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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NatKnow @ 10.20am
It’s almost as if Police Scotland have been told they can do whatever the please…
_________________________________________________________
Or perhaps they knew what they were doing was excessive and beyond the powers of the warrant and likely to be challenged and excluded at court ;)
honestmistakescsc
CLOGHER CELT on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 10:24 AM
NatKnow @ 10.20am
It’s almost as if Police Scotland have been told they can do whatever the please…
_________________________________________________________
Or perhaps they knew what they were doing was excessive and beyond the powers of the warrant and likely to be challenged and excluded at court ;)
honestmistakescsc
————————————————————————————–
Ha! Too smart for me mate. :-)
CLOGHER CELT on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 10:24 AM
NatKnow @ 10.20am
=====================================
Good stuff , lads.
Ermine..,
After reading that report I have one question
Why are the sexual crime unit investigating a fraud case ?
HANNELISLANDCELT on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 10:10 AM
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
How many are there of you coming over, I’ll see what I can do, I know the tickets are all gone, but all I can do is ask just let me know how many you need, when you coming over?
PETEC on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 4:00 AM
I got tickets for a couple of German guys; what area were you in?
FAC the Act
KTF
Almore, what time do you get in and where are you going once you get into Glasgow?
FAC the Act
KTF
CANAMALAR IT LOOKS LIKE OCD OBSESSION on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 10:46 AM
They aren’t
They are different cases.
The common theme is the way the police have exceeded their authority and abused their power.
And the Crown Office seem to think it’s OK.
Timbhoy3 in Stornoway – you? H H Hebcelt
My friends in Celtic,
“It’s almost as if Police Scotland have been told they can do whatever the please…”
————————————————————
Yes it seems so.
And with specific regard to the OB act the answer must be definitely yes. What can we expect when it is up to the police themselves to decide what constitutes a crime.
Although this politically motivated act targets football supporters, it is all society that should be questioning it. There is a finate amount of resources available to law enforcement, is this really the best way to allocate it. From Unsolicited friend requests in Facebook to infiltrating online fans forums ,the intelligence gathering is more appropriate for potential terrorism than for football fans.
It would be interesting to note the man hours involved for every conviction. I’m sure all taxpayers could personally give accounts of where the police were actually needed to combat crime and have fallen short.
I apologise for the rant, but I believe the police should be our friends and partners and this act only serves to drive a wedge between them and generally law abiding football fans.
Surely the people of Scotland ( not just football fans ) will eventually wake up and recognise the route we are heading down.
Hail, Hail.
VFR800A8
I see you are a Condorrat Bhoy!
I lived there late 70’s early 80’s. Maree Drive.
Did you drink in the Masonic Arms or did you go to St Maurice’s High School?
Or both?
NATKNOW 1020
I very much got the impression that under House,certain units were “encouraged” to get a result,and that he would cover the fall-out.
Seems that culture still exists occasionally…
VFR: I’ll be in the city centre around 9am. I usually go to a Weatherspoons near Central Station but could head up to Coia’s instead.
Police Scotland is a Masonic ran cabal, who can do what they want, when they want, and to who ever they want, they are answerable to know one, they are liars, bullies, and anti catholic.
Been like that for as long as I remember, done my mates Da in on a weekend lye inn, back in the day, and not one charge, cops? Biggest unruly gang in the country, and don’t kid yourself, they’r awe the same.
GREENPINATA on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 10:58 AM
Have you filled in the survey?
FAC the Act
KTF
Ernie..,
Is this the same case JJ refers to ?
To identify it as a common occurrence does the protagonist not require to show more than a single example ? Anything less than 10% would still identify such as an exception rather than a common occurance. I am certainly not supporting what I consider a partial criminal justice system
But to support a claim of common malpractice I expect the onus is on the accuser to provide more evidence than one or two examples, no ?
Reading back…….the only difference between Kolo Toure and Efe Ambrose is age? ……..mmmmmm
GREENPINATA
IMO,OBAF should have been challenged under European legislation ASAP.
When ordinary people are given extraordinary and arbitrary powers,with full support of their superiors,abuses of that power is always the result.
I recall about 2004 talking to a member of The Wiltshire Safety Camera Partnership about their methods and raison d’être. He argued that they didn’t want to catch us,they wanted us to slow down.
I asked him why his units hid round corners,behind trees,etc. Lot longer discussion than that wi the eejit,as you might imagine!
Also ref Stanford Experiment-the risk of invoking Godwin’s Law-and I think there was another one more recently in Denmark(?)
