For the first 20 minutes of the second half, AZ Alkmaar lay siege to the Celtic defence, which stood firm. They only looked vulnerable when; in a carbon copy of the move Celtic scored with, Poku stretched but was unable to make a good enough contact to put the ball on target.
Free kicks and corners came and went without fuss, the defensive line was straight and each player in at the back controlled and distributed the ball safely. Considering most of us believe the defence is the area of the team most in need of supplements, we are already in an elevated position compared to last season.
Yet again Anthony Ralston made a significant contribution, this time, sending Liel Abada clear to cross for our Irrepressible Icon, Kyogo Furuhashi, to do his thing. Greg Taylor was injured but struggled-on until 24 minutes when he was replaced by Adam Montgomery. This felt ominous as until then, AZ were most dangerous through their right back, Sugawara, who flooded forward effectively. Adam more than took care of the Japanese full back in what was one of the most crucial personal encounters of the game. He is a player.
Both central defenders almost had a flawless game. Almost. Stephen Welsh was caught in two minds; he did not head a long ball and he did not let it run through, as a consequence, it skimmed his chest to spark a night of anxiety.
Carl Starfelt’s own goal was a classic of the genre. The Swede started the season on the left side but after clearly struggling there, Ange Postecoglou switched him to the right. Evidence mounts that his left peg is largely for standing on. Carl swung at a cross that was going nowhere with his ‘standing foot’. He missed, the ball struck his right heel and squirmed into the net. The early weeks of his Celtic career, featuring so much good play, has been peppered by errors.
I am delighted Joe Hart is at Celtic and remain surprised at the improvement in our form he has provided. Still in the peak years for a keeper, there is a reason he’s no longer in the Lucre League (I believe they prefer “EPL”). At the point Stephen Welsh was caught in two minds, Joe’s decision-making capacity deserted him. This was not a footwork error, he just did not correctly judge the pace of the ball in relation to the man who was about to drift past him and score. The Joe Hart Anthology has another entry. Our memories should also record that he made two crucial saves during the game.
Yesterday’s blog was entitled “Game management when the roof falls in”. It is as though we have seen Celtic in Europe before; against the best team we have faced since 2019, there was always the potential for things to drift south rapidly. Recent Celtic teams crashed and burned after being pushed to the precipice in European qualification.
To the home fans, this must have thought this looked on the cards during the opening period of the second half, when Celtic could not get out of their defensive third. Possession was repeatedly surrendered while passing out from the back. AZ were permitted to mount relentless surges forward, we needed to change the game plan.
Odsonne Edouard arrived on the hour for the majestic but seldom mobile Tom Rogic. From that moment, Celtic had the engine to cover the pitch and could retain possession. For all of the criticisms that go his way, if we lose Odsonne next week*, we will have one less game-changing option.
If you are second seed in a European group, as Celtic are, the most important opponent is who you face from the third pot, given the assumption that the top seed is unlikely to drop two places below their expected finish. In this respect, we got a very difficult draw.
Bayer Leverkusen, sixth last season in Bundesliga, 8 points behind fifth place Eintracht. Difficult, of course, but a team we should compete against.
Real Betis also finished sixth last season, one place in La Liga above last season’s Europa League winner, Villarreal. They will be favourites to win the group and are everything we did not want. We have a bit of history here, of course, they got their first strips from us and we will both always have Seville.
Delighted to get Ferencvaros, they are a decent side but we owe them one. Bring it on.
*We’ll pick this up at the time, but I’ve been preaching asset management here for 17 years, so you know where I’m going on this subject.
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Leverkusen game is very strange.. After going 2-0, courtesy of 2 farcical own goals, they give up one, when Bakker, the giant left full back they acquired from Ajax, did a Starfelt, completely missed with an attempted clearance, and gifted Augsburg a goal. Now 1-2 after 34 minutes.
MNCELT on 28TH AUGUST 2021 2:50 PM
To say a game is coming too soon is complete nonsense. What does that even mean?
——
It’s an opinion – that’s what this site in set up to accommodate.
It means that we are not “the finished article”, a sentiment constantly reiterated by the manager. We are WIP & have a problem with our defence that all can see. Therefore to have reservations is normal, not nonsense. It is a realistic assessment, not defeatist and certainly no hindrance to supporting one’s team.
Patrick Schick, the big Czech striker who scored for the Czech Republic against Scotland from around the Mount Florida area, is showing prominently, is dominant in the air, and just made a goal for Diaby to make it 1-3 for Leverkusen. Oops! Chalked off by VAR. Still 1-2.
JHB – the team will never be the finished article. We play each game with what we have and as a supporter I get behind whatever 11 players the manager selects.
No game ever comes too soon.
RC
That will be why he has just signed an improved contract at Arsenal.
Why can’t you just get over the fact he has moved on
I can’t get used to losing you no matter what I try to do gonna spend my whole life through
Galagher and Timmy7.
Sorry to hear of the loss of your other and your father .
May they rest in peace.
Prayers said for them.
BOGNORBHOY
LOVING YOU 😉🤔
💚💚👍👍👌👌
Agree that we are still at early stages of rebuild.
Mildly concerning that we could, quite conceivably, have a back 4 tomorrow who have never played together.
