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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Big Judith looking radiant 😎
Sell Eddy,buy Lovric,and the Greek striker,Costas Buttons.Over 45 goals between them last season,and Lovric also had a bucket full of assists.
Deals a good un.
BADA
I have a feeling I might regret asking, but who is this Judith you often mention?
Watching the draw live ..I was convinced we were going to get west ham ….so I was relieved when Betis came out…but tough all the same…
Another thing the huns were in group A …and 4th pot balls came out I naturally thought they would get the first team out….Galatasaray….low and behold they get placed in group C !!!…..WTF?…then they end up getting Brondby!!!…..can’t work it out …
TONYROME on 27TH AUGUST 2021 1:32 PM
(EXCLUDING HONEST MISTAKES)
Honest mistakes are unlikely to be excluded but we can STILL hump them .
JPH on 27TH AUGUST 2021 1:36 PM
Ref was so poor it almost made me feel at home! Kyogo got zero protection . Letting the game flow, my arse!
BADA BING!! on 27TH AUGUST 2021 1:42 PM
Big Judith looking radiant 😎
Ach,you always say that.
My Brother drinks in the Clachan,at Garrowhill.The manageress there is her twin.I mean really.Said she gets ribbed all the time about it.A decent pint as well.
When ye gaun?
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 27TH AUGUST 2021 1:47 PM
BADA
I have a feeling I might regret asking, but who is this Judith you often mention
Go directly to the Naughty Corner.”Who is Big Judith”
Things you’ll see today
” Celtic hang on ”
” Gers ease through “
Liam Scales is a well balanced player
He took time to weigh up the offer
VINNIETHEDOG on 27TH AUGUST 2021 1:48 PM
Watching the draw live ..I was convinced we were going to get west ham ….so I was relieved when Betis came out…but tough all the same…
Another thing the huns were in group A …and 4th pot balls came out I naturally thought they would get the first team out….Galatasaray….low and behold they get placed in group C !!!…..WTF?…then they end up getting Brondby!!!…..can’t work it out
I know.As NEUSTADT BRAW would say,”They’re Awfy Brawndby”
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 27TH AUGUST 2021 1:47 PM
BADA
I have a feeling I might regret asking, but who is this Judith you often mention?
———
i was home recently and this Judith woman is a big scary person who does the weather on BBc Scotland
On STV there is a wee blonde cracker anchoring the news.
As such, i really don’t get the obsession on here
My 82 year old dad said it was probably mid life crisis guys and the idea of a dominatrix
His words , not mine😎
VINNIETHEDOG
Galatasary were placed in group E not C. The reason they didn’t go into Rangers group A was because Fenerbace were already in group D.
There are 2 kick-off times, 6pm and 8pm. They wanted to ensure that teams from the same national league play at different times.
Groups ABCD were grouped as one kick-off time and groups EFGH as the alternate kick-off time.
When Galatasary came out, they couldn’t go into ABCD (Fenerbace alreasy in D) so they had to go into the next available EFGH slot which was E.
My head hurts.
A midfield of Calmac, Turnbull and Rogic won’t provide enough support to the defence against teams of the calibre of AZ. If Ange doesn’t rate Soro, then we need a holding midfield player.
Shaw?
Who signed the two Shefffield Wed lads? The same person who failed to bring back Hendry? The same person who scouted Starfelt?
BBC UK report on EL draw
This report undermines comments I made last night regards us getting fairer crack of the whip from UK BBC as opposed to Pacific Quay.
(The Huns)
“edged past Armenian side Alashkert to clinch a group stage place in European football’s second tier event for the fourth consecutive season.
Celtic have also reached the group stage for the fourth year in a row after surviving a second-leg scare to beat AZ Alkmaar 3-2 on aggregate.
CONEYBHOY on 27TH AUGUST 2021 2:00 PM
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It is a strange one, though I think your Dad has it sussed.
Now if they were obsessing about Lucy Verasamy from ITV weather I could understand it 😁
Big Judith is our right back Tony’s maw…………………….
CONEYBHOY
Brilliant. Made me laugh.
CONEYBHOY on 27TH AUGUST 2021 2:00 PM
I think your da has a career ahead of you in psychoanalysis. He’s probably closer to the truth than is comfortable.
The Judith creature would maybe do well to at least brush her hair before appearing on telly although who knows that may be part of the attraction.
I agree wi you regards the cheeky wee minx on STV 🤣
It’s a tough group. The Huns have it slightly easier, of course (though I don’t see them qualifying). Group F with Braga, Ludo and the Midgies would have been the best for us. But bring it on.
Is Frimpong at Leverkusen? Be a chance to see if actual coaching has improved him
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 27TH AUGUST 2021 1:30 PM
JHB…I’m afraid you have alienated me as well as a few others with your ‘humble’ opinions. Can you imagine if everyone was sleekit? What a great blog that would be
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Sorry, but you alienate yourself – I am always prepared to debate seriously with others.
