When looking back on last season I suggested we would not have won the league if we persisted with the 4-2-3-1 formation that brought us to the brink of crisis in December. Creativity was ponderous and the players looked out of ideas. We switched to three at the back after the winter break and rolled towards the title. The same players looked commanding and worthy winners.
There were many failures last night, but reverting to the tried-and-tested-and-failed formation is high on the list. If there is another reason we failed to score more with so much possession, I don’t think it had a material impact.
After the Hamilton Accies demolition, it felt churlish to gripe about the volume of chances we conceded, but I could foresee having to write today’s article. High on my mind that day was what some unknown, but infinitely better, European striker would do to us in qualifying. We are wide open to the counter attack. Ferencvaros’ winner was a dreadful goal to concede – a clearance from the middle of their own half that we failed to defend. Although Elhamed was culpable, it was a consequence of how we play.
You have seen the opening goal before this season. Accies threw a set piece into the box, which was headed to the edge of a penalty area that was a Celtic Free Zone. We have conceded three goals this season, two of them as a consequence of not getting out to the edge of the box for the second ball at set pieces.
Neil Lennon seemed more upset about the second goal – which involved a clear individual error – than the first, which was a systemic failure to defend set pieces. We do not push out with rehearsed purpose. Motherwell will know that and if we do not fix it by Sunday, they will exploit what Hamilton and Ferenvaros already profited from.
For years I have written here that suggestions players do not look interested is a naïve comment by people that do know little about football, which is usually borne out when they burst into creativity following a tactical change. Neil threw this theory (and his players) under the bus after the game. Whatever mistakes Neil Lennon made last night, we know the man well enough to be sure something significant lay behind his post-match comments about players not wanting to be at Celtic.
We have been here before, from Kelvin, to Moussa to Dedryck. Based on the manager’s comments, I have no doubt some of the current crop are up to the same tricks. This is very disappointing, but it is not why we were knocked out of Europe, again, by a team with that cost a fraction of our own, and on this occasion to a team who have played fewer games than us.
The value for money return on our wage and player investment spend has brought historical highs domestically. Money spent is the blunt weapon that’s delivered nine-in-a-row, three trebles and counting, but we are regularly out boxed by European financial minnows, and if you blame Hatem Elhamed for last night, you are missing the big picture.
On a tactical note, I am not getting into whoever wants a move until the window closes. There are very important weeks ahead. Eye on the (remaining) prize.
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Not sure who the striker is that we could have played last night?
Ajeti clearly didn’t look match fit when he came on and Klimala isn’t at the level we need yet so who?
Seen last nights movie too many times. If it wasn’t for the 10 thing , managerial change needed if the club want to progress in Europe , we are too open particularly after 60 minutes in all of these games and lose our way
Suspect that the continental types just practice this stuff and although individually no great shakes , the sum is greater than the parts – opposite with us
Expecting Eddy to leave now , fed up
Why do some players not want to be at Celtic, is it money or working environment?
Eddie Howe is a good shout 👍🏻
Bhoylo83
What do you mean re Kilmala?
Follow up, when and how will he get to the ‘level we need’?
Genuine questions. It’s an interesting point
Bhoylo83
Don’t think anyone will bite
Not sure who the striker is that we could have played last night?
Ivan toney
Turnbull signed
BIG G on 27TH AUGUST 2020 1:09 PM
‘Why do some players not want to be at Celtic, is it money or working environment?’
###
Absence of fans may be a factor.
The game last night has happened 3 times now in 12 months.
Did players want away then too?
Or do we have a failure at a tactical level to manage these type of games ?
Neil Lennon let us down last night and has jeopardised the support of the dressing room in an attempt to cover for himself.
The omission of a striker in itself was inexcusable but the repeated systemic failures to defend competently also casts serious doubt over our management team.
Specialist defence coach required immediately plus 2 central defenders and a left back who can beat a man. Ignore Europe and concentrate on domestic treble.
Should be giddy about Turnbull.
Happy to have him but hard to smile and celebrate today. He’s a talent, should be straight into the team as well.
Uncle Jimmy
Lenny himself said he wasn’t at the level we need yet and anyone who has seen hik knows how raw he is
Now, I mentioned on here a few weeks ago we are one Edouard injury away from disaster and that we got away with it last season by the skin of our teeth
To be fair to the board, they went out and bought a ready-made striker in Ajeti, but he’s not fit yet having not had a proper pre-season
We should have been able to call on Griffiths, but God knows what the story is there
straight in , take the place of one of the ones that doesn’t what to be here.
