Celtic looked nervy during the opening exchanges in their Champions League clash with Lazio last night, as Lazio imposed a high press. A 12th minute turn and drive inside from Daizen Maeda changed things.
Daizen found Matt O’Riley who played a truly great one-touch pass behind the defence into the box. This is Kyogo Territory and the Japanese’ movement bought him enough time to drill a shot that deceived the keeper and opened the scoring.
That shocked Lazio into a response as Celtic endured a high and fast press this grouo of defenders have never collectively faced. Celtic struggled to progress the ball forward, with the usually effective Reo Hatate’s distribution well below par.
Lazio forced a couple of corners before their equaliser arrived. They had two distinct strategies for each side for the field, with attackers clustered inside the six yard box for inswingers from the left, and lined up behind each other for outswingers from the left.
The latter caused enough confusion to lead to the equaiser. With numerical advantage inside the box, the defence should have prevailed.
If Lazio had the better of the opening period, Celtic dominated the second half. Just after the hour, Luis Palma and Cameron Carter-Vickers replaced Yang and Nat Phillips. Both arrivals injected control and drive into Celtic.
With 8 minutes remaining, the whole of Celtic Park (apart from the guy sitting beside me) thought Palma had put Celtic ahead, but VAR ruled a touch from Maeda was enough to disallow the goal for offside.
Lazio were winding down the clock in added time but a moment off balance from Carter-Vickers allowed them to drive into the box. As with their first goal, the defence will think they should have marked better.
A game which could have been won and should at the very least have seen Celtic take a point was lost. There is a softness about us which needs worked on.
I think the game came too soon for us. You can see shoots of potential in Palma and the authority Carter-Vickers brought to the game was enough to turn the tide of play. His late split does not touch the sides of support he has in the bank from Celtic fans.
It’s a tough ask now to finish third in the group.
260 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- »
Some of our players may indeed be soft but look what that ref. let some of the Lazio players away with.
Think O’Riley being clattered.
Phillips was booked, on the stroke of half time, for what?
agree we are far to soft in accepting decisions or allowing your teammates to be subjected to various attacks on the field without any repercussions , streetwise no way , our attitude is nothing to see and move on.
I don’t know what the result last night says about the bigger picture
We were up against a team who brought on 5 subs, 3 cost more than our record fee, one who has won a world cup and euros, multiple league titles in Spain and one in England, 3 champions leagues.
In all honesty I can’t see how any of our players gets in their team and two of their subs produced one of the moments of the game to produce a fine winner. Immobile looked short of fitness or perhaps he has lost it a bit so Kyogo on last night’s showing, O’Riley and Calmac maybe, Johnston for his defensive work. Technically better in every position, quicker and, probably, smarter. Luis Alberto was the most creative player on the pitch, the sort of talent we’d have for a year or two who’d then move on. He’s in his seventh season there despite regular very public fallings out with the owner and good offers from elsewhere
They probably also have the better manager, certainly in terms of how his teams do in their domestic league. Top 3 finishes, almost always, in serie a and in the EPL
Given all that we would t have been flattered with a narrow win, a draw would have been disappointing.
Importantly I do think we do look better than last season, the established players are learning and given the contract situation we’ll see almost all of them in next years competition. I also think we will see more experienced established players arrive in the next two windows.
The worry, of course, is how many of our development players have arrived with the basic ability to develop into good enough players. But we’re always going to have to take that gamble – we’re not signing a Luis Alberto at 24 or a £15m replacement for Kyogo to sit on the bench for a season.
I think we need to get our heads around Ange’s words about not getting attached to heroes. The days of great Celtic teams like MON’s gave probably passed for now.
Good afternoon Bhoys and Ghirls. You may recall a few weeks ago I put a plea on here from Pamela (daughter of GG (Ronnie Docherty) for 4 tickets for the Kilmarnock game this Saturday. This would allow her, her son, her daughter and her daughter’s partner to attend a game.
I met Pamela on 20th September whilst she and the family were home to visit places close to Ronnie’s heart; these included visiting Ronnie’s paving stone on the Celtic Way where they put some of his Ashes. During our meet up I was honoured to inform her that thanks to the efforts of Almore and Aipple and the generosity of you all we had secured 4 tickets for the game this Saturday. Almore and I are meeting Pamela and her family around 12ish this Saturday for pregame drinks. Almore suggested Grace’s as they will, as will I be wearing colours. If anyone can think of another decent pub that will allow colours please let me know. And of course you are all welcome to join us.
Anyone interested in coming along email me at lennybhoycfc@gmail.com and will let you know where the confirmed meeting will be.
