20 minutes into last night’s Europa League game against Valencia, Celtic looked competent and in control, if not dangerous. We had the majority of the ball (as we did for the rest of the game), enjoyed possession inside the Valencia box and had shots on target.
Valencia were probably happy to resist us for this opening period, but from that point onwards, they inhibited Celtic’s midfield from enjoying as much freedom. Neither side made a chance worthy of the name until the opening goal, three minutes before the break. Valencia’s second, four minutes after the interval, meant the tie was decided during a very short period of play.
While we opened well we failed to involve Oliver Burke throughout. The only possession he got was to his feet with his back to goal, the ball invariably bouncing away from him. Burke is a player who needs service into the channels – something that happened only once before the goals arrived.
For years I have shared fears here of Celtic playing so high up field against European opposition. Tactics like this result in positives like “What a torrid opening four minutes we gave Juventus” before a counter-attack settles things.
I was actually encourage when Valencia started to compete more effectively midway through the first half, as our best game plan was to counter. Keep it tight and play on the break, at this level, anything else is a ticket out of the tournament. And that’s not just for Celtic, these are the tactics Valencia deployed.
The opening goal came through a poor attempt to play offside. Jozo Simunovic stepped up as Parejo made the forward pass, forcing Sobrino into what should have been an offside position, but Emilio Izaguirre was four paces back, ostensibly, but not actually, covering Cheryshev. Emilio did no better at the second goal, allowing Sobrino freedom of the box. Insert the hoary old schoolboy analogy here.
There were things I liked, specifically, playing the ball out from the back. With central defenders wide, full backs high and central mids deep, Scott Bain was able to find a player in space, 40 yards from goal, and start an attack. This play is still in its infancy at Celtic, but we need to stick with it.
The impact of Odsonne Eduard, who played the last 30 minutes, was immediate. It took defenders (plural) to close him down. We also saw a new aspect to Timothy Weah, who came on at the same time as Edouard as a creative mid. It was a curious performance from Timothy. He was everywhere for five minutes, then stuck to position (presumably on instructions) and dropped out of things.
Central mid did not work. Immediately after a defeat, there is a rabid tendency to find a scapegoat, which is seldom productive, but we need to ask the question why central mid didn’t work, and get it right for the qualifiers. As for the defence, only Jozo will be around for the qualifiers, and he will most often be sitting beside us in the stands, so the consequences of these mistakes will not linger beyond May.
Valencia are not a PSG. In competitive terms, I would put them between Salzburg and Leipzig. I am not going to tell you we would put them out, but if we had played it tight, the tie would still be in the balance.
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milan, reminds me of an army liberation after a war, the guy on top the statue, wow.
http://i.imgur.com/bkXEH2D.gif
MAH had a great day with the CQN Chippendales
Huns drop points
Chinese for tea
Cold beer in my hand.
How could my life be any sweeter????
Fekin Roy Croppie appears!
I am now complete!
HH jg
my wee corner getting built, missing it.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7BC7YeXSoMbyTjF7UUaTMXOGmGUlfLD6uN2no-uwyD0qcTrMAN4FYcyzHl7oXK3ibwscHiRtre5IHCY=w2400-h1350-no
https://youtu.be/g_qZ5B-yioU
James
Laid
HH
doyle at his best.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kstfAsmJLujLPvB7d86H4YPxkPxqEhqexuL9zHOpQ3i2Jw8cB60quoABJGWnQYGafFM5FPa6fJ9NK3A=w2400-h1350-no
A wee bit more including Jack Bruce
As some one on here would say, awfy braw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u0A9EdR11o
KINGLuBO
Brilliant Roy
https://youtu.be/xmyPHfu9c0c
The WATERBOYS
And a Bang in the Ear
8inarowCsc
HI BHOYS, noticed some posters referring to rangers, please don’t ghuys they are feckin deid, if you want to mention them bassas its sevco, personally I don’t want to see or hear about thems, but if posters want to talk about them, its not my blog if it was the name rangers would be banned.ktf.hh.
I hope Brendan freshens things up a bit tomorrow and we really go after Stevie Clarke’s well organised Killie. Three points Celts.
HH
Sandra dee appears ?
a wee drop more of the good stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oFzxwHEt50
KINGLuBO
https://youtu.be/QA5gJ0hZpCc
The Kinks
Dedicated Follower of Fashion
BmcuwpCSC
the railway embankment going.
a christmas alphabet
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HvtPY-tWQSW5hvBRIuvv7fmP16bBIXSHJuemDGQ4EPKZEockCYvnYucEJ_kflNZ9t4b4Dt3I6f7z3Bo=w2400-h1350-no
Thank you!!
Should have closed the blinds!!
HH jg
the proclaimer that didnt make the band.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oX9Wd3jQkpmUJPTMr8_2p4rSpL5U42sZGcwfQVFLeSuA4Ee56OFEEOlacIjpCjP2H5SxndSsi-arsFQ=w1920-h1080-rw-no
https://youtu.be/l2puvI4IfG0
Bad
U2
aff out.
that mcclair and the local weans are playing fitba in my garden again.
http://i67.tinypic.com/2vxgisp.jpg
https://youtu.be/1t-gK-9EIq4
Depeche Mode
Everything Counts
Ynwa
https://youtu.be/qLo7z50Tt2g
Alternative Ulster
Stiff Little Fingers
ehhh stevie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKPrGAkx-WQ
you’re still dropping points
Can anyone tell me why the Scotland team of the late 60s regularly wore rangers red and black socks, apart from the obvious, and why no one called them out on it?
Check out…”drive by truckers”….great band,
Over the years, I’ve shared many a ting with the bold and the beautiful of cqn but this is is probably the deepest and the darkest of the lot: I want R C-W that way !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-sVu4zeWfs
monthehfugginhoopsblastthebillyboysingingkilliebassascsc
Headlines tomorrow.
Saints fail to score at ibrox….or
R…..s hold saints in ibrox thriller….or
Injury hit blues thwart saints attack.
Take your pick.
C’mon Celtic don’t ruin Sunday.
Roy croppie -Harry Chapin
Or maybe the saw doctors?
https://youtu.be/etundhQa724
Cats in the Cradle
Hh
STAIRHEIDRAMMY,
probably was a lighter shade of blue and red !
Darius Rucker?Wagon wheel
Headline tomorrow……….
Celtic in crisis as Sevco close the gap
Hi cqn, haven’t posted in a long time but there’s a good crowd in tonight, including Roy, one of my favourite cqners! Currently watching us play hearts on hogmanay 1988, a classic! Henry, Henry, drop the ball…
Roy croppie-thank you,Harry is with out doubt the best song writer ever ?bob d my arse ??
Fairhill Bhoy.
Best songwriters.
Just because I know you like a wind up, so it’s not these guys then.
The song Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee was written by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs.
Hail Hail
Good evening all from Heraghtys bar. Playing them crossroads blues.
https://youtu.be/TOZHwWFjb30
The Pogues
Body of an American
BigJimDwyerCsc
Wow, 4v2, takes me back. Massive crowd that day including a huge travelling support for hearts, you don’t see that anymore. What a year 1988 was.