Negatives out of the way first: we’re not good enough, this is a low achievement by a Celtic team who have reached a group stage. There’s no disputing that, but amid the predictable ‘Throw them all overboard’ reaction, I know I’m not the only one who is not panicking right now.
When I heard we were playing three wingers (Forrest, Mackay-Steven, McGregor) I anticipated a thrashing. Gordon Strachan would often drop all his craft players for the more industrial types in European football, with good reason.
As it turned out, we had the majority of the chances, and all the better ones, as we spent most of the second half pushing for a winner.
No arguments with Leigh Griffiths assessment immediately after the game, that was his worst performance in a Celtic shirt. Nor is there dispute in Ronny Deila’s retort that he’s scored plenty for us before and will continue to do so. Even the greats have days like that, including the Swede.
The midfield formation was fluid throughout the game. Tom Rogic initially played as a defensive mid, before moving in front of Stuart Armstrong (who moved everywhere) and Callum McGregor. The defensive mid role Rogic played isn’t one carried out by either Nir Bitton or Scott Brown. We’ve not had anyone in this role since the departure of Victor Wanyama (still pining) and it remains a large gap in the offering.
Lesson: we need a defensive mid. The deep lying playmaker + box-to-box player isn’t robust enough in Europe.
Callum McGregor carried possibly the lowest expectations of everyone in a Celtic shirt but he put in an excellent shift. His goal was outstanding, losing possession immediately before Ajax equalised took the shine off things a bit, but it was still a strong performance.
Do you know the last time McGregor started a game? October 2014. Under those circumstances that was a remarkable performance.
General consensus is that the defence played well. Kieran Tierney is as good a left back as we’ve had in years. Had he not gone off with an injury the result might have been different.
Jozo Simunovic is clearly out best central defender. I know I’m not setting the bar too high with that statement, but he’s a move in the right direction. He’s also young, still working on his fitness, and will continue to progress.
A week ago Celtic Underground’s Harry Brady suggested Dedryck Boyata plays better alongside Simunovic than without him. Dedryck still has a long way to go but the evidence suggests partnered with a game-reader like Jozo has helped him. Let’s see where he is at the end of the season.
And Craig Gordon? He could have stopped both Ajax goals. That’s not to say he was to blame for either, he wasn’t, but these were the kind of stops he was making in last season’s Europa League.
Ronny is 18 months into the job and has contributed to the situation we find ourselves in (tactical mistakes in both Molde games), but this is not the time to lurch off plan. We’re not good enough largely because we’ve recruited too few players since 2012 who have improved the team.
We need to continue to develop players like Tierney and we need to recruit better. Get this right in January, and again in the summer, and we will be vastly better. The alternative is likely to be to pick up a best from the SPFL pool, or someone from the English circuit who cannot get a better paid gig. And then it would take until November 2017 before we could assess them properly.
Return of the Bampots
Tonight, for one night onlyt, Phil Mac Giolla Bháin, John Fallon and myself are in the Hibs Club, Carfin, for a Q&A in aid of Mary’s Meals, with Phil Agnew hosting. The event starts at 7:30, £5 entry, can pay at the door.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
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NegAnon2
Nice spin, the CT yup you hit the nail on the head, I’v no time for them at all, they’r not my thoughts on what Celtic supporters are, but that’s me, hate Celtic supporters ? show me where I posted that please, I await with bated breath ya crackpot.
Afternoon folks, could I ask for your thoughts and prayers for the father of a Celtic supporter who is very unwell ar the moment, a friends Dad who needs all the help he can get at the moment..HH
Ayrshire is Green and White
No Joe fillipi. Selling players is acceptable as long as you are building a team and trying to improve, we are just getting is prospects where our ON!Y goal is to sell them. If you support the board you are supporting built in failure.
Peter Lawwell is on zero hours too, and works very hard, but you won’t hear that from the CT :))
Liar
In Amsterdam,advice for where to watch the game tomorrow please, catch replies laters, thanks in advance.
Tony Donnelly you are the one that spins. Cmon explain your stance. You criticise supporters for res 12 when at least they are trying to do something against the corruption and praise he board who wouldn’t take up res 12.
Cmon explain it. Answer a question for once.
CANALAMAR. I am a Celtic supporter not an accountant.I have heard some workers saying they like zero hour contracts as it gives them more flexability.I dont know enough about zero hour contracts and the Celtic position to really give an advised comment but like everything in life I am sure there are two sides to the argument. H.H.
MickTT
I’ll light a candle tonight mate.
JFH,
Tell us, what workers did you hear say they liked zero hour contracts ?
Like TD I suspect you are also lying because you don’t know how to genuinely support this.
NegAnon2
Again I will ask you show me where I said I hate Celtic supporters?
