Last night’s performance was a vast improvement on the horrible displays against Legia and gave us our second insight (after United) into how Ronny Deila is changing the way Celtic play football.
Key to the performance was the movement of his two Norwegians, Stefan Johansen and Jo Inge Berget, Callum McGregor and Beram Kayal. Johansen, who closed down space high up the field, pressurising defenders, played his best game for Celtic. Less said about his clearance of a Virgil van Dijk header the better.
Watching Kayal was like meeting an old friend again. The player, who in 2011 kept Victor Wanyama out of the team, has been a shadow of his former self since returning from injury two years ago. He is another player who enjoys closing space.
I’m an acknowledged cynic when it comes to even remotely hyped young players breaking through the ranks, but Callum McGregor has now delivered repeatedly. There is a long hard season ahead of him, and let’s remember, form fluctuates, but he has looked like one of the best players in the team so far. I doubt any Celtic player has opened the scoring in three consecutive European away games.
The first 35 minutes saw Maribor sit deep, which allowed Celtic to build patiently. Movement was good during this period, players in possession always had options, so we were able to switch play, force opponents to chase the ball, and penetrate with purpose.
Play was bound to change when Maribor started to close down higher up field, but Celtic reacted by playing low-percentage balls forward, which invariably resulted in possession being lost. I would like to see us look for less-ambitious passes more often.
There were several concerns, not least of all at the back. A defence which was impregnable for much of last season is now being cut open with regularity. I don’t subscribe to the view that players suddenly lose instinct and awareness over the summer, so it’s likely that a change in the midfield shape is exposing frailties in defence.
Maribor players found themselves clean through on a couple of occasions last night, echoing what happened in Warsaw and at Murrayfield. Ronny needs to find a fix.
Despite clearly being the better team, there is still a big job ahead for Celtic next week, better teams don’t always win, but a disciplined performance, no red cards, no mistakes at the back, should see us through.
Take no chances at Inverness on Saturday, make sure players are rested and fit.
[calameo code=000390171ae033f39a0c4 lang=en page=120 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,177 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 31
- »
tonydonnelly67
“Wake so was last seen looking at a room an kitchen in Govanhil”
Who told you that, Malky Mackay? por cierto
.
When does the Greek Transfer Window Close..?
Sammi-son and Deila..
Ah..Maybe Not..
Summa
If Celtic decide to cash in on Commons, and get any where near 4million…. That = good business to me.
That said, if he stays … I do believe Ronny will provide Commons with plenty opportunity to play.
Ronny prefers 4-3-3 and that’s what we are moving towards… With that, imagine 3 energetic centre mids Broony, Kayal, Johansen … Space shutter dooners …. A selection of wide players, Berget, Forrest, McGregor , tonev, Wakaso ….. And then a strong centre forward who can lead the line and has eye for goal.
That is Ronny’s desired shape / objective.
However in the spl there is scope for the even more attacking 4-2-3-1 shape…. Where one of the 3 space shutter dooners is rested , and Commons plays centrally in behind a number 9, and flanked by 2 speedy wingers… It is essentially playing with 4 forwards.
The spl is weak enough to allow for this, and as such this is why I see Commons being involved, mostly however on a domestic level..
Thoughts.??
Clink\o/,
I don’t think there is the hate you describe about Stokes. What annoys a lot of the support is the feeling that he seldom gives his all and there is a feeling too that he isn’t really good enough at the European level.
All we can ask for is that he gives his all, which he certainly did last night.
ruggyman.I am not sure Kris would be happy with that type of role and would be unlikely to sign a new contract just my opinion though.H.H.
If Mackay made the racist comments, he is a fud.
More concerning are the likes of Dawkins, Harvie, Tatchell and Fry. Their hateful bigotry and sordid ideas are respected by the BBC, Guardian etc.
Paul67 –
In terms of player selection, the promotion of Callum McGregor has been the most important decision Ronny has made since he arrived at Celtic. As well as being a gifted player, the Bhoy is a natural goalscorer.
I work with a Notts County fan and he was raving about Callum last season – said he was the difference between staying up and relegation.
Defensively, I think Izaguirre and Ambrose are in need of a couple of weeks break as both haven’t had any proper rest over the summer. We are also suffering because Mulgrew and Lustig are off form at the moment.
Johansen and Kayal were both excellent last night, and I though Gordon played well too.
I hear what ur saying…. That role however, could consist of 30+ domestic games… 20+. Goals, and celebrating a treble…..
Being devils advocate… But surely a guy like Commons could see that as his worth….?
What a result last night Paul, said exactly the same thing last night keep the ball no daft punts up the park & hound the opponents when we don’t have the ball & we’ll do well.
