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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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  2. I heard he was dead on

    CELTIC v @dundeefconline : Gordon; Janko, Boyata, Ambrose, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton; Commons, Rogic, Forrest; Griffiths (MD)

     

     

    Celtic Football Club ‏@celticfc now

     

    Celtic subs: Bailly, Blackett, Ciftci, Stokes, Mackay-Steven, McGregor, Tierney (MD)

     

     

    Where is Simunovic?

  4. Dexter says PAY THE LIVING WAGE CELTIC PLC on

    1m1 minute ago

     

    Celtic Football Club ‏@celticfc

     

    CELTIC v @dundeefconline : Gordon; Janko, Boyata, Ambrose, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton; Commons, Rogic, Forrest; Griffiths

  7. Dexter says PAY THE LIVING WAGE CELTIC PLC on

    1m1 minute ago

     

    Celtic Football Club ‏@celticfc

     

    Celtic subs: Bailly, Blackett, Ciftci, Stokes, Mackay-Steven, McGregor, Tierney (MD)

  8. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    I HEARD HE WAS DEAD

     

     

    Asking his agent why he was signed on a contract that reflects a £1.5m fee rather than a £5.5m fee?

  12. corkcelt on

    Very disappointed no Jozo, he surely needs games to bed in. I assume he must have a knock. Ronny taking no chances with Ciftci until (a) Game is won or (b) He needs him.

     

    Joe Hanson either dropped or injured.

  14. I heard he was dead on

    BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS

     

     

    Well maybe but it does seem a strange one for me.

     

     

    3rd game in a row with a different defence from the previous game.

     

     

    Unless the guy has taken a knock I don’t get that one.

     

     

    Efe plays.

     

     

    Lets hope we don’t pay.

  20. Saint Stivs on

    Okay.

     

    I will start the get at players today.

     

     

    How can it be a strongest eleven in no goals no assists jamiese is playing ?

     

     

    I hope he has his 1 in ten stormer today.

     

     

    Hope in my heart

  23. I heard he was dead on

    corkcelt

     

     

    The ever reliable Paul The Tim on twitter said he has just walked in the door.

     

     

    As he appears to stand outside Celtic Park quite a lot it’s probably true.

  24. corkcelt on

    Looking forward to 1st half of Hertz/Sheep game. Must be one of the first times in my life I’m cheering for Hertz.

  30. corkcelt on

    I Heard he was Dead, Thanks for that, believe it or not he was one of the guys on my pre-season wish list.

     

    He is only 31 or 32 and has bags of experience, if we could get him for a small retainer and a pay as you play basis, I’d be thrilled.

  31. up_over_goal on

    Saint Stivs

     

     

    Jamesie’s stats are bad, but if I had to play him I’d put him where he is today – in front of Izzy in 4-2-3-1/4-4-2.

     

     

    That said, it has a point-dropping look to it.

     

     

    Glad Commons, Brown, Bitton and Forrest playing, but concerned about Janko at full-back. Our defence is no-win proposition at the moment so I’m not going to criticise Ambrose/Boyata.

     

     

    Ronny threw me a curve-ball with his 4-5-1 on Thursday, but lightning can’t strike twice so it’ll be 4-2-3-1 today. In that formation, Rogic behind Griffiths has been a poor choice over several games.

     

     

    Then again, I’m still puzzled at the absence of Stokes.

  33. I heard he was dead on

    corkcelt

     

     

    It’s always good to get experience into your team.

     

     

    If he wants to sign then he’d do a job.

  34. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Efe played well on Thursday ….a return to form after a season or so in the wilderness

     

     

    Hope so …we need all the help we can get in defence

  41. Summa of Sammi.... on

    .

     

     

    Bobby..St Stivs..Delaneys Dunky..

     

     

    Thank You for taking the Time to Post..Email and Message me Re; Tickets for Norway..

     

     

    Any more News please email me as i will be in Transit for most of the Next Week..

     

     

    KTF..

     

     

    Summa

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