It was a strange game. Celtic were so far ahead in the opening 20 minutes it was hard to comprehend how Shakhtar Donetsk managed to win so impressively in Leipzig last week. Our ‘hosts’ soon edged their way into proceedings, scored, and for the remainder of the first half, made Celtic look second best.
At halftime I suspect both teams would have settled for a point. The second half was significantly less open than the first. Shakhtar seldom threw men forward and Celtic cut down opportunities for a counterattack.
Had Shakhtar won, our chances of progressing in the competition would have been effectively wiped out. A draw means we remain very much in control of our own destiny. The disappointing aspect is, that a win, which should have been achieved, would have almost certainly guaranteed European football of one type after Christmas.
There is also the dirty little subject. A win was worth £1.5m more than the draw; our potential income pot shrank a little in the Warsaw air.
It is remarkable how Greg Taylor has grown this season. Repeatedly last night he dragged his body up and down the field, often accepting possession in tight spaces, before mining a way out. The courage he showed in possession is enormously encouraging.
Sead Haksabanovic was thrown in for his first start; a brave decision by Ange Postecoglou. The manager will feel justified as Sead played an important part in Celtic’s goal. Still, Celtic steadied when Daizen Maeda replaced Sead at halftime. He mitigated the risk from Shakhtar’s left flank; had he started, with Haksabanovic making a late cameo, Shakhtar would have found it more difficult to exploit the space they scored from.
Celtic improved again when Liel Abada replaced the exhausted Jota near the end. Perhaps bringing Abada on 10 minutes earlier would have made a difference.
Shakhtar’s goal was a consequence of the gameplan, not just a misjudgement in midfield. Callum McGregor tried to nick an opposition pass 40 yards from goal and missed. He was out of position and the orange and black shirts snapped up a gear. Celtic’s play is all about trying to nick a pass in midfield. It works domestically, (remarkably) worked for a period against Real Madrid and was very effective during the opening 20 minutes last night.
This plan is also energy sapping. At 25 minutes, the tank needed filled and we suffered until the break. We need to manage our tempo more carefully.
Later, there was concern until Real opened the scoring on the 80th minute in Madrid. That win may be just as important as Celtic’s point, come the end of the group.
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C40 @ 1.07
Confident players at ease in the CL turn last night’s performance into a win.
We are pretty close to CL credibility regarding talent.
Attitude / engagement / self assurance — that is what we need.
Our best is too good for even RM.
We just need to reach that peak more often.
TURKEYBHOY @ 12:59 PM,
Yes, it seems we do have an issue there, wonder how quick big Ollie is? Mooy certainly looks good but not the quickest.
Really pleasantly surprised by how we played considering half a dozen of our ghuys could play better.
The thing is many have technique and pace in spades, so we must hope it’s just a lack of experience at UCL level that is letting them down – I had thought that after their display against RM and having spent extra time with the coaches that we’d be more composed.
Still Leipzig is now looking like a crucial game, get something there and then it’s back to paradise to get through…
Hail Hail
Shame we didn’t win but hey ho.
Couple of things.
1. Gap between CL and domestic is as wide as we thought. We play like that in Scottish games we win vast majority.
2. Tiny margins. If we were just a few percentage points better? …
… I reckon we might have had four points on the board.
Key variable for me : can we learn quickly enough during THIS CL CAMPAIGN to reach last 16 ?
Or more realistic that we learn slower, attain 3rd place and apply our learnings
– in Europa League this season
– in Champions League next season
My, aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves B2B GHF ?
Just shows what having a great manager can do for your levels of ambition
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full
Pretty much sums it up. I don’t think you are getting too far ahead of yourself. This is really close. With a bit of luck and a bit of composure, someone is going to lose to us in this group.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL @ 1:19 PM
Totally agree…
Yesterday’s game proved Ange has much more in his locker than even we had guessed.
The players will learn or they’ll be replaced, that’s Ange’s way.
I predicted we’d see a much better 90 minutes in the Bernabue than we saw last week, after last night my prediction is looking good.
Hail Hail
Markiebhoy,
What you said earlier about tempo and game management was spot on.
Seeing the SD players cramping up and time wasting would have been very heartening after the effort the bhoys put in.
Hail Hail
TURKEYBHOY on 15TH SEPTEMBER 2022 1:09 PM
It was the sort of goal hardly I can’t imagine anyone else scoring at least like that.
Highlights don’t show missed chances but watching the goals from the other games last night and who scored tells a story
Napoli were without Osimhen last night but still started and subbed on two quality strikers
Coneybhoy
I missed your post last night and I am pleased to hear you back on today.
