For all Celtic are being criticised for their shoddy work in front of goal, it was Shakhtar Donetsk who missed the most glorious chance of this or any season. They passed up an additional chance that was at least the equal of Kyogo’s effort that went straight to the keeper.
We knew the script Shakhtar would follow in advance: defend deep, seldom venture up field, then break with devastating pace. Mykhaylo Mudryk was almost worth the entry money alone. Josip Juranovic did well to get goal-side of him on 58 minutes but the Ukrainian no. 10 cut inside before unleashing a devastatingly good shot from inside the D. The warning signs were there from a break down the Shakhtar left a few moments earlier.
Most of Celtic’s effective work came from their own left, where Greg Taylor and Sead Haksabanovic caused problems, especially in the first half. Haksabanovic demonstrated his crossing ability when he whipped in a ball on 34 minutes. Leil Abada again showed his predator’s timing by arriving in front of goal. His shot deflected for Giorgos Giakoumakis, who made no mistake from 7 yards.
Kyogo should have put Celtic ahead soon after Shakhtar equalised after Giakoumakis slipped a ball through to him, but last season’s sharpness seems to have slipped for our talisman.
Although Abada was key in Celtic taking the lead, we were not as effective down the right until James Forrest came on, on 65 mins. From that point, Shakhtar were more than happy to defend deep to protect their point and hope for chances on the break.
Matt O’Riley was again very impressive in the deep mid position. He and Reo Hatate both tired with around 20 minutes to go. The delay in bringing David Turnbull on until the 84th minute was odd, David’s energy tidied up what was previously an exhausted central midfield.
Lots of questions for another day as we take stock looking in the European mirror.
317 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- »
MADMITCH on 26TH OCTOBER 2022 12:54 PM
Yes he won the MOTM award. Someone has got wildly wrong…
Jimbob
A group of us were just in front of the path (wee bridge) leading into the pools office
Even though I missed Hot Smoked
Was around 10 of us
CELTIC40ME on 26TH OCTOBER 2022 12:55 PM
ERNIE LYNCH on 26TH OCTOBER 2022 12:50 PM
If you do that care about bravery
###
Not what I said. Read it again. Apply some nuance in your consideration of what I said.
NTB @ 1.22
MO’R — MOTM award …
Surely not — what about the SD goal scorer?
I fear that the EUFA bloke was just trying to be nice.
His play in the first half at DM / pivot was poor.
And the second half wasn’t much better.
When he played further forward stuff started to happen.
Some very good play but not enough to make up for his earlier howlers.
EUFA bloke …
Favour to an agent?
I would be asking that question.
Not even close to MOTM.
It’s been nine years since Celtic last won a CL Group game at home, almost 19 since the last post-Christmas euro knockout stage win. Last night’s result is just the continuation of poor results in Europe.
This talk of we will learn from this latest disappointment, or the players are inexperienced at this level, doesn’t really wash. We learn that individually and collectively we are not good enough, and it doesn’t matter if a player has zero or a dozen games at this level, then end result remains the same. Celtic out of Europe. Again. Before the clocks go back.
I can only hope that Michael Nicholson and the ruling Desmond family feel as disappointed as we do today.
ernie
I should not have to explain the difference between bravery and foolhardiness to you. Nor the concept of reductio ad Absurdum.
I’m not saying it has never happened; but I cannot recollect an occasion where a football manger has taken off a goalie- ( a specialist shot saver) to give us 10 outfield players. I know it can happen in desperate late circumstances in Ice Hockey but that is the equivalent of the Hail Mary pass in American football, occasionally comes off; mostly fails.
Now Ange’s approach is not an outlier – so many modern coaches are playing his way ; I cannot think of. a wining side in European leagues who advocates a defensive first approach to winning- not even Simeone’s Atletico would fit that description. They have great defenders but are not a defence first team. I can understand coaches like Dacha and Bruce working with newly promoted teams in a top money league, emphasising this as their success aim is to avoid relegation not to make the team better in the long term. These teams and those approaches end back up in the lower leagues, eventually.
Neil Lennon was not “brave” in defending in depth to beat Barca; he was merely honest. He knew Barca’s game would force us on the defensive, so he made the most of that inevitability and organised his defence to make the most of this inevitability. It came off and we loved it even though we rode our luck. But we have lost to Barca and other big teams since after being forced into our shell. An outlier result is not a trend to be copied.
The European “pub teams” who have beaten us did not do so by parking vehicles; they did so by taking us on. Bodo and Molde were not scared of us. Neither were Ferencvaros but we beat them.
I still assert that the only way to be brave is to be brave. To take more risks and work hard to rectify when the inevitable mistakes occur. Shakhtar last night needed only a draw for a Europa place. They were content to have long spells bravely taking on our forward press and tiring out our front line. It was not a defensive mind set; it was a brave one. They risked what we risked – gifting a goal- but neither side did. Both gained their goals by attacking play- even a counter-attack is an attack- since you have the option of just clearing or playing the ball around at the back.
