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Fine performance marred by bigger failings than Efe

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

I liked a lot about what we did last night. Leigh Griffiths provided more evidence that he is a remarkable predator. Kris Commons delivered another driven corner, his third of this European campaign to result in a goal, Lustig made first contact leaving Griffiths with only instinct to produce a shot on target. That same instinct clicked an instant later to turn the second shot over the keeper and into the net.

Do you remember a moment, before the first goal, when Fenerbahce enjoyed their best spell of pressure, and we cleared our lines aimlessly four times in a couple of minutes? It looked ugly and invited Fenerbahce to continue to pile the pressure on, but it was a salutary indication of how tactically well Celtic played. When under pressure, clear your lines, regroup, and get ready to go again.

On two occasions we dribbled out of a defensive position leading to a goal. Nir Bitton had ample opportunity to clear forward, but with opponents closing space all around him, he hesitated until he could play-in James Forrest, who surge forward to cross for Commons to score.

Scott Brown as immense all night, but having held-off a challenge 20 yards from his own goal on the wing, he should have cleared deep inside Fenerbahce territory instead of trying to make a pass. We didn’t get the ball back until the score was 2-2. Johansen and Lustig were both caught similarly in the second half but neither was punished.  Being brave in possession isn’t always wise.

Some of the passing football we played was a treat to watch. Bitton and Brown played their best game as a partnership, if not as individuals in a Celtic shirt; Brown was certainly that good. James Forrest, now fit, is drinking-in responsibility. He was effective last night, but not because he used his unparalleled pace, instead he delivered link play.

You’ll have noticed Craig Gordon likes a leg save. Few keepers do, they seem to try to get their hands or torso to a ball, but I like that Craig likes getting any hard part of his body in the way.

Don’t let it bounce.

“Don’t let it bounce.” There’s not a central defender in the world who doesn’t hear that phrase every week. When a ball is coming towards the danger zone in the air, get your head on it. If you let it bounce, anything can happen.

This was Efe Ambrose first mistake last night. He failed to read the flight of the ball. The moment it bounced, he was in trouble. With Fernandao waiting to feed on the scraps, Efe should then have concentrated on winning the physical challenge as the ball dropped a second time, but instead he found his ‘don’t let the ball bounce’ instinct too late and committed a second inexcusable error.

Think back almost three years to the opening minutes of the Champions League game against Juventus, Efe committed pretty much the same mistake. He lost the flight of the ball and we were a goal down and out before we warmed up.

Although Efe is taking a large slice of the blame in some places for the second Fenerbahce goal, I’m not convinced this is a fair assessment. To give due credit, it was an excellent corner and header – from a zone in front near post it’s difficult to score from. The point about zonal marking is you defend areas it’s easy to score from, at the cost of leaving less-risky areas unattended. Fernandao’s header didn’t come from a high-risk zone.

For some reason, wispy Leigh Griffiths was delegated to man-mark bulky target-man Fernandao. Wee guys can block big guys, but they need to be standing ball-side of the attacker, preferably facing his chest with arms out, so that when movement happens, he’s at least the right side of the attacker. Leigh was on his heels, completely unprepared.

Before the kick was struck, Fernandao was on the move, gambling on a near-post run. Should Efe have also gambled similarly? On first glance it looked like it, but that’s only because the ball went to that area and ended up in the net. Fernandao could afford to gamble by running into a space the ball may or may not arrive at. This is not the case for a defender. He has to wait until the ball is in the air. If he leaves his zone before the ball’s kicked to follow an attacker who has move early, he’s not doing his job.

It’s all about the block.

Great corner aside, we lost the second goal because we didn’t get a block on Fenerbahce’s target man. Before the kick was taken, Leigh Griffiths was adjacent to and looking at Fernandao, having been delegated the task by the impressive Kieran Tierney, but Leigh was also looking all around him and made no attempt to block.

Griffiths (5’ 8”), the smallest man in the Celtic team, should never have been near Fernandao (6’ 4”), the tallest man in the Fenerbahce team. That’s 8 inches of disadvantage and double figures of kilos weight.

There are two big questions to be asked about this goal:

Why didn’t we have a physical equal on Fernandao, capable of withstanding a shove, or better still, getting his own shove in first? Fenerbahce had one target man striker, we didn’t notice him. It doesn’t matter if you play zonal or man-to-man, if we are conceding 8 inches to the opponent’s main physical threat, we’ll continue to lose goals at corner kicks.

But the real curious question is why was it left to 18-year-old Kieran Tierney to instruct who picks up whom at a corner kick? Action moves so quickly at corners that everyone needs to understand they have a responsibility to take control, not just the central defenders, captain, or keeper. Or 18-year-old novice.

This is not happening at Celtic right now, which is why we’re playing our European football on Thursdays this season. If you put your smallest player on an opponent’s tallest, and it’s left to an 18-year-old to delegate responsibility, you deserve to lose a goal.

Last Man Standing 5

Last call for all those wanting to take part in Last Man Standing 5, in aid of Wee Shay McGinlay who is 2 and suffers from cerebral palsy. To date CQNers and friends have raised an incredible £5400 towards the fund raising campaign, to finance treatment for Shay not available on the NHS, which will hopefully improve his quality of life.

The current entrants stand at 72, so if you want to take join the LMS5 clique, then simply drop a line to Jobo and CRC at cqnlastmanstanding@gmail.com before 12pm Saturday and they will send you more details.

Thanks for indulging me bringing the work of the Foundation to your attention all this week. The Great Scottish Run is less than 48 hours away and dozens of Celtic fans have put thousands of hours into preparing for the event.  Those doing the ‘half’ are going to miss the Hamilton game, another consequence of playing Thursday night European football.

If you can support any of the runners, please do:

Click here for my linked donation page.

