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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North Cyprus (formerly Baku) Bhoy if you’re ever coming over for a game I’ll have one of those 5ltr’s
North Cyprus
Natural Honey heals the damage that Mary Jane is doing to my throat.
My lungs are another matter. :)
Eddie
I will bring the straws. :))
Hello Eddie – they are very popular here with the Expat community!
Simonsvlei Dry Red, all the way from South Africa.
The first few glasses are hard going, but the next few go down easily!
After tonight’s trial run, I’m planning to pack one (at least) in the case for next week’s journey back to the Algerian Sahara.
HH
TET
Funnily enough, I am going to Stonehaven on Monday. Could you get my email from my whisky supping mate so that I can glean more info re that wine?
Corkcelt
I also felt that about Gordon and also considered resting Tierney .I resisted, though, because I think Tierney defends better than Izzi and O`Halloran is a bit of a handful at the moment.
JJ
At that price, we can have a bucket each!
Delaneys Dunky, I’m bloody chocking for a drink. Meant to be staying off it till xmas but have a night out tomorrow with some of the guys from the Invisibles don’t know if I can stay in a pub on a saturday night drinking cola.
Gooood evening fellow Celtic supporters
Just catching up with blog now
Delaneys Dunky, now I do agree we were cheated in the Cup semi final last season
But
We started the 2nd half 1 up, and got beat 3-1 in the second half (accepting we went down to 10mhen ) lets Look at 2 of the Caley goals in that game though
We are still losing gaols in the exact same manner
And all down to the way Ronny sets the team up – learning nothing
I have had enough of him trying to over complicate the way we play 4,2,3,1
1 up front in the SPFL, for goodness sake.
Our back 4 don’t play as a back 4, our 2 full backs are generally up at halfway line or further forward, who covers them ? I could go on about faults in the structure he has us playing
If I can see this, and John Hughes did in the semi final, and many other managers in Europe are seeing it, how on earth can Ronny not ?
Again my opinion, a better qualified manager with our squad would have us qualifying for both the champions league or through this Europa league group
Time for Ronny to go, Im reaching a stage where I’ve had enough of his tactics, it is honestly only on here I know f Celtic fans defending him and requesting he be given more time
Hail Hail
MiT
Paul McStay and Henrik are my 2nd and 3rd favourite Celtic players but Danny was truly the best in the world in his position for a couple of years. I watched 90% of his games live. I grew up watching the best thing to leave Drumchapel.
DD
If it makes you feel any different, I also thought the Quiz was this week! No matter , though, I will answer the same amount correctly next week 0:-)
Good night all.
Not an easy game on Sunday. Fortunately, the Away support will get right behind our team.
JJ
DD … hard to argue with your choices, my friend ….all greats …. and from what I gather, DFMcG was the best in the world at his pomp… and at that time, that was really saying something!
. but, as I said, for me, it is more than just the best footballer … TB was the best Celt.
Eddieinkirkmichael
It is Christmas, not xmas
I was doing some shopping with my Whife today, I refused to buy in a shop, as it advertised a happy holiday in the shop
What’s wrong with saying Christmas ??
Oh and I’m in a good mood :-)))
Eddie
My work Christmas night is City Centre tomorrow. I will be avoiding cola, unless it is with Mr Jack Daniels. :)
DD
I am in 100% agreement though on your top 3 players, mine as well :-))
Cowiebhoy, we’ve went from zonal marking to man for man. That shows Ronny in a small way is aware of our frailties.
Again I’ll say it, if you constantly change manager you never progress. All experiments have their ups and downs. Successful clubs don’t panic when the manager is winning leagues and cups.
James Doleman @jamesdoleman · 11m11 minutes ago
Judge after saying in court today he had never been a mason
‘But it would have been an honour to be nominated by a legend like John Greig”
Cowie
I am glad you reprimanded my mate Eddie for his error.
We must keep Christ in Christmas.
BTW Fools sometimes agree! ;))
Eddie
There has been no progression under Ronny.
Yes he has given Tierney, Rogic and Bitton a chance
Look at the players now going backwards.
I was a fan of Armstrong, is he a wide left midfielder though ? For goodness sake he is wasting the Bhoys talents
Team for Sunday
Bailie
Lustig, Boyata, Simonuvic
Forrest, Armstrong, Allan, Bitton, Tierney
Commons
griffith
Here and I thought The Griff was our most effective player, and what to do with a goal keeper suffering from lack of confidence ? Simple, drop him ffs it’s no rocket surgery.
