Before this Europa League group got underway the trips to Istanbul and Amsterdam looked daunting. Those games produced two credible draws, but things went wildly wrong elsewhere.
Our goal last night was a peach. Dedryck Boyata split the Fenerbahce defence to open up space for Mikael Lustig to cross for Kris Commons, who peeled off his marker to create the space to head home. Unfortunately only one point was collected as we lost another Keystone Cops goal.
Craig Gordon seems to be struck by a lack of conviction this season. His was not the only failing at our repeated corner kick fiascos but letting a ball trickle through his legs as he appeared caught in two minds is indicative of a player who is doubting himself.
You know Kris Commons scores and creates huge goals for Celtic, we’ve discussed it often enough here. Despite his veteran status and apparent ill-fitting to our system he remains by far our most effective player.
For Ronny, it didn’t go wrong in Europe this season against Fenerbahce or Ajax (I’m absolving him of blame for Efe’s error or a last minute breakaway goal at Celtic Park), it went wrong home and away to Molde and Malmo. We appeared to underestimate both. Did the manager have something to prove against fellow Norwegian managers?
Celtic dominated possession stats in all four games against Molde and Malmo but the Scandinavians exploited the acres of space which simply didn’t exist in our games against Ajax, Fenerbahce or Qarabag, for that matter. Ajax, Fenerbahce and Qarabag got the respect they deserved, not so Molde and Malmo.
The failure is, of course, more complicated than that. Jozo missed the bulk of the campaign, while Dedryck is only just beginning to look like a footballer (lovely pass for the goal last night). Scott Allan looks promising, but we’ve not seen enough of him either due to injury.
Curiously, Ronny’s big 2015 No. 1 striker target, Nadir, looks less like a Ronny Deila player than anyone we’ve bought in years. Knowing we were interested in him, I watched his performances against Celtic last season, and made the same observation at the time.
What happens if your keeper’s form falls off a cliff, one of your new defenders doesn’t settle quickly, two other new players miss months through injury, and your new striker doesn’t morph into a different player? You finish bottom of the Europa League group.
Celtic must now consider their strategy for January. Successive transfer windows have left us weaker, not stronger. Identify the reasons, remediate and we can build on the away performances which bookended this Europa League campaign.
Check out the CQNBookstore. There’s 15 great Celtic books and 10 DVDs, you’ll love them.
1,280 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- ...
- 34
- »
BGX.
I only done it for the song lol.
HH
Dd,
Absolutely nuthin :)
HH
Tony …
good to see you back on here.
how ya keeping?
Lovely ladies everywhere last night… you’d have been in heaven.
KT took me to California Sandwiches for my 50th… I had forgotten how good those things are! Brilliant!
Looking forward to our catch up.
DixieDeans…What…Theres a Song Too, sorry man i didnt notice, Better Go back watch the Vid Again…Cheers for the Heads Up…HH
Someone name checked this dude earlier.
http://youtu.be/g4flAZEgtjs
Choon
We are currently on a long train to nowhere. Players are as they are – some are more talented than others, but I choose to believe that they all try as best they can under two provisos :
What are they capable of?
What does the manager demand of them?
Is there any alignment there?
RD’s vision is to see any team playing to his designs and matching his dreams.
I don’t want to see my Celtic playing to match RD’s dream
I want to see my Celtic cucceed by being adaptable, competent and, hopefully, entertaining.
4-2-3-1 or however you choose to permutate is too rigid (and extremely boring and inneffective)
SPL, SFA cup, League Cup and matches in Europe.
One size fits all – in your dreams!
It’s not just how you want to play, it’s also who you are playing against and in which competion.
One man up front at home in any domestic competition? Get real and learn how to win games comfortably.
Play in Europe? Do as they do to us . Study them, analyze them and then think of tactics.
Advancing from Norwegian football was certainly a move up for you, possibly even a dream.
Your dream is not our dream.
Too many poor signings who have been a waste of money.
You can’t sort out the defence
You can’t sort out the attack (LG can’t score in every match)
So you overload the midfield?
Most are worth a chance, some appear to be very good, but several will never get a fair crack of the whip.
Why?
Stop dreaming.
Get real.
Or, go away.
Learn, very quickly, how to play football in the big boys regime or leave with some dignitiy
As usual, with no apoligies
Alex
So who was booted today, heard from a reliable source on here that Collins was for the off. That teapot Cults waded in and maybe now looks like a teapot, or am I wrong ???