Not ideal, though we are where we are.
Difficult to see us keeping a clean sheet. Will we score? Hopefully. More than one? Hopefully
Schick blows a sitter for Leverkusen.
MNCELT on 28TH AUGUST 2021 3:22 PM
Supporters have different opinions – but have it your own way!
A “game coming too soon” is a well-known phrase that encapsulates the judgement that a team, or, individual in sport, may have not reached the required level yet to overcome an imminent challenge. Yes sport can, and does surprise – I hope it does tomorrow at Ibrox.
Timmy7,
Sorry for your loss. Take care x
Enjoy the Hoot bhoys.
I’ve had to cancel a golf day with cousins as I’m on fathering duties.
I’ll definitely be needing a beer later 👍🏼
UNCLE JIMMY on 28TH AUGUST 2021 3:47 PM
A balanced view – like me, hopeful but not confident – probably too soon in Ange’s development of the squad….but always a possibility.
FRIESDORFER
Would love to be at the Hoot but at the moment it would be a 15,000 mile round trip and my tea would get cauld ;-))))
Enjoy the Hoot and remember its just the warm up for a big celebration tomorrow.IMHO of course
HH
Why can’t you just get over the fact he has moved on
over it as soon as he left , we made a barrowload from selling him, still don’t think he is good enough at that level.
Schick scores a screamer on a breakaway. I think we knew Leverkusen would be tough. After watching them for 75 minutes, I think that can be confirmed.
Confirmed tested positive for covid. Traced back to last Saturday’s visit to Paradise, or more likely the crowded supporters bus.
My symptoms are mild. Just like a common cold. If I had caught this prior to double-vaccine I’d be in big trouble for sure.
Take care bhoys n ghirls.
GALLAGHER and TIMMY7 NOTED
condolences to you and your families
Condolences to Gallagher and Timmy 7, having lost both parents the memories are what keeps you going.
George Stein is a name fae the past, only saw him once, a big raw bhoy playing centre half for the Boys Club down at the St Kessogs Garden Fete in Balloch.
I always thought he was out in Switzerland, probably the last of Jocks family unless thee are grandweans.
1-4 to Leverkusen. Another breakaway. Augsburg keeper has a brain fart. Leverkusen just suck you in, then hit you like lightning on the break. Schick just shrugs off defenders who shoulder charge him, and just keeps running at goal. As we saw at Hampden, he will shoot from any dustance.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 28TH AUGUST 2021 4:08 PM
Confirmed tested positive for covid.
Hope recovery is swift, I had a conversation with a hun in the next caravan to me today and said if you want covid go to a game and on a supporters bus full of non vaccinated weans
Distance, DOH!
TONTINE TIM
You are correct. He left our Department for a post in Switzerland.
Schick belts crossbar. Could easily have been 5-1. Now they hit the post. If we are too gung ho at Celtic Park, this team has the capability of punishing us.
Now Frimpong taken off injured.
Finishes 1-4.
I’ll try to keep watching them before we meet them.
Looking forward to Betis vs Real Madrid later.
RC-
Not really sure how you can say that.
But each to their own.
I hope big Macaroni plays the morra as he has a score tae settle with that fat moron that stood on his back knocking him out of the team for a spell.
BURNLEY78
CL & EL groups have had that fixture format for a number of years now.
The fixtures in match day 1 are reversed in match day 6.
Match day 2 reversed in match day 5.
Match day 3 reversed in match day 4.
That’s why we play Real Betis first and last.
Has the “race” an’ clamour for Fat Charlie died doon……..
(again) ?
Have we bin “rocked”yet with either bad “news” or a heap of hun contrived FEAR!!!….?
Any truth emergin’ re the Great Kovid Squirrel?
Naw…
Aye………
Daily Mail saying Palace have submitted an offer for Eddie.
That’s five clubs in just over 24 hours linked to Eddie.
Ange has a big decision to whether or not we play him tomorrow.
Will Eddie be at the races or have his mind elsewhere ?
<4
BANKIEBHOY1
Naebody has the mullions and mullions and mullions it wid take tae prise him fae the Bigotdome.
we signed a center back yet? doesn’t look like we are linked with nor interested – very very disappointing if we are relying on current players and hoping Julian can make a difference. Scales is a left sided gamble/prospect who has not performed at this level.
Celtic board always leave us short!
Iniquitousiv……………….
I can’t make up my mind whether they actually want to hold onto thur “stars” or one o’ them will be horsed oot the door for anything they can get – my gut says The Gunman will get a move…………doubtless trumpeted as a Gazillion bucks move that they could not turn doooon.
I’m resigned to losin’ Eddy but I’d keep him and avoid the gamble. But I knwo nowt about how these things work
HH
Edward is leaving! the greek is his replacement – anyone who thinks we will sign the greek boy whilst keeping Edward is not understanding the miserly board we have.
EVEN despite us qualifying for the euro stages – we won’t spend to improve the team with experience!
Bakker at PSG last year moved to them from Ajax, and then onto Bayern Leverkusen this season, por cierto
That’s sort of what you do though….sell a player, buy one. If you only buy and don’t sell you go bankrupt.