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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Benefit of TV: but when I saw Izzy making his prayers about to go on, he was then pulled back from the substitution when Berget (or was it Johansson) took some cramp, I thought that was a bad omen. The worst omen though was likely when Efe got sent off.
Feck it. Painful memory.
BMCUW,
Fair point, and along with overseasbhoy’s post – are we just looking at a bizarre team selection last night. Doesn’t tie in with what we know about JC, let alone RD.
You’ve all got me wondering now.
I’m now even more sceptical than I was an hour or so ago. >:(((
FFM
The worst omen though was likely when Efe got sent off.
=================================================================
I wasn`t too bothered.
Cause I thought………well,now he`s going to have to close down all those wide open gaps at the back.
But no.
Seriously bad mistake.
macjay,
I’ve been in and out of last night’s/ this morning’s post.
I was going to reply to this one tonight, then didn’t, but now you’re here, I have to.
”
The Legia goalie looked vulnerable.We can rise from this debacle.
Does anyone genuinely feel that we will not win at Murrayfield?
The question is:will we win by enough.
The issue is not,ideally,to lose a goal.
Is there a tried and tested central defender available?
I would be prepared to spend a lot to gain one.
Incidentally,I don`t think Aberdeen will be pushovers this season.
”
===
I think it’s the first time I’ve found myself agreeing with you – then you went and spoiled it with the Sheep comment at the end :))
Lenny speaks.
It`s in quotes so perhaps it`s credible.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/lack-of-cash-and-time-cost-celtic-neil-lennon-1-3495269
FFM – I’m the only conspiracy theorist in the village)
05:44 on
1 August, 2014
Agreeing?
While I`m on a roll,let`s do politics.
Aye,mebbe let`s no bother. :-)
Aberdeen? I hope I`m wrong. Or do I?
Look at what Lenny says about competition in Scotland. 5.48
macjay,
I just read that there. I feel I have to dismiss it as the usual MSM pish of the hun type ( as opposed to the spin which comes from CP).
It was all over the place. This amused me though:
“Speaking at the Commonwealth Games yesterday where he took in some bowls action”
The Hootsman knows where it’s all happening. Angus loves his bowls.
He should stick to them. If only because it will guarantee him a career in the political jungle of Scottish sports media. A career to be, ahem, proud of.
Didn’t the Hootsmon, like the it’s weegie rival, use to be some kind of respected broadsheet.
(walks away to bed shaking head in bemusement, then returns to pour more wine and listen to music…. :))
Ceasefire in Gaza.
Israelis must be feeling the pressure.
Gung ho yesterday.
Cease fire today.
FFM
Sleep well,pal.
Lennon also explained his departure from Celtic Park, claiming – with a great deal of justification – that the Scottish Premiership now offered no real challenge to either Celtic or to the manager and his backroom staff. He said: “Celtic is a fantastic club. I was there 14 years – barring one season. I was player, coach, manager and it was a huge part of my life. But in the end we won the league by 30 points last season and I just thought it was maybe a good time to look for a different challenge.
“We felt, myself and the backroom team, that the challenge wasn’t really there. We had a great time in the Champions League, but we struggled a little bit for competition.”
Lennon added that he was enjoying his break from football after four years as manager and that the time had been right for him to move aside.
He said: “There is no question I am more calm now. People say management is stressful. For the first three-and-a-half years I felt okay in it, but for the last six months of last season the enjoyment was not there as much as it had before.
“I stopped getting angry with the players and that’s when I thought, ‘maybe it’s time for a change’ because you don’t want to lose that passion.
