Let’s get the result out of the way first. We went out to a weaker team who were nonetheless very well-drilled in defence. AEK scored with their only two attempts on goal last night and with one of their two at Celtic Park. This contrasts greatly with our chance conversation rate. It hurts and is money left on the table.
Recruitment is correctly at the heart of the inquest. Not only did nine of last night’s starters play under Ronny Deila, seven of them were once the heart of Neil Lennon’s team. Only Olivier Ntcham and Jack Hendry were brought to the club by Brendan Rodgers. One of Moussa Dembele or Odsonne Eduard, both Brendan signings, would have started if fully fit, while the Belgian, a Ronny signing, would have started in other circumstances.
This is Brendan’s fifth transfer window, so why do so many remain from the Ronny/Neil eras? There are good reason and bad reasons. McGregor, Rogic and Forrest have improved significantly under Brendan. We want more like this.
We only have accounts for Brendan’s first year, which show a £13.8m spent on player registrations. Since then we have bought big ticket players like Ntcham and Edouard, and more. Total spend will not be a whisker below £30m. Profit for Brendan’s first year was £6.9m. We could spend more (always), but we are still in an expenditure territory that AEK could not dream about.
I wanted John McGinn, but he is irrelevant to last night. He would not have displaced Ntcham or Brown. Not only was John not a solution, he was yet another squad player!
I’m not saying it’s easy, in fact, it’s difficult. We did not fall to a team who necessarily had a better plan for their recruitment budget, every season there is an AEK who hit the right numbers and over perform, before reverting to the mean. These are the perils of qualification.
We do not have a viable plan to continually qualify for the Champions League, and failures like this hurt. But we have been here before.
533 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- ...
- 15
- »
TBB
Chairbhoy
Excellent contributions, separating the wheat from the chaff.
Not maintaining the squad strength needs an explanation for maintaining strength whilst Rangers upped theirs clearly did not happen.
Is it a clash of club policy or personalities?
I was thinking last week that to get out of this Celtic are going to need another Road Show, but that would require PL and BR at the top table to explain the failure.
If we were to add to the current carfuckle the failings to shareholders on Res12 the cry would be Timber!!
An absolute irony in that what was an attempt to bring about SFA reform might bring about Celtic’s.
DILLIGAFBHOY
Shame.
So we’ll just have to rely on his son getting us loan players from Man. City.
Watching the game last night,the team isn’t full of bad players,I reckon we really need a Right Back,a Centre Half,and possibly another midfielder other than that,it was 2 Bad defenders errors that cost us the game,
I think its fair to say that there are more than a few celtic supporters (i use the term loosely) that dont like Brendan, a fair share on here too, and thats all fine but take the coach/manager out of the equation and tell me have we seen all this before? It shouldnt take you long to find the answer.
So what do we do now, all and sundry have vented their spleens and apportion the blame the way they see it justified (confirmation bias)? What happens next, i doubt anyone will lose their jobs. The PLC need a growth strategy to fund our succession strategy, the PLC should be there solely for the purposes of the improvement in the Football club, what else should it be?
immediate starters for ten
Boyata sold, he shouldnt be near the club but i think BR will let him train, take what you can get for him
Armstrong needs replaced, its no longer a 11 man game on a saturday (sometimes he’ll start others he’ll come off the bench)
Sport Science needs to look at how many injuries we get and what we can do to prevent them.
Fringe players need to be moved on, Gamboa i never think was a BR signing so he should go, Allan, possibly Christie and thats just for starters
RB and CB’s (id settle for one good one, AJer can be the ball playing one) but id like 2, dont care if they’re loan signings, a good defender doesnt need to be coached to pick up a player or gets caught ball watching, i dont and im in my 50’s and only good enough for a social five a sides
From what we can gather, PL needs to keep his nose out of football affairs, other than representing the clubs interests in an administrative role
i could go on but im tired, tired of watchin us get to the precipice only for something internal to scupper it, it happens so often youd think it was by design.
Paul67
We dont have a defence to qualify for the champions league they look clueless and uncommitted , that is unforgivable for in any sport at any level you only get out what you put in and this lot are not pulling their weight or justifying being at Celtic, I would keep KT and the goalie as cover but give Scott Bain a run in the first team Ajer I would shift to Centre Midfield to see what he can do in his favoured position because he is not the answer at CH,this might help scott brown’s workload, we need urgently a right back shift out Gamboa who does not get a run and find Ralston a new club all the CHs can go, I think the longer Commper is around it will a source of anger, pay him off, and investigate who did this guy’s medical, I am losing faith in the ability of our coaches to instruct the defence and midfield in how to defend, that freeze frame of the first goal is telling just how did that guy get to score Ntcham looked close to the ball as did Tierney.
Recruitment needs to be much better, I would also ask what is Congerton doing where is he looking for players, is it a screen database or at games. we have a big squad but many are not used or of no use to Celtic that is scandalous.
