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.
Thank you.
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Burghbhoy 11.50pm
Rapid Vienna game at Manchester our school was running a bus and we were getting to leave school early until the EIS decided their strike action was no out of school activities so bus was cancelled, blinking teachers, in fact blinking socialist teachers the should have put Celtic first !!!!
Gavinsbhoy welcome and Hail Hail
TOSB not sure about the nickname of your former pupil but he lurks on here so this might spur him to get posting that’s if they get internet around Bailleston/Easterhouse area
3prs today not sure to jinx Griff or Kris for my hat trick bet
Morning tims.
Saltires, sad news mate take care .
I always think of my da when the football comes around and how he brought me up in the Celtic way and I still thank him for that.
Prayers offered mate.
Luvly jubbly, black puddin, bacon, tattie scone, fried egg and steak sausage…….Sunday mornings, you cant beat em…
So its a busy Sunday again for the shades.
Off to Sunny Strathaven for wee shades football at the Hastie, then a mad dash back down to EK to see the Celts start to reel in the sheep.
Need to be at our best today Celtic and dont be giving the mibs a chance to influence the result.
I would like to see Tierney keep his place I think he has earned it ( nothing against Izzy ) and get big Mick into central defence with Janko at RB.
I believe there is another back needing rested and thats Joe Hansons.
Cmon Ronny you know it makes sense.
3 nil the green hoops,
1 each for the griff Kris and on the basis that no one ever listens to me Joe Hanson :-)
Twitter world saying Celtic about to complete a pre-contract with Soutar. Still have to play around £200,000 though.
Saltires
I’m so sorry to hear about the sad loss of your Father, may he rest in peace, And never walk alone, Amen.
Morning cqn
Tontine Tim
Thanks for remembering 1 game out of a 14 year career
I grew up being reminded about it and now at nearly 49 I get it on here too
Hail Hail
Artificial turf today, it is a leveller, let’s hope they wet it , if that’s the proper word for watering artificial turf, lol.
Saltires En Sevilla
_________________
Sorry to read yer news….stay strong fella.
Hail Hail
Morning all.
Back to normal weather-wise down here. Cool and overcast.
Hope it’s back to winning ways at Hamilton this lunch-time.
lennon’s passion on 4th October 2015 8:42 am
Twitter world saying Celtic about to complete a pre-contract with Soutar. Still have to play around £200,000 though.
_________________
I hope that’s true fella…he’s a guid yin…imho.
Thanks for sharing that.
Hail Hail
Gavinsbhoys thoughts and prayers for you and your family mate. Like Saltires En Sevilla I will light a candle at Schoenstatt today for your dad. Remember the good times pal.
They never die those that live in the hearts of the ones they leave behind.
HH
KTF
UTLR
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
I can think of two at the moment. One with the surname Tracey and the other called Tonner.
Just read a Facebook post from some not so dandy dons – asking if that 1-5 at home was really unacceptable
The nearest to that I can remember in the league was the St mirren away match and Tony Mowbray lost his job
In general they feel that it’s more the 3 defeats on the bounce thats the issue
Chris Sutton questioning RD’s decision…not…to play Tyler Blackett on Thursday night?
I hope the link-thing works…..
Chris Sutton wonders why this player didn’t start for Celtic against Fenerbahce
Nahhhh….it didny….it’s on Newsnow Celtic.
TOSB
100% correct with your first choice, really decent guy who has lurked on here for years, I am sure he wouldn’t be annoyed I mentioned him to you, he worked back to back with me and before I knew about Cqn I thought it was his screen saver !
I think the three defeats in a row for Aberdeen show that all is not well in baa baa land. Someone asked last night if McInnes has lost the dressing room. They could be right. Strange for a team doing so well and getting a great result against Celtic to implode in such a big way. Maybe McInnes started to believe his own publicity and his players don’t agree with it.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 4TH OCTOBER 2015 9:08 AM
TOSB
100% correct with your first choice, really decent guy who has lurked on here for years, I am sure he wouldn’t be annoyed I mentioned him to you, he worked back to back with me and before I knew about Cqn I thought it was his screen saver !
…….,,……….
John’s nickname is Teabags. Haven’t seen him for years but he was a great lad and a great player as a schoolboy. Strong as a bull and very skilfull with it. His dad, Pat, was a lovely guy too. A real gentleman.
Seen that article (supposedly) by Chris Sutton, not to sure about that one, looks like mischief making?
Young acgr is looking for a Celtic friendly bar in Edinburgh to watch the game today.
Any of our Edinburgh boys able ti assist.
Fanx
Aberdeen?
I couldent give a Donald about them, there Hun manager, vile fans, and the love in with the SMSM mon the hoops.
Good morning friends from a still pleasantly dry and bright but cloudy East Kilbride.
Going away to….
help old ladies across the road from mass
Wash all my neighbours cars
Take all their dogs for walks
…do their gardening
…their washing
…their ironing
…their shopping
…then I’ll come on here
…slip a couple a hunner £ notes in the charity-box
…take my bow
…get my back slapped
…learn the clique-haun-shake
…tell you all how amazing it feels to be part of the best family known to mankind
…tell yeez how, my maw & da loved the Maestro(rubber-stamping my uber-Tim-status)
…then, get called a sleekit-troll for daring to say…Ronny hisny goat it.
…it’s pish being oan the ootside…….aye.
What dizny kill ye…makes ye…stranger.
….Off oot. YNWA.
Gavinsbhoy
I’ll light a candle for your da this morning also
Change of church st cuthberts burnbank early ko
Kevj
I’ll also light a candle for your good health my friend
KTF
⚽️⚽️
If the Soutar rumour is true will be a fantastic bit of business. Hail hail
Not a very nice post, Kev.
KevJ
Life is far too short mate, don’t let these happy clappers drive your negativity from the blog
Off oot to chapel (if that’s ok)
KEVJ
Don’t be a stranger(!),bud!
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 4TH OCTOBER 2015 9:13 AM
Malones
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 4TH OCTOBER 2015 9:13 AM
Young acgr is looking for a Celtic friendly bar in Edinburgh to watch the game today.
Any of our Edinburgh boys able ti assist.
Fanx
————————————————–
Malone’s on Forest Rd mate – usually full of Celtic fans on a match day. Also show Irish sports etc..
Kev j…
You might have differing opinions from some…but on the outside, nope…KTF. HH
Thank goodness there’s a game on.
Might stop all the EDL posts we’ve been getting over the last couple of days.
BT…
How’s tricks. ⚽️⚽️⚽️ ;)
Seems the MIB at Ibrox acted like a supporter of the deid team. Now there’s a surprise. Giving free kicks in dangerous areas for nothing. Just the norm at any match in Govan, although it is usually a penalty or a man being ordered off.
They know it’s the only way they’ll have a career in Scotland.
Derek will still be Manager of the Year…
Lennon,s Passion / Natknow, cheers guys. Will pass on to the young pretender.
HH