As we discussed a few days ago, the margins between success and failure at this level are tight. Two rash tackles inside the box was enough to see Celtic into the playoff round. On another day, the story could have been different.
For me, Kolo Toure’s 30 minutes was eye-opening. His touch was assured, which gave him time on the ball. He was confident enough to hold possession while being closed down, and can carry the ball out of defence.
He talked throughout, often while gesticulating to team-mates to calm down or to push out in a line. It’s not that we had problems in central defence before he arrived, we didn’t, but he gave the entire team an authority we’ve missed. Without him, the game may have ended differently.
This is what a top player looks like in a Celtic shirt.
Craig Gordon had a big decision to make: come out of his box to head the ball, or stay and allow Kieran Tierney to manage the situation. Yes, it was a good finish, but the keeper made the wrong decision. If you head the ball while 25 yards off your line it needs to go safe or you shouldn’t there.
Did you notice Moussa Dembele’s penalty technique? There were two important elements: the pause and the number of steps.
Most players take a penalty as soon as the referee blows his whistle. Moussa didn’t. He waited. Players who wait until a moment of their choosing score a higher percentage of times than players who move on the whistle.
The delay empowers them. They are in charge, they decide when things start. The two step run up further denies the goalkeeper reaction time: “I’m the boss, you don’t know when we start and you’ll have no time to throw yourself about”.
Squeezing the pips
None of the 11 starters were Brendan Rodgers’ players, four joined until Ronny, while seven have been at the club since Neil Lennon’s days. It’s remarkable that we managed to eliminate a team who qualified for last season’s Champions League with players who were caught so short in Europe in recent seasons.
Last night we squeezed the last pips out of the squad. The addition of Kolo and the return of Erik and Jozo will give the defence a formidable look, but we are not right in central midfield, and I know every one of you held your breath when Leigh went down injured.
I left the ground feeling Brendan got a break in getting that squad past Astana (you could argue Ronny could have done with a couple of rash challenges inside the box in similar circumstances). Sometimes you need the breaks to achieve great things.
Oh, and if football was like that every time, every other leisure industry would close. I’m pretty sure no one in the North Stand knew two Astana players were sent off, such was the Festival of Drama.
487 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 13
- »
Great result last night , brilliant atmosphere, it was rocking up in 444 ! Cannae wait for draw tomorrow HH !
Got to be joking blaming Craig Gordon for the goal conceded surely. KT & EC caught out by long ball. Craig took control and cleared 50 yards from goal line. What do you expect him to do under severe pressure take it on the corner of his head and put it out for a thro in. I would be more inclined to look at our supposed on field leader/captain/enforcer/hard mans attempt at challenging the lad who sublimely scored. Ended up on his ar$e as he is far to slow.
Given the law of averages .. I can only hope the next 2 midfielders that we sign will be brilliant…
How we have managed to sign so many midfielders who are not only sub standard but are so similar is worthy of question. Probably because we have a limited criteria (project potential) and that they come from a very limited nepotistic source ( Park/ Lawwell Jnr) explains this drive for homogeny.
Time to think ‘team’ time to open up the supply. I have great hope that BR can provide this.
#keeplawwellinhisbox.csc
1967…………wooooooooooooooo
Braw.
JESSICA33
Take your spam elsewhere! Do wan!
Jessica33 on 4th August 2016 1:35 pm
I basically profit close to £4k-£8k every month doing an online job. For those of you who are prepared to do easy at home jobs for 3h to 5h each day at your house and earn valuable paycheck while doing it…
Then this work opportunity is for you
——————————————————
Hey Jessy : Are you a hun ?
And ffs…..will somebody chase Jessi…..
There are enough chancers here as it is….
Smiley thing …
Braw..
@Jessica33 on 4th August 2016 1:35 pm
All very good…but what about Dembele’s penalty in extra time to win the tie :)
GREENPINATA on 4TH AUGUST 2016 1:38 PM
She cannae be. Huns neither work nor wash.
Hunware alert !
JESSICA33
Jabba give it rest..
With all the mumping and moaning you would think we had lost last night.
We won , I know that won’t please some on here but that’s tough on them, Astana scored a spectacular goal after a good clearance so what we still won.
I cannot understand the need to find a player to criticise after every game, win, lose or draw. It is a team game so we win as a team and lose as a team. Oh and NEWSFLASH the other team are also allowed to play well too it doesn’t make our victory any less sweet.
There is no certainty that Ronny would not have qualified.
I think there are signs that we are coming together as a team under Brendan.
If the board support Brendan we have the potential to be good in Europe.Though this season will be to early.
There are some very good youngsters coming through and credit to the youth coaches is due as they seem to possess plenty of skill and game sense.
Very pleased that young O’Connell like Kieran has proved that if your good enough age is no barrier.
Both got their chance through injury so perhaps we should not be so hesitant in future of giving youth a chance.
The central midfield area is still a worry and would like to see it as an area that has transfer priority.
