It’s all about the system

Auchinleck Talbot are a sixth-tier club, so I didn’t want to mention this after Sunday’s game, but the passing at Kilmarnock was so much crisper than I have seen from Celtic this season.  The observation was discarded as I assumed it was because the opposition were unable to press Celtic players out of their comfort zone.

We started the same way last night.  The minutes before the opening goal were characterised by pass-and-move routines from Celtic that we scarcely saw throughout 2025.  Bologna pressed but the man in possession was always comfortable and had options.  That panicked feeling when we were pressed that the ball would inevitably go all the way back to Kasper Schmeichel, then possession would be lost, never materialised.

The calamitous opening goal Bologna conceded resulted in Celtic pressing an Italian home side out of their comfort zone.  Cheaply given but thoroughly appreciated.

Racial stereotypes are best avoided, but is it safe to say Japanese players are just too honourable?  A minute after Reo Hatate’s opener, Daizen Maeda was clean through 40 yards out when he was bundled from behind.  Daizen is made of sturdy stuff, so was able to continue; if it was me, I’d have collapsed like a proverbial sack of potatoes.  Had Daizen fallen, a red card would have followed.

Daizen stayed on his feet, Yang latched onto his pass and came close to adding a second goal with a shot the keeper only just got a hand to.  A goalscoring chance was not denied, so the referee was unable to act.

Small incidents can change the flow of football games.  On receiving a ball out of defence, Reo Hatate tried to hold the ball in, but it ran through him, allowing Bologna to open an attack and put Celtic under sustained pressure for the first time.  The same thing happened 10 minutes later, when Reo was bundled to the ground, again Bologna were able to press Celtic for several minutes.

The two yellow cards Reo received soon thereafter were inexplicable for an experienced player.  They should be a learning experience for the whole squad.

With Bologna still trying to figure out how to react to their one man advantage, Daizen forced a corner from a long ball into the right channel.  Kieran Tierney has been written off by a few of us.  His return has not delivered the same form he last enjoyed in green and white.  Perhaps another appraisal is due.

A decision at Lennoxtown to have Kieran take corners from the Celtic right proved inspired. KT’s delivery was excellent and Arne Engels proved he can get on the end of deliveries.  Auston Trusty was dominant throughout the game but no more so five minutes from the break, when he knocked this set-piece over the line.

The second half is so difficult to assess from a tactical point of view.  Celtic had a two goal lead to defend, away in Italy, with 10 men, so doing so as deeply as they did was understandable.  Martin pulled the full backs inside, Out of possession, Daizen dropped into the traditional left back spot.

There was a six-man back line with Yang, Engels and McGregor 10-15 yards in front.  The relentless series of crosses and passing in front of the Celtic box inevitably led to a goal.  Whatever the plan was at halftime, an early change in shape may have been more effective.

I have seen chat that Kasper Schmeichel could have done better at each Bologna goal, but I disagree.  The first was from point-blank range and he was unsighted at the second. More than that, he pulled off saves I have yet to see from Viljami Sinisalo.  The big Dane still has a part to play.

The match stats tell one story: Bologna 36 attempts, Celtic 8.  Not all attempts are equal, though.  All of Celtic’s were from inside the penalty box and four of those were inside the six-yard box.  Bologna were hitting shots from 30 yards.  Their two goals only slightly under-delivered on an expected goals of 2.46.

The prospect of playing 18 minutes plus added time after the equaliser was daunting, but Bologna had fired their bolt.  Celtic’s defenders dominated the game from that moment on.

I don’t want to touch on a negative after such a good performance, but Colby Donovan, Anthony Ralston, Liam Scales, Auston Trusty and Kieran Tiernay have all looked poor this season.  Each betrayed by a system which left them exposed.  See what happens when a management team who can structure a midfield and defence are in charge?  They were all excellent, Liam and Auston in particular.  Even the recently maligned Anthony, who was calm personified in possession.  Honda Civics they are not.  It’s all about the system.

This remains Celtic’s worst season in five, but the club which wins more games and trophies than any other in world football is edging back on track.  That will confound those who spend their emotional energy trying to convince friends, readers and media colleagues that Celtic are a badly run football club.  God help them if the result on Sunday goes against their world view.  It’s so much easier just to complain than to self-reflect.

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