Before this Europa League group got underway the trips to Istanbul and Amsterdam looked daunting. Those games produced two credible draws, but things went wildly wrong elsewhere.
Our goal last night was a peach. Dedryck Boyata split the Fenerbahce defence to open up space for Mikael Lustig to cross for Kris Commons, who peeled off his marker to create the space to head home. Unfortunately only one point was collected as we lost another Keystone Cops goal.
Craig Gordon seems to be struck by a lack of conviction this season. His was not the only failing at our repeated corner kick fiascos but letting a ball trickle through his legs as he appeared caught in two minds is indicative of a player who is doubting himself.
You know Kris Commons scores and creates huge goals for Celtic, we’ve discussed it often enough here. Despite his veteran status and apparent ill-fitting to our system he remains by far our most effective player.
For Ronny, it didn’t go wrong in Europe this season against Fenerbahce or Ajax (I’m absolving him of blame for Efe’s error or a last minute breakaway goal at Celtic Park), it went wrong home and away to Molde and Malmo. We appeared to underestimate both. Did the manager have something to prove against fellow Norwegian managers?
Celtic dominated possession stats in all four games against Molde and Malmo but the Scandinavians exploited the acres of space which simply didn’t exist in our games against Ajax, Fenerbahce or Qarabag, for that matter. Ajax, Fenerbahce and Qarabag got the respect they deserved, not so Molde and Malmo.
The failure is, of course, more complicated than that. Jozo missed the bulk of the campaign, while Dedryck is only just beginning to look like a footballer (lovely pass for the goal last night). Scott Allan looks promising, but we’ve not seen enough of him either due to injury.
Curiously, Ronny’s big 2015 No. 1 striker target, Nadir, looks less like a Ronny Deila player than anyone we’ve bought in years. Knowing we were interested in him, I watched his performances against Celtic last season, and made the same observation at the time.
What happens if your keeper’s form falls off a cliff, one of your new defenders doesn’t settle quickly, two other new players miss months through injury, and your new striker doesn’t morph into a different player? You finish bottom of the Europa League group.
Celtic must now consider their strategy for January. Successive transfer windows have left us weaker, not stronger. Identify the reasons, remediate and we can build on the away performances which bookended this Europa League campaign.
Check out the CQNBookstore. There’s 15 great Celtic books and 10 DVDs, you’ll love them.
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Oops – I forgot Alan Brazil and the outlaw Josey Wales!
Hunderbirds are Gone on 12th December 2015 5:13 pm
Is that no a back 5?
Or is Borthwick-Jackson just one player? :)
——
I was going to highlight its a back 4 and not 5, but some on here have issues about formations :O)
OVERSEASBHOY on 12TH DECEMBER 2015 5:14 PM
Oops – I forgot Alan Brazil and the outlaw Josey Wales!
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/lack-of-respect-for-molde-and-malmo/comment-page-19/#comments
And Mike England – maybe before your time!!
Matt Holland
Lawro will be going on the FF banned list…..referred to “The North” 3 times when talking about the 6 counties!
HH
Mick “crocodile” Dundee……….
Nancy Spain
Steve Cook ….-Islands
OVERSEASBHOY on 12TH DECEMBER 2015 5:14 PM Oops – I forgot Alan Brazil and the outlaw Josey Wales
Bruno Mars?
I will bet you my last cent that engerlund will get the easiest of draws
Jordan Rhodes
chad Evans
Colin Cameroon
Mali McLeod
Cracking double save from Boruc,
Man U one nil down already, goal straight from a corner.
Jack London…..
England, Wales,
Germany & 6 Counties,
Belgium & The Republic
After 2 pots drawn.
Ayr toon centre :)
HH
Ireland can get a result against Belgium
Wales can do so against Engerlund
The week started with an away defeat to exeter in the fa cup, followed by the owner stating that he didn’t employ jf hasslebank as manager because the vale fans are racist ( well that was the upshot), then puts club up for sale ( but not the stadium). Then today a dreary draw with scunthorpe. And some on here complain about pl and dd.
