Movement of front 3 sets Celtic loose

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Jablonec are not a great team, but we faced a few who fall into that category since our last away win in February without scoring four goals and creating enough chances to easily double that.  Ange Postecoglou continues to learn about his squad and unlike away to Mitjylland a week earlier, we were well prepared.

Yesterday I asked to “see more of [Liel Abada’s] timed runs into the box”.  The evidence continues to arrive; Liel is a player who will score and create goals at a rate we have missed in recent seasons.  This knack of arriving in the box and the right time, in the right place, before a cross arrives is golden.  Think Alan Thompson at his lethal best.

Kyogo Furuhashi made the most of his full debut.  The movement of the front three caused Joblonec problems and it was Kyogo’s movement that created the goal opportunity.  Nir Bitton picked him out with a 30-yard pass, a pristine first touch and the deftest dink did the rest.  As I heard from a teenager at the time, “That goal is a solid 9 out of 10”.

As anyone who watched the game, or caught John Hartson’s remarkable reaction, will know, the defence is still not right.  We lost two dreadful goals.  You will have noticed Carl Starfelt was the closest defender to both goalscorers when the ball went into the net.  He did not start that way when the key forward passes were made.

For the first, Bitton was on his heels, body shape was wrong and Starfelt was left the impossible task of making up ground.  The second goal was more of a structural problem.

Starfelt and Bitton were both marking strikers in the middle of the field and the full backs were in advanced positions when Celtic lost the ball.  Ismaila Soro has covering duties but he was ball watching when the scorer made a run from deep.

We cannot leave two at the back against two attackers or we will see a lot more damage from similar deep runs.  Although we can blame Soro for ball watching, we need to shape the team to accommodate what will inevitably happen during a game.  Ismaila’s starting position was all wrong, he cannot get drawn into the role of supporting the player in possession at the cost of loitering deep.

It was great to see Joe Hart between the sticks and John Hartson was right, if a little hysterical, we still need defenders.  Perhaps a few.

Would we have won so comfortably if Odsonne Edouard started?  I’m not convinced.

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703 Comments

  1. Sounds like at least three of the Band of Merry Bhoys on here aren’t too well – best wishes from the BGFC clan!!!

     

     

    We are feeling very Holy today – off to do the readings at 5:00 Mass.

     

     

    Will revert to type from 6 onwards as the women of the familly are away to London – EMPTY AT OUR HOUSE :-)))))) !!!!!!!!

     

     

    HH

     

    BGFC and WeeBGFC

  2. Hi Favourite Uncle – BGFC here – it does at some services (St David’s Plains – on Facebook). Priest covers St David’s Plains, St Dominic’s Greengairs AND St Mary’s Caldercruix.

     

     

    So, at least one Mass is online every weekend. I’ll go get WeeBGC to check if tonight’s is on the stream (he’s upstairs getting duded-up).

     

     

    HH

     

    BGFC

  3. onenightinlisbon on

    The new Sevco midfielder Lundstum stated on Sky that they had players out with covid.

     

     

    The interview disappeared not long after being broadcast.

     

     

    Roofe was out with “family issues”….

  4. Big Jimmy – Good to see you on mucker.

     

     

    You rest up and we will meet up soon for another swally.

     

     

    D :)

  5. Three thoughts:

     

    Lundstram will probably get the lecture about staying schtuum on Covid.

     

    Hertz look like going top after a really boring game.

     

    Tangerines left back Jamie Robson looks a player.

  6. Tontine Tim on 7th August 2021 5:03 pm

     

     

    Wins for the Hibbees and sheep the morra, even a draw, and they are down tae 4th.

     

    —————-

     

    The “old firm” battling it out for relegation, exciting times ahead ;O)

  7. glendalystonsils on

    Don’t tell me the huns have lost that magical total immunity they had last season?

  8. SAINT STIVS on 7TH AUGUST 2021 3:12 PM

     

     

    Alex Rae

     

     

    Rangers can have proportions of possession the most but didnt score well enough.