Brown was excellent in his deeper role last night and linked up well receiving ball out of defense.
The off ball movement of the others was not so great.
Toure is the wise head to guide our young centre backs and i include Boyata and Simo as well as Kelleher and McCart.I think the future is positive in that area.
Would like to see Miller.Nesbitt and Hendry also involve with the first team.
If we are going to spend big then a midfield general should be our priority.The youngsters like Armstrong .McGregor and Christie need guidance.
Sometimes it’s the pass and sometimes the body position when receiving that stalls play.
To many passes went behind or straight to receiver last night rather than into the forward path of player stalling our momentum.
These all can be improved by coaching and i feel Brendan is the guy to do so.
Geordie Munro on 4th August 2016 1:21 pm
Only a matter of time before we hear about how we wouldn’t have gotten past the imps under Ronny.
———-
And if we had lost last night the same people would have been saying we should have stuck with him :-)
Paul 67
Is there any techy thing that can be done to send Jessy and abby packing back to Folly Folly?
Just on to say I agree with Brendan about fans needing to show patience.
Guy in front of me called KT a naughty word last night when he played a pass back to Craig G. Even wee shades just shook his head at him, glad he ran out of drink and never appeared for the second half. ( the guy not wee shades:-) )
Also thought that the introduction of the new KT in the second half was brilliant,we had started to struggle to clear a few high balls into the box and imho big mhan settled those around him.
Motm for me was the smaller of the KTs, closely followed by the Stauners thought they were brilliant.
H.H
Davidpolous,
I believe they have only had one inter club bounce game.
Their young guns played through the week in the betfred hingy though.
HH
Owen 1.44pm
Hear Hear, and Hail Hail.
KT played the Astana player onside so I don’t solely blame Gordon for coming to clear the danger though his header should have been high & handsome or out to the wing. More concerning for me was his flap at their offside goal. He seems to have great difficulty in judging the flight of the ball. For this reason & a few others I’m hoping 1 of Brendan’s 4 signings is a new goalkeeper.
I thought The managers subs left a lot to be desired last night but ultimately we won the game so what do I know. Really pleased to see Scott Brown & James Forrest return to form & Dembele stroked his pen away as if it was his 100th & not his 1st for the club. We seriously need to improve on McGregor & Armstrong both were disappointing again.
I read somewhere that PL said we would never speculate to accumulate. Well we have certainly speculated on an expensive & experienced manager. Thus far it’s worked & now is surely the time to do likewise on some quality players.
Over to you Pete.
“I cannot understand the need to find a player to criticise after every game, win, lose or draw. It is a team game so we win as a team and lose as a team.”
Owen,
Baffles me too neebs.
Nothing wrong with a bit chit chat about the game and where the poster thinks we are heading but I cannot fathom out why some posters NEED to dissect every single remotely not brilliant thing in every game.
HH
Weren’t Ludogerets in Liverpool’s CL group last season?
Might not be a bad one to get – Brendan should know a bit about them.
CLOGHER CELT on 4TH AUGUST 2016 11:49 AM
BGFC,
If you want to contact me via e mail at dublin2016@mailcom or via Paul67, I have a programme from the match on Saturday against Barca with Messi & Suarez’s autographs that I’ll get to you for your bhoy.
LEFTCLICKTIC on 4TH AUGUST 2016 11:55 AM
clogher celt on 4th August 2016 11:49 am
Yer a good man ,a braw gesture to WEE BGFC
——————————-
Thanks pal – that is very thoughtful of you. I’ll actually get Wee BGFC to email you himself later this afternoon.
He’ll post later – we just got some AMAZING Celtic-related news for the wee mhan for tomorrow…his head really is exploding this time… :-)))
Will explain on here later – we’ll be looking for some ideas for questions to put to BR and the team…
HH
BGFC
A hun earning £4 – £8 k a month? Jeez. She must have a shitload of weans to get that amount of Child Benefit.
Liquidation update/latest from the Herald.
http://m.heraldscotland.com/news/14660378.Rangers_oldco_payout_pot_slumps_by___2m_as_liquidator___legal_costs_soar/
HH
Professional football players, should be able to take a bit of stick when they dont perform.
They get paid enough ffs.
If we just pretend that every player we signed was a good one, what kind of team would we end up with?
Maybe one run by Ronny and Peter.
Criticism is part and parcel of the game, live with it, and dry yer eyes ffs.
If players cant cut it….thats life im afraid.
Some whinging on here.
HH
I am enjoying reading the fitba related craic on this morning’s blog.
Overall, I thought it was a great result from an awful performance. Cultsbhoy and others have talked about central midfield. I couldn’t agree more….
Last season, at home to Malmo, on a rare trip home from Canada, I had a great view from 412. Unlike watching games on tv, the bigger picture afforded was an eye opener.
