Last night’s historic win in Brussels feels like a breakthrough moment. It has been 16 years since we first played Champions League group stage football, but our only win on the road in that period was snatched in the final minute by a Georgios Samaras header in Moscow. This time, the victory was achieved while dominating the game from first to last, not conceding, and punishing Anderlecht’s vulnerabilities.
A word for the defence. Those who make it their business to complain about Celtic, reserved their recent venom for the decision not to move to an alternative central defensive target when Rivaldo Coetzee failed a fitness test. With our first choice defensive line-up available this week for the first time this season, we look remarkably solid. The manager will continue to give experience to Ajer, Miller and Ralston as the season progresses.
Pre-match, Dedryck Boyata played down suggestions that playing in his home town would aid his performance, but I suspected it would. The big defender, and his partner, Jozo Simunovic, were imperious. Celtic enjoyed 63% possession, much of it going through these two. Kieran Tierney and Mikael Lustig were always available for a pass, and seemed to demoralise Anderlecht’s creative talents.
The opening goal was a masterclass for the entire team, but especially so for Boyata and Simunovic, who during the build-up, made seven and five passes respectively. Patrick Roberts and Craig Gordon were the only Celtic players not to complete a pass during the move. You have seem great Celtic teams in Europe, but you have never seen anything like this. That 24-pass Liam Miller goal against Lyon 14 years ago remains alive in the memory because it was so exceptional in that Celtic team. Last night’s opener was 28 passes, was away from home, and is absolutely typical of how we now play football.
Celtic’s attacking players (rightly) attract most of the attention, but the foundation of this team is our back line. Our system of play is not possible without defenders who can receive a fast ball, pass, remain alert and calm. If you are old enough to remember the impact the 1974 World Cup made, the final in particular, last night’s game will resonate with you.
Olivier Ntcham picked up the broken pieces of his performance in the opening 30 minutes to split the defence open for the first goal, before collecting a loose ball and feeding Scott Sinclair for the third. The manager will ponder what was going on during that opening period. Despite the generosity of the win, the result could have been in jeopardy if one link in the chain was not performing.
Years ago I remember analysing goals in our Champions League games and noted that mistakes were overwhelmingly influential in determining the outcomes of games. Our second and third goals were down to unenforced Anderlecht errors.
At the second, the Anderlecht right back had comfortable possession and the opportunity to clear up the line, but instead elected to play a ball into the space in front of his own penalty area. At this point, the hosts were a mis-control away from presenting Celtic with a chance, which duly happened. Scott Sinclair’s injury-time third goal came as a result of an Anderlecht pass out of defence, which rolled straight into Ntcham’s path , allowing Celtic to turnover, 4 v 2.
What followed on both occasions is the lesson every football fan knows, make a mistake at this level, and you will be punished.
Well done, Celtic. A magnificent performance and result. The only away win to compare in the last 47 years was when we caught Ajax cold in 2001.
Celtic FC Foundation, Great Scottish Run
I’m doing the Great Scottish Run this Sunday for the Celtic FC Foundation, full of the joys of being a Celtic supporter during these great times. We are not only about winning trophies and the Champions League, this club is as deep as the ocean. On Sunday, it will be about the work of the Foundation, with the poorest in Glasgow and surrounding areas, in the most deprived communities of London, for those marginalised from society, and for the great work with Autism. Not to mention the outreach in Malawi, Haiti and so many other places most of the world ignores.
I’ve never made porridge in Malawi, or fed the poor in Haiti, not would I know how to engage with Autistic kids, but you and me can do our bit for those who have the responsibility of delivering help where needed. What I can do is run on Sunday and ask for sponsorship. If you can help, do so at this MyDonate page.
Thank you.
The CQN Podcast: A Celtic State of Mind (EP14) Champions League Special
A Celtic State of Mind offers an insight into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.
Each episode includes interviews with ‘Celtic-minded’ figures from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature or politics.
Ahead of the crucial Champions League match against Anderlecht, ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ goes behind the Champions League curtain for Celtic’s opening match against PSG.
Kevin Graham provides pre and post-match discussion with members of his CSC, as well as in-match analysis in what will be a regular Celtic State of Mind feature.
Enjoy!
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Charliemac
Wednesday
Ye jist said it yersel :))
Turkey bhoy and imatim
You do know we have a walfrid already
Digressing for a minute or two. How many of us would help fund a Judicial Review?
I certainly would
IMATIM
count me in…..
I missed the first 25 minutes so didn’t see all of the slack passing that others have commented on, although it was clearly a problem as Brendan referred to it in his post-match interview. He said there were times when we seemed to be embarrassed to be in possession of the ball.