I don’t know Joe – in the past I think we would have held onto players for as long as we can. I think part of the sales pitch to potential signings now is that we are a ‘gateway club’ to the EPL, and all parties are wanting the stay at Celtic as short as possible to create turnover quicker.
We have sold our spine in recent seasons; Forster, Van Dijk, Wanyama, Hooper. Every one of them better than what we have now. Moneyball seems to be eating itself this now. We could have held onto these players, or a couple, and speculated on CL participation.
Certainly with the ‘champions route.’ in the CL, we should really be qualifying the majority of times. Moneyball and loanees have wrecked our defensive set up. I do feel a little bit of sympathy for ronny here
Oh and for your information there is no flexibility, if you don’t turn up on demand your pumped and bared from the bru because you got pumped.
Unless it was board members o were happy with the flexibility on paying that you were talking to.
NEGANON2. Well we see Celtic very differently and no doubt both think each other is wrong.However,one thing I do agree with you is the Bhoys who brought up resolution 12 and continue to fight for it are doing a good job wither they get answers or not.The fact they feel strongly enough about it to pursue it is good. H.H.
Afternoon folks just been informed wee shades fitba off tomorrow, something to do with the rain.
Means I dont have to drive tomorrow so now having a wee curer in the pub.
Only in the pub 2 mins and managed to upset the huns watching their team on the box, ffs I only asked them why most of their fans were boycotting,sensitive wee souls.
Oh aye, there you go, you don’t agree wi the storm troopers your a liar, your not allowed an opinion, you either agree with them, or your a wrong, it’s called CT Democracy.
It’s what they do.
Micktt,
Will take a minute now to offer a prayer for your pal.
Hail Hail
HANKRAY
Grealish plays for Aston Vanilla, but you’re corrrcect. The guy was out partying after his team were humped by Everton last weekend.
Re the Chris Sutton debate. My penny worth!! Sutton is spot on. What would be the case if Henrik said the same?? Would he be a soup taker too.
Time for us to get our head out of the sand and face reality I’m afraid, no matter how bad that is. BUT, we must keep getting behind the team.
Hail Hai
KINGLUbo
Tony this is what I said
Tony d. You hate the Celtic trust and you criticise res 12. Res 12 were some supporters have had to drag the cheating into the light whilst your precious board have refused to do anything. It is remarkable that you would criticise supporters for doing something and praising the board for doing nothing. Hypocrit.
So I never said you hate Celtic supports. Just the trust which you openly admit.
Now this is your modus operandi. To cover up the question you make stuff up.
So I ask you yet again to explain why you criticise supporters for res 12 and for trying to stand up to corruption. While you praise the board for doing nothing. Answer the question.
micktt
Thoughts with your friend.
Hh
I’m oooffff ooot, so I’ll let you guys at it. My final words for this session life is rarely black & white, Celtic is never black & white, this blog is very black & white.
Bob Marley quote “Some people are so poor all they have is money”.
I think Donald Trump is a total bollocks can’t believe he is still the front runner for the Republican Presidential Nominatiom. Bob Marley didn’t say the thing about Trump that is a corkcelt quote.
Just saw that the Hun game is on Alba, another world record!…most games live to keep the zombies floating.
JFH makes a worthwhile comment when he says:
” I dont know enough about zero hour contracts and the Celtic position to really give an advised comment ”
I think one of the reasons for the increasing (?) animosity on here is that too many do not seem to accept even the possibility that they do not know enough about the running of Celtic FC to give an advised comment.
Whilst people see `Everyone is entitled to an opinion.` as a maxim, then unsubstantiated opinion will continue to hold too much weight……in my opinion, of course 0:-)
JJ
JJ
NegAnon2
No no no no, the word HATE, where did I say that?
COOLMOREMAFIA. Fella everyone of the players you mention wanted to leave Celtic so trying to hang on to them in my opinion would not have worked unhappy players are not doing the team any good.Now we have a choice we find a player but know we are likely only to get a couple of seasons from him before he moves on for big money should we say oh thats no use we need 4 or 5 seasons from a player ? so dont sign him.That would and should never happen we have to work in the reality with the big money in the game now the club doesnt have the upper hand the player does. H.H.
JJ
I’m sorry but when it comes to that you don’t agree with the CT, your not allowed an opinion.
It’s there way, or the highway.
JJ…,
The zero hour contract is not an opinion it is a remuneration policy enforced against only the lowest paid at the club.
I think I understand your comment, isit that people who do to know what the zero hour policy should not be making statements that support it ?
Dear Tony I told you I’d did t say you hated Celtic supporters. Simple. Up you made that up.
And now, as ever, you are hiding behind your own lie to deflect from addressing your hypocracy.
So I ask again why is it ok to criticise those who brought res 12 froward while praising the board for doing nothing.
You are in a wee corner Tony. It isn’t hard to put you there. Let’s see if you have the good grace to answer a straight question.