RC
‘Ivan Toney’
He doesn’t play for Celtic
Ernie. Maybe, but fans are shut out everywhere
Specialist defence coach required immediately
no need, we have one don’t you know John Kennedy the world class one
Turnbull, a welcome addition.
Who will be out?
‘Ivan Toney’
He doesn’t play for Celtic
but he wants to.
Turnbull has had more game time than since the season started than any of our other players , so I sincerely hope I don’t hear that he’s not fit enough to start . Patryk Klimala looked fit enough , sharp enough and handy enough against Hamilton to manage 45 minutes.
BIG G on 27TH AUGUST 2020 1:19 PM
‘Ernie. Maybe, but fans are shut out everywhere’
##
But maybe not all fans, or the atmosphere they create, are equal.
another project on the books , great.
The dust will settle. First priority is get the win against Motherwell, and then during the international break really get a grip on recruitment. However, this defeat may prove the blessing in terms of fixing some systemic problems. First up, were it not for 10IAR we almost certainly would have moved on Brown, possibly Forrest and possibly might have let Ajer and Ntcham go. However, 10IAR means that we are reluctant to make big structural team changes, so I wait to see what happens with comings and goings. One problem we must solve is that our wing-backs are terribly slow. Taylor might be a good first choice one day but he should be a second-string as he is not quick or skillful enough in attacking situations.Also, Elhamed is not a wing-back, he looks so clumsy in the attacking areas and so I would go with Frimpong onwards because he gives us so much pace and skill. We need to solve the full-backs area because with Tavernier and Barasic, the huns are well ahead of us in terms of this department which is vital to how all modern teams play. I would drop Brown and Forrest for the next match with Ntcham replacing Brown and Frimpong replacing Forrest in a 3-5-2.
Paul 67 et al
Craig Levein played no strikers as he gambled on not getting beaten. He did not have to win to keep his eye on the prize.
We played no strikers on a one off game we had to win.
HH.
One problem we must solve is that our wing-backs are terribly slow. Taylor might be a good first choice one day but he should be a second-string as he is not quick or skillful enough in attacking situations
how do expect him to get quicker than he is now. a rocket up the proverbial.
Turnbull is a good player. If he stays fit he will be an excellent signing.
Great news RE Turnbell…….good luck son.
I don’t agree that we need a ‘specialist’ defence coach.
Just a bog standard basic one would do.
Infact even my auntie fanny would know that once you equalise in a do or die tie you kind of keep your main defenders back….we have done this three times in a calendar year and been humiliated three times.
In a domestic game chasing 3pts I totally accept throwing defenders forward chasing full points.
In Europe it is beyond calamity.
Pleased with the signing of Turnbull.
16 goals in 40 odd games for Motherwell is impressive and has the killer pass by all accounts.
Could play up front in an emergency…
HH
Klimala’s main strength is his pace, but with us playing the majority of our games against a packed 10 man defence, I’m not sure why he was bought in the first place. He will rarely get the chance to use his pace domestically
Ideally, he would be used as a ‘get us up the park’ player in European away games (like Samaras used to do) but we might not even get to see that this season
Crying out for a striker, meanwhile Griffiths is fannying about on Tik Tok
FRANKTERRY
“Turnbull is a good player. If he stays fit he will be an excellent signing.”
If he stays fit and gets picked he might be an excellent signing.
He has just as big a chance to dissapear down the Celtic bermuda squad triangle.
His fee looks in line with all the other dissapearing acts.
That press conference was the kind of pish he came out with,at the end of his time at Hibs
Turnbull in…..that’s your left back sorted….
Turnbull – that’s good news, excellent player. The kind who can make a difference in games – if he’s on the pitch. Surely a debut at the weekend?
Could play up front in an emergency…
he will have to get in line, plenty more midfielders ahead of him in Lenny’s pecking order to play centre forward.
can he play centre back
ERNIE LYNCH
But we still lost in similar fashion when Celtic Park was full of fans
Welcome Turnbull
Good signing but we need a left back, centre half
We also, need two strikers to replace Griffiths, and dare I say it, Edouard