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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It’s not the defeat it’s the manner thereof which is the most disappointing aspect.
Ron Bacardi
I used the word disappointing -; but it doesn’t come close. Maybe I’m naive but I take posters at face value.
Is it wrong to think that a 9 in a row team should be performing better in Europe?
—-
its not wrong
or right
we can win 9 in a row with 6 scottish players in our team because we will be better than the other teams in the league with 9, 10 or 11 scottish guys
we cant progress in europe though against teams with zero scottish players
in unrelated news, the scottish international team has qualified for fek all for the last couple of decades
not hard to work out
Our home match against Livi on 19th Sept will now need to moved to the Sunday due to EL qualifying games as will our game against Hibs @ CP on 26th Sept, if we make it that far.
Same hysteria as last season must be CL time.
We lose at least one every season doesn’t matter, who the manager is, NFL has the same number of wins as Martin O’Neil and it was hardly Lincoln Red Imps last night, the Hungarian Champions, the year before Romanian.
He has acknowledged his team selection wasn’t as good as the Internets but we’re still lucky to have him and his appointment when BR got out of Dodge ensured two titles, but the root problem is that too many Celtic supporters don’t like or appreciate him, and it only takes a draw against Kilmarnock (where Rodgers lost twice) to bring out the worst on Celtic Quick News and elsewhere.
At this stage last season he couldn’t trust Bolingoli (remember him?) to start against Cluj and we know how that turned out, last night was Klimala’s turn and like Calum McGregor at left back, we saw Ryan Christie play anywhere at all costs.
Its time to circle the wagons,again © P67 not time to start a global search for the guys that wouldn’t come before, and won’t come now, sacking and resignation would be catastrophic with leaderless players, half hearted comings and goings, no continuity, a caretaker, till we find a manager who knows the trick in how to beat European ‘mediocrity’ and not just Lazio home and away.
Utter Bollocks CSC
Welcome to David Turnbull, a player who has applied himself after a major upset, got back playing and now has belatedly made it to Celtic Park. Not the best day to arrive, but an opportunity awaits to get himself into the Celtic midfield. I’m guessing he is a Neil Lennon choice, so looking forward to seeing him in the Hoops. Maybe some game time against his old club, before an International break that this time is most welcome.
Markiebhoy,
Agree.
From our most recent and painful defeats at home (Cluj,Copenhagen,Rangers,Last night) my fans opinion is that we adopt a style of play and risky strategy that has weaknesses that we have not been able to defend.
The goals for column can ramp up quickly but with such an attacking strategy , it could be argued , the right defenders are even more necessary. Otherwise , such a high risk strategy can tip over into recklessness.
Last night, in the second half, Ferencvaros cleared our attacks with some pretty basic tactics. Hoofing it ,followed by a footrace. When the camera was planning back into our half it was heart in the mouth time. Few defenders ,quite far apart. This then boiled down to could the individual win his personal battle. If not the goalie was next. Mostly it worked but once El hamed couldn’t.
Such a risky strategy didn’t seem necessary.
There was plenty time, there seemed an edge in stamina and sharpness , with subs to come and all their threats in front of us. No surprises were to be had. Play out the game, run them round, win the transition or drop back ( as Darren odea was explaining) pass and we will win. Even if it meant extra time.
But our strategy left individuals exposed when a different system might have brought a more collective solidity without sacrificing too much attacking threat.
I’m not surprised Scott Brown has wondered about the managers post match comments. Perhaps a sharing of responsibility and revision of tactics would be more helpful.
BP 1
“dont ever call celtic supporters pussies thanks in advance.H.H.”
Is it ok to call them Feckin Tories? As you did towards the following:-
Ian Bankier, Tom Allison, Sharon Brown, Dermot Desmond, Peter Lawwell, Christopher McKay and Brian Wilson.
Now some of them are self-confessed Tories but, are you sure they all are. I think you might find at least one where that is the most offensive thing you can call them.
P.S. I dislike Tories more than most- so I have no problem with calling them out, but we don’t get to call them non-Celts.
Has he been sacked yet
Barkas must be wondering wtf is going on infront of him given he’s came from a solid Athens team that give little away.
We’re reckless to an amateur degree in some games.
I think in hindsight we should lay off Lenny , he does not look a well man.
we have turned qualification games against teams we aspire to be miles ahead of into a toss of the coin as to whether we will win or not
and this has been happening before NL took over from BR
the common factor?
too many scottish plsyers in the team
Couldn’t agree more, to start a game at Celtic Park without a recognised striker – knowing it was a game we absolutely had to win…… what a gamble by our manager – a failed gamble. Could yet be consequences for Neil. The board will be absolutely furious – access to Champions league cash denied once again.
He had 2 strikers on the bench, one of whom scored the winner on Saturday so his confidence would have been high – then he finds out he’s on the bench. Stating the bleedin obvious here but he should have started with Ajeti and then brought on Kimala when Ajeti ran out of steam.
You have to wonder about Neil at times – we all love him but that team selection last night was one helluva blunder.
