A game which was marked by unaccustomed misplaced passing by Celtic was lost due to two even more unaccustomed miscalculations by Kolo Toure. Celtic had the majority of the ball but only crafted one gilt-edged chance. Glabach won the majority of the 50-50 challenges, and the second balls, but were not as productive with the ball as Barcelona or Manchester City in Celtic’s earlier group games.
Within the opening five minutes it was evident Celtic were not playing with the confident abandon they did three weeks ago against Manchester City. We were reluctant to press the fullbacks forward in the first quarter of the game, even in possession there was often a back four line.
Gladbach are a counter-attacking team and would have hoped to draw Celtic forward. It occurred to me that, perhaps as a consequence, Brendan was reluctant to get caught too far up field. The upshot of this was that when Gladbach did get forward (which happened often), Celtic defended well. The downside was that our shape when passing out of defence was all wrong.
We didn’t pass well. It looked like players were not making the correct angles early enough. Scott Brown was caught out a couple of times early on and it took him a while to get into his stride thereafter, but Nir Bitton’s night started indifferently, then went south. His first touch, passing and movement were well below standards achieved on match day two. From as early as 30 minutes I was pondering if replacing Nir with Callum McGregor was the right move. Callum hadn’t played in a month, but when he did come on in the 63rd minute, the hesitancy in midfield evaporated (though not until he got one bad pass out of his system).
With central midfield not getting much joy in the first half, Rogic, Forrest and Sinclair saw little of the ball. Moussa Dembele saw even less.
The best chance of the opening period was created with a sublime pass from Tom Rogic in the 45th minute. His diagonal pass from deep into the box split the defence open. Scott Sinclair met it first time, but sent it over. I had a great view from behind Scott. The obvious shot was low to the far post, but the angle was tight and the keeper would probably have blocked.
Trying to finish high into the net was the right decision, if poorly executed.
At halftime the plan looked to be the right one. Gladbach were as comfortable on the ball, as we expected, but we were tight and the back, and could hope to open them with pace and (better) accuracy. Celtic enjoyed their best period in the opening 12 minutes of the second half. Then the game changed.
So many Champions League games are decided by mistakes. If you look back over the home games we’ve won in this competition, we’ve rigorously stuck to task at the back and exploited mistakes in the opposition box. Kolo made a couple of wrong decisions and was punished. The first changed the direction of the game; Celtic’s momentum stopped.
Them’s the breaks. We lost a game without landing a glove on Borussia in earnest, but it MAY have been different if Kolo had cleared that ball up-field on the 57th minute. For Celtic at this level, winning points is all about fine margins. As Brendan said, we’ve no complaints, but there was a point, and maybe more, there to be won. We’ve certainly beaten better teams than Gladbach.
Shout out for Erik Sviatchenko, who had his best game in a Celtic shirt. And for the Gladbach fans, who came with a plan to dominate the Celtic Park atmosphere and didn’t drop the ball.
Andy Lynch’s autobiography, Hoops, Stars & Stripes, is arriving here this afternoon and the man himself will be signing copies imminently. If you have pre-ordered, your book will be with you soon. This is a deep, reflective and revealing insight from a prominent Celtic player under Jock Stein and Billy McNeill:
“[Rangers’ Colin] Stein made a beeline for me. With his teeth clenched and both fists held up to my face in defiance, he came right up to me to celebrate. In a moment of madness, I spat at him. Stein’s celebrations instantly ended, he edged backwards and stood on the sodden Hampden turf looking absolutely horrified. We were both speechless and I instantly regretted what I had done but no-one else had witnessed it.”
Our competition to win TWO TICKETS to Sunday’s semi-final, courtesy of Intelligent Car Leasing, ends at 14:00 today! Thanks to everyone who took the time to donate here to the Celtic Foundation while entering. It is enormously appreciated. To enter, email competition@celticquicknews.co.uk with the correct spelling of Monchengladbach (or close enough). Make sure I can contact you later!!
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VCR.
A couple of good posts there. Had me chuckling. :-)))
Incidentally, doing a bit of stalking, I noticed you previously stated in you once lived in Condorrat. I’m just down the road.
