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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DD … watched some of the game last night …. as someone (sorry, cant remember who) pointed out … several times, NC pointed where he wanted balls, and made runs…. but the passes went …. SIDEWAYS ….
I remember SS doing the same thing frequently, and throwing up his hands in frustration ….
I think we have made a lot of decent strikers look much worse than they really are … which is why I am reluctant to tar NC with that brush just yet.
Bsr,
Phew! I thought I was the only one!!
I don’t buy this underestimate or disrespect bunkum. Certainly not from the management team and more than likely not the players.
Many fans did and a blogger or two.
And if the result is the only shred of evidence of a disrespecting then even Ashleys lawyers couldn’t fail to blow that one out the water.
HH
AKBW1888 on 11TH DECEMBER 2015 7:20 PM
LENNON’S PASSION on 11TH DECEMBER 2015 7:17 PM
I put the bad European campaign down to the players bottling it in Malmo. Ronny pulled them up on it then back tracked weak manager exposed. Since we’ve had the Commons and Stokes incident.
Ronny’s on a learning curve as well.
Problem with curves is, if you stay on them long enough, you come back to where you started.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/lack-of-respect-for-molde-and-malmo/comment-page-6/#comments
bit tired after the do last night, so starting friday night music early ….
here’s one from a good tim… Mr. Currie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPFRIOI-HcE
and another …. maybe my favourite song from one of my favourite singers … the incomparable shane mcgowan
rainy night in soho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPFRIOI-HcE
Mike,
I have the game ‘taped’ and will watch it again when the sprogs finally run themselves out :)
But I can only remember once where nadir showed where he wanted but didn’t receive it and that was an over hit forward pass from Allan I think.
I think this ‘always sideways’ myth is growing with the ‘unfit at the end of games’ myth.
But both seem not to be growing as fast as the ‘we only lose silly goals these days’ myth :))
HH
Cultsbhoy
Hope you’re well.
The Lawrie fix goes back some 6 or 7 years now, probably longer, in a feeble attempt to combat Terry O’Neill from Uddingston who ripped those clowns a new one everytime he was allowed on the show. They couldn’t deal with the points he raised so in the end banned him.
Keevins in particular got both barrels regularly from Terry and true to form he squirmed away from answering questions.
My Eureka moment has arrived.
With the exception of us, the fans, no one else at Celtic gives a fig, and that goes for the majority of the players.
Enough is enough
KINGLUbo
MiT
Maybe Scott Allan’s intelligent passing will make a player out of Nadir.
We can live in hope.
Quonno
Ronny’s on a learning curve as well. Problem with curves is, if you stay on them long enough, you come back to where you started.
So Ronny & Co will not learn from their mistakes remains to be seen as far as European
Football is concerned so what would you suggest Quonno?
KINGLUBO on 11TH DECEMBER 2015 8:00 PM
My Eureka moment has arrived.
With the exception of us, the fans, no one else at Celtic gives a fig, and that goes for the majority of the players.
Enough is enough
KINGLUbo
Sadly, there may be a lot of truth in the above.
And it all starts at the top, with a head honcho who simply can’t be arsed to show his face.
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– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/lack-of-respect-for-molde-and-malmo/comment-page-6/#comment-2735537
GM … will disagree on the ‘sideways’ thing…. under GS, it was all about possession, but with players like Naka, we had guys that could play that killer pass when and if the opportunity arose ….
and RD’s favoured 4231 system, when it has been successful, has had players like Valeron who had skills enough to beat a man in a phone booth and could pass a football through the eye of a needle …. but without that type of player (which we dont have), it become possession for possession’s sake …. it lacks penetration
and, I know it is hard to measure… but last year, I thought there was a big improvement in fitness… but this year, we dont seem to have the legs, particuarly in the last 15 mintues …. hard to prove or disprove that one, I realize …. just my observations/opinions…
AKBW1888 on 11TH DECEMBER 2015 8:03 PM
Quonno
Ronny’s on a learning curve as well. Problem with curves is, if you stay on them long enough, you come back to where you started.
So Ronny & Co will not learn from their mistakes remains to be seen as far as European
Football is concerned so what would you suggest Quonno?
What has he learned from last year?
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/lack-of-respect-for-molde-and-malmo/comment-page-6/#comment-2735540
Mike
ran too many places and closed them up on my own so had that opportunity
If found in the situation I would probably have a glass or two of the finest in the cellar then make sure the place was all set for next days service
Currently chilean chardonnay washing down a snickers- I don’t recommend.
DD ….
I hoped that NB (and/or Armstrong, if he was given a run in the centre of the park) would develop this year into the sort of player who would do that … and on that basis I had high hopes for NC, who I think could still be a good player for us, given the right system and service.
I have lost a bit of confidence in Armstrong (largely because he seems to have lost confidence in himself), but I am hopeful that he or Scott may turn out to be that sort of player ….
That it takes time for a weekend & untested defence to settle in
when being properly tested out with the SPL
WDH …. one of these days, you are going to have to tell me where you have worked…. I have always been curious.
Not expecting a ‘Kitchen confidential’ version necessarily … although I am sure you have a few good stories to tell …
I have represented a few restauranteurs and chefs you would likely know …. some are right madmen!
MiT
I see Stuart Armstrong as a dynamic central midfielder. Stuck out on the wing is frustrating the life out of Stuart, and I.
DD .. I had dreams of a Celtic midfield trio of armstrong (good engine, smarts), biton (calm, and good deep lying playmaker) and Allen (more offensive, can make the killer pass) …I am hoping to see them given a game some time. think they could be great!