BSR…It’s all well and good looking back…and twisting the narative to suit yer expectations…but last night was our last game…and that’s all most of us are commenting/exasperated about
CouldaShouldaWouldaCSC
H.H.
I see that Kairat of Kazakhstan has beaten FC Noah Of Armenia in tonight’s Europa qualifiers. I would have bet the house on Noah in this weather
First of all, welcome David Turnbull to Celtic, go on and be a legend son!
Like all on here,still bitterly disappointed with last nights result.
Why did we go so gung ho at 1-1? There was still plenty of time, even if it went to extra time. We need to learn to be patient in Europe, we cannot always do it the Celtic way. We did the same against DU but fortunately got the winner but the team shape and organisation had gone, in my opinion. What concerns me even more was NFL post match comments, this could mean he has lost the dressing room, I certainly hope not but concerned now.
Also agree with some earlier posts, I don’t think Neil looks well and if that is the case we have a duty to ensure he is protected. Most of us have no idea what that man has been through.
Keep the faith.
JIL HH
*hands SFTB his coat*…and don’t come back 🤣
H.H.
RON BACARDI on 27TH AUGUST 2020 5:18 PM
JOBO
I suspect that some posters are happy that Celtic lost.
Not many I would suggest. Caring means sometimes having to face reality. Many posters on here think Lennon cannot be touched. Very dangerous…..
SFTB ,YES, they are tories to a man, they would not no a socialist celtic supporter if it hit them in the face, but feel free to come on and debate with me, im on sentinel celts as you know, im welcoming the challenge fuck the plc and fuck dermot desmond, you have ruined the greatest club in the world it will never be forgotten.god bless the great glasgow celtic.H.H.
If Neil is unwell, he needs to step down, MON should have in 2005,and look how that turned out.
Personally, know matter what happens next, I think our next manager will be John Kennedy, he’s been an apprentice for quite a while now.
If Kennedy gets the job then the games over….
BP1
I am debating with you and you are on here on CQN at the moment. Some of hte Board are not men and some of them are definitely not Tories and have done more to fight Tories than you and I ever did.
So, why one rule for calling celts pussies and another for caling them fecking Tories?
Football is a results driven business.
Can’t see why the board are willing to flog the 10iar for “rangers” as there are two teams going into CL next season$$$
Am pretty sure thurs a Jakey joke in there sumwer ;-))
H.H.
P67 — Big picture is a fair comment.
But who allowed the big picture to develop?
Tough game to watch — we have all seen the story before and we know the ending.
All I can offer are some words that point to the even bigger picture.
“For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”
53 years and counting …
Questioning team or tactics is one thing, speculating about someones mental health is at best insensitive, worst dangerous.
…and whilst we’re all in a fowl mood getting things off our chest – James Forrest – can we not sell him please…
RTB…chicken breasts?…
Philbhoy…the ball n not the man please ;-))
PHILBHOY, come on we have debated many times why have you called me that
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 27TH AUGUST 2020 5:31 PM
Neil has acknowledged the team selection was wrong – obvious question is why it took 78 minutes to change it ?
Lenny played Bitton last year and kept his 7 million CB on the bench against Cluj.
This year we’ve left near 9 million of striking talent on the bench to play a midfielder up top.
He deserves to get hammered. No Celtic manager is above criticism.
ONENIGHTINLISBON on 27TH AUGUST 2020 6:00 PM
If Kennedy gets the job then the games over….
_______________________________________________
Who would you give it to – Charlie Nic :-)
You are entitled to your opinion as much as anyone else, and I didn’t say that JK gets my vote, but…..
Look at Stevie Gee at Sevco, virtually zero experience but straight in there, John Kennedy has been learning the management game for some time now during our 9IAR run, some of it has surely rubbed off.
Hibs were told hands off remember before they appointed Jack Ross,
Anyway, it’s just my opinion, nothing else.
THELURKINTIM on 27TH AUGUST 2020 6:09 PM
RTB…chicken breasts?…
________________________________________________
What does that even mean??? Give in, I’m off – too many bad moods on here, including mine.
RTB…FOWL mood getting things off yer chest?
PunsrusCSC
H.H.
if celtic drop points at the weekend – John Kennedy will be manager and he will bring in an ex Celt to assist.
He has a story – HUGE talent with the world at his feet, his career robbed from him – makes up for that by winning 10IAR – sounds romantic to me.
Anyway, about time we had a tall manager :)
So Ajer wants away, might explain his absence from the team recently. For sure Rogic and Ntcham are two others.
Calmac to Leicester? Edouard to the EPL and Christie’s father talking up his EPL aspirations.
Last night could decimate this team at this rate.
Standards have seemingly fallen significantly in training since Brendan Rodgers left (Forrest’s old man told me that Rodgers raised the bar tremendously after Deila)
If I was a player slaughtered for being two kilos overweight by a manager who put on fifteen kilos during lockdown I would wonder about double standards.
Still think that after last night a new manager is critical to our chances of success this season.
PHILBHOY, you come on sentinel celts and we let you say what you want without name calling, ive always respected your posts ..H.H.
ROCK TREE BHOY on 27TH AUGUST 2020 6:13 PM
All about opinions pal.