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

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  1. clogher celt on

    They tell us the age old story that the impartiality of the courts is upholding the Rule of Law by highlighting the abuse of authority by the authorities and throwing out evidence/cases.

     

     

    I’ve been busy this week

     

     

    .Have Scotland’s finest caught up with the vandals in the toilets at Celtic Park yet? Or the track-suited Sevco employee at the Cup Final who assaulted the Hibs fan? Or the individuals who have been allegedly making serious threats to bloggers?

     

     

    Maybe FOCUS are too busy sending Friend Requests to teenyboppers…or fighting their way through the Pop Ups on here:))

     

     

    Oh, and have we got our ticket money for the 5-1 massacre yet?

     

     

    Till Later, duty calls.

     

     

    Almore, enjoy Glasgow’s cafés on Sunday…

     

     

    https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurants-g186534-c8-Glasgow_Scotland.html

  2. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    Bobby M,

     

     

    No, it wasn’t that.

     

    It was stated at the time what he was on about, but, I’m afraid, I don’t remember now.

     

     

    1966 was around the time when protests were becoming more prevalent. Pesky students and all that, that this was the first time that a television studio was hijacked.

     

     

    The universal level of disgust felt at the time would have, I imagine, killed his “cause” stone dead.

  3. Billy Bhoy on

    Hamiltontim

     

     

    I’ve just filled in the survey. I had intended just skimming through it but it was so well laid out and easy to access that I couldn’t help myself from having a bit of a rant.

     

    I’m really glad I did it now. It felt good to get it off my chest.

     

    I’d recommend it to anyone who’s ever been affected by the Act or even just given it any thought.particularly if, like me, your a parent who’s son goes to the games.

  4. 50 shades of green on

    HAMILTONTIM on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 11:41 AM

     

    FAC Post.

     

     

     

    Finally remembered, done.

     

     

    H.H

  7. tonydonnelly67 on

    CHANNELISLANDCELT on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 11:48 AM

     

    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

     

     

    I called there and spoke to Janice, she said they’re all gone, Billy Shannon hasn’t even got one, but if your in tomorrow pop in and we’ll see if we can get something worked out, never say never mate.

     

     

    Plod was in after the last game we played the Huns, an wee where giving it laldy, he wasent to pleased and gave Jan a warning, pissed off because they got f….. obviously, told him he would be back personally for the next game to make sure it didn’t happen again, Hun bassas the lot of them.

  8. thetimreaper on

    !!BADA BING!! on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 11:12 AM

     

    Reading back…….the only difference between Kolo Toure and Efe Ambrose is age? ……..mmmmmm

     

     

    —-

     

    Aye age, a full planet, an orbit of the moon and 3 galaxies.

  9. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    Bobby M,

     

     

    In fairness to the guy, there was no way he would have known the content of the news that evening, when he hatched his protest plan.

     

     

    However, it still fell foul to the law of unseen consequences.

  12. Almore on

    VFR: I can meet up around noon if that suits.

     

     

    BMCUWP: Just a day trip, but thanks anyway.

     

     

    Clighercelt: Cheers.

  13. tonydonnelly67 on

    HILBHOY on 21ST OCTOBER 2016 12:00 PM

     

    TONNYDONNELLY^&

     

     

     

    I didn’t know the Brazen had a dress code.

     

     

    Oh yes more so on a Saturday night when the entertainment is on, either in the Tall Poodle Suit, or the Silver Tassel Lounge, no jeans, every one gets all Slaterd up.

  14. An Tearmann on

    TD67

     

    Police are anti catholic

     

     

    Only your opinion Antony.not a fact.

     

    Evidence please.

     

    where have the Catholic church issued such a statement?

     

    Hope your well

     

    HH

  16. Gerryfaethebrig on

    2.40 Doncaster – Amomentofmadness nap the day

     

     

    Best of luck to all

     

     

    Cheers GFTB

  18. 16 roads - Celtic über alles... on

    15:05 @ Punchestown – William Du Berlais – NAP!

     

     

    Moscow Flyer RIP.

     

     

    Good luck everybody.

  22. fleagle1888 on

    CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 10 Standings

     

     

    A big shout-out to BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS who is leading the field after last week’s impressive 11/1 winner (Sheikhzayedroad)…

     

     

    +10.00 > BMCUWP (2)

     

    +8.38 > WWW(GBWO) (5)

     

    +3.00 > Cathal (1)

     

    +2.00 > Fin 15 (1)

     

    +2.00 > Som mes que un club (2)

     

    +1.50 > Dim Sam (2)

     

    +1.50 > Nye Bevans RS (2)

     

    +0.00 > 16 roads (2)

     

     

    -0.50 > Graffitionthewall (2)

     

    -1.25 > ohits (2)

     

    -1.75 > Zihuatanejo (2)

     

    -4.00 > twists n turns (1)

     

    -5.50 > Gweedore Celt (1)

     

    -5.50 > Raymac (1)

     

    -6.00 > Burgas Hoops (1)

     

    -6.50 > hashadenough (1)

     

    -6.75 > leftclicktic (1)

     

    -7.00 > Rockon (1)

     

    -7.13 > Onemalloy (1)

     

    -7.38 > green T (1)

     

     

    -10.00 > 21-5-79 (0)

     

    -10.00 > Angel Gabrial (0)

     

    -10.00 > Bull67 (0)

     

    -10.00 > call me gerry (0)

     

    -10.00 > Cosy Corner Bhoy (0)

     

    -10.00 > Eurochamps67 (0)

     

    -10.00 > Fastbhoy (0)

     

    -10.00 > fleagle1888 (0)

     

    -10.00 > Gerryfaethebrig (0)

     

    -10.00 > TheBarcaMole (0)

     

    -10.00 > voguepunter (0)

     

    -10.00 > What is the Stars (0)

     

     

    Cheers, fleagle1888

  23. RobertTressell on

    Wasted 10 minutes reading the bread mans thoughts on tomorrow’s game.

     

     

    Does he ever say anything different?

     

     

    – it’s what we do in training

     

    – it’s about togetherness

     

    – it’s about getting the structures right

     

    – there’s no gulf

     

     

    It’s almost as if he is relying on management speak. Which he must have learned in the City. Right?

     

     

    Numpty.

  24. RobertTressell on

    And they won’t change the game plan.

     

     

    Or will they?

     

     

    Big bumper book of tactics must also have been liquidated.

     

     

    Talking of which were Scottish Water warned not to act ahead of the game on Sunday for fear of provoking unrest among the unwashed? After all rioting is surely what any fans would do in such a situation…,,,,,

  27. fleagle1888 on

    I’ve had enough of this flat racing rubbish, so it’s back to the real deal today with 7 seven races from Cheltenham, and I’m following the holy trinity of Cheltenham, Jonjo, JP McManus:

     

     

    Listen and Learn (Cheltenham 4:05) – @ 22/1 with Stan James!

     

     

    Only one runner from this stable at today’s Cheltenham meeting…

     

     

    All the best,

     

     

    fleagle1888

  36. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    COSYCORNERBHOY

     

     

    is in the back of beyond for a few weeks and goes for

     

     

    RIVET 350 Don

     

     

    And effs my L/15 in the process,the jinx(!)

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