My good friend H.T. Will soon have to change his monikor as he is now in the new town ( or as I prefer to call it the land that time forgot ).
Hail Hail
Thirsty work trying to shore up the damn busters.
MWD
Couple of wee pieces for you all today …
If you thought Brexit didn’t affect you, think again. If you’re a football fan at all it’s going to impact on your life and our club in ways you never expected, and don’t count on the government to do anything which helps the sport, far less Celtic.
http://thecelticblog.com/2016/10/blogs/brexit-and-the-impact-on-celtic-a-look-through-the-possible-outcomes/
And the State Aid Scumbag was at it again this week … but this site toasted him with a simple tweet from Africa and Mary’s Meals. Bravo guys and gals.
http://thecelticblog.com/2016/10/blogs/sevcos-state-aid-scumbag-is-toasted-again-as-cqn-publishes-new-fund-raising-update/
JNP
I have thought about that when I do eventually sell my own place (which will be on the market next week) and move to the land of Gregory’s Girl what to change my moniker to! :-)
Offski for now.
H.T. 6.38.
Remember Minx lurks and occasionally posts.
It has to be Happy Tim. :-))))
HT
I think blog should pick your new name.
I go for Cornflake Tim
MWD
I think BT showing Man U game on freeview tonight
Take a look at @sportingawayday’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/sportingawayday/status/788798897816829952?s=08
This was Celtic’s ninth game ion the Champions Lge and qualifying for the group stage was the main ambition this season for the new manager. As the first half progressed I was saying to myself this is not the Celtic tyeam that played with such passion and flair against Man City what the F is going on here. The Germans at times appeared to have more than eleven p;layers on the pitch. These guys were replicating our tactics against City as they hunted in packs. Despite this our defence was coping and they rarely looked like scoring until those unforced second half errors just as we started to get to grips with the task in hand. I don’t think big crowds faze German teams they are well used to raucous crowds in their big stadiums.
I thought the GB did their bit last night. They were up against 3000 noisy Germans and anyone who watches the Bundesliga will know that all BL teams have a standing section, most actually a good bit bigger. Its what they do well and in fact the GB have obviously taken a lead from them.
The only difference I noticed was the rest of the stadium not being up for it due to the way game was shaping early on,I ncluding me in the main stand.
https://johnjamessite.com
JNP
On briefly.
I’ve nae doubt H will want it changed to Mr Minx or some such nonsense! :-)
MWD
You’ve lost me ya daftie!
Marrakesh
Not being there I can’t say for sure but when I saw comments regarding the atmosphere last night I imagined it would have almost exactly a case of what you’ve just posted.
One of Scotland’s finest was making it plain on tonight’s Scottish BBC news that misbehaviour would not be tolerated at Hampden on Sunday.
How much more credible he would have been had he defined misbehaviour.
Hamilton Tim, what about water bhoy :)
V
No real complaints – beaten by a better side on the night. I do think we done well in actually qualifying this season as both Astana and especially Hapoel are good sides. BR is only months into his tenure , is a very clever guy, who will know what we need to improve in Europe. When the calibre of opponent goes up a notch we struggle to retain the ball and build play from midfield. Reinforcements ( better than what we have already that is ) were needed in August and I’m sure BR has marked Lawell’s card about January.
BR is not up here to have his reputation trashed and despite his polite and intelligent demenour, is one tough cookie. He won’t ask that silly money is spent but he will expect ambition commensurate with the size and stature of the club. Any nonsense and he will be for the off. He remains a manager of pedigree and will have no shortage of suitors. PL should note as any return to a bread and butter manager will see at least 10k dropping off the season book base.
Credit to the BMG fans. Spoke to several in the city centre over last two days. They also demonstrate that you can support your team with class and don’t necessarily need to resort to hate-filled, lout like, drunken thuggery so brilliantly demonstrated by the cludgie smashing Sev’s .
As to Sunday , no need for nervous or tentative play . Get on top from the off with high energy and pace .
Vmhan
Aye that’ll be fae carrying you lot! :-)
I hope you’re well sir.
