Negatives out of the way first: we’re not good enough, this is a low achievement by a Celtic team who have reached a group stage. There’s no disputing that, but amid the predictable ‘Throw them all overboard’ reaction, I know I’m not the only one who is not panicking right now.
When I heard we were playing three wingers (Forrest, Mackay-Steven, McGregor) I anticipated a thrashing. Gordon Strachan would often drop all his craft players for the more industrial types in European football, with good reason.
As it turned out, we had the majority of the chances, and all the better ones, as we spent most of the second half pushing for a winner.
No arguments with Leigh Griffiths assessment immediately after the game, that was his worst performance in a Celtic shirt. Nor is there dispute in Ronny Deila’s retort that he’s scored plenty for us before and will continue to do so. Even the greats have days like that, including the Swede.
The midfield formation was fluid throughout the game. Tom Rogic initially played as a defensive mid, before moving in front of Stuart Armstrong (who moved everywhere) and Callum McGregor. The defensive mid role Rogic played isn’t one carried out by either Nir Bitton or Scott Brown. We’ve not had anyone in this role since the departure of Victor Wanyama (still pining) and it remains a large gap in the offering.
Lesson: we need a defensive mid. The deep lying playmaker + box-to-box player isn’t robust enough in Europe.
Callum McGregor carried possibly the lowest expectations of everyone in a Celtic shirt but he put in an excellent shift. His goal was outstanding, losing possession immediately before Ajax equalised took the shine off things a bit, but it was still a strong performance.
Do you know the last time McGregor started a game? October 2014. Under those circumstances that was a remarkable performance.
General consensus is that the defence played well. Kieran Tierney is as good a left back as we’ve had in years. Had he not gone off with an injury the result might have been different.
Jozo Simunovic is clearly out best central defender. I know I’m not setting the bar too high with that statement, but he’s a move in the right direction. He’s also young, still working on his fitness, and will continue to progress.
A week ago Celtic Underground’s Harry Brady suggested Dedryck Boyata plays better alongside Simunovic than without him. Dedryck still has a long way to go but the evidence suggests partnered with a game-reader like Jozo has helped him. Let’s see where he is at the end of the season.
And Craig Gordon? He could have stopped both Ajax goals. That’s not to say he was to blame for either, he wasn’t, but these were the kind of stops he was making in last season’s Europa League.
Ronny is 18 months into the job and has contributed to the situation we find ourselves in (tactical mistakes in both Molde games), but this is not the time to lurch off plan. We’re not good enough largely because we’ve recruited too few players since 2012 who have improved the team.
We need to continue to develop players like Tierney and we need to recruit better. Get this right in January, and again in the summer, and we will be vastly better. The alternative is likely to be to pick up a best from the SPFL pool, or someone from the English circuit who cannot get a better paid gig. And then it would take until November 2017 before we could assess them properly.
Return of the Bampots
Tonight, for one night onlyt, Phil Mac Giolla Bháin, John Fallon and myself are in the Hibs Club, Carfin, for a Q&A in aid of Mary’s Meals, with Phil Agnew hosting. The event starts at 7:30, £5 entry, can pay at the door.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
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Roy Orbison – Only the Lonely – 45 RPM
https://youtu.be/clGK_7gJaAU
Oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
The Glasgow Celtic
http://youtu.be/MWMDn1wzEQ4
Alasdair MacLean on 28th November 2015 1:25 am
Wanted to say something but realised it’s all been said.
A hundred times.
It’s no Celtic’s fault…..where we are….Scottish football.
Celtic’s doing, and as far as I’m concerned, always has done.. good for Scottish football.
Case closed for me.
Ross County forever.
________________________________________________________________________
One of the Greatest ever comments on CQN, IMO.
Ye got a dude that lives, breathes and Loves fitba and the way it should be played.
HERBO on 28TH NOVEMBER 2015 1:40 AM
St Stivs
It’s maybe an urban legend in these parts but it’s said a Drum Bhoy threw the first punch :-)
—————————
drumchapel bhoy ws the guy who slapped down the ajax supporter in 142,
bit of a rammy, quite funny.
If it was 142 Im pretty sure I know who it was :-)
Was he a blonde heeded chap?
