By Alex Gordon.
A DREADFUL penalty-kick miss by Bahrudin Atajic condemned Ronny Deila to his first defeat as Celtic manager.
The Bosnian striker had the ideal opportunity to level the scores four minutes from time after substitute Paul McMullan had been downed in the box.
Unfortunately, Atajic blazed his spot-kick over the bar into the Hamburg crowd much to the annoyance of the new Hoops gaffer.
It was a largely experimental Celtic line-up with Deila taking no risks ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against Legia Warsaw in the Polish capital.
Alas, appalling defending by Filip Twardzik gifted the Germans the winning goal before the interval.
The left-back made a mess of trying to control a long and hopeful punt into the Celtic penalty box. The ball broke clear and was immediately presented to Christopher Nothe who could hardly believe his good fortune.
Nothe struck his effort first time from eight yards and Craig Gordon had no chance as the low drive zipped past his right hand in the 39th minute.
Twardzik toiled in the opening 45 minutes and was also booked in the 33rd minute after a lunging tackle after once again giving the ball away with a slack pass.
Celtic started at whirlwind pace and had three excellent opportunities inside the opening 10 minutes.
Atajic fizzed in a low shot from just outside the box, but keeper Philipp Tschauner got down swiftly to hold the ball at his right hand post.
Five minutes later, Tony Watt, looking lively on the left wing, tried his luck from a tight angle.
His shot totally bamboozled Tschauner, but carried over the crossbar and out to safety.
Amido Balde should have got the game’s opening goal in the 10th minute when he was through on goal after some neat play outside the box.
However, the Portuguese Under-21 international lacked composure at the vital moment and allowed the keeper to block his hurried parting shot.
Gordon, making his second appearance for the Hoops, showed he was still rusty after being out for over two years with a slack goal-kick to Nir Biton.
The Israeli midfielder, captain for the day, was taken unawares and St Pauli broke forward, but made a mess of the opportunity.
Stuart Findlay, partnering Eoghan O’Connell in the middle of the inexperienced back four, was also sloppy with some wayward passes, but the Hoops escaped punishment.
The game was billed as a friendly – and the clubs have an affiliation – but the home players weren’t slow to put in some punishing challenges.
Skipper Soren Gonther was yellow-carded for a rugby tackle on McGeouch that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Celtic’s current home at Murrayfield.
Liam Henderson tried to set up Balde with a neat chip into the danger zone, but the ball carried over the giant frontman’s head.
It looked like being a stalemate at the interval until Twardzik’s lapse in concentration and control allowed St Pauli to snatch the lead.
Deila put on Lukasz Zaluska for Gordon at half-time and replaced the ineffective Balde with Paul McMullan.
Henderson brought the St Pauli keeper into action with a long-range free-kick in the 65th minute. The idea was good, but, unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite match the ambition.
Zaluska produced one memorable moment when he pushed a raging effort from Sebastian Mhyre over the crossbar 10 minutes from time.
Then came Atajic’s dreadful spot-kick blunder which was followed in the last minute by an effort from Watt which swept just wide of the target.
As an exercise, it was worthwhile and the Celtic youngsters will expect to do better when presented with the opportunity to impress the new manager.
CELTIC: Gordon (sub: Zaluska 46); Herron, Findlay, O’Connell, Twardzik; Biton, Henderson, McGeouch; Atajic, Balde (sub: McMullan 46) and Watt.
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Sorry to see MEGA Watt go……………………
But 2 managers, hang on 3 manager’s can’t all be wrong.
BigJoeWOULDlike2kickWATTuptheArse
Tallybhoy – you beat me to it. It’s Tony himself I thought :)
Based on past evidence driving future performance don’t get the romanticism of Tony Watt – 8 goals in 34 appearances, hardly young Charlie Nick figures ? A posse of managers holding up issues about him attitude wise, what is the club to do ? Wait eternally for him to grow up ?
He may get his act together finally and become a world star some here think he is but you can’t blame celtic – he chose not to use his time with us to buckle down and become a hero. His loss.
I personally don’t think Tony will make it at a decent level which is sad.
Anyway Aquino in this week ? Or Charlie Adam ?
Joe Filippis Haircut
10:12 on 28 July, 2014
Absolutely spot on. Whatever happens is all part of a master plan to, well never mind what it’s to, that doesn’t concern us, the point is, it’s part of a master plan, and it’s all for the best.
