Despite the many portents of doom, Celtic were the better team last night against Midtjylland. When the defence needed a leader, Stephen Welsh rose to the occasion, putting in his best performance in senior football. Honestly, I did not think he had a performance like that in him. The free kick he conceded was harsh.
Midtjylland are not as good as the Copenhagen team we lose meekly to in February 2020 but they left Glasgow with a draw, courtesy of two hangovers from last season: a lack of cutting edge in attack and a keeper error. It does not matter how much better you are at most things in football, the game is all about putting the ball in the net and stopping opponents from scoring, aspects that will give Midtjylland hope.
Last season, a friend noted Vasilis Barkas looked like an outfield player stuck in goals. The keeper’s hands were right below the free kick, taken from what looked like an unlikely tight angle, but Barkas arms did not instinctively extend to make what would have been a functionary block. That’s what you or I would look like. Ange learned what you and I already knew about our keeper.
Players running down their contracts can go a couple of ways; Ryan Christie decided to leave everything on the park. He was Celtic’s fulcrum, one we will miss, for sure. Fortunately, Liel Abada looked every inch the replacement on his competitive debut, marked with a goal before he was hooked to make way for a defender when fellow Israeli, Nir Bitton, was red carded.
I like Bitton, he has the ability to take the ball out of defence, but he is not a defender. On the back of last night’s evidence, he is not much of a thinker either. It is not often we see Instant Karma but Midtjylland’s Dreyer received two yellows for simulation, the first leading to Bitton’s moment of madness. His self-satisfied smirk deserved nothing less. “Gonna knock you off your feet”, indeed
You and I have seen Celtic lose to lesser teams too often, there remains a lot of work to do next week.
282 Comments- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- »
Wasn’t winking when he got sent off!
boom
feck
missed
robinbhoy the podium robbin boy
Not too disappointed last night, in particular due to me lowering my expectations.
We can see how much work is still to be done.
Some fine individual performances.
Glibly listing the 5 areas we need replaced, is easier said than done.
Should read ‘in part’ not ‘in particular’
Celtic were immense.young Murray should play from the start.and as everyone knows.a top class goalkeeper is our most important next signing.thats for sure!!!!
The scouting that lead to Barkas being signed is a worry. I hope we’ve taken on board the lessons from this expensive mistake.
To be fair to Christie, one thing I’d never accuse him of is lacking effort. Last night he looked like a player whose bundle of energetic and chaotic skills had suddenly been given direction and purpose.
I’m going to Aberdour on Friday, any fifers on the blog,are the pubs open and do you have to wear a mask in the bar.or seating outside the pub.
Paul’s piece is, in my opinion, kinder than it needs to be. With the squad we have, even allowing for some additions, I fear it is the kind of leader he may be writing on a number of occasions this season.
Yes we will have certain players aquitting themselves well in games – but we have no reliable core to the squad who can give seven, eight, nine out of ten performances, week in, week out. That is a prerequisite if titles & trophies are to be won.
Different individuals taking turns to perform cameo roles, will not bring success this season.
I will give Ange my support & every chance to turn things around, but it will take a couple of seasons for him to build and his squad to take shape.
Certain players have to jettisoned quickly….we all know who they are – “bad fruit never ripens again”
FAVOURITE UNCLE on 21ST JULY 2021 11:59 AM
BHOYJOEBELFAST on 21ST JULY 2021 10:43 AM
Well,all is not lost.We are more than capable in getting through next Wednesday,have to be careful in the friendly against West Ham United on Saturday,regarding player safety.
PS
Talking to an old friend this morning,and we were reminiscing about old Celtic recordings,and I said to him about a singer Darby Coyle who recorded 1-2-3-4-5 in reference to the 5-1 game at Celtic Park against ‘them’.Do anyone remember ‘Darby Coyle’.
STILL CELTIC
DARBY COYLE lived in WALLACEWELL RD BALORNOCK. He was in charge of training the altar boys for ST CATHERINES LABOURE LAMONT RD BALORNOCK.
He went to live in AMERICA for a while .He was a very good singer. I heard that he was training for THE PRIESTHOOD but he had an argument with CARDINAL EWING and so he withdrew.