I remain pleased with the bravery of our club.
I do not accept inflexibility of tactics or system as a charge I recognise. I think Ange changes plenty within a 4:3:3 framework. Only in Championship Manager does changing to 3:5:2 or 4:4:2 count as managerial genius. Real managers have to think a bit more deeply than that
Dacha not Dacha
Dyche not Dacha
Napoli are 13/8 to win with a -2 goal handicap. That’s the bet of the night.
Thems the rules –
A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of eleven players; one must be the goalkeeper.
SAINT STIVS on 26TH OCTOBER 2022 2:10 PM
Thems the rules –
A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of eleven players; one must be the goalkeeper.
###
And do the rules of the game forbid the goalkeeper from playing in an outfield possession?
Why did Brendan’s tactics fail spectacularly in Europe? Maybe it was Angeball in disguise? Such a disingenuous argument – betrays the real agenda. Celtic coped well in an incredible difficult group. I am pleased at what I saw. The Board have done well to recruit the current management team and attract the talented players we have.
BTW, I noticed how badly Juvé have done very poorly – must have copied Angeball?
Will look in later to see if JOE is about.
HH all Celtic supporters (the self-declared non-supporting Celtic supporters?).
JIMDOM on 26TH OCTOBER 2022 1:49 PM
‘I can only hope that Michael Nicholson and the ruling Desmond family feel as disappointed as we do today.’
###
They’ll be congratulating themselves that there is still a functioning Old Firm rivalry to sustain interest for what’s left of the season.
Not going to come on and slaughter players like some people are but I love watching this team play. They try and entertain and give their all. Very disrespectful to say that Matt O’Reilly getting Player of the match was a favor to an agent!!!!!!
We all want to win, but anyone in their right mind can see that this team is always trying and they are playing the way they are being told to by OUR manager, so that is good enough for me.
Keep up the good work Bhoys. We don’t care if we win. lose. or draw!!! Think some people forget to quickly our history.
Hail Hail.
Sean
I thought that overall, the bhoys performed well last night. We seem to be struggling to get everyone at the top of their game at the same time. We’ve had runs of games over the last season where we have seen that, but it’s not there right now. We have enough depth and quality to lead the SPL, but in the CL we need everyone performing and the team as a whole punching above their weight.
At times I thought we gave Shaktar too much respect, backing off when we could have been pressing, but they moved the ball so quickly and confidently that our guys were trying to play safe and not get too exposed at the back. These games are tough and we’re frankly not at the required level. We’ve made good progress under Ange and I hope he can get us up there, but the reality is we are 3 or 4 players short at this level and we likely can’t afford to buy the finished article. Large investment needs to be made in our youth set up, but I’m not close enough to know if this is now happening.
So back to, ‘Sack the manager! Sack the Board!. I ask the self-declared non-supporting Celtic to
1. List the managers he wants to replace Ange.
2. State who he thinks should run the club and lead us to the Promised Land.
3. Should Celtic all of a sudden get access to endless riches – what top footballers would come to Celtic and be happy to go to the likes of Kilmarnock or Livingstone on a winter’s night in December……..hmm?
I won’t hold my breath on a reply – should have kept my promise to scroll past. Well, at least he could rejoin his old CSC and even go to the CQN corner for a good old political debate before the penalty shoot.
HH
Who would win in a fight between Van Vossen and Sikan?
Thought that was a good summary until you said MO’R was impressive.
I’m sorry, but since moving into Calum position, he has been very poor.
Not mobile enough, going to ground too often when trying to tackle and too many misplaced passes.
By Jasmine Andersson
BBC News
LGBT football fans who attend the World Cup in Qatar should show “a little bit of flex and compromise”, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said.
Speaking to LBC on Wednesday, he told fans travelling from England and Wales to be “respectful of the host nation”, where same-sex activity is illegal.
Within hours, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said LGBT fans should not be expected to “compromise who they are” if they visit Qatar for the World Cup.
Labour called Mr Cleverly’s remarks “shockingly tone-deaf”.
In a separate interview with Sky News, the foreign secretary reiterated his message when asked how the government was pushing for LGBT equality in Qatar.
He said: “These are Muslim countries, they have very different cultural starting point for us. I think it’s important when you’re a visitor to a country that you respect the culture of your host nation.”
The decision to stage the World Cup in Qatar, a country where homosexuality can be punishable by death, has been criticised by LGBT groups.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I hope to see a certain poster state that they will not put another penny into football that might benefit FIFA.
Alphabet Soup alert….usual (tabloid) suspect.
I was pondering last night after the game.
Direct access to the Cl groups, (hurrah for all that dosh) means most likely we will play only the 6 group games, Allthough there was 18 points to play for, we will likely finish on 2 points.
The plusses we got to play the Champions of Europe, the bhoys will get to visit Madrid for a deid rubber game. I did think we competed in large parts of all the games, and only 2 of the self inflicted goals against, there is some improvement along the way.
