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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KITBALA. You are correct I dont know what you and Paul are saying in private.However, you put something in a post which the host of the site Paul67 did not approve of so he gave you a yellow card and removed the post.Now I dont know you personaly but im fairly sure your a fair guy so I dont understand why you are so unhappy about. Pauls decision and cant just accept it and moved on If it was your site im sure you would have your rules which you would like everyone to keep just my opinion mind. H.H.
Little Swede. Black. Rising like a bird at dawn. I can almost bear to watch football again.
Nothing more so apt than Ian Bell. Rest in peace Ian.
,,,an “intervention” required perhaps………..
,,,,,,,,a kindness in the long run?
Can we just go back to havin TD and Neg flinging insults at each other…..:-)
Does CQN have a banned list like the happy chappies of FF?
If so, old Rod the Mod just might find himself on it….
http://talkingbaws.com/2015/12/rod-stewart-says-celtic-is-too-big-for-ronny-deila-and-he-wouldnt-mind-david-moyes-as-a-replacement/?
What times the Friday night quiz starting. … ;)
Kit
Chill out amigo. ..
MIKE IN TORONTO. He should stick to croaking. H.H. :- )
Timomouse I see the rumour mill is now going back into overdrive yeah?
we will see if anyone out there can be a good edition because the transfer
market nowadays is like a game of Russian Roulette just check Man U
250 Mill spent with flops in return no wonder Paul Scholes hit the nail
on the head about an average team that’s spent millions for what in
return
AKBW1888
It is good mate, it is all about what friends should be.
I love my Celtic, I loved it from the first day my dad took me along; just like every other one of us, I love my Celtic, but you’ll have to excuse me because as true as my God looks after my kids as they sleep and looks after my wife in the hospital and looks after my mum and dad in the ground that is our past and our future,
somehow, I don’t know how, but just of late I’ve lost that love and I don’tg know where she’s gone or who’s to blame.
After my family there was nothing in my life beyond Celtic, and the mission, and the supporters, Today, I don’t know how but I’ve lost Celtic, there is just me and my blood and those I am fortunate to help in isolation.
One day I will tell you the unhollywooded story about Kano. It is going to make a few people look so foolish.
God bless Scotland, my country.
Good Evening Timland.
ffs eh!!!!!
Now that another European campaign has come to an end I have to agree with Paul none of the teams we faced were that much better than us and we all know our ultimate downfall can be attributed to horrendus unforced errors. Malmo and Molde looked sharper and hungrier than us although the Swedes were on the verge of collapse at Celtic Park until we let a discarded no-hoper of a player grab two goals. European football up to Christmas however is still a bonus and the season would be rather mundane without it.
NYE BEVANS. Good evening fella. H.H.
Hankray …. I see it somewhat differently. I dont think we struggle because of the 1 minute of brain cramp mistakes …. it is the other 89 minutes of not being able to pass or create anything that is ultimately our downfall….
JFH …. just for you…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hphwfq1wLJs
Yeah Kit I know all about Kano & raising money to take unfortunate kids to the matches
but you should not be so depressed about new directions time will tell if it’s a failure or
some inroads & more success & we all know about where I lay my hat is my home
hail hail Kit & keep the faith
JFH…..where are you on shifty pal?,
I’m not ready to throw him under
the bus just yet.
MIKE IN TORONTO. Thanks for the link fella I actually like Rod and for me as he has got older hes got better.H.H.
NYE BEVANS. I saw what I thought was a great post about him today it said he needs more game time, with another team. H.H.
MIKE IN TORONTO on 11TH DECEMBER 2015 7:02 PM
Hankray …. I see it somewhat differently. I dont think we struggle because of the 1 minute of brain cramp mistakes …. it is the other 89 minutes of not being able to pass or create anything that is ultimately our downfall….
JFH …. just for you…
Our intensity off the ball has to improve @ European level & so does our work rate
& movement off the ball as well along with holding & keeping pacession & picking
out less obvious passes that’s is for sure if we want to try & make in-roads in Europe
We can’t turn up there thinking oh well this is like another run of the mill SPL match
when it is not
…..as a Shepherd’s Crook is produced with some purpose……..
