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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As PETERBHOY joins our motley crew,it seems that KITALBA has been denied log-in.
This is from him,haste ye back…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=264UaWT3Jqk
My brother mick is confined to a wheelchair and lives in a Leonard Cheshire care home in Edinburgh.
One member of staff Vincent used to take mick to see the celtic every time they visited the capital, he was also there for him and us when my brother was diagnosed with bladder cancer last year,a absolute gem of a guy.
Spoke to him last about 2 months told me he was diagnosed with cancer of the stomach but docs said they where confident they could
Treat it.
In my brothers now to watch game, he has told me Vincent has days to live and is back home to be with his family.
Mick is devistated, as is everyone in the home is.
So all of you on here who are religiously inclined please say a prayer for this lovely human being.
Thank you all in advance.
Sean.
Marspapa……….
Thank-you.
HH
SEAN THORNTON. I am going to mass soon I will say are prayer for your brothers friend life is so unpredictable we never know the day or the hour the good Lord will call us home. H.H.
Beauty sleep disny work for me….anyway….
…it seems that the ‘cliques’ tentacles are capable of far more reach than I thought capable.
Or, maybe it was just…merryment….wtf does that mean ?
Hopefully the Celtic fans get some guid stuff to cheer the day.
Hopefully Leigh will be fit.
Hopefully if, Commons scores the day…that he disny, disappear after it…ole King-Kojo was right when he asked -“If Commons dizny score…whit diz he dae ?”
Hopefully Commons reaction to big Ciftci after, KC had scored…wisny in any way a breach of the team-bonding that RD is known for generating in his dressing rooms ?
Seemed to me that, NC was indicating to, KC that were the goal was scored from was, from the area that Nadir was told attack from ?
If, that is true ?…..are wee seeing a manager operating an, zonal attacking formula ?
Interesting.
Anyway, would be good if yon big Jozo could put a good run of games together.
Ronny…..you are the Celtic manager in the weirdest of times in our long history.
Ronny…if you werent the Celtic manager, sumdy else would be.
But, Ronny…that’s not the point.
The point is, the Celtic supporters want nothing more than for their beloved club to be a source of, pride, direction, comfort, education, even…ecstatic jubilation at, seeing their beloved club, being successful against odds that would make even a, super hero baulk…but,…..but,….Ronny….’you’….could become one of the immortals of a club that, will on occasion….can, lnspire a support to generate the missing artillery for your team and, yourself….when all seems lost….to get ‘you’ over that seemingly impossible obstacle and, take ‘you’ to a place that ‘you’ had only previously heard about as a, selling point in your recruitment.
That place does exist Ronny…..’you’ seem like a guid man….maybe, too guid ?….now and, again….let the bad man have his day on the training pitch and, in the dressing room….if ‘you’ do….it could be the making of ‘you’ in the eyes of the most suspicious(rightly), faithful, unbelievably-up-lifting set of football supporters that, ‘you’ have ever or, will ever see no matter where your career takes ‘you’….realize that what your charged producing is, not just for bragging rights amongst football fans…it’s way, way, way beyond that realm…it’s about ‘you’ painting a smile on the underdogs of Scottish society…that is all.
Can you handle it ?
It’s wrong for folk like me to call ‘you’ a puppet…disrespectful.
It’s also, correct for folk like me, to call you a puppet coz…in the context of the – Celtic chain of command – through no fault on ‘your’ part….a puppet is exactly what ‘you’ are….not as a person…that is so wrong to say that…but, when ‘you’ put on your Celtic employee hat on…’you’ become a puppet…and that….is so wrong.
Shame on Geppetto Lawwell and, all the other architects of the rudderless sip called….
….Celtic FC / PLC.
Ronny….best of luck….your a guid person, carrying out your duties for the Celtic supporters who provide your living….the downside is….bad persons….sook up all the gravy….then, let ‘you’ take the blame when, the gravy dries up…they’re real bad.
Ronny…please realize that…’you’ now work for what I’d say is…thee most conspired against club on planet fitba.
Ronny…please realize that,….as soon as ‘you’ or, yer players put on the colors of the blessed, Green and White hoops…none of you’s can ever,….not ever….be paranoid enough….not ever.
Ronny….pleas realize that….for your own good….please.
Ronny….please,….please….trust…NOBODY….not ever.
Ronny….thanks….guid luck tae ye fella…..never stop being paranoid….never.
Oh, afore ah go….will the Internet Bampots be investigating how much, Lawwell and, Park are raking-in fae the player recruitment side of the club ?
Or, will they be too busy telling us that….it’ll no be long noo till sevco die ?
….Off oot…..
sean thornton on 13th December 2015 10:12 am
___________________________________________________
So sad to read that fella, it’s scary stuff.
Thoughts and Prayers for all who are close.
Mick – You’ll Never Walk Alone
Sean-really sad story,HH
Nye B-where are the polis active mate?
Important game today. I mean, the press are telling us that Aberdeen are catching us up. Scary thought, having such a good side just behind us, only a point. Hey, if we lose a few games and they win a few then anything could happen.
But seriously, St J are on a good run and it won’t be an easy game. As always an early goal will settle things down. And no bloody individual defensive mistakes today please.
Griffiths and Commons to score in a 2 – 0 win.
BANKIEBHOY1 on 13TH DECEMBER 2015 9:52 AM
Paul 67 / WC
The ideal stocking filler –
A charitable idea for next Christmas maybe………………..?
