This was a defensive and tactical failure. Efe Ambrose was slow to follow his man for the first goal (Fraser was the beaten easily, though redeemed himself later). Efe was also brushed off the ball at the second goal. Strength in the six yard box is imperative for a central defender.
Mikael Lustig was caught underneath his man for the cross which led to the second goal, a feature of our defending all night. All he could do was attempt to block the header back across goal, instead of challenge for the ball. He was also in the wrong starting position, and therefore, unable to stop the cross which led to the fourth goal.
With Lustig and Ambrose already culpable at the second goal, Virgil van Dijk was caught napping. He may have expected better from his team-mates, but he should have remained alert with the ball inside the penalty area. The space afforded to Radovic, Virgil’s man, should never have existed.
I’ve no idea why Emilio, our only left back, was omitted from the starting line-up. He offered balance when he came on, until his late horror show when he was turned inside out, then inside out again, at the third goal. It was like watching a clip from the 50s, when full backs didn’t know to get tight and close-off one option for the attacker.
Charlie Mulgrew had a nightmare beyond the level of the others, which is saying something. Two penalty kicks, failing to attack the ball with his man, who headed the third goal, failing to track the run for the fourth, and the debacle which led to possession being lost when Efe was red carded, was a calamitous return.
I’ve heard transfer rumours about everyone who played in defence last night apart from Lustig and Izaguirre. It looked like the defenders had been listening to them too, and had minds on other things.
The squad’s weaknesses were exposed by Legia.
It’s probably too late to lament the absence of Wanyama, but with Brown again out through injury, we’re short of bite in central midfield, exactly what we needed when the defence was comatose. Stefan Johansen and Charlie Mulgrew had the senior combative roles, it just didn’t work. We need to fix this gap as soon as possible.
Ronny got things wrong.
I agree with the manager’s assessment in his post-match BBC interview, the back four didn’t defend as a unit, which is fatal at any level of football, and we didn’t press as a team. I’ll make no excuses for the defenders, but playing this specific 4-3-3 away from home in Europe was asking for trouble.
If we’re short of bite with Johansen and Mulgrew, we’re shorter still if the third man in the middle is the creative Kris Commons. Love him, though we do, he is neither a tackler nor a box-to-box player. The middle three in this formation need to be mobile, covering as much ground as four, sometimes five, opponents. Johansen, Mulgrew and Commons was wrong on all levels. As a result, the Legia midfield probably had their easiest game of the year.
Callum McGregor delivered a goal, as much as anyone could reasonably expect of him, but this was his first game against top-flight full-timers. He needs people to ease him into the role. Jo Inge Berget hasn’t trained with the club, has played only twice since January and there’s a reasonable chance he didn’t know the names of all his team-mates.
If you want to know why we didn’t press as a team as soon as Legia got in amongst us, the clues are everywhere. Of course we didn’t press as a team.
On top of this, we ran the same Pukki experiment as last year, with the same outcome. We’ve seen a lot more of this Celtic team than Ronny, who might now be on the same page as the rest of us.
“Anywhere but Warsaw” was title of the CQN article on the day of the draw as this one was entirely predictable, and that was before Legia won in Dublin. The new manager has yet to get his feet under the table. The squad are in a state of flux. We are short of experienced, reliable, players in several positions, and football in July is often a lottery. There was a chance Legia would capitulate but it was more likely that they would be fitter and better rehearsed.
Seven days is a long time in preseason terms, and as you don’t need me to tell you, we’ve been here before. Don’t think this is over.
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Because we need to shift those season tickets before the customers…erm…sorry…fans get wind that there wont be any Champions League fitba.
Because we’re shite.
Because we sell anyone we find whose any good before we get a chance to put together a team for even one season that might make us somewhere.
Because The Pistol is calling the shots and the name of the game isn’t football, it’s moneyball.
So long Fraser. So long Virgil. I might just do walking away too…
HT
Did they supply a razor with that?
MWD says AYE
Just another Tim
I dont really like the look of any of them
He’ll need to find a midfield, and he’s got less than a week, and he hasn’t cracked it since the first friendly.
A litany of lefties, none of whom could tackle a fish supper.
Cliches CSC
To save me reading through eight pages, could anyone tell me if BRT & H expanded upon his earlier tease about ` information` revealed at a CQN do?
Thanks.
JJ
Mistertaximan
Ok Bye
MWD
Alcohol instead, numbs the pain!!
Big Virgil has shown alarming signs of detachment from defending for a few months now. If he thinks he’s made it, I’ll be delighted to see him punted.
Can’t be doing with it.
One for Ronny to sort out, and quickly.
If Efe is to stay at Celtic then he has to play the Wanayama role to protect the defence. We need an experienced CB to partner VVD and guide him through the game.
I have been saying this about Efe since Victor left the club. He can play in there and go forward. If he makes a mistake the defence sweep up. Hangelaand has been mentioned. Perfect signing for me. Excellent player. VVD can be a great player but needs experience in with him just now to help him. We need a communicator at the back. A battle weary campaigner who can give our back line a shake and push them out when required and let them know where they should be. At the minute they are not a unit and it shows when we don;t play well.
