After the two drubbings at the hand of Paris St Germain, I read how they were among the best teams ever to visit Celtic Park. In the next round of the Champions League they lost home and away to Real Madrid (currently 15 points off the pace in La Liga). The truth is, we flattered the French champions-elect.
PSG are not on the level of any of the Barcelona teams we have faced in recent years, or the Milan or Juventus teams who eliminated us from the Champions League knock out stages. They have abundant talent, but this is not a team who should be beating us 0-5 and 7-1.
The Milan team we faced in 2007, who were on their way to winning the Champions League, contained Maldini, Gattuso, Seedorf, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Ambrosini and Kaka. Celtic held them to two 0-0s over 90 minutes, with Telfer, McManus, O’Dea, Naylor and Sno in the side, none of whom would get into the current side.
Truth is, we have better players than at any point under Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon. The current crop have and will continue to achieve more domestically than their predecessors, but we cannot go toe-to-toe with Europe’s moneyed elite any more than Morton can at Celtic Park.
This season’s Champions League group was a five defeat and one win success. We eliminated a higher seed – progress in anyone’s book. But conceding five, six and seven goals needs to stop. Defending against overwhelming talent is an art. Let’s learn it.
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PSG ?
” I remember the absolute delight I got from watching him play for Pescara ..Watching him last night reminded me of the story about the bird in a gilded cage… He went there and has chosen to stay there – Why Marco, why ? “.
Italian radio pundit talking about Marco Verratti / PSG
7 3 18
starry plough
Did you see this piece of a conversation he had with Phil Cunningham.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bAKPmsLbs4
nick drake northern sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3jCFeCtSjk
Presumably defensive coaching involves the whole team, midfield and forwards included going by the ‘Defend as a team’ mantra.
Bobby M,
I don’t believe in hurting Celtic, as in not buying a ST, if I was sill n Scotland.
The SFA are the villains and should be targeted.
My reference to empty stands when they came to call was in response to the demand for Celtic to speak out.
Celtic and 40 other clubs are bound by the SFA rules, re Bringing the Game into Disrepute and surely as eggs is eggs, that rule book would be thrown at them if they were to launch an all out assault on the SFA.
What they are attempting to do is, use that rule Book against them, by demanding that they justify their actions in accordance with those same rules.
It is a cleft stick we are holding, right enough.
But sometimes you have to wonder what the club makes of the fact that they can’t accommodate everyone who wants to watch us playing them.
It maybe tells them that the fans are bothered about the Sevco situation, but not all that bothered.
T’n’T,
Totally agree with your sentiments and your last paragraph :-
“hat would be a heart wrenching course of action for many, as most of us love Celtic more than we hate the wrong doers. It may well be the only course of action that will bring the corruption to the attention of a wider audience.”
That is the approaching the nuclear option.
You may or may not recall a sign off I used to use, depicting, what I thought were the only two options open to Celtic, in the face of the depth of corruption.
One was to relocate to another league, like Derry City.
The other, was to turn the key in the door, like Belfast Celtic.
Number one, is a long shot.
Number two, is a non starter.
To continue within the Scottish game is, by practice, condoning the immoral dealings of the SFA/SPFL.
DC or BC.
SOUKOUS
I didn’t thank you:))
But later tonight got to get some work done today:))
HH
Being a happy clapper, I’m inclined to look for the positive. Brendan can hardly be ignorant of the “park the bus and hope to score on the break” tactic. It almost certainly would have served us better this season. I’m hoping Brendan is looking to the future. He is practicing performing the way he hopes to see us play and testing players for their suitability for fitting into that system. We get a few embarrassing results to begin with but ultimately we will be better.
SAN LUIS@12-32 PM
Football is a team sport so defensive responsibility falls on the 11 players on the park and coaches.
Klopp is a very good coach but his teams defensive weakness makes it unlikely he will ever be more than a nearly man.He is an attacking but incomplete coach.
Last night Real gave a masterclass in off the ball movement denying space to opponents and creating many attacking opportunities.
Our defensive flaw is not conceding goals but gifting possession to often which in the limited SPL we do get away with but in Europe have been severely punished.
Last night what was noticeable when Real were playing across the back was how hard their forwards and midfielders worked to get into space allowing forward passes and quick transition.
Our lack of intelligence off the ball is hurting Celtic and something the coaches need to improve substantially for us to stop being fodder in Europe.
FAN-A-TIC @ 2:11
I agree about our team lacking intelligence off the ball. (I refer to this as ‘Pitch-craft’, or pitch-awareness … which is something that can be learned or coached)
For me, its clearest manifestation is when our players have possession but seem to have no ‘open’ or attractive forward options.
