You and I both knew before last night that Salzburg are well ahead of Celtic, so a 3-1 defeat away to the top seed surprised no one. However, the game itself provided positive, as well as disappointing aspects.
Odsonne Eduard looked a handful when running at defences. His goal and the chance he created a minute before the break typified this. For all Salzburg’s ability, they looked weakest in defence. We looked like we could put the ball in the net every time we got near then, which, admittedly, was seldom.
That aside, Eduard’s distribution was as poor as the rest of the teams’. There were two distinct phases to the game: before Salzburg’s third goal and after. After this point, the home team did not press nearly as forcefully, which allowed Celtic to find men with passes and retain possession. This merely demonstrated how poorly we did so earlier in the game.
Prior to then, passing and movement lacked the confidence needed to play out from the back. For example, Salzburg did not mark defenders in front of or at either side of the box when Craig Gordon took goal kicks in the first half. Despite having three options for an easy pass, Craig kicked long the majority of the time – by definition into areas with fewer Celtic players, as we had three back at the penalty box.
The goalkeeper just didn’t fancy the consequences of passing to an unmarked defender – the story of the game in metaphor!
Dedryck Boyata was the outstanding Celtic player on the park. He won everything in his vicinity and I even noticed him chasing down a ball he had himself headed clear, before others reacted. But, on one occasion, when Craig chose to send a goal kick straight to him, he panicked, lost possession and conceded a chance in a dangerous area. There was an easy pass back to the keeper.
You do not need to be Iniesta to work the ball out from the back. You need to be able to control and pass, while everyone in the team needs the awareness to move into space, ensuring no one is boxed in. This takes lots of practice and confidence. We are correctly working towards this kind of football, but we’re not there yet, even in the SPFL.
The pertinent questions is, has this squad hit the ceiling or can we control, pass and move better? I’m sure we can improve, although perhaps only by degrees.
I know what you were thinking every time Salzburg got a corner kick, “Here we go again” – or was that just me? Instead, we defended set-pieces well; in fact, it was the home team who conceded the two best chances of any type before the interval.
James Forrest tucked in well on the right. He got unfortunate with the bounce at the penalty, which was correctly awarded. No complaints at the red card either, although I could squabble that Dabbur, who was already cautioned, should have received a second yellow on the two occasions he displayed a Tshirt message after his goals, if the referee followed his guidelines correctly. Pedants CSC.
The football business is all about the next game and right now there is nothing on the horizon more than St Johnstone on Sunday. Lick your wounds and get a result, Celtic.
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BRRB
Deadheads rool!
YNWA
HB Brendan,
Something is stinking in Denmark.
Always Forgive.
Never Hate.
Always Forgive.
Always, Always Forgive.
Love Song
Lenny’s recruitment st Hibs definitely a lot better than ours ! Stevie Mallan – 9 goals this season all from outside the box as an example. We paddy still sitting on a Spanish bench – bring him home !
I coach the beautiful game over here, boys under 12/14/16 but most under 14.
When I assemble them together at the start of summer I show them a ball and say “soccer is a simple game and as long as you have this the other team can’t score and there’s a 3 second rule when you lose the ball, that is 3 seconds to realise you’ve lost it and then try and get it back again”.
Generally I have 18 players, a goalie or 2, a couple of defenders and the rest are CR7s or Lionel Messis, so I tell them that sometimes I may have to play them out of their favoured position, there are 2 reasons, one is that I think they are better suited there and the other is I am short of players for this position and I need you to fill in there for me.
I have been fortunate in having teams that score goals for fun however as the summer goes on most teams figure us out and adjust accordingly, last year was brutal as they also play hockey in the winter and some of the tackling was agricultural. Although we won the League scoring 84 goals we lost the cup final with our best player limping off the park.
This season again we ran away with the League again scoring 78 goals but they started to dry up near the end, we won the cup though beating the 2nd bottom side, a team we had taken 19 goals off earlier on, in a penalty shoot out, and the bottom side in the final, we beat them 16-3 away in our first meeting, courtesy of them missing a last minute equalier from the penalty spot.
In the cup semis we were taken to a penalty shoot out which we won thank the Lord, 2 of the best players in the opposition played for me in the under 12 a couple of years back, one was a converted midfielder who was a stalwart in defence, he had also grown which helped.
I model my coaching techniques on IMHO 3 of the finest managers I knew, the Big Mhan, Brian Clough and MON, no sir furious as he was a bully.