Anyway,there ye go-human nature. That’s yer short answer!!!
ALMORE
Pubs open later than normal on Sundays!
Mail me your hotel,I’ll get back to you with an 11am pub nearby. Done loads of research on this(!)
PHILBHOY on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 10:59 AM
Masonic Arms and the Social Club. I ran aboot wi’ the bhoys fae the village. Spent far too much time in Willie Hills as well, but thankfully I no longer have that vice!
I went to OLHS and left in 1978.
My sister lived in Maree Dr at that time!
So you may know me (or know of me).
FAC the Act
KTF
ALMORE on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 11:04 AM
I’ll be at 10:30 Mass so it will be closer to midday before I’m about for breakfast.
Are you on your own? We will most likely be getting a taxi over from the East End.
FAC the Act
KTF
VFR800A8 on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 11:07 AM
Yes, filled it in ages ago.
HH.
Greenpinata,
Those that don’t follow football and are exposed only through the media’s worst headlines regarding tiny minorities in proportion to the numbers who actually support and attend, regard us all the same.. The have no sympathy for the vast numbers not involved so anything done to control the football monster is welcomed.
Perfect example, two sides of the same coin, most in this country and beyond believe that.
GREENPINATA on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 11:19 AM
Good man!
FAC the Act
KTF
VFR800A8
I lived at no 38.
One minutes walk from the Masonic.
I had a mate Terry Waters whose old man was on the committee at the Social Club.
Every time I applied he knocked me back.
Canny think why!
Look forward to meeting you and having a proper blether. Mibbe a beer or two as well!
CANAMALAR IT LOOKS LIKE OCD OBSESSION on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 11:09 AM
Ernie..,
‘Is this the same case JJ refers to ?’
###
No.
The case he refers to was in the English High Court. It refers to the execution of a search warrant at Ipox. He has selectively quoted from what, as far as I can make out, is a so far unpublished judgement.
The case I referred to is a different one. In the judgement the judge refers to another case, also dealing with search warrants.
So that’s three separate cases, all dealing with search warrants, either obtained or executed inappropriately.
Furthermore, the case I referred to mentions a member of the Crown Office whose attitude, if it is representative, suggests there is a problem with the culture of the organisation.
Anyone know what time the lounges open at Hampden on Sunday, tried calling but never any answer.
Also how strict are they with no jeans, pass says no jeans, it’s just a lounge with paid bar facility, none of the fancy meal stuff. Are they likely to knock you back for wearing jeans?
Cheers
FAC Post.
With only two days until the consultation paper to repeal the OBaF Act deadline, it’s imperative that anyone who is opposed to the legislation, but hasn’t yet completed the survey, does so.
We’re now asking, if you have limited time, to simply complete section 1 and then submit, it will take only a minute.
Please, this is important.
http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/S/FootballActRepealBill/
PHILBHOY on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 11:34 AM
I know Terry and his brother John (Barney). I was never a member at the Social Club (for obvious reasons).
I have a very good friend (Tam) who lives at number 42; can’t remember when he moved in there, possibly after you left.
Where are you based now?
FAC the ACT
KTF
TD67
We arrive tomorrow . I am guessing there will be about 6 or 7 of us who would be wanting to go to the brazen.
As you say the best you can do is ask the question . Thanks Mate .
HH
Ernie…,
Thanks for the clarification and on your point on the Crown Office employee is the killer that wins it, 20 years I’ve been doing my job wrong she said :) as you say that is a cultural issue within the Crown Office.
CELT FOR LIFE
You’ll be Arse knecked out the door, they’r strict on it from what here, don’t think I’d take the chance, need a Lenny a pair a kecks?
When news of the Aberfan disaster was being reported on the six o’clock News, by, I think, Kenneth Kendall, A protester ran across the screen, shouting some incoherent slogan.
I would like to think that someone took him to the side and had a quiet thump in his ear.
His action took an incomprehensible tragedy to a level of surrealism.
VFR800A8
Bo’ness.
Lived there for almost 10 years, 23 years in Linlithgow before that.
You?
TD67 11:53
Cheers, I will scour the wardrobe for a pair, cheers for the offer; :-)
VFR800A8
I played football with Terry, for Cumbernauld Thistle. That’s how we met.
His wife is/was also called Terry.
His Da’ didny like me
THOMTHETHIM
He may well have been blaming the Coal Board for killing so many of his neighbours.
In Welsh.
TONNYDONNELLY^&
I didn’t know the Brazen had a dress code.