He had a younger brother and they taught me and loads of others to serve on the altar.
If anything else comes to me i will post it for you.
Right of to watch ST PATRICKS CATHEDRAL NEW YORK 7 AM MASS.
AN DÚN on 21ST JULY 2021 12:23 PM
The scouting that lead to Barkas being signed is a worry. I hope we’ve taken on board the lessons from this expensive mistake.
Not half as worrying as the decision to keep him between the sticks
Yes we will have certain players aquitting themselves well in games – but we have no reliable core to the squad who can give seven, eight, nine out of ten performances, week in, week out. That is a prerequisite if titles & trophies are to be won.
—
CalMac, Turnbull, Soro for that bill for me.
Jullien, Starfelt, Kyogo (I’ve spelt that wrong) will be steady for us.
I’m very hopeful that we’re going in the right direction. For the first time in two years, we’ve a discernible game plan.
UNCLE JIMMY on 21ST JULY 2021 12:17 PM
——
Happy to agree with what you say with a caveat – the opposition were very poor. At times it looked like we were playing St Mirren, or, Motherwell, that sort of standard. Maybe, probably, the Danes will be better at home – can we be better away??????
I thoroughly enjoyed being at the match with my son last night. I thought Celtic were the better team, and we controlled the match, even when reduced to 10 v 11.
Ange needs reinforcements for his very fluid 433 system to work.
A priority should be a right and left back who are both very fast and pacy.
Ange Postecoglou knows this though.
Reckon we will win in Denmark against this divin cheatin mob.
AN DÚN on 21ST JULY 2021 12:40 PM
I sincerely hope that you are right and I am wrong!!!
A lot of plus points last night, Soro,McGregor, Welsh,Christie,young winger actually looks like a winger who can cross a ball,Bitton is a MF who still after all these years,gets a game at CB,in our most important matches, on a yellow card and does that? Get rid,there’s a reason why I call Barkas, The Ghost, get a GK in as a priority.
I’d idly speculate our chances next week are 40/60.
Re the smirker – the TV pictures captured a brilliant cameo after he was shown the red card.
He turned to engage the linesman (who was close by).
Linesman simply shrugged his shoulders and you can clearly see him mouthing …
“was a dive”
Every season I’ve said the same thing, that I never want to see bitton near the first team again. Every season he makes an appearance and makes an arse of things. Cumbersome, painfully slow, can’t read the game…and so it goes on.
Mystifyingly has his supporters, Paul being one of them, he is of course a lower league player, yet still dons the first team jersey….
Benjamin Siegrist, goalie from Dundee Utd – I’m told he’d like to speak to Celtic. A more than decent keeper, a very very decent bloke, speaks perfect English so communication not a problem.
!!BADA BING!! on 21ST JULY 2021 12:43 PM
There’s a reason why I call Barkas, The Ghost, get a GK in as a priority.
Excellent comment 👏👏👏👏😂😂
oldtim67 on 21st July 2021 12:34 pm
I’m going to Aberdour on Friday, any fifers on the blog,are the pubs open and do you have to wear a mask in the bar.or seating outside the pub.
—————————————————————
Oldtim67 i live not far from aberdour and pubs still have a mask on when standing up inside pub, Table service to. Forresters Arms in aberdour has an outside seating area i believe.
HH
Reasonably satisfied with last night’s performance, better than I expected tbh. Will we go through? I’d say 50/50. They will play better at home in my opinion. How long are we going to persevere with this sham of a goalkeeper??!! And Bitton ffs what were you thinking??
MMHOME on 21ST JULY 2021 12:52 PM
Tell the staff in F ARMS to prepare for GROUNDHOG DAY tomorrow. An old guy will keep appearing at the bar ordering the same round again and again and again.
That’s OOR DAVY.
A lot of positives last night but even before his red card brain-loss, I’ve never been a fan of Bitton. He’s a midfielder who is too slow and not mobile enough to operate in midfield so he’s played in defense.
Yes, he can bring the ball out of defense (but slowly, not as fast as say Ajer) but he’s a poor defender, not knowing the difference between when you have time to play the ball and when you have to simply clear your lines. He is also weak physically and gets bundled out of challenges.
