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Has this squad hit the ceiling or can we control, pass and move better

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  8. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    DELANEYS DUNKY on 7TH OCTOBER 2018 1:00 AM

     

     

    You were of an age to appreciate their nihilism .

     

    Particularly mid `70s .

     

     

    You`re right about John Lydon.

     

    Smart guy.

     

     

    Did you see him on ” Judge Judy ” ?

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3L7xIJ3aDo

     

     

    ” Hit him on the head where his brain should be ”

     

    Magic moment .

  9. Friesdorfer on

    BMCUWP 3.12 PM, a thoroughly dispiriting read. As a counterpoint, was in the Celtic shop in Argyll St this afternoon when a woman picks up a baby suit and shows it to her man, who says words similar to “Aye, right, I can just see us dandering doon Kilwinning High Street wi the barn wearing that”…!

  16. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    PETEC on 7TH OCTOBER 2018 1:38 AM

     

     

    Pete.

     

     

    I hope D.D. sees this .

     

    Thoroughly enjoyed it .

  18. Tontine Tim on

    MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 7TH OCTOBER 2018 12:37 AM

     

     

    TONTINE TIM on 7TH OCTOBER 2018 12:28 AM

     

     

    I remember the release of the Celtic song in `61 . A sanitised version of the song we sang on the terraces.

     

     

    ” Darn the hair we care ? ”

     

     

    I remember thinking at the time :Jeez. Give us a break . Embarrassing .

     

     

    At a time when the huns absolutely ruled us

     

     

    *the line that got me was “we’ll be there tae give the bhoys a cheer when the League flag flies”, i thought no in my lifeline, then they followed with “and the cheers go up when we know the Scottish Cup is coming home to rest in Paradise”, that’s more like it I said and then the pars beat us in that effin replay.

  19. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    DBHOY 1224

     

     

    Thanks,mate. It was quite disturbing reading. I’m only an hour by train from London,and in the 17 years I’ve been here,I’ve seen wages plummet,employment agencies prosper like the vermin they are,and house prices go through the roof as people decide to turn it into a commuter town. That’s buying or renting,the markets for each are crazy.

     

     

    Oxford,where I am based for work,is even worse.

     

     

    But I think my nephew can beat either. He’s in Essex. £1500pcm for a two-bad flat. Ffs. What chance has he got when there’s £18k after tax gone every year for no return?

  20. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    MACJAY 1225

     

     

    Sympathy For The Devil?

     

     

    Reminds me,special edition of Beggars Banquet is out next month. Seems that album turns 50.

     

     

    Blinkin flip!

  21. petec on

    macjay,

     

     

    I’m a Catholic and proud to be wan.

     

     

    I dinnae go to Mass, well unless I’m in Kirkaldy with an absolute gem of a rocket.

     

     

    This Country still has deep seated stuff that is quite frankly embarrasssing.

     

     

    CELTIC

  22. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    FRIESDORFER

     

     

    Ah,I have to admit the bloke was right. Although the Tims are so outnumbered,we usually just get left alone.

     

     

    And as you know,my mates haven’t discussed football with me for about seven years. Next month should be interesting,I expect them to crawl out from underneath their stones,wearing a moth-eaten McSpewins Pish retro-original.

     

     

    Aye,and I’ve got seven years worth of comebacks just festering at the back of my mind,so just as well I’m heading home for fireworks weekend!

  24. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 7TH OCTOBER 2018 2:02 AM

     

    MACJAY 1225

     

     

    I loved the Stones until Brian , who started the band , got turfed out .

  25. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    PETEC on 7TH OCTOBER 2018 2:04 AM

     

     

    Some of the criticisms I heard of Catholicism back when , turned out to be true .

     

     

    My current version of Catholicism now hopefully is based on Christianity and a tolerance for other Christian religions which I was never taught as a child.

     

    Live and learn .

  26. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    MACJAY

     

     

    They replaced Brian with Mick Taylor. They released some of their best stuff while he was with them,Let It Bleed through to Only Rock n Roll. Seems Keef didn’t like being upstaged by him though.

     

     

    I don’t think it’s any coincidence that they were really poor after that,Some Girls aside. Tribute band now,and for some time,which is sad.

  30. David66 on

    Just popped into say hello as my bhoy just in from dancing and no cash fir taxi…

     

    One thing that has struck me with the blog, is all the interesting life story’s of so many different people. A bit like people watching when you just read and scroll onto the next.

     

     

    Great stuff

     

     

    Cheerio, might see if McGregor is on yet

     

     

    D :)

  31. Dbhoy on

    BMCW 2am missed that earlier mate.

     

     

    It’s getting more and more difficult for most folk to get on/get by as the wealth becomes more concentrated in fewer greedy hands. So much for the fabled ‘ trickledown ‘ we were sold.

     

     

    The trend won’t stop till the majority snap and say ‘ enough’s enough ‘ it’s not if but when that will happen imo.

     

     

    Apologies for going all ‘ doctor doom ‘ on you but that’s how I see it playing out . Don’t worry we’ll be on the same side of the barricades :)))

     

     

    HH

  32. Burgas Hoops on

    Morning all ……….looking for a bit of help this morning if anyone has 2 spare tickets they cant use for todays game. This is to try and help out a good friend and his son (Both S/B holders) I dont do that Twitter thing so any help would be appreciated. Hamilton Tim is normally the go-to guy but i dont think he posts much on here now.

     

    Many thanks in anticipation.

  34. Jobo Baldie on

    Good morning friends and Happy Matchday!

     

    My starting 11 for today –

     

    In goal – Craig Gordon

     

    4 across the back- Hendry, Boyata, Benkovic, Izaguirre

     

    5 across the middle – Morgan, Mulumbu, Ntcham, Christie, Sinclair

     

    Up front – Edouard

     

     

    In reality I think that Brendan will only start with 7 of those players.

     

    Anyway, a win puts us 4th, a 3 goal win (I know!) and we are 3rd. Ending the day 6 behind Hearts and 5 ahead of Sevco would suit me just fine!

  35. tonyrome on

    Morning Bhoys

     

     

    Apoligies for repeat music post last night. But you have to admit it’s a fine song.

     

     

    DD thanks for your kind words look forward to meeting you at the hoot.

     

     

    Seen enough of Mulumbu on Thursday night to think if you pair him with Broonie for the rest of the season any other problems will fix themselves.

     

     

    I don’t think Broonie is fit for today though. MON THE HOOPS!!!!!!!

     

     

    KEEP THE FAITH

  36. Greenpinata on

    COYBIG

     

     

    Confidence booster required, with full unequivocal backing from the fans.

     

     

    HH.

     

     

    PS : Statistics may state otherwise from a Celtic perspective, however I hope Hearts put the huns firmly in their box today.

  38. NorrieM on

    Jobo

     

    That 11 Should ? Be good enough to beat any other team in FtSPFL

     

     

    Now has anyone (club) been fined yet for injuring a linesman and drawing blood ?

     

    Or is it only Celtic who get fined in Scotland ( I could go back to Tommy Burns and Fergus, as another example)

     

    Anymore been said about Us being picked out to move a game ? Or do we continue to accept the snide remarks from all others ?

  41. NegAnon2 on

    NorrieM what re you moaning about? Celtic say and do nothing about anything. We pay lawwell 2m a year to be a coward.

     

     

    Rally behind that auldheid.

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