Last night’s performance was not good enough, not by a long way. Early endeavour evaporated once the obligatory goal was conceded from Molde’s first attempt at goal, again. The cynic would have known we were beat, even then.
Another make-shift defence was deployed, as Jozo Simunovic retired injured, again, after three minutes. Tyler Blackett was drafted into central defence, unsuccessfully. He was hooked in the second half after casting anxious looks around him throughout his time on the field.
The point was put to me last night that we have the worst defence in European competition. That’s a fanciful assertion to make, but we must have the worst goals conceded to chances ratio. Molde looked capable of scoring every time they got up the park.
The ‘Abandon zonal marking’ brigade got their wish, as Celtic drifted from marking four, to three, to two zones at corner kicks. The sight of Celtic defenders bunched with attackers at the far end of our box was strikingly unusual. We still lost a goal from the second ball at a corner, and panic and mayhem remained on subsequent occasions.
Passing was awful, symptomatic of a team playing within themselves (trans: hiding). Stefan Johansen’s booking looked like a vain effort to be seen to be doing something, he surely didn’t think anything else but a booking would follow.
I was annoyed at Nir Bitton for his red card. There was no need to haul the player down. He was running wide, on his left, and it would have taken a spectacular effort to threaten goal. The foul was the act of a tired mind (trans: frustrated and out of ideas).
Everything positive you’ve read or heard about Kieran Tierney was on show. He’s 18-years-old and demonstrated what a good full back looks like.
‘What now, Ronny?’ was my thought as I left the stadium. Then news filtered through that we’re not actually out of the Europa League yet. Molde are through. Ajax, though a point ahead of us, are as good as out. They would need to beat us at Celtic Park, but in doing so they would remove any competitive-edge from Celtic’s game, and Celtic would then need to win in Istanbul for Ajax to proceed.
Therefore there is every chance we’ll win our first game against Ajax, and then we have a Puncher’s Chance against Fenerbahce. You have I have lived through Sion and Legia, we know Celtic survive in European competition far longer than they should. Hold onto your towels….
I’ve an interesting piece coming up later on Level5, PR to Newco Rangers and the Ladbrokes SPFL, but we’ll give this one time for a kick-around first.
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Ole Rosenborg have done ‘the Tippeligaen 13 in a row’, and when they win it this year the supporters are starting a new song that goes;
♫ Here we go 14 in row
♫ Here we go 14 in row
the glorious balance sheet
It’s been reported in many places that Jozo cost 7 million
Paul67 confirmed it was the most expensive signing in 8 years. The exact number, like any transfer, is unknown and I imagine the amount paid can vary depending on appearances, caps etc.
An offering called “The Future” from our Tony’s Huddle site.
Seems very apt this morning for many, many reasons. As does the sign off..
http://wp.me/p6DYht-iR
No One Walks Alone
I expect Molde to go to at least the semi final, if not the final, well organised and skilful team who have been allowed to mature together over 7 years, team building I think it’s called not that I can be sure not having witnessed any similar strategy at Celtic park for 10 years.
Weeminger
Thanks, I don’t think Timaloy29 was banging a drum about Celtic wasting money though.
We have signed many players lately that have unfortunately turned out not to be wise investments.
Some good signings too of course but they’re becoming few and far between.
But for no other of these signings has there been such a wide variance in the reported transfer fee, or the suggestion of wages over the lifetime of the contract being rolled onto the reported transfer fee, as there is with jozo.
A strange business all round. I would be inclined to expect that the is no more than 3 million euros and at that is subject to add on clauses being met. That is consistent with our usual upper limit for transfer fees.
But the fanciful reporting of the actual fee leaves me puzzled.
new article posted.
At £11.00 a pint, the mind boggles as to how the ole Molde players can afjord a good night out.
Timaloy29
Thanks. I suspect if was a £7m transfer fee, Paul67 with his contacts at Celtic would have been able to confirm it as Celtic’s record signing, easily eclipsing fees paid for Sutton and Hartson.
That hasn’t happened so I’m sure talk of £7 million is wide of the mark and maybe, if you’re being sceptical, perhaps a smokescreen.
BMCW
Re
The big defender from behind the iron curtain
Hopefully he can come around to liking it here. Being injured is tough. Stan Petrov is a good example of someone who didn’t settle at first but grew to like it.
I am concerned about his fitness record though.
Celtic managers’ results in Europe – first 24 games
W D L F A
Martin O’Neill
14 1 9 46 25
Gordon Strachan
7 5 12 22 32
Neil Lennon
10 5 9 28 32
Ronny Deila
8 8 8 36 37.