TIMBHOY2 on 15TH AUGUST 2018 4:23 PM
Watching the game last night,the team isn’t full of bad players,I reckon we really need a Right Back,a Centre Half,and possibly another midfielder other than that,it was 2 Bad defenders errors that cost us the game,
do people not realise this is not all about one game last night , this is about the abysmal and shocking defending carried out week in and week out by the same players making the same basic errors over and over again and not seeing any improvement in our defensive duties even with all the coaching they get .
How on earth can a lot on here say like Benyu, Christie,Allan,etc,are rubbish,good god they have hardly kicked a ball for Celtic,I say give them a chance,also I said at the time that it would be a mistake in letting Liam Henderson leave,and I still stick with that,so Brendan watch who you get rid off,also when is Bitton due back from injury.
DESSYBHOY on 15TH AUGUST 2018 4:33 PM
i agree with your comments enough is enough get rid of all the failures.
Just read Paul’s comments on the BBC page………………………mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Which are??
Blaming the defense for all our woes is wrong.
Individuals make errors but a properly implemented playing system can nullify the worst outcome from happening.
That AK scored 3 against us with few chances explains a lot.
Our possession stats are like the balance sheet,lovely to look at but ineffective on the final result.
We are coached in a one dimensional pattern whose potency is dwindling.
There is a collective failure throughout the club.
Custodians who view us as a profit vehicle first and a football team as an aside.
Coaches who are limited and either cant or refuse to see the problems with our system.
Players who look as though their individual skillset has improved but their responsibility and effect on a team game have dwindled at the same time.
Lustig failed to cut out the cross but his positioning was the real culprit.He spent the entire game in no mans land.What was his coaching remit?
Likewise KT who only showed up after we went 2 down.Did he just through caution to the wind and play to his own instincts after?
JF could have just spoken to Lustig the entire game as he faced him the entire evening.Not once did he ever look like moving forward or actually moving at all.
What was the invisible Rogics role and instuctions.
Ntcham links most of our play but seems to have zero defensive responsibility leaving Brown with far to big an area to cover.
McGregor showed skill but with little support or movement ahead of him his talent was not as effective as it could have been.
Griff is frustrating but the service to him is so poor he often has to go out of position to touch the ball.
When our purposeless possession leads to the inevitable passback to Gordon who then gives it straight back to our opponents it makes you wonder why our defenders don’t just hoof it?At least we would gift them possession further from the danger zone.
When we attacked last night they had two lines of defense and midfield in a compact organised fashion denying us room to work.
When they attacked we had eleven on the field in a haphazard fashion wit no assigned responsibilities.
Until the coaches focus on a complete strategy over our purposeless possession we will always be vulnerable.
Adding a better quality player will help but unless the coaching becomes more complete it won’t be enough.
FAN-A-TIC on 15TH AUGUST 2018 4:49 PM
Blaming the defense for all our woes is wrong.
——-
Aye. You and I have been watching the same matches!!
HH jg
can anyone name our defensive coaching staff and what are their credentials for doing such a task.
So Fanatic
What coach do we employ then, isnt that how it usually works?
I get your no fan of BR, fine, but ball watching is our biggest failing, followed by being on your heels et al, you suggest (constantly) we have no pattern of play, which we do, but i doubt its anywhere near where BR would like it to be, there’s no quick fix unless your Man City and alike, so maybe, just maybe its a bridge too far for those he has inherited despite improving a fair few of them (or is that in dispute too)
Ron67 @4:56
Al take a guess at Toure HH
Kris Commons sticking the boot into Brendan, what an absolute soup taking tosser. Never liked him at all.
6 trophies out of 6 and 2/3 Champions League, i think we would have taken that in 2016.
The tone of this blog is becoming hysterical, this one could be straight from the SMSM….(maybe it is!)
“do people not realise this is not all about one game last night, this is about the abysmal and shocking defending carried out week in and week out by the same players making the same basic errors over and over again and not seeing any improvement in our defensive duties”
Invincible Season and Back to Back trebles – very very quickly deleted from memory – crazy stuff.
I’d have thought that Kolo Toure knew more about defending than John Kennedy?
I want a right back who gets up and back like Tierney, 2 x centre backs who are the meanest mothers in the valley and Yaya Toure
Gotellthespartim
I have never suggested changing the coach.
I have suggested changing some of assistants but mostly i write about a more complete approach.
If you had read my post i also clearly say players individual skillset has improved but team contribution is dwindling.
I don’t suggest we have no pattern of play. Unfortunately it’s pretty but without much purpose.
We seem to be coached plenty on how to retain possession but there is no evidence of any attention being spent on position and spacing when we do not.
For all of those complaining about our lack of transfer activity and I posted mine earlier, Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League bought NOBODY in the transfer window, despite having enough money from SKY to survive without any income from their supporters in ticket revenue. SpursQuickNews must be in meltdown.
Moaning Jose also didn’t get his wishes in the transfer market at Man Utd the richest club in world football (not counting the Sheikhs money at Man City) so we are not alone in this regard. We do have a couple of weeks to rectify that so hopefully the targets will be brought in that we need and Boyata hunted for his life.
