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.
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Morelos and Kent – will anyone sign them on a free?
Yon dick, Winton o’ Shortie is one for the watchin’……..
aye.
The huns have no points in Europe
https://youtu.be/UF8oBnslaKc
Lundstram fouled. Not hard enough.
Full time in Amsterdam 0-3.
Really good game.
Simeone misses a sitter for his hat trick.
FT.
Watched it all.
Parallels indeed.
Ajax came out storming.
Played really well. Should have scored.
Liverpool went ahead then took control.
At 0-2, game over.
Napoli B cruise to a 3-0 win over Sevco in 3rd gear. Wait till you see it greeted by the Scottish media as a triumph for the huns given the pre-match expectation management.
‘gio’ must stay!
Huns will be relieved to lose 3-0.
Rangers now on -18 and Plzen on -17.
Rangers will qualify for Europa League play-offs, if they beat Ajax 5-0 at Ibrox next Tuesday.
Night all. Tell Ange to sign Someone. Hunskelper extraordinary.
Someone? Simeone.
Shortie did a clinical job in burying our pride and self esteem while neatly framing The Glorious in heroic staunchness ……
Extraordinary? Extrordinaire.
*SENTINEL CELTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2022-23*
RESULTS FROM GAME #18 – CELTIC 1 SHAKHTAR DONETSK 1 (GIAKOUMAKIS)
Good evening, friends.
Being the glass three quarters full guy that I am I attended last night’s game convinced we could still remain in Europe beyond Christmas by achieving 4 more points from our remaining 2 games. And while that’s still arithmetically possible (admittedly very, very improbable) it won’t now be enough to get us the 3rd place that I remained hopeful for. So domestic football, plus The Sydney Cup, will have to sustain us over the next 7 months.
On last night’s game, after the initial adrenalin fuelled first 10-15 minutes, I felt that both teams quickly settled into a fairly cagey approach, saying to my son that Shakhtar looked as if they may be delighted with a draw, then taking their chances in their final game v Leipzig. Little did Shakhtar know that Leipzig had other plans, beating Madrid 3-2 to seal the 2nd (or possibly even 1st) qualifying space. Strange results have been a feature of this year’s campaign but unfortunately Celtic have yet to be the beneficiary from any of them. Maybe that will come all too late when we play our final tie next week.
Celtic have now completed 18 competitive fixtures this season, winning 12, drawing 2 (both against the same team from Ukraine!) and losing 4 (3 being in Europe). 50 goals scored and 19 conceded.
As for the voting, my thanks as always to the 66 who emailed me their choices. The total votes cast for each CELTIC player (with my own choices asterisked) are as follows –
Hart: 6
Juranovic*: 12
Carter-Vickers*: 28
Jenz: 19
Taylor*: 57
O’Riley: 14
Hatate: 10
Abada: 0
Kyogo: 0
Giakoumakis: 49
Haksabanovic: 2
Maeda: 0
Mooy: 0
Forrest: 1
Turnbull: 0
And so, the top 5 players receiving POINTS for the game against Shakhtar Donetsk are –
Taylor – 5 pts
Giakoumakis – 4 pts
Carter-Vickers – 3 pts
Jenz – 2 pts
O’Riley – 1 pt
And after 18 games the overall standings are as follows –
41 points – Hatate
29 points – Taylor
26 points – Jota
24 points – Carter-Vickers
22 points – Jenz
19 points – McGregor
13 points – Abada, Giakoumakis and O’Riley
12 points – Juranovic
10 points – Mooy
9 points –Kyogo and Welsh
8 points – Bernabei
7 points – Haksabanovic
5 points – Forrest and Ralston
3 points – Hart and Maeda
2 points – Turnbull
0 points – Abildgaard, McCarthy, Siegrist and Starfelt
Perhaps I’m in the minority but we now have the game that I always look least forward to – a visit to Livingston on Sunday with a noon kick off. Of course, we know that we will start the game at least 1 point clear at the top of the league (looking down on the Sevco) so it’s just Scotland’s worst plastic pitch that we must negotiate.