Besides, if we didn’t do whatever it is we’re doing we’d go bust like the huns.
Big Joe
10:15 on 28 July, 2014
Maybe three managers were incapable of managing the guy’s talent.
Just a thought.
Time will tell.
• ernie lynch
10:18 on 28 July, 2014
Big Joe
10:15 on 28 July, 2014
Maybe three managers were incapable of managing the guy’s talent.
Just a thought.
Time will tell.
Good point…………………………..
However………………………………
3 managers……………………three……………………… surly not.
Are you suggesting Celtic look for a manager that can channel Tony watt into Ronaldo or Messi.
Ok, Il phone BIG Peter and get him on it……………….
BigJoe……palswithBIGpeter
Big Joe
10:21 on 28 July, 2014
Put it this way, if he fulfils his potential elsewhere we’d be entitled to wonder why it was deemed he couldn’t do it at Celtic.
The mullet. We have been waiting for that striker for a while and think we will have to wait till PL goes before we get one
It is indeed strange that proven goalscorer in griffifths is player out wide. Ronny says it’s important to have wide players but has not said how important it is for a goalscorer
Very strange
The doom merchants have arrived en masse.
Alternative narrative – Back 5 last season is still together and will make it difficult for Legia to penetrate.
Emergence of Johanson, Biton and Griffiths are positives as has the promotion of Henderson. Pukki looks a better player early season and Commons is fit for the tie.
Enough to get through the Poles ? Yep.
Lose ? Perhaps but it’s a competition but it would be a shock and I expect us to progress.
Re: TW – after the two clubs agree a transfer fee, doesn;t the player have a say in whether he wants to go to Belgium or tay a fight for a place in the first team at Celtic?
Oh and well done to whoever said last week that Tony Watt was more likely to play for Standard Liege than Celtic.
Like others, I feel deflated by this. Not because Tony Watt was our main striker but it just adds to the sense that we are not prepared for these qualifiers. We are told that the Champions League is key but sell players before key ties to get in there with no replacements.
Last year we banked the Wanyama and Hooper money and the made the champions league by the skin of our teeth. I’m less confident we will even make the final qualifying game.
I thought we would have brought in a central defender by now……….
Is John Park larging it Ibiza ???????????????
Come on JP, pull another Victor or a VVD ooooot the hat.
BigJoewishesHEwasinIbizawithJohnPark
tay a fight = stay and fight
Like Richie said at 9.57, where did last week’s murrayfield feel good factor go to?
Since then watt (sic) exactly has changed?
1. Celtic Park has been beamed magnificently across the world in tv.
2. A development XI lost 1-0 in a meaningless friendly in Germany.
3. Press have continued to run their X wants VVD / FF stories in run up to a big game for us.
4. A young enigma who scored one unforgettable goal but has done nothing since may leave for just over a million.
Wow. The football mood on here can fair sway from one extreme to the other!
I remain a pretty constant 6.5 out of 10 realist/pragmatist/naive deluded happy clapper depending on the reader’s own take on things!
HH jamesgang
ernie lynch
10:24 on 28 July, 2014
Big Joe
10:21 on 28 July, 2014
Put it this way, if he fulfils his potential elsewhere we’d be entitled to wonder why it was deemed he couldn’t do it at Celtic.
T……………………..
R…………………………
E…………………………
E……………………………..
managres………………………..
However I do agree with you……………………..
However again, unless he changes his attitude, so someone changes it for him, he will slip into folklore
thebHoywhoscoredAgainstBarca
If we are letting a superstar or potential superstar go for £1.2 million then there must be a good reason, correct?
People who know much more about these things than we do have decided that this is the best option otherwise why do it?….just to stir us up? I hardly think so.
Morning Celts, big week for the team.
Does anyone remember the good ol’ days when we were EPL fodder and felt we ruled the world? Today, we’re Jupiler Pro League fodder? What will we be tomorrow?
Mammy, Daddy!
Back in my real world, happy over the weekend there to have sorted digs in Haymarket for Wednesday night next week. Two days on the bell and no midnight travel snarl-ups.
Make us proud in Warsaw, Celtic..