Very revealing article Paul67….ever think of a career in politics ……good with words but saying nothing really . If one of those Sevco guys who continually stand by King hadve come out with an article like that under the same circumstances we would all be laughing and saying , ” theres another guy looking for a blazer and a pair of brown brogues ”
Scunnered CFC
A couple of defeats after a couple of years of amazing success leads to in depth negativity from the MSSM and near meltdown among the Celtic support.
I wonder what Brechin Quick News is like.
JJ
Evening Gents and Ladies. Celtic are at this moment a bit of a wounded animal; that is the club, the team and the supporters. It is however early days in the season, We will recover from this, we will strengthen and react to this situation as we have done many times in the past. I dont think anyone who has to play us soon should be looking forward to it as i expect a massive reaction from all of Celtic and we will go on to Rock Scottish football to the core. Hail Hail and KEEP THE FAITH.
HOT SMOKED on 15TH AUGUST 2018 5:13 PM
been waiting for you to post some sanity.thanks.
robin bhoy – man utd spent 75million on 3 NEW players
Spurs are opening a brand new stadium
this doesnt equate to converting the loan deal of an existing player and getting new lightbulbs
regardless of who was/wasnt to blame for heart n aek, we need fresh blood
listen to professional footballers – nobody else
new players up the tempo at training, brighten the place up, keep everyone on their toes
questions for those who think mcginn would only have been a squad player ?
would he have played (even as a squad player) against hearts ?
would he have been bullied ?
how much should we spend on squad players and what calibre of player should they be (if mcginn was too dear and not all that good) ?
our manager wanted him, our captain rates him – good enough for me
Dunno JJ?
Have Brechin earned £10s of millions in the champions league over the last two seasons?
And lost out on tens of millions more and some cracking European nights because of a failure to maintain their squad, let alone strengthen it?
If that’s yes and yes, then maybe it’s a yes!?!
Would always prefer SmokieQuickNews myself mhate.
HH jg
not brendans biggest fan compared to others but commons has a cheek – never forgave him for his outburst against the bennch
Shat Logan and Oli McBurnie mocking us on Twitter last night, another poster for the dressing room notice board. We had better come out swinging.
Football’s not football anymore. It has become not a working class game but a management class game. I don’t like the CL because I feel humiliated by our performances apart from very occasional wins. So why am I upset about last night – because wins are not about goals anymore, they are about coefficients and brand attractiveness and loan arrangements and and and and imagining money=better players. I always felt the Lions were the end and beginning of eras in football. A punctuation mark as Winston Churchill would have put it. They were the end of a working class community achieving through football. They were also the beginning of a very professional approach beating Italian philosophy on the field.
I’m not a manager so I don’t understand most of the moneyball stuff; part of the upset of night’s like last night is also a grieving for what football used to be.
RIBINBHOY Tottenhams new stadium which is still not finished will have cost the bones of a billio!n! Thus no signings. Apparently there’s a toilet lock in the Jock Stein that has remained unfixed for months despite multiple requests from fans! HH.
Hello, this is WEE BGFC. Everybody calm down. My jings, you’d think we had just been relegated! I’ll list the good things: 1) We’re in Europe; 2) You’re a Tim; 3) You’re not a hun; 4) You’re a Tim. Some criticism is in order here but the good things far outwhiegh the negatives. Stop acting like a bunch of eedjits. The recent ill-feeling is entirely self-inflicted – everybody went tonto because we lost out to McGinn and convinced theirselves that we are in far worse shape than we were last season – personally I think the defence needs a bit of work but otherwise we are in not bad shape. This is just a minor set-back.
Keep the Faith.
HH
WEE BGFC
I’VEHADTOCHANGEMYMIND
Agree.
The simmering resentment among many genuine football fans is growing.
Unfortunately modern technology has changed the landscape.
The legion of new and fairweather fans has grown tremendously so the money is creating a two tier system of have and have nots with history and tradition having no bearing.
Smsm doing what they do best. Piling on the negativity for us and ramping up the positivity for the sevvies. They are having a good wee spell just now, but they know it won’t last. We will get focused and Brendan will make the necessary changes to get us back on track. No big deal.
Good job the league flags been unfurled already or we’d have a noisy minority having a wee boo.
Hello, this is WEE BGFC. People seem to be forgetting that Heart of Midlothian is a hard place to go to, at the best of times, and, if you are slightly off the pace, 9 times out of 10 you’ll be punished – they are our long term bogey-team. People also seem to be forgetting that AEK Athens are a very good, Champions League frequenting team – not quite the team you’d want in the third qualifying round.
HH
WEE BGFC
Keep calm ………its a blip.
defense defense defense defense! yes – we need a couple of additions in the positions we have talked about for a year at least.
However, over two games we only managed to score two goals against an average side – despite heavy investment in attacking options.
Mixed reasons – pre season, injuries, bad luck etc.. Also , we are not a threat from set pieces. Even with griff excellent delivery
Beginning to miss reading the papers.
Kris Commons was fast tracked by SKY before he’d even hung up his boots, but surely they couldn’t have known that most of his Celtic coverage, would have a negative slant. – Could they?
Davy Provan CSC