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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THE_HUDDLE
Not signing the right players, I agree.
However I’m not sure exactly how much control our manager actually has with regards to the spending budget?
Injuries have played their part but we have a big enough squad to ensure we don’t lose points when these happen… but you look at the amount of drawn games at home this season and wonder what is going wrong.
With regard to our board and Sevco, they love the “old firm” pound, no question about that. I feel betrayed by them but have felt like that since I started supporting Celtic around 1969……
To those who say I am repeating myself your right.
That’s because Celtic continue to repeat their mistakes and because Paul continues to peddle their propaganda.
Corkcelt the truth generally can be a pain in the ass. Paul is trying to pull the wool over our eyes. He regularly runs the boards daft ideas up the flagpole (moneyball anyone) and he is part of the reason that the board get away with their so called strategy.
Barney67 on 25th February 2018 6:07 am
I just don’t get it. I just don’t get it. How can everyone think its OK to call Aberdeen supporters, ‘the sheep’?
I don’t.
===================================
FFS.
New to this soccer thing, yeah?
Starry plough I don’t think my attacks on Paul are snidey I think they are pretty open honest and in his face.
He will never respond though. Doesn’t want to be drawn on serious matters.
Starry For the record I did not say I agreed with everything Neg2 posted but imho it was worth reading and stimulated discussion. Hh
Here we go, seven in a row……. here we go, seven in a row…..
The only song with a reference to 10 in a row that I’m comfortable with is the “Brendan Rodgers here for 10 in a row….”. For now, let’s try and strive towards 7. And going at least 7 points clear today, securing at least a draw against our most serious competitors, would be not too shabby.
Dembele – evens to score at any time? As soon as the team lines confirm that he starts, I’ll be investing a couple of guineas on that one ;-)
SuperSutton on 25th February 2018 9:48 am
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.
============================================
In a refereeing team, the 4th official fulfills the Lee Wallace role.
The grass.
Neg Anon
“He will never respond though. Doesn’t want to be drawn on serious matters”
Well that’s one explanation.
I am sure, with a littlle effort of imagination, you might be able to conjure up other plausible alternative explanations
Stringer Bell on 25th February 2018 11:09 am
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
———
I think it’s almost doubled since Ronny’s last season.
When Brendan came in he signed Dorus, Sinky and Gamboa from England, all those players would’ve been on decent money and I’d be fairly certain were all signed on Brendan’s say so.
Coaches often say they prefer a smaller squad yet everyone of them ends up increasing squad size. I think even Mourinho when he joined Man Utd trotted out the line about streamlining the squad.
Neganon 2
If Paul peddles the Board’s propaganda, why don’t you boycott his site in the same way that most Celtic supporters boycott the tabloids?
Rumoûred team
Chocolate wrists
Lustig Simunovic Ajer Tierney
Brown Ntcham
Forrest Rogic Sinclair
Dembele
Good piece by Allison McConnell in the Sunday Herald ‘No lessons learned as Celtic star in familiar movie’. Hh
NegAnon2 on 25th February 2018 11:37 am
Starry plough I don’t think my attacks on Paul are snidey I think they are pretty open honest and in his face.
He will never respond though. Doesn’t want to be drawn on serious matters.
===========================================
“Mr.President, Mr.President! – I demand you tell us about the aliens in Area 51 and their plans for world domination! Never mind North Korea or Russia – tell us about the aliens, Mr.President! This is a serious matter! Tell us about the ALIENS!”
Sadiesbhoy because I am not contributing financially to CQN and propping up the lies and because the fable that Paul weaves needs challenged. CQN still uses the strap line not lazy journalism. But it is a lie.
SFTB I am sure you are right but he probably prefers being an old firm cheerleader on the BBC.
I’lls ay again that we cannot win back today what we lost on Thursday with 3 abject goals shipped.
If we win handsomely, it will be dismissed as Aberdeen being schecht and Sevco being the real litmus test.
If we win narrowly, it will be seen as a slump continuing.
If we drop points, it will be somoene else’s fault for being complacent and picking the wrong team
The Board will be back in the firing line becaue we knew last year that it was Brendan who bought the successes of Dembele and Boyata but we also know that this year he had the same two players foisted upon him by the board against his will.
However, despite the absence of an up-side, I’d still like to see Celtic win today.
CELTICROLLERCOASTER SUPPORTING @WALKWITHSHAY on 25TH FEBRUARY 2018 11:18 AM
***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
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Police trap at Laurencekirk. They’ve came team handed.
HH
WEE BGFC
Never liked the 10-in-a-row song……………..fine when we’ve done it – hell, I may even breach the “No Tat Rule” for that one (10)…….. but smacks of hundom ’till we’ve done it….. imo.