“Christmas Quick Noel”……. A Festive CD where Jungle meets “Jingle”
Roy Croppie with the help of SoT and DBBIA to pull together a festive selection of Classic crowd pleasing choons.
All proceeds to our nominated charidddeeee ?
Just a thought……….
I’d buy one, actually I’d buy a few……….
-Brilliant idea…………..
HH
Right …. Who’s make no all the noise?! Keep it down! It’s still only 5:30 in the morning here … Some of us are trying to sleep!
GrumpyoldmenCSC
I see the meeja are up to their usual shoite …..sevco have just suffered a bad day at the office ….. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha … !!!
!!Bada Bing!!
In Paisley,they were sitting at the fire station
on Canal st.
It feels like Christmas here this morning. Roy Croppie back with a vintage performance, Jobo back giving International coverage to good ol’ East Kilbride. Hope we get them in the Cup. All this following the return of BMCUW & Tri-Coloured Ribbon and a few other stalwarts.
WE need ACGR, Tom Mclaughlin. Weefrathe, and my old sparring partner Captain Beefheart to say hello as well, I know I’m missing out on a good few, but I hope all the flouncers ,show up for Christmas.
In the meantime the Celts are playing today, COYBIG.
sean thornton on 13th December 2015 10:12 am
Devastating news for all concerned
A prayer will be said for them
HH
NB-thanks HH
Due to circumstances I’ve not been to see Celtic for a few weeks. Feel like Im missing a finger our something can’t wait for today’s game. COYBIG
Sean Thornton, Prayers will be said for Vincent at 11.30 Mass Franciscan Friary, Clonmel today. God be good to him.
My friends in Celtic,
Hope the weather is fine in Perth, especially for the travelling fans.
Just dropped the daughter off at Glasgow Airport. The weather on both sides of the Clyde is sooooooooo different. Freezing Fog at the Airport and on the motorway.
Beat that Jobo. :-)
Hail, hail to all Celtic fans. Especially the ones who make the mega effort to travel. Respect.
Scott Allan needs to get a run of games now, he can create moving the ball forward, not square all the time.
Why don’t Celtic have a match day radio channel? Would be good to hear a pre match build up, with interviews etc.Could probably be done through the website.
Plenty of spares for today on Blantyre commercial bus if anyone looking
Great night at Greenocck CSC Friday night
Thanks to GL 2 and committee for the great welcome and evening
Even if I did get an unexpected female visitor to my hotel room at 2am
Thank God Mrs BT was with me because she would never have believed my story☘☘
Thanks Dena……….
HH.
Corkie
Your big pal Nakas also needs to be back
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 13TH DECEMBER 2015 11:01 AM
Plenty of spares for today on Blantyre commercial bus if anyone looking
Great night at Greenocck CSC Friday night
Thanks to GL 2 and committee for the great welcome and evening
Even if I did get an unexpected female visitor to my hotel room at 2am
Thank God Mrs BT was with me because she would never have believed my story☘☘
Cant wait for that story ………….:-))
HH
Aberdeen pile pressure on Celtic.
SMSM
sean thornton
Thoughts and prayers with you and all of your family today at this very tough time..
Starry Plough
Yep. BT. He just pops in with an odd post every now & then. Think he got fed up with the roasters but he hasn’t totally flounced.
Dena
All perfectly innocent obviously. 8)
Just warning your all …. Been fighting off a cold, didn’t sleep well, now up early …. When the new article is posted, if some bugger steals my first, there could just be the paddy to end all paddies!
On a more positive vein, just saw Conor won last nigh with the first punch after only 13 seconds. Glad he won, but really glad now that I didn’t pay hit 50 quid to watch it!
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 13TH DECEMBER 2015 11:11 AM
Dena
All perfectly innocent obviously. 8)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Obviously
HH
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 13TH DECEMBER 2015 11:06 AM
Aberdeen pile pressure on Celtic.
SMSM
If the chasing pack have games in hand ,it’s on ‘opportunity’ to put pressure on Celtic.
If Celtic have games in hand, the chasing pack are ‘putting pressure’ on Celtic.
One has to understand how their limited wee minds work.
Has the line up for today Been announced yet?
Gordon_J on 13th December 2015 10:39 am
Important game today. I mean, the press are telling us that Aberdeen are catching us up. Scary thought, having such a good side just behind us, only a point. Hey, if we lose a few games and they win a few then anything could happen.
======================================
Yep, especially as they have the 2015/16 manager of the season at the helm…
BSR
“Aberdeen pile pressure on Celtic.”
We would be disappointed if the Ol`MSSM said anything else 0:-). So predictable.
Anyway, I wouldn`t worry about Aberdeen. Remember, Celtic are rubbish but we are still a point ahead with two games in hand so how bad are Aberdeen? Obviously, Hearts are even worse and St Johnstone are just cannon fodder. As for Dundee Utd and Kilmarnock, well, there are no adjectives negative enough to describe them. Stangely, though, the team in 13th position in Scottish football are an exciting, free-flowing and very good team whose manager is sought after by most of the football world.
JJ
Mike
11.30 probably
Embra Mike will be hovering
I should add that Mcinnes is only the SPL manager of this season.
The overall manager of the season/wuruld/universe/galaxy/milky way/creation is, of course, Warbo – currently working spellbinding feats of magic on a budget a mere ten times the size of his divisional rivals…
Park has a covering of frost on it
Pics from Celtic on Twitter
Looks better than usual though