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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Z
Article by Ronny Cully where he claims attacks.
Take care.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/three-colours-red-tape-and-a-card-but-mainly-faces.24918601
AR
Either Linnvale bus fae Chandlers or Dalmuir to Haymarket slow train.
You home bro?
Awe Naw vanishes just as Maggie appears
Strange?
Zbyszek i posted congratulations to you last night, I think Legia are through to the next round and i hope they get through to the qualifiers.
The celtic supporters, like Legia are CL quality, but our plc are happy at Europa level.
Our dunderheads/ beancounters need to waken up, they deserve sacking.
Hx2
doc
23:27 on 31 July, 2014
Yes I have a funny mind
Sometimes it does the weirdest things
Like today I booked flights to Scotland
Need to see it for myself
They canny be that shite Shirley?
margaret mcgill
Still waiting for proof. Obviously you have no proof, so please do not denigrate Celtic with your so called “proof” that Celtic would not pay blah blah blah. Your worse than the smsm.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Oh Maggie I wish I’d never seen yir face lol
Griffiths on his own upfront wd have kept them occupied!!
SOAL
Shifts
Remember?
margaret mcgill
23:30 on 31 July, 2014
doc
23:27 on 31 July, 2014
Yes I have a funny mind
Sometimes it does the weirdest things
Like today I booked flights to Scotland
Need to see it for myself
They canny be that shite Shirley?
I hope you are coming here via Gatwick. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Will maggie get free range eggs ?
Tune in
Maggie, give me a shout when you are here, Awe_Naw has my number.
I’ll buy you a beer.
SOAL, I have been in a room with Awe_Naw and spoken to Maggie on the phone, at the same time, they were on different continents.
Not the same person or the best magician in the world.
Wee fra Tim
Watt was jettisoned because he asked for more money.
Period.
Proof? That’s your word
Prove to me it wizny
dd,
I am, was in Chandlers last night, started well but the wheels came off pretty quickly. Heading off to Barra in the morning with my Dad, back on Sunday. I’m going to Murrayfield but not sure how yet.
AR
TSOAL
heeeeeeeeeerrrrrrreeeeeeeeeessssssssssss Morrissey.
bournesouprecipe
23:35 on 31 July, 2014
K
That’s my signal
See yeez :)
Doc
Thank the lord for Alexander Graham Bell
Love
Jude
Not as well as Radovic and Duda kept our back four occupied!
Shagah at Goodwood saved ma bacon today! :)
Got Joe Fanning winner yesday :)
margaret mcgill
23:34 on 31 July, 2014
Wee fra Tim
Watt was jettisoned because he asked for more money.
Period.
Proof? That’s your word
Prove to me it wizny
I never suggested otherwise, you did. All I asked for was proof. Pretty simple request. You obviously made it up to suit some kind of agenda as you can’t supply proof. I think every
One on here, barring the “bored” bashers, will agree you deserve to be called out for that statement. Each to our own indeed.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
EDB yes I have a family. I have two lovely daughters one about to turn 16. The other 12. They are beautiful and funny and great company and bizarrely still love the company of the ole da. I have a lovely wife who is kinfpd and understanding and has been my best friend from school. Next year is our 25th wedding anniversary. We are still going strong.
That’s despite my demanding job which means I work in holland during the week. But it’s rewarding and challenging and hard and sometimes fun. I learn every day and have a roleinchallengingthe strategy of the company I work for. We debate and disagree and find ways to safely grow the company,
And this weekend I am goimg to my second music festival of the summer (tho it is looking wet). I go to gigs all the time and have seen just about every class act you can think of.
Between my personal and work travel this year alone I have been to Australia, India, China, Hong , USA, and a few others.
And all of this is not to brag. It’s to show that the tired old adage that I am a sad compulsive depressive isn’t true. That’s what guys like you do to dismiss someone else’s view. To dehumanise and disregard others.
BCW I would be happy to buy you a pint. But you know what I stand by everything I have said about celtic.
It’s horrible what the board are doing to us.
just made my purchase for me and two of my daughters for wednesday evening. Despite my reservations, this team needs all the support it can get. Legia fans will be numerous and noisy. We need to make Murrayfield a home from home.
Come ahead !!
weefrathetim
23:39 on 31 July, 2014
He’s gone
What more proof do you need?
Neganon2, keep posting mhate. Just keep posting.
One day a I’ll agree.
Malceye, raise you voice, I got mine too.
AR
Took my sis 3 hours drive fae Clydebank to Murrayfield last week. They missed first half :(
Ma car is not an option. :)
Enjoy Barra.
Hope to see you next Wed.
Not only has Watt gone. The manager who paid money for him had the sense not to throw him into the CL qualifying tie with Panathanaikos.
My Dear,Dear Zbyszek….
Legia’s Disinformationmeister…
Yer Man Fae Blackpool…
Accused Your Boisterous,Exuberant Legia Supporters…..
Of Producing A ‘Hostile’ Atmosphere….
For The Celtic Players….
Do You Reckon We Should Send Him To Sit ..
On ‘The Naughty Racist Step’…
For A Good Spell..?
—–
VMHAN 2139
Probably either the 4-2 game,crowd say 55000 or Sporting 5-0,crowd probably the famous 37000.
Answer three is aye.
Four is nae chance.
Margaret McGill
23:44 on
31 July, 2014
Circumstantial evidence is against you.
1) three separate managers have publicly questioned his commitment
2) we have retained several others that are paid more and could probably command a better fee.
If as you say it was about money, or his request for more, I suggest his wage rise could have been accommodated and we’d still be saving money by selling another.
It looks like he totally failed to take the clean slate presented to him. Silly boy.
margaret mcgill
23:44 on 31 July, 2014
weefrathetim
23:39 on 31 July, 2014
He’s gone
What more proof do you need?
He is a total flop as far as I can see. You will obviously have a differing view, that’s why I am a supporter and a fan, rather than a fan. Jees oh it gets really tiresome talking to your type, away and support yer local team and gie them the pelters ye give Celtic and gie us peace. HH and good night to you. I really am ground down wi you. You wummen will never learn to shut yer gubs. Ghod help yer man, if ye can find the time to find one in between denigrating Celtic.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Regarding Watt, attitude, a bad one. Training, for lesser players, work is for those who weren’t good enough.
And before any smart ass comes on, I know it’s a man. Hahaha
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Emu, Zsybek
Heard today the detail of first hand account of attacks on Celtic supporters.
Nothing too serious, but attacks all the same
neganon2
23:42 on 31 July, 2014
Congratulations on 25 years marriage and your kids.
Nice to have some personal insights to help appreciate the bhoys we spar with, occasionally.
It personalities the poster and helps soften our views.
Just because we disagree doesn’t mean we dislike.
Neil Lennon left Celtic after trying and failing to steal and hide the MONEYBALL!
MWD says AYE
NegAnon2
23:42 on
31 July, 2014
Very interesting.
Having said all of that,you presumably feel that relentless negativity about the Board will achieve something which will be in Celtic`s interests.
Is that correct?
Zbyszek
Belated congratulations on your well deserved victory.
If we are to go out there’s no other team I’d rather see go through in our stead.
We will have someone to follow in the groups now.
WeeFra, he is a Mhan.