AKBW1888. I wouldnt argue with that it makes sense to me. H.H.
Last night game was our European campaign in a nutshell.
We were very pedestrian all over the pitch..passing n moving..high tempo..high pressing quick football no where to be seen. Only when James n Kris came on and they went down to ten men did we even have an attempt at goal. We probably had 2/3 and one on target all night.
Against Fenerbache at home we played the way the supporters love for 44mns.
Ronny asked to be judged after Europe maybe he meant the games after Thursday calamities. We are dire to watch and I am beginning to lose hope in Ronny.
My bhoys team under 17s played and beat Linfield 1-0 in the NI national league..fast organised disciplined and concentrated football. A much better game than I have witnessed at CP or in Europe this season. I’ll now attend his games rather than go abroad in Europe.
Kikinthenakas
I put the bad European campaign down to the players bottling it in Malmo. Ronny pulled them up on it then back tracked weak manager exposed. Since we’ve had the Commons and Stokes incident.
JFH …. ha! I quite like his early stuff …. but that video was supposed to be a bit of a joke … it is not one of my favourites from him.
Here’s a thought …. Rod Stewart to replace RD! Get Ms. Lancaster to replace JC …. I”m sure we’d sell out every game!
Mike In Toronto…………..Correct there are lots of things to get right and Rod is expressing his views to-day.
Take a look at the great John Fogerty another Tim, always thought Status Quo wrote this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peX4X_cd6Gg
OE FILIPPIS HAIRCUT on 11TH DECEMBER 2015 7:14 PM
AKBW1888. I wouldnt argue with that it makes sense to me. H.H.
I know Joe the world we live in nowadays
MIKE IN TORONTO. With Rods money we could sign a couple of decent players. H.H.
LENNON’S PASSION on 11TH DECEMBER 2015 7:17 PM
I put the bad European campaign down to the players bottling it in Malmo. Ronny pulled them up on it then back tracked weak manager exposed. Since we’ve had the Commons and Stokes incident.
Ronny’s on a learning curve as well.
AKBW …. agree. the gap between the SPL and Europe is big, and getting bigger all the time …. someone needs to figure out how to get our players prepared …. physically and mentally for the jump.
Not sure what the answer is…. but I do think it involves more than just football …. think there are larger social issues at play that come into it.
PS…. AKBW?
MIKE IN TORONTO on 11TH DECEMBER 2015 7:21 PM
AKBW …. agree. the gap between the SPL and Europe is big, and getting bigger all the time …. someone needs to figure out how to get our players prepared …. physically and mentally for the jump.
Not sure what the answer is…. but I do think it involves more than just football …. think there are larger social issues at play that come into it.
PS…. AKBW?
A Physiological Issue Yes?
JFH …. get his wife to act as our GM …. we’d have half the french national squad begging to sign for us ….. for free!
hankray …. didn’t know JF was a tim. learn something on CQN everday!
Lurkintim … you should have swung by the party last night …. chock full of lovely nurses and doctors… including quite a few Irish doctors …. I’ve told them to expect you at next year’s party!
Lawrie from Denniston – what a knob
CultsBhoy can not relate to Celtic Board ambitions on or off the par
Absolute windbag who thinks hes a local celebrity.
Loves the sound of his own voice but rarely makes a substantive point
We’re out of Europe because we have a manager who can’t organise a defence and a board who want to sell any player who we get a decent offer for. The fact that the manager was the very cheap option and generally out of his depth doesn’t help.
Good Evening.
Somehow I have reached my 300th blog… This one is all about what Scottish football fans deserve.
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/thinking-about-the-fans/
Our on loan striker Stefan Scepovic starts for Getafe against Sociedad.
Far better looking option than Nadir.
https://www.expats.cz/prague/article/weekly-czech-news/prague-man-has-epic-illegal-feast/
Superb clumping, Mr. Clump!
wdh … come on, admit it… haven’t you always wanted to do that? I know I have!