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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. starry plough on

    hebcelt

     

     

    Sad news mate:((

     

     

    Misery loves company as toehold saying goes.

     

     

    Nae love an joy for too many on here now..

     

     

    A mighty Hail Hail tae ye fae the Valley.

     

     

    SP

  5. Scots on

    Emilio had every right to be angry. Booked for a good tackle and elbowed on the jaw(after the opponent rotates 300 degrees to deliver it), for which no punishment was given. Before his second booking he had indeed put in a few tackles worthy of a sending off, if the first booking had in any way been correct, but the one he was sent off for was not even a foul. Izzie made no contact with his “lunge” and the contact happens after the guy hits the deck and carries on into Izzie. It seems some people think Celtic should be judged to a much higher standard than other teams(booked for intent?), no it’s supposed be sport and fair for all.

  7. Auldheid on

    TET

     

     

    Positive or negative it’s not long before you will get a chance to recharge your battery. :)

  10. NegAnon2 on

    Tony I know this is a tough one but its quite possible for lots of different people to have the same view.

     

     

    West end of east end – I seem to remember being on the receiving end of a few similar posts from you over the years?

  15. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    MR PASTRY

     

     

    Ronny has had two trophies out of three. Not six.

     

     

    You’re as good at the arithmetic as yer pal one of the 70%.

     

     

    And don’t try figuring European efforts into the equation. Those are opportunities which are unavailable to the likes of us since we started downsizing on the back of success.

     

     

    As usual.

  18. Greensideup-GBWO on

    I feel bad for Izzy. The problem was not the lunge at the Ajax player, it was a split second before when Izzy obviously tired at that point let the guy get position on him. Izzy tries to recover misses the guy and the guy embellished the moment. The referee ignores the cheating prick and pulls the card on Izzy. I would like to see Celtic appeal on the grounds Izzy never touched him. Even if we do not win the appeal it may highlight the cheating, which should be rewarded with a straight red

     

     

    HH

     

    gsu

  20. the_huddle on

    Summa of Sammi…. on 18th September 2015 1:40 pm

     

     

    Interesting Read..

     

     

    Football transfers: Players’ union Fifpro to begin new legal fight

     

     

    BBC Sport..

     

     

    A legal challenge is being made to football’s transfer rules that could change the professional game forever.

     

     

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34281054

     

    ———————————————————————–

     

    It doesn’t really change anything, does it? All they are covering is when a player isn’t paid by a club, which isn’t going to happen if the player is worth a transfer fee, and all the big clubs have enough money to keep on playing wages.

  21. auld bertie on

    Kodi /Android box . I have uninstalled Sportsdevil ( don’t ask,) assistance required to re install it it please. Thank you.

  22. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    HEBCELT

     

     

    Leaving the site,like so many good ant reliable posters,leaves the rest of us with an uphill struggle against those who convinced you to leave in the first place.

     

     

    Aye,I understand your reasons. But this is a great place to voice your opinions. I wish there was more tolerance and more humour. We all do.

     

     

    I’ll ask you one wee simple question,cos I know yer a smashing guy and won’t take offence at it.

     

     

    You’re successful in life,did you eff off in the face of criticism while doing so?

     

     

    Come back to light,mate. Wi both barrels. And some decent black pudding-imagine them as missiles!

  23. Auldheid on

    Ger57

     

     

    Abolishing transfer fees would only favour clubs who can pay highest wages without any compensation to the club who developed a player to a level he was worth paying money for.

     

     

    There is a “specificity of sport” argument ( try saying that) that will no doubt be deployed to argue against change.

     

     

    If not then some “compensation ” arrangement like x times a players annual wage for his full contract length plus perhaps an add on for income potential lost from prize money would have to replace a transfer fee.

     

     

    Transfer fees are not the problem. Player wages are and players and agents are not going to argue they should drop.

     

     

    I don’t know what the argument for abolishing xfer fees is so I’ll look into it but my feeling is that it will not help clubs like Celtic who develop the VVDs, so how is the removal of that development strata going to help the clubs who buy?

     

     

    Whoever is pushing this and their motives had best be examined/challenged.

     

     

    Who benefits?

  24. timaloy29 on

    Had to laugh at FIFPro’s suggestion that transfer fees favor the big clubs

     

     

    I would imagine that the bigger clubs wouldn’t be able to attract more FIFPro members by paying them more money ;)

  26. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    All i’ve ever asked of our bhoys is to play for us, the support, and give

     

    it all they have got, if they don’t ,then we know, and they know, they

     

    have let us down and then the recriminations start, never mind about

     

    who’s worth what , who’s more technically efficient, who’s the teachers

     

    pet we can all see deficiencies, but if the team doesn’t fight for us then

     

    the games a bogey with the fans.

