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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Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic, Tierney; Bitton, Johansen; McGregor, Rogic, Armstrong; Griffiths
Well up here ,from near Dunkeld , on the road to Inverness its snowing heavily and the snow is lying.
Thank goodness we have a game today and the faithful get to see the Celtic play………………
in ither news…..
– ra Sleekit troll is oan a roll……..
Football without fans is – nothing.
CQN without trolls is – The Peoples Friend / Sewing-bee.
Bring back the rebellious Jungle – CSC
Who would be in your all time Celtic ‘hammer thrower’ 11?
Well done Mr Stokes with your stupid tweet,you’ve just given Spanner on Sky his first let’s get at Celtic dig, oh and today’s game is now Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Under pressure Celtic and Ronnie D according to that Prick
Bankiebhoy1
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Oh, ah know….he’s worth the watchin yon yin…
Wow Plenty of lads with fingers on the trigger, I wouldn’t have lasted long in the old Wild West.
Dreadful weather here off to 11.30 Mass. Hope Mrs. corkcelt doesn’t want to go somewhere for lunch well not before 2pm anyway.
Stokes vents his frustration from Inverness…
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=20507
Looks like he’ll be gone in January.
CANAMALAR on 29TH NOVEMBER 2015 11:02 AM
oh dear and there we have it the greatest Celtic supporter in the world cant be bothered going to Inverness to support the team, would much rather sit at home troll the internet and argue about the colour of his shite.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-36/#comment-2728188
My away game days are long gone, I can’t stand for 90 mins. no more, but if going to away games is a measure of how good a supporter you are in your thick scull, then I’m not surprised you posted that, and if I was going to away games it would be to support the team, not to Orginise teenagers on how to support a team the way the CT and GB leaders do.
Bloody snow lying in Bannockburn
Is just Snow fair or funny
Neganon2
Celtic will act.
Why?
Because it will be in their best interests too, as it will be for all clubs.
That is the message ALL clubs supporters need to send to their custodians.
That was the message Dons fans sent to their custodians with their banner.
Aberdeen were mystified at the original LNS Decision but were outvoted. Just as Celtic were and might be again.
It is a huge mistake to think this is a Celtic only issue. When the rubber hits the road Celtic are constrained by their voting power.
Celtic and the Association have been quiet but not necessarily uninformed, but it’s about timing.
In this case it’s a ” time to throw the toys out the pram moment” and my understanding is there are more than one pram at the ready.
I’ve just finished reading Pirates, Punks and Politics about St Pauli.
What struck me near the end was that the author said he was more interested in the crowd, the set up, the sense of camaraderie.
I recognise that but for me I only want to watch the football and unless folk like me become the minority football will always be about the game, not the politics.
That does not mean abandoning ethics and much of what the St Pauli support do is very ethical.
Like all life it’s about balance and accommodation. The opposite is always conflict.
You and KevJ should read it. I believe there is a St Pauli supporters club in EK. :)
oh angel of death please please stop ignoring him
Surprised Lustig is starting, didn’t look fit on Thursday. Armstrong and McGregor shunted out of position again to accommodate Johansen. Hope its worthwhile and Johansen is back to something like his best.
Auldheid on 29th November 2015 11:21 am
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No offence sir but….it takes me all my time to read the stuff on here, never mind taking a stab at all the ‘war & peace’ type of stuff that you can decipher in minutes :)
HH
Stokes vents his frustration from Inverness…
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=20507
Looks like he’ll be gone in January.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-37/#comment-2728203
Yup, and he is on the bench for a reason, but that’s not common knowledge, let’s just take the easy way out, blame RD, and feel sorry for him, and I’ll leave it at that.
What’s with James Forrest now ?
Not even in the squad.
A settled back 4, so COYBIG
Canalamar
Well I persuaded DD to introduce me to PL after I wrote to DD about a Membership Scheme.
I fancy my chances. :)
Lustig didn’t look fit to me on Thursday either, but what do I know.
KevJ
Seriously. Get a copy of that book as a Christmas present to yourself.
You will love it (as in enjoy.)
Auldheid,
did you use love as a motive ?
or money ?
CANAMALAR on 29TH NOVEMBER 2015 11:25 AM
oh angel of death please please stop ignoring him
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-37/#comment-2728212
Ever stop to think it’s wah hoos like you who are distracting him, .
Auldheid
_________
I still don’t think that Celtic will act till their ‘made’ to act ie: a season book rattle of the cage.
You have to remember….Celtic were looking the other way whilst, attempts were made to keep the huns in the league which would only have worked if, the Hugh Keevins formula was applied….imho.
