The most frustrating thing about last night’s meek exist from the Europa League is just how self-inflicted it was. After previous European defeats I criticised Brendan Rodgers tactics, but no tactics in the world will help a team which cannot defend a corner kick or stop a shot from 24 yards into the middle of the goal.
I saw the Hamilton Accies keeper recently concede a similar goal to the second Dorus de Vries failed to keep out of the net last night. At any level of the game, it was an unforgiveable error. For years Celtic were imperious at defending corner kicks. Now, also for years, it has been a persistent weakness.
Celtic have been far too weak at the back this season – not just in Europe. After the game Brendan suggested we lacked the experience necessary to play in such environments – certainly one of our issues. Hopefully the addition of Marvin Compper will bring sufficient authority to allow our youthful defenders to progress.
By contrast, Zenit were a study in the art of defence, even at home against a team from Scotland. We were unable to land a glove on them until the contest was effectively over. Substitutes Tom Rogic and Scott Sinclair both made things happen, but it is difficult to isolate their effect from Zenit’s own tiredness.
This was a European tie which got away. Sure, Zenit are better resourced than us, but on the showing over both legs, I’m not convinced they are significantly better than Anderlecht – who played us off Celtic Park but had their own troubles when we visited Belgium in September.
Lots of excuses, Celtic, but we really should have done better.
839 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- ...
- 23
- »
CRC – fabulous.
Still don’t know if it was Henrik or Bobo that annoyed her. :-)
Meant to say that I’m 5’11” (and a quarter) and HL was smaller. How the feck did he outjump opponents?
I hope Celtic, after a horrendous week, do well @ Aiberdeen.
Art of War /CRC
Good stories re the kids’ names.
Need to be careful though when playing that game. I wonder how many kids named :
( Name Andy Walker name) have had to take advantage of the deed poll service?
Or even worse:
( Name Maurice Johnston Name)
Be careful with those naming responsibilities :-)
TWISTSNTURNS
Billy Connolly sketch about weans in hoosin skeems wi pretentious names-
Tyrone,come back here!!!
Having said that,there was a poor unfortunate lad!moved to Kilwinning. About 1971,I was in P4,I think. His Dad was on a short-term assignment nearby apparently.
Nice lad,but I don’t know what Hough,Snr,was thinking about when he called his son Jack…
Can we finally put this over simplistic garbage of resting nearly the full team between 2 leg ties to bed please. Unless injured the strong team should play. Keeps momentum and allows a mental break from the pressure of the tie. They are professional athletes, fit young men. All we achieve, time and time again over the years, is letting the players stew in the mental pressure of the tie that results in tension and nerves and we get a meek timid performance from them on the day of the game. Not to mention the reserves playing in between know they are reserves for the ‘big’ match. Which is another thing, by doing this we instill a mentality that some games are less important and we needn’t turn up; every competitive game for celtic should be a big game. If the resting the team and playing the reserves logic holds water (4 days between games mind) why didn’t we rest them all before the first tie and, by not doing it, where was the effect of ‘tiredness’ or ‘niggles’ in that match?
morning bhoys, and welcome to cqn seamus larsson.hh.
ARTOFWAR 205
Henrik and Bobo were the names of my niece’s wee goldfish at around the same time. Not kidding either!
Great story,btw. And
HAPPY HOOOOOPY 16th BIRTHDAY to
CONNOR!!!!!!!
Good morning from a bright but cold north staffs
Growing up in the 50s in Glasgow having Gene in my name was not easy at times.
Could have been worse my Grandfather was Hercule
KDC
Good post -said at the time changes should have been limited to 3 or 4
momentum is important.
Complainting about the financial gap is all fair and well brendon but the way celtic manage the money we have is stupid, why do we have 35 players on the books, cut the squad size down to 21 players and we might actually be able to get 4 quality players due to ability to offer better terms. Yes we may get injuries etc… but from where i am sitting the players wanting in the wings aint up to it anyway, would prefer to throw in our own academy bhoys, at least they would show desire and who knows one of them might just turn out to be another KT
But then again in a club was playing me 10K or so a week would i go easily, not a chance. We will be playing the bulk of our players wages on loan. I suspend we are easily paying 150k a week on squad players and thats a awful.
Whatever happens to only adding quality? and working with a smaller squad?
Good morning. Here’s this week’s CQN Coupon. I have a wee feeling…..