You will all remember that opening 20-odd minutes. We were flying. 2-0 up, chance after chance, stadium was bouncing. And then….Malmo’s coach pretty well took his entire midfield and stuck them in and around the centre circle. Brown and Bitton were surrounded.
From that moment on, neither of them played a forward pass. Not one. Everything they got away was sideways or backwards. The game turned on its head. As did our season. And Ronny’s career.
Last night showed clearly that we don’t have the players on our books to drop back, pick the ball up from a CB, and have the confidence and ability to take it under pressure, work a 1-2 and start striding with the ball towards the half way line.
I don’t think we will progress much until that happens. Teams from East Kilbride to Asia have figured this out. I presume that this is why Brendan was linked with Joe Allen.
All of that being said, it was great to see Celtic Park pretty well full again……
Rambling over…..
Cheers,
Ronnie
“Weren’t Ludogerets in Liverpool’s CL group last season?”
Glasstwothirds,
2seasons ago mate. And caused them all sorts of problems. A draw in Bulgaria and a narrow defeat to a jammy late penalty in Liverpool.
Dundalk for me. Not solely cause they are the lowest ranked. I think the travel, or lack of it, would be a benefit too.
HH
CultsBhoy – sees right through Lawwell and the Board on 4th August 2016 1:34 pm
Given the law of averages .. I can only hope the next 2 midfielders that we sign will be brilliant…
How we have managed to sign so many midfielders who are not only sub standard but are so similar is worthy of question. Probably because we have a limited criteria (project potential) and that they come from a very limited nepotistic source ( Park/ Lawwell Jnr) explains this drive for homogeny.
Time to think ‘team’ time to open up the supply. I have great hope that BR can provide this.
#keeplawwellinhisbox.csc
_____________
Which midfielders has Lawwell Jr recommended? Paddy Roberts? Is he substandard?
It’s kind of you to let off previous managers and pin all the blame on the usual suspects
Who’s performed poorly in midfield for Celtic lately? McGregor and Forrest are youth players.
GMS and Armstrong were signed from Dundee United and Ronny will have seen them first hand.
BGFC
Wee BGFC is the top man on this site:)
HH
I thought the most important thing last night was Gruffalo and Dembele linking up for the second penalty. Until then i think every time they have played together they have looked totally out for themselves. Remember how our Henke used to provide for those around him? I think laying on assists and linking will define Gruffalo’s career. If he does it well, he will go on to become a great.
Well done Celtic – all about the result last night.
Didn’t get to see the game due to being out to dinner in Sorrento. No excuse I know, but phone was getting checked every 5 mins, much to Mrs Ss’s annoyance!
Moussa’s penalty was coolness personified- textbook under pressure.
Big job for BR, but the improvements are obvious already. Good managers can improve players so wouldn’t give up on the likes of SJ yet. Thought ML was a fantastic player before injury and form dip, and really hope we can see the best of him yet.
50 shades of green on 4th August 2016 1:47 pm
Motm for me was the smaller of the KTs, closely followed by the Stauners thought they were brilliant.
____________________________________________________________
So we’re stauners now? Had a completely different connotation when I was a pup!
Vfr,
Yeah I think we’ll need a better name for them. :))
https://youtu.be/xIQg1ZP3lqE
Ellboy on 4th August 2016 1:51 pm
I thought The managers subs left a lot to be desired last night but ultimately we won the game so what do I know.
______________________________________________________________________________
Toure solidified the defence and calmed the whole team down during the last 30 minutes. Dembele chased a lost cause on the right, won the ball, drove into the box, linked up with Griffiths, won a penalty, converted it and won the game. Johannsen, though not brilliant, worked hard in the middle with Broony.
Yep, they all left a lot to be desired; what do you know? Answers on the back of a postage stamp please. ;>)
Does anyone know what the official attendance was last night?
Looked about 55,000 to me
Geordie Munro on 4th August 2016 2:18 pm
Vfr,
Yeah I think we’ll need a better name for them. :))
https://youtu.be/xIQg1ZP3lqE
_______________________________________________________________
Laughed out loud at work! Priceless. As a teenager at home, that’s the only good reason I ever had for a cushion on the couch!
ba bru cup draw
North Section:
Brechin City v Cove Rangers
Arbroath v East Fife
Peterhead v Brora Rangers
Turriff United v Montrose
Elgin City v Heart of Midlothian Colts
Aberdeen Colts v Forfar Athletic
South Section:
Stranraer v Spartans
Partick Thistle Colts v Queen’s Park
Albion Rovers v Hamilton Academical Colts
Motherwell Colts v Airdrieonians
Cowdenbeath v Celtic Colts
Rangers or University of Stirling v Stenhousemuir
Ties to be played on August 16/17
Paul67,
Plagiarism is a terrible thing:-)
*****************************
Árd Macha on 4th August 2016 11:42 am
Did anyone notice how Dembele delayed his penalty even after the referee blew for him to take it. That composure is hard to teach but others in the team could learn from these small things.
Árd Macha