Correct plan against Gladbach, even though it didn’t look like it

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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.”

Order your copy and for a limited period receive a FREE copy of Paul John Dykes, The Quality Street Gang here.

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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348 Comments

  1. I thought CG was @ fault —- Looking at it, Olde KT was @ fault.

     

     

    The most annoying thing is, if Dembele hadn’t slipped….

     

     

    Good Times ahead.

     

     

    Sunday Bloody Sunday?

     

     

    I hope not.

     

     

    Celtic are hurting for the real reasons being a Football Club.

  2. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    TD

     

    At least Kranjer(sp) tries to play football the way it should, he will be replaced by another clugger no doubt..

  3. COWIEBHOY

     

    _____________

     

    Sorry to read about yer dad.

     

    Thoughts and Prayers for all

     

    who are close and, that things

     

    work out well.

     

    YNWA fella.

  4. Hopefully Kolo got his erse booted up n doon the dressing room the other night for his gaff’s.

     

    Big Efe would have been hung by now…imho.

     

    Steve Naive football gets managers the sack, no matter how good a squirrel that the manager might be.

     

    Ah mean, school kids are taught to clear they’re lines and yet, the most experienced player at the club was trying to play football – a coupla yds fae goal ???? – Unforgivable.

     

    Then again, maybe Kolo was only carrying out his instructions from the dug out ????

     

    Used to hear all this p#sh about Celtic defenders from the SMSM when talking about a Cellic defender they would ask – “Can he bring the ball out from the back ?”

     

    Ah mean, there was only one Danny McGrain.

     

    Bring the ball out from the back ?????

     

    Aye……

     

    Ah mean, it’s ok to skelp fish in a barrel, with ease.

     

    But, when Cellic take to the pitch in the CL at Celtic Park……magical things can happen.

     

    But, when yer relying on a player in mf who is ‘still’ not fit enough to last 90 mins, Rogic(Paddy McCourt 2?)….and, yer relying on another mf who tried to kid-on that he was injured last season, during the SCSF defeat to the huns(Bitton) so that he’d be taken off and yet…..he’s still on the books ????….and, yer relying on a captain who, with every passing game stands indited for his betrayal of the Celtic support and, Ronny for his cliquey-cronyism antics against Ronny & Johnny during they’re couple of years in charge and, McGregor who instantly becomes – Peter Brady(the Invisible Man) – ye have to ask – are Cellic ready to hit the wall ?

     

    Oh and, Gordon was at fault for the 1st goal….praised when he deserves it, boots in the stones when he deserves them.

     

    Oh and, the Green Brigade(Jubilant-Jobo-Hunskelping-Choir)….on the curve are, magnificent but, when Brendan puts a team on the pitch that results in – James Forrest being, swamped oot the gemme – Cellic are p#sh and the atmosphere sucks. The safe standing are is grand but,…..it ain’t no Jungle.

     

    If,……Brendan puts a team on the pitch to play fitba on Sunday…..the huns will mibbery us aff the park.

     

    Brendan,….like Pep,…are managers who’s stock is tumbling……watch this space.

     

    Tony Donnelly67 – Keep it lit ya auld torn-faced-fenian-eeejit ;)….eff the clique!

     

    67 Heaven – Thee Original-auld-fenian-eeejit….hope yer well.

     

    PETEC – Junglist, Kojo was the King of clique smashers….guid!

     

    BLANTYRETIM – Hope all are well amigo. Hail Hail

     

    …..off-oot-zzzzzzz……

  5. BMCUW 5-34 am

     

    Aberfan i remember it vividly , a disaster that should never have happened !

  6. BMCUW,

     

    Thanks for that article. I watched the beeb documentary the other night, heartbreaking.I hope all from the coal board who denied and deflected enjoy their purgatory eternally

     

     

    God bless the weans and adults who perished at Aberfan

     

     

    HH

  7. Word of The Day (inspired by a The SMSM)

     

     

    parasitology /ˌpærəsaɪˈtɒlədʒɪ/

     

     

    noun

     

    1. the branch of biology that is concerned with the study of parasites

     

     

    Derived Forms

     

    Adjective

     

    parasitological (ˌpærəˌsaɪtəˈlɒdʒɪkəl)

     

     

    noun

     

    parasitologist,

     

     

     

    FAC the Act

     

     

    KTF

  8. Good morning. Only 3 days to go if you haven’t completed the consultation survey on the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act please click this link and complete it now.

     

     

    If long forms daunt you, just give your contact details and then complete the 5 questions on Sections 1-5 showing you are in favour of repeal- that is just 5 ticks- then just scroll through to the end and press SUBMIT. It can be done in less than a minute.

     

     

    If you are unsure about what to write, this crib sheet will help. Remember you are agreeing that the act should be repealed. Also remember to click Complete Survey at the end or your views won’t be included!

     

     

    More arrests this week so we need more submissions.

     

     

    FAC the Act!

     

     

    KTF

  9. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    VFR800A8 on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 9:02

     

     

    parasitology /ˌpærəsaɪˈtɒlədʒɪ/

     

     

    =====================================

     

     

    Would you care for some more examples , my friend ?

     

     

    Aye , awrright .

  10. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    AN TEARMANN

     

     

    I’ve not watched it yet,but I will do.

     

     

    Huw Edwards wrote an excellent article in The Telegraph outlining the content of the programme. IMO,it deserves my full attention,which work denies it midweek.