Need a Celtic win tomorrow to brighten up my week.
COYBIG
Corkcelt
Dinnae listen to Hunderbirds.
Hes hustlin ya.
He can do fancy dan stuff like wee fitbas in his posts.
Sure sign of a whizzzzzzzzkid ;)
England, Wales, Slovakia
Germany, 6 Counties, Poland
Belgium, Republic, Sweden
After 3 pots drawn.
Putin v hodgson
England, Wales, Slovakia, Russia
Germany, 6 Counties, Poland, Ukraine
Belgium, Republic, Sweden, Italy
Well Ireland got the most glamorous group imho …. Italy Sweden and belgium.
Every match worth watching
1-1 Bournemouth v Man U, money looking shaky now :o) Bournemouth are pretty poor
Hi Kodi Experts! Assistance required. I have recently installed KODI on my laptop and also the add-on, Sportsdevil. When I play the sports channels available through Sportsdevil I get the main KODI menu (SYSTEM, VIDEOS etc) displayed across the middle of my screen. Is there a way of hiding this menu so that my view is not marred by its presence?
Rebus
Euro 16 draw. I have tickets for last 16 game at Stade de France between winners of group E and runners up of group D. If it goes with seeds it’ll be Belgium v Croatia. Dedryck v Jozo??
Once again the English think the draw is an easy one against Slovakia Russia and Wales. .. only a year since theit fitba team was sent home after failing to get out the group stages …. and their egg chasers HUMILIATED in their own midden
Like the huns – they never learn
Yip, the english get an easy draw.
Some draw for the Republic
Being that there is no game here is some good viewing, but not for the gun control crowd……….
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4648609336001/judge-jeanine-time-to-batten-down-the-hatches/?intcmp=hpvid1#sp=show-clips
https://www.youtube.com/embed/pELwCqz2JfE?rel=0&autoplay=true
Off oot to a birthday bash, will ck in tomorrow for the updates, thanks to all that take the time to post the updates……….HH
Had a wee giggle at Wee Chico on Shortbread earlier on.
Those on the programme were discussing Dundee UTD and Killie and their prospects of relegation.
Wee Chico steamed in with I wouldnt fancy any of those two in a play off against Rangers ( or Hibs)
Richard Gordon was quick to tell him they all thought that last year as well.
How did that work out, I wonder?
HH
Can’t agree TET, Remember they were in Pot1 and we were in Pot 4. That makes a bit of a difference. 6 Counties got the worst draw imo , Germany, Poland & Ukraine Ouch. From Pot4 It was always going to be hard, I’m just glad we are there and hope we put on a bit of a show. Never expected a lot from the Tournament.
But ⚽️ Ahm a one trick pony ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Great draw for Ireland. Easy on paper for Engurland, so that’s Hodgson oot a job in the summer :)
The Holy Goalie looking better than the olé goalie so far.
A Müller v Lewandowski shoot -out then.
Wow, an accent and an Umlaut, and I’ve only had this iPad 5 years!
Lifelong learning, right enough.
Corky
Which bit don’t you agree with, both ?
Am delighted that Ireland just got there myself, anything else is a bonus imo, and the North are the same.
I still think the english got it easy, as did the hosts, but they always were going to get an easy draw, and it is fixed :-)
HH
beatbhoy
The holy goalie is the best goalkeeper we’ve
had at Celtic Park in a generation….he’s a little
eccentric but natural ability wise he’s the bizz.
I’m sure the smsm will be full of this tomorrow.
pat gillan @patg53 21m21 minutes ago Glasgow, Scotland
@ClydeSSB Rangers, fans behaviour disgusting throwing coins bottles and food and spitting down on Morton fans what did stewards do NOTHING
Rebus I’ve never known that to happen,as it’s a new install it may be worth a try to close kodi and reopen it to make sure the add on or repo sticks,hope this helps
Manure 2-1 down,