It’s a well-established fact that we don’t have Beckenbauer and Baresi at the back, so the reason why we chose to play so high up the field is the most alarming element of last night’s debacle.
Dedryck was bound to misplace a pass, or Efe was bound to misread play. We all knew this. Regret over the last time mistakes like this were made doesn’t mean they won’t happen again. So when the inevitable occurred, our two full backs were 30 yards in front of the line of opposition attack, with our defensive mids well into opposition territory.
Efe’s failure to cover Kamara and Dedryck’s pass were consequences of the main mistake of the night, which was tactical. We didn’t lose the opening goal because of a bad pass, it was lost because we left an acre of Norway unattended.
Ronny, you should never have left so much space at the back away from home in Europe, we’re clearly not good enough for such an open system, not even close. We’ve learned nothing since what was supposed to be a lesson in Warsaw, when the same expansive errors cost us. Molde played rope-a-dope football, they could have watched us against Malmo, Maribor and Legia, as each opened their home games against us in exactly the same manner.
It must be an absolute joy to face a European opponent at home who leaves so much space at the back, begging to be exploited. If we had played with the same tactics we used in Amsterdam I’ve no doubt we would have won the game – no one in that Molde squad would get into the Celtic team.
There’s more. After dominating possession and creating genuine chances, the defeat looked inevitable from the 11th minute when we went behind. Body language changed in an instant and Celtic went out like a light. I’ll spare you what I said at the time in case it’s misconstrued, but the evidence suggests there’s more to worry about than repeating the same tactical mistakes.
Celtic have nine months and one and a half transfer windows to get ready for the next Champions League qualifiers. There’s plenty of time to put things right, but we can’t sleepwalk into another failure. More immediately, we could be out of a cup if we don’t pull our act together this week.
The original Holy Goalie, our own John Fallon, will be signing copies of his book, and no doubt giving you his thoughts on current events, at the Supporters’ Club on London Road on Sunday from 12:30. All are welcome. There’s live entertainment too, so get along and check it out.
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Maybe I’m naive but I dont think the Deila – Commons thing is a such big deal. Talk of one now having to leave is wide of the mark. In any other walk of life a couple of mature adults can sort things out and move on. I fully expect them to do that. I expect Commons to be on the bench tomorrow which is a suitable punishment for his conduct the other night and will give him a rest for Hearts next week.
Today’s football fix for all Southside / East Kilbride / Blantyre / Hamilton / Strathaven Tims can be scored at K Park, where East Kilbride FC take on Forres Mechanics in the Scottish Cup.
£6 at the gate, £3 concessions, kids under 12 free.
There’s the added bonus of pints to be had at half time. At a fitba match. In Scotland.
UOG – I like Commons, but best since Jinky? Not for me, he can’t touch Lubo or Naka in my view…
I don’t think this is a binary – that either Ronny or Kris must go. KC issued an apology. By doing so he admits he was wrong. Good on him. If something similar happens again I’d expect KC to be punted. May not necessarily be Ronnys decision.
I agree with the view that the most disappointing aspect of this has been the lack of learning from last European campaign. You can’t play wide open football away in Europe against any team. The gap at the back is setting up for failure. Primary job was to defend the other night. A nil nil draw would have been welcome.
I’d imagine that some level of European success is part of the managers remit. Be interesting to know exactly what that is.
Corkcelt
Molde 3rd goal was total lack of professionalism at our club in my view
As I stated late or Thurs – Amatuers, and no disrespect to Amatuers
But just shouldn’t happen in the professional game
Comments on Lennoxtown and youths interesting – would anyone know how much our youth programme costs per year? It would be interesting to know whether we spend more than we get out of it in sales and first team/squad players?
*** LAST MAN STANDING PICKS ***
All of the remaining (ahem) Standers have now made their choices. This week, here’s where all the votes have gone –
2 have chosen Hearts to win at home against Ross County
2 go with Chelsea to win away at West Ham
5 picked Aberdeen to win at home to Motherwell
12 have to wait until this evening having chosen Arsenal to win against Everton
12, myself included, will be cheering wildly tomorrow afternoon hoping that Celtic win at home to Dundee Utd.
Good luck everybody.
Starry
Some fair points in your post to BMCUW.