There is a need for no masks on here. You deserve to be heard in the mood you are in. It is no burden to anyone to hear your message, because you will have helped someone else give themselves permission to admit they are not OK.
I am sure you have tried a lot of approaches for dealing with the Black Dog of depression, and you are right, none of them work as a single agent. Chemicals without company cures nothing but a managed drug regime, supervised regularly, and completed with a regular dose of talk therapy, with amateurs as well as professionals, offers the best hope.
Along with those less reliable and difficult to prescribe components, Time and Activity.
You did yourself a favour last night in admitting your feelings and speaking your thoughts. Don’t put the mask back on.
Your post will have helped a lot of good Celts last night. I hope you will be one of them
Hail Hail
If ANGE builds on what he already has , the next two windows will have bigger and better teams than the likes of Brighton showing an interest in him .
Fantastic were all enjoying the thought of these games without trepidation (a free hit if you like ) this season .
I hope we get 2nd place ( 3rd at least ) our play and the competition deserve us to be in it ….
Well done again to the travelling support .👏👏👏🟩⬜🟨☘️⚽✔️👍
CONEYBHOY
Great to see you posting earlier. Take care, mate
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid032Xaks744bfio6EoFagdEXsesgdeR6pLTGuHus1eNLtoqsNs1rdyyLqmpWeqgBU3Hl&id=1419943011629069&sfnsn
See what I mean about Desperate Dan.
I thought we played a little too square last night. I would sooner see Calum played further up the pitch, he is not a defensive mid-fielder.
On the other hand, Matt O’R could have dropped back a wee bit. He was out of the play for a while, but he had two good efforts.
I mentioned Greg Taylor last night. He will never have the Toh MCkinlay type cross, but he is our most improved paper, our Denis Irwin.
some of the chances should have been finished, Maeda and GG should have scored and someone should have reacted quicker when their keeper parried down a shot (from Matt ?)
Jota really came into the game just before he was taken off, some of his dribbling was world class, but the finish was missing.
Mooey looks slow, but, he has yet to be caught out anbd his cleaning up work and distribution are bery goo.
Maybe give some of the squad a run at the weekend. All of them are first team standard.
All in all, we played really well, a massive improvement on our recent European form.
Wouldn’t fault Ange on the changes.
We will keep improving, Hail Hail
Oops, I type and spell like a village cop writing out a statement.
SENCELPOTY@GMAIL.COM
CELTIC40ME on 15TH SEPTEMBER 2022 1:05 PM
Excellent post. Good analysis of what we’re up against and how we’re lacking in terms of putting the ball in the net. We are doing very well in the CL in terms of performance as compared to the past 10 years or so but it cannot be ignored that we are being held back due to our poor finishing at this higher level. Ange has already worked so many miracles for Celtic, I hope he has one more in him to improve the finishing of our players in front of goal.
Why not bring Henke Larson in as a striking coach
Could always play Henke.
I remember how Ronaldinho credited Henke with making himself invisible to defenders in the box
40 year ago
Where you there?
What a player Cruyff was.
https://twitter.com/LilZe_7/status/1570200726655143936?t=g9OS64gDhPQMZdI9w4qPxA&s=08
HH
AN TEARMANN on 15TH SEPTEMBER 2022 2:55 PM
“40 year ago
Where you there?
What a player Cruyff was.
https://twitter.com/LilZe_7/status/1570200726655143936?t=g9OS64gDhPQMZdI9w4qPxA&s=08”
Yes, I was :)))) por cierto
CONEYBHOY
Good to see you posting.
Lots of good advice and offers of help on here!
Keep posting too!
Best wishes!
Was in the Olympic stadium as well in 1971, moved to allow 65,000 access to the game. HT all looked good we contained the New Ajax but, boy oh boy, did the switch on the afterburners in the second half and blew us away winning 3 – 0. Cruyff was his usual but Kaizer for me was the standout, utter lightning and exposed us time and time again down the left. We won the 2nd leg 1 – 0 Jinky scoring at Hampden. Can’t remember if it was the new roof on the visitors end at CP or the new roof on the old stand for the switch, help! :)) por ciert0
Afternoon all
Second visit in a few weeks after a 4 year gap. Must be a slow day. I have been lurking since 28/8 and feel I must make a request of Mad Mitch. (MM)
MM – can I ask to please stop using initials for players ,positions on the pitch and other teams without previously indicating earlier in your post what those initials will stand for? My brain is maybe not as sharp as it was 4 years ago but earlier on today you referred to ‘JNPF’ and it took me several minutes to realise you were referring to our player Jota- I have literally never read or heard anybody using these initials when discussing the player before. C’mon, the initials aren’t even any shorter than the name he is known as.
