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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FFM
Totally agree. Well said
pedro,
“the crowd spooking our players.”
I don’t agree with that, but I will say that support were amazing. Whit a racket. And that ginormous banner was impressive.
I’ve not been able to read back here too much this week, just some of last night – I did read Lionsroar’s post regarding the polis making it known they wanted to arrest as much of the travelling Celtic support as they could – it worried me very much. Any news on that you know of?
Burghbhoy
Thanks amigo. I should have addressed that to “..and anyone else about”.
I don’t know if I’m going to make it to Murrayfield next week, so am going to try and persuade my numbnuts brother to go, as I gave him two tickets to take his burd to the Karagandy game last year where we won 3-0 (his 2nd time at CP), and then he went to the Murrayfield game against Reykjavic just there. It’s growing on him, and I now see him is a lucky charm – as long as he maintains the winning form ! :)
A wee rousing song for those falling asleep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3QJPxiLOPo
Re Tony Watt
Deila didn’t give the bhoy a chance …little game time
Also, he had insufficient time to assess him properly
IMO he wanted Berget , was told someone had to go….they had an offer for Watt…profit on the deal…job done …it’s the CFC way these days
Berget was a disgrace to the CFC jersey on Wednesday with his lack of effort and application
I know who Id prefer in my team
FFM
Make sure your brother and his Burd go m8 lol
FFM
I was home for the Karagandy game and did a somersault over the seats in 402 when the third went in.
I hope that you and your brother will be doin’ the same next week at Murrayfield :-)
Merry ploughboy
PF Ayr,
I think TW would have done us a great turn last night – don’t know why on earth he was sent packing. Even if the prima donna rumours were true, arrogance can be a good trait, particularly at this level. If I remember right, he was scoring regularly in Belgium. But if Lenny couldn’t man-manage him then maybe there was no hope – but I would add that Lenny obviously wanted him back for this season, before deciding to go himself back in December/ January, so had a plan with the player.
Teuchter ár lá
It was that game that got my brother hooked I think. I was shocked when he told he was going the other week! My ST was in 403 by the way before I let it go a couple of years ago. You’re a brave mhan somersaulting over seats in that section – unless you were somersaulting up the way :))
FFM 03:25,
I’m going to disagree with a lot of the analysis of the game you posted, granted I have only watched it once.
If you narrow the time frame down to 15 minutes, I’m a lot more likely to agree.
When you went ranting, well it is getting harder and harder to disagree. Celtic is about the Charity||Love of the Club.
BTW, I mean’t to say 20 rounds, although it is better I think if we keep it to 15 Maximum, next time, don’t be a stranger.
Lydon, perhaps spawned a Prodigy
Authority, F them and their Totalitarian laws.
FFM
Watt or Pukki
One..headstrong, somewhat unprofessional , lacks apparent motivation …but goalscorer , strong and quick
Or
Other…model professional ..non goalscoring, soft and a hide and seek exponent
No contest for me
I suppose nobody would give us £1m+ fir Pukki
pedro,
Fair enough – I think you have a very good read of the game, and don’t trust myself 100% as when I read some of the reviews here on a game I wonder how on earth fholk can see as much as they see – I feel very inept at reading a game these days!. I think it’s cos I preferred playing it as a wean to watching it, and as I told you, we were never taught a smidgeon of tactics in the teams I played – we were only successful due to the natural skills of us players :)
If you buy 15 rounds, that equals 30 pints each – do your maths fella :))
But in the first stages, (ok, 15 mins) Charlie was doing well in that Lenny role in front of the defence imo, and some of the chances we created came from very impressive passing. All easily forgotten due to what happened after though :((
PS a goal scorer up front for us would have made a very different result, eg TW.
….PFayr,
I didn’t understand how Pukki was taken off the other night, the ball was always sticking to him and he was making the runs I would want from a Celtic player.
He missed a difficult chance, yes, but I honestly think he was very unlucky to be subbed.
PF Ayr,
Aye, that’s it in a nutshell. I think Teemu has something, I really do, and think he needs a proper run, and given a chance.
But of course, if started scoring goals, he’d be punted.
This is our approach to investment to gain CL money.
Baffling, until you started weighing up football vs cash in the bank, and favour the latter.
It’s not the model we are being sold by the spin.
The model is cash in every single chip asap, and bank it.
Where it goes after that might be a clue to the source of the stagnating issues affecting the Club all over.
I’d add as well as another example – I’ve been lucky to experience several types of hospitality and standard seats at Man C in the past year or two.
Even the polis smile at you.
My first experience of hospitality at CP last year (and I’m not a fussy person, honest !) – it just stank of contempt for the Celtic Support, who will obviously always invest their time, emotion and money into the Club. It convinced me along with everything else, (particularly the treatment of us common supporters), that they treats us with nothing other than contempt.
It’s reflected in the policing, stewarding, spin, lies (!) and the apparent “development” of the team.
I remember having a go at James Forrest here for asking for a rally at CP – to me, it was ridiculous at the time, as the only complaint was team investment. The treatment of the support with this contempt in recent years is what gets me the most. It’s dicing with the future of the Club.
PF Ayr,
Apols, I missed out a lot of commas just there which make it almost incomprehensible.
It’s a ranting thing which afflicted me when I turned 40 last year :)
FFM,
We lost discipline on Saturday, entirely my fault, I introduced VoodKa, doubles tae.
How the hell did we miss that last train?
We weren’t even close, now I realise why BMCUWP keeps messing up last trains and sympathise why he left early doors.
I hated being out of control, the wee man was playing the huns next day, he didn’t make it, they got beat 4-1, a blessing in disguise or a wee guy let down by his Dad, everything happens for a reason.
