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A few nits to pick but lots went right for Celtic

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Lots went right last night, with only a few nits to pick.

Compare and contrast the key area of the field – central mid – with the game away in Malmo. With Bitton and Brown in their usual roles, Stefan Johansen dropped off his common (or Commons, if you like) position behind the striker to give us a central midfield three. As a result, everything clicked. Ajax were unable to pass through us, while central defence looked protected.

Again, Bitton was our main man. Always looking for a pass, always comfortable in possession, no matter how many opponents were in close proximity.  He even managed a Paul McStay-esque (that’s where you recognised it from) pass 40 yards ahead of Johansen in the second half. Brown and Johansen ran like clockwork alongside him and we looked like a team!

You’ll also have recognised the corner which led to Mikael Lustig’s goal. It was a carbon copy of Kris Commons’ effort, minutes from the end of the Qarabag game, and minutes after he came on as a substitute, which brought the only goal of that tie. It was drilled directly with the top of the foot, a very unusual and difficult delivery but one which, if executed well, is very dangerous.  Commons also got an assist for the first goal, an even more impressive piece of footwork before placing an inch-perfect pass between two Ajax defenders. Bitton’s controlled shot was sublime (I’ll avoid calling it Wakaso-esque, no need to jinx the lad).

I thought both full backs played well, until Izaguirre’s second yellow, of course. Izzie and Lustig were both booked for throwing themselves into challenges. It wasn’t a game for holding back to see what will happen next, so I’ve sympathy for the initial yellows, but Izzie had a game-intelligence bypass. His second yellow came a minute after another robust foul. The red was inevitable. It probably cost us the win.  The player is fighting for his place, and next contract, right now.  The pain on his face as he left the field was real, but he needs this pressure.  The lack of competition hasn’t been good for him in recent years.  Don’t write him off yet.

One frustration I had was that we didn’t get James Forrest on the ball often enough. James has the weapon of pace in his boots but we didn’t once manage to exploit it. Perhaps as a consequence Leigh Griffiths had a frustrating night with little to feast on. I’d have changed James role or replaced him earlier.

And what about Efe? Why he decided to take a man on, 20 yards from his own goal, a moment after coming on, only Efe will know, but thereafter he was the most influential player in securing the point. When Janko came on Efe pulled tight into a role as a defacto central defender.  He took responsibility and helped what was by then a relatively inexperienced defence.

When my youngest heard that Jozo Simunovic was making his debut there was a sharp intake of breath. “But what if he makes a mistake? All we’ll know about him is he’s made a mistake in a huge game.” Jozo looked the part, covered ground efficiently. It was a good start.

So what went wrong? Lustig went to ground on the wing, didn’t get the ball and left 20 yards of space open behind him. This drew Celtic defenders out of position to cover, which Ajax exploited excellently to score their first goal. They opened us up once more like this shortly thereafter, but that apart, they didn’t lay a glove on us until we were down to 10 men.

I’m pretty angry at the second Ajax goal. It was another cross into the six yard box we failed to attack. Dedryck Boyata ran between the two Ajax attackers in attendance, but seemed to be distracted by their runs. No one attacked the ball.  Get your starting position right and attack the ball – that’s the rule on set-pieces. We’re not following it.

And for the record, Craig Gordon was faultless for this one. A keeper has to stay on his line when a cross flies over attackers and defenders alike.  Whatever lies behind our recent frailties at defending cross balls, I suspect it’s not gone away.

The margins between success and failure in this group are shaping up to be thin. Ajax could have snatched three points at the end, we would have won the game if Izzie had stayed on the field. I’m not sure how I feel about Molde winning in Istanbul. A group with two difficult competitors now looks like a group with no easy games.  The group’s top seeds and the early favourites are both licking wounds this morning.

So let’s win it.

One big benefit from last night is that we can look forward to Sunday’s important game with a bit of enthusiasm.  The good people at Magners have again offered us two Premium Seats in the Jock Stein Stand for Sunday.  To win them, all you need to do is answer the following question:

Who do Celtic play on Sunday?

Email me, with your answer in the subject field, at celticquicknews@gmail.com

The competition closes at 2pm today, so there’s not much time and likely to be little competition.  And while you’re at it, how about donating a £1 to our Mary’s Meals, Malawi school kitchen appeal?  It takes moments to get involved here.

Thank you.

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  3. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Roy C

     

     

    If I can ever manage a computer / tablet / or whatever they are called I will save every one of your pictures, (& tunes) until then keep them coming….they are magic

  8. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    Hun video games?

     

     

    No Paperboy?

     

     

    Chase I Q ?

     

     

    Streetblighter?

     

     

    Formula Hun?

     

     

    League Space Invaders?

  14. Hamiltontim on

    Apologies the missus came back from her night out.