I think we’ve unearthed a gem in Ronny. HH
Johansen is looking top drawer as is McGregor.
Our defence was exposed by lack of a decent striker IMO.
Our midfielders were without striking options to pass to last night allowing a very average Maribor to regain possession easily and counter attack and this put a constant pressure on our defence.
If we had had a decent striker to pass to who could either break away and shoot or hold the ball up we would have been less exposed at the back.
Stokes over Griffiths confounds me.
A week is a long time in football.
Malkays career might be over but the bigot dallas got promoted to a top job with UEFA no doubt with a glowing reference from the SFA
Ledley was our best central midfielder but was on a high wage and we sold him for the same fee we paid for Johannsen doubt johannsen got even half of Ledleys wages.more downsizing by pirate pete ,Ledley said he wanted to stay but obviously we were looking to reduce the wage bill,same as letting sammi go without even offering him a contract
As for those wanting to get rid of our top scorer commons get real ,if Delia won,t play him get rid of him rather than commons
Captain Beefheart 13:13 on 21 August, 2014
“If Mackay made the racist comments, he is a fud.
“More concerning are the likes of Dawkins, Harvie, Tatchell and Fry. Their hateful bigotry and sordid ideas are respected by the BBC, Guardian etc.”
Afternoon Beefy. Who is rattling your cage now?
the honest mistake
its a cruel world sometimes, cant even begin to imagine what the family are going through.
I see some don’t want players rested. I have a feeling (indeed a hope) that our manager isn’t going to play the same 11 every game. It’s the old “horses for courses”. I would be surprised if the same 11 took the field on Tuesday, as started last night. I’m sure he will employ a different strategy at Celtic Park and that, imo, will call for a different 11.
Some of the most highly rated wing backs in the world are short-arses like Izzy.
Jordi Alba and Dani Alves, Phillip Lahm and Juan Bernat, Leighton Baines and errr thats it.
Do people launch balls over them? Why not? Alertness, Quick turning speed? Cover from CB or just midfield control?
I don’t know.
Well done Chris Bonnington climbing old man of Hoy for his 80th.charity is MND which took his wife last year.:-)
HH
DriftinupCsc
proudbhoy
“My concern is we MAY have decided instead of trying to give player what he wants like clubs do”
The problem is we can and will not ever know how “hard” Celtic, or any club, tried to keep a player. If the player is asking for a wage level above what they think he is worth or can afford, then selling him before they are stiffed by a Bosman becomes the priority. Unless it is someone at a Larsson level who is willing to give you two or three more years with the price of that being that he is allowed to leave on a free.
None of the players we are discussing are Larssons so the question of how much Celtic are to blame for them leaving boils down to “how much would you have been willing to pay him/them to stay?” If your estimation of worth is lower than the player’s own or that of his agent, then he will leave.
For example, if Celtic were willing to up Ledley’s wages from 12k a week to 15k but Palace are offering 30k, Joe might say, “I want to stay and I am prepared to stay if you give me £25k, you are still miles apart but you have a player who is able to say, with a clear conscience that “I was willing to stay at Celtic”. What is left unsaid is, “if they paid me what I wanted.”
We are missing Scott Brown, when he is fit we should tighten up defensively.
In the meantime it’s handy to kno that’ Sil’ is Norvege for ‘Sieve’.
Capt beefheart
are you referring to the great richard dawkins the most wonderful atheist alive very close to myself
and your homophobia re tatchell and fry is disgusting
why don,t you go to ipox
Credit where credit is due Ronnie got that one right as a scoring draw away from home in any European tie nowadays is a great result (apart from a win of course). Look at Arsenal the night before.
A few wobbly moments but overall a good performance and on another night Stokes and Johanssen could have got another as well as saving one for them.
Still give away possession with too many wasteful balls punting it when they seem to run out of patience instead of continuing to just pass it around.
Job only half done so we still need to be careful next week. This team are set up to invite you on and then counter attack. I am presuming they expected us to attack them last night especially after they scored and I think that threw them a bit in the first half and gave us time to settle in. Thought we dealt with their upping of the game at the start and always felt in control. In fact we really should have scored with our breakaways in that second period.
Looking forward with a bit more confidence than a couple of weeks ago to the home game. Defend well and we should be able to take a couple of goals of their defence.
What about EBT Neil on SKY last night? Painful to watch his pain!!!
Don’t respond to trolls.
The Honest Mistake loves being first
Thoughts and prayers with wee Evie and family.
SFTB – the reports I’ve read don’t mention the police as being involved in the Malky business up to now (though I didn’t know that a law firm could get an order allowing them to enter & search someone’s house.)
