It was all so promising. 35 minutes in, eight Celtic attempts on goal, zero for Valencia. Even when Jeremy Toljan left the field for a second yellow card, there were still positives. We both know that last night’s game was never really about qualification for the next round, so too did Valencia, but it was a useful yardstick for where we are now and where we can hope to be in the summer.
Scott Bain was already established as first choice ‘keeper, but, without seeing much of him before joining Celtic, I think we can say this was the best performance of his career to date. He can play at this level and has been an excellent acquisition to the team.
Brendan Rodgers felt sore about Jeremy Toljan’s second yellow. The full back was pushed before falling into Guedes. It was harsh and the referee probably failed to spot the push, but Toljan was caught in the wrong position and his fall was unnecessary. Jeremy is undoubtedly an upgrade on Mikael Lustig, but small lapses like this is why he’s not at Dortmund right now.
The three central defenders were stand-out successes. Kristoffer Ajer will replay in his head, the header from the free kick and volley from the corner. They were chances to open the scoring but his all round play came close to Man of the Match levels.
I had written off Jozo Simunovic’s usefulness, largely, but not exclusively, on the basis of his fitful availability. However, he showed again last night that he can contribute to the team and deserves a place in the squad. Like Scott Bain, Jonny Hayes had the game of his life. He looked intent to make his mark at the Mestalla and did so.
Callum McGregor was my pick of the midfield players. He was forever tidy under pressure, operating with calm in very tight spaces. Scott Brown was at his best, although a rash tackle brougth an early booking that looked ominous. We got little from the more creative mids, James Forrest and Ryan Christie.
The entire Oliver Burke story was there to see. Great pace and strength, clumsy touch. There is an inverse relationship between speed and control.
Odsonne Eduard made a quick impact when he came on but was eventually subdued. The occasion looked too high a step for Mikey Johnston.
In his post-match interview, Brendan addressed suggestions that he should change his style of play for these matches, citing Leipzig and this game as certification that it can work. Last night had the concession of a third central defender, at the cost of an attack-minded player. We should also caveat that Valencia were two goals up from the game in Glasgow, with little to prove.
The manager is not for changing his high press game, so devastatingly successful domestically, but so open to debate in Europe.
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Utter hunnery
Him slips. Accies clean through…..foul given
Fanatic
Our European record under Brendan is not poor, youre passing an opinion when the facts say different, which Is totally my point.
Two CL group stages and 2 last 32 Europa is not poor, can you tell me when that was last bettered, over a 3 year period.
Now If your saying some of the performancres and individual results have been poor then i agree 100%.
Under the current climate do you expect Celtic to regularly reach last 16 CL or better last 32 Europa?
Hi Mick
Hope your not really homesick but here’s a wee story from yester year to take your mind back to Govan. We stayed in Clynder Street very near Copland Road. My older brother Pat took me to my first Celtic game at Snake Mountain. Joe Craig scored the only goal on a Wednesday night. So we are heading home and we get down to Brighton Street and Pat says right Tony bhoy scarf aff and inside your jaiket. So I do as I’m told (cos Pat was bigger than me). We walk through the hun hordes. The evil and hatred seepin’ oot them. We are just turning into Clynder Street and I’m thinkin’ thank F*** we’re hame. Still got a few of them get past but it’s looking good. Then as we are about 30 yards fae the close that my mother and aunt May were guarding so nae huns could go in for a slash. Their two voices shout out above everyone ” There they’re there the two bhoys two big handsome bhoys”. You should see the huns way a screw roon neck aw lookin’at us and I wondered how they knew who my mother and aunt were talkin’ aboot. Then I realised me n’ Pat were the only two good lookin’ ghuys in the Street.
KEEP THE FAITH
not one c.s.c.
The season of honest mistakes rolls on. Second blatant penalty for Accies denied. Both were stronger shouts than the one Sevco were awarded.
Same old, same old.
You’d think goal difference was in the back of someone’s mind.
It will be commonplace to include when do ‘it’ get a pen.on sweeps whether in the pub or work.
Got to attack from start today..get game won by half time
NORRIEM on 24TH FEBRUARY 2019 9:28 AM
Another choice
Kieran in
Drop Calum into Broonie slot, and Johnny Hayes into Calum position ??
Over to you Brendan ??
########
Good call about KT into Broony slot, we could have a new David Hay in the making, maybe a wee bit too early to put him into the Broony slot just after an injury, but in the future days yes, what’s not to like.
As for Johnny Hayes, I think he could be a really good servent at left back, with the appropriate protection in front of him, like Joe Ledley provided for Izzy the first time round, I think that to get the best out of JH, would be to play him in behind the main striker in a 4-4-1-1 set up. Also, I think that Tolian(sp) is a wee bit of an ego tripper, interesting how Brendan shunned him on Thursday night at his sending off, he’s a tidy player, but I think that there is some baggage there. A midfield central pairing of, Callum and Kieran will be the way to go in future games.
Enjoy the game today, and good luck. ?✊
Hail! Hail!
Bain
Toljan
Ajar
Boyata
KT
Forrest
Bitton
Christie
Henderson
Sinclair
Edouard
Anyone know the last time a team was awarded a penalty kick against those monkey scumbags?
Novel team selection and interesting bench.
No Jozo is he injured again? Bayo left out which is strange as he made an appearance at Kilmarnock. Broony suspended and CMac rested (which is sensible).
I also think Forrest could do with a rest as well and would be nice to start Weah from the off.
SID
So we got knocked out of the champions league by a poor AEK is not a fact?
Absolutely humped by PSG in both legs with a goal difference of 12-1.
Bayern lost both games with a 5-1 aggregate.
Giving up four goals away to the mighty Astanza.
Schooled by Salzburg in both legs
We had one good win at home to Leipzig who beat us in Germany.
I will try not to let the facts get in the way.
Sevco going for another record, that of number of penalties awarded for in one season (albeit of course remembering the majority of ‘their’ achievements were bought in a job lot along with the history ,stop laughing, and ground of the Liquidated RFC 1872)
A Win today please Bhoys.
Couldn’tmakeitupCSC
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 24TH FEBRUARY 2019 12:43 PM
Big George FC
You called?
———————
Indeed – any chance you could email me? Paul67 has my address (as does CelticRollerCoaster / BlantyreTim / DelaneysDunkey / Jobo).
Just a wee chat – would like to pick your brains about something.
Just off out to the game – will check back in later :-))
HH
BGFC
Shuffling the pack with some fresh legs in midfield before back to back visits to Edinburgh, wise move by Brendan imo
HH
commentator on Hamilton game
‘everbody’s hoping big Lafferty gets a goal’
Honestly I’m not that fussed
Watching Bein sport Keys & Gray talking about Leicester manager . Gray:Brendan has to thing long and hard. Pardew “What about Neil. Lennon, he’s available.
Interesting team today, KT Captain
Fanatic
Yes all of those and still have a better overall record in many a year.
Which tells you while we conceded 4 away to Astana we scored 2 away and 5 at home and qualified.
We lost 5 -1 in aggregate to Bayern Munich, Arsenal lost that in one match against them, with players worth over 50M.
We lost to AEK because of our shambolic summer and previous window preparations.
What your doing fanatic is arguing with yourself because in both my posts i stressed certain individual performances were horrendous and you have detailed some.
Yet my point is we must also have had really good results because his overall record is as good as any in years. HH