I also modeled my managerial career on those 3 as well and that is not all people are the same especially over here with the different cultures, so I treated everyone differently, the person that needs a kick up the erse, Big Yogi TG, and the one that needs an arm round their shoulder, the Wee Mhan, are perfect examples.
Since I started coaching I’ve seen the game differently and you can’t legislate for players having an off day, a dip in form or playing whilst their mind is elsewhere, once they cross the touchline all you can do is hope they perform and possibly adjust to suit at the break or as we have over here water breaks.
However, right now all is not well at Parkheid and as much as we can camouflage this its so obvious that Stevie wonder could see it. Time tae sort this out DD/PL/BR, you are all getting paid enough.
Happy Birthday to Bournesouprecipe,
Also, prayers for MAH, and all others facing health issues. YNWA.
Watched the weigh in this morning for tonights UFC contest between Nurmagomedov and McGregor, and it was encouraging to see a number of McGregor’s fans dressed in the Hoops.
Like him or loathe him, Conor is one who’s not afraid to publicly express his suppprt of Celtic, and his very vocal fans seem to contain a substantial number of Hoop’s fans. Never a bad thing to see our colours on show in massive events like this one in Las Vegas tonight.
On the fight, Probably the toughest opponent Conor could have faced, and he might struggle to gain a victory tonight. He’s a multi-millionaire already and could easily have ducked out of this fight, so I salute his spirit, determination, and faith in his own ability against Nurmagomedov who will be a formidable opponent.
“We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over” ???
Hibs win 6-0 . Watched the whole game, very impressed with Neil’s team. Direct football. Oh and bye the way. Ambrose is better than anyone we have except maybe Boyata.
Tontine T,
Respect for giving yer Time to help young fitba dudes. Genesis.
I reckon the meeting has been had, Oh and btw, I think @ the top Level they are all Secret wans Together.
We are being manipulated Big Stylie. Revelation.
All i want Celtic to do is play football the Glasgow Celtic way and unlike the years in the wilderness or TB’;s reign win some games and trophies.
TONTINE TIM
Football is a simple game overcomplicated by to many coaches trying to replicate the Guardiola style without the personnel to do so.
Obsession with stats has impacted how players play the game and mostly for the negative.
Also to many coaches do not have the skills to properly implement the system they choose.
Celtic are a good example with high possession stats.low threat and poorly implemented spacing giving opponents with low possession far to many chances.
Last week against Aberdeen was a good example where we dominated possession yet they had the same amount of shots n goal as us.
We look coached only in possession and clueless when we do not have the ball making a case for an incomplete system.
TONTINE TIM on 6TH OCTOBER 2018 4:50 PM
you sound brilliant.has DD got your number/.??????
Bateen Bhoy on 6th October 2018 4:57 pm
Happy Birthday to Bournesouprecipe,
Also, prayers for MAH, and all others facing health issues. YNWA.
Watched the weigh in this morning for tonights UFC contest between Nurmagomedov and McGregor, and it was encouraging to see a number of McGregor’s fans dressed in the Hoops.
Like him or loathe him, Conor is one who’s not afraid to publicly express his suppprt of Celtic, and his very vocal fans seem to contain a substantial number of Hoop’s fans. Never a bad thing to see our colours on show in massive events like this one in Las Vegas tonight.
On the fight, Probably the toughest opponent Conor could have faced, and he might struggle to gain a victory tonight. He’s a multi-millionaire already and could easily have ducked out of this fight, so I salute his spirit, determination, and faith in his own ability against Nurmagomedov who will be a formidable opponent.
“We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over” ???
…………………………………………………………………………..
I’m asking My Lord, the Saviour to do what he does… Miracles. MAH.CSC
I lost so much interest in fighting when Gerald Mc was…. you all know the story….Aidan is watching the cage fighting thing. Fighting isnae good.
10 mins gone Manure 0 Ashley’s eleven 2
DD mentioned 1974 when we were singing “oh oh oh its magic you know gonnae be ten in a row” and up to New Years Day that’s how we felt, top of the league after gubbin the Bully Wee 5-1 and having just signed Ronnie Glavin the player who crippled the Wee Mhan in the LC Final for a club record transfer fee and who scored our 5th that sunny day, meanwhile deidco signed mckean fae the buddies for a lot less, who he we all said and laughed.
The follow up to that was “January sick and tired you’ve been hanging on me” and 3 days later the roof fell in as we lost 0-3 at hades with their only 3 shots on goal, and Ally Hunter leaving the park with his shorts as white as when he went on, despite playing them off the park. This was my last ever visit tae the lions den as I left the country 5 months later.
