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Game planning works. Back to Seville

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  1. IniquitousIV on

    Another water break after 75 minutes. Betis struggling. I think Angelotti got fed up with Bale.

  3. PeterLatchfordsBelly on

    Departures since January/;

     

     

    Frimpong, El Hamed, Klimala, Duffy, Kenny, N’tcham, elyanoussi. Laxalt, Harper, Hjelde, Bayo, Hendry, Shved, Ajer, Gutman, Oko-Flex, Perez. Brown

     

     

    Likely further departures:

     

     

    Edouard, Christie, Griffiths, Bolingoli, Ajeti, Barkas

     

     

    Arrivals:

     

     

    Shaw, Uroghide, Scales, Hart, Abada, McCarthy, Kyogo, Juranovic, Starfelt

     

     

     

    Likely further arrival:

     

     

    Giakoumakis

     

     

    18 confirmed departures and another 6 likely.

     

     

    9 confirmed arrivals and one more likely.

     

     

    Up to 24 leaving, probably 10 coming in.

     

     

    Significant benefits:

     

     

    – lots if badly scouted dross leaving

     

    – massive reduction in wage bill

     

    – huge revenue generation from transfer fees

     

    – opportunities for academy talent (no longer blocked by said dross)

     

    – incoming players are mostly for first team and an upgrade in quality

     

     

    Significant risks:

     

     

    – squad very inexperienced

     

    – lacking depth/ susceptible to injuries & suspensions

     

    – quality drops sharply below top 15/16 players

     

    – face hugely demanding schedule, but with much lighter squad

     

     

    There’s a danger we burn brightly then fade.

     

     

    The squad needs serious additional investment before Tuesday. There’s money there, from wage bill cut, transfer fees, season book sales, Europa income, merch etc.

     

     

    Ange needs Dom to bat hard for them as this squad will not win the league.against him is a Board that resembles the bankers in Mary Poppins, who are as tight as a Duck’s arse and have all the ambition of a sloth.

     

     

    Good luck Ange. You’ll need it.

  4. petec on

    The German Leauge is very strong so 3 points aff Bayer would be Good.

     

     

    Betis are obviously a very good side and our games against them are likely to be the best to watch – I think we can win both of them.

     

     

    Ange’s fitba is just in 1st gear.

  5. IniquitousIV on

    Full time in Seville. Betis miss a last minute chance. Betis 0 Real Madrid 1. Difference between a Champions League and Europa League team. Betis 2 points from a possible 9, but still a very, very good team.

  7. petec on

    I think we will get 4 points frae Betis. We have got 2 teams from arguably the 2 best *Leagues* in the World.

     

     

    Apols for hun Grammar!!!

     

     

    Ange destroy the 2nd myth.

  8. Magwai on

    For Gallagher and TImmy7Noted.

     

    Condolences on the loss of each of your parents.

     

    Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.

     

    Co-incidentally I was out North of Inis Caorach, on a small fishing boat, out of Burtonport, only 2 weeks ago.

     

     

    Hail, Hail.

  9. petec on

    Chilling with this mix frae a new dude I ain’t heard of before.

     

     

    Seems he is being prophetic wearing a mask.

     

     

    It’s a very uplifting mix if you like Dance Music.

     

     

    I’m guessing he is Scottish with a name like Alan Walker.

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWs0ti0J90

     

     

    Really Njoi’ng it whilst getting beat at Fifa by the young whuppersnappers (I’m assuming), though as I am playing Fifa 19 it is likely to be mair the old codgers playing it… Like me.

  10. Tom McLaughlin on

    PETEC

     

     

    Thank you.

     

     

    Yes I was very impressed with Adam on Thursday. I feared the worst, not because he lacks talent, but because he is so young and inexperienced at such a high level against a top Dutch side.

     

     

    He didn’t let us down and now Ange knows he can be trusted.

     

     

    I hope he has a long and successful career at Celtic.

  11. TheLurkinTim on

    Holy crap…getting home adventure….took me diving from a moving car, I think ;-)) Yep…always nice to meet new Tims ;-))

     

     

    H.H.

  13. TheLurkinTim on

    What I thought wer grazes…are stinging nettle burning….am surprised I made it home ;-))

  14. Burnley78 on

    Dipping into FF a bit to see if there are any indications on their team / absentees.

     

     

    There seems a lot of confidence on the face of it but I sense it is bravado and faux rather than really rooted in a belief they are going to beat us convincingly.

     

     

    A goal early on, or some sustained possession for us early on and they will turn pretty quickly to panic.

     

     

    Clancy is my least favourite referee. Frankly he is a fraud and a poor official. I fear him more than them.

  18. petec on

    Tom,

     

     

    I reckon he is the natural KT replacement.

     

     

    The Bhoy, as Paul67 says, is a player.

     

     

    Magical.

     

     

    Bring thems on.

  26. ImWanDan on

    What the eff is going on? Why on eff do we think we are approaching a dominating win later the day? Forget what we hope for and see what is likely to happen.

     

     

    This is Ibrox! We’re up against a team led by a Kent (spelling may be wrang there). Were facing possibly eleven of the best motivated, coached, rewarded and in-demand players across the universe. Nae Celtic fans. Our dilapidated, confidence drained squad in disarray at the back who have the unshakeable inability to hit the target regularly.

     

     

    GET REAL!

     

     

    I really can’t see anything better than a desperately scraped 1-4 victory for Celtic.

     

     

    IWD

  32. petec on

    I’d have Loved Roy as Celtic Manager.

     

     

    No messing.

     

     

    The Shamrock is Forever Growing.

     

     

    Ange is the MAN.

  40. petec on

    These Leo Sayers are weak mentally.

     

     

    Celtic have much better players and are Up for it.

     

     

     

    Kyogo gogo is, IMO, gonnnae Urinate on that old Goalie.

     

     

     

     

     

    CELTIC

     

     

     

    V

     

     

     

    CELTIC

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