Here for Steve Gunn’s.

Here for Thomas Eman’s.

Here for Robert Doherty’s.

Here for Stephen Hewitt’s.

Here for Kenny O’Neill’s.

Thank you.

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  4. butsybhoy on

    Dont blame big Efe

     

     

    Dont blame big Efe

     

     

    Just dont think you’ll understand

     

     

    If you blame big Efe

     

     

    If you blame big Efe he will only sit in the fecking stand.

     

     

    Efecfcyabass.

  5. Burghbhoy on

    Saltires post made me think about things and I thank him for his message in the midst of his despair.

     

     

    Made me think about my Dad and Celtic.

     

     

    So 1983 maybe 84 and I’m sitting pre lim exams.

     

    Been to see Celtic v Rapid Vienna and couldn’t understand how we pumped them but didn’t win.

     

    Anyway I was bound for Old Trafford, seething with injustice.

     

     

    Only problem was I was due a maths and modern studies exam the day of the game.

     

     

    My Da was on the school board, solely to try save Our Lady’s high Broxburn from closure.

     

     

    Da , says me, u can get my exams rearranged to let me go to Old Trafford?

     

     

    After all he was on the school board .

     

     

    AnywAy , he did it. And I sat the 2 exams at 7 am the next morning , having got in from Manchester at 3 AM.

     

     

    Failed the exams.

     

     

    Love Ma Da.

     

     

    HH

  7. BGX on

    i Fancy Everton to Beat Liverpool tomorrow.

     

    .

     

    and We Will Hammer Hamilton…Get down on it…Cmon Get Down On it…

  9. Gordon64 on

    Tomorrow we go up against a battling in in form Accies team on their grass like thingy surface. But we should have enough class to win comfortably.

  12. gavinsbhoys on

    Alright fellow hoops? I’ve been lurking on our site for a good year and it has humoured me annoyed me angered me and some results (and comments) have upset me. I’ve been looking after my best mate for over 18 months until he finally said enough was enough , his head wasn’t all there his heart was and is the strongest I dare say I will ever no, he was on oxygen 24/7 but he always asked 5 things whenever we met, 2 being, alright son? And whens celtic playing? He wasn’t a fan but he knew I was and he knew I cared for our club which to me was love, the other 3 was, are you staying tonight son? Did you bring us up some beer? And are you making us scones in the morning? My hearts broke and I’m looking some help hail hail ynwa god bless celtic and my mate

  16. butsybhoy on

    gavinsbhoys on 3rd October 2015 11:59 pm

     

     

    Share pal lot of good people on this site that can lend a hand.

     

     

    HH

  20. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    SETTINGFREETHEBEARS 1028

     

     

    I’ve previously advised him to bring the songbook!

     

     

    I also hope to have the chance to meet up with him while we are both in God’s Own. I’ve got a smashing t-shirt that he will absolutely love.

     

     

    Well,I do…

     

     

    Apart from anything else,I hope he and his lads have a great time. His politics may be different from mine-and yours-but we all love the same club.

     

     

    HH.

  21. TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on

    GAVINSBHOYS

     

     

    Sorry for your loss. Hopefully, with the passage of time, you’ll be able to come to terms with the loss of your mate. You did everything you could possibly do for him and you were there for him when he needed you most. He’s at peace now.

  22. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    GORDYBHOY 1108

     

     

    Dunno,mate. Who’s counting?

     

     

    It’s not my do,it’s just an excuse to get out of cutting down trees,and I’m really grateful that a fair few look likely to help me celebrate my escape from the chain gang.

     

     

    I’m still hoping ERNIE will make an appearance,as she did last year. OLDTIM lives for that moment…

  30. gavinsbhoys on

    Theoriginalsadiesbhoy

     

    Thank you I’ve been told that alot and everytime I hear it or read it my heart swells thank you so heartedly

  31. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    GAVINSBHOY

     

     

    You did that for a mate? Most would struggle to do it for family,bud.

     

     

    You’ll be struggling just now,being so close. Take a big breath,take a big deep breath. Of every good memory you have of that man.

     

     

    See if you can find some of them on YouTube. Just the wee odd styooooopit stuff you used to natter about in the pub. Those-and do you mind when?-memories.

     

     

    Sit down,watch them,pretend he’s watching them with you. He will be. If you concentrate enough,he’ll be there.

     

     

    HH

  32. Doc on

    GavinsBhoy,

     

    Been there Mhate and know, for a while coming, this won’t be easy.

     

    But with family and friends around, you will get through.

     

    I lost someone close 30 years ago, miss her always, but with fond memory.

     

    Lost my closest friend 3 years ago, can reminisce fondly, but not easily, and not without pain.

     

     

    In a little time you will remember the good times with fondness, as I say, not always easy, and not without some pain. Tears are nothing to be ashamed of.

     

    But do speak of your mate often, do remember him and do let those close know how your are feeling.

     

    Keep the Faith chief.

     

     

    Your in my thoughts now.

  34. Doc on

    Night all.

     

    GavinsBhoy, keep in touch on here, it is a therapy.

     

    Filled with good guys.

     

     

    It is also fun, and that you will need in time.

  36. gavinsbhoys on

    Bobby he was always will be my best mate but he was also my big da thank you it feels a private you replied because your celtic over and over which to me means your nothing but good thanks again

  37. petec on

    ernie lynch has been totally marginalised.

     

     

    Sad CQN.

     

     

    It’s just a joke, aye, if it isn’t on you.

     

     

    Those Collins Brothers were not daft.

     

     

    Cowards make fun of people.

  41. TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on

    Good night all.

     

     

    Looking forward to tomorrow’s game. Three points hopefully and a good performance.

     

     

    Hail! Hail!

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