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.
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PHILBHOY / JOBO
Dorus just does not look as if he can stop shots – a bit of a disadvantage in a goalie. Must also impact on team confidence.
Right – off to get my driver’s uniform on to ferry the Boss up north :-)
HH
BGFC
BIG GEORGES…………………
Hope you have a great day!
Given the travails of this week I can’t see anything but a draw today. I expect De Vries will start. And we will keep a clean sheet. Ergo, drawing a blank up front again. I’m always pessimistic on the morning of a game.
And as kick off approaches I’ll be super confident of a 2 goal winning margin. At least.
I watched Nel Lennon interview after the match following that appalling penalty decision. Good on him.
I did have me wondering, again, what is the point of the fourth official. To hold up the added on time. To hold up the subs board. Does it need an “official” to do that.
Oh yes, and to dob in the managers who voice an opinion on matters on the field. Why?
Jobs for the boys that one. And those two useless behind the goals officials in European matches. Contribute nothing.
Fascinating game with our main rivals in prospect and on a day where opinion of contentment is much, with an any time seven point gap till May, en route and in clear sight of the seven. The law of average is a powerful thing and if we’re as poor as SMSM hope, or your regular Celtic supporting ‘Chris Sutton’s “ think, a draw in Aberdeen would be a miracle, on the other hand the old coupon away win, much more likely.
There are one or two fine looking Celtic cyber line ups and I like the one with the back three, and extra middy. Anytime after last Thursday is the time to ditch De Vries after his second calamitous spell in the first team, but good managers are better than us , and tend to keep their cool.
I hope Dembele is fit to continue his quest for a goal scoring opportunity let alone goal, Ntcham and Brown are key, and any Celtic selection of defence doesn’t regularly ship goals despite the propaganda, that’s the law of average swinging back in our favour.
Judging the quality of Celtic with Rainjurz is a pure waste of time, not resolvable in points or gaps because when one doesn’t exist Celtic fans instead are just left to count Celtic ‘sleeps ‘ till the next smiting of their Sevco .
Hail Hail
BSR – it’s 13 ;-)
Away for a walk. Alone.
Some interesting questions for Brendan to answer today in regards to team selection, I’m not sure he’ll go for sweeping changes.
I would like to see Moussa rediscover his mojo with a start and a goal, you don’t become a bad player in a few games and strikers thrive on goals.
The midfield will need to be strong and engaged today as always in the Sheep Pen so I would like to see Kouassi in there rumbling them up!
Tough one to call today but I expect us to have enough in the tank to take all three points.
Celtics wee bit of class to tell over the 90…
Right soup tae make:))
HH
Jobo
YNWA!
;-)
HH jamesgang
Re today’s game
My biggest worry is that Madden won’t be able to stop himself cheating us today .IMO this opportunity really will be too good to miss for him .
I watched the SJ game back and could not believe the decisions Beaton was making .
No ref is that incompetent IMO .
So the bhoys will need to be at their very best here today to remove the influence of the peepil .
COYBIG
NEGANON2
Totally agree that our board have fallen far short of where I would like them to be with regards to their stance on Newco. Also, as you stated, they have allowed complacency to dictate spending or non spending policy. with regards to Celtic dying I don’t concur, too many of us love Celtic for that to happen. hail hail.
Dembele is critical today.
In his past four or five games, he has argued more with other players (Brown, noticeably, when the ball doesn’t go where he wants) than all the players combined in Rogers’ one and a half seasons. Dangerous trait, maybe symptomatic of where his head is at with still being in Glasgow.
On THursday, he wandered about offside a few times after not getting the ball, again, looking a bit huffy.
my money is on him turning this round today (literally, first goalscorer bet placed!). If he does play to form, we will win the game.
If I was boss, God forbid, Dorus wouldn’t start. He just isn’t a good enough keeper.
NEGANON2
Did you not post that last week……………and the week before…………………… and the…..
NEGANON2
Meant to add, hope you are well!
Off out……………..for a while.
Lucky yoos!
Neg Did you ever consider that Paul holds a different opinion to you.
He is entitled to his opinion as much as you are entitled to yours.
He created the Blog, no one is compelled to either read it or post on it.
He has given you the platform to constantly slag him & he never hits back.
You made one reasonably complimentary post after we beat Zenith, you made about 20 scathing posts after Zenith beat us.
Not sure what you are trying to achieve with your campaign, is it attention seeking? or do you believe that all this rage & ranting will actually change anything.
All of us here have to deal with very serious non football issues, Football & supporting a Team is recreation and is meant to be enjoyable.
Frankly Neg reading the same rant couched in different terms every time a cloud appears on the Celtic horizon is a massive pain in the ass.
Big games coming thick and fast now and that’s what the players and fans want no doubt and no hiding place.
Hurry up Griff. And Stu. And Pat get back in the race
has there been a leaked team line up yet?
just seen on Twitter the polis are pulling busses over at Strathcaro.
puts me in mind of one of my dearly departed mother’s favourite observations….”you and that bloody Celtic – they wont pay your fine for you if you get the jail”.
This was a close second to “the bloody Celtic wont pay your wages you know”.
Unarguably correct on both counts, she was.
INTERNET CELTIC TEAM
DDV
Ajer Hendry Boyata
Forrest Ntcham Brown Kouassi Tierney
Musonda
Dembele
onenightinlisbon on 25th February 2018 10:40 am
Totally agree that our board have fallen far short of where I would like them to be with regards to their stance on Newco. Also, as you stated, they have allowed complacency to dictate spending or non spending policy. with regards to Celtic dying I don’t concur, too many of us love Celtic for that to happen. hail hail.