The thing is do you honestly think that Ronny, if given job security for the long term, will improve us, especially in Europe?
See if I genuinely thought that, I’d be prepared to take the hit just now. A few humpings would be worth it if I thought that it was for long term gain.
That’s my problem with Ronny, I just can’t see him improving things.
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> > Greenlion2 – Morecambe
> > Blantyretim – Gillingham
> > Awalkacrosstherooftops – Stoke
onlybetwhatyoucanaffordtoloseCSC
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Mr Pastry
I usually scroll past you, no idea why I read there :-)
But, you are correct with that post
Spidey101
I remember last season Ross County quoting we spend more on our youth set up than over 50% of the SPFL teams have as a total budget, I believe it is over £3m per season
Hail Hail and off oot
PS – anyone else going to the Lisa Commons/ Simba night tonight ? I’m getting to wear my Trews again :-)
Re Lennoxtown
I recently witnessed a presentation on the Celtic Academy given by Chris McCart. Very slick and professional it was too. We were told that Celtic have more contact time with their young footballers than any club in Europe; the boys’ timetables were examined in detail to optimise their performance; Celtic provide tutors; Celtic provide drivers to take them to and from school, training etc; Celtic provide food to their school (St Ninian’s). And so it goes on.
Chris was very enthusiastic and a big fan of Ronny and he claimed 15 players from the Academy had graduated to play in the UCL. I cannot recall all of the faces but he was being a touch disingenuous here as several were players purchased like Shaun Maloney. My point is the system looks to be good but the raw materials-the young footballers-in the main aren’t good enough to make our first team never mind play in the UCL. I personally know 2 of the boys, they are good footballers but will not make the Celtic first team, that’s the reality of Lennoxtown.
There was no opportunity to question Chris due to the nature of the event-a prize-giving bizarrely-that was unfortunate. He came over well but for me the proof of the pudding is the first team.
Cowiebhoy
Enjoy yer nicht Donald :-)
Cowiebhoy-We are incapable of preventing crosses into our box.HH
HT @ 11.32
Snap
100%
Cowiebhoy, thanks, I might do some analysis on that later.
Kris Commons would be the first name on my team sheet tomorrow.
Hamiltontim
Aye that was my question too and after Thursday I’m not sure. To be honest I think we’ve been poor since the start of the season, too many niggling recurring injuries, players suffering loss of form and poor play in general.
I would give Ronny till the end of the season at least any less than that for me would render the whole thing a complete waste of time.
Had we got a draw on Thursday I would have believe we could qualify from the from the group now I think we have a very slim chance.
We played very well in parts against Ajax and against Fener so it being Celtic I can’t write us off just yet not in my heart anyway:))
Anyway whit’s Jim Jeffries daein’ these days:)))
Ooooops
Lisa Hague, she said she had enough of Commons hissy fits :-)
Peter Lawwell will want to put £50 on Season Tickets ,when Sevco are promoted,can he do that on the back of a Ronny Deila team? No.Bottom line.
Was quite surprised that our national daily newspaper over here carried no report or mention of Celtic’s defeat in Norway yesterday which is unprecedented. I was not exactly overanxious to read the match report of the previous night’s debacle but to me this is another example of how the club is falling down the pecking order and not even worthy of a match report on the sports pages.
The Battered Bunnet
if you like a lot of adverts on yir pooter read the blog
We’re a lazy, whingeing, disgruntled support and pretty much representative of the whole club. A lack of direction and realism pervades Celtic just now from the top to the bottom. Knee jerk reaction and apathy.
Predictions of skelping Molde pre-match, based on “what we think we are” rather than the evidence of capability and the fixture’s match up (contrast Molde with Celtic’s european results) prior to the kick-off.
Few in the support and fewer in the management team seemed to take a balanced view to the respective team’s capabilities.
In the immediate aftermath and even now a couple of days after the skelping, most comments are pitched in a WTF style as if we should have run over Molde !
Paul’s leader provides a case in point “no one in that Molde squad would get into the Celtic team”.
Most of us believe that eh ? Think back to the match. Molde players displayed pace, skill, anticipation and technique. Celtic players pretty much the opposite. When you marry Molde’s attributes up, you get results like Thursday and the Legia matches, in which our deficiencies are quickly and cruelly exposed.
