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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Lyon announce withdrawal from Europa league competition.
President says he cannot subject the city to mindless sectarian violent bigots who don’t know how to confirm to basic toilet rules.
Sparta Prague and Brondby are monitoring the situation closely !
Manager paying the Huns a bit too much respect for my taste.
They are to be seen as an obstacle that needs to be negotiated, not a team or Klub to be respected.
Does Moussa still play for Lyon? He was partial to a bit of Hun skelping.
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 27TH AUGUST 2021 5:32 PM
I know what you mean but do you remember Martin O’Neil going on about ‘Rangers being the benchmark… etc etc’ before destroying them in the demolition dereby?
derby
Yes, fair point FRANKTERRY. Hopefully it helps them believe their own/SMSM hype.
I just feel uncomfortable hearing it.
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 27TH AUGUST 2021 5:41 PM
Haha, I know what you mean :-)
GM
The self proclaimed King of Glasgow is on loan to Athleti
Apps 5 goals Nil
I would take the story that Seville club Betis play in green and white because of Celtic with a pinch of salt. Not playing down Celtic’s influence on all things football or any possible credence to the story, but green and white is the colour of Andalucia which is the biggest autonomous region in Spain. So they have their own reasons for being “verdiblancos”
Georgis Giakoumakis agrees to join Celtic.
Scottish Premiership club to pay VVV-Venlo €2.5m guaranteed fee plus €500,000 of performance-related variables for the Eredivisie’s leading goalscorer.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 27TH AUGUST 2021 5:47 PM
GM
The self proclaimed King of Glasgow is on loan to Athleti
Apps 5 goals Nil
—
?
RIMTIMTIM on 27TH AUGUST 2021 5:49 PM
I have read that the original Club got the fabric for their strips from Celtic.
That apart –and whilst accepting that Andalucia is also Green and White — I think there is a connection of sorts between us and Real Betis.
Cheerio for now.
BSR – sorry, you’ve lost me.
It’s got groove, it’s got meaning
Grease is the time, is the place, is the motion
Grease is the way we are feeling
EKBHOY / Geordie
Moussa Dembele referred to himself on social media as ‘ The King of Glasgow ‘ Lyon loaned him out to Altheti
in La Liga.
greek striker £2.14 m plus add ons done deal
Ah, thanks BSR.
By the way, I’m not a Geordie👍
Just to clarify Moussa was loaned out to Athletico last season.
He played and scored a brace for Lyon last weekend and is currently there…….
HOT SMOKED on 27TH AUGUST 2021 5:55 PM
RIMTIMTIM on 27TH AUGUST 2021 5:49 PM
I have read that the original Club got the fabric for their strips from Celtic.
That apart –and whilst accepting that Andalucia is also Green and White — I think there is a connection of sorts between us and Real Betis.
Cheerio for now.
———–
their founder went to st josephs college in dumfries, i need to go check the timeline, i wonder if he met any of our marist brothers,
walfrid, doretheous, andrew,
away to check the timeline in brendan sweeneys book.
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/august/How-the-Bhoys-played-a-colourful-part-in-Real-Betis-history/
Georgis Giakoumakis agrees to join Celtic.
Scottish Premiership club to pay VVV-Venlo €2.5m guaranteed fee plus €500,000 of performance-related variables for the Eredivisie’s leading goalscorer
Today 65 years ago. Manuel Ramos Asencio dies.
Posted On 25 Dec 2019 By: Alfonso Del Castillo Comment: 0 Tag: Manuel Ramos Asensio
On December 25, 1954, Manuel Ramos Asensio, who was one of the founders of Sevilla Balompié and later Real Betis Balompié, died in Cazalla de la Sierra at the age of 62.
At the age of 12, he went to study in Scotland, where he began practicing soccer, and after his return he was part of the nucleus that founded Sevilla Balompié. His contacts with Scottish football led to the adoption of the green and white colors from Celtic FC.
happy about the greek deal – he will get his head on crosses from Abada, Josip, and Taylor – dare I say, he might even bend his neck to get on the end of a James Forrest cross :)
No fears about Ibrox – Ange has got this team totally and fully bought into his philosophy – he knows there will be mistakes BUT Ange takes full responsibility from the player when that happens.
We need Calum on his game – when he’s off we don’t link and gel.
the only concern I have about Sunday is …..Is Kyogo fit and how much influence the ref will have!
The huns on Sunday? I’m a fecking nervous wreck just now. 😳
dont fret about playing something called rangers on the sunday,
relax with a read of our history and be proud of our acheivments.
https://the-shamrock.net/2015/04/06/the-brother-walfrid-story/
It’s still August. While I’m much more confident about Ibrox now than I was a month ago, win, lose or draw, it’s still only August. I’ve seen enough to know this Celtic side will compete for the title regardless of what happens on Sunday.
I think we should have been calling ooot the fouling we have been subjected to……………
It’ll be some sleekit hun that does Furey – and it will cost us dearly.
We should make this point especially when we’ve taken the points.
Win , lose or draw on Sunday we are heading in the right direction. The new manager has brought new vigour and enthusiasm to the squad. Would love to give the scum a sound doing but our day will come no matter the outcome of the 90 minutes.
Following a meeting at St. Mary’s Hall on 6th November 1887 a circular was issued confirming that Celtic Football Club had been established: “The main objective of the club is to supply the East End conferences of the St. Vincent De Paul Society with funds for the maintenance of the “Dinner Tables” of our needy children in the Missions of St Mary’s, Sacred Heart, and St. Michael’s. Many cases of sheer poverty are left unaided through lack of means. It is therefore with this principal object that we have set afloat the “Celtic”.
So, it seems Everton are in talks with Celtic to take French Eddie.
Interesting timing
I know its all about trading……………….
but c’mon………..let’s have more than we need for once and mibbe we can all enjoy the journey that wee bit more.
Oh God…………..
Some interesting comments concerning the recent referee last night and how any we get could have come straight from south Lanarkshire.
Lets not forget that the bonkle bigot has a huge say on who refs our games in Europe and like his Lanarkshire influenced brithers unless they play the gemme his way their no getting the gravy he provides.
Hopefully big Gas Meter in his new European role can dae something about this creep.
Some fantastic posts today and good to see the support for the manger.
Me?
I love him!
Now, I know we have signed Liam and Georgis and I’m delighted about that.
Now a couple more in would be great.
18,000,000 Euro’s for Eddy? That’s a dot under £14,500,000. I’d take it.
manager ffs
Bsr
Ange flirted with the subject at his presser bout cloggers trying to maim Kyogo
If the Eddy thing is a “Sly Sports understands” job………..then I think I smell keech………….
( hopefully)
;)
HH.
1 draw and 5 defeats in 6 games against the huns. The one we won before that was daylight robbery. All against a new club with far fewer resources. Lennon really was Lawwell’s disaster.
I’m confident Ange will be Dom’s triumph.