They come and go, some kiss the badge, they all talk about how great the fans are. Of all those who played with Celtic in recent years, it was Christopher Jullien, in a private moment, who asked, “Why would anyone want to leave Celtic?” At the age of 26, he found his paradise.
We rated him not for what he said in private, but for his performances on the field. He was the most dominant central defender Celtic had since Virgil van Dijk departed four years earlier. It was his head, chest, leg, on the ball, when we were under pressure. He could then pass the ball out of defence with both feet.
Of all the glories during our second nine-in-a-row years and the Quadruple Treble, the 2019 League Cup Final holds a special place. Celtic were on the rack throughout; with an inspired keeper, Christopher holding the defensive line and scoring the winning goal, the win felt so much sweeter.
His 89th minute winner against Lazio was a perfect example of his aerial dominance. Celtic were a shambles a year later, when he collided with a post at an empty Celtic Park, but they were not yet out of touch. Had he remained fit, who knows? As it was, the shambles continued.
Chirstopher’s exclusion from action on return from injury was down to team tactics. Ange wants his central defenders wide, leaving them plenty of ground to cover, in the event of a breakaway attack. This is not Chris’ forte, it wouldn’t work.
Best of luck, Chris, don’t be a stranger.
Ignore it all you like, but the most important game of the season in Scottish football takes place tonight. It will determine the competitive balance, perhaps beyond even this season. Football in Glasgow is a zero-sum game.
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CELTIC40ME on 25TH AUGUST 2022 11:36 AM
Good points re our European performances.
The narrative in Scotland is that we are dreadful in Europe and Sevco are wonderful. The facts don`t quite support those `views`.
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It’s easy to point to our record breaking goals conceded in the Europa league as a sure sign we’ll struggle in the cl, but that ignores that 8 we’re conceded in the first two games with half a team getting used to Ange’s system.
It also ignores that out of the 32 teams we had the fourth best goals scored record
From where we ended our Europa campaign I don’t think the improvements needed are as huge as some think. Given a half decent draw I think we’ll get some decent results
Hot smoked
The facts do seem to suggest that they have been more successful in Europe than us recently. Would we have cleared PSV & USG ? Who knows….not a gimme.
22/23 – Both heading into the ECL Group Stages
21/22 – Us Conference playoff v. Their final
20/21 – Us Group stage Europa v. Their last 16
19/20 – Us Round of 32 v. Their last 16
18/19 – Our last most successful against them – Us Round of 32 v. Their Group stage.
HH
HOT SMOKED on 25TH AUGUST 2022 11:38 AM
`AN DÚN on 25TH AUGUST 2022 11:11 AM
Good points. I think their problems are the opposite to ours – they’d be looking to sign players who could unlock packed Scottish defences. Progress for them would be winning the league
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No one disputes they’ve been better than us but look a bit more closely and the picture is a bit more complex
They won 1 away from home in Europe last season, they got beat home and away in the qualifiers – they didn’t even make it to the cl play offs. They squeaked through an easy group with the lowest points total of any second place team, one fewer than us
They do just enough against second tier opposition. I think they’re a cup team who rely on Ibrox to get them through. What that means against much better teams is anyones guess
We finished with 9 points from a much harder group and had decent performances against cl quality opposition.
“BIG WAVY on 25TH AUGUST 2022 11:47 AM
Hot smoked
The facts do seem to suggest that they have been more successful in Europe than us recently. Would we have cleared PSV & USG ? Who knows….not a gimme.”
You are probably correct but my intention was to emphasise the `not quite` part of my comment. I seem to remember the stats in reference to their European games not looking as good as the final outcome(s) suggested. For example, did they not Qualify from their EL group with fewer points than we gained? I think there were other facts like that which lend some support to my view that they have not been quite as good as is being suggested in Scotland.
Noticed a moment in the second half last night. PSV player took the ball and drove toward the box
3 Huns tried to foul him, the 3rd was unsurprisingly the thug Lundstram who managed to stop him.
I think that these tactics will be very much to the fore in our first game against them.
I hope that Ange has some inventive free-kicks to test them with, not punts into the box for their
Central defenders to clear.
Footnote to last night. their keeper threw in a goal in both games and they missed sitters.
Stil hard to say exactly how good thems are.
CELTIC40ME on 25TH AUGUST 2022 11:55 AM
If I had seen that, I wouldn`t have bothered with my 11:57 am post !!!
HOT SMOKED on 25TH AUGUST 2022 11:59 AM
:))
The huns could sign a playmaker to unlock the low blocks of domestic football but it would be relying on the individual player as against our team attack.
I know which one I would fancy to be more successful.
Off out but here are my predictions for the groups
Ac Milan, Spurs, Leverkusen, Celtic
Man City, Ath Madrid, Sp Lisbon, Huns
new article posted.
MARKIEBHOY
I agree, had PSV scored one of those first half chances then the hun game plan like a Killie sitting in against us goes out the window.
I think PSV bizarrely abandoned the high press that they used in the second half at Ibrox, their tactics were simply wrong. Far too slow and ended up sucking the life out of their own home support.
They made an absolute mess of it last night.