My opinion is “humble” because given an alternative compelling argument, or clear evidence to the contrary, I am always prepared to reconsider and change my opinion – any fair-minded and intelligent would do likewise.
If you have a different view on anything I post, please don’t hesitate to make it known. I don’t get involved in “slanging matches” with any members of the self-deputised posse on here that you allude to and state you have now joined.
Tom mcglaughlin…thanks for that….never knew kick off times affected the draw…deary me….they get brondby..played 6 won zero in danish league !!!….and some say
…they’re not lucky ??!!!!!
I wanted Midtjylland as a revenge mission.
Ferencvaros will do instead.
Frimpong is with Bayer Leverkusen.
Real Betis play in green & white.
Cheers all; the auld boy will be chuffed he raised a smile on that!!
Hjelde signs for Leeds
I find Judith to be a scary looking wuman while weirdly attractive.
Nice message from Real Betis to Celtic.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 27TH AUGUST 2021 2:04 PM
You get 10/10 for that effort👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
79caps- McCarthy is here as a holding MF,he will need to get his fitness sorted, i don’t think guys from the EPL realise how fast the game is here.
Tom- now you know 👍😎
Still on a high from last night’s achievement. AZ are very good, so one of our best Euro scalps in years. Hart, Welsh and Starfelt all showed great character to recover from their mistakes. young Montgomery was thrown in at the deep end and after a rocky start grew to have a tremendous game. Things are really looking up. We have a proper coach and leader and clear playing style; some very talented players; some good academy prospects coming through; a more ambitious transfer strategy that revolves around strengthening the team rather than the CEO’s already bulging bank balance; and, the huns are on their uppers.
Against us is the threadbare nature of the squad. It won’t win us the league as it stands as we are bound to get injuries to key players. The youth team ain’t going to win it for us. If Eddy and Christie go this week without adequate replacement- and more besides- we’re in trouble.
Also against us is the fact the huns are on their uppers. They will adopt their usual shit or bust strategy to win the league and the ECL money. They will be given every assistance from the authorities – watch this Sunday, when their COVID restrictions are lifted and the ref gives them all decisions, large and small.
This week is a big week for Dom. If Scales is the end of the incomers we’re in bother. He’s a had an excellent window so far. Go and finish the job.
I haven’t posted for years but the takeaways from this season so far are:
1. Postecoglou & McKay have been a runaway success so far displaying player scouting, recognition and acquisition far in excess of the last (and nameless) incumbents.
3. New player acquisition success rate has been almost 100%
4. Development and rehabilitation of existing players has been exceptional
5. Postecoglou has a footballing system in place and he is adapting existing CFC players that can adapt, bringing in those who can play his way and discarding the rest.
6. European Group football is a massive scalp for Postecoglou & McKay to have taken at this juncture and they should be applauded for working in tandem and listening to each others demands.
Postecoglou for having the courage to implement his concepts
McKay for listening, trusting and financially delivering the players required.
7. Extra revenue from the Euro games and the further strengthening of the footballing squad for a sustained and winning domestic league is all we should expect from this season for direct entry into the ECL Groups.
THANK YOU POSTECOGLOU & MCKAY!
I see Bayer Leverkusen beat Moenchengladbach 4-0 in the Bundesliga. They won’t be easy.
JHB on 27th August 2021 2:13 pm
Pontificating and debating are two very different things maybe you should look them up.
Whilst you’re at it try looking up hectoring and lecturing too.
CHAIRBHOY on 27TH AUGUST 2021 12:42 PM
Have you managed to get down to the “new Broomfield” to watch the colts!?
==================
Not thus far, but me and the wee man were, by coincidence, just looking at their fixtures on Wednesday.
We are planning a wee outing on 4th Sep to see them playing Morton in the badlands of Petersburn (will need to wear my suit of armour if walking down from Plains).
Looking forward to seeing Moffat, Murray and Vata in particular, but also scouting out some other gems I hope. I saw a comment here (sorry, can’t recall who made it) that Bosun Lawal looks like the real deal – next VVD. Will be good to see him too.
HH
BGFC
to plan a wee outing.
From last Blog, May Mary Gallagher Rest in Peace, Condolences to the Family.
Europa Draw OK, Could have been better could have been worse.
It is great to have these exciting games to test ourselves but the bread & butter is the SPFL.
My mind is now focused on Sunday, hope Kyogo is OK to play.
Reports on the red top sites that there are bids of 18M euros on the table for Odsonne from Bordeaux and Ruben Kazan.
GO TELL THE SPARTIM on 27TH AUGUST 2021 2:12 PM
Is Frimpong at Leverkusen? Be a chance to see if actual coaching has improved him
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Leverkusen v BMG was on TV last Saturday night. I watched first half. He started at RB in a 4 and at least from what I saw played well with considerable defensive improvement evident, while still having an eye for pressing forward
A better more rounded player now than when he left.