reign we have played an open game against some of the best midfielders and forward players on the planet: and suffered accordingly. Not suggesting we park the bus, but perhaps a more packed midfield would have helped?
The CL will die on its feet soon. The top 10 are moving further and further away from the rest each year, and the seedings and prize-money structure simply exacerbates that. There are very few shocks now, and with the changes coming in next season, there is almost no chance of one of the Big League teams failing to make it out of the groups. The money is brilliant, and its great to be part of, still… but its value as a competition is rapidly diminishing in my view.
Last night’s commentator. A disgrace, frankly. I don’t expect a fan sitting behind the mic, but the gloating and condescension was appalling.
FAN-A-TIC
IMO we don’t exactly have to ‘park the bus’ away to these top teams but the defending we are called upon to do has got to be better and has to involve the whole team.
I agree with your last sentence, but we also need to recruit a few players capable of delivering on the big stage.
Italiabhoy
I don’t want a psycophant like Clive tilsley commentating on engerland games – just a neutral approach
Won’t hold my breath
THETIMREAPER on 19TH OCTOBER 2017 2:30 PM
I think Canamalar beat me to it with his subtle hint…that you off out…distinctive overtures of Kevj.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Lennybhoy
Just read back and so the post in question definitely kevjesque
GlenDalysTonsils 2:42
If Bayern hadn’t scored the soft goals they did last night, they may have raised their game to score better ones. I would have been happier if we had at least forced them to do that.
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Post of the day!
The first and third goals were really “trademark” goals from the players who scored them. We should be more alert to these situations.
Also, the more you make them work to score, the more they will begin to make errors and start giving you chances.
Jock Stein played defensive games the Celtic way.
Ali boxed off the ropes
All rounders know how to play, what to play and when to play the game that suits their ability and provides the most efficient and effective chance of progress.
Fan-A-Tic
Being brutally honest we could criticise the full team
But
You are correct outwith Scott Brown, there was little support and protection for our defence.
Inconsistency in ability to play a settled defence is not helping either.
Then the problem with ball retention at this level
There was a 15 min spell in the 2nd half when we done much better, but still left huge holes for Bayern.
Anyway, for the next few season, getting to Champions league groups, then dropping into Europa league will help our players develop as Brendan would like
PS – we do also need to be looking at future Scott Brown and Mikel Lustig replacements for our medium to longer term future ?
Fill yer boots if you want to complain about Rob MacLean.
https://bt.custhelp.com/app/contact_email/c/5642,6564/?s_cid~con_FURL_sportcomplaints&session=L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNTA4NDI4ODEyL3NpZC9KXzI0ZEF2bg%3D%3D
‘Park the bus’ might not be the Celtic way, but if we tried it a couple of times, players might learn to defend better, and cover each other……
is mclean any worse than uber hun alex cameron .incidentally always thought arthur montford was fair dont know about ian archer.
jeez jophes, that’s more hammerings, however we are the champions
With the resources we have (versus what they have) don’t mind losing to clubs like Bayern Munich, it was never going to be a shock result and with big Simunovic out (again) just ahead of kick off that more or less cemented the defeat.
However what really really annoys me is the Celtic fans (allegedly) who go on social media and trash all our players as soon as the final whistle blows, what the f*** are they thinking about? Don’t they know there’s a Q a mile long ahead of them of non Celtic supporters who can’t wait get on line and to do the exact same?
Blithering Idiots – thats what they are – what did they expect – a miracle! Really annoying. Faithful thru and thru my a***.