Celtic went out of the Champions League to a Midtjylland team that found it difficult to keep the ball and struggled to create chances. What they were was more clinical than Celtic up front and sufficiently more secure at the back. The contrast with our experience last night was stark.
For much of the game there was little between Celtic and AZ Alkmaar. The visitors enjoyed the slight majority of possession, completed more passes, came within inches of opening the scoring and really should have narrowed Celtic’s two goal margin with a shot from six yards.
As we found out to our cost in Denmark, all that counts for nought. Football is about two things: putting the ball in the net and stopping your opponents from doing the same. Celtic’s upgrade between the posts, in defence and attack, since facing Midtylland last month, makes them a potent opponent.
After having a shaky start to both halves, Stephen Welsh made it his mission to win every ball in the air. As AZ tried to find a way back into the game, Stephen’s timing and lift repeatedly blocked their progress. Anthony Ralston appeared to arrive from nowhere to clear decisively inside his own six-yard box, then, in the closing moments, humbled his opponent to win a corner kick. Both defenders performed above expectation.
Yet another European qualifier, yet another goal from James Forrest. His deflected shot tilted the balance in Celtic’s favour. Even before Celtic’s 12th minute opener, Joe Hart demonstrated why Celtic agreed to his spectacular wages by extending a foot to turn a shot against the inside of the post. At the time, it felt like a crucial moment in the tie.
I expected AZ to tire going into the latter stages but with around 20 minutes to go they clearly had the upper hand, pressing Celtic back into a tight defensive formation. Having already introduced Odsonne Edouard, Ange Postecoglou introduced Adam Montgomery and James McCarthy to close the game out.
Not only did this work, but it resulted in a chance that really should have put the tie to bed. Another Ralston rake down the right saw Edouard lunge to head a loose ball that was cleared off the line by a defender, only as far as Montgomery, who also saw his header cleared off the line.
A 3-0 margin would have flattered Celtic but not their new idol. Kyogo Furuhashi’s opening goal could not have been scored by any other player at the club. His speed, flight and control made an already good cross from Tom Rogic into a spectacular goal. Three weeks after his arrival, Kyogo looks like the deal of the decade.
290 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- »
“Rangers need to grab this game by the initiative…”
Alex Rae in the studio
JHB
With respect to you, you are a clued up ish troll, or you would be if you were posting on a hun site, but you have chosen a site where folks have a brain and can suss out fakes like yersel.
I can’t recall who, I think it was FB in the first week you were on here I along with him called you out as being a troll, you say what you think will go down well but you are failing big time, in saying all that, I quite enjoy your posts, they are amusing and I do have a laugh at how you must be at pains to keep the facade going.
Plucky Sevco giving it a real go against the Armenian giants. Apparently.
LOL
Just checked how the huns are doing. Thought they’d win 6-0 tonight.
It couldn’t happen, could it? 😱😱😱
no body does it petta – hahahahahahah
I hate the conspricacy theories , well the off the scale ones.
But the 2nd Rangers start to this year, is very akin to all that happened with the Stevie G team pre covid.
Last season everything in their favour aligned. Maybe much with the dark arts.
Their back to being shite, boo boo , boo booo.
You cant handle the truth
yup- they is cheats ss
Posted at 21:0421:04
Wright coming on for Kent
HT: Rangers 0-0 Alashkert
Steven Gerrard does make a change for the second half – and it’s a bold one, with Scott Wright replacing Ryan Kent.
——————
Bet32 goes off,
replaced by McEwans Lager, found in a bin under the main stand.
IniquitousIV,
Check out our new Bhoys goal. Wow the new Dariusz Wdowczyk on the right side – looks an Ange signing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzJQLTsBYjA
We get best value from these Eastern Leagues, Looks the best possible value when we go further East.
Stivs…
Bet32 goes off,
replaced by McEwans Lager, found in a bin under the main stand
now that wis braw
Braw
the bbc scotland sport doesn’t seem to be giving a hunupdate
PETEC
Thank you! Brilliant goal. My earlier comment was redundant. Reading back, BADA had informed the blog already.
Does anyone know if Juranovic will be Europa Cup tied if we prevail vs Alkmaar?
NEUSTADT-BRAW on 19TH AUGUST 2021 9:18 PM
its the little details that give away the precarious finances.
or Jimmy Bell is past his best, laying out the shirts, days.
meanwhile a grumble about no getting a penalty ibrings a rousing chorus about hating catholics.
UEFA delegates hearing aids off, as they adjust their bowler hats.
its a great watch this,
i think the gers can still do ayrshire, scotland ulster and great britain , the empire and the monarchy proud here.