Finally, it would be very remiss of me not to make mention of Scotland’s other Champions league representative who remain firmly on course to become the WORTS EVER Champions League side. That honour currently sits with Dinamo Zagreb who, in 2011/12 achieved no points, scored just 3 goals and finished with a goal difference of minus 19. Whilst readily acknowledging that our own record of 2 draws, 3 losses, 3 goals scored and a goal difference of minus 7 isn’t nearly good enough, Triggers Broom FC currently sit with 5 losses, 1 [ONE] goal scored, and a goal difference of minus 18. Don’t blow it in next week’s final game, Deady Bears!
Hail Hail!!
Harry Kane offside winning goal was shocking
His teammate was ahead of him when he passed the ball but Kanes toe was just ahead of the ball
EBT McCann spouting his wisdom…
The Guru….
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 26TH OCTOBER 2022 9:57 PM
Rangers will qualify for Europa League play-offs, if they beat Ajax 5-0 at Ibrox next Tuesday.
____
That game will be an absolute hoot.
The only chance of the huns beating Ajex 5:0 is for Walsh being ref and mclean doing var😱
Non fitba related…..
@Big j in the morn…Hope your well big mhan….Just catchin up…Aye i got home ..
B.T.W it was young James doyle on the other horse…Any hoo..i owe you an apology..
My wee Indie says to me .Granda is wee Rocky ok..(i never told her the wee chap passed)
At the time i offered help for the Rocky bhoy…i realise now that was offensive and iam so sorry..
i would never demean a fellow celt intentionally….I live and breathe the tic ..and as old as i am i realise…. i always have.. And it’s great to share those years with fellow Celts.The news from the Beatson is’nt good but by f*** i will keep fightin…H.H big mhan
Harry Kane scores but his toe was offside
…there ye go, yon dick, Winton says thur dignity is intact……….
What guff-filled void do these nuggets inhabit. Jesus wept.
CQN on steroids…..Caught a crackin live set from Slade from 1971
Superb …..I came alive at about 8 ..when my big bra played Little Richard….
I nearly wrecked the room…i got shivers ..and still do……
I would take Noddy Holder anyday as a sweet Rep great stuff
Barcelona lose 0-3 to Bayern and didn’t have a single shot on target. Unbelievable.
“BANKIEBHOY1 on 26TH OCTOBER 2022 10:19 PM
…there ye go, yon dick, Winton says thur dignity is intact……….”
I don`t know who Winton is but i1ll assume he is part of the laptop Loyal and is doing his bit to keep the Hun Hordes on-side and to reassure them that they can still win the League in Scotland ….which they can, of course, but their fans will need a bit of reassurance and they`ll get plenty of that from the MSSM .
I honestly think GVB is a really decent guy, far too nice to be in the job he is in. He has not been contaminated by the bitterness and WATP mentality of his predecessors.
“Collum will be assisted by Alan Muir who will be in the VAR control room.”
I`ll be more concerned about Muir than I will be about Wullie.
Hot Smoked……..
He seems to be the current….Shortie “reporter” who journeys abroad wi’ ra Berrs…………….
………………probably admits to bein’ a St Mirren fan.
“DENIABHOY on 26TH OCTOBER 2022 10:27 PM
I honestly think GVB is a really decent guy,”
I am also of that opinion and, to be fair, I haven`t heard any Huns slagging Ange.
Noticeable that between last weekend and next weekend, Rangers have 2 home games and Celtic 2 away games.
@Deniabhoy 10.27 Thought the same for ages mate…
He dosen’t seem sneaky or manipulating???
For info – Winton claims to support Dundee United.
It’s a perpetual cycle.
Culture defines editorial stance and who gets employed.
Rinse, repeat.
BANKIEBHOY1 on 26TH OCTOBER 2022 10:29 PM
Thanks. If only those St Mirren fans attended games, the Buddies could have much healthier gates.
” 2-0 down after 16 minutes , 72 minutes played and it’s still only 2-0 . Can Rangers* take some satisfaction from that?”
Rob McLean……….the ‘fannies’ fanny .
After the game, when the BT girl is looking for positive spin, GVB simply states “A loss, is a loss, is a loss.”