Willie Nelson – Always On My Mind
https://youtu.be/R7f189Z0v0Y
herbo,
bus convenor actually, i met him with Lavelle
I Wanna Be Sedated – The Ramones
https://youtu.be/ZLlLtSG7xe4
Ha! sherbet dab?
Magnificent
I’m texting him right now
Celtic is not McGrory, Thomson, Tully, Johnstone or Larssson. As much as those great players are our heroes it is the thousands who follow Celtic home and away every week who are Celtic. For me one of the true Celtic greats is Brian Commerford who followed our team home and away regardless everywhere they played. The greatest Celtic supporter I have known with a giant heart and an unconditional love for his team. HH pal.
If ye know Kev ask him who’s the best singer on the bus. He’ll tell ye it’s me
LongKeshCSC
Now that is Music
The Who – Baba O’Riley
https://youtu.be/GS1JZOAI-vo
the best singer is probably young sean lavelle
haahahha
Haha
That’s very true.
The Bhoys a daimond
Oh Drumchapel
Is wonderful
Oh Drumchapel is wonderful. It’s full of taigs, Fenians and the IRA
Drumchapel is wonderful
Primal Scream – Movin’ on Up
https://youtu.be/SnkjvECEQr4
Gordon64 on 28th November 2015 2:03 am
Celtic is not McGrory, Thomson, Tully, Johnstone or Larssson. As much as those great players are our heroes it is the thousands who follow Celtic home and away every week who are Celtic. For me one of the true Celtic greats is Brian Commerford who followed our team home and away regardless everywhere they played. The greatest Celtic supporter I have known with a giant heart and an unconditional love for his team. HH pal.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brian is with the Lord now.
Tremendous comment about someone you Respected so much.
If ye want to go to heaven when you die
You’ve got to wear a Celtic Bunnet and a tie
You’ve got to wear a Celtic bunnet
With Fk the Rangers on it
If you want to go to heaven when you die
Singin aye aye yippee yippee aye
The Doors – Roadhouse Blues
https://youtu.be/mJ9GDiYU0-I
1967
What is it remembered for?
;))
Petec thanks amigo. HH
The Doors – People Are Strange – 45 RPM Original Mono Mix
https://youtu.be/a_eYXEjQC9E
Drumchapel No1 CSC
Never mind the Rangers
http://youtu.be/Ch4sLDBBQYE
Jim Croce – Bad Bad Leroy Brown
https://youtu.be/QvwDohEEQ1E
http://youtu.be/DF7jFWmFbTg
the_huddle on 28th November 2015 2:22 am
The Doors – People Are Strange – 45 RPM Original Mono Mix
https://youtu.be/a_eYXEjQC9E
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Brilliant start to the video.
I’m likely to put a video later on about a guy wearing a bow tie, talking about Golden Ages, Dark Ages, Liquorice All Sorts.
I’d hope the CQN Historians would pick Holes in the Arguments, as he says he is Speculating at Times.
A wee song for ma big brother. A Celtic legend
http://youtu.be/wSoDfHXs4jI
Christy in the Gallowgate.
Kevin Barry
http://youtu.be/f4tuvBds-BE
Christy loves Glasgow. The feeling is mutual. Here him preach
http://youtu.be/uTgD-QveQrU
Sinead sings for Conor.
The angelus bell o’er the Liffy swell
http://youtu.be/66GNag13xR4
On easter Monday in 1916. The angelus bell was the call to arms as our brave ancestors began the uprising. 100 years later. The diaspora remember. Meon na saoirse
Let us open every eye
http://youtu.be/j3yKsyOkJlk
The layers of deception, they are deep.
The Paganism of the UN underpins what is happening in this World right now.
Sabbatean, Zionist…. FFS Vladimir is positioning himself as the Great Christian Leader.
FFS….. wakey wakey.
“You Can’t afford to Live without Christ as your King.”
Evolve or die
Wan fur Ganthony
http://youtu.be/Zk69e1Vcmvg
http://youtu.be/QhnPVP23rzo
Vladimir is definitely fighting the New World Order.
G’night. God Bless. Tiocfaidh ar la
http://youtu.be/slj46CnQkQA
Global Socialism……..
From the mixing of Capitalism and Communism, Francis ????
Getting a global populace dependant, I think, is a key objective for the Globalists.