That was the latest instalment in a long running series of Behind the Couch Celtic away performances in Europe, with the wonderful exception that after Hapoel Be’er Shiva had us on the rack in the opening period of the second half, Celtic put five at the back and closed the game out without any stressful incidents in the final 15 minutes.
There are a few moments worthy of comment:
Hapoel’s penalty came as a consequence of Celtic pressing high up the field for the first time in the game. The home team dropped deep as they were temporarily reduced to 10 men, but when Celtic pressed high to take advantage of an opponent receiving treatment, they easily passed through us, switched the ball left and gave Saidy Janko his first difficult moment of the night.
More on Saidy in a moment, but we cannot allow teams to pass through us so easily. We should never have been caught so high up field. Our alertness, interceptions and tackling were not good enough. Craig Gordon’s block at the penalty was priceless (or at a price of circa £26m, if you’re being picky).
There’s a reason teams who mark zonally at corner kicks don’t mark the penalty spot. It’s because headers from the penalty spot need to be exceptional in order to beat the keeper. Sahar’s goal wasn’t an exceptional header. It bounced before passing Craig Gordon three feet inside the post. It should never have been a goal, and although Craig’s mistake for the second was more evident, the first was as worrying a goal to concede.
We’re fond of talking about “schoolboy errors” in football but Saidy’s lack of awareness of his direct opponent and goalkeeper at the second goal was a classic error from the 9-year-old’s game. I’ll be generous and say he’s not ready for a game at this level. Craig Gordon doesn’t have a let off for this one, either. While his fullback made a mistake, an alert keeper would have prevented the goal and knocked Saidy into next week. Awareness concerns exist for him too.
Whether it’s Craig’s self-confidence, or that the defence don’t have confidence in him, goalkeeping mistakes came perilously close to seeing us drop out of the Champions League last night.
Not that Craig shoulders all responsibility for what was a weak performance. The middle of the park was experimental and looked it. On the back of one of his best games for Celtic a week ago, Scott Brown’s passing, control and influence was miles off the pace.
Scott, Callum McGregor and Nir Bitton were swamped in midfield. Too few Celtic players were showing for the ball, which was thrown forward aimlessly whenever a Hapoel player closed us down. If central midfield is right, your defensive and goalkeeping frailties are less evident, but we were exposed too often at the back last night. There was a period in the second half when watching on TV made it impossible to know where we were going wrong. After a Hapoel chance, we would see a replay, and before it cut back to live pictures, Celtic had lost possession and were again under pressure. This happened repeatedly. Central midfield was the major problem with the performance, if not the result.
Don’t let any of this dampen your spirits. We’re into the Champions League group stage, a fact which will see us break through the £80m turnover mark for the first time. By comparison, turnover was £51m for 2014-15, the most recent season accounts are available for.
Despite the increase in expenditure this season, we’ll pay our bills without increasing borrowing or selling players. We’re on the circuit again, which means we’ll find it easier to attract talent going forward, it means we’ll find it easier to attract commercial deals and pretty much every KPI at the club will become that bit more attainable.
Last night was a transformational day in the life of your football club. We’re back, enjoy it!
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Bruce Banner turns into a big green monster when he’s angry
Does the Green Man turn into a big flesh coloured monster when he’s mad?
Almore can’t see the Museum being built near the Superstore more likely place I think.is were they used to park the Buses,anyway there is plenty of land around Celtic Park.i hope the museum and other things get built should have been done long ago,but this month’s running theclub drag there heels they want your hard earned cash and that’s it. A piano a Bovril good enough for us.
I mean a Pie
TAURANGABHOY on 25TH AUGUST 2016 9:52 AM
Emeraldbee For all I know Mats might be a troll or might be like us Celtic in his heart his own way. If you don’t like his beat scroll on.
That’s my view entirely – scroll past, don’t feed!
SAOR ULADH on 25TH AUGUST 2016 10:16 AM
There are posters on here that have an agenda and that agenda has nothing to do with furthering the cause of Celtic FC.
Exactly, so ………………….. don’t take the bait, scroll on by and don’t feed the troll(s).
A MAN’S third pint explained in a friendly but firm voice that he would be staying out for the rest of the evening, it has emerged.
Tom Logan believed he was enjoying one or two quick post-work drinks before heading home for dinner. However the tone of the evening changed when a third pint appeared in front of him.
The third pint said: “Well my friend, it’s Wednesday night and here we are.
“Looks like you won’t be heading home before closing time, and I’d kiss goodbye to thoughts of making that lasagne – we’re looking at a doner or maybe a ‘chicken pieces times two plus chips’ meal deal.