“You want to keep the players on their toes and don’t want complacency creeping in either. On reflection I do feel that the time was right. You know yourself. Deep down inside you know when the time is right to move on
Neil Lennon on why he moved on…………………………………….
macjay,
It’s much easier to talk to you now since your theatre balcony pal Statler moved back to Edinburgh :)))
http://youtu.be/14njUwJUg1I?t=2m24s
Good Morning. Vmhan and “GG” Thank you. Clashcitybhoy and Emu I guess if the was something that DR called attacks, it was oral “greetings” from some Legia Ultras when the idiots met Celtic supporters in the city. I will check it one more time after I get home. Will be back on CQN in the afternoon.
macjay and GCT reacting to Moonhowling a few years ago :)) Good lhads :))
http://youtu.be/14njUwJUg1I?t=5m25s
Good morning CQNers,
Ronny Delia has one hellava decision to make in the next few days, does he persist with his laudable but irrational pursuit of his vision of ‘total football’ or does he take the pragmatic route for the return leg with Legia.
The man we are told is intelligent, confident and has a great belief in himself which is just as you would expect from the manager of Celtic. But, can he appreciate the failing of his players in Warsaw was not down to a lack of commitment (something it appears by which he puts a lot of store) but more a style of play they’re not ready for yet.
Ronny has to rethink his approach, and quickly, otherwise he’ll have a few more Tony Watts to deal with in the coming months.
murdochbhoy
06:33 on
1 August, 2014
We have a very slim chance now to progress in the C/L, the damage has been done, however to hopefully progress in the E/L we cannot have a repeat of the failure to assess the opposition, failure to assess how the Celtic squad stands at this point in time so early in the season, by his own admission Ronny admits a failure in communication with the players, hopefully the home leg sees some improvement and restoration of pride
Small steps take the players with you, Celtic will not release a huge sum to dramatically change the squad with players the new manager expects to fit in with his ideals and philosophy on how the game should be played, manage the resources available to him now and select team and tactics accordingly, Ronny had a disaster on Wednesday night he has to avoid a repeat this Wednesday
murdochbhoy,
Surely the reference to commitment is about the improvement of fitness as dictated by the coaching staff, and not in-game playing? ie he is already expressing concerns about players not committing to what is likely a new fitness regime?
My first thoughts on Wed was I saw the players tire very quickly, and I wondered was it down to being over-stretched in this new fitness approach, so quickly and so soon in pre-season, but I dismissed it as surely this is all gauged professionally within the training.
Now I’m wondering again.
If the players are being asked to push their limits by another say 50%, and change the approach to the game very quickly, while not quite prepared physically yet, who do we blame?
I wouldn’t blame anyone in that scenario between coach staff and players. It’s a case of seeing who’s going to be part of the new set-up. So again, players over-exerting while unfit at this time of year to fit in with the new regime, and the new regime can’t bend from that approach as it needs to be strictly applied straight away to keep control of the dressing room. Add to that, nerves, heat on the night, new tactics, new positioning, double the energy needed – throw in a sending off, and it makes us look like deserved losers.
Rony’s big test will be how it’s turned around next week – if we get a win, and show signs of improvement, then we can get excited. I believe he has this, but if it goes wrong again, we are in for a tough season as others have said, which would be, and I think this is an important point some of us need to bear in mind, not just a tragic season for us the support, but for the players, and the new management team.
These people are giving it their all – while the suits sit up in the directors’ box counting the pennies saved from not investing in a goal-scorer, tell their MSM pal next to them who to blame it on.
The same issues might arise in tactics.
Next week’s lineup will give us another clue to where things are going.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/28596609
Gaza 72-hour humanitarian truce by Israel and Hamas begins
Please let those weans in Palestine live in peace ! this truce should start the peace talks for a more equitable relationship between Palestine and Israel the peace talks should be held in a room with images on the walls of those children who have lost their lives, concentrate minds
lionroars67 @ 06:44 on
I don’t know much about the man and I sincerely hope he sticks around for a while but while I admit it’s pure speculation on my part I believe he has been a bit headstrong and his approach is do it my way or it’s the highway.
I do hope, like you, he takes a step back and brings the players with him on his journey.
One other thing I’d like to see him reconsider was his choice of captain – Charlie would have been one of my last choices.
lionroars67,
He needs to adapt his tactics to the quality available in the current squad.