Mike iT
We sort of have the same outlook on the game and how it should be played, but when it comes to our coach, there it ends :-)
I see a long term plan, I see what he is attempting to lay down, I see a foundation for the future.
I am as pissed of as the next man with some of the performances, who wouldn’t be, we can blow teams away one game and are pyoor pish the next.
That comes from the players ability to only perform a % of the time, imo, could they turn it on for say 80% of the time they would be playing for the likes of Barca or Bayern.
It’s unfortunate in so many ways where we play, we are in a sectarian footballing backwater, and worse still we are on the receiving end of the sectarianism, but I digress, knowing what you know about the game, and I do believe you know what you are talking about, I am surprised that you can’t see what our coach is attempting to iniciate.
As for yo, have partaken in a few top, top, top quality vinos this evening, a 2005 Rioja called Coto de Imaz, it’s the bogs dollix, seriously expensive, but worth every single cent :-))) and it’s a lot of cents for a bottle, 1595 to be precise, mucho for here, but as I say, well worth it.
HH
Work to do, laters mi amigos y amigas.
In my opinion we could talk all night & all day & all week & all month & all year about our
beloved Club but time moves on & unfortunately I’ve got other matters to attend too
however folks with the grace of you know who we will communicate again in the mean
time I hope you all have a pleasant weekend & hail hail come-on-the-Hoops :-) :-) Later’s.
A big problem with all our midfield players is they are not great at winning tackles and getting the ball back.
Remediate?
Is that an actual word?
Mike I will know these madmen.
Here is a good piece by Wylie on how the Kitchen culture has changed/is changing
his words seem similar to a team leader closer to home
http://luckypeach.com/culture-of-the-kitchen-wylie-dufresne/
In isolation , last night was a one off decent result, and whilst RD has yet to win a game he shouldn’t on paper win, it was halfway there.
However, it has to be set against a context of significant under achievement in Europe over a two year period.
In my view, the players we have should have been good enough to get us into the CL group, where we would be 4th, or challenge to get to last 16 in Europa.
In his leader, Paul 67, talks about not showing enough respect to Malmö and Molde,but IMHO we also lost last season to Salzburg at home, Legia etc, because of naive tactics.
The board are now at a crossroads with RD, as they are unlikely to sack a manager who will most likely pick up 2 and possibly 3 domestic trophies.
If that is the height of their ambition, fair enough. For me, a good season is the league and Europe after Xmas, anything below fails to meet my expectations.
if I was board member reading this, I would ask myself ‘ can I really see this guy turn things around from bottom of Europa League to qualifying for CL Group?’
If they can see it happen, please share with me your source of optimism, if not, ditch him now, and let new guy, prepare for next season.
Mike,
I really don’t see many more sideways passes the now that what I did ten years ago.
I suppose you could argue that trying to keep possession encourages the ball to be passed about the middle rather than look for the killer ball every single time. This is a trait of the two best teams in Europe in the last 10 years.
Modric would be a decent acquisition in the Jan window. :)
HH
TET … I know what he said he wanted … but it just hasn’t happened, and I dont think more time is the answer … but that is a discussion for another time …. for now, away and enjoy your wine!
WDH …I will give that a read. cheers!
Dessybhoy
Nail on head. My Big complaint always at the game. Nobody apart fae Broonie can make a tackle to win possession in the midfield.
Dd,
I can see Armstrong as that type of player too but what I don’t get is he had a cracking few months for us last season playing the same role? Whatsappened?
HH
GM … I think, since MON left, we have become more of a ‘possession team’ …. under WGS, it worked for a period, but became stodgy, and has gotten worse since …..
if you are hoping to sign Modric (a fan-bloody-tastic player!!!!)….. then, we better sign Rod, his wife, and a few of his ex’s for good measure to entice him
Just afore I do my chores, I wonder what went through glibbys head as he told his brief to tell the high court that they had paid back the £5 mill loan.
Now I know he has a penchant for telling porkies, but FFS, to tell something like that in a high court, yer man seriously needs help, but he has managed to evade the clink, and he still has his weans inheritance, so all is good in his life.
dessybhoy on 11th December 2015 8:23 pm A big problem with all our midfield players is they are not great at winning tackles and getting the ball back. – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/lack-of-respect-for-molde-and-malmo/comment-page-7/#comments
===============
Fix this and we fix a lot.
to CQN, Anybody come to mind?
GM
I know neebs, it’s a puzzle. Have heard him get stick fae the impatient mob in our North Stand a few times this season. He disnae like it. Last season, the same support were supporting him to the rafters and he was high on confidence as a result.
Enjoying the read,what cqn should be about.
I have to run,still think shifty can do a job for us,
worried about Armstrong the lad hasn’t kicked
on.
Goodnight Timland.
First half last night
Sutton “SA isn’t a ball carrier” (fair enough)
Second half subs
JF for SA
Sutton “it’s a like for like substitution ”
WIT
HH
We have an abundance of similar types, good footballers but no ball winners or players who will disrupt opposition attacks by getting in their faces, we need to get the blend in the midfield right, I think Scott Brown is more effective on the right of a three in midfield, its then perm two from for the others preferably left footers on the left, we need an auld heid enforcer to organise and lead sometimes we look green as grass in Europe especially
I’ll stick with Ronny, to many clubs ditch their manager before he has really had a chance to put his own team on the pitch. I don’t think 1.5 seasons is long enough to judge Ronny or any manager who has already brought 2 trophies to the club.
Just think if we did this to Lenny after his abysmal 1st 2 seasons in Europe we would never have had that great night against Barca.
will Scott brown ever be manager of celtic ?