Examination in Zagreb

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This was a fascinating tactical battle which could have gone either way.  From the start, Dinamo Zagreb stood off Celtic and steadfastly refused to press the entire game.  For all we criticise Scottish Premiership clubs for defending with 10 men behind the ball, they all press on occasion; Dinamo’s plan was different.

They were intent on defending around 40 yards from their own goal and playing on the counter.  This permitted Celtic 69% possession, but that stat didn’t tell the whole story.  Dinamo’s counter produced the more chances than Celtic’s possession.

Not that there were great chances.   A Pjaca header 10 minutes from time made all the match reports, but in truth, even that would not have hit the target, had Kasper Schmeichel failed to reach it first.  Celtic’s best chance came right at the end.  James Forrest fired the ball forward, Arne Engels crossed into the six yard box, but Adam Idah was pipped to the ball by a last ditch interception.  That aside, Celtic created nothing of note.

You would be forgiven for concluding that when Reo Hatate is off his game, Celtic is too.  Reo’s decision-making and passing was poor throughout.  He gets the ‘blame’ here because he takes so much responsibility, where Reo tumbled, his teammates followed.  He bears the standard and so much responsibility.

I’ve read this was a poor Celtic performance.  In truth, it was better than recent away wins at Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Ross County.  This is Dinamo Zagreb, who drew at home with Monaco and won away in Bratislava and Salzburg.  They have 8 Champions League points; they are not Ross County.

With two games to go we have hit the 9 point target we hoped to achieve before the start of the tournament.  This could be enough to see us through to the next stage, although we are likely to add to the tally.  The last time we bettered our current run of four unbeaten in the European Cup/Champions League was season 1971-72, when a seven game unbeaten run ended with two 0-0 draws against Inter and elimination on penalties.  It’s been that long – and the standard of opposition was sufficiently weak then we won away in Hungary and Malta!

Knowing that some nerd 50 years from now will look up this run of results with awe, we can appreciate last night’s examination.  It informs us where we are in football’s food chain, and provides an insight into where we should aim for next.

Tony Gillespie, Setting free the Bears

Tony’s son Martin has been in touch to say the funeral will be on 18 December.  Anyone who would like more details can contact Martin at martin_gillespie@icloud.com

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  1. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Good article Paul.

     

     

    I feel there’s always value reflecting 24 hours later.

     

     

    Some of the disappointment from last night might have been driven by a lingering hope of finishing on 17 points and making top eight.

     

     

    It’s good to hope.

     

     

    Reality bit. We’re not there yet (wherever there is) and might never be.

     

     

    But we are a 1.5 points per game team in the Champions League proper.

     

     

    From my recollection for only the second time in the CL era?

     

     

    Not bad. Certainly progress.

  2. bigrailroadblues on

    In restaurant before we head for pub and watch arsenal and man city games. Not many fans of any team here, certainly no hun so far. Tomorrow should be interesting when they crawl out of their rocks. If they can afford a rock, smelly hun canutes.

  3. a wee techy update – you can follow live updates to the table as the scores come through, lets see if any teams drop.

  4. That awkward moment when so many try so hard to validate a poor result.

     

     

    SS,

     

    I was shocked learn Maeda only played 2 bad passes.

     

    Never really noticed him touching the ball that much.

  5. garygillespieshamstring on

    BRRB

     

     

    Happy anniversary to you and your good lady.

     

     

    I would say have a drink or two, but I know there would be no point in that.

  6. Stivs @ 6:39 – great table – thanks for making us aware of it.

     

     

    BRRB happy 30th, we had our 25th in October.

     

     

    Marriage is not a word, it’s a sentence 🔐😉

  7. TexasTim on 11th December 2024 7:32 pm

     

    Stivs @ 6:39 – great table – thanks for making us aware of it.

     

     

    very childish of me but, i would like those 3 bottom teams to at least get a point, just not against us, but so that the rangers retain their worst ever reccord

  8. The Sevco record cannot be beaten as the worst team ever in that configuration of the Champions League, as you know this is a different format. Their record stands FOREVER.

  9. dessybhoy on 11th December 2024 7:57 pm

     

     

    except with their twisted one club logic they might say some club lost 8 games in the new league so they are worse than us.

     

     

    the lex mclean sunday article was funny.

     

     

    celtic might win all those minor trophies, the league, a league cup, the scottish, the the might gers won the big one that matters, to be the best team in glasgow – the glasgow cup.

  10. glendalystonsils on

    If we had been at our high flying best we would have won last night but a poor pitch and a half empty away stadium were not conducive to us producing our best .

     

    Young Boys at a packed CP and a decent surface for our football will bring out the best in us . I think we will treat it as a cup final . Young Bhoys 3 – Young Boys 0

  11. It’s clear from the comments since match yesterday that many of us have taken differing views on result and performance. The point may end up being a great result but we could have, I think should have, got 3 had we been braver and more positive. That said, the pitch was terrible and possibly contributed to our performance. All roads, CL wise, lead to Young Boys in Jan to secure 3 points which should mean we qualify and go to Villa with less pressure on us.

     

     

    All about opinions re last night but am sure we are all aligned in wanting to pump Sevco on Sunday. Fingers crossed the team oblige.

     

     

    Best wishes to Mr and Mrs BRRB on reaching such a milestone. I’d say I hope BRRB has a drink to celebrate but he needs no encouragement in that area 😄 😄

  12. Of interest to us tonight are Juve v City and the Feyenoord game.

     

    We want either Juve or City to win,

     

    and Feyenoord not to win.

     

    Good luck !!

  13. philcool on 11th December 2024 9:34 pm

     

    MADRA,

     

     

     

     

    As it stands we,ll still be above City!!

     

    _____

     

    City’s last two games are against psg and brugge. Three teams we want to drop points.

  14. bigrailroadblues on

    Thanks for all the good wishes for our 30th anniversary. I really appreciate it. 30 years. She’s probably seen me for about 2 of them.😂

  15. You know bhoys, it’s possible to recognise we didn’t play at our best and gain all 3 points – yet accept there’s still good value in 1 point from an away-from-home draw against an under-strength opponent.

     

    Don’t needed to be dualistically wedded to the illusion that only one of those observations is ‘right’.

     

     

    PS

     

    If it’s an Examination in Zagreb, it’s surely to see an Ear, Nose and Croat specialist, right ?

  16. Prestonpans bhoys on

    BRRB

     

     

    Happy 30th Anniversary, you should still have a good few hours left to drink in Gran Canaria 😀 🍾🍸🍺

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