     

     

     

    BURNLEY78 on 18TH SEPTEMBER 2015 11:04 PM

     

    Hamilton Tim

     

     

     

     

     

     

    We were poor in Rosenburg. They were no great shakes on a freezing night when they took us apart. We were lucky to lose 2 nil. Porto were nowhere near the team of 2 years later but beat us 3 nil. Juventus were lucky to be gifted their winner in Turin but may have played differently in the dead rubber which we all loved at CP where duty scored his great left footer.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Ajax were 3rd in erevidese previous year and were in the middle of a very poor decade at that time.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I loved that win that night and lived the toppling of the little General Advocaat who for me played the biggest part of all in their undoing btw. I celebrated all the way onto my first plane back to London out of schiphol but we need to recognise we had an unsustainable wage bill at the time. Needed to go back to the well for more cash and ultimately did not achieve top level post xmas european football for another 5 years.

     

     

    ——–

     

     

    Whose fault was that in your opinion?

  16. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    Went to the movies tonight with my grandson …… What a movie that EVEREST is ……. and he wants to go to the game on Sunday with me as well …Doo Doo

  18. Hamiltontim on

    Kitalba

     

     

    I’m usually suspicious of anyone who claims they don’t have an agenda.

     

     

    If you voice a view in the pub, on the bus or on a blog, you have an agenda.

     

     

    It’s those who hide their agenda that are the problem.

  19. mncelt on

    Roy C – That goal that Didier scored against Ajax. I remember wondering why the defender was not getting back to get a tackle in as I was watching Didier bear down on goal. He hardly seemed to be moving as he covered the ground, then I looked at the defender who was running like the clappers trying to catch up. Didier had such tremendous, effortless speed, and what a cool finish as well.

  22. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Hamiltontim on 18th September 2015 11:35 pm

     

     

    You`re right.

     

    You would love to think that for Celtic supporters the agenda is what is in the best interests of

     

    Celtic F.C.

     

    Where we may differ is in how that aim is achieved.

  23. Gerryfaethebrig on

    DD

     

     

    Back in April i would have taken Roy C as a DJ in a second, in fact I think I tried to hint at it on here, but I suppose it wasn’t my day, would like nothing better than a few of his tunes at my own funeral, since that will be my day

     

     

    Roy C… the groundwork has been done hopefully 10/10 is a done deal, Miss GFTB had a school disco tonight in the chapel hall and I had to leverage if I wasn’t allowed out on 10/10 she wasn’t going to her P3 disco, thankfully she gave in so I am allowed out !

     

     

    Keep the tunes coming whether it’s the Jam or the Blarney Pilgrims, your tunes keep the blog good

  29. Delaneys Dunky on

    GFTB

     

     

    A great Tim fae your neebor toon. :)

     

    Gary Moore doing Hendrix on Sky Arts is magic just now.

  31. Gerryfaethebrig on

    67 Heaven….

     

     

    Good ploy, take him to see Everest….then take him to watch Celtic…..

     

     

    Ask him on Sunday where he felt the highest and it will be at Celtic Park

     

     

    Good stuff and enjoy

  33. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    A few weeks ago on Clyde or Sportsound Derek Ferguson came away with a wee that has not seen the light of day elsewhere.

     

     

    According to Derek, Mo Johnston’s choice of clubs was sealed when Rangers/MIM put £1m into a Swiss bank account as a signing on fee. A lot of money now, an awful lot of money then!

     

     

    If Derek was true in his assertion the details of the signing fee would have been lodged with the SFA, and the tax man would have got his cut. The wee admin errors surely were not prevalent then otherwise the period of lying and cheating would have covered several decades and not just the period covered by the wee/big tax cases.

     

     

    Got me thinking as to what actually enticed the English players to Rangers……..was it really European football on it’s own or were there financial rewards outwith those recorded by the SFA.

     

    It would be strange if the generosity extended to Mo was also not made available to others, particularly the English internationals.

     

     

    As with the more recent admin errors, any such payments not registered with the SFA would be subject to the Bryson interpretation therefore none of the 9 in a row at risk then.

     

     

    The lengths all involved have gone to make a wrong right is quite breathtaking……Rangers, SFA, SPL, Level 5 and almost the entire media.

     

     

    Everyone and their auntie knows that Rangers were at it and have escaped with no more than a slap on the wrist………..any other club would have found themselves banished from the game.

     

     

    Yet here we are on the verge of a triumphant return to the big time with a convicted felon as Chairman……..a return to the traditional Rangers Mr King?

     

     

    Yep then we all have been warned so expect nothing different from the revived corpse…

  34. Hamiltontim on

    Macjay

     

     

    Absolutely correct that’s why I’d like to meet you over a beer and let you know the values and purpose of the Trust :-)

  35. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    My last quote was copied from a contributor to Phil’s blog, Joe McCormack …..ASTOUNDING

  42. Gerryfaethebrig on

    67 heaven…..

     

     

    I have a (little) tax background and I am sure Celtic had agreed everything with Maurice and his “agent” until somebody pointed out a form called a P86…. I might be incorrect but he wasn’t out the country long enough so his tax free pay in France would have to be paid, then the BoS sponsored mob agreed to pay it so he swapped his Icelandic jumper for a McEwans lager top…. For a few pieces of silver

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