Sometimes this is because our opponents are well-prepared and experienced (cf. top European sides) and quickly adapt their positions and team shape to minimise the threat.
But often (I would say more often this season than last, due [at least in part] to our domestic rivals getting used to the BR style of play), this is because the players forward of the player in possession aren’t moving to make options (short, long or in-between); the square ball or backward pass is usually the giveaway …
VIP
Bmcuwp 12.04.
God Bobby that just shows the stacked deck we are up against . What chance do we have .
Kris Commons just said on SSN that had Murty been in charge from the start of the season then they would be top of the league just now!!!
Is Commons really Kev J?
So is the first rumblings of discontent from Paul67 and the ‘Lawwell Loyal’… should we see a ‘reversal’ on Sunday?
Brendan’s defensive frailties are well known. The passing across the back line is painful to watch. Hopefully the signings will give us a lift?
Sevco are always going to win things in Scotland, by hook or by crook.
The Plc had the opportunity to say something but let everyone down. Peter Lawwell and Co have been drawing up plans for a Hotel. While Glibby and Co have surreptitiously put a team of journeymen together.
Nothing changed. EBT Mc Leish is even running the national side. The MIB…? The administration…Supreme Court Judgements? Yada yada yada.
Congratulations to Peter Lawwell & Ian Bankier, Sevco are back.
There is a mountain of Fools’ Gold in the bank. The Black Arts are delighted….. and there is a seemingly endless line of schlemiel’s clamouring to watch the ‘bigotfest.’ :)
(Bigotfest might seem a extreme but the Sevco games are an affront to decency and illustrate all that is wrong with Scottish football and a significant proportion of Scottish society.)IMO.
PSG were magnificent that night at Celtic Park, best performance I’ve seen against us, doesn’t mean they are the best team I’ve seen
Strangely though their first goal there was a foul not given, third one a soft penalty only the elite teams get and then two late on.
Lots of things impressed but the most surprising was how well they defended , we just couldn’t get at them something we were able to against the great Barcelona teams.
Sno in the side, none of whom would get into the current side.
——-
To be fair, Paul, Telfer can’t be far off fifty!
Seriously though, I have been saying for ages that we should develop a counter-attacking game for Europe. Condense the pitch and break fast with a front three.
Aside from that we must get better at the basics of defending. We constantly get caught ball-watching and generally struggle with off-the-ball movement, resulting in many cheap goals being conceded.
Learn it?
How about spending some of our horded cash and improve it?
Oh wait! I was forgetting about the excuse matrix.
MWD
The more I read of what Kris Commons says the more I am astounded of forehead at his uttering’s.
MWD
Kris taking the blue pound. unsurprising, but sad nonetheless.
MWD
Not me. Not any more. Must need the money. It comes to something when he’s got a growing fan club on FF.
Appreciate his charity work, and that of his good lady, but he’s still guilty of the fastest soul sell of any ex hoops player. Unpalatable
Paul67 et al
Of course we actually beat European Champions AC Milan 2-1 later on in December 2007. As for Celtic having better players now than under Gordon or Neil, not so sure about that;
Boruc, McGeady, Nakamura, Wanyama, Ki, Samaras, Telfer, Ledley, Commons, Hartley and Hooper would, individually have little trouble getting into Brendan’s team. That’s eleven players from the Strachan/Lennon era. And of course there is one more, who did indeed play in that AC Milan victory, Scott Brown, a lesser light then but who is now regularly hailed as our best player, though not by me. There is the dichotomy right there.
The amount of games we have played compared to our rivals plus a horrendous run of injuries has prevented us from walking away with the League.
We are by far the best team in the SPFL, I have no doubt that we will win the Championship and we stand an excellent chance of back to back trebles.
It’s still just 2 defeats in 85 domestic games under Brendan
The hanging around waiting for the Sevco game is spooking some Posters there is no need whatever for all the gloomy posts.,
Is Paddy fit enough to be unleashed against the dark side??
As we target a double Treble”, could some of the prose weavers on here give me a better alternative description than the rather clumsy “Double Treble”.
A Sextuple? (Ooh err Mrs). A Hexatruple?
Any suggestions appreciated. ?
… target a “Double Treble”
A Lot of posters on here are under a misapprehension that because they are the biggest club in Scotland, then we have the biggest say in the running of the game.