BMCUWP Swindon
JOBO St Johnstone
GFTB Carlisle
AWALK Rotherham
TET Wycombe
LENNYBHOY Burnley
POG Derby
Much written on Celtic since the predictable reverse in St Petersburg, Petrograd, Leningrad , St Petersburg again, Zenit, whatever, their squad is twelve times the cost of Celtic’s rude health biscuit tin. The surprise about the tie was the first game, not the second.
We do not have the demographic to compete on a level field in new football Sky age and the sooner we accept it, the sooner we’ll clean up in Scotland stash European gifts and prosper .
Still disappointed , and by the time we reach the north of Scotland on Sunday we’ll be further behind in the league and the slump will be under the cosh to slump behind youth coach, won nothing at youth coach level never mind anything else FC .
Celtic the après invincible have been scrutinised to the nth degree on the internet more than anywhere else, and that is also the way of the world, but it’ll make no odds no matter what nostalgia drives, football as we know it Jim, has changed.
City rivals come and go, but the contagion of money, hasn’t altered since inceptive Celtic flipped from charity to business, and went on to do the financial impossible, juxta posed with the big hoose hari kiri. Old Rainjurz failed by fair means and foul, and the spawn of Sevco are an irrelevant fly ready to be swotted.
BR wrote off two points at Parkhead for the St Johnstone visit he’s using all of his available squad half of the changes are enforced anyway, and there are players in the creaking squad that simply can’t play Thursday then Sunday then Wednesday.
There will there be no continuity or momentum that most fans seek and the pragmatist would take 1 point from Pitoddrie and carry on with completing this never ending slump that somehow keeps delivering silverware. BR is planning on Team 2 for the CL qualifiers whilst negotiating the final hurdles using the substantial gap that Celtic further develop every season.
May the wealth be with you CSC
BSR
Good post!
I had no expectations of European success after Christmas, Delighted with our first leg victory which means, I believe, we are seeded in the CL quallies.
As for the sheep, someone posted that Shinnie is out and Christie is (obviously) ineligible.
Half their midfield.
Hoping for more than a point.
Is it safe to come oot yit???? , technically come on, but ye ken wit I mean.
So European adventures/nightmares have ended for another season, lasted longer than usual but they are over all the same.
H.H
Onwards and upwards.
In Brendan we trust.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
A clear and concise and dare I say it realistic appraisal of where we find ourselves.
And if I may add, the game died at the hands of corporations, gangsters and ne’r do wells quite some time ago and we are just standing at the graveside wishing it was different but no amount of wishing can ever bring back The Beautiful Game, it’s gone in my opinion.
Last Saturday I was at PSG and although they’re a great team with incredibly skilful players plucked forms he four corners of the world, they’ll never be The Lisbon Lions and what the Lions achieved they will never achieve because they are paid mercenaries in the employ of the rich and bored and deep down they know that as do the fans of PSG, Man City, Chelsea, their teams don’t exist any more except as the playthings of the wealthy.
The game goes on as it must but the Soul is far away from those heady days of being taken to Celtic Park for the first times with Da’s and Uncles, Big Brothers, Granda’s and even Mammies.
I can’t ever imagine not supporting Celtic and will always defend Celtic against it’s detractors and I hope to God that we come out of the corruption in the Scottish game at least but leat’s just say I’m not holding my breath any more!
Great post Bourne you’re always worth a good read on here despite your clique membership:))
HH
We can be sure that Madhun will book Brown/Kouassi/ Ntcham first chance he gets, to put us under pressure.
50 SHADES OF GREEN – 10:10 AM
“Is it safe to come oot yit???? , technically come on, but ye ken wit I mean.”
Think so as KevJ still oot looking for Big McGhee to make him an offer he can’t refuse though I sincerely hope he does.
THROUGH A GREEN GLASS BRIGHTLY
Mark McGhee can easily be found, he is currently technical director at Barnet the bottom team in the EFl. Just binding his time until Peter picks up the phone.
Kristoffer and Kieran.
Definites for the Big Stage.
Celtic’s Summer 2018 Transfer Window
This summer the following contracts run out:
Patrick Roberts, Edsonne Eduarde and Scott Bain on loan to us and Erik Sviatchenko on loan to Midtjylland.
We have a buy out option on Eduarde (€8m reportedly) and Paddy may well be used as a bargaining chip for Man City in summer transfers. Erik will likely stay in Denmark permanently and our goalkeeping situation in general will definitely be a top priority.
The following contracts will move into their final year:
Scott Brown, Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest, Mikael Lustig,, Cristian Gamboa, Dorus De Vries, Calvin Miller, plus Ryan Christie, Scott Allan and Nadir Ciftci , who are due to return from loan this summer and the Charly Musonda loan from Chelsea ends.
