Space inside the box when you have the ball at your feet is at premium and whatever you have, closes quickly. The ancient part of our brains kicks in at this point. We become alert to the dangers of the shrinking space.
This reaction is biologically evidenced. The associated rush of adrenaline flushes the muscles with energy but it also obscures peripheral vision. You will know this yourself if you’ve been in possession of a football for as much as a second with defenders closing a loop around you. This is why, from the stands, we can often see a pass, but the player in possession fires off a shot that is easily blocked.
Watch Odsonne Edouard before he passes to Ryan Christie for the equaliser. Running towards goal with the ball, he has to fight against all of these biological factors to suppress the urge to panic into a premature shot.
His presence in the box induces the same adrenaline rush in the Lazio defenders’ brains and limbs: they focus on Odsonne, but the Celtic striker is winning the fight against nature. He maintains enough peripheral vision to spot the slenderest gap at 90 degrees to his right. Ryan Christie is in space and while all others panic, Odsonne pings a pass into Ryan’s path.
You can give players all the benefits sports science allows, train them until they are built like supermen, but the game is played in the mind. That ability to defy the natural instinct and control your body is where greatness lives.
I was troubled at halftime. Celtic did not deserve to be behind but Lazio scored an excellent goal and were clearly a very good team, while Cluj were ahead in Rennes, the result we did not want. The opening 15 minutes of the second half were controlled by the visitors, with Celtic unable to hold possession.
We needed energy from somewhere and Ryan Christie stepped forward. He covers 20 yards with great speed and regularity. His run to the corner around the hour, which created our first chance of the second half, looked like he was propelled forward in a pinball machine. His sprint forward, drop back, then repeat action, change the flow of the game.
It is not just Celtic who seldom score from corner kicks, such goals are the Hen’s Teeth of the modern game. Defenders mark the main threats, while others attack the space most likely to produce a goal. With the inevitable numerical defensive overload and set plays video analysed to within an inch of indecency, corners are the football equivalent of a Brexit deadlock.
But still, when Scott Brown’s shot from outside the box was deflected wide with two minutes remaining, we could dream. Christopher Jullien is as commanding in the air as any Celtic player since Bobo Balde. His sheer upper body bulk make a challenge from lesser mortals futile. His leap and glancing header inside the far post were like a great cruise liner gracefully launching down the slip. We were going to win this, or so we thought.
Fraser Forster had already made an incredible block with the score at 1-1, but in the final minute of added time, his leap to stop the unstoppable volley from Cataldi was the best save I have ever seen.
Crowds react to great save with cheers, or applause on lesser occasions. This save was met with an audible gasp. Shock from the ancient part of our brains was articulated an instant before the subsequent joy, not to mention respect. We were not to be denied.
When Hatem Elhamed went down injured inside the last 10 minutes, Moritz Bauer, a straight replacement at right back, was told to get stripped, but Neil Lennon quickly changed his mind. Instead, there was an Israeli shuffle, with Nir Bitton replacing Elhamed. Celtic went to a back three and two minutes later, Neil replaced Boli Bolingoli with Jonny Hayes. Coming so late in the game, Lazio had no time to react; Celtic were setup to control the middle of the park.
Goodness. In the dying minutes of a game against the top seed with the score at 1-1, we change tactical formation, going three at the back against two strikers. You have to hand it to Neil Lennon. Without this change, Scott Brown is nowhere near the Lazio box to be able to latch onto a loose ball and shoot to secure the corner that produced the winning goal.
It was an absolute masterstroke. Well done, boss.
For most of us, our days are full of small joys and trials. Spontaneous, shared, exhilaration is in rare supply. But, here we are.
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Canamalar
The relevance of point 18 is that Celtic say that when this is raised at committee level within the SFA they get no support from any other clubs. In other words, Celtic try to take it forward but everyone else runs for the hills.
Now if that is so, then again I ask why would Celtic want to persist with the SFA Route.?
In turn, it has been put to me that this is such a complete arse up, that some, possibly all, clubs are afraid that UEFA might take action against the SFA as a whole and so no Scottish Club, including Celtic, would have entry into UEFA competitions in future for a period.
I think that is far fetched, especially given the invitation previously proffered, but surely that would not be the case if a respected member club actually made it plain that by referring the matter to UEFA they were placing the interest of UEFA and its rules above and before domestic convenience.
This then takes me on to the other point raised by Canamalar.
All shareholders are owners of a member club.
The board, and those who vote with them, are not the only owners of Celtic PLC.
When the SFA say that they will only answer to a member club – who do they mean?
