Shakhtar Donetsk’s result in Leipzig last week spooked me. It precipitated Leipzig sacking their manager, lancing the boil before we get to play them and fortified Shakhtar, the lowest seed we will face, with an invaluable three away points. The Ukrainians will now expect to finish second in the group.
Although that 1-4 result in Leipzig is better than anything Celtic have achieved on the road in our Champions League endeavours, there is comfort in the match stats. Shakhtar had five attempts at goal in total, all four that were on target found the net. Leipzig created three times as many chances and the visitors achieved what they did with 32% possession. And let’s not forget, a team that finished below us in Scotland last season recorded a 2-4 win in Dortmund earlier this year.
For 50 minutes, the Celtic performance against Real Madrid last midweek was as impressive as I can recall against a genuinely top team. We have seen Champions League wins against Milan, Barcelona and Manchester United, but never with such attacking confidence.
The squad have the benefit of eight days to prepare and, importantly, Kyogo should be fit. I also hope we see Liel Abada start. I disagree with the notion he could have done better with a shot at goal against Real. It was a low probability chance, with all other options blocked by the covering defender. His substitution at halftime was the one mistake I chalked up to Ange Postecoglou.
It is going to be a big night for the defence. Moritz Jenz will be in the team ahead of schedule, but like so many others, he has started the season well and will take the field with confidence. It will also be an occasion for reinforcements from the bench. We still fade around the hour mark, fortunately, Ange has plenty in reserve to trouble opponents at this level.
As we touched on yesterday, the first thing the players need to do is develop an aggressive instinct, leave their opponents to be affected by emotions. Get the result and leave the flag waving until later.
Martin O’Neill Brunch, Dalziel Park Hotel, Motherwell, afternoon of Sat 24 September
The man that changed everything, Martin O’Neill, is coming to Motherwell Saturday 24 September! The event will be compared by our pal, Phil Agnew. There will photo opportunities, some cups will be there too. Donations will go to the Kano Foundation and local charities.
Kick off is 11:45am, for tickets, call Alan on 07970 716422. Cost, including brunch, is £50.
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Good evening all from the Victoria Bar.
Folks, this is a big one. Not only in terms of our potential qualification from the group…but also for Ange.
While there are indications that the team has improved since last season, we, at this point, have no knowledge as to whether or not our (often poor) defence has improved in a significant way.
Scottish clubs haven’t really challenged our defence this season – although the 2 goals conceded (from headers) are all too similar to many lost last season. No-one will quibble with the 3 we lost to Real Madrid – although it should be obvious the ‘pressing’ is a team sport and that solo pressing contributed to our loss of that 1st goal….
So today will likely provide some answers. If we haven’t improved at the back, there will be no joy in Europe. I really hope that, if tested, we will demonstrate a great step forward in defensive performance.
This 4 game portion of our UCL fixtures MUST produce results.
CELTIC: Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Jenz, Taylor, McGregor, Hatate, O’Riley, Jota, Kyogo, Haksabanovic.
Subs: Bain, Siegrist, Giakoumakis, Abada, Mooy, Turnbull, Bernabei, Abildgaard, Maeda, Forrest, Ralston, Welsh
Official
DalriadaBhoy on 14th September 2022 4:20 pm
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Loved it. Cheers mate. How are you going to watch the game?
Haksabanovic starts.
Bognorbhoy…nae goalie starting is a bold move ;-))
H.H.
celtic40me on 14th September 2022 4:29 pm
Haksabanovic starts.
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I was hoping he would. Looks really hungry and positive. Might burn out early though.
We’re not going down wondering
TheLurkinTim on 14th September 2022 4:31 pm
Bognorbhoy…nae goalie starting is a bold move ;-))
H.H.
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And people said Agne has no plan B.
HH
SCULLYBHOY on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:31 PM
👍
Early goal hopefully
Official web site tae 🙈😂😂
Boom….
Haksa starts
Big Abilgard on the bench too….
Mmmmmmmm
Like it.
HH
Feeling so privileged to be here and sharing a taxi through Warsaw traffic to the stadium with a new friend Valerey from west Ukraine who is going to support Shakhtar tonight.
Hoping his team can get 3rd place in the group after Madrid and Celtic of course. Great to share.
I’m guessing Hart …
As he’s not on subs bench 😜😜😂😂😂😂
Haksabanovic starts
very bold move with Haksabanovic. Must be showing up well in training and maybe Abada and Maeda were the fall guys from last week
Jaysus, that bench would win the SPFL alone…..
HH
Going back to previous thread
The Don’t cross the ball to me unless the laces are facing the goal joke still makes me smile, several decades later.
It always amazed me how many goals McGrory scored with his head.
That was before i knew he was 5ft 6.
The courage, bravery and loyalty of this man wow just wow.
SCULLYBHOY
Loved the picture in the articule you posted the bullet header.
Loved the quick witted humour “but you are one” in the article about Jimmy you posted the other day.
I nearly got knocked out as a teenager trying to head the ball low down, i got kicked in the head.
Slight scar left an impressive amount of blood at the timeand don’t even remember the game.
I never again tried heading a ball below waist height.
What a guy though.
Clarence House staff have had their ‘at risk’ letters from Charlie already!
I saw him going mental at a pen in Belfast earlier as well. First a Scot Nat pen tray, then a Republican fountain pen!!
SCULLY:
Re game:
I will watch from home……son wanted me to go to his house on Glen Road….he has 3 bhoys,one a season ticket holder,the others will be suitably attired,as always,I have decided to stay at ‘home’ for this one…
You’ve got to love Ange – first away game in the champions league and he picks his most attacking team ever
Come on the Celtic
Strong team and bench.
D :)
DalriadaBhoy on 14th September 2022 4:37 pm
Thing is how shabbily he was treated. Turned down the money of being a World Record signing. The Board then reduced his wages! Makes you think – if you were to be a Celtic supporter based on the behaviour of the Board (the treatment of Tommy Burns who was also given a new contract based on a wage cut), when would you have supported Celtic?
Bhoyjoebelfast on 14th September 2022 4:39 pm
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Have you BT Sports? Had a foolish hope that RTE 2 might show it.
celtic40me on 14th September 2022 4:32 pm
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I am praying so. I would take a draw, though. These guys are no mugs and there will be a lot of nationalistic passion.
Check with kith and kin if there is a BT Sport login going free early evening…..
Given the timing might be a possibiity or knowing those at the pub who won’t need it.
HH
I canny wait to see Haksabanovic, just going by the brief moments that I’ve seen him so far, he stood out like a sore thumb, might be as the pace had come out the game somewhat, but, I liked very much what I saw, por cierto.
live updates up
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