I was widely predicting 3-0 last night so the result didn’t come as a disappointment. Bayern could have punished us (or pretty much any team in Europe) by more, while we could have scored a deserved consolation in the second half.
It is seldom a manager will make three changes which improve the team, but Brendan Rodgers did just that last night. Tom Rogic grabbed the stage like no other Celtic player when he replaced Stuart Armstrong. Celtic’s game plan left Leigh Griffiths isolated against towering defenders. This was never a fair fight, but plays to Moussa Dembele’s strengths. The French youth international looked back to his pre-injury best.
Patrick Roberts is our most accomplished player at unlocking packed defences, but that was never on the agenda in Munich. Instead, he most often took possession acres from goal, forcing him to dart into space before being blocked by the weight of red jerseys.
The game was more suited to James Forrest, who needs space in front of him to be at his best. The winger regularly stressed the Bayern defence and created chances.
Bayern clearly identified Cristian Gamboa as Celtic’s potential weak spot. Cristian was isolated repeatedly but used his pace and agility to put in a performance few of us expected.
When was the last time we lost three cross/header combination goals? Bayern are a tall team. Celtic played with two small(er) full backs, where they would otherwise play the ubiquitous Mikel Lustig at right. A lack of height perhaps contributed to Bayern’s third, an inexcusable free header at a set piece, but we switched off at the loss of the first two goals.
We didn’t execute our normal (simple) passing game during the first half. Lots of things can contribute to players not passing the ball, rushing their passes, or, more crucially, not making themselves available for a pass.
The most obvious contributory factor was the ability of the opposition, but the problem was not as superficial as this. We didn’t pass well during the opening period, even without Bayern pressing particularly high.
Football is a game of 1000 small decisions, where to move on the field being the most common decision. Repeatedly last night I couldn’t see good options for an easy pass for the Celtic player in possession. For Celtic to play their natural game there needs to be a close proximity between players when we are in possession.
Last night we stretched the game. Sinclair, Armstrong and Brown were too far forward, often by as little as 10 yards.
Special mention to Craig Gordon, who having picked the ball out of his net three times, kept the score from reaching the epic proportions that Arsenal recently endured at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern will be confident ahead of the game at Celtic Park in two weeks, but Celtic know they can play better. I’m sure when Brendan Rodgers looks at the Champions League table, he will concede nothing yet.
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Celtic Fans in Allianz Arena pic.twitter.com/EGbQbkWt6G
— Celtic Videos (@CelticVideo) October 19, 2017
OUR SECOND CQN PODCAST this week, featuring interviews with ex-Celts Alan Stubbs and Chris Sutton, previewing the big games this week against Bayern Munich and Hibs at Hampden on Saturday.
Stubbs gives an insight into Liam Henderson as a player and talks about where his career should go from here.
Speaking on behalf of BT Sport, Alan Stubbs also spoke about his regret at leaving Hibs, and looks ahead to the League Cup semi-final between two of his former clubs.
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CORKCELT
Vote for Niamh confirmed hope no lasting damage after the storm and you are back on the golf course.
Sad news from Crieff today with the death of a great Celtic man Peter Smith following on closely to the passing last week of Big Davy Welsh last week both regular travellers on the supporters bus when I was a boy. RIP Bhoys.
Corkcelt
Just voted under my own name – voted previous using wife’s iPad :-)
Have also sent link to my 2 Ghirls
Good luck Niamh
Bada..
Cheers for sorting my son out with a ticket for Saturday.
Kip time for me, I can here DD snoring from the next room. ;)))))
May God Grant you Eternal Rest – Peter Smith
PapaJoe55, when I was in Canada in June, one of my brother in laws, brothers called you :-)
Small world
THELURKINTIM on 19TH OCTOBER 2017 7:32 PM
Marc/Jobo……no so sure about the pigshrub……or was it the ambush…..yuv jumped the gun…..
====
Sent you an email last night with the payment details.
HH
CRC
COWIEBHOY
Yes I know your brother in laws well, my older brother Con knows your Canadian brother in law as well and has been on holiday in Florida with him and D. Just read of the passing of Eamonn Campbell of the Dubliners ,what a sad day this is. HH
I’ve read back a bit, some are realists on here and some are fantasits.
I’m with the realists, I’ve had a great time over here and didn’t expect much as most I spoke to.
Ye, I would like to compete, the financial gap is just too big.
This is what it is to be Celtic…….
Reading about the Development Squad playing Bayern Munich youth team at Morton,surely we Celtic Supporters,should be watching them at Barrowfield,but that’s asking to much of this Current Celtic Board,I suppose for it to be upgraded,and indeed it does,then it will be another share issue,by the fans,not Dermot Desmond,or Peter lawell,etc,will put there hands in there pockets,same as Fergus McCann,ok he saved the club by giving the Bank ,some money to keep the club afloat,he didn’t build the stadium with all of his money,the fans did,and another thing about Fergus,he didn’t upgrade the whole.of the old front stand,why because his profit would he been less, someone tell me how he walked away with 45 Million Pounds,in his pocket?
Sips
Competition?
The craic I heard was that no one could compete with you brother….. in the ‘let’s have a Jack Daniels breakfast’ competition……ya gorgeous wee Tim ya!