We need better defenders than Bitton, that’s for sure and his actions last night are unforgiveable given his experience and the prize at stake (even the Europa prize).
JHB @ 12:41
Agree with your additional note to my prev post
did celtic not get beat last night ?
MMHOME
Thanks for the info, There are a few of us go to Aberdour to have a few drinks,could you tell me if there are any pubs that are off the main st , we have a pubcrawl while there,is there more than the 3 pubs we go to two on the main st and one on the road to the golf club.
Thanks for the advice re Masks.
FAVOURITE UNCLE on 21st July 2021 12:58 pm
MMHOME on 21ST JULY 2021 12:52 PM
Tell the staff in F ARMS to prepare for GROUNDHOG DAY tomorrow. An old guy will keep appearing at the bar ordering the same round again and again and again.
That’s OOR DAVY.
———————————————————-
FU, its not a pub i have been in for a long time i am along in Inverkeithing. Although the concept of groundhog day and someone buying the rounds does sound tempting.
HH
First I’ve seen of Celtic this season last night, thought we played well for the most part, let down by stupidity and a missing keeper.
Encouraged by the energy the team had.
Edouard a shadow of his former self, he would have slotted that chance two seasons ago. Little wonder his suitors are at the arse end of the Premiership every year. Ajer also showing his lack of ambition / high level suitors going to Brentford. They might escape relegation by the skin of their teeth.
New signings a priority but once we get them in I’m more confident about our domestic prospects than I was a couple of weeks ago.
Midtjylland were a poor team and hopefully we can beat them with 11 men next week.
We have 33% of the outfield starters who will/should strengthen that team already in the bag (the 2 new signings and Julian).
Full backs and keeper now the priority.
AN DUN,
RE Barkas.In this case there was nothing wrong with the scouting.He was widely regarded as the best Keeper in Greece.Over 30 caps for his country.The problem is,what’s happened to that player.
Well done to the manager and the team last night. A stupid mistake by our keeper cost us. The Cellic were the much better team. Now build on this – good times ahead!
BTW Well done to the Board on getting such a good fee for big Kris. Much as I like him, it is very good business, considering the impact of Covid on other clubs buying power. Furthermore, he is in the last year of his contract. I fear he will be traded later for even more money.
Fair summary. We shouldn’t be at risk of losing to Midgetland, because our players are better than theirs and unlike last season we actually have someone who knows how to coach a team. Unfortunately we are but as strong as our weakest links. I had remained optimistic about Barkas until last night, which seemed to prove he really is a dud. Bitton is a decent utility player, but the fact we rely on him at CB every year during ECL qualifiers is inexcusable.
We are better than Midgetland, but I see us losing next week. It’s not fair to Ange or our good players, but it reflects the PLC’s ‘low risk’ strategy.
(as mentioned on the previous article…)
Haw !!! Moderators !!!!!
England fitba team adverts – just NAW !!!!!!!!!
Red card shoorley ?????
Whits next – “…Celebrate the staunchest 55 ever in pyoor history wae CQN – same klub then, same klub noo – so we ur…” ???
GET A GRIP FFS !!!!!!
HH
BGFC
EnglandMyEnglandCSC(NOT!!!!)
oldtim67 on 21st July 2021 1:01 pm
MMHOME
Thanks for the info, There are a few of us go to Aberdour to have a few drinks,could you tell me if there are any pubs that are off the main st , we have a pubcrawl while there,is there more than the 3 pubs we go to two on the main st and one on the road to the golf club.
Thanks for the advice re Masks.
—————————————————————————————————-
Oldtim67, as for as i am aware there are only the three pubs in aberdour. If you wanted a few more pubs a short bus or taxi ride would take you to Burntisland which has a few more pubs of the traditional kind. Or a short trip to Dalgety Bay there are a couple of decent pubs / eteries with out door seating.
The general rules in the pubs over here are as follows,
Sign in at the bar on entry
Wear a mask if standing up inside
Order / pay for drinks at the bar and they will be delivered to your table.
Hope yous have a smashing day out the weather forecats looks good.
HH