15 rounds is just 15 rounds next Time!!!!
Petec
I thought Pukki was terrible..then again I think Pukki is terrible ….just not my kind of player
….PFayr,
I’m just commenting on that first half, as I say, I thought he was unlucky to be taken off. I thought he played as well as anyone.
pedro @ 04:24,
Ah, sorry about that amigo.
It’s the issue with boozing. As soon as you fall into a pub offering pint and mixer deals, it always ends in disaster.
We should have consulted BMCUW when we were due to miss the train.
I think he has a hotline red 70s telephone in his pocket for such emergencies that connects him directly to Network rail who then send out a a network handcar complete with driver.
PF AYR
Is your idea of a Friday Flier to get outa bed early?
When I’m still at work and you’re outa bed,it’s time to get the alarm fixed.
Pukki isn’t the problem,he’s a symptom of the problem.
The problem is playing Russian Roulette with the future of the club.
BANG! Got away with it,cash in!
BANG! Got away with it,cash in!
BANG! Oooops….
Russian Roulette has a tendency to be fatal when you f..k it up. PL should remember that.
FFM
Nope. I just go through life with a Don’t Panic button.
The exact opposite from most people.
When the Don’t Panic button lets me down,which can happen,I just rely on the Awe F..k It button.
And worry about it later.
BMCUW,
I’d have actually still bought into the finance side of it, but it was all the other issues that sent alarm bells ringing in my ears in the past two years.
It seems so flamin obvious now.
PS, have you ever thought of investing in one of these?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Velocipede_on_Railroad_Track.jpg
FFM – I’m the only conspiracy theorist in the village)
04:33 on 1 August, 2014
pedro @ 04:24,
Ah, sorry about that amigo.
It’s the issue with boozing. As soon as you fall into a pub offering pint and mixer deals, it always ends in disaster.
We should have consulted BMCUW when we were due to miss the train.
I think he has a hotline red 70s telephone in his pocket for such emergencies that connects him directly to Network rail who then send out a a network handcar complete with driver.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was playing CSGO with my wee brother and the wee man earlier this week and I was telling him about the disaster that befelled me, him having a wonderfully analytical mind asked me, If I put my pin number in wrongly a number of times. I’m sure, I did it just once, but maybe not. If I can recall correctly, need FFM verification, I think it was just once, if so, a harsh cash machinos.
I thought Matthews at LB was an OK call before the game – he played well there against Barca 2 years ago – Commons chance at 1-1 was the turning point for me.
Were our away support okay last night? I was concerned the other day to read about their further interest in any man, woman or child daring to support Celtic by following us into Poland to “advise” the Polish polis.
BMCUW @ 04:39,
That last button – where can I get one? My “don’t panic” one stopped working a few years ago !
If it still worked efficiently I’d donate it to any Celtic manager working under the current restrictions…
FFM
Please ask for that to be deleted before First Great Western see it.
FFM
I get one free every time I buy a train ticket!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS 04:39,
My wee brother once messed up his last train/bus, I can’t remember what exactly, from Geneva and just got out his Apple device and entertained himself until the first mode of transport became available.
pedro,
You seem to think I’m gifted with special cognitive skills when walking on all fours and getting into fights with bus stops.
But I’d wager you probably did what we all do after that fatal 13th pint, and mixed up the pin number a few times.
Hope you got/ get it sorted. Nightmare when it happens. I was just pleased to wake up the following d̶a̶y̶ week with my phone still in my possession and no pug woman telling me I owe her CSA money.
He obviously had a credit line.
Last week I felt like a sevconian.
FFM – I’m the only conspiracy theorist in the village)
04:53 on 1 August, 2014
pedro,
You seem to think I’m gifted with special cognitive skills when walking on all fours and getting into fights with bus stops.
But I’d wager you probably did what we all do after that fatal 13th pint, and mixed up the pin number a few times.
Hope you got/ get it sorted. Nightmare when it happens. I was just pleased to wake up the following d̶a̶y̶ week with my phone still in my possession and no pug woman telling me I owe her CSA money.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
;)))))
It is sorted, nae harm done, you do know I will hound you to buy these 15 pints!!!!!
overseasbhoy,
AM hasn’t had time to get back properly from that injury if I’m remembering right(?).
So very risky to play him at left back in that situation. I think it must have been necessary – did Izzy fail a fitness test before the game? AM on form is best in front of Lustig as well. I think it must have been a fitness thing forcing that selection to play him at LB, but I’m just guessing, and am sure someone else will know better than me. I don’t think the management team would have made that risky selection unless they had to.
BMCUW,
Did you steal First GW’s handcar??
Put it back, young man. :))
FFM – I’m the only conspiracy theorist in the village)
04:57 on 1 August, 2014
overseasbhoy,
AM hasn’t had time to get back properly from that injury if I’m remembering right(?).
So very risky to play him at left back in that situation. I think it must have been necessary – did Izzy fail a fitness test before the game? AM on form is best in front of Lustig as well. I think it must have been a fitness thing forcing that selection to play him at LB, but I’m just guessing, and am sure someone else will know better than me. I don’t think the management team would have made that risky selection unless they had to.
_______________________________________
That was the most puzzling selection, very strange as Emilio has signed a new contract and is delighted to be at Celtic.
Anyway Off to bed before I get too conspiratorial.
You can’t afford to live without Christ as your KING.
off oot.
FFM. 0457
I dunno why he made that selection but I sincerely hope he isn’t already falling into the square pegs/round holes much beloved by our recent managers.
He could start by putting Griffiths up front,not wide. And certainly not dropped completely.
Anyway,it’s 5 o’clock and I’m cream-crackered,Jack.
Cot time,pubs aren’t open yet anyway.