Before we get into the meat of the matter, I would like to record how impactful Kristoffer Ajer is at full back. He is not a full back, of course, this is not even his second best position, but he can get beyond his man and send a dangerous cross into the heart of the penalty box. This marks him as unique in our full back options. Of the many lessons from the season, let one be that we need better full backs at both sides of the field.
Conceding fouls inside your own half is not considered a capital crime at other clubs, so we should temper our annoyance at Shane Duffy (or the absent, but often guilty, Diego Laxalt), but we all know Celtic cannot defend set-pieces. At Livingston’s first goal, it was the otherwise excellent Kris Ajer who failed to track his man, not Nir Bitton, who stuck like glue to his opponent but was blamed by a scapegoat seeking Sky co-commentator.
When Livingston breached the Celtic defence for a second time, I was not concerned, as we were playing well and I expected a 30-minute onslaught towards the Livingston goal. Instead, Livingston consolidated their position, aided by four substitutions in 17 minutes either side of the goal, which finished Celtic as a threat. Credit to David Martindale.
Scott Brown’s ‘Get stuck into them’ cameo might have worked in a different era. We have seen similar flailing arms go completely unpunished against us, but it was the last thing we needed last night. By full time, the Livingston pitch resembled a very appropriate white flag.
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Hopefully the process is in motion at the moment… Hopefully the new manager is actually watching and assessing the squad as we speak………… Do you think???
ERNIE LYNCH on 21ST JANUARY 2021 2:16 PM
Fair enough. If you weren`t such a recluse I would ask you to e-mail me your thought (s) on the matter.
:-)
The other possible candidate I didnt mention earlier would be Steve Clarke. That would involved the board allowing us to limp on to the end of the season – surely with a caretaker rather than NL – and trying agreed a deal for the current Scotland manager for after the Euros.
He would certainly tighten things up, I dont think he would be too expensive for the board, but certainly not a glamour appointment. He would also have little to no time to prepare for qualifiers as mentioned by someone else.
TJ
We didn’t replace Mikel Lustig, we didn’t replace Keiran Tierney and we didn’t replace Fraser Forster…these were big, big players for us…what we have now is a sieve with a big hole in it…
JAMESGANG on 21ST JANUARY 2021 1:20 PM
We were much better last night than in both previous games
We created more and conceded far fewer chances, on a filthy night on plastic
Although it’s the very least you’d expect when the opposition were playing with half a team out
!!BADA BING!! on 21ST JANUARY 2021 1:57 PM
Superb !
Celtic 40- it was Livingston reserves we were playing…..HH
CELTIC40ME on 21ST JANUARY 2021 2:26 PM
JAMESGANG on 21ST JANUARY 2021 1:20 PM
We were much better last night than in both previous games
———
For a while.
More a wee while than a long while, mind!
HH jg
Oldtim67,
Martindale is doing a great job at Livi but its very early days. Often those who are afforded second chances are the most dedicated and driven
TJ
And on the basis of who we fielded vis a vis who we faced, I still see hibs as the last bad performance.
(Though I realise, I’m in a barrel, at the bottom, scraping!)
Eddie Howe would almost certainly have called Brendan Rodgers if he was considering coming up here.
Whatever happened to the tanks that were supposed to be parked at the steps of Ibrox ?
I honestly did not think we were that bad last night. Our defence is poor and that is very costly but we did enough to win the game.IMO, of course.
I have noticed what feels like quite a few posts remarking on our `lack of fitness` but I cannot say I have noticed that myself. (I have noticed a lack of skill, though !!).
Has Celtic By Numbers done anything on that point of late? It would be good to see if people`s opinions on this matter are backed by evidence.
Anyway, as Bada`s link cheered me up, I think this is a good time to say
Cheerio for now.
Any new/replacement manager could/should cut out passing along our back line constantly.
Play with a feckin winger that will go by someone.
Do drills in training work on corners etc. not all corners need to be crossed into the box.
Auch I dont know anymore I gee up its wearing me down either that or the hangover.
D :)
PETETHEBEAT on 21ST JANUARY 2021 2:31 PM
Whatever happened to the tanks that were supposed to be parked at the steps of Ibrox ?
I believe we’re hiring them from Parks .
ONENIGHTINLISBON on 21ST JANUARY 2021 12:47 PM
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 21ST JANUARY 2021 12:29 PM
The disappointing thing is we were all jubilant when Lenny got the job full-time.
ONENIGHTINLISBON – I would look up satire in the Celtic glossary…..