     

     

    haha.bit craigy broon-esque there Stivs,should have won as we had most shys in the 4th quarter o the pitch.they just dont realise the new heights they take talking guff to.

     

    😊

     

     

    hh

  9. GuyFawkesaforeverhero on

    Wee team win 2 – 0 away at Bo’ness, two goals in last five minutes from subs Letsoa and Davidson. Straight red for Bo’ness clogger against Moffat in 75 mins. Celtic were selling tickets for this one, £7. @CelticFCB

     

     

    Next weekend is a brammer, away v Vale of Leithen. Innerleithen, a town squeezed between Peebles and Galashiels. Club motto is Keep Faith. Motto is part of club badge alongside an image of the town’s patron saint, St Ronan. Already sounds like another home game.

  10. fergusslayedtheblues on

    Oh dear

     

    Seems that no one at Ibrokes thought to appraise the new start as to the the non covid policy

     

     

    I await the sevco and media spin

     

    You can put the kettle on for it

  11. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    Good Evening Timland.

     

     

    The embra huns top of the league Celtic second bottom according to

     

    BBC Scotland, what a dreadful day.

  12. prestonpans bhoys on

    Has anyone tried to buy the Hertz game, bloody useless website says I need to login to my account even though I have😵😱

  13. Big Jimmy and Bada – look after yourselves Bhoys

     

    Crisis club Sevco, two losses in a week. I’m sure the Sundays will have them under pressure……

     

    Think the SFA’s fixture ” Computer ” didn’t factor in that visit to Tannadice.

     

    Lifeline thrown, grab it with both hands Bhoys and rattle a few in tomorrow.

  14. lets all do the huddle on

    Has anyone tried to buy the Hertz game, bloody useless website says I need to login to my account even though I have😵😱

     

     

     

    if you’re on the HCTS then you dont need to buy one

     

     

    if you’re not on it then the problem is the web site is f*cked

     

     

    😆

  15. lets all do the huddle on

    and if you arent on the HCTS then look for a link that says Reserved Tickets and you should be able to click on it and get your ticket

  16. lets all do the huddle on

    i cant think of another web site that keeps asking you to log in even though you already are

     

     

    ohh, hang on….

     

     

    🤫

  17. PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 7TH AUGUST 2021 5:58 PM

     

    Has anyone tried to buy the Hertz game, bloody useless website says I need to login to my account even though I have😵😱

     

     

    …..

     

     

    I’m on the HCTS and I thought I had to but one … which the website won’t let me

  18. lets all do the huddle on 7th August 2021 6:07 pm

     

     

    i cant think of another web site that keeps asking you to log in even though you already are

     

    ohh, hang on….

     

    ————-

     

    P67 “And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids”

  19. It would be most excellent if Malmo score first at the bigotdome. That revolting lot will be revolting if that came to pass.

     

     

    Hoping for a big performance by the Bhoys the morra with plenty goals.

  20. Someone need to dig deeper into the covid statement at rangers!! Btw Charlie mulgrew was immense today , winning headers in both boxes, organising the defence and had the beautiful delivery we know about. 100 x better than biton.

  21. STEBHOY

     

     

    Bitton on the other hand has never just walked off the pitch because he said he was injured. Charlie Mulgrew’s time at Celtic is long gone.

  22. lets all do the huddle on

    Bitton on the other hand has never just walked off the pitch because he said he was injured. Charlie Mulgrew’s time at Celtic is long gone.

     

     

     

    it’s Bitton’s walking when he’s on the pitch instead of chasing balls over his head that worries me

  23. fergusslayedtheblues on

    glad Ange and the team have a chance to negate last weeks loss .

     

    IMO Ange made a crucial call midweek in dropping a disinterested striker to play his preferred front line ,

     

    paid off in spades 4 which could have been 8 .

     

    Next on the agenda sorting out a weak defence ,hopefully a win tomorrow will give him some breathing space

     

    HH