Biggest question tonight is, come January, will PL ans DD dig deep in supporting BR, or will caution resume control?
QUONNO on 20TH OCTOBER 2016 7:23 PM
Depends to some extent on what’s happening with the other half of The Old Firm
I just got a text from an old pal of mine, a journalist in London and a bluenose but not a Hun, which says:
Approval agreed to strip Sir Shifty of his Knighthood but it’s got to be signed off by another Committee – this will be a formality
I very much hope this is the case, because once a Knight of the Realm loses that level of privilege, it becomes open season.
There’s nothing English/Edinburgh high society hates more than allowing in a spiv who gets found out. Puts them all at risk.
For Sir David, it’s going to be a bit like watching all your hauners running away in the middle of the fight at Bridgeton Cross.
But the best bit is going to be the unravelling of the Whole Story.
!!BADA BING!! on 20TH OCTOBER 2016 7:10 PM
https://johnjamessite.com
Where exactly is this Church of Scotland that they are supposed to have tapped into? Does its water suply pipe run anywhere near Ipox?
HT
“12 tons of cornflakes pass under here every day. It’s a well-known CQN fact”
MWD
Beer Sheva 1-0 down to Sparta Prague. Looks like they have been mugged as the have 66% possession, 15 shots to 5, corners 6-0.
Very relaxed about the result last night.
I wasn’t in the camp expecting, or hoping for a draw.
BM are a very good team, with far superior resources collectively, and I reckoned this game was too early for Brendan to have a real impact on our hopes.
The positive is that now Brendan has a benchmark. This is the team we need to strive and emulate, forget the Middle Eastern Oil XIs, and focus on how BM institute their strategy both on and off the pitch.
This is the yellow brick road to CL riches every season, and further consolidating our dominance of Scottish football.
Bruce (the Boss) getting interviewed on radio 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5tXM4kwBZHfM8Sg4VDcP8ND/when-simon-met-springsteen
GREENINBINGLEYINOSLO
Think your buddy may be yanking your chain ? Right story; wrong guy.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37715920
Just been lurking of late.
Cowiebhoy, thoughts with you and your family mate. HAIL HAIL
Good description on www. johnjamessite.com of our new nationalised Stats Polizei. He refers to them as “The Partisan Loyal”. Strange warning to fans attending Sunday’s match of instant arrest if they are deemed to be breaking the law. How many ‘Black Marias’ will be required for those heard singinging “The Billy Boys” determined even before the OBAF to be illegal? Or, perhaps, that’s not what Plod was meaning.
Incidentally, JJ alleges that Glasgow City Council intervened to prevent Scottish Water taking action against SEVCO. What purview does GCC has in the matter? HH
Johnj is a tim.
QUONNO @ 7:14
Indeed.
I’d imagine from hearing him speak in the interview he would have been gobsmacked and tongue tied
all at once had he been asked.
Aid Dasler 8.31.
Is that your opinion or do you know that as fact?
Genuine question, no catch.
http://www.ibroxparishchurch.co.uk/
The water suppliers?
HT should now be known as The Prawn Broker after his trip to the dark side last week ……….
FAC the Act
KTF
ATS- Phil had a photo on his website of Glasgow City Council fatcats,McAveety was one of them, being schmoozed by the Lying King at Poundland a few months ago….
Is there any truth in this Ibrox water scandal?
VFR800A8: I will be in Glasgow on Sunday for the LCSF. I will have WITS’ and my contribution to your race night. Are you going to Hundump or where can I meet you? The fans’ café beside the Superstore would be ideal but alas, it is only at the rumour stage. Or I can give it to someone who is going to the game who will pass it on to you.
BADA BING at 8.49pm
Thanks. I did see that and given McAveety’s “background” and professional occupation it is surprising to see him swimming in that tank.
Still, what locus was it of GCC?.. If JJ is correct it was a good call from Scottish Water to tell GCC to butt out. Hopefully, it all comes out in the wash before too much water flows under the bridge. HH
Ernie- Headtheball posted a church near the dump, has the ‘Superstore’ been paying for water, Ashley wouldn’t want to be breaking the law?….:)