What is the legal relationship between the Scottish Football Association Ltd and the individual shareholders of say Celtic PLC.
Celtic PLC hold one share in The Scottish Football Association Ltd and you, me and countless others hold shares in Celtic PLC – Therefore you, me and countless others must have part ownership of that share in the Scottish Football Association Ltd.
As part owner if that share, the board and management of The Scottish Football Association Ltd should be accountable to all of the shareholders in Celtic PLC and it simply will not do for the board of the SFA to say that they will only deal with the board of Celtic PLC.
If necessary the position of the individual shareholder can be clarified in the courts and that is something that may be looked at.
Further, if the SFA decide not to follow the recommendations/ruling of their own judicial panel and so decide to do nothing, then that decision may well be something that an individual shareholder of Celtic PLC – AS PART OWNER OF THAT ONE SHARE IN THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LTD – could have judicially reviewed.
Exactly what the SFA are going to do is as yet to be determined according to Mr Maxwell, and perhaps the Celtic board are privy to the decision to refer the charges to CAS as the judicial panel determined, in which case both the resolution and any judicial review would be unnecessary.
However, until that decision is made, and in the current climate of the SFA appearing to ignore its own judicial panel ruling, then both the resolution and any potential legal action are both logical and necessary.
What is as plain as the nose on your face is that the SFA have tied themselves in legal knots.
Either they cannot hold hearings into breaches of their own rules or UEFA rules in general and in all cases (basically because they cannot be prosecutor, witness and effectively appoint the jury at the same time)
or
They cannot enforce their own rules or UEFA rules in this particular case for some other reason that no one wants to talk about. That might be the case if, for example, they had entered into some kind of contract or agreement whereby in certain circumstances they had contracted out of enforcing all rule breaches of either SFA or UEFA rules this leaving those rules as utterly defunct and inapplicable.
I can’t imagine any professionally competent person agreeing to either of these scenarios but that appears to be where the SFA is at.
Another piece of shame (but not surprise) from the Celtic Board.
Their (in)action on this matter leaves them without a head to hold high.
CQN isnae the same without ma Brother in Rhythm 16 Roads.
It is what it is.
Lennys SQuAd
It is about Learning and there is nae Wonder Sir Alex wanted Neil @ MU.
90% of Celtic fans are unaware or don’t care about Res 12….
I think a large percentage of Celtic fans know the Huns old or new cheated but would still rather play them …
A large percentage of fans at the games sing about 9 or 10 @ row and many posters want the “9” before the “10” even more than European success, why does nobody disregard all the actual tainted titles “big tax case” where the guilt of improperly registered players is glossed over on nearly every Celtic blog … AND definitely by the Celtic supports who attend week on week out home & away …
The Res 12 bhoys have been immense but sometimes they are pissing in the wind
BROGAN ROGAN TREVINO AND HOGAN on 26th October 2019 5:04 pm
Canamalar
The relevance of point 18 is that Celtic say that when this is raised at committee level within the SFA they get no support from any other clubs. In other words, Celtic try to take it forward but everyone else runs for the hills.
Now if that is so, then again I ask why would Celtic want to persist with the SFA Route.?
In turn, it has been put to me that this is such a complete arse up, that some, possibly all, clubs are afraid that UEFA might take action against the SFA as a whole and so no Scottish Club, including Celtic, would have entry into UEFA competitions in future for a period.
——————————————————————————————————
That would be no bad thing then we could concentrate on winning 9 then 10 in a row in comfort with no european distractions. If we get 10 the hun would fold I believe.
KEEP THE FAITH
GFTB
In all truth this has absolutely nothing to do with Rangers, RFC, The Rangers or whoever now.
This is about whether or not the SFA can investigate, gather evidence, bring disciplinary charges and hold hearings into allegations involving breaches of the SFA and UEFA rules — any rules.
As things stand, it would appear that any club can breach fair play rules, registration rules, signing rules, UEFA rules etc etc etc and the SFA cannot charge them with anything or bring proceedings against them at any time in the future.
The whole make up of their judicial procedure has been ruled incompetent – or so it would appear.
KevJ
ye ur missed.
Cal yer the Main Man
Aidan joked walking by the Turnstyle Bar I should get Air Tickets to Gdansk now.
Maks sense to me.
Something inside so Incredibly Strong says Oui.