Their tainted and compromised consecutive league tally never, ever matched our 9 and will never eclipse it.
I am accompanying my dog Max on his sponsored walk today for fund raising for a new heating system for St. Augustine’s church in Milton so will have to settle for radio commentary.
I have no idea what to expect form Celtic today which is worrying.
No other challenger will take all the poins available but we need to build some momentum and build it fast.
Big reputations don’t count. Big performances are what we need.
Don’t let down Seamus Larsson in Toronto on his first time as a Celtic fan.
TWISTS N TURNS on 25TH FEBRUARY 2018 8:39 AM
Cheers for replying.
Agree re positions that need strengthening- RB,CB hopefully a priority.
I’m very optimistic about the final part of our season.
I think the gap closing will actually work in our favour . It will sharpen our focus and banish any complacency that was lingering.
Players returning from injury and an improvement in the picthes should see a return to form.
I think the criticism Brendan received from some after Zenit was way OTT and he will be more determined than ever to prove any doubters wrong.
What better way than back to back trebles, sounds good to me.
HH
Constant attack on Celtic – check.
Constant attack on successful Celtic officials, players and supporters – check.
Outrageous distortion to justify perverse opinion – check.
Bite the hand that feeds you – check.
Glee unabated when Celtic are beaten – check.
Template based attacks, insert latest Celtic reverse and post – check.
Hostility and rage when “faced” by Celtic supporters – check.
‘betrayed by the board since 1969’
Jeezo…………………..thats longer than NegAnon
It seems Police Scotland are following the will of their political masters impeccably.
HH.
BCW
You got something against consistency?
Check CSC
Oh, a fallow field to sow discord – check.
Modern Daily Record CSC.
Urban Dictionary
‘the Suits’
Sevconian for the Easdales two close brothers before the closer Close Brothers and former major players in short turbulent financially forlorn life of Sevco ousted by glib shameless liar
Jobo 11.38am
Moussa is 25s with macbookie for a wee hattrick
In my case as my mother often reminded me
“a fool and his money are easily parted”
Starting line up …
De Vries ; Lustig, Simunovic, Ajer, Tierney ; Brown, Ntcham; Forrest , Rogic, Sinclair; Dembele
Subs: Bain, Miller, Hendry, Kouassi , McGregor, Musonda, Edouard,
Two whipping bhoys survive and other whipping bhoy returns.
Often hear players saying they want the next game as soon as possible after a bad defeat.
Get the feeling our boys will be relishing the prospect of today’s game.
There’s been some great performances at Pittodrie over the years, looking forward to this one
Callum MacGregor dropped for Rogic
Big mistake not starting EK I fear.
HH jamesgang
Well, I called the De Vries/ Lustig retention right.
Brendan is going to give them a shot at redemption- they both need to take it.
Hope Tom Togic is ready to explode.
Beware the knuckleball.
Hello again all you young rebels.
GFTB
” A wise man and his money are soon to be millionaires ” i don’t
know who actually said that but i have now, and i think Moussa
will be the hat trick hero today as i stated earlier in the blog
there’s no doubt he has struggled to show last seasons form
but my feeling is he’s ready to explode, get your money on
him.
H.H Mick
Hi Bhoys/ NEG (in particular)
Neg your posts are usually pretty reasonable but sometimes i think you just want to be a bit of a sensationalist and it gets people’s backs up. But you are the same as the rest of us, one voice with your opinion. Although the blog is Paul’s we all only have one voice and no matter how disrespectful of anyone’s opinion we choose to be as long as we are curtious our post will be published.
Paul 67 is the same as you and me one person with one opinion and he can have his opinions published to. We don’t have to shoot the messenger because we don’t like the message.
This applies to all posters including myself if you don’t like what you read give a curtious reply or ignore. It’s not to much to ask of a fellow tim.
The blog has served me with some great insight on many subjects least of all Celtic so just take the good you find in it and enjoy. I have also been lucky enough to meet a few bloggers and make at least one very good friend through here.
KEEP THE FAITH
Watching the Celtic just now is quite a weird experience. Hot and cold, is the constant !
The contrast is stark between the dominant aggressive wins over Hearts and Zenit; and the meek, passive performances against the same outfits.
It ain’t tactics, nor is it injury, pitches or whatever excuse that’s voiced.
Watch the players: facial expressions; willingness to move to help a team-mate; remember when KT was getting battered against the Jags ? Who helped, showed an interest etc ? Celebrations at goals, are they the same as last season ?
Could also be as simple as dosh or release/transfer situ.
Just my opinion but it seems we have a personnel problem.
The Dorus is Rank redemption