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Anyone who was at the game last night wouldn’t have heard Brendan’s pre-game interview
Much to Stan Petrovs annoyance he talked about the team developing over the course of this seasons competition.
20 Minute Tims
@20MinuteTims
·
3h
·
Mark Lawwell arrived in July ‘22 as “Head Of First Team Scouting & Recruitment”.
His record to date:
– Jenz
– Haksa
– Abildgard
– Yuki
– AJ
– Iwata
– Oh
– Holm
– Tilio
– Yang
– Kwon
– Gustaf
– Palma
– Rocky
– Philips
– Bernardo
15 players in.
1 player starts every week.
Mmmmmm
HH
Good afternoon all from Govanhill. A dreich day in old Glasgow Town.
Well it’s the afternoon after the morning after the night before….
And it certainly feels like the night before was one of regrets.
I know Ange would have been singing ‘Je ne regretted rien’
Brendan will hopefully be working on a plan to help make that refrain one we can be singing after a win.
Things can only get better.
The only was is up.
I have only limit4ed highlights of Lazio’s winner which doesn’t show the preamble, so what follows is qualified by that knowledge gap. Footage here: https://x.com/YenksAbroad/status/1709714857044627533?s=20
Lazio play the ball forward in the air, centrally. CCV is in a centre midfield position and Johnstone steps into his position to head the ball forward.
At this point we have Scales and Taylor deep, Johnston 10 yards in front of them. CCV remains ahead in central midfield while Matt O’Riley has covered the runner into the space vacated by Johnston. (Well done Matt)
Johnston’s clearing header is touched back by Maeda to CCV in central midfield. CCV is swarmed. Again, it is unclear from the available footage why CCV is in the midfield at all.
Inexplicably, with CCV being pressed by two Lazio players and only two defenders behind him, Johnston moves forward and wide into midfield ahead of CCV.
CCV is rumbled and Lazio spring 5 players beyond CCV, facing down just Taylor and Scales plus the covering O’Riley.
At that moment the goal is lost.
McGregor, Bernardo and CCV all try to recover central positions but never get beyond the ball. Lazio score at the back post with our right back watching on forlornly 20 yards away.
We lost the goal because we lost our shape. I don’t know why that was.
Perhaps the manager had told CCV to move forward in search of a goal and we were playing a back 3 in the closing minutes? Anyone?
Perhaps CCV just got carried away in the moment, went chasing the win and forgot first principles.
None of which explains Johnston’s brain fart which emptied the space from which the goal was scored.
As I said, we lost the goal (and the match) because we lost our shape. That’s pretty fechin styoopit.
The Huddle @ 1.17
I don’t accept that. Jota could have been told to wait till the end of this season. He would have had to continue to perform to a high level to obtain a move to a bigger league. I suspect that Benfica and his agent were pushing for the move as they both stood to gain. It’s interesting that Feyenoord refused to sell players they got bids for from bigger leagues. Feyenoord were excited about being in the CL again after so long and wanted to achieve something. Even their manager turned down an offer from a bigger league (lucky for Ange).
We have to be both good at trading players and replacing them adequately.
Jota was an elite player, we did very well in the fee (luck with Portuguese coach and an endless pot of Saudi money) but replaced him with 2 vastly inferior players (to date) with inferior outputs for the club.
Our contribution from the wing has dropped off a cliff (also exacerbated by Abada’s absence).
We have to do better off the field. After window 1 from Ange, it’s nowhere near good enough.
HH
TBB
Agreed , it was a matter of loss of shape and discipline , although a fully fit and game-tuned CCV may not have been caught out as he was .
if players are to be sold keep them until the Jan window following the CL group stages and not pre season .
not to worry we will soon have MJ back on the wing.
TBB
I think a lot of their decision making can be explained by the pressure and uncertainty of the situation and that non of them having had experienced anything like that before
Tired minds and bodies at the end of such an intense game
“79CAPS on 5TH OCTOBER 2023 2:06 PM
The Huddle @ 1.17
I don’t accept that. Jota could have been told to wait till the end of this season. He would have had to continue to perform to a high level to obtain a move to a bigger league.”
Not really. He could down tools, pull a Mark Viduka or feign a bunch of injuries to spite us and still get a decent move as well as a pay hike from us if we turned down the bid iirc.
He would then also act as a warning to other players looking to join us that we may not let them move as they like even when we get a ridiculous bid. For our operating model that is a risk.
I liked Ange’s approach on this; if you don’t want to be here and we have an acceptable bid then off you pop.
QB
I am not sure if many on here actually attend the games.