     

     

    HH.

  11. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Bobby et al.

     

     

    I remember that Friday night so well.

     

    And the following day when Celtic had a game at Hampden , getting off the train at Mt. Florida , the collectors with cans marked ” For Aberfan “.

     

    A marvellous and very rapid community response.

  12. For those of you who love a bit of good TV.

     

     

    Sat down to watch a new show last night at 7pm. 3:30am I had binge watched the whole fist season. Just couldn’t seem to turn it off.

     

     

    So if you like an occasional binge watch ‘Goliath’ with Billy Bob Thornton might be for you.

     

     

    MWD

  13. Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on

    Cowiebhoy,

     

    Thoughts and prayers with you and yours.

     

     

    BMCUWP,

     

    Have a look at the JJ site, he provided a partial transcript of the court ruling a couple of days ago, before any meeja publication.

  14. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 9:19 AM

     

     

    My sister drew my attention to this,not seen it mentioned elsewhere.

     

     

    Cops exceeding their powers in execution of a warrant. Must have thought it was a dawn raid on an armed terrorist,gangster,Roll of Honour-singing Tim,or summat.

     

     

    http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14813494.Call_for_government_review_after_judges_say_prosecutors__abused_state_power__over_Rangers_fraud_case_raid/?ref=mr&lp=6

     

    —————————————————————————————————————–

     

     

    I think the johnjames site covered this mate – in fact may have had the scoop on it.

     

     

    Of course the expected BS statement from both Police Scotland and Government – “Lessons will be learned”. If they need a lesson on this then they should be in employment as police/prosecutors. Blatant – and people should be disciplined over it. But they wont.

     

     

    Who watches the watchmen in Scotland? Like the SFA and other Scottish “institutions” – a law unto themselves.

  15. Roberts struggled a little for confidence after his return from injury. It’s perfectly understandable that a hamstring tear would affect a 19 year old in such a way. Even the likes of Aguero take a few weeks to get going again. Now you sense he has confidence in his body and is ready to go. Unleash him on the Hun I say.

  16. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 9:19 AM

     

     

    That story was first broken I think on the Johnjames site.

     

     

    I can’t find the court judgement online on any of the official sites, which, unless I’ve missed it means it hasn’t been released officially. Given that the case against Whyte is still live, that would be understandable. So the question is, how did it find its way into the public domain, and what purpose is being served by releasing it now?

     

     

    It should be noted though that this is not an isolated incident. There does seem to be something amiss with the way police, and the prosecution authorities, are are obtaining and executing search warrants.

     

     

    https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=e78420a7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7

  17. Just looked at fixture list. from Sunday we have a game every 3 days for a while. May see some rotation with some lesser-spotted Hoops getting a chance to shine?

  18. channelislandcelt on

    TD67

     

    Few Bhoys coming up for Big Reds funeral . Hoping to go Brazen on Sunday for game . Imagine there will be a regulars only policy on . You think we will get in ?

     

    HH

  19. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    Morning Bhoys well it is a big game for Celtic on Sunday not because we are playing the Rangers who are just another mid table SPL side but because it is a cup semi final and if we want to win the treble we must win this game first and get into the final. The Rangers can fill newspapers with there boasting but the only place to do your talking is on the park now all cup ties are capable of throwing up giant killing shock results and Celtic over our history have been on the wrong side of to many.So we need to start the game well and play at a high intensity and not let them settle and for me Brendan needs to play both Griffiths and Dembele from the start as they will terrify the Rangers.H.H.

  20. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    CANAMALAR

     

    NATKNOW

     

    ERNIELYNCH

     

     

    Thanks,lads. If it was on JJ site,dunno how I missed it!

  21. Aberfan .

     

     

    This old git remembers that , within days of the disaster , there were two Aberfan ” jokes ” on the go.

     

     

    This old git remembers film of a distraught father screaming outside the Coroner’s court re his refusal to accept that his child had died of asphyxiation and insisting that the truth was that his child had been killed by the National Coal Board .

     

     

    A Judge described the National Coal Board as having paid as much attention to safety as ” moles do to Sparrows ” .

     

     

    144 dead .

  22. ERNIE LYNCH on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 9:55 AM

     

     

    BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 9:19 AM

     

     

    That story was first broken I think on the Johnjames site.

     

     

    I can’t find the court judgement online on any of the official sites, which, unless I’ve missed it means it hasn’t been released officially. Given that the case against Whyte is still live, that would be understandable. So the question is, how did it find its way into the public domain, and what purpose is being served by releasing it now?

     

     

    It should be noted though that this is not an isolated incident. There does seem to be something amiss with the way police, and the prosecution authorities, are are obtaining and executing search warrants.

     

     

    https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=e78420a7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7

     

    —————————————————————————————————–

     

     

    It’s almost as if Police Scotland have been told they can do whatever the please…

  23. JFH

     

     

    Griffiths and Dembele together hasn’t worked so far. Last two games they have played last 20+ minutes together and the team has created few chances. They want to make the same runs, and with Sinclair coming in off the left we get congested through the middle. Stick with it he one up front and three behind, it’s worked well all season.

  24. Watched, a movie. MR Church, Eddie Murphy, very good made a change from the morbid stuff.a coming of age and how folk strike up.relationships and if you go back to your youth you identify with a lot in the film, a nostalgia