Celtic had the better of the opening 30 minutes against an accomplished Atletico Madrid team in this evening’s Europa League clash but after losing what will be considered a bad goal from a defensive perspective, were corralled by the visitors, who were content to tighten the game and play on the break.
Arda Turan’s blistering shot from outside the box should have been blocked, but Beram Kayal won this season’s Regi Blinker European Endeavour award and ducked out of the way, only a few yards in front of the helpless Fraser Forster, who did well to get a hand on the ball but could not stop it.
Celtic were a goal behind after 3 minutes in the corresponding fixture in Madrid and should have been behind inside 60 seconds when Eduardo Salvio was gifted a free header from 6 yards but he failed to hit the target.
Celtic soon settled with Georgios Samaras again proving effective in a wide-left midfield role. Daniel Majstorovic headed a corner into the six yard box which Samaras knocked goal-wards but keeper Courtois blocked on the line.
Next Anthony Stokes found space on the left to cross for Samaras but he couldn’t keep his first-time shot from the edge of the area down as Celtic had Atletico on the back foot, however, the goal would settle the visitors and clearly spread some dissonance among the home team.
Neil Lennon lost Joe Ledley to a twisted ankle seven minutes from half time and changed tactics at half time when Victor Wanyama went off with a dead leg, sacrificing five in the middle for a 4-4-2 but chances were few in the second half as Atletico defended effectively.
Georgios Samaras, who ran tirelessly and threw himself into challenges with no shortage of bravery while playing with space to exploit on the left, looked uncomfortable in the latter part of the game when playing with Gary Hooper as a front pair.
Hooper had the ball in the net but was judged offside after Stokes knocked the ball onto him. Ki fired a 25-yard free-kick on target midway through the half forcing a fine save from Courtius before Fraser Forster made two excellent saves, one from a remarkable Diego free kick from a tight angle that was heading for the top corner and another when he stopped Juanfran.
Celtic laid siege to the Atletico goal for the final five minutes but could not find an opening.
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Vmhan we have known that for 4 years, but unfortunately our CEO target is protecting his large Salary and not to make improvements on the park, hence waiting on goalscorer and center half for 5 years now
Petec evening to you from a sunny Sydney evening, when in Europe classless strikers do poorly , hence hooper and stokes are not good enough, but they were cheap to keep PL targets Intact
ST
Good morning CQN
After a month on gardening leave, Good Morning from the fast train to Glasgow, then on to sunny Paisley – 1st day in new job.
Wasn’t too disappointed last night, we have more important competitions to win this year.
hh
bjmac
Bjmac good luck today.
SydneyTim says:
1 December, 2011 at 07:35
They are very young players at that level to be “main” players. They will have learned a lot from last night especially as Atletico were rock solid once they scored their goal.
Stepping stones and we still can Achieve the 4 trophies, despite what anyone says. It is possible. I would say it is a lot more likely if we beat Udinese than it was 24 hours ago.
The best thing that could have happened, although it was horrific at the time, was for our Young players to go through what they went through at the start of this season. Rangers are nothing despite what the media tries to portray, they were always going to be penalised this season heavily at whatever point.
Keep the faith m8.
.
G’Day CQN..
1st Day of Summer in Olde Melbourne (With Winter weather 14C brrr)..
Last night is the Most Positive CQN has been after ANY defeat.. All they Posters can’t be Wrong the Signs of Our Young team are Good..
A Sammi Masterclass (Again).. Summa is Summa-ing..;0)
Someone Last Night.. Brogan l think was Asking Why Sammi seems to Love Celtic so Much.. His Grandfather was One of the Founding Fathers of South Melbourne FC.. Set up for the Greek Immigrants coming to Australia.. ‘Wog Ball’ the Locals Callied it.. Story sounds Familiar..
As Bourne Mentioned last Night will be Good experience BUT.. we could Have done without 2 Injuries..
Keep The Faith (I Always Do)
Summa ft MovemberIsOverSammiGetAShaveCSC
.
BJmac..
Guid Luck today Buddi.. Nock Em Dead (A Day @ a Time)..
Summa
Gary Hooper has a proven record of scoring the English 2nd tier. With a lowly club at that too.
Good morning from MK where it’s overcast but dry.
Still a little sensitive over last night’s result but this morning I’ll take the positives from the first half performance as it augurs well for the rest of the season. The positives, from my perspective were Samaras, now that we’re playing to his strength which is breaking from a deep position. Wanyama is the real deal and promises much as long as his head isn’t turned by agents, and Adam Matthews . Last night he was so assured in everything he did it was a treat to see the young man play such a confident game, even more laudable in view of the lack of support he received at times during the game.
Bjmac, good luck in your new job.
Niall O’Donnaighle, the Belfast Lord Mayor is ruffling a few feathers…http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13726956, he’s moving the agenda onwards and upwards.
Finally, this morning we’re all winners because we support Celtic.
Summa of Sammi…. says:
1 December, 2011 at 07:57
It is always wise to get critique in when things are going well.
Sammi was magnificent last night for the first 30, he also fought tooth and nail when the game was slipping away from us.