Celtic have for years and decades been sidelined in the management of Scottish Football. We only have one vote. I have been informed that at SFA and SPFL meetings we often find ourselves in a minority and seldom attract support for our initiatives. We are the largest and most commercially successful club by far and in votes often only attract support from 2 or 3 clubs.
In the SFA it is worse with the chairman being from Cove Rangers, we are continually ignored and voted down. The only area where we attract any support is for financial matters. My father used to say, that there are only 2 types of supporters, Celtic fans and anti-Celtic fans.
We have explored the option of looking to leave the league but Atlantic league, EPL and European League have all came to nothing. We are aware that there is a bias against Celtic in the Scottish Football games and other clubs have condoned the cheating of Rangers and of Sevco and still do so.
Celtic have continually improved our place in the European game because this is our only avenue where we can get out of Scotland. The ECA and friendships the Board has built with Barcelona and Bayern will serve us well. Were there to be European Leagues now then we would be the only club in Scotland invited on board.
I don’t understand why people say Celtic are condoning the Treatment of Rangers cheating, there is no evidence that the Board have done so. I rather think they have continually complained about the cheating and the RES 12 chaps were surprised when the club shared their correspondence with them.
We have few friends in the media, as well as few in the governing bodies and we don’t go leaking stories to the media because they are just spun against you.
We were called Paranoid when we claimed the SFA/SPFL, Referees and the Media were all pro-Rangers and anti Celtic. From where I sit, then the case is proven.
To do what Derry City and Belfast Celtic did is not an option for Celtic. We need to strive against the injustice, and at the same time, create the top team and beat them all on the park. Our latest commercials have out turnover as big as the rest of the Premiership teams put together and this commercial success is the only place where we have an advantage. Celtic supporters really support our team, in all ways.
Lets concentrate on beating the uber-cheats on Sunday and push on to another Treble.
the six pack
WITS
“CARTHAGO DELENDA EST”
Does that include the Baths of Antoninus
Where will he wash?
I doubt Paddy will feature much on Sunday – we missed a trick not starting him against Morton to give him game time. Would play him every week if fit. Seems funny that we will start Sunday with our two most valuable and creative players on the bench but understandable given form/fitness. Too lightweight if both play? But they have the talent to rip Dinamo Govan to shreds and would be a joy to watch. Enough of the romanticism – 3 points and a scruffy 1-0 win will do!
BIGBHOY
My father used to say, that there are only 2 types of supporters, Celtic fans and anti-Celtic fans.
Your father was a wise man.
Met the finance guy Low when he came to New York CSC on behalf of Fergus and during our conversation he stated that every proposition Celtic put forward had only one club voting positively for and that was Celtic.
The best wee country just can’t help itself.
They will happily see the demise of Scottish football over a successful Timmy.
Kris Commons……..Et tu, Brute?
Doris Day
Justin Beiber Jozo KT
Jamsie Kouassi Broonie Ntcham
Paddy Charly
Moussa
dreaming and will never happen – but solid midfield and what a front 3 – paddy and charly causing chaos as two no 10s behind Moussa.
Wits, Twisty et al,
Talking about Cheltenham. Last week I was speaking to a Head lad, who warned not to go heavy on either Mullins or Elliot. He said that both are concentrating on the Irish Trainers’ Championship. Take what you want from it.
HH
Does Kris Commons come fae the same troll farm as me, or is he on a different shift ?
Confused, awfy confused!
Anywye, it’ll no be long till Jack & Victor time √
Craiglang CSC
……..oot.
Why do some people think its a criminal to spend money on infustructure i.e. hotel etc…?? Good returns on such investments are right in your face, ffs…
wee fergus built a 60K stadium, 10K more than the southsiders and the result has saw our income from gate give us a messive advantage!
The superstore at the stadium has given the club messive amount of income over the years.
Neither of the above were free but both are important in maximising income which then feeds into the football department.
A museum, hotel, cafe and bigger and better superstore should be viewed like the above in that the until investment is great but the rewards are huge and pay in the long term.
HH
Bigbhoy @4:22
The kind of post that drew me to CQN in the first place. Well done and thank you for taking the effort to write it.
JJ
A ‘treble treble’ will have a much nicer ring to it.
However, back to the present, surely it is inconceivable for us to lose this league having had so much of an advantage over our rivals, even with injuries and European football etc.
Yes, inconceivable and, dare I say it, unforgivable.
Either : `Making the effort` or `taking the time` but not my selection !!
JJ
`A ‘treble treble’ will have a much nicer ring to it.`
Or
`An unprecedented quadruple treble.`
JJ
A “Demidozen”???