TINYTIM on 21ST JANUARY 2021 2:04 PM
Dermot Desmond is calling the shots .
Peter Lawell is just an employee.
It is DD that will sanction the big decisions.
I couldn’t agree more,I’m fed up reading that Peter Lawwell should go before the so called manager is crazy.
HS – No disrespect we did not do enough to win the game as we never scored 1 more than Livvy.
I am being facetious. I do think we had chance to win the game.
It is the turgid performance that irks me and the same player’s not having ball retention skills, giving the ball to the opposition constantly.
Game management is poor, substitutions are poor, it does not look like we work on set pieces.
D :)
My stokie mates cannot believe we haven’t sacked Lenny – becoming a laughing stock –
Deniabhoy 2:11
Hassenhuttel was busy during lockdown:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/15/secrets-of-hasenhuttl-southampton-success-set-plays-and-self-criticism
Won’t be long before he is at one of the top clubs.
Shots on our goal usually end up in the net especially when Barkas is in goal.
Funny old game. Moyes had high expectations that he was going to be offered the job before the Hampden cheap trick was pulled.
Most on here didn’t think he was good enough for us.
West Ham seem delighted. They are on target for their best season in about 30 years.
Whatever happened to
Should we sell [insert name of player]
Get NL out now, if there are no candidates then some people aren’t doing their jobs and should follow NL out the door
MARKIEBHOY on 21ST JANUARY 2021 1:22 PM
When I saw that goal go in I though OMG, a completely free header, the scorer could hardly believe his luck.
Our Midfielders going from side to side no defence splitting passes (cal mac exempt) or running by players, having said that I do think Turnbull and Soro could be coached into great players by someone, they are good players just now. Maybe its our lack of pace going forward as we fascinate about possession on our own 18 yard line.
Eddie Howe – your choice is working for Peter Lawwell or Mike Ashley
Tough one
BIG GEORGES FAN CLUB – HAIL, HAIL, WEE OSCAR on 21ST JANUARY 2021 1:41 PM
Excellent Post
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL – good article. Studying, learning, adapting, practicing . . .
I came to the conclusion last season that there was little in NL’s approach to mngmt and coaching that could be described as professional.
Now it just appears as rank amateurism.
DB @ 2.44
That is our big issue.
We have delusions of grandeaur.
The good half of the SPL are not good enough for us.
Even this season when we are being given footballing lessons by just about everyone.
One thing about last nights game. I watched it on a feed with Livingston’s own commentators. It was fairer and more balanced than any of the major broadcasters, and at least when they expressed partisan opinions it was understandable and excusable.
Ernie- it was the same with Hibs TV a few weeks ago.
can anyone explain why both Turnbull and Griff our centre forward and only striker on the park both lined up to take the corners , Griff get in the bloody box and at least try to do what you’re on the park for.
oh and by the way basic defending , why does Duff y not start/stand furthest away in our defensive line at opponents set pieces to give him time to judge flight of the ball etc before attacking it, other than standing in middle and watching the ball going over his head and constantly getting caught underneath the ball.
DENIABHOY on 21ST JANUARY 2021 2:44 PM
Funny old game. Moyes had high expectations that he was going to be offered the job before the Hampden cheap trick was pulled.
Most on here didn’t think he was good enough for us.
West Ham seem delighted. They are on target for their best season in about 30 years.
——-
My season ticket holder Hammer colleague certainly didn’t feel so last season.
Loved Snodgrass. Couldn’t believe we signed Ajeti
HH jg
and another thing do we only allow certain players to take our throw -ins , the amount of time we waste waiting on designated thrower is shocking.
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 21ST JANUARY 2021 2:26 PM
We didn’t replace Mikel Lustig, we didn’t replace Keiran Tierney and we didn’t replace Fraser Forster…these were big, big players for us…what we have now is a sieve with a big hole in it…
#######
Spot on my friend . We had two right good fullbacks , top notch goalkeeper . The purchase of a no nonsense hard as nails CH would have been one spend I would have made . A bit of toughening up in the midfield too was needed ,we’ve required steel in that department for a while now . And a left winger . Now IMHO a near clear out is required , Will we get the players needed to reclaim our top team status , can’t see it until we jettison the suits and the coaching staff ,things have gone too far for a patch up job unfortunately . HH
Couldn’t believe we signed Ajeti
neither could I, an imposter.
RC….
“can anyone explain why both Turnbull and Griff our centre forward and only striker on the park both lined up to take the corners”
1 : One player to take the corner.
2 : Other player to stop Ryan Christie trying to take it
The Onlooker