Last night for me was probably the 2nd worst atomosphere I have ever experienced at Celtic Park. I think I have been to every game.
The level of engagement between the paying consumers and the team was non existent…….or mostly negative.
I was sat in north stand lower toward the Celtic end and although I was surrounded with 30 guys who could clearly walk in jobs either playing for the first team or coaching them (such was their level of criticism of every pass or decision taken by a player in a hooped jersey) the level of actual support and energy was literally zero.
The energy levels getting behind the team, who were clearly giving their all against a team more used to playing at a top level, was a joke.
Rather like on here where folk seem to just want to be critical and see themselves as clever for their negativity the stand seemed filled with armchair quarterbacks who knew it all. Not folk actually supporting anything
I accept it is a 2 way street but I honestly felt we had a team out there really fighting for it playing a controlled and modern style of football. A team which deserved a backing and a support like we had with Neil and his Thunder.
TBB
I think you summed that up pretty well.
You don’t run past marked players leaving them as the last man. We have a bit of an issue about over passing the ball. For their first goal Scales controls a horrible bouncing ball and sends it back to Hart. For some reason, Hart gives him it back and it ends in their first corner then to the goal. A lot of people have said that you need to know when to get rid of the ball
Quadbhoy @2.38
You would hope that the player concerned would have some decency, unlike Viduka. It would also show the other players that the club has ambition.
Anyway we can agree that Jota has not been replaced. We have 7 wingers, most of them either too young or not good enough. And only one back-up striker, who does not even look good enough for the SPL. Terrible recruitment.
Big Wavy
How do we make up the gap in footballing ability between the two teams last night?
If they’ve got the better manager how do we make up that gap as well?
TBB
Good analysis, and thanks for the clip. The loss of possession in midfield involved three of our most experienced players, Maeda, Carter-Vickers and McGregor, the former for the touch back from Cameron’s header which puts CCV on the back foot, from which he tries to shield the ball something he is normally good at, and McGregor, who despite seeing CCV struggle inexplically begins to move forward towards the centre circle or thereabouts, after which his attempt to recover and challenge, or even foul his opponent were severly reduced. Three players all put under pressure in the midfield, and all unable to deal with a situation and a ball a long way from our goal, albeit not for long.
CELTIC40ME on 5TH OCTOBER 2023 2:48 PM
Big Wavy
How do we make up the gap in footballing ability between the two teams last night?
—
Have better quality players in our team? Or, what Brendan Rodgers says.
p.s I did have a wee smile when you made 36 year old substitute Pedro sound like he was back in his pomp. On that one, I’d like a full back, 12 years his younger, to be a tad bit closer to him.
We have money to bridge the gap. Spend it wisely, once we decide to actually up our ambition or reduce our risk profile, or just be coherent. Whatever phrase takes your fancy.
Hope you’re well.
HH
CELTIC40ME on 5TH OCTOBER 2023 2:50 PM
If they’ve got the better manager how do we make up that gap as well?
—
Have they ? How’s that get decided ?
HH
A couple of points.
VAR is there for among other things the punch to Reo’s face, a straight red, all day long.
And Pedro’s goal was offside, I said so last night and this proves it.
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/pedro-winner-explain-this-var/
The consensus in the Italian press is that it was a tough game, hard fought victory, just what Lazio needed etc.
Sarri’s description of us: they are not a typical Anglo-Saxon side. They have technique, speed and dynamism
Tremendous performance from our players with no failures in Brendan’s attacking squad. Another superb game from O’Riley and MacGregor, super shifts from Johnston, Taylor and born again Liam Scales. A midfield trio that’s come under severe pressure in the Premier League, never mind the Champions League or Europa, again but only just short, we leaked two very bad goals as we did in Feyenoord.
Consecutive games with Hatate assaulted early at Fir Park, then Parkhead the European version of VAR proved just as bad as Hampden’s abysmal flawed money making nightmare that blights the game the world over. Brendan Rodgers side if not system, proved us the better side than the Serie A side who had annoyingly already settled for a draw?
A makeshift decimated side where if it wasn’t for bad, luck we’d have no luck at all. We should of course have closed the game out at 1-1, but both Celtic’s last two managers are attacking coaches, which goes with the job, and every Celtic generation of support there has ever been. It’s a Defeat to Ererdivisie and Serie A sides was as expected, a draw was the very least, we deserved last night.
Brendan has exacted high demands at Lennoxtown and when Palma and Bernardo reach full fitness, Yang should have had enough game time, to develop a final ball necessary to play for Celtic. A long, long hard domestic season in prospect for the players we have, and difficult to see where CL points will come, playing a three and three.