LB
Just another tim
15:53 on
31 July, 2014
Just a selection of the possible opponents we could draw in the EL play-off
Brondy, Brugge, Karagandy, Hadjuk Split, Real Sociedad, Gothenberg, Cluj, Lech Poznan, Torino, Hull, PSV Eindhoven, Lyon, Rosenberg
looking at that list………..we could have a long long season ahead with No european nights
If I read right in the MSM recently, Ronny was quoted as saying that his dream is to one day manage Celtic at Celtic Park in the Champions League and boss the game,
nothing wrong with that, thats a fair enough dream,
however under previous managers – Neil , Gordon, it was not a dream, it was reality,
I’m not sure what Ronny’s qualifications are to be given the Celtic job,
what did Peter see in him really,
Peter is a shrewd business man, business being his forte, so what convinced him that Ronny was the man,
I fear it was a non football reason,
Jungle Jim
Where was that post made?
HH
Bhoylo83
After last night, neither do I
Look.Kiddies..
n Ye r ARe KIDDIES..
So we Loast
Well.. If ye Actually feel that
The Proper Respose tae a Disheartening Defeat..
is tae Come Oan Here..
‘
an
THREATEN us.. Wi yer Dire Promises of Financial Retribution tae oor Beloved
Club..
Then
Don’t Bother..
Ah canny stand..
well.
CRAPPERS… Pardon Ma French.. Sir Paul..
But
those Guys who Are alwiz Ready tae
PUNISH us .. Financially..by Withdrawing thur Support..
After ..A Set Back..
Those Guys. Disappoint n Disgust Me…
Like Nae Ither..
A Bunch of No Users.. again.. Pardon Ma French .. Sir Paul
Kojo
Still,Laughin
the battered bunnet
15:32 on 31 July, 2014
ClashCityBhoy
Fair comment. My sense is that starting with Berget was a significant factor in unsettling the team. Not the whole story by any means, but significant nonetheless.
I agree also dropping Izzy – big change – team at very least “a little surprised”
One other thing – this pushing your back 4 up to the half way line ???
Asking to get hit with pace
67ECW
Hamiltontim
Welcome home :))))
Till later all
Stand Tall & Proud and look them in the eye csc
Just another tim I could be wrong but none of our last four managers had managed in Europe before they joined ud – tin hat on Hail Hail Hebcelt
TBB
Point taken for the majority but no fur me!
(it’s a 20 minutes walk from my house)
Mistertaximan…..don’t let anyone stop you from walking….probably the best thing for Celtic and for you….so it’s a win/win…..see ye.
tully
Any room to crash at your place :¬)
@ livibhoy
i think with big Johan still here the defence would not have been so bad last night. If we are to play an expansive pressing style someone in the backroom staff has to spell out exactly to the defence where they position their line when we are pushing forward, not all over the shop like last night
Join the Q TBB!
Och
Traditionalist88
8:58 P12 previous article. BRT & H said:
“Tiny Tim — if you are looking in — do you remember the story you were told at Aberdour by certain guests that were there?”
If I picked it up correctly, it seemed to be connected to the rumours of player unrest. Maybe not , though.
JJ
JJ
Jungle Jim
Cheers
Thats all we need!
HH
In the 90’s when I was growing up…
Particularly after another defeat against the Huns,
My oul Da always said…
And it always sticks with me….
“I seem to love them more when we lose..”
Very true words
B-)
hebcelt
16:07 on
31 July, 2014
Wow! No I think you are correct. That is quite a surprising piece of football trivia.
HH
Kojo @16:05
Some people can accept defeat more dispassionately than others. Be kind in comment during this difficult day 0:-)
JJ
Trad 88
0:-))
Trad 88
…..and it would seem that nothing further has been forthcoming from the man with the crocodile shoes.
JJ
hebcelt
16:07 on 31 July, 2014
could be wrong but i think WGS did with Southampton and RD did with stromgodset
Business or Charity – 1891
Celtic chose to move away from the founding principles and into a business model when they deposed Dr. John Conway at the AGM in 1891. Yep, 1891 was when the club decided to pay wages to club officers, a move that he objected to and which cost him his place on the Committee. This doctor was the club’s first Honorary President, kicked the first ball at Celtic Park and was the man who addressed Hibs in 1887 at St Mary’s Hall. After the 1891 AGM he was ostracized by those involved in the club and died 3 years later and is buried in Dalbeth Cemetry. In 1893, Brother Walfrid was transferred to London and with him went any opposition to the business model.
Shamelessly plucked from The Celtic Wiki
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/Conway%2C+Dr+John
Revisionism suggests that in 1891, Celtic had already become a victim of it’s own success – that retaining the founding set up in the face of extraordinary growth and the new financial realities could only result in the death of the club.
HH
Just another tim right I’ll push the boat out now, have we ever appointed a manager who had previously managed in the CL. Come on someone shoot me down. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Finding it very difficult to comprehend how a Celtic supporter can even get to the point of even thinking of ‘walking away’ after 1 poor result! Shocking stuff
Wow! A two minute hat-trick. Posters` anger must be about exhausted 0:-)
Cheerio for now.
JJ
67 European Cup Winners
16:07 on 31 July, 2014
the battered bunnet
15:32 on 31 July, 2014
ClashCityBhoy
Fair comment. My sense is that starting with Berget was a significant factor in unsettling the team. Not the whole story by any means, but significant nonetheless.
I agree also dropping Izzy – big change – team at very least “a little surprised”
One other thing – this pushing your back 4 up to the half way line ???
Asking to get hit with pace
67ECW
——————————————————————
So true. Even after we were down to 10 men the defence was pushed right up the pitch. Mental.
Hecelt
RD
Gary67 no prob if that is true, will check it out. Hail hail Hebcelt
Hecelt
cancel that this season was stromgodsets first in cl