This is one of those hard ties to analyse. AEK were no more than a decent team. Certainly not a clear cut above, and for that reason, the tie remains alive. But despite being preseason, they defended impeccably.
They did their homework. Tom Rogic, who was immense on Saturday, was not given a yard. Celtic opened well with Callum McGregor the principle threat, most often when linking with Kieran Tierney. After those two crafted the opening goal, AEK man-marked McGregor out of the game.
James Forrest was effective when used; it was his change of direction which drew the second yellow card for Galanopoulos, but we were overtly left sided, reducing Forrest’s effectiveness. Olivier Ntcham was our creative fulcrum after McGregor was shut down, but the normally incisive balls into the box didn’t quite come off.
A few early mis-steps from Jack Hendry were not punished, but the resulting nervousness throughout the crowd was clear. Central defenders are crucial to how Celtic play. If you inhibit their willingness to step forward or show for a pass, you inhibit the entire team.
I’m not sure what Kris Ajer thought when he let a cross ball bounce inside the box a minute from the break. It was an inexplicable decision which brought AEK level and changed their game plan for the second half. Even tiring with 10 men, they defended their box flawlessly.
We regularly tried to find Odsonne Edouard with a ball over the top, but invariably found the striker dropping off to take a ball to feet. Nothing seemed to work for him.
A word on Scott Brown. Much of what Scott does is understated but I thought he raised the bar last night. He bossed all his personal challenges.
I called AEK favourites when the draw was made and they are more so now, but they are not Barcelona, circa 2010. We have been here before; no throwing of towels just yet.
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There’s no noise coming from the corrupt/complicit media after that cheat Morelos dived in the box for a penalty.
I don’t here the Sevco fans or that weasel of a manager calling the referee poor after a decision went their way tonight ?
Message to every club, keep an eye on that cheat Morelos this year.
Ok – who’s getting Moderated, I posted to page 13, and been promoted to 12
Burnley78
“Anyone else?” suggests that you believe it. Or are you just trying to get a reaction by posting insulting nonsense?
GREENPINATA
You questioning the moon landings?
Nasa CSC
NORRIEM on 9TH AUGUST 2018 11:02 PM
The FD should be paid more :-)
It is a true salary, but with a large part of it deferred. This is normal for a LTIP bonus
Q: Do you feel PL deserved his salary and overall package to be doubled from 2016 to 2017 and if so what did he do in your view to deserve it?
HH
CRC
Norrie
Awenawnoramodsoanannonoo
Evening all.
I haven’t read back but I am assuming the draw last night and the win for the mighty Sevco have the usual suspects posting opinions about the rift between the boardroom and management team.
I promise to have a wee keek to as many prior pages and hand out plaudits as the evening progresses.
No really.
How long before Pedro’s minions are asked to come out and attack Brendan ?
Anyone ?
Well said Alan Stubbs. This lot @ScottishFA @spfl seriously need to be removed for the good of our game.
1 rule for Sevco Scotland Ltd and another for everybody else.
If you haven’t watched this please do.
”I was of the understanding that if you kick someone on the pitch, it’s more than a yellow”
St Mirren manager Alan Stubbs says the decision to overturn Alfredo Morelos’ red card against Aberdeen ‘has created a grey area’. https://twitter.com/BBCSportScot/status/1027601392779886592/video/1
CRC – I’m trying to get to my scratcher ?
How long has the LONG term IP been running and accumulated to reach that figure ?
No I’m hugely frustrated in the lack of tackling cheats, the deflection of res 12, the lack of tackling FtSFA, should I go on ?
He needs to ensure our longer term strategy is covered, we may not like it, I don’t
But
From a business perspective, I accept difficult decision need made, which I don’t like or agree with,
It happens in my business, and I need to sell or promote some of these decisions – you are aware of this, and what is required to support such
Looks like he is severely risk averse ??? putting things mildly as moderator is aboot ???
It would be a mistake to think The Rangers are a poor team.
They played with a lot of pace and energy and that means we have to up our game every weekend.
That will become more important than UEFA matches.
Back to the bad old days.
NorrieM
This is the first year’s award
Get to your bed :-)
HH
CRC
David17
So to be clear anyone can challenge the integrity of the CEO but not the manager ?
Posted by Minogue Tom Twitter.
Brendan Rodgers: I’ll quit Celtic if I can’t make progress
Sounds like he’s putting in his notice.
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/brendan-rodgers-i-ll-quit-celtic-if-i-can-t-make-progress-1-4781705
If a treble treble manager who has obliterated Scottish football in the last two years quits then Peter Lawwell should be sacked.
Defend the board all you want but IMO you can’t defend the indefensible.
CRC
So is it £1m bonus per year, or over the 3 years until payout, but being shown in a good years accounts, to reduce profit ??
Your the FD, and know how this works
Right
Nytol
Will hopefully awake in morning ? And when I do, I’ll be a Bhoy ???????
Glendaly
In truth I am not saying I really believe that but in the real world that kind of thing does happen. Who knows but we are seeing strange behaviour. It is very easy to blame the board.
Just putting an alternative option out there.
We are paying a single “suit” 2.5% of our current T/O — absolutely mental.
This is organised theft from the working class aka the CFC support.
Imagine paying the manager at the Barrowlands more than the main act.
The man has delusions of adequacy and yet we pay him.
DD needs to step up to the plate regarding his responsibilities based on his shareholding — either he welcomes and agrees with this charade which is a slap in the face to the support or he does something To stop this waste of money.
We are paying Harrods money for a TK Maxx spend.
Brendan to Man Utd.
