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.
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‘GG on 4th August 2016 4:09 pm
Wee jamesie V Karagandy
a braw finish to a game that was
Bada Bing
last night I thought CG could have waited till it came into his box but after seeing replay that was a no no for me a coming together could have seen him sent off and a pen.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 4TH AUGUST 2016 2:03 PM
BGFC
Wee BGFC is the top man on this site:)
HH
____________________________________________________
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Thank you so much!!!!!!! You’re a super good guy!!!!!!! WHOOOOO HOOOOOPS!!
HH
WEE BGFC
LEFTCLICKTIC -Ta,it happened so quick at the game,not seen a replay yet HH
Bada
———–
Damo Lennon on 4th August 2016 4:04 pm
timaloy29 on 4th August 2016 2:47 pm
1.32 on this video. Gordon was inside the D when he headed it, with no other Celtic player even close to the attacker. If he hadn’t come for it, the guy was clean through.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6NOvKuTsss
Hello this is WEE BGFC. The great Celtic-related news that Da was talking about earlier is…
(dddddrrrrrrrruuuuummmmm rrrrrrrrrrrooooooollllllllllllll)
that tomorrow me and Da are going to Lennoxtown tomorrow to interview the player and we get a sit-down INTERVIEW with BIG BR :D ON TOP OF THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THE OFFICIAL NEWS CONFERENCE AND WE GET TO ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!!! We are taking suggestions for questions that you all think I should ask Brendan tomorrow. AGAIN WHHOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOPS!!!!!!!
HH
WEE BGFC
Wee BGFC
“Hi Brendan, is it true you’re actually shorter than Wee Gordon Strachan?”
That’ll set the interview up perfectly from the get go.
Hello this is WEE BGFC. LOL!
HH
WEE BGFC
Big BGFC an wee BGFC,
Enjoy your day I’m sure it will be fantastic. HH
So jealous.
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Barney, we surely will!!!!!!!
HH
WEE BGFC
BGFC –
ask Brendan if he knows he is the first Brendan to actually be a celtic staff member ……….
and that makes him special.
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Thats really good actually *thumbs up*
HH
WEE BGFC
Wee BGFC
Q. brendan what do you think of Euro nights in Celtic park.
enjoy every second of your trip wee mhan.
till later all
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Cheers left-click
HH
WEE BGFC
Wee BGFC
Ask him if it’s cheese on toast or roasted cheese?
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Barney, ooohh thats a hard one :D
HH
WEE BGFC
Wee BGFC –
Remind him that he should never PREDICT who we are planning to sign but should instead wait and simply REPORT the news once it’s confirmed ;-)
Wee BGFC
Ask him for two tickets for the hearts game for you and yer braw Da:))))))))))))
Wee BGFC
Ask Brendan if he believes Craig Gordon was at fault for the goal we conceded last night and ask him to confirm this with the goalkeeping coaches at the club?
MWD
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Left click, that was the plan all along :)
HH
WEE BGFC
Hello this is WEE BGFC. LEFT CLICK THATS A GREAT IDEA!!
HH
WEE BGFC
Dear Brendan,
Have you ever posted p@@h on an anoymous Internet forum?
Six minutes of highlights.
https://streamable.com/59ql
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 4TH AUGUST 2016 5:02 PM
Dear Brendan,
Have you ever posted p@@h on an anoymous Internet forum?
Even if Brendan admits it, how the hell do we narrow that one down!
WeeBGFC
Have a great day wee man ☘☘☘
Btw
Yer ol da will be every bit as exited as you and yer auntie Mo will be well jel
Excited even . Dohhhh
Scott Allan has joined Rotherham United on loan
Scott Allan gone on loan.Official
HH
At the time, I thought Gordon had made an error of judgement. Now, I feel he just made a heading error ie not a good one.
Either way, Ido not have a problem with it . Humans do err, you know!
Overall, though, I have less confidence in Craig as our `keeper than I once had.
JJ
VFR800A8
Cheers for taking the time to reply you certainly showed your class ;)
By mentioning the subs, I perhaps should have expanded upon this. Well especially so for the hard of thinking. Though I Thought it would be self explanatory as in my post (Dembele) was the subject of much praise. Remind me again, he was a sub right? I was being critical of the tactical changes which seemed to hinder us not the actual players who came on & impressed. Now was that clear enough for you? Let me know if you need any further help, I understand it can sometimes be quite difficult for a select few.
As I said though in my initial post, we won the game so ultimately it doesn’t matter & neither do you.
Wishing you the usual greeting. Enjoy!
Evening Timland from a very hot but thankfully hun free mountain valley
Much obliged for all your best wishes for the Mrs, she has just finished 100 lengths of the pool, a few days ago she was knocking on heavens door, the swimming, or the excess swimming is against the Dr’s advice, but she reckons she knows best and I am not strong enough to argue with her.
Anyways, hopefully Pedro has the cheque book ready and waiting for the players we desperatly need if we are to progress in the CL, but will no be holding my breath.
Griff in Europe just needs to increase his speed of thought.
Twice in the second half his movement and great passes by Johansen and Brown had him clear but hesitance cost him.
From Johansen he took it wide and narrowed angle.
From Brown the extra touch gave defender time for great recovery tackle.
It’s hard to step up a level unless you are challenged.
Thats why extending our time in Europe is vital for growth as individuals and as a team.
Griffs skill,shooting and vision are excellent now he just needs to go up a level to be genuine international class.
THEEXILEDTIM
Best wishes to TBO.
And to you too,mate-you’ll need to be on yer toes for a bit.
HH.
When I watch the Astana goal I still think Gordon made a hash of it but the boy who scored the goal took it brilliantly I would like to see Craig get some real competition for the keepers position I think it would improve his game.H.H.
BobbyM
Mail me, I mailed you last week and it bounced back to me, wrong addy obviously. I need your Da’s address for a bracelet I promised him.
Cheers
HH
ELLBOY on 4TH AUGUST 2016 5:15 PM
Just to remind you, Roberts hamstring went so tactically it was a good move to replace him.
Toure came on to add some experience and stability to the defence with Astana starting to press for a goal. That allowed a midfield 5 to try and close the game out. Their goal made that irrelevant but tactically it was sound.
We had to score or rely on penalties so putting another forward in was, again, tactically right.
As you say, that should help the hard of thinking. ;>}
HH KTF
THE EXILED TIM
If the board does not back the manager now then we are truly f#cked.
There is so much potential between some existing players, coaches and our youth.
With changes coming in world football we have to improve our standing to be relevant and get invited to the party.