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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LIONROARS67 on 8TH AUGUST 2021 12:36 PM
Rumour is, Aguero’s fuming as one of the reasons he signed for Barca was to team up with his long-time pal Messi.
Rain of biblical proportions around CP….
when was the last time we had a settled DEFENCE ? that could defend.
!!BADA BING!! on 8TH AUGUST 2021 1:19 PM
Rain of biblical proportions around CP….
aye i’m no going up……..these old bones will suffer. Gonna watch on telly!
20 hours ago
Celtic B
Two super sub strikes secure late win for Celtic B in Bo’ness
By Joe Donnelly, Celtic View Reporter
Scottish Lowland League
Saturday, August 7th 2021
Newtown Park, Bo’ness
BO’NESS UNITED… 0
CELTIC… 2
(Letsosa 84, Davidson 87)
The Celtic B team overcame Bo’ness United 2-0 at Newtown Park today (Saturday) with two late goals scored by two late substitutes. Tsoanelo Letsosa and Bruno Davidson were the men of the moment for Tommy McIntyre’s side on the road, in a result that marked their third win in as many games.
Celtic started the match well, passing out from the back and patient in possession. Bo’ness’ early threat came from wide areas which called for concentration from the Hoops full-backs, Paterson and Jackson, however the home side’s end product was lacking.
Despite controlling the match in its early stages, clear-cut opportunities were few and far between in the first quarter-hour, with half-chances falling to Carse and Brooks respectively – the former dragging his shot from 20-yards wide of the left post; the latter sending his high and wide of the mark from similar range.
At the other end, Nick Locke did well to create space on the right flank before sending a wicked ball towards Oluwayemi’s front post, but the keeper handled comfortably. On the 14-minute mark, the Hoops stopper again found himself in the spotlight when he did exceptionally well to turn Conor McMullan’s long-range effort round the post with a strong right hand.
From there, much of the game was contained to the centre of the pitch where a series of well-contested battles dictated possession, with neither side creating much from the middle third.
With five minutes of the first half remaining, a miscommunication between Hjelde and Oluwayemi allowed Zander Miller to snatch at shot 12 yards from goal but the attacker sent his effort well high and wide of the mark thanks to enough pressure from the oncoming Paterson.
Goalless at the interval, Celtic returned to the pitch with a new spring in their step as Brooks burst onto a through-ball down the inside-right channel and flashed a shot across the keeper just inches wide of the target.
The Hoops continued to play with a relentless high-press and, on 54 minutes, created their next half-chance of the match via Boson Lawal. After committing himself at the business end of the pitch following a corner, the centre-back showed great strength to turn his man in the box, before curling a powerful drive wide.
Two minutes after that again and Vata showed great determination by beating his man on the right touchline, before sending a neat cut-back across the box with no takers.
Ahead of the hour mark, Brooks was unfortunate for a second time after the break when he unleashed a powerful drive just over the bar, and, on 68 minutes, the home side’s Nick Locke was shown a straight red after hauling Owen Moffat to the turf 20 yards from goal.
With the Hoops playing their football almost exclusively in the Bo’ness half, the visitors held the ball well as they sought to manipulate space in the final third. On 75 minutes, this was almost the result for their first goal when Patterson thundered down the left flank, zipped the ball back across the box only to just miss the oncoming Vata and Brooks.
Nine minutes later, and Celtic got the break they deserved when super sub Tsoanelo Letsosa scored with a typically striker’s finish, pouncing on a loose ball inside the penalty box. Three minutes after that again, and the Hoops’ final sub of the game, Bruno Davidson, did similar when he got on the end of a typically lethal Paterson cut-back to double his side’s lead.
Despite the timing of the goals, Tommy McIntyre’s men were every bit worthy of their two-goal advantage and now turn their attention to Annan Athletic in this Wednesday’s (August 11) SPFL Trust Trophy tie.
BO’NESS UNITED: Murphy, McCormack, Hunter, Grant, Comrie, Miller, Locke, Galbraith, McMullan, Macaulay, McKenzie
Subs: Stevenson, Skinner, Allan, Gillespie, Anderson, Flynn
CELTIC: Oluwayemi; Jackson, Lawal, Hjelde, Paterson; Murphy, Carse, Vata, Wylie, Moffat; Brooks
Subs: Mullen, Davidson, Letsosa, Dawson
Website Man of the Match: Brody Paterson
Question……
if your not balloted a ticket today. Are we still ok to watch on Celtic tv?
https://thecelticstar.com/photo-of-the-day-bobo-balde-in-action-against-dundee/
Check out the joke of a red card for Agathe. The more things change…
Meet the 5 biggest Celtic shareholders
By Euan Davidson
2 months ago
Who are the biggest Celtic shareholders? Who really wields the influence at Celtic Park?
https://www.67hailhail.com/news/meet-the-5-biggest-celtic-shareholders/
Bitton a sub,Christie and Rogic start
https://twitter.com/CelticFC/status/1424351038304395264?s=08
Hart, Ralston, Welsh, Starfelt, Taylor, Rogic, McGregor, Turnbull Abada, Christie, Furuhashi
Ugly scenes outside Celtic Park, Charlie Adam just got off the Dundee team bus…
https://twitter.com/Chri6ViF/status/1424012475574390784/photo/2
Think Rogic and Furuhashi could be lethal linking up, both very intelligent players.
Fourstone – You can watch today on pass for paradise in uk and CTV outside UK.
D :)
For personal reason unable to take up ticket allocation today
however there will be other days
hope the Celts put on a show for the chosen few
HH
Very attacking line up today. Bitton deservedly dropped and Turnbull I assume playing a deeper role. Should be entertaining. 3 points a must, let’s aim to get above the huns in the table today.
live updates up
wonder if the game will go ahead…..the rain is incessant