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. FERGUSSLAYEDTHEBLUES on 7TH AUGUST 2021 7:39 PM

     

     

    Exactly – last week’s loss didn’t mean the season was “over” and after only one game, perspective is needed.

     

     

    But what Sevco’s result does (providing we win tomorrow) is takes the pressure off a little. We aren’t playing catch up and we aren’t chasing a foe that is unbeatable.

     

     

    Get a couple of full-backs and a centre-back and we can give this a right go.

  2. Fergus – very good call about ange – do I love OE? Of course. Can I remember when he last played well? Nope. Drop and go.

  3. fergusslayedtheblues on

    GEEBEE1978

     

    Too right ,Ange and the team are playing catch up regards getting ourselves set up and organised any drop of points from sevco 2012 at this point in the season is a bonus ,now it’s up to us to make up the ground ,The closer we are to the team at the top when the next window arrives the better .

     

     

    HH

  4. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Thanks for the messages Bhoys much appreciated, today makes me feel a lot better 😁

  5. fergusslayedtheblues on

    JAKIEMAC

     

    I think we can all agree as to the talent Eddy possesses but something has happened that has led to his form dropping off a cliff .

     

    The fact that Ange felt the need to play Kyogo ASAP shows that he saw the same as most celtic fans regards Eddies effort and commitment .

     

    best for both parties if a deal can be done to let both move on

     

    HH

  6. prestonpans bhoys on

    Bada

     

     

    Don’t know what you are suffering from but hope you get well soon👍👍👍👍👍

  7. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Cosgrove binned by Birmingham City, maybe take him as a back up,target man striker?

  8. lets all do the huddle on

    Slippy G calling Dundee United ‘Dundee’

     

     

    this is a guy who watched so much scottish football over the years before he came here that he knew after only 1 or 2 games in charge that ‘Rangers’ had been discriminated against by referees for years

     

     

    yet he doesnt know the difference between the 2 dundee clubs?

     

     

    a tit of the highest order

  9. Drambowiecelt on

    Strange whit the ole music does to the memory……

     

    We hitting the 60’s stuff just noo…….Jasamine comes on..And…

     

    I’m flashbacked to the ole Cragburn slow dancin….. Can even remember the girl..

     

    Her mod hair, clothes, eveything……Nice memory…..

     

    Now i cannae remember yesterday wt france?????

  10. lets all do the huddle on

    Strange whit the ole music does to the memory……

     

     

    We hitting the 60’s stuff just noo…….Jasamine comes on..And…

     

     

     

    do you mean ‘Jesamine’

     

     

    top tune

  11. Drambowiecelt on

    This one forBig Jimmy….Son in Law got treble for 189 brick

     

    They froze cash in ..5 mins to go.. they are dortmund won psg won and bham

     

    still playin……..feckers hope bham win ….

  12. Drambowiecelt on

    oops psg still playin 2.1 up jeez anything can happen in the next half second.lol

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    supercar csc

  13. Drambowiecelt on

    @Big J..97mins still no cash out for him ….But Brum held out…

     

    He was biting everything never mind his nails lol

  14. lets all do the huddle on 7th August 2021 9:20 pm

     

     

    Slippy G calling Dundee United ‘Dundee’

     

     

    this is a guy who watched so much scottish football over the years before he came here that he knew after only 1 or 2 games in charge that ‘Rangers’ had been discriminated against by referees for years

     

     

    yet he doesnt know the difference between the 2 dundee clubs?

     

     

     

    a tit of the highest order

     

     

    …………………………………………………………………..

     

     

     

    I saw that interview and straight away I thought that that was bang out of order. Well Done Dundee United a good fitba club.

     

     

    I Hope Malmo knock them right out. The pressure on them will be unbearable and the SMSM will be all over them like a rash. Not.

     

     

    Goals the morra Celtic – We’re on the Road again. It’s gonnae be quite emotional getting back in.

     

     

    Ange is the Man.

  15. Big ups to wee G yesterday for crankin up the Fri club wae his tunes…

     

    My Fri are taken up wae grand weans .great grandweans..dugs ..

     

    And making curry… these days…. But i remember all the good Fri gone by… fondly

     

    Well done son..

  16. lets all do the huddle on

    big cuddy race in america in a few minutes 🐎

     

     

    live on sky sports racing

     

     

    3 irish horses in it

     

     

    all 3 have a chance of winning

     

     

    prize money is ridicious 💰💰💰

  17. lets all do the huddle on

    joseph obriens horse romped it at 12 -1

     

     

    650 grand for the win

     

     

    😮

  18. Lets all son in law took 10/1 5 ew .. he now waitin on stars v strikers for draw 72 brick

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    H.H.

  19. lets all do the huddle on

    Lets all son in law took 10/1 5 ew .. he now waitin on stars v strikers for draw 72 brick

     

     

    🤞

     

     

    fingers crossed

     

     

    like to hear folk collect from they wretched bookies

  20. As we speak strikers hit the front…..Don’t get into the bettin game

     

    but this hs been good watchin him go for it…

     

    Plus 60’s in the background. Forgot how good a singer was wee dean ford…

  21. In the Burke and hare after a gig in Edinburger…..early 70.s

     

    Slips the jukbox…..Plays the wrong side…..

     

    And the most beautiful tune comes forth….

     

    Emdy????

  22. lets all do the huddle on

    In the Burke and hare after a gig in Edinburger…..early 70.s

     

     

    Slips the jukbox…..Plays the wrong side…..

     

     

    And the most beautiful tune comes forth….

     

     

    Emdy????

     

     

     

    was the burke and hare not a ‘gentlemans’ club?

  23. lets all do the huddle on

    @ Lets erm 49 year ago and naw lol

     

     

     

    ha

     

     

    its part of the pubic triangle up lothian road

     

     

    though covid might have finished it

     

     

    i will look into it

     

     

    😁

  24. My wee grandsons bday today…..Among the usual battery operated stuff

     

    I sneaked a wee present……A gold fish….

     

    Son whit you gonnae call it……

     

    ???? Henrik granda….Oh jeez whit a bhoy hes 7 lol

     

    Wee Henrik is swimmin aboot and loves rosie…