The Strokes – You Only Live Once
https://youtu.be/pT68FS3YbQ4
Yup a complete lack of respect for Molde and Malmo especially from Celtic.
Its very rare I come across a blog that I really like and this is no exception.
Follow the money
Lawwell doing the donuts bidding unashamedly grinding Celtic into Scottish hun like oblivion.
The daily record selling news that izny.
Turkey shooting down Russian jets that are interfering with cheap ISIS oil supply to the ruling party’s family fortunes.
Saudia Arabia executing political dissidents by beheading the innocent
Your tax dollars being used to fund wars and banks.
Follow the money.
No one cares about your ideology, your religion or your education. Its all reductive drivel. Go to the pub.
The Stagger Rats – Drinking song
https://youtu.be/st4Z2HgNz2c
The Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop (Live)
https://youtu.be/TYh1lRR1m6Y
Margaret McGill on 12th December 2015 12:08 am
Pretty much on the button.
HH
If you want to stop terrorism stop participating in it
The Walkmen The Rat
https://youtu.be/aWR1h-5EzUo
If you want to stop modern football stop participating in it
huddle … hadn’t heard the stagger rats before. liked that. thanks.
you might like these guys… one of my favourites.
lucksmiths… sunlight in a jar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAkx37MglaU
Did I break the blog again or is it just past pished oota maskull time in Scotland?
Hey Mags
Looks like its just you and me tonight.
heh Mike in Toronto
seems like C2H5OH saturation point in BST is upon us.
Whats the deal with that handsome new prime minister of yours?
caused a bit of a traffic jam for me recently :)
@ MARGARET McGILL
https://youtu.be/jLSXzfkn6wA
John Martyn
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=btRv4MnPOBE
Hey MM
How ya doing tonight?
Cant say that I am a huge fan of JT …. his dad was an arrogant sod, but at least he had a vision. A few friends whose opinions I respect dealt with JT before and said he was a spoiled rotten little rich kid. But, maybe he has grown up … and, frankly, anyone would be better than harper.
As you can probably tell … I dont have a lot of faith in our politicians!
mike in toronto
me neither…but I like Obama :)
Listening to Radio K.A.O.S.
The Tide is Turning.
Roger Waters CSC
MM
Honestly, I had hoped for more from Obama … but, to be fair to him, the system isn’t really designed to permit real substantive change by politicians … houses have been locked ….. and he is a damn sight better than any of the numpties the republicans can muster!
possibly the only yank I listen to regarding politics is old Noam Chomsky …. genuinely brilliant man… but completely ignored in his own country. shameful really.
Richard Hawley
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n8PO-QU1pnY
Mike in Toronto
agree and agree
See
this is why I am a Celtic supporter…:)
Soukous
Fae Pulp to his solo work, Richard Hawley is a genius.
soukos …. just listened to that Richard Hawley track ….. wow!!!!!!!! just downloaded some of his stuff from itunes….’baby youre my light’ …. brilliant. cant believe I haven’t heard him before. thanks!!!!!!!
MM … I knew there was a reason I liked you! :)
been a long week, and I need to take the dog for a run in the park to get rid of the stress (mine, not the dogs) …
have a good night.
MM … pleasure chatting.
Soukos … learning of a great musician you haven’t heard before is one of life’s great pleasures. thanks again.
I tell you what, we are all Special, every last one of us.
Don’t stop believing
I use to get frustrated when my big Sisters didnae want to talk about, well, what I was talking about.
I know now, they were not wrong to be blissfully unaware.
Keep that Happiness up because what is going to happen is going to happen.
Delaneys Dunky on 11th December 2015 10:59 pm
Cowie
The 3 McGinn brothers have been the talk of Clydebank for years. All Celtic men. Jack’s grandsons. One is destined to wear the hoops.
*Jack’s spouse was related tae the legendary Johnnie Madden
The former president of the NYCSC Jim McGinn is Jack’s nephew.
Hail hail
Mo amigos
Tried to copy a thing
No danger
Watsup
My bro Hughie
Everybody knew him as shrug
We called him Hughie
Was a brazen ghuy
Institutionalised
Grabbed to safety
Thrown into care
Ignored
Problem
List D
Prison
Dead
Drugs
Hiv
This guy is oot of my League.
Nae Wonder my Sisters want to talk about Come Dancing.
Preach the Gospel to those coming here, is that allowed?
GhosT TowN