———–
We’ve doubled our spend on the football side of things since Brendan arrived. We currently have 5 centre halfs on our books, all purchased (none promoted from our own youths).
So we are spending more money and we are buying players – the argument appears to be that we aren’t bringing in the right players which is a much harder problem to solve.
I’ve always hated the way Celtic have collected players over the last 10 plus years, probably longer. We signed 2 CHs in the January window, yet Neg and other’s appeared to have wanted at least one more CH signing in January??
Almore -well spotted. Yes, that was my daughter addressing the nation in her native tongue. Maith Í indeed.
Important victory needed today to build momentum for the run in.
We need more Neil Lennon’s to call out the cheating (insert bad name here ).
Hail Hail
Neg 2
One thing I know for certain is that Celtic is not dead. Ridiculous statement imo, but you raise valid concerns.
For many of us Thursday was hard to take. We could and should have done better. We all know that and that is why it hurt so much.
We are soooooooo alive and the game today will hopefully prove that.
I for one am glad when you post; it shows you care .
HH.
PS: please cut out the personal attacks on Paul 67. It makes you and your views less credible.
The Huddle
My figures might be slightly out, but in the last accounts, I think our wage bill went from £33m to £40 annually. Brendan has put a lot of his squad on longer and bigger contracts.
I fully agree with your point on collecting players. I don’t like it, but its a model many top European clubs follows, especially in England
BSR – cheers
Boyatta back! interesting!
Stringer Bell:
` Stracathro.`
Whatever the outcome of today’s game my belief is that we will win the league.
However there can be no excuse today for anything less than 3 points.
No ref, Injuries, European hangover excuses.
Brenda is not expected to progress much further in Europe than we did this year.
Domestically we are resourced to win. He is rewarded more than handsomely (as are the players) to dominate. They MUST deliver
Watched the first disc of the Invincibles dvd set again last night. Makes you realise just how good a player Stuart Armstrong can be and how big a part he played last season. I for one miss him, we don’t seem to have anyone who plays that role as well as he does. Wish he was playing today.
` from £33m to £40 annually.`
Surely the Players` Union should instruct on minimum wage? :-)
JJ
” Celtic, Celtic…………THAT’S the team for me……………..”
Wee Pat ( God Rest Ye )
HH. YNWA.
`No ref, Injuries, European hangover excuses.`
Excuses? I would consider those as realities.
JJ
I hope that the Celtic ream actually turn up today. Too often they don’t.
Neg2 10.27am
You are having a laugh :-)
The Lurkin Tim fae during the night I was quoting the Sevs although as better than me have stated liquidation didn’t get rid of the same flies, enjoy your day fellow Celtic fans (& supporters :-)
***CQN helping “OUR mate Mick”***
Thanks for all the pledges and entries to date for our Celtic Goals Galore Easter Challenge
You can still join us, by emailing us at cqnpredictor@gmail.com
1 Starting today (25th Feb), Join us over the next 5 weeks and pledge an amount per goal scored for Celtic ( i.e. £1, £2, £5, £10 per goal etc)
2 Between Sunday 25th February and Easter Sunday, keep a tally of the amount of goals scored by Celtic
3 On Easter Sunday; Take the goals scored and multiply by your donation ( i.e. 7 x £5= £35)
4 At the start feel free to cap your overall donation ( i.e £10, £18.88, £19.67, £20 etc)
5 Make your donation over to the CQN Celtic Goals Galore fund on Easter Monday (TBA)
6 All entrants will be entered into a very special prize draw to win some great prizes (TBA)
Celtic Goals Galore Games
Sun, 25th Feb Aberdeen
Wed, 28th Feb Dundee
Sat, 3rd Mar Greenock Morton
Sun, 11th Mar Zombie Rangers*
Sun, 18th Mar Motherwell
Sat, 31st Mar Ross County
* I can’t believe It’s Not Rangers!
So, I am going to pledge £5 per goal for this great cause and cap it at £25 ( just in case Celtic run riot over Easter!)
You can read about Mick’s accident here
mymatemick.com
Mick has a wife, and two young kids ( Louis 6 and Florence nearly a big 4), and needs our help to get him and his family through this difficult time. His good friend is NavanBhoy who played a part within the WeeOscar4life cycle from Glasgow to Belfast, as well as supporting the cause throughout.
I appreciate that you may be supporting other causes, and/or committed to other Lenten promises or may not have the spare funds at this time, but if you can help, then just let me know by emailing your pledge to cqnpredictor@gmail.com.
The good news is that our last competition of the season LMS10 will be launched very sooooooon!!!
Please repost on new pages
HH
CRC
Neg2 An absolute belter of a post as opposed to a lot of the insipid stuff we normally get. Hh
Win this game Win the league as it will deflate our opponents & kill of any possibility of a challenge is the way I see it. Plus with players returning from injury we will only get stronger in the run in for the prizes
Bada Bing !
Where is your post revealing team selection?
J
Clogher Celt
If you are looking in, I have not forgotten about our “Accounting by Celtic Numbers”, just really busy at mo. Will get onto it as soon as I can:-).
By the way we had £37.4m in the bank at the end of December, and a £6.7m long term loan ( legacy), which is getting paid off slowly each year.
C’mon the Hoops, let gub the Sheepies today!!
HH
CRC
I was confident we would go through on Thursday and we didn`t. Today, I am much less confident .
Is that a good sign?
JJ
GORDON64
What you need somebody to state the blatently obvious for you season after season and tell us stuff that everybody and their dug knows and continually snidely attack the guy who made the blog for us to enjoy???
Good for you…
HH