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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Hot smoked
That’s fine. See you Saturday.
HH
CRC
Lurkin whilst workin…
Delighted that my 2nd favourite TEAM will have the services of 6 stats from my 1st favourite team.
And thats all I have to say about that.
Oot…
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 8:58 AM
Yes.
And those of us who , strangely enough , have the effrontery to support our home country , will celebrate and support their efforts.
Setting Free The Bears ……….
Every game and every training session is a risk and the 6 Scotland players will share the same risk as Mikel with Sweden, Jozo with Bosnia, Nir with Israel and Tom Rogic with the Socceroos
The difference is that the
Swedish Fa
Bosnian FA
Israeli FA
Australian FA
Have never cheated Celtic, or conspired against a Celtic, or went out of their was to help and assist Celtic’s rivals.
That is the difference, and why we should not assist the SFA.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 9:04 AM
I get the Scotland thing. I want Scotland to do well but you cant separate Scotland from the SFA any less than you can “Rangers” from their holding company. Go figure.
Scotland and the SFA are one and the same.
Moravcik
It is nothing to do with assisting the SFA,
These players want to play for their country and for their personal glory and advancement.
If we become a club who restricts their right to play for their country, we will be a much less attractive location for some.
We will have to fight the SFA some other way because these bullets won’t fire.
Aff oot now
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 9:18 AM
The Scottish national team is the SFA. Dress it up anyway you like til your hearts content otherwise.
Good old Enid Blyton.
Wasn’t Timmy the Dog in the shameless six books?
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 7:59 AM
Just for clarity; Ntcham misplaced 8 passes of his 77 attempted. Tierny misplace 8 of 48 and Lustig misplaced 9 of 74.
justsayinglikeCSC
KTF
……………………..
VFR Cheers mate.. I rest my case !
HOT SMOKED…You won’t ” incur my wrath” and neither would anyone else on here or in a feckin pub if some so called Celtic fans on here had the nerve to call out the poster GORDONME ?….for saying that Celtic were active in a game that was ” A CRIME to football”.
The REAL Crime to football is the anti fiitba that the Huns have been playing for years, and this poster dared to compare Celtic…MY CLUB to that lot….and NOT one of yous on here picked him up on it…that is why I asked him if he was a Hun !
Kenny Miller has been banished from the Rangers first-team squad. The veteran striker has been instructed to play with the youth team and told he will play no further part under head coach Pedro Caixinha
Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/rumour-mill-kenny-miller-banished-caixinha-s-reign-coming-to-an-end-rangers-settled-for-celtic-loss-1-4573320
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 8:58 AM
Text BSR re-Ticket, he is going to check if Guy still needs ticket and will come back to me. Don’t have your number but I will post a reply here unless you want to mail me yours lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
Told him you would be able to drop it off
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Blog rule #1
Don’t feed the troll.
C’mon surely it was obvious?
TGSC,
Sailing On….
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 9:20 AM
Fair enough. Best wishes to you and the SFA select for the double header.
NEILLENNON&MCCARTNEY
Song for Kenny Miller.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6KJGJRd8pGE
SA
Some might even say that the bigots stole heart the soul out of this country long time ago.
Is Leonard Cohen one of the sameless six? :-)
THEGOODSHIPCELTICA
Howdy,bud! Has your Dad managed to process the photies from Lisbon?
I reckon the negatives alone are worth a fortune to certain people. Not me,of course. I have no shame.
What a trip,and many thanks for the part you fellas played in it.
Hope to see you both on 11/11.
SIONNACH ABU
Poor choice of words, metaphor, insulting to anybody not least a Celtic Player. I have deleted any responses relating to your words to try and defuse anyone catching up later. You are entitled to your opinion but not to be insulting.
TEUCHTERARLA
Thanks for the comments last night. I replied about four hours ago.
What are you doing up at this time,ya madman? Lisbon hours?
Strange.
No problem with Celtic playing under the auspices of the SFA .
Problem with Celtic players playing under the auspices of the SFA .
Moderator 2
Unreserved apologies. I didnt intend to insult anyone other than the Shameless Six and the SFA.