Bonus was with CCV and Scales forming a formidable pairing, Palma again and Bernardo showing signs of having what it takes.
MOM Matt O’Riley
Just watched highlights on TNT 3, I’ve got Sky+ so you can freeze the frame. Looking at the chopped off goal given because Maeda touched the ball. I can’t see any contact with the ball. The ball looks to carry the same trajectory there is no obvious change of movement.
Should have stood …….
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 5TH OCTOBER 2023 3:05 PM
Just watched highlights on TNT 3, I’ve got Sky+ so you can freeze the frame. Looking at the chopped off goal given because Maeda touched the ball. I can’t see any contact with the ball. The ball looks to carry the same trajectory there is no obvious change of movement.
Should have stood …….
—
Agreed with that. How VAR could make a call about it hittng his boot is beyond me. Should have given the attacking team the benefit of the doubt.
HH
Big Wavy
– Jenz
– Haksa
– Abildgard
– Yuki
– AJ
– Iwata
– Oh
– Holm
– Tilio
– Yang
– Kwon
– Gustaf
– Palma
– Rocky
– Philips
– Bernardo
15 players in.
1 player starts every week.
—
Clearly unsustainable. We need to see marked improvement or persons need to be held to account.
I’m not confident of either right now.
CELTIC40ME on 5TH OCTOBER 2023 3:03 PM
The consensus in the Italian press is that it was a tough game, hard fought victory, just what Lazio needed etc.
Sarri’s description of us: they are not a typical Anglo-Saxon side. They have technique, speed and dynamism
——————————
Despite the criticism of our transfers and players we do so much right in the pitch.
We play a modern style if football, much better than many other richer English clubs.
Just so gutting that we constantly have a brain fart every CL game
BIG WAVY on 5TH OCTOBER 2023 2:57 PM
I didn’t mean to make Pedro sound like he was in his pomp. But they brought on a guy who’s won the champions league three times and been in more pressured situations many times and he scored from a pass from a player who played in a Europa league final. It was probably the biggest moment of our defenses career and they blew it.
“We have money to bridge the gap.”
It depends on how we spend it. Shop in the same markets as Lazio who can pay more and offer a better domestic league and date I say it, City to live in and we have no chance. Thats the low ambition option, it guarantees we’ll never catch them
prestonpansbhoy
Do not have that facility myself and my first reaction was that it was a well taken goal by Palma, who had kept himself well onside for the cross, and I posted on here as such.
Come on.
History is written by the victors, they say.
Palma goal stands and we hold out for victory, we get to write it and that birthday card pish from Sarri never gets written.
HH
The huddle
This is what I said on SC this morning. The Maeda bit happened in the 79th minute.
I said before the number of unforced errors is remarkable for a professional team and its not restricted to the CL. I sometimes wonder if its a concentration thing, too many brain fart moments. There were times Hatate passed a ball to invisible celtic players, Lazio players merely picked up the ‘free’ ball.
The high press by Lazio gets bypassed by the back four, ball played to Maeda on the half way line. At that moment FIVE Lazio players have been bypassed. Instead of surging forward he wanders across the length of the half way line allowing all five to back pedal!🤦🤷
CELTIC40ME on 5TH OCTOBER 2023 1:38 PM
A sobering and accurate post on where we are at the moment – I can’t disagree with anything you post.
You say – “In all honesty I can’t see how any of our players gets in their team and two of their subs produced one of the moments of the game to produce a fine winner”
Sad to say, but that is also ‘right on the money’.
My overriding feeling and the those of my two friends as we made our way home, was sadness in the realisation once again of where we are…and have been for the past ten years. We enjoyed some good passages of play, but there was always a palpable air of inevitability extant.
The UCL must always be our goal for the riches that it brings, and I am sure will we be there again next year in the new revamped format. However we are a Europa League club, plain and simple when it comes to being competitive in Europe.
We play 95% of our domestic games against teams who are below, or, on a par with, lower EFL and non-league clubs – naturally we become inured to that standard – lifting ourselves up to be successful against teams from Italy, Spain, England, France, Germany and even Portugal and Holland, is big ask which gets incrementally further away each year.
Our current model is right one – it is in line with our income – there is no guarantee signing 2/3 £10m plus players, would make much difference – and that move could cost us c£80/100m in total, including wages, over a four year period.
I am looking forward to maintaining the best from last night and giving Killie a good thumping on Saturday.
Given that he doesn’t decide transfer strategy, what do we think Mark Lawwells remit is?
“However we are a Europa League club, plain and simple when it comes to being competitive in Europe.”
That’s not what I was saying at all, and it’s also not the case at all.