When I tuned in, I saw a team (mostly) comfortable retaining possession and patient to pass the ball while waiting for gaps to open up. When previous Celtic teams did this against European opposition, I always had a sense of deja vu that a mistake would be made, as often as not losing a goal when there was absolutely no danger. How often we screamed to get the ball into the box as we didn’t have the players who could play the passing game.
I think last night it worked well partly because Anderlecht didn’t show any urgency to put pressure on us when we were stroking the ball about in our half but mostly because this is the way we now play and we are getting damned good at it. Better teams will not allow us so much time or respect and, as Paul states, mistakes will get punished. Improvements will need to be made but that is a given.
I would pack the midfield against Bayern with the priority being to protect the back line and limit opportunities. Leave Leigh up front himself and replace with MD after he’s run himself into the ground. Brendan will no doubt go with a similar line up and attacking formation to last night – which I fear could see a heavy defeat if our midfield is overrun. But that’s why he gets paid the big bucks, in Brendan we trust.
Well done to all who were there, the singing was brilliant as was the post match panel banter with Sutton.
MILD MANNERED PEDRO DELGADO on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 4:11 PM
Charliemac
Wednesday
Ye jist said it yersel :))
Turkey bhoy and imatim
You do know we have a walfrid already
………………………….
Restaurant yes. Hotel?
Imatim- i would
Imatim
Scuse me :)
On the jr
Yes I would be prepared to give what I can. Time and money
If you think back to joe o’rourke’s letter to Reagan accusing him of cheating and collusion
To my mind that could’ve been construed as slander or libel(am sure there’s a difference.
Did he actually send him a letter or was it an open letter on line and would there be a difference in how that would be viewed in regards to litigation
So why would Reagan not do anything
The Jock Ste-inn
Loads of ideas will be floated in the days ahead about the name of the hotel. What about the 7-1? Those need to be remembered also.
Has big Eck turned up in Munich yet??????
Or is it Bayern, never sure these days. :-)
H.H
Any news on extent of Broonie injury? I hope ye pulls out of the SFA squad. We need him fresh and raring to go against Munich.
Reading the hotel has been passed,but no money for it yet.
More bloody State Aid.How much is that we have had now?Lennoxtown,The Celtic Way,the regeneration of the surrounding areas,The Emirates,and we are probably not bloody finished yet.
MILD MANNERED PEDRO DELGADO on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 4:28 PM
Imatim
Scuse me :)
On the jr
Yes I would be prepared to give what I can. Time and money
If you think back to joe o’rourke’s letter to Reagan accusing him of cheating and collusion
To my mind that could’ve been construed as slander or libel(am sure there’s a difference.
Did he actually send him a letter or was it an open letter on line and would there be a difference in how that would be viewed in regards to litigation
So why would Reagan not do anything
………………………….
Regan is a Hun puppet.
If the emails recently displayed on the Johnjames site are authentic then collusion and corruption MILD MANNERED PEDRO DELGADO on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 4:28 PM
Imatim
Scuse me :)
On the jr
Yes I would be prepared to give what I can. Time and money
If you think back to joe o’rourke’s letter to Reagan accusing him of cheating and collusion
To my mind that could’ve been construed as slander or libel(am sure there’s a difference.
Did he actually send him a letter or was it an open letter on line and would there be a difference in how that would be viewed in regards to litigation
So why would Reagan not do anything
……………………
If the emails that have recently been displayed on the Johnjames site are authentic then corruption and collusion between the SFA and the Huns is proven beyond any doubt.
Regan wants it to go away, as does all those who have been party to the biggest corruption scandal in Scottish Football history.
They say there is no appetite to address the cheating and the corruption. They better think again because my appetite is ravenous and I am sure I am not alone
50 SHADES OF GREEN on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 4:33 PM
Has big Eck turned up in Munich yet??????
Or is it Bayern, never sure these days. :-)
What are the odds on McLeish being a hundit on Friday night at the Hamilton v Espanyol game on BT Sport? Complete with the blue mic….
Peter Lawwell being interviewed on Radio Scotland tonight 1830HRS GMT
Adios for now comrades. To be continued
Hail Hail
Nae worries!
The Great Desmondo will provide the finance for the hotel development.
Won’t he?!