“I believe you’ve met my friends fourth pint, and fifth pint. They’ll be along shortly.
“I think sixth pint might even put in an appearance. Remember him? He’s the one who makes the ceiling move back and forth like a menacing ocean, while you lie in bed consumed by regret.
“Anyway, better drink me up, or I’ll go flat.”
It added: “Tomorrow is going to be awful, just awful.”
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 25TH AUGUST 2016 10:16 AM
“My enemy’s enemy is my friend. ”
Never a good starting point for any discussion or action but quite common on here this morning.
My enemies enemy is my friend”Used to like that saying,then discovered that “My enemy”was his own worst enemy.Now I have to invite the prick to Barbeques !!!!!.
Coolmore, I have a loose involvement with Catholic charities working out there and serving all in the community. The persecution sadly comes from intransigent groups, both Israeli and Palestinian but having written that, I have to add that you do not have to walk far to find signs of hope as in the village with a roughly 50 – 50 division Muslim/Christian where one group caters for the mourners when a member of the other community dies and vice-versa.
I don’t post often and I’m sure I am going to be told off for not keeping to football and so i am going to add that I have a gut feeling that we are going to do surprisingly well in the Champions League.
RAY WINSTONE’S BIG DISEMBODIED HEID on 25TH AUGUST 2016 11:01 AM
Dipped in here for a quick look.
Jeezo it’s like an episode of the glums!
Apparently the blog is now inhabited by huns trolls and racists according to the pleasantries being flung around.
Just remember racism is like cricket………………………. Invented in England but perfected in Australia.
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Always painful to hear ignorance spouted by Celtic supporters .
Couple of recent comments have caught my eye …
GB — Glee club in the manner of High School Musical.
The whole ultra vibe is look at me nonsense that needs to move on.
Home game against HBS — they were not intimidated by the GB waving a few tea towels.
They were when the whole of the JS stand started chanting — something / anything.
The ultra vibe as put forward by the GB is elitist — uber fan exceptionalism.
Also talk about doing up the CP surroundings.
Lots of talk but very little action.
We are falling behind and losing revenue because of it.
Need to upgrade what we have and add a whole range of new facillities.
Starting with a full sized indoor pitch — see Robb Indoor Arenas for what can be done.
Plus we need a training stadium for the U20’s / Dev squad.
My thoughts are that imagination and desire are bigger stumbling blocks now than money.
Finally I would give funds to the school to add facilities to their running track.
Good neighbours — that is who we need to be.
Put some money back into the East End.
Patmcgrath
Your insight as to what’s happening out there is most welcome
This was my point yesterday, this is exactly what they are and who they think they are, the think they are the dogs bollocks and a cut above the rest of us, I’m telling you one more time, be very very carefull with this left wing socialist pompous arrogant bassas, watch this space, a good thing for us in the group stages of the C L unfortunately it comes with baggage the freedome fighting social uni mob, Fannie’s , the lot of them, let our kids enjoy supporting Celtic and stop grooming them to be rioters an NEDS .
BHOYLO83 on 25TH AUGUST 2016 11:01 AM
Masty
Jealous of the attention the GB get compared to the rest of the fans, jealous of the fact any pictures of the Celtic fans are pictures of the GB, the fact that the GB, in general, are admired by the rest of the fans for the atmosphere they create on match days and the work they do, the fact that the iconic images of Celtic in the last few years have been displays and tifos and such which were created by the GB, the fact that Neil Lennon left the trophy in front of them a few seasons back thanking them for the backing they give the team…
The fact they don’t wail and slag off every Celtic player that makes a mistake during a game.
The fact they have the balls to stand up to authority
I think some fans are jealous because they aren’t part of it all tbh
AWE_NAW_NO_ANNONI_OAN_ANAW_NOO on 25TH AUGUST 2016 11:18 AM
I believe the done thing is to credit your source. Unless of course, you wrote that for The Daily Mash ;)
MADMITCH on 25TH AUGUST 2016 11:32 AM
Problem being the whole of the JS rarely chants anything without it being instigated by the GB.
Most games, there’d be no noise at all without them. Like or not we need an organised group prepared to chant when no one else will.
SAOR ULADH on 25TH AUGUST 2016 10:45 AM
Greenpinata on 25th August 2016 10:39 am
Someone had to come on and challenge the pro israel / zionist rhetoric that was being bandied on here.