Sammi and to a lesser extent Jamesie were the only players who had Atletico worried.
It is ridiculous that Sammi needs to shave. :))
Thought Sammi was outstanding last night. Ran himself into the ground.
Stokesy also did well and he was really unfortunate that his twist and turn and drilled cross in the first half did not end up with a tap in for James Forrest. The Madrid defender just go a toe to it to take it out of James’s path.
Also Victor was having a very good first half as was Joe Ledley.
But my MOTM ws Adam Matthews. In this 19 year old we have a gem.
Kayal was very good as well but why he ducked only he will know. It is not as if it is a mitre mouldmaster.
I am a big critic of Glenda and he had one or two ropey moments last night but generally he played very well. His block in the second half and his charge down of a shot showed true courage.
BTW I don’t think we got any favours from the referee or any 50/50s.
It’s all doom and gloom here in North Ayrshire again. BBC talking about the dryness of the ground. Give me strength. Kind of idiotic item that makes me want to vote SNP but won’t be considering that at all now.
Thanks ST, Summa, Murdochbhoy.
Summa, thought Sammi was excellent last night.
odaat
hh
Bjmac
Vmhan♣ who Supports Neil Lennon says:
1 December, 2011 at 07:24Sydney C.S.C. beckons you and yours.
BarBQ Sun 12th Centennial Park.
Melbourne Tims feel the need to expound the virtues of Melbourne.
Sydney Tims don`t.
Guess why?
A welcome awaits you and yours in Sydney.
G`day Summa. :-)
Why did Ragers need to confirm Craig Whyte’s ban, – does that make it official cos they’ve owned up?
Brittania waives the rules.
Early morning apologies to the guy sat in front of me last night in 144 (you were in LL)
anyways I burst into a tirade at FF following the goal, where clearly I thot he could have done better, the guy in front had his specs on and seen what I didnt, a rather heated discussion ensued resulting in him dropping his pizza, well prob done you a favour there mate,
on seeing the goal on youtube FF was not to blame, if Regi Kayal didnt duck well…
anyways I was wrong and I apologise.
Best of luck with the new job BJmac.
I heard the piper has moved to Paisley.
EC67
ßjmac ® °¿° says:
1 December, 2011 at 07:38
Don’t worry my bhoy working in Paisley will soon depress you, guaranteed!
Guten morgen,
I thought we did ok last night against a team twice as good as anything we’ll face in the SPHell. All that separated us was a bit of luck and the fact that their keeper was class (tho FF wasn’t bad.) Ki deserves a bit of stick, but not the public flogging some would have.
One thing I noticed was that, our centre halves apart, all of our outfield players are all technically good, which was not always the case, even in MON and WGS teams. Those teams got some great [home] results against better teams that Athletico, but there were often times when I had to cringe, as so many passes were behind the man or even some of our better players took 3 or 4 touches to control the ball.
There are rarely any “donkey” moments with this team, and a good many of our players are comfortable with both feet. If Lenny can add just a bit more MON steel to this young group then I think we are on to something.
Just a quick few words on the game last night.
Obviously disappointed with the result, but given our undoubted progress in the last few weeks,
I’m not going to go over the top with negatives.
I agreed with the team formation but not the players.
If Mulgrew was fit then Loovens should not have been playing.
If Wanyama was fit Loovens should not have been playing.
And if Wanyama and Mulgrew were fit Loovens and Mastorovic should not have been playing.
That been said.
Wanyama and Kayal were brilliant last night.
I know the goal came from a mistake(not cowardice as someone said on here last night)
from Kayal, but other then that he played a great game, I’m only sorry Daglish was there to see it.
Ki drifted in and out of the game and gave away the ball too many times.
Young Mathews, in my opinion, had an off night. I’m a big fan of his but his distribution last night
was well below his usual standards.
Sammi was excellent, I worry about his defending, it goes with the midfield job, but his holding
of the ball and particularly his running at the defenses was top class.
Young Forrest had a decent game as did Stokes and Ledley.
Forester was nervy on some occasions, but made a couple of good saves.
We went down hill in the second half when Wanyama went off.
Brown, in my opinion, offered absolutely nothing on the night.
Indeed I believe Paddy McCourt coming on would have created far more for us.
Anyway we are still in with a shout and the league is now back within our grasp.
If Neil Lennon is determined to bring Brown back into the team, it will have to be at the
expense of Ki.
new article posted.
Beaten by a better team -better passing; better movement;
– Throw-ins – problem of 50 years -no movement; no cover;
– 6.00p.m. kick-offs must be challenged – half-empty stadium lacks atmosphere; dubious financial gain from T.V.
If Lennon insists on hanging about Paradise like a bad smell then it’s time he opened his eyes to bottle merchants like Kayal, this coward plays one half decent game in every four, usually against smaller teams! It’s Lennons job (as a so called manager??) to see through these cheating clowns! If he’s not rolling about (usually holding his face for some reason) trying to get an opponent sent off, he’s ‘DIVING’ out of position or worse ‘DUCKING’ his duty like tonight… he’s one useless c**t and should be outed from Paradise a’s’a’p’