Celtic’s performance in Munich was one of the best in many years. Playing away from home against a top Champions League side, with a deficit to overcome, they came within seconds of securing a win, while creating several excellent chances.
Only two players dropped out of that side (Auston Trusty and Callum McGregor) from Sunday’s league game. Trusty was more than compensated for by Maik Nawrocki. McGregor was not replaced like-for-like by Luke McCowan, Arne Engels dropped to allow McCowan to take up a more advanced position, but this change in midfield did not determine the outcome.
Celtic’s tactical problem is how to progress the ball when everyone in the middle of the park is man-marked. It works against weaker teams, but well-drilled outfits who have as much athleticism as Celtic, like Newco, Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb or Young Boys have been able to give Celtic the ball and frustrate for long periods.
There are worse problems to have. Philippe Clement’s Achillies Heal was that he was unable to breakdown a packed defence full of lesser players. Being unable to overcome this cost him his job.
The league table reflects the true difference between Celtic and Newco. We are miles ahead of them, with better players and a better manager, but there is a gaping wound which has become more obvious with passing games and which others will pick away at.
The Champions League qualifier in August will be against a better opponent than we faced on Sunday. A tactical upgrade is required for then.
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I gather it’s the Equinox. The days are fair drawing oot…..Thank God for small mercies.
Guys; a wee Celtic story that warmed my heart and I wanted to share with youz.
A few months back, I posted here about the outstanding 17-yr old left-sided CB playing for Western United in the Aussie A-league: His name is Dylan Leonard and the kid is so mature and strong for someone so young.
So, last weekend Mrs Quad and I flew interstate to see Newcastle (2) v Western (6); memorable match in 34-degree heat. Just 12 western united fans had travelled to see the team in a crowd of around 4800.
At game’s end the players came over to acknowledge and chat with us. All lovely humble lads.
Got the chance to speak to young Dylan Leonard and on hearing my accent he asks; “Are you from Glasgow?”
Now, that’s a specific pick for an Aussie kid to get, so when I said ‘yes how do you know?’ he asks ‘Which team do you support?”
I was wearing Western’s green and white away kit and I said ‘Green and white; what do you think?”
“YES!!,” he says “I’m a massive Celtic fan and all my family are. I think we’re originally from near Clydebank.”
So this Aussie kid I’m bigging up, is a Celtic fan from a Glasgow, Celtic family.
And the best bit… after Mrs Quad says she hopes he can go all the way to Celtic, he smiles shyly…
“Well I don’ t know I’m that good, but I’m talking to Paul McStay in Sydney who’s kind of in my mentor team.”
“The Maestro?” I exclaim – and he grins saying he’s learning so much from him.
Boys, on top of flying over an hour to see Western young team win, I discover their brightest prospect is a Celtic fan, who’s already well-known to exCelts like Paul McStay.
Dylan won’t be at Western for long – he’s not super tall for a CB but if he grows physically as much as he’s grown as a mature and solid CB he will have a monster career; maybe even end up in Paradise !
Still smile at the encounter btw.
HH
quadrophenian
Great story re Dylan Leonard.
Lets hope he has a great future in football!
On a more sober note….
RIP Eddie Jordan
Cheers Celtic Mac ! Dylan’s on a two-year deal but I think he told an Irish WU fan that he’ll likely be gone this summer [I hope Western get a decent fee for him as they’re developing so many youth players]
Just watched ex-Celtic middy Jackson Irvine score x2 goals for the Socceroos v Indonesia. The second one was a cracking pen box header! Now playing with St Pauli, I wonder if Jacko wouldnt have fit the mould of that more aggressive, snappy midfielder we’ve long been looking for.
quadrophenian
Didn’t Jackson play in Scotland at one point?
new article posted.