They look much much worse than we did at this stage of last season
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM @ 7:01 pm
‘Celtic have agreed an initial fee of €2.5million for Greek international Georgios Giakoumakis, the Eredivisie’s leading scorer last seasons’.
I’m sorry if this seems cynical, but there’s something about this statement that seems too good to be true. If somethings too good to be true, it usually is.
Can anyone enlighten me as to why a good player from a decent league can be bought so cheaply?
———————————————-
He has not had a stellar career. Last year was his first good season. He scored 26 goals in 30 appearances for Venlo who got relegated.
Before this season his figures were:-
2012/13- 0 goals in 9 appearances
2013/14- 2 in 16
2014/15- 1 in 9
2015/16- 2 in 10
2016/17- 11 in 26 for Platanias who finished 7th
2017/18- 1 in 11
2018/19- 2 in 18
2019/20- 3 in 25
2020/21- 26 in 30
His performance in 2017 earned him a transfer to AEK but he scored once in 30 appearances for them in 3 seasons and was loaned out twice. Venlo bought him in 2020 for only 600k, so his value has quadrupled in one year if we have paid £2.5m.
An interesting point is that he was in the AEK squad that narrowly beat us in 2018 (1:1 at CP and 1:2 in Greece) when Barkas played. He did not feature for AEK in either leg and they used several other subs.
In short we have taken a punt on a one or possibly two season wonder who has had seven poorish seasons. Despite his price tag, he is a project player.
I hope he is a late developer like Toney but the jury should remain out until we see if he can play well for a big club as he did last year for a team under the cosh. Who knows?- he might revitalise Barkas too.
Bonfigli on the Huddle Board has better resources than the BBC
https://streamable.com/4l5mie
Just as well the plucky Newco urnae playing the Armenian Champions – the Mighty….. Ararat Yerevan.
Braw
Good to see you posting, I did get a wee bit worried that I hadn’t seen you for a while.
You take care mi amigo
HH
Aberdeen and St. Johnstone with very credible performances, while Spurs are presently losing. Funny ole game right enough.
Rangers all over this mob.That Lundsram just a clogger.Red here but not in SPFL.
sevco score , looked miles offside
Huns latest signing
https://youtu.be/OZj7AL5DXX4
Goal scorer without a doubt.
Morelos scores.
cheers K
Braw
As Celtic supporters have their famous Heat Of Lisbon tribute song on the 67th Minutes, ……….
rangers have their halft time , 10 minutes to go, 95th extra time, and full time whistle cocophony of boos.
cmon rangers you can do this.
ffs
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 4:26
Emeraldbee. It’s a feta compli
In Latin class, my wee brother said it was a ‘fat accomplice.’
Been watching some of the Huns game.
That other lot are gash
the lonesome kitman
kent will wear whatever t f a tell him , right
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Jimmy-Bell-and-Gerrard.jpg
To quote someone on here, ‘How goeth the scrofulous gullibillies?”
In Latin class, my wee brother said it was a ‘fat accomplice.’
mines were called the accused
Alashkert are a poor side. Wrong tactics 2nd half too.
MH,
They were brutal from the start. :))
Runners Up in the Armenian League.
Slippy is gonnae have to take his Full team on that Arduous Journey :)) to make sure they get the much needed cash just before the Banked Celtic game – MIB MIB MIB ALERT – get yer Cameras ready (prepare to flash) for the unbelievable cheating at Hatesville.
This is the reality of the sg hun method – squeezing past alashkert without ref help
INIQUITOUSIV on 19TH AUGUST 2021 9:41 PM
Your mention of Latin Class reminded me of my elder brothers class in his First year, in Belfast back in 1970 .
BBC News were planning to visit the school the following day to do a piece about language education for the evening news programme.
The Latin teacher warned the class of 11 year olds about behaviour and also told them that when he asked a question he better see everyone’s hands raised.
One pupil asked the teacher
” Sir , what if some of us don’t know the answer, and you ask us because we have our hand raised?
Teacher had a quick think…
” Ok, if you know the answer,
raise your right hand.
If you don’t know the answer ,
raise your left hand.
If you don’t know your right from your left, don’t come in tomorrow.
The Onlooker
Alashkert looked a very poor side, devoid of any enterprise or cutting edge and seemingly just going through the motions. I doubt they could believe just how bad Sevco were. Maybe they can up their game a bit next week and pump them out.
Whilst I’d love that, part of me wants them to still be having to play thursday night matches.
I guess it is a win-win for me.
Either way, unless there is a seismic improvement in the mince they showed tonight, I predict that an Ange-powered Celtic will blow them away MIBs or no MIBs.
HH
Was puzzled why Spurs lost in Portugal, then realized they played their second squad. The manager left the entire team who beat Man City in London.
THE ONLOOKER
That made me chuckle.🤣😂😅