;-)
HH jamesgang
Jimbo…
Fergus done what the huns would kill for.
Update a derelict stadium and make a path to grow. Hail Hail
Big Hail Hail to you Jamesgang, I had to coalcarry DD home.
Joking, we’re fine.;))))
Love big stuff.
Love.
The greatest gift of all. The only true currency of Timdom!!
KTF
Sipsini,
I am glad you enjoyed the whole experience. Even though we got beaten I am sooooooo envious.
However I don’t buy financial gap as being the only factor. Take Everton ; spent > £100m in the summer and sitting bottom of their not so glamorous Europa group.
HH
PS : Next time invest in some ear plugs : )))))))
Jimbo…
You are right of course but Fergus wasn’t guaranteed a profit, far less £40m.
One thing he did do was put everything up front…
ST targets
Full plan of the new stadium, including the existing stand
Commitment to leave after 5 years by selling his holdings by offering to fans first
Etc.
It may be that he walked away with too much but he did not deflect or deceive.
Few in football ownership can claim that
HH
I sat a lone Tim surrounded by Bayern Munich fans last night. I was the only supporter in that section who sang. I belted out every song from the away end, much to the delight of the BM fans around me. One BM fan bought me a beer, another bought me a half time hot dog. They said at the end of the match as we exchanged handshakes, that they would like BM to make two signings from Celtic.
Dedryck Boyata, and the entire Celtic support.
Every BM fan told me that we were the best visiting supporters ever in Allianz Arena. We have huge amount of Bavarian converts to Celtic on our hands.
This is how it feels to be Celtic!
DD
I felt very proud to be a Tim yesterday.
We came, we saw, we made friends.
OneLoveCSC
DELANEYS DUNKY.more power to your elbow sir hail hail.
Delaneys
Always knew you were type of chap who could operate behind enemy lines
Ve no you have stolen de formula
Name rank and serial number.
Jamesgang
You should have more sense )))
Jealous of the Bavarian Brigade
Complaint made to BT. Feel a lot better:) .
Fergus McCann
Visited his old school St Modan’s (my own and a few others on CQN old school, and I still have family attending and will in the future) last month, making a substantial donation for the school library I believe ?
Just been to the San Siro tonight to see AC Milan draw 0-0 with AEK Athens. €200m doesn’t get you much these days. Milan were awful, slow and ponderous, no confidence and ended up resorting to Panucci launching 60 yard hoofs up the park. AEK, a kind of Greek Hearts, we’re comfortable in defence but offered little going forward. These are the top tŵo in their group, if that is the standard of opposition then roll on February. We would beat both these teams, home and away.
James
We are Celtic. The fans who come to make friends and spread our love and peace.
Bavaria is a beautiful place populated by beautiful people. Lovin it!
DD
Munich is a braw place
BP
The Celtic missionary work abroad, is a very fulfilling hobby.
HH
Hello again all you young rebels
” Thirty six years ago we lost this wee firecracker ”
Johnny Doyle’s daughter on twitter.
And what a great Celtic man he was, i will forever remember
a game at Celtic park when he was with Ayr United and he
was getting tore into every Celtic player on the park, our
support were going mental at him and giving him dogs abuse
when he ran over to the jungle and lifted his top to reveal the
revered Celtic shirt underneath all of a sudden the jeers turned
to cheers and the rest is history.
What a man what a legend.
H.H Mick
WITS
My Polish grandfather was watching me in Munich last night. I felt his presence. Too many coincidences to be anything other than divine. I feel blessed tonight.
HH
DD…good to hear you’re spreading some love and peace amongst new friends…you’ve got to enjoy these moments because, wooof! they’re over in a puff of smoke… :-)
Wits
You’d have loved it.
They’d have loved you.
I have so much time for Germany and its people.
‘The German Club’ last season had the best away following if seen in CP.
last night, my hosts were impeccable in their hospitality and consideration.
Shoite, someone should some kinda European friendship group of nations and headquarter it in say…… Belgium….
Night Timdom. Blessed to be part of the best family in the world.
HH jamesgang
James1955, Socrates Mulligan, DixieDeans, PapaJoe55, Cowiebhoy.
Thank you so much to All, with a Triple Thanks to Cowie for trying to bring his 2 daughters on board,
Socrates Mulligan why not start posting yourself & spreading a bit of positivity, with a name like that you are halfway towards becoming a legend already.
‘ don’t rell him your name Pike…’
Sipsini- no bother mate HH
JIMBOB @10.45
” someone tell me how he walked away with 45 Million Pounds,in his pocket?”
I think it was with a stooped back and a bow-legged stride.
SFTB
Loooooool
H.H Mick
WBC
The men of Bavaria are very friendly. The ladies of Bavaria are all Heidi Klum lookalikes.
My mate Sipsini said to me on Monday, “FFS Garry, even the ugly burds here are gorgeous.” :))
DD, You just made me Google Heidi Klum, yep a looker OK as they say in Cork, You wouldn’t kick her out of the bed for farting.
Great that ye all had such a great time in Munich, this Tim is pretty knackered & am about to hit the hay.
Goodnight & God Bless All.
Once more Thanks to all who voted for Niamh & don’t forget to click on confirmation link to validate the vote.
See ye all in the morning.
G’nite Jimbob.