Board politics and there’s me getting told to drop the politics eh
Cowiebhoy, we now no longer drop points after Euro games. Would this team lose the league against Inverness? Or drop vital points against Hamilton?
Our average age of team is under 24, when was the last time we had such a young team on the park?
Things aren’t perfect, I would like the cash splashed on a couple of experienced players but we both know that is never going to happen under our current board so for me I’ll stick with Ronny as I actually see what he’s trying to do . Our performances in the SPFL show we are getting better, cut out the individual errors in Europe is the key to his reign as Celtic manager.
Good Evening fholks
Don’t forget that Last Man Standing 6 starts next Saturday, so if you want to join us drop an email to us at cqnpredictor@gmail.com. The cost is £10 to enter. Jobo is hiding in the background waiting to hear from you :-)
A good bit of competitive fun with a chance to win a nice wee sum, whilst raising money for our wee baby Shay. The support in the last year has made an incredible difference for the family with Wee Shay starting to hold his head up by himself now for periods of time. Still a long way to go for the family. but CQN has helped made a difference for this family.
Meanwhile, good luck to The Celt45 who if he wins this weekend will be our Last Man Standing 5. His choice is Inverness. Wish him well!
HH
CRC
When life is shit, turn to music. When life is scrape it off the walls shit, turn to Steven Patrick Morrissey…
JJHS
Mail me
nohunshere@hotmail.com
HH
Auldheid & glass 2/3s
Scott Parker was the first name that popped into my head. Getting on now.
I mentioned the boy Mcginn from Hibs but I don’t wanna see them weekend yet.
Henderson still has a role to play for me but for that quick January fix I’d inquire about the possibility of Liam Bridgecutt.
HH
off for my dinner. will check in later lads. have a good night.
hh
I remember fans calling for the KOK’s to be dropped as he was going through a barren patch, he then scored 4 against Kilmarnock(I think).
Craig Gordon is a great keeper, peepul calling for him to be dropped to be replaced by a rookie are off their heads IMHO
MIT – George McCluskey was my fave, I used to stand in the jungle about the 18 yard line and watch the first half…..Celtic end for the second half:) Tommy was a pal of my brother….everybody loved him.
Did ye dig me oot a burd last night?
See ye next week for dinner big yin:)
Slainte
Tony
Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way and Jobo are what makes this blog so special.
Hat doffed to both of you guys
DD,
CRC said 18th Christmas special, don’t start getting too demanding you might put him off.
Weakened not weekend.
Doh
DD
Next Friday was the pronised date, and if you want to score double points for each round you can register for LMS6 :-)
BribesarusCSC
Eddie, our Average age is no younger now, than it has been for several seasons, possibly back to Gordon’s teams ?
And I do not go into SPFL games confident of consistent victories
I’m just no getting it with Ronny
Hail Hail
Eddie
I totally concur with you. I love sitting beside you watching the Celtic. You see Celtic like I see Celtic. I see Ronny and our team showing it for the treble this season and next. Good run in Europe next year with a second treble in a row will clamp the Doubting Thomas Tims.
EDDIEINKIRKMICHAEL on 11TH DECEMBER 2015 10:41 PM
I remember fans calling for the KOK’s to be dropped as he was going through a barren patch, he then scored 4 against Kilmarnock(I think).
Craig Gordon is a great keeper, peepul calling for him to be dropped to be replaced by a rookie are off their heads IMHO
———————-
Can’t remember any Celts asking for the King to be dropped….the meeja ? aye.
EDDIE
I agree 100%, watched the goal quite a few times from last night, he did everything right, he just didn’t anticipate yer man crapping it, and then he looked like the fool, which he wasn’t, nobody is mentioning the superb save he tipped on to the post, naw, I’m with you.
HH
DD
Boll**** Just realised I am going to have to cancel this as I am at the Texas concert. Right It’s moving to Saturday 19th at 9pm
Sorry fholks
HH
CRC
GM
Bada and I, plus big Jamesgang ( after I told him to watch the Bhoy) , oh add that Roaster Doc :-)) as well, all stated last season we should have been signing young McGinn in the summer – a development fee to St Mirren as he was out of contract
Watched him go head to head with Broonie and often win the dual, also with big Vic as a very young player, with no fear
Hail Hail
Canamlar
Friday is the night that alcohol is added to my daily maryjo intake. I become confused on days like these. ;))