AULDHEID
The closer they get to us the more the referees will be able to influence things in their favour. Jock Stein knew the only way to take the referees out of the equation was to stay a mile ahead of them. I agree that domestic matters will take on greater significance than EUFA matters.
AULDHEID on 9TH AUGUST 2018 11:22 PM
Back to the bad old days.
===================
Does fell that way today – things will brighten up if we win on Tuesday, sign 2 / 3 high quality potential 1st team starters and turn in a dominant performance vs Hertz and The New Rangers over the next month.
Fingers crossed.
PS – have been a critic of Andy Walker. However, don’t know if anyone else heard him on Talksport European Football show on Monday or Tuesday this week – nailed Old Rangers completely – admin / liquidation / shameful dumping of debts / doing hundreds of small businesses out of money, etc. – never missed them and hit the wall.
HH
BGFC
If a treble treble manager doesn’t have the backing of our board then we have major issues at board level and fans need to seriously unite to have them removed.
BURNLEY78 on 9TH AUGUST 2018 11:29 PM
If it comes to pass you will have my unreserved apology.
Before I do. My take on the McGinn farrago.
Brendan wants players to improve the team.
Would McGinn be a better bench warmer than the other midfielders like Sinclair, Hayes, Kouassi, Christie, Bitton, if he ever regains fitness, Morgan or the returning Roberts?
(I made that last bit up)
I read on the new fangled World Wide Web thingy, that McGinn was offered 20k plus a week to join Villa and that Bruce (Lenny?) guaranteed he would play every week.
A salesman offering an absolute guarantee is one to be watched.
So on two points McGinn has a better deal, as our honest brokers could not and should not offer him a game every week, unless it’s with the development squad. Plus the wages on offer from Villa would probably break our wage structure.
Three strikes. Out.
For anyone who thought that the player, a dyed in the wool Celtic fan supposedly, could run out his contract and sign for free in January.
He only needed to hold out until today when the EPL window slammed shut with a crash, bang wallop and a Jim White special.
Petrie would have been on the rotary phone at Easter Road to PL first thing in the morning to beg us to make an offer.
Now to have a wee read back and no doubt sweep up the debris and towels thrown.
Big slick Stevie G still there √
The largest amount of trophie’s in world football still intact √
Ibrox stadium half built by Celtic supporter’s money still there √
The only club in Scotland to get a European victory this week √
Our agents on Celtic’s PLC board about to break 000’s of Timmy hearts √
Keep im coming ;
They all laughed at Christopher Columbus RSC
Haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha √
Billy Connolly – On a plane to Australia – Funny story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex8eilkWxgM
CQN and Sevco sitting in a tree, k -i-s-s-i-n-g…
SAINT STIVS on 9TH AUGUST 2018 11:31 PM
Brendan to Man Utd.
According to Sky sports tonight , Mourinho identified 5 signings for the Man U board and got none of them.
Sounds like a frying pan/fire kind of situation.
One man caused this and it could’ve been avoided if he would’ve done what the manager asked and signed McGinn instead of messing about with these derisory bids.
Anyway bed time sick of this shi*e.
On cloud 9 after winning a treble and now this nonsense.
Sort it out Celtic or face the full wrath of the fans.
I really dont care if it was J McG, Roberts or a.n other.
We failed to do anything to prepare for the qualifiers.
Dermot will be at the golf in the US…
We scraped in the last 2 seasons. Spending would have reduced the risk of not getting there.
It’s galling.
The full wrath of the fans ?
What, the same fans who purchased £49 tickets to rubber stamp the same club lie ?
The same fans who voted the board back into office after the LNS swindle ?
And on and on……
John McGinn choose to go to Aston villa,over Celtic,I’m fine with that, obviously Brendan Rodgers wanted the board to sign him,they didn’t end of story,we all need to move on , against A E K ,I thought we looked good,gave away a silly goal,but I’m sure Boyata and Simonavic,will be the 2 Centre backs with Ajer at right Back against the Heart’s,and just one other thing Brendan Rodgers asked the board to upgrade the pitch which they did,and that wasn’t cheap,I know he wanted a few things done up at Lennoxtown,I know he wanted a new full size indoor pitch,is that getting down,and what else,these things won’t come cheap, anyway Celtic have until the 31st of the month if they want new players at the Club,but let’s put the last few days to bed support the Players the club move on and hopefully we get a result in Athens.
Sounds like Jose has had a tap on the shoodir, wonder if it was the same tapper?
Hmmmmmm?
Greenpinata @ 11:02
What moon landings?
Not posted in a very long time but the last couple of days have brought me out of retirement.
First think the manager was bang out of order brining this up on the eve of probably our biggest game of the season basically throwing his toys out of the pram.
Secondly if Brendan is talking about McGinn as being the quality we need the alarm bells are ringing for me. There is no way McGinn gets near our first team so we spend another 2-3 million on a midfielder to sit next to Kouassi who Brendan signed.
Thirdly to say the board have not backed Brendan is nonsense imo. Nearly every first team player has had a contract extension on better money on Brendan’s say so . Brendan has worked wonders but is not above scrutiny probably the highest paid player at the club now sits on the bench Musonda, Compper, Gamboa to name a few all signed under Brendan taking a good wage and contribute next to nothing. We’ve just knocked back a 9 million pound bid for a guy with a year on his contract left on the managers say so. There is still 3 weeks of the window left and I’m no lover of the board but am willing to wait till it closes to give them stick.
Alex Ferguson on Michael Collins & Irish history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTyG6-sdpS8
As it becomes clear that Rodgers will tell the board to F off. While we have over. £60m in the Bank’s.
What the hell are your supporting now?