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. Sláinte Ange on

    SIONNAIGH on 8TH AUGUST 2021 1:34 AM

     

    Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Israelites

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

    The 2nd single I ever bought

     

    The 1st was Dusty Springfield’s Son of A Preacher Man

     

    Still love listening to them both

     

    HH

  2. SIONNAIGH on 8TH AUGUST 2021 3:24 AM

     

    DELANEYS DUNKY

     

     

     

     

    Did you know any Crossan’s out in Knightwood’s wild west?

     

    ———

     

    Sionnagh- My older bro went about wi a Gerry Crossan and I am sure DD will remember him better than me.

     

     

    D :)

  3. Good morning cqn from a …. dont know the weather not pulled blinds yet but a matchday in the Garngad

     

     

    D :)

  4. Sionnaigh – May he rest in peace.

     

     

    I will let my older Bro know.

     

     

    If I remember right Gerry was a loveable rogue.

     

     

    D :)

  5. Oh Hampden Park was crowded

     

    The fans began to roar

     

    The Rangers fans were singing

     

    Of the sash their father wore.

     

    But very soon

     

    The changed their tune

     

    When the Celtic plan was set,

     

    For Lennox crossed to Billy McNeill

     

    And the ball was in the net!

     

     

    Chorus

     

    Putting on the agony

     

    Putting on the style

     

    One, two, three, four lovely goals

     

    Scoring all the while.

     

    There’s nothing in this whole wide world

     

    That makes you want to smile

     

    Like watching Glasgow Celtic

     

    Putting on the style

     

     

    Now Lennox he caused trouble

     

    With his running through

     

    And from a long ball from defence

     

    He made it number two.

     

    All that day he worked his way

     

    To make the Rangers prance

     

    And the Celtic End went round the bend

     

    Doing the victory dance

     

     

    Chorus

     

     

    Now just before the interval

     

    Came goal number three

     

    And this time it was slotted in

     

    By young george Connelly

     

    in his first cup final

     

    A day he’ll not forget

     

    When he walked the ball round big John Greig

     

    Into the Rangers net.

     

     

    Chorus

     

     

    Chalmers was our centre

     

    He gave his all and more

     

    And to him fell the honour

     

    Of scoring number four.

     

    A dribble down the left wing

     

    A shot which goalward sped

     

    And once again the Scottish Cup

     

    Was resting at Parkhead.

     

     

    Chorus

  6. Sionnnaigh

     

     

    I have pint wi a lad Brian Crossan who’s fae Knightswood like myself.no a Tim tho.no an anything tbh.he’sa good guitarist right enough

  7. celticforever on

    a wee song to pass on to our Dundee Hibernian fans

     

     

    He can play left mid

     

    He can play left back

     

     

    Even centre half

     

    And he will not slack

     

     

    He’s our prodigal son

     

    And he hates the huns

     

     

    It’s Charlie Mulgrew, it’s Charlie Mulgrew

  8. Sionnaigh

     

     

    Shared a few pints wi Gerry Crossan aswell.

     

    Aye ye had to be on the ball.good lad

  9. Good Morning all. A wee bit brighter today on the silvery Tay. COYBIG.

     

     

    Garry enjoy the day with your grandson.

     

     

    HH

  10. prestonpans bhoys on

    Nearly 24 hours now and not a word about huns having covid +

     

     

    They live in a separate universe from all of us😵

  11. think if the truth comes out about covid they might

     

    be missing players for the Malmo game

     

     

    Still think the huns were at it last season having a covid

     

    free year

  12. Bada B,

     

     

    Superb stuff.

     

     

    We’re on the road again.

     

     

    Ange lets do this.

     

     

    Callum get the Bhoys Rockin’.

  13. Delaneys Dunky on

    David 66

     

    As you know, Gerry Crossan was one of my best mates. Fae block 75 Kirkton.

     

    One of your bro John’s best mates too.

     

    Tragically, Gerry drank himself to death. He died about 20 years ago, in his 30s when he died. Gerry was a great guy.

  14. Celtic, Celtic thats the team for me,

     

    Celtic, Celtic on to victory,

     

     

    They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,

     

     

    We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the scottish football league

     

     

    They come from bonnie Scotland, they come from county Cork,

     

     

    They come from dear old Donegal and even from New York,

     

     

    From every street in Glasgow they proudly make their way,

     

     

    To a place called dear old paradise and this is what they say.

     

     

    Celtic, Celtic thats the team for me,

     

    Celtic, Celtic on to victory,

     

     

    They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,

     

     

    We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the scottish football league.

     

     

    There’s Fallon, Young and Gemmell who proudly wear the green,

     

     

    There’s Clark, McNeill and Kennedy the best there;s ever been,

     

     

    Jim Johnstone, Murdoch, Chalmers, John Divers and John Hughes,

     

     

    And sixty thousand Celtic fans who proudly shout the news.

     

     

    Celtic, Celtic thats the team for me,

     

    Celtic, Celtic on to victory,

     

     

    They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,

     

     

    We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the scottish football league.

     

     

    Repeat to fade CSC