How would Molde have faired if we’d let them have the ball in the first few minutes ? Would they have careered forward ?
But I made an allegation about the whole club and it’s that that will see us plummet into the challenges of next season. We read stories about pre-planning constantly. What’s the evidence on that ? Do we pre-plan or react ? Did we sign in the build up to the CL or sign after we were out ? We all know the answer to that.
But my central complaint is about us all. We are sleep walking into next season in which we will face a confident (the biggest asset a footballer can have) Hun team. We are still wandering about, squandering cash, aimless and with no purpose. Imploding is the word I was searching for.
The challenge of next season has to be our focus.
I’m a little afraid the Celtic club will not focus until we have reached rock bottom. Leadership is required to avoid rock bottom, we have none.
I
RoyC
I suppose it’s all about the balance when it comes to academies. Very few, if any, act like a conveyor belt into the first team.
Celtic will be the same as all other clubs, where most of the young players (I’m talking about under 19 level) will go on to have careers in football but at a lower level and every year or so you hope to have at least one who’ll make the grade.
Bada
I honestly do not think I will renew my 2 tickets in that situation, sadly
Was it not reported that commons had a falling out with NFL
The next day he appeared at training with a neck brace and a bandage around his head
(Funny) makes you wonder now
I still like the guy
HH
Cowrieboy, Cork Celtic
Excellent posts. Nail on head.
Fans are not stupid.
Chanting for Commons when he was subbed.
His reaction is not to be condoned, but at least he showed some spirit which not
One player showed. Conditions were appalling, but that does not excuse the lack of
spirit. I have never witnessed a Celtic team where every player was abysmal, starting with the keeper who
dived with his legs at the first goal . Boys Guild stuff . I have always defended the manager, but patience is wearing thin. Who else ? Paul Lambert, Malky Mackay spring to mind. And there’ also DanielO Donnell, if you’relooking for another “nice guy”. He has time on his hands now that he has been eliminated from Strictly !
I am currently unable to access CQN through Chrome with Adblock Plus installed. But I can access through both IE and MS Edge if I put up with repeated pop ups and ads for betting services, cider and skin care. products.
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Hamiltontim
I agree but I feel our main problem, from what I’ve seen, is the identification of players in the first place. The programme they are on looks excellent but it really is about identifying real talent to enter the academy that could make the first team.
HH
So we produce academy players for Ross County Dundee etc and Man Utd do the same for us
No value in that for me tbh
Sometime someone somewhere in a position to do something about it will realise what the problem is at Celtic Park.
Get rid of bean-counters and employ people who understand the business that they are in.
John Harvey Jones made a TV series about it,btw.
Nat know
Agree – player or managers the same rule applies and also to CEO..
BCW-Molde are 7th in the Norwegian league ? Should we not beating teams like this? And i ask this not out of the divine right of winning anything,that is how far we have fallen,and it is unacceptable.We have a CEO who is still playing ‘Football Manager 2015’,along with Chief Scout John Park,who wouldn’t know a striker if he’d shot him.A manager who was being brought in as Roy Keane’s assistant,and who had an assistant who he had never even met,forced upon him by the control freak.Lawwell head hunts managers he can control,and impose players on him.If the Celtic manager’s job was open to applications,i think we would be amazed at who would want it.HH
Commons and Delia could both go.
Delia could go
I seriously doubt if Commons will go and Delia stay.
That would be commercial suicide as the fans would not stomach that in current situation.
Roy C-Put Deila in charge of Lennoxtown,and get in a proper football manager……..HH
Starry
Yep Ronny’s European priority now is obviously to beat Molde at Parkhead. It doesn’t matter how we do it but a win is a must.
Jim Jeffries??? I’d chuck it! :-)
Read Hamilton Tim at 10.59pm on page 15.
That is all.
Definately afff oooot after this
No to Lambert and McKay, for me
Laudrup and Weighorts ?
Michael O’Neill & Billy Mckinlay ( highly regarded coach) ?
Moyes and Mckinlay ( current team in Spain) ?
Brendan Rogers ( again good coaching reputation, for attractive football.) but not with Gary Mcallister
Jim McIntyre – works to same fitness philosophy as Delia & good coaching, but not with Dodds :-)
Many very decent and more professional options for a club of Celtic size