TEUCHTER ÁR LÁ on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 9:36 AM
I think he just got dropped :-)
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 9:47 AM
For a Daily Mail reader you have a poor attention to detail. Let me correct that for you mo chara.
Problem with Celtic players playing for the auspices of the SFA .
Sionnach Abu
Didn’t I say a few weeks ago you were a wrong un’? :-))
I think there should be a sin bin for those who have been moderated. Think about it:
You get sin binned, you can only communicate with those already in the sin bin…. i’d pay good money to get in there. Would be some interesting conversations going on….
SIONNACHABU
Let it go,mate. Your point’s been made,and I understand it entirely. While disagreeing with much of it.
It was the terminology which upset most people,I reckon,rather than your headline reasoning.
Little point in a card over it.
HH.
TWISTSNTURNS
Just print your usual turn of phrase when you’ve paid good money to a bookie for an interest in a horse which has no interest in you. That should do it!!!
Good Morning Bhoys I am not sure of this hotel idea we are a football club not hoteliers I dont know if we would get enough business to make it pay its way Kilmarnock built a hotel at rugby park some years ago and I dont think it has been a great success. I think a meeting place for the fans before games would be a good idea a licensed cafe type thing conncted to a Celtic museum.However,I am no business man so I may be wrong and I have to trust the Celtic board to get it right.H.H.
I’m all for the hotel idea. I just hope it doesn’t look like that big pointy thing in the picture.
TWISTS N TURNS on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 10:04 AM
I think they call that the Huddleboard.
Got barred from there years ago complaining about Celtic’s donation to UNICEF – indirectly the distribution of free condoms in Africa (against the teachings of the Catholic Church).
Nobody Loves You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIYRbbHMesg
Ave Ave
dear oh dear.
JOE FILIPPIS HAIRCUT on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 10:09 AM
I assume Hotel Paradiso will either be a joint venture with, or a lease to, an established hotel business, rather than being run in house.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 10:07 AM
Agreed mo chara. Life’s a lonelier place without CQN, but with CQN comes responsibilities.
To speak or not to speak, when to speak and how to speak.
Think the balancing act’s gets the better of me now and then :-)
Johnny Cash – God’s Gonna Cut You Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlN9jdQFSc
Ave Ave
Bobby
True, but I’m only kidding of course. I’m the Gary Lineker of CQN. Never been booked. I won’t have my squeaky clean image tarnished under any circumstances.
Actually I almost got booked once but the moderators were all away at the sclaff baw and I compered a joke night in here one Friday when I was gassed. Some of the stuff wid have hud ma maw locking me in my room for a week.
However my image was preserved and I can’t be intimidated into tarnishing it .
This is the calm twisty . Why, we could appoint Mr David Cunningham King as CEO tomorrow and I’d send him a welcome card.
BANKIEBHOY1 on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 10:24 AM
dear oh dear.
—————
Yellow surely?
H.H. R.I.P.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/heres-what-happens-to-the-playboy-mansion/ar-AAsA7Vh?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 7:59 AM
Just for clarity; Ntcham misplaced 8 passes of his 77 attempted. Tierny misplace 8 of 48 and Lustig misplaced 9 of 74.
justsayinglikeCSC
KTF
VFR… It was the nature of these passes that were the problem. I would think that Ntcham misplaces most passes in the team because he is trying to cut open defences to a running player. I would never criticise a player for losing possession trying that. On Wednesday he passed the ball out of the park twice under no pressure and gave away possession when he had time.on the ball. It was very unlike him and that was my concern as I see him as the best passer in our team.
SIONNACH ABU on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 10:29 AM
BANKIEBHOY1 on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 10:24 AM
dear oh dear.
—————
Yellow surely?
That made me laugh….
SIONNACHABU
Phillis-style Thumbs-up!
HH
TWISTSNTURNS
Bad lad. If I was the type-as alleged!-I would mail the mods and demand retrospective action be taken.
Btw,squeaky clean? I’m not having that!
TWISTS N TURNS on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 10:33 AM
SIONNACH ABU on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 10:29 AM
BANKIEBHOY1 on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 10:24 AM
dear oh dear.
—————
Yellow surely?
That made me laugh….
————————————————
Every time Bankie pops up on a page am on Bobby Davidson springs to mind.