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Frustration and promise in Seville

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

A game most of us expected to lose without fuss instead turned out to be a frustrating look into what could have been.  Again, we lost four goals in Europe, as we did on three occasions in our Europa League group last season.  Again, we allowed a two-goal lead to slip away.  Despite the superficial similarities to last season, there are reasons to believe we are on a different trajectory.

Celtic bossed Real Betis for the first 30 minutes; the home side could barely hold possession in the final third.  At 0-2, the game could have slipped away from them, but a couple of breaks of the ball 18 yards from the Celtic goal was enough to bring them back into contention and transform the night.  Celtic were too fragile to assert telling authority.

Tom Rogic was head and shoulders above everyone else on the field.  On nights like that, you wonder what he is doing in Scottish football.

After an uninspiring start against Ross County on Saturday, Jota showed us what all the fuss is about.  Forced to play on the right, his deliveries were a delight.  His chance to put Celtic three up may, or may not, have changed the outcome of the game; if you can lose four so readily, there are no guarantees.  The winger pulled up with cramp on Saturday and was visibly waning after 75 minutes last night, when his touch and composure deserted him, but we have a player straight from the ‘Bums on seats’ drawer.

Albian Ajeti’s movement inside the box set the game alight.  He got onto the end of Jota’s cross to score the opener, then tempted Claudio Bravo in the Betis goal into a challenge before nipping the ball away from the keeper.  Would Eduard have made either run?  Not recently, that’s for sure.  The penalty was of the stonewall variety.

After the game, when asked why we keep losing so many goals in Europe, I protested.  The central defenders only met last week, the left back has never played there before this month, and the right and left side pairings were completely new partnerships, “This is different”, I insisted.  Time will tell.

I have watched a lot of Celtic teams lose in Spain but do not recall going there with such an attacking strategy.  I suspect it would never occur to Ange Postecoglou to play any differently.

The game had the look of one of those all-star games we used to see in the 80s, “England v The Rest of the World”, type affairs.  Plenty of talent and lots of goals, as no one really knew each other or what the structure was.  Both Celtic and Betis will improve.  Going on my expectations before the game, there were reasons to be encouraged, despite all the goals against!

BT will be interested to hear that Uefa permit member clubs to veto broadcaster staff assigned to cover games.  I doubt it.  BT subscribers were denied the channels’s top team when Newco refused to allow Neil Lennon and Chris Sutton entrance to Ibrox on security grounds.  Where else outside of the Gangster Clubs will you see behaviour like this?  It is like a club being run by children.

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  3. quadrophenian on

    TONTINE TIM on 17TH SEPTEMBER 2021 6:05 PM – an enjoyable editorial dauner, thanks.

     

     

    JHB

     

    Re ‘reading’ Ange; I’ve been watching him do media interview in Oz for yonks and this is his customary gruffness; Meeja is his least fave activity. Coaching football teams to their – and his – full potential is his love.

     

    Is he at Celtic for life? Naw. Will he try to transform us from this doldrum? Yes. Does he aspire to be in a top league in Engerland or Europe? Yep. Will he stand for any exec, governance or interference pish ? Absolutely not; he’s Brendan v2 in that sense.

     

     

    SIONNAGH

     

    Abso right re both those ‘headers’ – always coached that heading ‘infield’ to crowded area when defending was total (if poss) no no. If in doubt, put it out always applied. With ‘out’ you get chance to reset.

  4. Sionnaigh on

    PodiumFenian, I couldnt believe my fkn eyes….. professional players doing that ffs. Thank God there was an hour of light left following Turnbull’s monstrosity as if ralston’s wasn’t bad enough. Managed nine holes of golf and smashed the fkn ball anywhere, everywhere. Calmed doon a bit after that …. I tuned into Vatican Media Live when i got home.

  5. quadrophenian on

    SIONNAGH – lol. And then, post Vati-ken…

     

     

    …you pop-picked the mighty ‘Get It On’ from the Electric Warrior album, given to me free from my sadly departed, guitar strummin’ cousin George, making me slosh my morning tea as I shimmied to the kitchen for a biscuit.

  8. 31003 on

    I celebrated my birthday with my family tonight.

     

    It was fantastic. On my return home

     

    I found out I had lost a younger cousin to cancer.

     

    This is as a cousin who caused me grief for 40 years yet I’m grief stricken on hearing the news.

     

    Rest in Peace Maria…I always loved you

  10. quadrophenian on

    31003

     

    Saddened to read that your birthday celebs were soured by the cruel loss delivered by the big C.

     

     

    Wishing you birthday best, but also that Maria RIP.

  15. An Tearmann on

    31003

     

    Happy birthday mate.hope you had a good night with you family.

     

    Condolences on the loss of your cousin.

     

    Rest in peace Maria

     

    Take care

     

    HH

  20. Sionnaigh on

    “He learned no lessons. He acknowledged no mistakes. He was as stubborn a Fenian as ever stumbled out of the Northeast parishes to take a patrolman’s shield. He brooked no authority, he did what he wanted to do and he said what he wanted to say and, in the end, he gave you the clearances. He was natural police.”

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOZHwWFjb30

  25. quadrophenian on

    31003

     

    In the spirit of concern and sharing…

     

     

    Is it possible it’s a love thing, and not just an age thing?

     

     

    KTF

  26. petec on

    quadrophenian on 18th September 2021 12:43 am

     

     

    TONTINE TIM on 17TH SEPTEMBER 2021 6:05 PM – an enjoyable editorial dauner, thanks.

     

     

     

    JHB

     

     

    Re ‘reading’ Ange; I’ve been watching him do media interview in Oz for yonks and this is his customary gruffness; Meeja is his least fave activity. Coaching football teams to their – and his – full potential is his love.

     

     

     

     

    Is he at Celtic for life? Naw. Will he try to transform us from this doldrum? Yes. Does he aspire to be in a top league in Engerland or Europe? Yep. Will he stand for any exec, governance or interference pish ? Absolutely not; he’s Brendan v2 in that sense.

     

     

    SIONNAGH

     

     

    Abso right re both those ‘headers’ – always coached that heading ‘infield’ to crowded area when defending was total (if poss) no no. If in doubt, put it out always applied. With ‘out’ you get chance to reset.

     

     

    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

     

    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

     

     

    Thanks for your input regarding Ange. Thursday night was a gutsy performance all things considered. The Man is just in the door and I for 1 am very excited. I can never trust the Celtic Board though as the Hun need Money to stay alive. Any version of those that are utterly deceitful are just gonnae dae the same Again & Again. Enabled by media Handlers that are banned – you couldnae make it up.

  33. Sionnaigh on

    QUADROPHENIAN on 18TH SEPTEMBER 2021 12:59 AM

     

    SIONNAGH – lol. And then, post Vati-ken…

     

    ——————————————————-

     

    “Your majesty, we, the Catholic clergy, have done our best to destroy the church for the last 1,800 years. We have not succeeded, and neither will you.” – Ercole Cardinal Consalvi

  37. petec on

    There is no doubt this is Bangin’ ever since I heard it.

     

     

    It should get an airing every now and then even for the Young Ones.

     

     

    It’s a bit mad that All age groups have very different tastes. I’m guessing it is some form of indocrtination Musically.

     

     

    This is defo in my Top 5 of Dance tracks.

     

     

    Maybe Callum knows better Tunes to get our Bhoys going!!!!!!!!

     

     

    303 synthesizer Kicking ASS. Hopefully Everyone on the pitch soon too. We, IMO, have a Special Manager.

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biQagOldpuQ

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