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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I’d also like to see the players schooled in how to react after making a foul or in othe situations like claiming .
I beleive reactions can influence referees, for example, an aggressive reaction after fouling an opponent almost always leads to a card.
A wee bit of pre-planning could reduce cautions or see more awards go the team’s way.
DOC
Well said bud.
HH
JFH
It just goes to show that people really don’t read what others post.
You quoted a few who had lost money, a few posts ago I said that nobody has lost money since the hun have been found to have cheated, not just in my last post.
Since the hun have been found out, clubs no longer need to take risks, they are now making money.
As for your point, he reads the back the blog, he makes that obvious on a daily basis.
He is a troll, but you carry on defending him as is your right.
As long as good posters like ACGR are absent from the blog cos of that tosser, I will slag him off for the thick tory troll that he is.
And if I get a ban for it, fine.
HH
Lively tonight on the blog. Good stuff.
The Celtic Trust(or the Marxist wing of the Celtic support) in collaboration with the Green Brigade was the inspiration for the ideology behind this phenomenon of literary criticism of all things Celtic.
Jeanette Findlay is the primary ideologist who believes that the main reason behind conflicts in the Celtic support are the attempts by the ordinary supporters to obtain power, and the effort by the right wing Tory Board to retain what they already have. Findlay’s criticism, similar to historical analysis carried out by Hamilton Tim, claims that Celtic literature and online blogs are not independent but rather a product of media manipulation by our right wing Tory board.
However Green Brigade analysis of issues specifically in terms of the conflict between ordinary fans posting on blogs such as CQN and the right wing Tory board, conclude that posters such as TD67 are fuds.
Today, we use the Marxist Celtic Trust to analyze all forms of Celtic art, literature, music, visual arts, etc. The focus is to analyze how the issues facing ordinary fans are represented between different supporters groups and whether they inspire or influenced a given situation.
It is comforting to know that we have such visionary’s among our support.
;)
Owen
Again
On the topic of open manholes………:)
Eddie Great post. One member one vote for me. And id make it an open vote. HH
The Glorious Balance Sheet
If we did not have a board that balanced the books then we would not be in a position to participate in European competition because we would be dead like the huns.
On the other hand Ronny Deila has not used his resources well in our European campaigns. That goes without saying but the final arbiter of the season is not until may 16 and league position.
Wooft, those Marxist revolutionary malcontents are taking over the Celtic support.
Hope they don’t try and force me to read Das Kapital:)
HH
THE EXILED TIM. I am not defending an individual but I am defending common decency that if you have something to say about anyone on the blog you should wait until they are on line and say it to them directly.Not speak about them in a derogatory manner when they are off line.Also now the huns have been found out to be cheating no other club will get into financial trouble is that actually what your saying ? H.H.
As I said hours ago, it must be comforting for the Huns on here to see us self harming. Wise up , bunch of fuds.
Margaret
You insult my sister I never forgive or forget.
And as Ard Macha will confirm the “Lurgan Mafia” never lose.
MicktTT
Take out the blog whatever, I love your “Green & White” posts, hopefully I will never take the blog too serious but ever single poster I have met, and it’s not that many, have been pretty brand knew, the world is full of clowns, myself included, but I know my experience of CQN is of good people doing a wee tiny bit too help others
Hail Hail
Coatbrig will always be Green & White
Doc
The club need to address this I’ve been abroad following Celtic numerous times you look at a policeman the wrong way you get a baton over the nut. These thugs were here two years ago and caused havoc how many were arrested ? Now with the help of their Hun pals they run amok and seriously injure 4 fans . What’s it going to take someone to be killed . This needs addressed now by the club IMHO .
Forgot to add……biggest issue on Thursday, by far, was the fascist hooligan behaviour of visiting fans. Pure thugs, and on the cards. How the fekk can Scotland expect to cope with
surprise Isis terrorist attacks , when we can’t , or do not want to , deal with predictable violence from vicious clowns from Holland ?
These rich men, how fat they are! They stuff themselves. They wallow in good dinners. Ask them what they do with their money. They have no idea. They eat it, that’s all!
GFTB
“the world is full of clowns” too true………
http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/top-stories/rangers-fans-get-stuck-in-to-mr-custard-1-3632455
Well Bhoys thanks for the banter I am off to read a bit of Jack Reacher.Catch you all tomorrow. H.H.
TGM, thanks, I reserve criticism of the board, it’s too easy to blame the bored all the time, we loose a game and it’s the boards fault!?!?!?
Kettling kids nothing, Amsterdam, nothing publicly(I know they were heavily involved privately, but only because I spoke to the CT, it should be done publicly), Dundee, criticism, Motherwell, criticism.
They criticise our own fans too readily and never defend them.
Mr Bankier can only tell us to behave, he doesn’t know how to defend us when we are attacked, maligned or in any other way abused.
After the 2nd of December he had better get his finger out and start exposing the cheating and corruption now proven in our game.