It was all downhill after that with a home loss tae the steel men, our aging squad were starting tae feel that past 10 years although our cup results were really good. Big Billy retired, Brogie left for Coventry, the Wee Mhan who had hardly played that season was freed, Stevie Murray who was the reason Jock sold Bobby Murdoch retired due tae a foot injury.
On a gorgeous May 3rd hampden in the sun was glorious as Big Billy won his 23rd medal and outstanding displays from Quality Street Gang members Danny, Kenny and Paul Wilson, on the week he buried his mother and who Jock said if he wanted left out he could understand that, scoring twice. A week later on a dreich day at the same venue he was reminded that his mother had passed away by the denizens of the Mt Florida end.
However, as we celebrated our 2nd cup win of the season, naesurname never won anything after their tainted run tae ten ended, we all sang, singing “oh oh oh its magic you know happy with nine in a row” which we repeated the following week because although we would have loved the ten we were still happy with achieving the nine.
If the truth be told we never set out tae win nine, it just happened, all we wanted tae day was keep on winning trophies, by the time we got tae four it suddenly dawned on us that we could first of all equal and beat the huns five and the Wullie Maley’s six and we just kept going, 7 was a treat in not just beating Wullies record but it was a favourite number with us Tims, so if it ends at seven and I hope tae God it disnae lets just enjoy that as like our 9 it was done honestly, and lets not forget the our nine was won with the same manager.
Minceyheidman on 6th October 2018 5:42 pm
10 mins gone Manure 0 Ashley’s eleven 2
…………………………………………………………………………
Still not watching it.
Fitba is sofar removed from the Beautiful game.
Only CELTIC now.
C’mon the Celts.
Lets get 8.
petec
I watch all football when I can.
Not a Jose fan so if he goes after today as the rumours have it then so what?
Newcastle fans singing some good stuff about him though.
For an Angel
Minceyheidman,
IMO, Brendan is the perfect fit for Celtic.
He needs serious backing though, so Celtic can get to the latter stages of the Europa Cup regularly.
Only the bottom two, St Mirren and Dundee (6) have scored fewer league goals than us.
PETEC,
The Mclellan fight with Benn was brutal, even by boxing standards, and if nothing else, at a relatively early age, made me appreciate the risks these guys take every time they step in the ring.
Michael Watson another from the same era, and there have been many since. They all know the risks though.
MMA is another level of violence above Boxing. Very surprised that not more contestants suffer life-changing and debillitating injuries.
petec on 6th October 2018 6:00 pm
Minceyheidman,
IMO, Brendan is the perfect fit for Celtic.
He needs serious backing though, so Celtic can get to the latter stages of the Europa Cup regularly.
————————————————————————————————————————————————
You may well be right.
Watched Wolves this morning and they look very organised and pleasing on the eye.
They have played the same 11 every game so far this year.
I know there is a lot of luck involved for that to happen but I hope we can start doing this.
Strongest 11 always for me.
Bateen Bhoy,
Thankfully I never seen the Michael Watson fight, Nigel was pushed back into the ring that night.
The wee guys interest means I’m interested, I’d rather not be but I know my Dad is proud that his wee Brother was a Champion Boxer in the Army.
Went to Ayr v Dundee Utd today, our young keeper Ross Doohan kept a clean sheet for Ayr and looked good when called upon. Dundee Utd are a shambles of a team.
GARY67 on 6TH OCTOBER 2018 6:08 PM
Thoughts on Lawrence Shankland? Boy is a goal machine, scores every week.
Gary67 6.08pm
Heard Ian McCall on radio a good wee while back saying he couldn’t believe they got the goalie on loan and was thankfull to Brendan for sanctioning it
DAVID17
Did we not bid for him before he went to the Dons?
Believe he is a hun and knocked us back.
St Johnstone dinnae know what is gonnae hit them. Celtic are gonnae Push a lot harder the morra.
Ryan Christie is ready to RUMMMMMBBBBBBLLLLLLLEEEEE them up.
David 17
According to the BBC site, we have scored more than Hamilton, St. Mirren and Dundee and the same as St. Johnstone.
Motherwell and Livi have 1 more and Aberdeen 2 more but all have played one more game. Only Hearts have a better defende in the league than us.
Leigh’s first touch, for whatever reason, is shocking at the moment. Unleash the false
9 – the RC.
Both NUFC goals came from throw-ins. We can hardly keep possession from one!