A few thoughts post Thursday night
All the folks I spoke to in advance of the game hoped we would win, but very few had confidence, this is disappointing
I have not been a fan of the manager since last year’s Euro debacle.
He repeatedly makes the same errors, his judgement on talent is questionable and his reactions to ‘in match’ situations is poor. We now have a real problem – clearly out his depth in Europe, yet to win a game he shouldn’t ,but , carried domestically by having better players than opponents.
On paper, we have a decent group of players, who should be good enough for top end of Europa league group / bottom end of CL group
Our ‘strategy’ of developing our own players / signing up best of Scottish football, getting a manager with innovative ideas is IMHO fundamentally sound, the biggest challenge is the guy conducting the orchestra just isn’t up to it.
We now have three choices
Stick with RD in the remote hope he comes good, but all the stats suggest we are getting worse, not better.
The second, and my preferred is to get a Director of Football to bridge gap between boardroom and team, and therafter appoint a refreshed coaching team – maybe there is a role for RD as Academy Director
The third is to go back to the ‘ established manager ‘ route that worked with MoN and WGS
JJ
From yesterday re measuring progress:
Preparing for Champions League qualifying by playing in the SPFL is akin to preparing for Higher English by sitting Standard Grade past papers.
Discuss.
So according to Tony Donnelly67 – the self appointed Celtic plc board truth channel on CQN – Peter Lawwell is on a zero hours contract.
I wonder how that works? Monday morning and “big Peter” is waiting expectantly for a phone call which comes just as Jeremy Kyle is about to start.
“Ah Peter, good man yerself, it’s Dermot here, just about to nail a tricky par 3 on the trickiest golf course in the Bahamas.
“Now sorry for the lack of notice, but we won’t be needing you at work this week, we’ve no hours for you as there is a complete lack of work for a Chief Executive this week.
“Terribly sorry what with Christmas coming up and that. We might have something for you next week depending on whether our friends at Rangers – great club, great fans as I told the Daily Mail – lodge an appeal about this annoying tax business that the plebs seem fixated with.
“I know it’s a bit of a bind to have no work and so no wages this week but never mind, our pal Lord Livingstone single-handledly talked that fine Gideon chap whom I’ve met at a few Tory fund raisers into leaving the tax credit cuts for now. So maybe if you get yourself down to the buroo and make a new claim they’ll be able to see you right.
“Now remember, no Chief Executiving for anyone else this week and I’ll let you know next Monday if we have anything for you. Toodleloo the noo.”
BBC = Bears Benevolent Corporation.
Jesus, a night’s sleep certainly doesn’t change the monotonous track of the blog.
The board aren’t trying to destroy Celtic.
Grow up, ffs, ranting on and on and on like confused weans.
The board are trying to run a football club and business in the most trying of times and environment, and doing some of it well and some of it less agreeably depending on your own perspective and politics.
But spare me the relentless shite conspiracy theories about sinister agendas. Sometimes in here it’s like sitting in a student union listening to some ineffective activist wankers shout their loudest in order to impress the fresher political studies hot chicks. All bollocks theory, no experience of reality to draw on, and no substance in the arguments, or knowledge of cause, effect or consequence.
If you belive Celtic’s more about the politics than the football then you’re a mug. And if Celtic ever becomes more about the political ethos than the football, then the Celtic you purport to follow is fecked. Celtic are here now because of the football, the entertainment, the excitement; not because you want to frame Celtic as your own little political utopia.
I blame the referendum for blighting my days with all these self-important, holier-than-thou, ‘superior-intellects’, polluting the web and blogs with their dull as f#ck opinions of just how things should and would be if they were president of the feckin universe. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing indeed.
F#cking rip you having to wade through the bland, repetitive pish on here day after day.
You want to know how companies are run/how the markets Celtic are involved in (and we’re very small-fry) work, even to get just an insight into the minutae – go read/listen to some info on Warren Buffet, George Soros and the like, watch a few hours of Bloomberg TV, look at how the CEOs of various companies operate.
Then maybe we could all be forced to read your vaguely INFORMED opinions of how bad Celtic are; at least that would be a start.
Roasters…
Mick TT…
Sorry to here that mate, thoughts with your friends Dad. HH
SIF…
A pleasure to meet you on Thursday, me you and Praecepta would have taken those Ajax ultras, with the help of 16 roads :) HH
micktt
In our thoughts.
NOWA
Neganon
This is what you posted, I’m not in any corner, show me where I posted the word….HATE….your words not mine?
Tony d. You hate the Celtic trust and you criticise res 12. Res 12 were some supporters have had to drag t – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-20/#comments
Sandman
Well said. (Though I wonder why you bothered)
MICKTT
Small prayer just offered up to St. Raphael the Archangel for your friend.
God bless,
KevinBhoy.