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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McInnes claimed it “would be a disgrace” if the Celtic were given more tickets for the final because they have a bigger fan base.
“I’m sure the tickets will be shared fairly between the clubs,” said McInnes.
“It should be a 50-50 split, anything else would be a disgrace.”
Indeed bobby.
Auldheid Celtic have absolutely no intention of sticking up for us or the club. They are too busy counting their bonuses and think racism is good for business.
You know, I know and the dogs in the street knows it.
But you want us to to rally round them? Are you serious?
Another classy contribution toboga street. Keep up the good work.
DAVID17
Relax,mate. They’ll never change,cheap shots at every opportunity while kowtowing to the Ibrox supremacy
Sod them,let them do it. They know,we know,even their own fans know. Deeks only has Aberdeen’s best interests at heart when they don’t conflict with the best interests of his real team.
NEGANON2 on 7TH OCTOBER 2018 1:29 PM
I do wonder about you auldheid.
==================
The feeling is mutual. I’ll explain.
You go on (with justification) about Scottish Society, sectarianism, main stream media etc, the very stuff that Res12 has had to battle against from the off.
In any other country Res12 would have been passed in 2013 or a full explanations given by now. (its over a year since SFA said Compliance Officer would investigate and 3 months since the JPDT sat)
Yet you make jibes at the folk who are battling against the very things that upset you. That does not make sense to me.
So forgive me if your worries about me or my motives fall into the Icgaf category.
To be fair (try it) you can only do that because you do not have the full picture and certainly not events this summer.
So in the interest of balance the signatories to Res12 will need an update before the AGM if their e mail address is held.
Send me yours via Paul and I’ll make sure you get it.
Neganon just my opinion but you come across as one bitter individual, is there anything you like about supporting Celtic?
AULDHEID,NEGANON
I can exchange addys if you both ok it.
Hebcelt I am both bitter and angry.
We had an opportunity to confront the cheating, corruption and racism and on the alter of greed Celtic have buried everything.
There is a lot to be bitter and angry about.
Auldheid I make jibes at anyone who tries to rally us around the snakes on our board.
Word is Renfrew Juniors have offered Brendan a similar budget to Real Madrid and he’s a cert to go after the game today.
What’s the weather like in Perth as getting a bit stormy in Dumbreck?
Fine by me bobby.
NEGANON2 on 7TH OCTOBER 2018 1:39 PM
Indeed bobby.
Auldheid Celtic have absolutely no intention of sticking up for us or the club. They are too busy counting their bonuses and think racism is good for business.
You know, I know and the dogs in the street knows it.
But you want us to to rally round them? Are you serious?
Another classy contribution toboga street. Keep up the good work.
==========================
Yes we do know but not sure who you mean by them and where rallying came into it. Ill check back to see if what I said fits the meaning you gave it.
Fresh breeze raining
Perth CSC
BMCUWP-have you got absolute proof of that:-)))
James Forrest over on the Celtic blog worth a read
Auldheid
I look forward to the update, can you confirm you have my email address? Thanks
gene
watch the one way streets and the lake is north.
Hoping for;
Gordon
Lustig
Benkovic
Boyata
Tierney
Mulumbu
Ntcham
Rogic
Sinclair
Forrest
Eddy
Timhorton
Won’t be driving – whilst in Boston my head was on a swizzle when crossing the road – looking forward to seeing Niagara.
Strange security at Logan airport – apparently Mrs gene and me didn’t have to remove our shoes but everyone else did – must be the British passport – or perhaps they didn’t think we could bend down to untie them
Neganon2
I’ve looked back but nothing on this blog about rallying around the Board.
Rallying around the club somewhere maybe because of contacts Ive had with the CSA and CST but the Board are not the club, they are a part of it but not apart from it.
The last post I recall making was on not being able to fix a problem with the thinking that created it and since the current Board represent that thinking I don’t see where or how I’m suggesting rallying around those whose thinking has created the problem.
After Thursday will Leigh get a start
Armstrong doesn’t make Southampton bench again.
Good afternoon all from the Victoria bar.
DESSYBHOY on 7TH OCTOBER 2018 2:05 PM
Auldheid
I look forward to the update, can you confirm you have my email address? Thanks
Only if I can connect your real name to your blog name. If you got an update in 2016 I have your e mail address but to be sure e mail me via Paul so I can check.
I would like Morgan to get a start today in place of Forrest. As someone said earlier, St. Johnstone will sit in, as usual, so we really don’t need to be thinking about chasing back as much, although that does not mean no chasing back. I think the contributor said about Izzy and Gamboa as well to get some speed up and down, couldn’t agree more, BR mentioned that we do not play fast enough, then get fast players on por cierto
The leaked team from HB has only 1 change from Thursday, Benkovic for Hendry
Auldheid it was on a previous blog where you were talking about the CSA.
My point is that any rallying call sadly cements the board father and is therefore deeply flawed. The board are the root of most of our problems and they need removed.
That is the first order of business and has to be because as we have seen any attempt by the support to call people to account is actively undermined by the board. They do nit want change. They do not want us finding out how deeply they are involved with collusion.
The only thing that will force change is for us to starve the board out. I am not naive to believe it will happen soon. I think we were close at the end of poor roonies regime and the board knew it. Hence Brendan.
Brendan will leave soon and they will be weak again. We need to get them out.
Gene
You going to leave out our main goal threat when we are struggling for goals?
Griff and Eddy must start for me.
Bigrail
The Victoria bar – brings back memories from the late 60’s
Enjoy the game
CELTIC (4-3-2-1) Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Benkovic, Tierney; McGregor, Ntcham, Rogic, Forrest, Edouard; Griffiths
Subs: Bain, Izaguirre, Simunovic, Mulumbu, Morgan, Christie, Sinclair
Neg.
Where do we go if the Board is routed. Who comes in or on por cierto
Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Benkovic, Tierney; McGregor, Ntcham, Rogic, Forrest, Edouard; Griffiths
Subs: Bain, Izaguirre, Simunovic, Mulumbu, Morgan, Christie, Sinclair
Official starting eleven
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Benkovic KT
McGregor Ntcham
Forrest Rogic Edouard
Griffiths
Sid
Just a question and to be fair was only judging from comments on here – I love the Griff
TeacakesCSC
Auldheid
Ok
No midfield screen. None of those midfielders have any defensive instincts. Asking for trouble.
Auldheid, I value your judgements and trust your instincts, is there anyway I can get an update on whats went on in regards to Res12 this summer?
The only time we’ve scored 4 goals in 2018……was against Sevco.
Time for big Tam to have a good game.
Today could be the day we silence the hordes.
Come Celtic do us all a favour and give this mob a doin’
Por cierto there are plenty of able Celtic supporters who could take up board roles.
I think Celtic of all clubs should be a member or supporter owned model. It’s clear that the plc model does not work and the board can’t handle their personal gain with the conflicting club interests.
Looks to me like the reward for a spineless performance on Thursday is to keep your place.
Aye,ok.