The plc will be ok with not having to pay out much in bonuses, and probably the highest turnover year in the clubs history. Several young players got to experience something new, and may also go to the world cup, so they get to play at the highest levels, and maybe it makes them better players.
However
The minuses, not getting into the EL is a hit, going in there, we really would have got to measure are we progressing or not, I would have welcomed more games in that tournament. Now though the rest of the seasons is domestic and thats it.
As an aside, when Donetsk back 3 kept playing out from the back, and their goalkeeper waiting till the last second before passing i thought we do that and the bloggers will be incandescent.
Anyways Celtic Park was special again.
After Madrid, and hepeully we go on and win the league again, direct access (all that dosh hurrah) to the CL, we wont be playing at that level till late september next year.
Funny old game.
Only thing I thought we got wrong really was not playing James from the start, most experienced of them all and a scorer or assister on big nights.
Oh well, who is up next for us ?
An Dun
7-1 odds? Not a gambler but a cheeky wee pound :-)
Odds +3,+4,+5
See what happens
HH
Good afternoon all from the Victoria Bar. I hope you are all not too despondent about the game last night. The atmosphere was terrific. Now onto Sunday and the hun loving criminals plastic pitch.
Livingston at the pasta ground, 7am my time Sunday.
Agree David Turnbull did well albeit he only got 9 minutes.
Aaron Mooy was tidy enough but his athletic output was well short.
One move in particular – where the exhausted Hatate gave him a 20 yard start and sprinted past him to help cover a counter attack?
… Had me pure ragin’
I agree with St Stivs that James should have started instead of Abada, who,, as I said before the match, has never performed well in Europe.
The CL was a big challenge for players like O’Riley, Hatate and others who have not played at this level before. Next year they’ll be better.
I think all that is lacking is a proper defensive midfielder. Calmac and O’Riley are not defensive midfielders.
Being without CCV, Calmac, Starfelt and Jota for CL games made it even harder for us. I thought the team performed creditably in the circumstances.
After each CL game, Ange (and his predecessors) plus the players talk about learning from their mistakes, about how the experience will help the team grow, to be better prepared for future European ventures.
Is this learning curve more myth than reality? Do defenders become noticeably better after encounters with Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo, Haaland and co.? Or do their shortcomings continue to be exposed because they are already playing more or less at the top of their game?
Do our forwards become more potent in the SPFL after being kept quiet by CL defences? Or do they lose confidence in their abilities?
I do not know the answers to this. My guess is that younger players who are still open to coaching advice might learn from playing against superior players. Older players less so.
Perhaps the biggest question, is not what the players learn but what the manager and coaches do. I doubt many of our players would play noticeably better 6 months from now against the same opposition but what if they were set up differently?
What has Ange learnt that would improve our chances next time? If the answer is nothing because he will not change his tactics no matter what then this might be as good as it gets.
Last night I felt overall our play was too slow in the build up. CCV and Jenz were passing out slowly and invited the counter attack. We missed McGregor, Oreilly should have come deeper to take the ball.
Abada had a poor game and while he was goal threat Forrest was in form and should have started. Kyogo is also out of form and GG should be starting.
If we increase the tempo and get McGregor back then I think we will be fine
Yes, Abadaada had a poor game overall but it must be said that his intervention for Haksa’s cross led directly to Gia’s goal so it was certainly worth having him on the field for half of the match ?
Will football fans going to Qatar be permitted to drink alcohol?
Just asking.
Hello
Read back.
Goodness, Goodbye
D :)
I wouldn’t put it past Celtic, now that we have nothing to play for and the pressure’s off, to go to Madrid and sneak a victory.
I said to my neighbour when the teams were announced that I thought it would have been better if James Forrest had started and given 60 minutes. He has the experience and is in form. Even so, in Ange we trust.
Tom – If Madrid want to guarantee top spot they need to beat us as RBL are only one point behind them.
I think Napoli will do enough tonight to beat der Hun – probably about 3/4 nil.
I hope its 8 or more for obvious reasons.
HH
Phil
SFTB – thoroughly enjoyed the Andy Murray analogy.
Madmitch – your response prompted a different kind of enjoyable. Respectfully, you missed one ingredient from your analysis.
Roger, Rafa and Novak are superior natural athletes to Andy who worked unbelievably hard to attain peak levels of fitness from a lower base.
PS – that second serve? (Average speed slower than Serena’s equivalent BTW).
To be fair to Andy he tried without success to make it more potent …
so he and his team made the conscious decision to stick with it, force the play on first serve and counter punch on second serve.
Bottom line – in an unprecedented era of 3 guys simultaneously winning 20 slams ?
Andy won Wimbledon twice, US Open, Olympics and Davis Cup.
Runner up in Australia (often)
Semis in French
He maxed his talent.
PHILCOOL
I’ve stuck a wee fiver on Napoli to win 6-0 tonight @ 40/1.
You never know. 🤞