HH!!
charliemac on 28th September 2017 4:05 pm
Did Radio Scotland also fail to mention that Celtic won a Champions League match with 6 Scottish players making an appearance
If Broonie had stayed on and Armstrong had came on for Ncham it would have been 7
Anybody have any ideas when that number of Scots played in a UCL group match for one team?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Which club fielded an entire team of EBT’s in a Champion’s League match? (ex-club)
Broonie Injury Update
From BBC
Celtic and Scotland captain Scott Brown is hopeful his injury picked up against Anderlecht in Brussels is not a cause for concern.
The midfielder, 32, came off during Celtic’s 3-0 away win in Champions League Group B.
Brown, capped 55 times, was included in Gordon Strachan’s squad for Scotland’s final two World Cup qualifying fixtures against Slovakia and Slovenia.
Asked whether his injury was serious, Brown told BT Sport: “Hopefully, not.”
And Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said in his post-match news conference: “He just felt something tight and as soon as he did he obviously didn’t want to aggravate it so we’ll not know for the next 24, 48 hours where that’s at.”
Don’t worry about State Aid chaps, the EU will double anything that HMG contribute. Even if it’s after Brexit date!
Evident they are having trouble with the second underground link from Vatican City!
HH
!!BADA BING!! on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 2:12 PM
Not a fan of international football, Scott Sinclair scoring regularly, playing well in the Champions League, not in Engerland squad….
He’s not ‘England quality’ mate
(He’s much better than that…..)
;-)
HH jamesgang
Lisbon Lion Inn would suit me,but Hotel Watchourdustyahuns has a ring to it!
I hope the new hotel doesn’t use this supplier for its chicken.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/28/uks-top-supplier-of-supermarket-chicken-fiddles-food-safety-dates
I wouldn’t contribute to a JR, for the simple reason it would be wasting money that could be better spent elsewhere.
For a start the sfa would ignore any request for info and they would ignore any findings, that would render any JR a waste of time and money imo.
The sfa have ignored a member club FFS, namely Celtic, what makes you think they will pander to a fan funded review ?
If I can be convinced that the sfa will hand over info that will crucify themselvs I will be more than willing to contribute, otherwise, forget it.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 5:43 PM
Cant better The Lisbon Lion Inn but The Walfrid Hotel could lead to some unsuspecting clientele in for a pleasant surprise.
AA
TET …
A judicial review is a legal procedure in a court where a judge checks to see if an administrative body (such as the SFA) conducted its process in accordance with fairness/the rules.
Once the process is commenced, the SFA would be subject to the Court’s jurisdiction, and would not simply be able to decline to participate.
so, unlike LNS for example, which was controlled by those involved, and was, in effect, a bogey from the outset, a judicial review would be (or at least should be…. although Scotland… who knows?) more independent.
Imatim
A supporters club which I am a member of has already agreed to fundraise for a JR should it be necessary, if you have diffculty finding how to contribute, maybe Paul through CQN will be doing likewise.
!!BADA BING!! on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 4:50 PM
50 SHADES OF GREEN on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 4:33 PM
Has big Eck turned up in Munich yet??????
Or is it Bayern, never sure these days. :-)
What are the odds on McLeish being a hundit on Friday night at the Hamilton v Espanyol game on BT Sport? Complete with the blue mic…
@@@@@@.
Phoned Paddy Power to ask them the odds for that one Bada.
Guy laughed for 10 mins then said even we urnae daft enough to take yer bet mate then hung up on me.
TURKEYBHOY on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 4:43 PM
Relax TB. I’m assured there is a Sheikh waiting in the wings begging Lawwell to take his money and, keep this quiet please, he’s prepared to throw in a floating pitch plus a subway link to the Vatican City.
Just listening to the evening news. Even the Brit cricketers cant behave themselves. The Empire’s finished.
Have noticed it before, but it was very apparent yesterday evening, i.e., the joy and togetherness of the players, especially when celebrating the scoring of goals. BR has really built up more than just footballers.
From Twitter:
SoVaCeltic @JGlasgowCelticK
Our club BUILDS a Museum…the oldco can only see their club IN a museum :-D
MiT
Ok, didn’t know that, still doesn’t convince me that they will accept any findings, as I said they ignored Celtic so why would they accept any findings, also I am not convinced of the impartiality of the scottish justice system.
HH
McIntyre on Shortbread ‘ a poor Anderlecht team…’ hurting badly
Oh dear – “a poor Anderlecht side”.
The same one they were all saying we would struggle to get anything off because they had taken Man Utd to extra time in the quarter finals!?
Shortbread = grudging aholes
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/not-everyone-in-glasgow-is-happy-about-hotel-espanyol/#comment-3134270
A most enjoyable read, thanks to the author’s effort.
HH
Shortbread now concentrating their efforts on selling Tiernay