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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only the 3 covid cases.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1423974136917987330
Friesdorfer
Thanks Andy.
Lewis is absolutely buzzing.
His first game in 3 years. He was 7 then and not really into football. He certainly is now. Watches all Celtic games with his dad and Uncle Neil. He predicts Celtic 7 Dundee 0
Kyogo hat trick. 😊👍🍀💚
After a slow start I have really enjoyed the Olympics. Some brilliant performances against the odds.
LReally looking forward to the main feature at Paradise today.
COYBIG.
Can’t be there today (and quite possibly next week too), just do the business, Celtic. It will cetainly make my day.
Is there any proof of covid in Ibrox? Has anyone recorded the interview in which it was mentioned. I imagine if there is and they don’t inform UEFA (forget the SFA and SPFL) they will be in big trouble.
Typed the above before reading back. Thanks, SS.
Journos – allegedly – live for the sniff of a right good story.
The sniff of malfeasance; the sign of a pochle etc.
Even if lumbering Lundstram’s cat-out-the-bag covid cases happened b4 the season started properly, any decent journo would want to ask, investigate and probe about the story details.
If no-one asks, it’s prpob coming from higher above the journos ie, at Editor and/or Manager level.
Given how the Sevvies cash-strapped cash-for-access model has offsided a few titles, surely at least one hacked-off senior hack will follow the story up? If none of them do, the media cabal is in conference and doing the bidding of a 33degree Master.
If it applies to stories of this relative triviality, imagine what’s going on with the really juicy tales.
Barstewards all!
DELANEYS DUNKY on 8TH AUGUST 2021 10:46 AM
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.
——–
DD – Garry, I can vaguely remember Gerry and now that you say that I think John did tell me that a few years ago. Another taken too early with a drink related death. Same as Dozzle Paul Bossley.
HH
D :)
DD – Enjoy today with the Grandson.
HH
D :)
The Messi interview just now, he looks like a guy that is shellshocked by events,
Not all bad for the rangers this weekend, Look at all the medals they won at the Olympics,
David66
Two of my best mates and neighbours too.
Brothers Danny and Stephen Gallagher.
Both drank themselves to death in their 30s.
Still see John Bossley at Paradise. So sad his bro.
May they all be resting in peace.
Big Ged Specs too. 🙏🍀💚
DD – Big Ged was taken really early does John B still look like Jesus.
D :)
Messi – how much money does he need. You can stay with the club that has made you a billionaire and accept whatever it is able to offer. You and your greedy colleagues, together with those who have run the club, are the reason that it is now in this precarious position.
“When the going gets tough, the entitled run away”
John is still the son of God.
He now has a beard to go with his arse length hair. 😁👍🍀💚
Celtic France
@Celtic_FR
·
19h
Jullien will be back in Sept/Oct in full training. Big man himself just told me.
JHB on 8TH AUGUST 2021 11:38 AM
Messi was prepared to take a 50% pay-cut. Barca were ready to offer it to him. It was La Liga who blocked it.
DD – :) :)
D :)
Messi,For me he’s the best ever, but ive lost a lot of respect for the guy,sure he was great for them,but that’s when times are good,things are bad now,due to financial mismanagement, including his salary, the Club needs him now and hes walking away from them,he could play for nothing, and turn proposed salary into deferred shares…..something could have been worked out
Expected side for the first home game of the season
….……………Hart…………………..
Ralston Bitton Starfelt Taylor
………………Soro………………….
.………Turnbull……… McGregor
………Abada Kyogo Forrest………
Zero from four ballots ‘Pass to Paradise’ Celtic Supporters darn
the hair do we care.
CSC
!!BADA BING!! on 8TH AUGUST 2021 11:45 AM
You’re correct that something could’ve been worked out but it would’ve basically meant La Liga bending the rules for an elite club – something that they are eager to make a thing of the past as the big financial injection gives them a chance of a rest.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t….break the rules for the big clubs and people cry foul. Stick to the rules and people ask why they couldn’t “work something out”.
Only shallow minded individuals think the Olympics is anything to do with the huns.
In fact it is the exact opposite of hunlife.
Citius, Altius, Fortius- Communiter.
Get a life, there is more to living that equating everything with the huns.
They really are not worthy of the obsession.
Anyway, HH and COYBIG.
*reset, not rest
BB,
Hopefully our performance and result will be a tonic.
HH.
If Sevco are keeping their Covid results in house then the outcomes must be examined.
Not just for the impact on their staff but more importantly from the spreader issue.
Hail Hail
Stay Safe
CADINTONCOMMOM
The mankies use a lab in Belfast.
No surprise there then.
Apologies for misspell!
BSR
Welsh in place of Ralston and Urhoghide (sp) in place of Biton.
Biton for Turnbull.
A nice tall back four.
Suits me!
Philbhoy
Your choice suits me too sir.
Would have anyone but Taylor at left back.
Preferably Jamie Robson, on yesterday’s performance.
DELANEYS DUNKY
I considered leaving Taylor out and playing with 10 men!
Where’s the tea lady?
Are you going to the HOO Ton the 28th?
HOOT on
Philbhoy
Yes. Hopefully see you there good sir. 👍🍀💚
DD
Hope so!
geebee1978- thanks for reply, the league has let Barca and Real get into major debt…..sounds familiar…..if he plays for nothing, not sure that could break any financial rules
!!BADA BING!! on 8TH AUGUST 2021 12:23 PM
Barca aren’t allowed to sign players until they let players go. As Messi’s contract had run down, they’d have technically been signing a “new” player.
It’s a sad state of affairs, I agree but maybe it’s time for Barca to move on and rebuild. It’s a shame as there’s nothing more unromantic than one of the world’s best players (even in his advanced years) signing for a petro-state vanity project.
DD,
CHECK THE TRAINS BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT.
ScotRail
@ScotRail
We’re advising customers that most ScotRail services will be cancelled on Sunday because of strike action by the RMT trade union.
Lionel Messi………could Laporta have done more ? staggering levels of financial mismanagement
https://twitter.com/GuillemBalague/status/1424324614881259520?s=20
The Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said star player Lionel Messi wanted to stay at the club. The club’s all-time top scorer was expected to re-sign with the Catalan side until their shock announcement that ‘financial and structural obstacles’ made it impossible to renew his contract. ‘The whole process has reached a point where in a negotiation you must stand up and you must leave emotions out, analyse it with the rigour and the value of the numbers,’ Laporta said.
Barcelona would not be able to register Messi, even if he did play for free. That’s how bad the accounts are. (Why on earth they made 4 signings this summer… They really thought the rules would not apply)
Got a phone call 11am – spare ticket to Paradise. Now on Leith CSC bus. Happy days.
HHd
I’d keep a settled defence for now , Ryan probably deserves a start on the left , Jamsie can be super sub