Hopefully Brendan is watching.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 6TH OCTOBER 2018 6:26 PM
Yes that’s right, I picked my dodgy stat up from twitter. Still, not great reading, hope for a few goals tomorrow and then to get the goals average above 2 per game soon after.
Hoopy Birthday to the excellent CQN,’r BSR…HH
DAVID17 on 6TH OCTOBER 2018 6:11 PM
Took his goal well and come to life in and around the box. None of this dropping deep or going wide to link up play nonesense, he looks a finisher, a bit like Griffiths used to.
Soupy …have a braw braw birthday …dafties rule ok
Braw
Bournesouprecipe
Happy Birthday Old Pal:))
Keep on shooting it straight..
HH tae the Green Valley Crew
On January 3 we woke up to the realisation that the Big Cup holders had drapped a point tae our nearest rivals, this was the 4th point we had dropped this season including a 0-1 loss tae ten men at hades.
Meanwhile we were already out of Europe and although we won the LC diedco had only dropped 2 points so were ahead of us in the league.
Seemingly the Big Mhan pulled the players aside the following day and told them the title was now out of our hands and any hope we had meant we would have to win the rest of our league fixtures, 16 games, no mean feat, it was up to them.
So we went on a winning run with our only loss 4 weeks later at home tae the Pars in the SC, a game that ended Davie Cattenach’s first team career, ironically he had played in the 2-2 game but Cat was faultless with the 2 goals we lost.
We scored 59 goals conceding only 7 including huge victories at Rugby Park, Tannadice and Muirton. The huns who had spent a shed load of money on new signings that summer and then fired their long time and hugely successful manager, he was told of the decision by an accountant the board having neither the courtesy nor the courage to sack him in person, even though they were then leading the league and were also scoring for fun.
The tide was turning though and deidco knew it, they were drawn tae meet us in the semis of the Glasgow Cup on March 11 but pulled out citing they had too many commitments with League, Scottish Cup and European Fairs Cup to contend with, though by this time they were out of the Scottish Cup, had lost the League Cup and had been pumped out of the Fairs Cup by Leeds, as it happens they received criticism of being afraid to face an in-form Celtic. We played a friendly against the Toon 3 nights before our scheduled game with them in front of 42,000 supporters, hampdens loss again.
Meanwhile we were still in with a shout for the league, had won the LC knocking them out in August in a sectional game and although out of Europe had tae travel tae both Buenos Aires and Montevideo for the ill fated World Club Championship.
Then one early April night they dropped a point at Tannadice a midweek game sandwiched in between our away victories up at the arabs and calvinists. That night it was reported by the SMSM the wee dive bomber wilson who went tae the arabs in a swap deal with orange persson did everything but score even when faced with an empty net, he did the same when with Dumbarton playing against them.
So 2 weeks later on the night we gubbed the Bully Wee 8-0 in the final of the GC in front of 35,000 the huns dropped another point down at Cappielow, the title was now back in our hands, a win at home to Morton and away at East End Park 3 days after the Pars would be playing the calvinists in the SC final and it was 3 in a row.
The huns however were not giving up and suggested that if two teams finished level on points at the top then the League should be decided by a play off and not by the goal average method which had been used all the way till now. Thank the Lord neither mccrae, peat or petrie were around then.
So into the final home game and a last minute winner by the Buzz Bomb from a TG cross gave us the 3 points, meanwhile the huns had won 2-1 down at Rugby Park and both sets of fans left the ground singing and dancing thinking we had dropped a valuable point.
On the day of the SC Final Jock was spotted walking intae hampden to see his oul team win the cup, on asking why he retorted that’s where all good Scottish fitba fans should be, deidco had a home game that same day against the sheep. The Cup Final after that was played on its own, no league games scheduled.
On leaving the ground his hands were like Willie Fernie 11 years before headed heaven as the news filtered through the sheep had scored a late winner to give deidco their only defeat of the season, meaning unless we lost by a ridiculous score threw in Fife we were champions.
On a gorgeous spring night 2 Celtic minded captains led their teams out with Roy Barry carrying the SC. An estimated 50,000 Celtic fans travel to Dunfermline with at least up to 25,000 Tims locked out and missing the game. We didnae care just being there was enough.
The game was stopped twice to allow fans to come down from enclosure roof. Jock Stein and George Farm appealed for fans to come down from floodlights.
Local lhad George Connelly makes first team debut as a substitute. Our 63 points haul from a possible 68 was a Scottish record and the Buzz Bombs two goals meant he had scored 20 goals in Celtic’s last 12 league games.
And that’s what the current side must now aspire to.