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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Almore,
if you are still about,i will contact you tomorrow about Sunday
Comparisons between Efe and Kolo .
Totally unjustifiable.
Kolo is a stopgap at the tail ( forgive the pun ) end of his career .
He made some errors. Not unexpected really.
Efe.
Still in the prime of his footballing life.
Sadly a serial offender whom we all love. `Fraid I have my heart in my mouth when he dithers on the ball.
Creates unsureness and lack of confidence in the defensive structure and in the stands.
Kolo has the opposite effect.
No comparison whatsoever.
Hi ghuys looking for some advice/helps. Ditched Sky today but have’nt got an alternative in place, would like access to football and some decent movies, Virgin is out not available in the Hebrides but will consider anything Thanks. H H Hebcelt
Hebcelt, use a site or app mobdro modbro for football
Hebcelt, modbro or mobdro
Efe and Kris spent yesterday afternoon at George Square at the fan event. Fair play to them for getting involved but what a riddy that is for them. Oot the picture indeed.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-s-scott-brown-rangers-better-off-without-joey-barton-1-4264224
Macjay
Kolo’s career has been permeated with mistakes I’ve witnessed them at every club he’s played with.
Despite that he has many, many positive attributes. He’s quick, he can tackle, he’s athletic and he’s strong.
These are very much the characteristics of Efe.
The only difference between the two is age in my opinion.
THETIMREAPER on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 12:08 AM
Efe and Kris spent yesterday afternoon at George Square at the fan event. Fair play to them for getting involved but what a riddy that is for them. Oot the picture indeed.
===============================================================
I`d be comfortable with both of them playing on Sunday.
Kris at the start.
Efe for the showboating over the last 20.
How I would enjoy that.
Some Scottish team is due for a proper scudding .
Hope it`s the hun.
HAMILTONTIM on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 12:30 AM
O.K. , but who would you rather have in your team right now ?
I can`t comment on Kolo`s earlier career , but I`m sure you`re right.
What ever happened to a sweeper ? Why not. Big Billy used to make mistakes. The Brush would sweep up.
I always felt that Efe and , in fact , Izzy should have been played in the mids.
The one thing I will say about JJs blog is that he seems to investigate before he prints.I really cant see him going out on a limb here and being made to look a fool.It sounds too good to be true,but I will let it run before casting aspersions on his story.Not only he that has had a nibble at this.Maybe he has more inside info.
His blog is now a must read for me.How good would this be if it were true.He is also adamant that his story about the roofs are 100 per cent correct.
We can only hope.
Gaun yersel , Leigh son.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14815252.Leigh_Griffiths___Pick_Moussa_Dembele_and_me_against_Rangers_and_we_could__quot_run_riot_quot_/
Interesting.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14815268.Scott_Brown__I_shouldn__39_t_have_played_for_Celtic_in_Scottish_Cup_semi_final_defeat_to_Rangers/
:-)
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/mark-warburton-says-never-again-on-rangers-rout-by-celtic-1-4263195
Feck this, I’d taken to using my phone to lurk on here, as it’s a waste of time on my ipad as it constantly keeps reloading.
The pop ups are driving me away from even using my phone.
Oh well, c’mon the hoops.HH
SIPSINI on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 1:18 AM
Careful of withdrawal symptoms.
;-(
Affoot.
HT
Re: Efe & Kolo
“The only difference between the two is age in my opinion.”
Well there’s that.
And there’s the respective club levels they’ve achieved ( Arsenal/Man City/Liverpool vs Kaduna United and Ashdod).
Then there’s the transfer fees commanded(150k /£14m/free vs 85k/340k)
Then there’s the cap history (120 for Ivory Coast vs 51 for Nigeria)
Then there’s the honours (2 IC titles and a CAF cup/ FA League & Cup & Community Shield with Arsenal, plus the same double with Man City/ 3 Community Shields and a Uefa CL runner’s up medal, and an African Cup of Nations winners medal vs A Nigerian league and cup double, 3 SPL titles plus SC and LC medals, ACN winners and Olympic Silver)
On all measures, Efe has had a lesser career. Efe does have the better goal celebration, I’ll grant you
Back in the late 80s, early 90s, myself and 4 mates from Ayr and Glasgow used to play an annual outdoor 5- a- side game in January on the AstroTurf facility owned by Johnny Hubbard, ex Rangers. The opposition consisted of Andy Lynch, Simon Lynch, Tam Lynch (what a player) and two others. Their team was called “The Lynch Mob” and were tough and skillful. The games were hard fought, followed by a few shandies in the Ayr Cricket Club, then some more serious drinking in Ayr.
The games were annual because three of my team, including myself, lived in the States, so coordination was vital.
There was talk on the blog tonight about Andy being a currant bun. No way. They were all Celtic daft, with big Tam, Andy’s brother, the daftest of all. Wore his Celtic jersey all the time and was big enough and hard enough that no one would mess with him. Oddly, he was the best player in the family by far, but never made the grade.
Good times.
IniquitousIV
Do not post as often as previously. Just a a quick one to say 3 things….
1. The team are improving rapidly under BR. Pleasure to watch. I hope and trust he will be backed financially for next 4 transfer windows.
2. CQN? I have knocked back meeting Tiger Woods about 50 times the last week. After I do knock it back the comments pages are not of the quality of the past. Maybe it’s me but I believe the quality of CQN is diminishing as a result of its success.