To be perfectly honest,I never read any of what you say on here.You know everyone has beliefs of some kind.many keep them to themselves.There is nothing worse than listening to a Zealot espousing his cause.Your hatred of anything “Zionist”is well known on here by now,yet you continue every day to inform us of it.People in the end up just ,shake their heads and turn away from foaming at the mouth fanatics and leave them to it.
I have already done this with you.
Wee … @ 11.39
Have to disagree.
The GB’s performance recently has been pretty poor.
Close up last season and Zi thought they were phoning it in.
Struggled against the Sheep and Hertz at the end of last season.
As currently organised the GB are a charicature of a mass involvement Ultra group.
The numbers are low compared to other groups — they have an end we have a corner.
My thoughts are that they are closer to an elitist cult than a full on ultra group.
And I am not a fan of the ultra / uber fan vibe.
CP — if it has any reputation — gets it plaudits for atmosphere because everyone joins in.
Not just our self appointed tip of the spear — everyone joins in.
Finally the last couple of games — the JS end was in good voice.
The singing involved call and response with the GB but also they / we did our own thing.
Have you ever walked into a cafe and it’s full of whinging old men and greetin’ weans and you think ‘F***k this I’m not going in here, I’ll go somewhere else and come back later?’
Right then! Back later…
Did the GB show up in Israel or did they give it a miss?
What date is the Barcelona game?
MADMITCH on 25TH AUGUST 2016 12:02 PM
Don’t get me wrong, I was there before they were, and when it was required the place was booming without them.
Generally speaking though the atmosphere improved after they arrived. They’ve been on the go for a few years now and as you say I’d have expected numbers to rise. However, the fact that they haven’t may have been due to the club limiting the area they were allowed, and it being difficult to switch into their area.
We’ll see if safe standing is extended and if that helps.
Good article by Joe O’Rourke on the Celtic Supporters Association site re consultative document on repealing OBAF Act. Surely, this is something on which we can all agree – to encourage as many people to respond as possible. HH
http://thecelticblog.com/2016/08/blogs/celtic-ramp-up-transfer-activity-as-we-await-the-group-stage-draw/
Aw Naw
Your post reminds me of a wee faux Rabbie Burns ditty my uncle used to say at New Year.
He would pour a large glass of whiskey and address the room:
A drink – A drink you are a pest!
You only keep me from my rest.
You turn my friend to foe.
But here I see you before my nose……..So here goes!
And down it!
Good trivia…..
Princess Leia’s Surname & by extension…..Luke Skywalkers…….ORGANA?
FTSFA
HH.
Quick look in again. Sense of humour bypass in evidence as well as all the holier than thou Pharisee type bullshit .
Agree with WEEBOBBYCOLLINS but don’t hold out much hope of things improving later.
Fudness abounds!
BewaretheZealotsCSC
KTF
H.H.
I took you advice.
And this caught my attention.
VFR800A8 on 25TH AUGUST 2016 10:06 AM
Mats Nilloc on 25th August 2016 8:55 am
I usually ignore noise on the forums but your continual sniping at the GB and Celtic Trust needs addressing.
The GB by their actions in incurring fines which the club has to pay are parasites ON the body of the club.
You may disagree with the GB but they have brought colour, atmosphere AND MONEY into the club.
===============================================
It can all become tedious , BUT the G.B. have cost the club money.
The best representative of the Trust is Hamiltontim.
We talk. He acts.
I don`t agree with the Trust agenda , but not for one minute would I impugn their intentions.
I just think they are misguided.
Madmitch agree with a lot of your points,but this mob that is running our club,don’t have a clue ,when it comes to accommodating the ordinary fan,who work hard to buy a season ticket,but have no decent catering or toilet facilities, that’s the point I make a lot of on here,but its meet with deaf ears,fine if you talk about the downfall of Rangers,The I R A,politics,which is a pain in the Archie at times,Lawells heated drive way,The Celtic Trust ,who in my view do some good,but get it tight with a lot on here,Maybe I’m wrong but the middle class Celtic Supporter,just don’t seem to care that there fellow Supporter,in the winter days or evenings don’t have some were to go and get a heat and I bite to eat,but the ones that can afford the 5 star corporate facilities, don’t seem to care,they are mixing with the directors on match days ,they should tell them it’s time to get decent facilities inside and outside the Stadium,
Is there anybody out there?
PinkFloydCSC
Wow! Am oan here masel!
Billybhoy…
There should be a lot of peeps scraping fresh jobbie oot their shoes,with a lollypop stick ….
Some pepps just love shoite….
Just as well I don’t,t give a fig……but on today of all days to get blindsided by monkey shit…
No wonder JAMESGANG. is no on here..
If your lurking big man….
Braw loves ye!
Braw.