That’s my reaction as well – but then the whole idea of appointing him is pointless.
He needs the suits to give him some investment – I think we’ve seen it, and maybe RD felt he had to play this new player to say thank you for this massive investment (which might have been covered by about a quarter of the profit made from the sale of TW).
A truce – did the Palestinians have a say in this truce?
Or should we read it as, “we’re taking a wee break here in Zionland to re-load”.
FFM – I’m the only conspiracy theorist in the village @ 06:54
Again its speculation but my take on ‘commitment’ is you buy into my way or take a hike. Nothing wrong with that but a good manager will understand it takes time and it’ll not be achieved in 8 weeks.
On Wednesday I looked at the clock and there was 10 minutes to go and I’m thinking this is a result, 10 men, 10 minutes to go and 2-1 down, then it all went away from us.
Was it tiredness? was it poor substitutions? was it lack of commitment by the team as a whole or certain players?
I don’t profess to know but there was a definite lack of cohesiveness, and I’d suggest we definitely missed Scott Brown leadership.
MURDOCHBHOY
IMO,the final substitution was defo the wrong one to make and the wrong signal to send.
If anything it should have been Biton,hold what we have.
But it’s done. Deal with it. He has a week to sort it.
murdochbhoy,
I wouldn’t be too concerned about his people-management approach – if this is a big part of his management style, then the Celtic Board knew it. If this is a big part of what is going wrong, then who couldn’t have predicted it. I see this MSM and online (and CTV) portrayal of some reckless middle-aged Edinburgh-based stupidly arrogant housewife coming into a good team and doing a Miss Jean Brodie to suggest a manager that wouldn’t win a game, let alone what RD has already achieved.
Either we’re being played to blame RD (who is surely adivsed by someone at Celtic on how to conduct himself in interviews (( if not, why not, ffs????)) when things go wrong, or he is actually a good manager who needs time to establish his role. For that he would need to make some changes to his squad, and thus needs time.
I’m thinking aloud, and make no claims to be anything to the 1000s of tacticians who post on CQN, but I hear you making a humble point, and agree with it to some extent, but see more behind it, as the people paying the wages are the ones that make every call at the end of the day.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS @ 07:16
Next Wednesday it is and I can’t wait.
Personally I’ll be watching Vigil Van Dijk – has the boy developed an ‘attitude’.and if he has why?
Good morning friends and a Big Happy Friday from a grey but dry and windless East Kilbride.
Right, that’s the ole reporting done for this season. Off to Menorca later today for a week’s close season but, God willing, I’ll be fit and ready for the 2014/15 Reports from 9th August. I did hear talk of the all new CQN having a separate thread dedicated solely to bringing together the weather from around CQN-kingdom but nothing official has come out yet.
As for next Wednesday, a simple target for the first half – try to win it scoring just the one goal. Increase the target for the 2nd half – just 1 goal in the first 30 minutes. Then it’s game on! So (always wanted to do this) does anyone know of any pubs in the sleepy fishing village of Binibeca that might be showing the 2nd leg… ;-)
Margaret McGill –
You said Tony Watt was shown the door for asking for more money.
I reminded you that Tony had 2 years left on his contract, so how would he go about asking for more money.
Your response was that Tony was sold for 1.2m so he couldn’t have been rubbish and that I should go away and bile my heid.
I made no comment about his abilities or lack of them. I merely asked you to explain how a footballer with 2 years left of a 3 year contract could ask for more money.
You appear to prefer to use the Aw_Naw approach which is to resort to personal abuse when you have no answer.
How dare I put you on the spot eh?
I’ll take my punishment like a mhan.
murdochbhoy @ 07:25
VVD was excellent as was most of the team before it starting falling apart as the game went on. They all lost confidence quickly. Remember him casually and confidently dis-possessing the Legia players around the penalty box – it was no bother to him. Our two CBs were strolling. But for some reason, the whole team tired very very suddenly, and that’s when the mistakes crept in. A big change in effort, energy and tactics in pre-season in a crucial game.