BRTH 5.29pm
Do you honestly think this has nothing to do with Rangers ?
it’s Rangers who cheated, it’s the SFA who let them, my point is the majority of Celtic fans under the age of 45 don’t really care about Res 12… and the SFA or the “rules” or any judicial process, am basing my opinion on the level of interest from Celtic fans from all walks of life and not the attention of the Celtic fans on the internet …which in real life is still pretty minute
These are Crazy Crazy Crazy Nights,
The Queen lays a Wreath at the Garden of Remembrance.
So Many Big Things Happening.
Constants – Always look for Constants.
We are All Constant Sinners. :))
Come on You Bhoys in Green.
Canamaler, count me in for crowd funding, ps this blog is more hassle than it’s worth to post, between adverts and GFTB s pish every weekend 😄3-1 hoops Tomorrow
WOL
Who has deemed the SFA disciplinary process, and on what basis?
Incompetent…
Kamara the £50 k wonder buy from Dundee wanted by a whole host of EPL sides according to the DR. The new Hun DOF getting all the help he needs to shift the dreack of pish that Stevie G has bought😵
Petec 6.15pm
Gdańsk 2020 “might” be a bit soon for Lenny but who knows
Seville 2021 could be a goer :-)
Nae mair Catholics
Wow – the impact of this Today is mega.
Trainspotting 2 was a mega hit Worldwide.
And King Dave panders to this element.
Friesdorfer
Think it was BRTH at 5.29. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
HH
Gerry it is never too soon.
Celtic MUST strike whilst the iron is hot.
We are on the cusp of something Really special, as we have a Manager that identifies weaknesses easily.
The most under rated Manager in the World IMO.
Thankfully the hun Celebrated him getting the job so they can hardly hound him out of it again.
Teuchter ar la
“or so it would appear ” But, by whom? The Judicial Panel? On what basis?
You couldn’t make this up, well actually…
Petec 7.14pm
Just jesting with the Euro stuff, Neil Francis being derided by the Hun makes me smile … he is Celtic to the core
Remember Neil left Leicester in the Premiership for less money to play for his boyhood heroes, and is still dreaming … been there done it and lived through more than many of us could ever imagine
Like big Billy in 1988 centenary season, big Jock in 1967..maybe our Neil has history to write :-)
MaGiCaL
Friesdorfer
This from BRT &H @ 2;49:
” The SFA said they could not refer the matter to UEFA for timebar reasons, but confimred they would respond to and comply with any enquiry from UEFA – IN THE INTERIM THEY CONDUCTED THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION AND BROUGHT THEIR OWN CHARGES BUT HAVE BEEN JUDGED AS INCOMPETENT IN SO DOING.”
Capitals were in the original post.
I don`t know who did the judging ! Could have been the Law Society or it could have been the Green Brigade :-))
Think I`ll go for a pint.
Cheerio for now.
Gerry,
I said to Aidan that that Header was a Real catalyst if the Past has any Significance.
There is Nothing New under the Sun, our Almighty Created.
It’s on I’m telling ya.
HOT SMOKED on 26TH OCTOBER 2019 4:48 PM
Where is Mike in Toronto these days?
Toronto?
Hot Smoked,
Have a Fantastic Pint (2 3 or 4+).
!! Bada
That`s settled it. Definitely off for a pint now !
:-))))
20/20
Friesdorfer
At a preliminary hearing to consider the charges RFC argued that an SFA disciplinary panel was not a competent forum to hear the charges and argued that the matter should be referred to CAS.
The judicial panel agreed.
This was June 2018 and we have been waiting on the SFA to take the next steps ever since.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-win-uefa-licence-battle-12947996
Celtic still have faith in the SFA — we don’t and say they should take the matter to UEFA themselves.
Petes
Will do…..if I can ever get off this site !
The shareholders will end up sueing the Board, farcical,Freemasonry is alive and kicking in the Celtic Boardroom, or my long felt thoughts are Lawwell is blackmail material for years.
Petec 7.27pm
We can but dream …
Funnily Hot Smoked just posted he is away for a pint …
I think he posted during the week Celtic fans (I paraphrase) we sort of expect not to get decisions so that’s our mindset
If Celtic ever got a level playing in Scotland we might regret it … we love fighting against the odds :-)
HI GHUYS, as you know I don’t post on here very much, but ive just found out big jimmy is in hospital ,now as you know we have had our ups and downs, but he is a celtic supporter like all of us, so big jimmy if your lurkin I wish you a speedy recovery .all the best.hh.
Thinking back to the Lazio game. Wow they were the best at Defending 1v1 situations. Incredible defensive play by Lazio. I was very impressed by how good they were at that.
BIG PACKY !
Well said!
You’re a gent and at the end of the day some things are more important than fitba !!