3. Scottish fitba, the SFA and Celtic PLC have still to emerge from legal hearings with any credibility. I understand Celtic PLC are (possibly) behind the 8 ball in all of this. But till this legal quagmire is behind us…. hmmmn. FFS Celtic, do them seriously again on the park Sunday, anything less will prolong the charade.
Roll On The Future…… quickly, cause it looks so much better than the last or the present.
Sftb
And regarding my point, the attributes of each player?
Many, many incredibly gifted footballers have won little or nothing in their careers, that doesn’t necessarily equate to them being poorer players than individuals in a the same position who’ve won a cabinet full.
Macjay
With the changes to the offside rule playing a recognised sweeper would be tantamount to football suicide.
On Sunday?
I’d much rather Kolo but my point stands. Their attributes and failings are very similar.
Hamiltontim on 20th October 2016 4:14 pm
Sorry, had to go oot, if you catch up…
I agree that Forest has been at his best more consistently this season, but his best hasn’t progressed enough for me. I feel like he still doesn’t believe in himself enough and maybe it’s a mental thing. My mate wanted rid of him 2 years ago, but I was willing to give him more time as there’s definitely a player in there. I think you’re right that BR’s playing him for his consistency, and maybe hoping a run of games will give him confidence to kick on, but I think he really has to start showing a bit of progress in an attacking sense, especially in big games.
You’re also correct that Roberts was below par when he cam back from injury, I think if he hit the ground running he would still have been in but it was a fair shout to give Forest a run, and as I said he has taken it to an extent. Roberts made a big statement last night that he can do it in a big game against a good team. He looked more comfortable than Forest had all night when he came on, fearless with 2 or 3 on him.
Forest deserves plenty of credit for his attitude and effort this season, he’s shown he can perform with more consistency over a run of games, but for me he has to show some real improvement to his top level soon.
I’m not scapegoating him for last night. As some have said, the whole team looked spooked from the start. I said those very words after the game. It was just one of those nights where everything was off. A lot of balls up the line were mis-hit or the runner didn’t go. Don’t know how many times SB & NB left their captain to each other, allowing him to stroll into space when at least one of them was marking nobody. They’re a good team and they played well on the night, but I think we’ll play better over there, and wee Paddy’ll rip them apart…0-4 ;-)
HH
HAMILTONTIM on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 2:48 AM
Macjay
Mate.
So many changes to the offside law , I wouldn`t want to begin to dispute your point.
Sunday will be a matter of negotiating the dustbins.
Would love to see Kris lurking outside the box to feed off the cutbacks that I fully expect to be provided.
Bottom line . Don`t give a damn about the tainted Jock cup.
Pure trivia.
Just give THEM a mauling.
At leasure. :-)
Great talking to you , Hamilton.
As always.
Raberto/Macjay
I’ve been summoned so will reply tomorrow gents.
Hail Hail
HAMILTONTIM on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 3:11 AM
Raberto/Macjay
I’ve been summoned so will reply tomorrow gents.
====================================================
:-)
I’m about to watch a re-run of the game.
I thought that BMG were Superb, they had real penetration to their play and they had No Fear.
People forget what Germany done to Brazil. That is an incredible emphasis on the Team more than anything else.
I know the 2 seats to my left are not ST holders, different people every week.
A few BMG fans had settled in to the seats in the 2nd Last Row just in front of us quite early. A tall slim chap came along the row and took the seat next to me, just as well really as the “Not German” guy next to me was Slim because the guy sitting next to him who entered 15 minutes later was like All the Worlds Strongest Men rolled into 1 – Massive so he was – they were pals but Worried about being in amongst the Home Support. :))
None of the BMG supporters celebrated in our section, they just wanted to be @ Celtic Park on a CL night – They are Genuine Football Junkies.
So as the CL anthem was going, I was calling for the Celts to gerrintaethem. They were taking Camera shots.
Everyone wants to be @ Celtic Park.
The wee guy was disappointed that there were so many BMG fans in beside us. Reflecting, I’m not. On the Saturday an Oriental guy was there himself, on my seat, we get there very early Every game now, and that guy was there to see the CELTIC, himself.
WOW
I hate Globalism so much but Celtic is GOOD.
The EU Parliament is based on the tower of Babel.
So, Just so you know, you know.
There is a reason for my Hard Brexit stance.
Shine on
What a Compliment to young Kieran and Scott that they targeted Celtics Strongest points?
Arrogance?
or just Excellent Tactical awareness?
Maximum Respect to their Coach.
Brendan was Raging with the performance.
He basically done 3 Subs @ the one Time.
Money will be spent in January…. there will be so many moving out.
PJB
I had the same problem with Tiger Woods.
I installed NeverAds on my IPad.
Tiger has lost his stripes.
GREEN Bay Packers cuff BEARS 26-10.
Portentous
Celtic Players giving EVERYTHING.
Hopefully, CELTIC can Exploit the Man City Complacency.
Awesome stop by Craig.
Funny with the Clapping happening and the Middle Guys not interested.
Celtic Celtic
Tough Centre / Soft Shell
Or
Soft Centre / Hard Shell
……………………………………………………………………………
Lucky Man
The Kieran Tierney booking was wrong – I thought that at the Time.
He is hard and fair.
Big Kolo Exdellent.
The Best Pass of the game, the Run by Scott made it look so Exquisite.
feck it – I will watch the 2nd hauf Later.
:)