Celtic always had the look of winners last night, but until Odsonne Edouard pounced on the rebound from Ryan Christie’s shot, the outcome was in the balance. We are going to face a lot of packed defences like that this season, though fortunately or not, that could be the last we see of them in the Europa League.
Christie was back to his best. I know his stats are far from impressive and he is criticised (by others) for his decision making, but I spent almost three years during Brendan Rodgers time wanting someone to mix it up. Take shots that would force the keeper to work or a defender to block, or play the low percentage pass that we all know is going to miss most of the time, but will result in loose balls in dangerous areas.
Those poor stats are a consequence of randomness, which is something we loved in Frank McGarvey, but that was before the stats came along to both inform and confuse. Stats are all about interpretation, which is the real lesson of Michael Lewis’ Moneyball for those who never read the book, or those who did, but didn’t understand it.
I tried most of the second half to figure out what changes Neil Lennon made at halftime that freed up Jeremie Frimpong. During the first half, he was so well shackled, I considered the Sarajevo left back as a possible recruit. At the break, the suggestion was made to me, maybe he is better as an impact player?
Sarajevo certainly opened up at the break, which may have helped, but Jeremie was back at his impactful self during the second period. Credit also to Greg Taylor, who had his best game in a Celtic shirt.
I’m still pretty gutted about not being in the Champions League and at the manner of our exit, but Pot 1 seed in the Europa is an important place to land. Last week we spoke about how it was to our advantage that all domestic rivals also reach the group stage. We didn’t want them having a week to plan games against St Mirren etc., while we traverse the Continent. Not this season.
That kind of left hemisphere thinking was nowhere to be found once kick offs were underway last night. You can’t fake this stuff, it is just not possible to subvert the tribal instinct (which is why nationalism is so potent, and why Celtic is my only identity). But, in a crisp and sunny autumnal morning, logic is back on top. No one will get an easy pass to the title this season, including Celtic.
Uefa’s methods of seeding have never been perfect, this is not tennis, but those pots are full of variance. I’m hoping to avoid sides from the big nations. Farewell, Copenhagen, Basel, Sporting, Rosenborg, Legia (sorry, Zbyszek) and yes, even Galatasaray. Strong sides are out of Europe, the potential to join them was real.
669 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 18
- »
Remember back when days like this involved people poised at their keyboards to scour the internet for cheap fliights?
How long before that happens again?
Celtic
Sparta Prague
Can Milan
EL Group H
Pot 1 Celtic
Pot 2 Sparta Prague
Pot 3 AC Milan
Pot 4 …
Matchdays: 22 / 29 October ; 5 / 26 November ; 3 / 10 December
H. Celtic, Sparta Prague, ACMilan
Rangers with Benfica and Liege
The 3rd seed in our group will be AC Milan
3rd pot team : Milan (again!)
uefa guy gives continuity lie live on screen,
Ernie – said that last night fella. The whatsapp groups and the messages about timings, directions, hotels, prices going up and holding your nerve…
Like a scene from Wolf of Wall Street.
Miss it. :(
How the heck did AC become a pot 3 Europa Leagiue team?
Big wavy – they were banned for a couple of years I think
Milan became a pot 3 team as a consequence of their cheating,
Arsenal got an easy group
At least a bit of glamour though our luck with groups is awful.
Celtic
Sparta Prague
AC Milan
Lille
EL Group H
Pot 1 Celtic
Pot 2 Sparta Prague
Pot 3 AC Milan
Pot 4 Lille
Matchdays: 22 / 29 October ; 5 / 26 November ; 3 / 10 December
AC Milan pot 3 – it’s a conspiracy
Lille our 4th team
Our “diddy” 4th seeds will be Lille- not good
Group of death – you just knew it
Lille
Tough group
I Lille pot 4 it’s a bigger conspiracy
Hard group
Being it onn
Looks a difficult group for a us Bhoys ??
SAINT STIVS on 2ND OCTOBER 2020 12:33 PM
uefa guy gives continuity lie live on screen,
—————————–
Saw that – what to do?!?!?!
are you seriously telling me that was the best starting 11 that was available to us last night?
Yes, in the managers opinion, that was the 11 he decided was the best to start the match with.
A myriad of information will have been used, and so the manager picked his best 11.
I dont need to be a master debator.
Even from Pot 1,we get drawn the hardest group.
The Huns group,FFS.
We have the best group
GLAMOROUS GROUP.
Wee quiz question for all the AULDHEIDS ‘
Who was IRISH player who played for STANDARD LIEGE against the huns in EUROPEAN CUP early 60s.
so its of to Prague,Milan and Lille.
a lot of links to all countries.
hh
Tough group. Unlikely we’ll face many packed defences in those games, and that’s maybe not a bad thing.
…depending on your definition of ‘best’
What an absolute pig of a group. Let’s hope Lille sign Morelos.
Who did the huns get?
Good news is that Sparta Prague finished a distant 3rd in the Czech league last year
Milan finished 5th but have won their opening 2 games this season
Lille finished 4th in Ligue 1(behind Rennes) but are unbeaten in 5 so far this season
up side – no long distance travel,
down side – sunday fixtures for the forseeable future
Here we go again ghuys, batten down the hatches.
It’s Celtic time.
What a draw.
Hope our fans are back in the stadium, we’re gonna
need thum.
H.H. Mick
great group , you to go head to head against the best teams , less pressure than playing so called weaker teams.
want