Mullet. A very strange transfer window. Usually agents let slip that we are looking at this player or that
This time nothing. Agents have not been mentioning us
Is it because we have not even been attempting to sign anybody unless we reach CL? Very strange
Mullet – skin of the teeth will be the champions league way for as long as the cards are stacked against us ? Let’s get used to it and deal with it.
T Watt made no material difference to qualifying last year or this year and his sale is a sideshow used by some as evidence of some case against the club.
His past contribution to us is not big enough to be mourned. His future potential might be but that’s his call and not Celtics.
I’ve no problem with the club’s policy of punting any player for the right price. In fact I actively support the strategy as that’s essentially all we have to offer players thinking of joining us- we can provide the stepping stone to better things.
Tony Watt sale however makes no sense to me if we convert the £1.2m in to another player with less or unknown potential. We buy at this price all the time .. So why sell Tony who is better than the likes of Amido?
Let’s stick to the strategy, please!
On a slightly different note…………………..
What is it with beard’s……………………….
Everyone’s got 1…………………………………
Beards………………………………….
Beards………………………………….
Beards………………………………….
BigJoecantGROW1
CultsBhoy
I don’t think Liege wanted Balde, they wanted Watt.
If anyone applies to buy Balde, I think he’ll be sold.
ernie lynch
Put it this way. If you, personally, were offered £1 million now from the sale of Tony Watt or offered the proceeds from a later sale, would you take the gamble?
JJ
MULLET AND CO
After last year’s lucky escape I took solace in the knowledge that the club would never again make the mistake of massively weakening the team before the qualifiers.
To be fair,they haven’t. Yet.
Syd
Tony Watt was on the bench v KR at Murrayfield.
You can read into that what you like.
Re Tony Watt.
We currently have a few youngsters on the sidelines and a manager with a track record of playing youngsters. Watt may have been perceived by Ronny as a bad apple and his possible negative influence over the crop of youngsters was not seen as a risk worth taking.
• CultsBhoy
10:37 on 28 July, 2014
I’ve no problem with the club’s policy of punting any player for the right price. In fact I actively support the strategy as that’s essentially all we have to offer players thinking of joining us- we can provide the stepping stone to better things.
Tony Watt sale however makes no sense to me if we convert the £1.2m in to another player with less or unknown potential. We buy at this price all the time .. So why sell Tony who is better than the likes of Amido?
Let’s stick to the strategy, please!
If your face doesn’t fit…………………. It doesn’t fit…………
I think is a brave move, and Ronnie’s way of stamping his authority.
Look how many times Ferguson did it at Man Ure.
WATTooooooooooooooooooooot
Anyway I reckon with Watt leaving, Stokes on his way and Brown out of the picture there’s been a policy decision to eradicate the club of grown men with ridiculous body paintings.
Long overdue and one that will meet WGS nodding approval.
SydneyTim
Watt was on the bench v KR.
The strange thing was that as you say the manager had intimated an intention of using him then took off 2 strikers (Pukki and Griffiths) and never used him
guyfawkesaforeverhero
I hope it’s not The Britannia Hotel!
No Pogmathonyahun not on the blog as I see. Could anyone of you going to Warsaw bring voucher for him?
Tony Watt has probably made the decision to leave Celtic por cierto
tic
toc
is evryone waiting for Big Pauls new post
BigJoeISENT
Jungle Jim
10:40 on 28 July, 2014
I’d keep him.
Football is a risk business.
Joe Filippis Haircut,
I know,I know.Its just that I think we should all be ecstatic at the moment.We should be going into this game,fully confident.We should have brought in at least one player,May,Armstrong,to help out,boost the team,and support.
Dont really want to mention the Hun,but their continued”Skintness”should be adding to our joy.I dont feel it.
Hopefully Wednesday will banish the blues.
I used Amido as an example of the club buying unknown ( and in my opinion a glaringly limited) player for £2m(?) then selling a less limited more known player for £1.2m…
It isn’t part of the strategy as I understand it…
and if he has such a BIG future, why were there no other clubs bidding for his services por cierto
Anyone got any Horse tips……………………..
I feel like a flutter…………………
thinjoeCouldentPickHis……………….nose
Big wavy. Think that’s the whole crux of the matter
Skin of out teeth against clubs who have a far less income than ourselves
We can argue till hell freezes over
But in CL qualifiers , most teams have far less buying power than us
That in a nutshell is it the problem