Later on things you befuddled me further when discussing the performance of Greg Taylor ( GT- I got that one fairly quickly) you made mention of JJK and it took me a half hour to realise you were referring ( I think) to the player Jonjoe Kenny whom most here will have never seen playing ‘in the flesh’ ( and whom many of us are trying to forget.) I’d have also thought that ‘Real M’or even just ‘Real ‘ are acceptable as abbreviations for Real Madrid but ‘RM’ less so.
KUTGW
J67
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 15TH SEPTEMBER 2022 2:32 PM
I think Ange is ahead of us on that – he said they’d been working specifically on being more clinical in the final third with the cl in mind, and brought in a forward who had experiencing of winning it to help with the step up.
Smart guy, sees the problems before everyone these and tries to do something about it
‘GG on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2022 10:10 PM
Hutton has the brain of a sparrow.
GG, you are doing sparrows a disservice 🤪
Por Cierto,me too,Cruyff always was my favourite footballer.His impact on and off park is awesome.
Recall seeing a little expose on Ajax before they beat us in 71.Cruyff talking with Neeskens and Suurbier all talking bout how they all played different positions ,and learned with Rinus Michels guiding hand how to alternate and support each other,giving rise to total football,seem to recall at 4-1 vs Bayern in 73 or 4 semi,passing round them taking the absolute Michael:-) His influencing on change and culture down thro generations at Barca trickles on down in pep and xavi today..
:-)
Ange is implementing that change in psyche at mo with us,we are disappointed in not getting the win,we got an away point,we continually get mentally stronger and qualifying in this group is still in our grasp.
Next up its allornothing Liepzig fighting for their existence in champions league await disposal.
Do it Celtic :-)
Paisley first tho
Hail Hail
Happy with the draw last night. The way the games fell for us at the start of this CL campaign were tough – it’s going to get easier. I would have taken 1 point from the first 2 games if offered.
I watched the game on US TV, where Celtic are getting more and more coverage these days. Unfortunately the news today is all about the embarrassment caused on a world-wide scale by the singing in the stadium and the banners on display. Regardless of personal thoughts on the Queen, this was not the time or place. These guys brought shame on our club and shame on all the decent Celtic supporters out there.
Played well last night, could have won. Ange has us in a good place. We are taking a water pistol to a machine gun fight in this competition financially. So every point is a bonus.
MM reading your comments you would think we got beat 3 zip last night, never seems to be anything good going on at the club at any level in your opinion.
Takeabreatherbud.csc
KLV
The huns haven’t scored a goal since the Elizabethan era.
Our best is too good for RM ?.
FFS..LOL.
MnCe.t,
The Banners did not mention the Queen.They said F— The Crown.Totally different.
The song,with the add on,different.Most fans want the add on stopped.
I would think that most fans in Warsaw last night following the team,were of the Catholic religion,not all,but majority.
Nothing said on any Media about the signing of Documents on National TV,to uphold the Protestant faith,which is to the detriment of any Catholic,banning them from acceding to the highest positions.
Yes,Fek The Crown.
Turkeybhoy – The headlines said – ‘Celtic fans mock the Queen’s death with offensive banners’
That was how it was interpreted by 99% of people who saw them. And it wasn’t just the F__ the Crown banner. There were others.
TURKEYBHOY on 15TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:08 PM
‘Nothing said on any Media about the signing of Documents on National TV,to uphold the Protestant faith,which is to the detriment of any Catholic,banning them from acceding to the highest positions.’
###
The only position not open to Catholics is that of the monarch (and possibly their spouse). That’s because the monarch is also head of the CofE, and you couldn’t really have a member of one faith as the leader of another.
That’s it.
Every other public office is open to Catholics.
Did anyone get the SF memo about how to respond publicly to the death of the queen?
MNCELT
Get off your knees ffs.
And stop reading the Daily Mail/watching Fox News, it’s turning your brain into mush.
turkeybhoy
And the Oath signed at St James Palace was not signed by KIng Charles III alone. It was also signed by Camilla, Prince William, the Alister Jack, Secretary of State for Scotland, and one Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland.
Not alotta people know that.
FRED COLON on 15TH SEPTEMBER 2022 3:13 PM
‘GG on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2022 10:10 PM
Hutton has the brain of a sparrow.
GG, you are doing sparrows a disservice 🤪
____
A wee cock spara, springs to mind😬.
Cruyff was my favourite player, outside of any Celt. The guy was on a different level from anyone else. Not sure anyone else has introduced something totally different, like he did when I first saw the ‘turn’ in 1974. “Wtf just happened there?” , everyone thought.