JJ
Timaloy29,
I don’t think Celtic even paid £3M for Jozo. He seems to be a glass man and as Ronny said he was not a regular with Zagreb.
Regarding your defence of Lawwell its fine as everyone has their opinion.
Just ask yourself this. Are Celtic going forward or backwards under Lawwell. Is there any sign of progress. How long before Lawwell sells Tierney ?
The game is up for Lawwell. I feel sorry for Ronny who is a genuinely nice guy and is caught in the headlights. I suspect whoever comes in has to clear out some of the dressing room ….Commons and Johansen and send the Dundee Utd trio back to where they belong.
I have no idea how much we paid for Jozo but I know it was a mistake to play the player last night according to Ronny he left it to the player to decide if he was fit enough to play and I say to Ronny its your call your the manager.Now the Molde player tested how fit Jozo was and it was clear he was not fit.We also played Lustig who is not 100% fit either so we started the game with 9 fit players.We then brought on Blackett and I dont think we can be critical of Ronny for that as we have harangued Efe due to his unenforced errors unfortunately Blackett had a nightmare. Then we replaced him with Cifti who has no pace and lumbers around like a pub team player then Bitton pulled down a Molde player when he should have just stayed with the player a mistake in judgement by the Celtic player.We are the best team in Scotland but a very poor European team so we have to accept this and hope that we learn from this and improve. H.H.
The BBC website has four articles about Celtic today:
1) Celtic defence lacks leadership;
2) Ross County can beat Celtic;
3)Ronny Deila must consider his position as Manager;
4) Nir Bitton is unsure about Celtic`s qualification chances.
Is that balanced reporting?
JJ
Not closing down their man, (Boyata actually moved away from him) for the first goal and Blackett being out fought for the second by a 40 yr old when second favourite is not tactical.
We are hollow and mentally weak, as Neil Lennon said about Mowbray’s team.
Lusting had a very similar ball drop to him as their man did to score the first goal. Before he could get a shot away, their midfield man raced back to nick the ball away from him.
How many times did our midfield do that?
Rant possibly over!!
I’m still with Ronny, but if missing Brown and Simunovic creates that type of performance then we are in trouble.
Ok, I want Craig Gordon dropped also.
There might be more CSC.
Árd Macha
Latchford
Are Celtic going forward or backwards under Lawwell? I’d say we’re doing alright. I think the biggest errors the current board has made is with managerial appointments. We turned down Roberto Martinez for Mowbray. Ronny doesn’t look up to it.
The bigger leagues are leaving the rest of us behind. Any performance in the CL will get more and more difficult.
All I’ll say about Jozo’s fee is, it’s undisclosed and you are right to not take reported fees as gospel
However, I don’t see people using the same approach when discussing fees wasted on players.
My team for Saturday: Either the same as last night as they cannot be that bad again!
Or:
Bailley,
Janko Boyata Ambrose (If Simunovic unfit), Tierney/Izziguirre
Forrest Bitton Rogic Allan
Griffiths Cole
The above is not a knee jerk reaction. I feel Gordon, Lustig and Armstrong are all below par at present and I fell Tierney should not be over-played.
JJ
Summa @ 1:46
Your certainly not on message there
Ever since I’ve been on CQN the same old posters have been regurgitating the same shit about the Huns ad nauseam
A classic case of deflecting matters from the real issues
Oh and while I am at it let’s blame the Celtic board for allowing The Huns to benefit from Celtic being in Europe
Saw quite a few Molde supporters cutting about the town today carrying the Huns superstore bags
Surely the board can make it a condition of recieving an away ticket for Celtic Park you are only permitted to shop in the Celtic store
NATKNOW on 6TH NOVEMBER 2015 1:23 PM
An Dun on 6th November 2015 12:58 pm
Like Sion and legia ?? Have molde fielded ineligible players against us in both ties ??
If not, I’d suggest there’s more of a chance that oul big hands Green will hear Zodok the Priest at ibrox than the shambles that is our team beat Ajax and Fenerbache.
—————————————————————-
I think Chuckles Green will be hearing Johnny Cash before George Frideric Handel.
But what do I know.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………now that did lift my depression, one of the few laugh out loud moments on here today, cheers
over the crap now
mon the hoops agin the rc
Golden Investment 16:10 @ Aintree.
Withernsea 1-50 please
CQN Naps on here today, please….
I think the title of this article is spot-on regarding my performance so far in the Naps competition… must try harder !
:)
Forget that nap I posted. My nap is, and you can remortgage the house, cash in the ISA, sell the family silver………I’ve known the owner a long time. He is very very excited about this one. Huge piles of dosh to be made.