I dont know a lot but, I do know that Celtic FC / PLC are run by a collection of devious-slippery-tyrants who will not stop their scheming until their financially frozen out.
HH
No effing about……Sack The Kowtowing Board.
Auldheid on 29th November 2015 11:32 am
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Ok, we’ll see what Santa can come up with – Hail Hail
Tonydonnelly67
________________
Hi.
Hail Hail
LIONROARS67 on 29TH NOVEMBER 2015 10:32 AM
Auldheid 09.53
Not sure how love, hope and charity fits in with the disciples of global capitalism currently holding positions in the Celtic boardroom, I saw your exchange on Twitter you have referred to, you lost me with your analysis then as you have done again this morning, sorry but this issue is solved by the board using the power and full control they have to sign up fully to the living wage in keeping with the charitable founding ethos of the club
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-36/#comments
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Let’s just say some of the comments I heard on the CST side had me wondering about motives. Less than charitable.
That is not to say the Board don’t need to look at theirs either.
As I said it’s about taking responsibility for what has been created not blaming.
Blame is when you judge the other and their motives.
Taking responsibility is when you look at your own.
Hope that helps.
Oh Dear, post after post attacking other posters.
Seems like you can say anything on the blog these days, if you are a brown nose tory troll that is.
KEVJUNGLE on 29TH NOVEMBER 2015 11:34 AM
Auldheid
_________
I still don’t think that Celtic will act till their ‘made’ to act ie: a season book rattle of the cage.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-37/#comment-2728220
=======
I don’t think they would have to wait that long.
Only fools would sign up to a cheats charter with same cheats still in charge.
Auldheid I always smile when someone says take the politics out of it. For whatever you define politics is it’s really about human nature. To try and get groups of people to do what you believe the right thing is.
Celtic like to claim they are more than a club. What is that more? Is it its charitable ethos as I think the club claim? If so then how do we square the failure of the club to embrace the living wage? Similarly Paul claims that Celtic are the most ethical club in the world. While I find that risible if we are how do we square this with the bonus culture in the boardroom (peters extra bonus really was a classic)?
I personally believe in the Celtic support as a movement, through camaraderie, through our fight against the prevelant racism in Scotland. It’s about more than football. If that’s called politics then so be it.
It’s heartening (I hope) that you believe that Celtic will act. I am not so sure. There has already been enough evidence of Celtics collusion in these matters to place more than a doubt in my mind.
But you never answered my question.
Should Celtic not act what would your personal decision be?
ML hasn’t looked fit all season
Ronny oot!
Awe the clowns who brought him in, oot!
Stokes and his vanity-wig, oot!
Jeanette Findlay and her ilk, in wi the keys!
John-Claude-Van-Collins, in wi the keys!
Chris Sutton, in as the new PR-officer!
Hugh Keevins, in as the Celtic oracle!
Horses for courses tactics, in!
Take Care Celtic Supporters
…..Off oot….
I hate Kevjungle – do you know why?
He makes me hate, with his incessant and totally unsubstantiated garbage that our board is full of money-grabbing reptiles – HE is the biggest reptile, in the jungle, or anywhere else, for that matter.
KevJ
If Celtic were looking the other way in 2012 why did an article about sporting integrity sent to them be made public 2 hours later on CQN where thousands could buy into it?
ANY TIMS WANT TO COME OVER TO THE LIVE UPDATES PAGE
NEGFANNIE THE SECOND – show us your PROOF – even ONE shred
Auldheid on 29th November 2015 11:50 am
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I’m afraid you’ve lost me again.
The point that I was alluding to was around that time were, no opposition was made about the huns re-instatement until….all the fans threatened to bhoycott….Turnbull Hutton(RIP) was very vocal at the time, thank God.
Hopefully that explains what I was trying to say as in, Celtic were ‘sleekitly’ waiting to see how the cards fell…imho.
HH
Neganon2
On the LW I cannot believe how badly it has been handled which is why I think it needs looked at again.
You see whilst paying a living wage is what you would expect would flow naturally the question has to be why hasn’t it and as I’ve said that means stop blaming.
Personally I’ll answer you with a question that I will then answer.
Why do you think I’ve put in the effort I personally have?
I know my motive. It’s so I can keep supporting something honest.
If Celtic don’t act I can always fill my time writing a book.
If they do it will have a different ending.
Oh Dear, post after post attacking other posters. Seems like you can say anything on the blog these days, if you are a brown nose tory troll that is. – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-37/#comment-2728215
Nope you got that wrong knuckle heed, it’s only if you don’t toe the Ginty Storm Troopers party line, as I said earlier, the name calling goes both ways.