Interesting thing is how the FA react – they dug a hole for themselves by saying Scudamore’s emails were not being punished because they were “private correspondence”.
dontbrattbakkinanger
We will be tighter when Scott Brown returns confirms the team has got weaker… Because you are correct in that statement.
A year ago the team was weaker when Scott Brown played. He hasn’t improved ( although many on CQN believe he has) the team has been diluted.
Scott Brown could be our best player next season…
Beefy,
Kris Commons is the nearest thing we have to a Lubo in our midst.
They are a rare breed and so priceless to Celtic and how we want to see them play.
I can see why he was not used last night and I’m glad it paid off but it’s not all about Europe.
We have plenty of SPFL games in which we expect to be entertained, so selling one of our best entertainers when we do not need the money, takes football out of the entertainment business, which is at core the business that Celtic trade in.
Paul67
Disagree with the headline. Pass and move dried up after about 20 minutes last night. Second half was too many long balls up to Stokes, who to be fair worked his socks off, but is not the type of player to be playing as a lone striker.
Defensively still look suspect, could do with a Tony Adams type to get them playing as a unit. Neil McCann takes a fair bit of abuse on here, somewhat justifiably after his rant last week, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make relevant criticisms. It’s tough on VVD as he is still so young, but he has to provide leadership to that back 4. Very disjointed at times last night, huge gaps were opening up. Mulgrew had a decent game, but as the deepest player of the central midfield 3, he has to be be aware of guys dropping into the space between the midfield and defence and pick them up. Too often one of the CBs had to come out, then all it takes is one half decent ball and they are one v one in the box.
Berget made a great run for the goal but was poor thereafter. McGregor has been sensational, I see his future either in left centre mid of a 3 or preferably in the number 10 slot.
Understand guys saying we shouldn’t be resting players so early in the season, but you have to factor in the energy spent last night and the travel involved.
Team for Saturday would be the same back 5 to give them game time together, with Ambrose replacing one them in the second half.
Midfield of Henderson, Biton and Commons
Tonev / Mubarak wide if fit / registered. Griffiths up front.
I’d be actively trying to move on Pukki and Balde, and put whatever money that generates into a striker with a bit of pedigree, Jelle Vossen being my preferred target. If we can’t get a striker with quality, then save the money until we can. Too important a position, with too many failures since Hooper was signed to be gambling on projects.
steinreignedsupreme
Despite Notts County’s reliance on McGregor last year, they dropped him a lot after the Christmas fixtures. Don’t know if that was a decision due to loss of form, or injury, or to pressure him into signing a contract with them, since they knew Wolves were sniffing about.
Callum is a level-headed all rounder, whose main strength seems to be in knowing what he can and what he cannot do. The comparisons with Craig Burley, are the most apt. He is a goal scoring midfielder who does most things well but not outstandingly. I still rate James Forrest as the far superior player but James needs to remain fit enough for longer to convince others, it seems. Callum will need to be rested, for form’s sake, at stages of this season.
The player Kris Commons most reminds of is Kenny Dalglish – not blessed with blistering pace but very skilful, smart, intelligent…and with a big erchie.
Used just behind a front man, Kris gives us options through the middle that others just don’t provide. We are currently signing a bunch of wingers to provide chances for target men we don’t have – I don’t really get it, but I don’t manage Celtic.
I don’t see why others are eager to punt Kris even if RD is changing playing style to a more pressing game. If nothing else, Kris stops us from being one dimensional and predictable and can be a game changer – even if it is coming off the subs bench.
Awe that wee rat bag McCann was pukin last night, “lucky they scored there or it would have been a penalty and a sending off there” naw it wouldent ya wee corksucker it was two yards oot side the box, an he wasent last man, I stood on a McCann this morning, wiped it aff on the grass.
I see tony stokes is in provisional Ireland squad for Euros.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28882963
The future is Green & White
Young Celts set for Scotland duty
http://www.celticfc.net/news/6495
Auldheid
13:29 on 21 August, 2014
I think the reason there is even a discussion taking place on this subject, is because we have so far been given a snippet into the brand of football our new manager is going to be deploying.
Its based on speed and stamina.
2 attributes KC does not have.
I watched an Ian Wright show last night, was on Sky Sports 5 after the game and highlights had finished. He said Wenger told him because he wasnt going to be playing as much it was best for him to leave now, due to his regard and esteem being held so high.
Has he earned enough stripes for the same logic to be applied to KC?
Phylis D
Very pertinent point re Scudamore.
This is looking to become a soap opera about Racism and bungs involving a Scotsman, Englishman and a Malaysian in Wales.
The cast of “It ain’t half hot, mum” are on stand-by
Auldheid
13:29 on 21 August, 2014
Well said AGAIN :)))
Till later all
Celtic are trying to get a work permit for Wakoso before they sign him on a years loan. H.H.