Get on:
K. Tierney. To Southampton FC… In the transfer window stakes May2016.
Twists.
FAO: Angel Gabrial – and to the rest of ye’…
there is no problem in selecting the SAME horse as someone else !
fleagle1888
Modest 1.15 Doncaster
4.05 Doncaster – Sea Wolf to try and end my dismal run of losers
All the best to all parting with their hard earned cash
Cheers GFTB
(twists it’s a double swoop Biton & Tierney to the Saints))
MAJESTIC MYLES 150 Doncaster
Fingers,toes and eyes all crossed for this one!
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 14 results (Oct 31st)
Winners:
Nye Beavans RS (Padge) @6/1
Rockon (Pendra) @11/2
Fastbhoy (Nabucco) @ 7/2
Onemalloy (Island Heights) @11/4
Graffitionthewall (Charmix) @5/2
Losers:
16 roads (Colms Dream)
21-5-79 (Eminent Poet)
Angel Gabrial (Kilmainham)
BMCUWP (Monbeg River)
bonbhoy (Virak)
Bull67 (Dynaste)
Burgas Hoops (Many Clouds)
Cathal (Bellenos)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (Holywell)
Dim Sam (What a Warrior)
El Madrigal (Legatissimo)
Eurochamps67 (Jollys Cracked It)
fleagle1888 (Mitchum Swagger)
gerryfaethebrig (Jan Van Hoof)
green T (Colms Dream)
Gweedore Celt (no selection)
hashadenough (Glingerburn)
leftclicktic (GM Hopkins)
PFayr (GM Hopkins)
Raymac (no selection)
Som mes que un club (I’dliketheoption)
The Bhoy from the Village (Sgt Reckless)
TheBarcaMole (Top Notch Tonto)
Thunder Road (The Druids Nephew)
tommytwiststommyturns (Jollys Cracked It)
twists n turns (What a Warrior)
voguepunter (Glingerburn)
What is the Stars (The Lobster Catcher)
Zihuatanejo (What a Warrior)
Cheers, fleagle1888
(- –Beirut CSC– -)
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 14 Standings
+18.50 > Zihuatanejo (3)
+16.25 > 16 roads (5)
+12.50 > BMCUWP (4)
+11.50 > Nye Beavans RS (4)
+9.83 > hashadenough (5)
+7.00 > bonbhoy (3)
+1.00 > gerryfaethebrig (3)
+0.63 > Bull67 (3)
+0.50 > Graffitionthewall (4)
+0.00 > Angel Gabrial (2)
-0.50 > Rockon (2)
-2.50 > The Bhoy from the Village (2)
-2.95 > Thunder Road (3)
-4.00 > Burgas Hoops (2)
-4.00 > TheBarcaMole (1)
-4.13 > What is the Stars (3)
-4.25 > leftclicktic (2)
-4.60 > Eurochamps67 (3)
-4.75 > Onemalloy (2)
-6.63 > Fastbhoy (2)
-6.75 > Som mes que un club (2)
-7.50 > twists n turns (1)
-8.00 > green T (2)
-8.00 > Raymac (1)
-8.50 > Cosy Corner Bhoy (1)
-8.75 > PFayr (2)
-9.67 > El Madrigal (1)
-10.00 > voguepunter (1)
-11.90 > fleagle1888 (1)
-14.00 > 21-5-79 (0)
-14.00 > Cathal (0)
-14.00 > Dim Sam (0)
-14.00 > Gweedore Celt (0)
-14.00 > tommytwiststommyturns (0)
Cheers, fleagle1888
(—Beirut CSC—)
14:00 @ Naas – The Mooch – NAP!
Good luck everybody.
Flying Angel 12:45 Aintree……good luck everyone.
Today’s nap is : Kayf Willow (Winc 2.40)
Happy punting y’all…
The Ould Lad in the 2.05 at Wincanton
My daughter Gemma’s wedding today so choosing something apt. Good Luck Gemma and Grant for the road ahead
Romancingthestone Chelmsford 16.35
Theatrical Star 2.05 Wincanton.
Good luck everyone.
Doncaster 330 Shrewd
Good luck everyone
Great racing over the jumps today.
Nicholls on a Saturday, Henderson at Aintree, Rebecca Curtis/Paul Townend, super day if you can pick the right combinations. Through in a Venettia soft ground specialist, could be well up or down.
Hard to pick one but, true to form,
ALL YOURS 3.15 WINCANTON NAP
best of luck to everyone
EC67
Doncaster 15:30 – Litigant
Happy Punting