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!!
348 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- »
ALMORE on 20TH OCTOBER 2016 8:57 PM
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.
__________________________________
I’ll be there – South Stand.
Where are you going before the game?
FAC the Act
KTF
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 20TH OCTOBER 2016 6:34 PM
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.
_____________________
Condorrat between 76 and 80 and then between 90 and 2010.
ATS- i fear another whitewash…HH
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 20TH OCTOBER 2016 8:37 PM
My opinion..but too many similarities with context and language & nicknames etc.
But ….
HEADTHEBALL on 20TH OCTOBER 2016 8:41 PM
http://www.ibroxparishchurch.co.uk/
The water suppliers?
###
It’s nowhere near Ipox.
Adi Dasler.
At the start I was convinced he was a RRM as he calls them, McMurdo appeared to vouch for him and indeed J.J. appeared genuinely upset when McMurdo trashed J.J. in his own blog and threw him to the wolves. However as time has gone on he has started writing things from a different perspective and has slaughtered the huns in a way some of us wouldn’t dare. He says most of his readers are now Celtic fans, so maybe he’s playing to his demographic. His politics are UKIP so very right wing. So in all honesty I haven’t a clue. Hence why I asked the question because I am intrigued.
VFR. Eastfield since 2007 for me.
Dundalk leading 1.0. Well done.
VFR: No plans at the mo, I have to meet Gordybhoy at some stage and be at the stadium at around 1.30pm.
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 20TH OCTOBER 2016 9:17 PM
Is David Leggat still alive?
Spent this afternoon at Andy Lynch’s home as the former Celtic captain signed hundreds of copies of his new biography Hoops Stars and Stripes.
Apart from making me my lunch Andy chatted away happily on all things Celtic.
Someone on here mistakenly called him a Currant Bun – couldn’t be further from the truth.
Stories about Tommy Burns, Johnny Doyle, biased referees with clear examples about blatant penalty decisions not given and so on.
One game where a Rangers player put in a cowards tackle which could have broken Andy’s leg. The player wasn’t even booked and Andy let the ref know about it.
Neily Mochan who was attending to the open wound in his shin by sticking cotton wool in it, told him to stop as there was no point in talking to these people and to remember what Jock told you.
Rather than go off injured Andy stayed on as he was seeking revenge. One gesture was made to the culprit – finger across the neck and another like breaking a stick as Andy followed him around. The guy was absolutely bricking himself and organised a quick substitution before he got what was coming to him.
Andy will be on CQN on Monday evening from around 7pm for a Q&A.
There’s still time to get a free signed copy of Quality Street Gang when you order Andy’s book from Cqnbookstore.com
And it will be a signed copy of Hoops Stars and Stripes – The Andy Lynch Story.
Ernie.
That made me laugh.
That would be some double bluff, unless of course you just asked me a random question.
J.J. has said Charles Green will be his guest of honour at the blog awards finalists for which he has been nominated, maybe he’s outing himself, maybe J.J. is chuckles himself.
Amazing!
Water they thinking?
Ernie Lynch
Yes he is. Sad character. Stopped blogging after receiving what Phil would call ‘dignified threats’ from the horrible. Not a long walk to the off licence.
Is Phil’s next book going to be called Waterfall …?
This water business … noah thing will happen to them ;-)
1.1 Dundalk.
Night all. Enjoy.
Almore
Has Gordy arranged to meet you on Sunday?
He told me his intention to meet you in city centre. Enjoy your trip to the poorest stadium you will visit this season.
HH
Cowie
Prayers said for your dad.
God bless him and your family in these times of worry.
DD: He has. Just trying to piece it all together. I feel dirty going to that place, only been twice before, both successful. Don’t even know how to get there:-)
Sevco pockling water?
What a shower. Hope somebody pulls the plug on them and they sink.
Hard luck, Dundalk. Beaten 2-1 having taken a one nil lead against Zenith St. Petersburg. Still, doing the League of Ireland proud
Almore
It is a very lucky ground for me. First game 6-1 v Hibs in Scottish Cup Final. Been there many times and seemed to pick the matches we won cups and semis, with a few notable exceptions. Fancy you will see 3 in a row victories in Mount Florida.
HH
Ticket competition winner has just been notified by email……..
ERNIE LYNCH
Google maps…Ibrox Parish Church…doesn’t look far away to me.
winning captains on 20th October 2016 9:24 pm
Someone on here mistakenly called him a Currant Bun – couldn’t be further from the truth.
Pretty sure he wasn’t and I think his wife was a teacher if I remember right, she also wasn’t
Good Evening…
Here is a brand new piece about “Scottish Football’s Greatest Talent”
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2016/10/20/scottish-footballs-greatest-talent/
MAGNIFICENTSEVEN on 20TH OCTOBER 2016 10:10 PM
winning captains on 20th October 2016 9:24 pm
Someone on here mistakenly called him a Currant Bun – couldn’t be further from the truth.
Pretty sure he wasn’t and I think his wife was a teacher if I remember right, she also wasn’t
==================================================================
You can ask him Monday night.
” So , Andy. I believe you`re a sticky ? “
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 20th October 2016 10:23 pm
as I said, pretty sure he wasn’t, could be wrong though, I think his wife was also an international netball player, I may be wrong on both these matters though, time dims memories
MAGNIFICENTSEVEN on 20TH OCTOBER 2016 10:32 PM
On one occasion I met Andy who was in the company of a pal of mine .
My mate was as Tim as they come.
Two and two together .
No matter , Andy`s ours.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 20th October 2016 10:38 pm
like many before him if he wasn’t before he arrived, he was when he left, that’s all that matters
Almore
Only on briefly has some contacted you regarding the ticket for Sunday?
MAGNIFICENTSEVEN on 20TH OCTOBER 2016 10:45 PM
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 20th October 2016 10:38 pm
like many before him if he wasn’t before he arrived, he was when he left, that’s all that matters
==============================================================
Yes.
Hail Hail
HEADTHEBALL
The parish church is a 1/2 mile (by road/pavement – the typical route water pipes run) from the retail store. Unless the church had a dedicated pipe running off the ‘rising’ main (supply) and the Huns ‘tapped’ into that pipe illegally – very much doubt there’s much (half) mileage in this story.
That’s not to say they’ve been fiddling water meters (allegedly). :-)
PRAECEPTA
Are you saying the minister can’t carry a couple of buckets that distance?
Aw, don’t spoil a good story. :-)
HEADTHEBALL
Probably the ‘Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ to blame – mind when Mickey Mouse borrowed the ‘Magic Hat’ and couldn’t stop the water flowing?
Driving to work tonight I heard the accomplished speaking of the grass……
He finds it v hard to mention us by name……mibbees he needs to think about that
Bma
Cowiebhoy: Prayers said for your Dad. Hope he gets more chances to watch the Cellick.
CCB
Viva Espana!
Enjoy yerself youngyin.
HH