     

    Last night i felt the team put in a shift for us and i know some were

     

    found lacking in the confidence factor, but all you ghuys have played

     

    at some level of football in your life and you know that it doesn’t matter

     

    what you do when your off form, nothing that you try comes off it’s

     

    always been that way, a case in point is Stefan Johansen player of the

     

    year last year and now it looks as though he doesn’t know whether to

     

    stick or twist, result is he looks like he is the headless chicken described

     

    on here but without a tackle going in, that needs sorted .

     

    Anyway i’m happy as larry , me and the gang are off down the peninsula

     

    to my wee gypsy caravan, all the hoops tops, flags, etc, in the boot for our

     

    Celtic clubs “Halfway to Paddy’s day” celebration, i know its a bit weird but

     

    they have Christmas in July here so anything goes.

     

    The weather is looking great so might have a wee swim in the sea before

     

    i start indulging, the princess has been slagging me about my guinness

     

    belly i said to her.

     

    ” The last time i came out the water you said i looked like Daniel Craig ”

     

    ” Naw Mick, the last time you came oot the watter i said you looked like

     

    Wendy Craig and you need a bra ”

     

    ( Bummer. )

     

    So won’t be online till next time so all you real bhoys enjoy the fact our

     

    team do understand what it means to wear the famous hoops and don’t

     

    let the smsm crap divide us.

     

    H.H Mick

  27. Geordie Munro on

    Useless inflammation number 93.

     

     

     

    Nits are actually the rubbidge eggs that don’t turn into head lice.

     

     

     

    HH

  29. BGX on

    Last night Griff had two chances that on another day he would have buried,one a cut back from the left the other a cross from KC.Small margins in Europe,in saying that i bet nobody is more ticked off than Leigh…..happy with the result ,On and On……also have to say i agree with TD67….guy dived and conned the ref for Izzys sending off…..

  31. Dharma Bam on

    Hebcelt at 1.25

     

     

    Very disappointed to hear that. you are one of the positive (balanced?) people on here and always seem able to give a reasoned response to the erm, less than positive, Celtic “supporters” on here.

     

     

    More importantly, you can’t quit as I never got to meet up with you, for an item which I am led to believe would have been from Stornoway! I posted a video of a sketch on a Scottish island with the children talking about how they feel, “when the boat does not come in”. Unfortunately, I cant find it, otherwise I would have posted it again it was funny and very accurate.

     

    I spent 4 years on an Inner Hebridean island and have experienced the gloom of the boat not getting in!

     

     

    Hail hail and stay on the blog!

  32. Summa of Sammi.... on

    .

     

     

    Think Paul67 Mentioned last Week Celtic conceded 17 Goals last Season..

     

     

    We have Lost 14 Goals in last 8 Games..

     

     

    Hope Big Joso takes that Stat and Reverses it in the Next 8 Games also would Like to see Someone like Him become a Majlby Type player and Hang around a While..Certainly would help Craig Gordon get his Confidence back..

     

     

    Summa

  33. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BGX

     

     

    If LG had scored that one on his left foot wi a dropping ball wi pace and a keeper on the near post,I would be declaring his birthday a Holiday of Obligation.

  34. Mr Pastry on

    BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 18th September 2015 1:40 p

     

     

    1) CL Qualifiers 2014/15 – out

     

    2) EL 2014 – out

     

    3) SC 2014/15 – out

     

    4) LC 2014/15 – win

     

    5) Premiership 2014/15 – win

     

    6) CL Qualifiers 2015/16 – out

     

     

    My “arithmetic” makes that SIX competitions – 1 to 6 = 6

     

     

    Peter Lawwell is constantly judged on European and domestic performance – so why not also the manager?

     

    Getting to the group stages of CL is success, as is getting beyond the first knock-out round of the EL – simples!!!

     

     

    btw – We haven’t “downsized” – we are spending much more than we did ten years ago – the crazy football world has UPSIZED.

     

     

    Recommendation – please remove foot from mouth and carry on!

  35. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    TONYDONNELLY

     

     

    Nice to know yer aff the drink for some reason. Has yer doc been reading yer posts on here?

     

     

    Seriously,do what he tells you,mate. And ask Masty about 10/10. I’ll buy you a Coke. Wi whatever you like in it.

  36. the_huddle on

    Mr Pastry

     

    —–

     

    You can’t count CL and Europa in the same year, Ronny can’t win them both, would be some achievement mind :O)

  37. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    MR PASTRY

     

     

    And as I said,he can only be judged on his domestic performance.

     

     

    Are you trying to say he can win both the Europa League and the CL in the same season?

     

     

    Bloody idiot.

  40. ABZMike on

    THE_HUDDLE – Sounds like winning CL and Europa in the same season is a minimum success criteria… Mind you, we would win the Super Cup as well easy peasy

  42. the_huddle on

    ABZMike on 18th September 2015 2:06 pm

     

     

    THE_HUDDLE – Sounds like winning CL and Europa in the same season is a minimum success criteria… Mind you, we would win the Super Cup as well easy peasy

     

    ———————

     

    The Super Cup is the year after, so technically Ronny failed to contest it this year as potential CL and Europa champions, so that another trophy lost.

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