Owen
Precisely- balancing the books is the very least that should be expected of the board; that they manage to balance the books should not be a cause for celebration or a reason to excuse under- achievement on the football park; it’s their job and they’re legally obliged to do it.
In celtic’s current circumstances – and with the huge resource advantages we enjoy against all SPFL clubs – winning the league is a given. Not just my view, John Collins also said as much yesterday asking for another crack at the CL qualifiers next summer.
So it’s reasonable in my view to look beyond the domestic league; to look for competitive performances in Europe commensurate with our resources in comparison to those teams that we play.
Of course any team will always have the occasional off day, that’s football. Bad luck, bad refereeing decisions, injuries. They bedevil all teams.
But 4 wins from 21 European games against full time opponents tells a story. Partly down to Ronny yes, but not helped by a plethora of temporary loan and deadline day signings.
Repeated failures in planning over the last 2 years. Looking at the league table alone does not tell the full Celtic story of these times.
Right, Joe Filippis Haircut’s has logged off, let’s post lots of vitriole about him………
Owen where did you see that. A bit of calm required now folks.
If Police Scotland ignore the actions of Dutch fans then that is their problem.
If Celtic ignore destination of seats then that is my problem as a shareholder, I will deal with my problem directly.
Glenn Hoddle would have been proud of Scott Allan’s pass the other night,we must play the boy every week now IMO
At last, I got a laugh out of the blog tonight .JMcCormick chastening people for self harming and then finishes with a “Wise up, bunch of fuds”, not slagging you JmCCormick, I actually agree with you but just thought it was funny..
AidenBhoy, I wholeheartedly agree.
We are an easy target, one of the main reasons is our own Club doesn’t defend us, doesn’t speak up on our behalf.
At least not in public.
It’s almost like we are some dirty secret to be ignored, unless being chastised for some or other misdemeanour.
Owen
Do you think it is nothing to do with Celtic if supporters get put in hospital before going to a game ?
Doc
A wee story.
The first time I met JF was on the Monday night prior to the Dam Bhoys collection. I’d been at events etc where she was there but I’d never sat in her company in that type of format.
Her love of Celtic and her desire for justice for Celtic supporters was palpable.
J is also quite a demanding lady and I now know that this comes from the inordinate amount of time that she spends on issues which concern the Celtic support.
The Minx and I were asked along partly because of our involvement in the Wee Oscar bucket collection but mostly because of our tweets in support of those Celtic supporters arrested in Holland.
It was pretty much left to us.
We had a number of nights until the Saturday where sleep was limited to just 4 or 5 hours due to the constant emails from Celtic supporters wanting to get involved and the logistics of organising such an initiative.
H did most of it and I was merely her support.
It resulted in over £30,000 being raised to support fellow Celtic supporters.
To have arranged it in such an incredibly short time is testament to H’s organisational skills but also her character and love of the Celtic support.
The Glorious Balance Sheet
I watched a Celtic team beaten by Raith Rovers. I could have cried Dena did. But it did notshake my belief as a Celtic supporter.
I couldn’t give a toss generally about our finances other than we survived they died :-))
corkcelt
glad to provide some light relief. by God this place needs it. I think you got my point, I am pretty sure many on here believe I ami n the bunch of fuds gang,
JFH
I am saying that when the huns were cheating the game, clubs took risks, hence a few lost money, now that they are gone from the top division, the clubs no longer need to take risks, hence a few are posting profits.
I didn’t say clubs won’t lose money, they may, who knows what the future will bring.
And I go back to my point to you a few posts ago.
You are not looking at the whole picture, the poster in question doesn’t give a toss who he slags off, his initial daily posts in the last few weeks have been to slag off the CT and posters whom he thinks are connected with them, he lies through his false teeth, he posts pish that has no foundation, and when challenged, he refuses to answer, and goes on a rant about CT spin, and you wonder why posters are fed up with it.
All I asked was for you to direct your point to him, but as I keep saying, he is doing a grand job of disrupting the blog as is his aim.
HH
Hamiltontim
That’s all well and good but have you and the CT finished your hollowed out volcano lair yet?
Big Cup Winners 9.37….
I rarely clink on any link (apart from RWE) but cheers for giving me a wee laugh on a Saturday night, There’s only 1 Mr Custard !
Cheers
Remember folks it’s just a blog. Please don’t take things too seriously.
TGBS..is That a Correct Stat..4 wins from 21 against full time opposition in Europe under deila…Can That Be Confirmed?
Doc
Based on evidence to date, I think we are dreaming if we think Mr Bankier will do anything positive,
HH
CRC
Hamiltontim
On the statement that was issued by the Trust last Sunday evening on behalf of both the Trust and two other supporter groups, can you confirm that both of the other groups are in hindsight happy with the statement and its entire contents as issued by the Trust?
Can Someone Confirm that we Have won 4 from 21 against fulltime opposition in Europe under Deila..Is It True?