I genuinely believe this will be turned around next week, or will be a close call.
Sadly, the players and management would get the blame if the latter happened, when, my point I suppose, is that they shouldn’t. The blame should lie with whoever sanctioned the Craig Gordon signing, as this is the same person that refused to sign any of the other positions.
(Are you trying to reduce the risk of VVD being sold? If so, I’d like this post I’m making deleted :))
GCT,
Hope you’re well big fella and enjoying those tram rides between Edinburgh tea-shops :)) I haven’t read back on this convo you’re referring to with Mags, but surely the chat was about contract negotiation, and not someone asking for a wage increase while bound by a circa Million pound contract. You surely know this Tom, FFS. It sounds like you’re deflecting.
Anyway, obivously Edinburgh is hitting you in the purse when you start talking about taking your punishment like a man.
:))
Always jesting. I see you as a faither figure. :))
FFM – I’m the only conspiracy theorist in the village) @ 07:36
I have high expectations for Van Dijk with his languid style allied to his footballing brain. However, on Wednesday I was unsure whether his ‘languid’ style was in fact languid or a lack of ‘commitment’.
I make no accusation I simply raise it as a point of interest I’ll be look for on Wednesday.
murdochbhoy,
I don’t see it as languid – I’d call it composed. But when things fall apart in one area of the team, the rest are suddenly exposed and can look stupid.
Roll on next week, and then we’ll have a better idea. Finger crossed amigo. Thanks for the chat. I’m biting my nails already….very jittery :(, but I think only because we’re not at CP.
This situation is the kind of one that might give Murrayfield the biggest capacity they were told to expect by Celtic…….if I had the cash to risk, I’d have put a double on a lose-win double-leg. Sadly, I don’t know myself if we’ll win 3-0.
MURDOCHBHOY
I was working so missed the game,best result of the night!
I think it’s fair to say that Virgil’s performances tailed off towards the end of last season. Which was a long one for him,I doubt he featured so often at Groningen.
Time for him to sharpen up,get back to his best. Hell knows,we’re gonna need him!
In fact,we need him as a goal threat at set-pieces as much as anything…..
DELIA OUT KNOW
FFM
I’m not sure that enough of the support view the situation as retrievable for it to sell out the ground.
Especially after the nightmare of the last time.
LENNON’S PASSION
Far too early for that,mate.
Time may well prove you correct,but sacking him now is ridiculous.
IMO,of course.
Good morning from an overcast Warsaw, just about to head back to Germany. Once again thanks to Zbyszek for looking after me and advising me where to visit – the Uprising Museum is a must and shows that as a so called intelligent species we have learned nothing!! Also a big thanks to Lennybhoy for arranging my contact with Mr Z. As regards attacks on Celtic fans, despite being approached by Police Scotland and warned about potential violence, I saw nothing nor did I feel intimidated by the Legia fans that I sat amongst during the game.
If you have never been to Warsaw I can highly recommend a visit and I will certainly be back for a visit with Mrs PMTYH, which might not be a good idea as even the ugly women in this town are 7/10 ;-)
Need to go to catch my train, till laters fholks.
PMTYH (_!_)
Sack Lennon after Ross County
Sack WGS after Artmedia
Keep John Barnes and Tony Mowbray after great starts
Early results seem to be no indicator for long term success.
Oh, and get the fellas name right if you’re gonna storm the car park. Might be a tad embarrassing.
BIG WAVY
A la Legned?
BMCUW @ 07:59,
A few years ago, I’d have said the same thing.
Not a sell out, but I think (of course, could be a mile out as I usually am with this intelligent stuff you day-walkers talk about) -a good 55,000.
Because, this is the kind of game we live for. And on a plc broadsheet, it shows. This is the best money making type of game outwith the CL games themselves.
Money, money, and feckin money.
Well, I suppose that’s what’s important to Celtic now.