Brendan and his team will have to decide who to keep and offer new contracts, who to replace, including anyone who does not renew, and who to make available for transfer.
We also will have the following with 2 years left on their contacts:
Dembele, Sinclair, Ajer, Gordon, Hayes, Bitton and Compper
Looks like being a busy summer and I’m sure plans are in place to see a major overhaul of our squad this summer. Roll on September 1st !
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
for those in the CQN Naps Competition, please post your Week 30 selections here:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/zenit-st-petersburg-v-celtic-live-updates/comment-page-22/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
Love, absolutely LOVE playing for Glasgow Celtic.
a couple of suggestions for the squad tomorrow
Ronnie Simpson
Jim Craig
Tommy Gemmell
Bobby Murdoch
Billy McNeill
John Clark
Jimmy Johnstone
Willie Wallace
Ronny D waz selfless.
Incredible dude.
He didn’t work.
The PLC ……. anger iz an Energy.
Trump up the Jam.
To complete contract horizon, the following have contracts until:
2021
Ntcham, McGregor, Kouassi, Griffiths, Simunovic, Benyu, Hazard
2022
Morgan, Hendry, Ralston
2023
Tierney
EMBRAMIKE SAYS ” YER TEAM’S DEID…BEAT IT!” on 24TH FEBRUARY 2018 10:44 AM
I’m sure Boyata moves into final year of contract this summer.
Big changes afoot this summer. Priority contract extension should be Brown, Ajer, Forrest, Sinclair and Gordon.
Dembélé has gone already, mentally, Armstrong will go as will the two centre halfs. The fringe players and those out on loan will also go (hope Christie is given a chance but doubt it).
Could be looking for up to 7 players.
Embramike,
Big Hazard has a chance. ?
Philbhoy
Ta – same as me hoping for a win.
HH
SP
Still in the bandana clique, and trying to get into any other clique that’ll
have me as a member, so that I can resign for having me as a member etc
etc.
Watched with my great friend on Thursday night more in hope he reads the game so well using his experience. I reacted disgracefully when the second goal went in, to the extent the next door neighbour dropped his eyes to when he seen me this morning.
Inspired by the greatest Celtic fans including ole moniker man EuroChamps67
who remains a rock despite more important things, and knows soccer from every Celtic angle.
Brilliant posters on here alot of whom I’ve met -) I still love the jungle rhythm you speak of, its still there especially on a Saturday
HH
BSR – whilst your earlier post was very good, it did lack picture links ;-)
Right, offski, En suite ceiling and walls to paint. Same colour – and Mrs Baldie’s point is???
GARY / Embramike
Jeez,……………the ole revolving doors will be coming off their hinges
G67- a new GK is a priority IMO, Gordon still has a couple of years left.I think Brendan came in with a big budget, but he improved the existing squad, and we probably over achieved last season, creating more expectancy this season.I think he has taken this group as far as they can go, and it is time for Team 2.We have 2 years CL money, we need to invest , i think we could spend around £15 mil in the summer, and maybe Brendan has tapped up a couple of guys who will be out of contract.HH
!!BADA BING!! on 24TH FEBRUARY 2018 11:08 AM
If Dembélé, Armstrong, Simunovic and Boyata are sold we’ll take in over £30m in transfer fees so would expect spending to be more than £15m.
BMCUW
How’s it going mhate down there among the Brexiteers ? Girvan FC v the Buffs today hoping for a result always good to beat any rangers team !!
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
Aye no amount of inter-netting can replace the feeling of rolling up to Celtic Park.
It’s one of my great misses in life not seeing the team live.
Bring on The Sheep!!
Three points would be delicious Sunday afternoon fare!
Gary 67
Boyata indeed (thanks – typo) bringing the total to 13 players out of contract next summer 2019:
Scott Brown, Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest, Mikael Lustig, Dedryk Boyata, Cristian Gamboa, Dorus De Vries, Calvin Miller, Ryan Christie, Scott Allan, Nadir Ciftci and Charly Musonda
Who will stay and who will be available for transfer ?
GARY67 on 24TH FEBRUARY 2018 11:11 AM
!!BADA BING!! on 24TH FEBRUARY 2018 11:08 AM
If Dembélé, Armstrong, Simunovic and Boyata are sold we’ll take in over £30m in transfer fees so would expect spending to be more than £15m.
You can expect all you like. PL will decide what is spent.
Grrrr . Stuffed that up
Mod if you’re on please delete that post at 11.22am . Cheers