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.
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Nye – I agree Kris is most likely but surely fitness must be considered?
Very thoughtful of Sevco making the statement that Fulham didn’t want their manager.
If Cifti is all we can offer today then, oh dear
Top of the Morning Champions.
St Johnstone v Celtic ko 12:30. Team: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic, Izaguirre; McGregor, Johansen; Forrest, Rogic, Armstrong; Ciftci. Subs: Bailly, Ambrose, Tierney, Allan, Mackay-Steven, Cole, Commons. Mon the Hoops
Can anyone tell me the odds on Cifti as first to score?
Looks to me like a very lightweight midfield. Hope I’m wrong.
It is always a tight tough match in recent seasons for us at Perth.
I hope the players are more than up for it today.
HH
M
Lennon & McCartney on 13th December
Shiftkey is 4/1
Four to one
” If Cifti is all we can offer today then, oh dear ”
That`s the spirit 0:-)
JJ
Neil Lennon & McCartney
4/1 FG..6/5 anytime.
Chris (Mr Angry) Sutton.
World Exclusive
Celtic lose before a baw is kicked…
CQNMSM
Sutton is an embarrassment.
It’s actually not a bad team, and also a strong bench, 3-0 4-0 looks good to me, and I look forward to telling you all …see a told ya….
Unlike a few in here looking at the negativity even before the whistle is blown, cmon Ciftci, get your arse in gear, fill that net.
thanks for the odds……still not tempted!
Every Celtic goal this season via @celticgoals
https://streamable.com/celticgoals
HH
Afternoon bhoys and ghirls. Should be a good game today the saints have a decent bit of form. So 2-0 to the hoops and big Nadir to score.
COYBIG
HH
KTF
UTLR
Hail hail from a very cold Perth!
new article posted.
Suttons a cap in hand Downton Abby field worker. And that’s me putting it mild.
Cragleabhoy
Do you think Chris Sutton would have the BT gig, if he was backing Ronny Deila?
JustAsking csc
Going to be a hard slog today
What a piss awful CFC team
Really quite depressing
The sight of dross like Ciftci starting for CFC makes me weep …will probably score after that :-))
No Griffiths …no Commons.. No idea where the goals will come from
I am beginning to feel more confident as KO approaches.
TD67
I know some are being negative but I think, quite often, it is because we are so keen for our team to win that we can`t help fearing the worst. I think most , passionate supporters ( of all teams ) are like that.
There are , of course, some who have ulterior motives for being negative about Celtic and you have your own GIRUY farewell for them 0:-)
Cheerio for now,
JJ
JJ Great to see Jobo back…..now I know where to start reading.
Not seen enough of Rogic and Ciftci together to say one way or the other, but suspect they combine better than the latter did with Scott Allan.
Johansen/Macgregor the big unknown today – most would admit that Johansen/Bitton hasn’t been working. Will two terriers be more effective in the middle?
Straight away, I’d change Forrest to the left in front of Izzy – great pairing. Would have started Commons over Armstrong – incredible decision unless KC isn’t 80% fit.
Our defence will probably remain a problem for a good while – let’s just leave it at that.
I think the bench will have a major bearing on whether we take all 3 points today.
I would not have had Lustig, Armstrong, Johansen and Cifti anywhere near the starting eleven after recent games.
okay … now that I completely blew the whole podium thing …. at least I can go for a pee! and have to go walk the dog before kick off… and put the fire on so the house is nice and toasty for KT when she wakes up!
feeling that NC will score today. In fact, a tenner to Mary’s Meal if the great NC doesn’t score today.