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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sure is GM – we should all hold fire til Tuesday
James Forrest,
Maybe a Board member did say something.Did he have the backing of the rest of the Board.Is that everyones opinion?.Has he,as one of BRs employers,the right to be angry at what BR said,and let it out?
As WITS said,to which you took great umbrage”Its a storm in a teacup”.
You,I am surprised at for trying to milk it.
Dont think you replied to my question.Did you not write that Hibs and Petrie were at it.Thatvwe should not consider their asking price.
@ WHAT IS THE STARS on 9TH AUGUST 2018 1:42 PM
For a while now people have been saying that Brendan must be dissatisfied with our transfer activity- he had to be since it was nearly non-existent. We have been told that we are moaners, board haters, Celtic haters etc. You have made a further reference to other Celtic fans as trolls and mentally ill.
Brendan has now stated what we all thought to be true and provided clarity on the matter and yet we are still crazy/trolls and Rodgers is in the wrong.
What would have to happen to change your view or opinion?
Also, how were we doing under Lawell’s stewardship with Ronny in charge? Lawell could come out and criticise Rodgers for Europe, but we have made it there in recent season because of him.
With so much anger on here, it is hard to tell the happyclappers from the mineshafters anymore ….
to whoever is running the blog, perhaps, happyingclapping blog names could show up in pink, and mineshafters blog names be printed in black ….
That would make it easier for me to keep up with who I am supposed to be agreeing with and who I am supposed to be fighting with.
Thanks.
If you don’t think I answered your question you didn’t read the answer.
You and others do not believe that the manager having a pop at the board and the board firing back is serious. You mentioned Mourinho; he does this kind of thing all the time. It’s when those above him express their displeasure at it that it becomes more than just him having a moan and graduates to being a matter of grave consequence.
You know as well as I do what the financial implications are of us failing to reach the Champions League … Brendan has no reason to believe that he will be given significant funds (relative to our place in football) if we do not make it, and so he’s pretty much stuck with what he has.
Even with the best will in the world we can’t expect a manager of his calibre to stay in post when there are un-necessary restrictions on him. He’ll probably see out the season, but I think unless this is resolved we’re going to reach a crisis point sooner rather than later.
And I wish I didn’t believe that.
The mood on the blog is as much influenced by last night’s result as by anything happening off the park IMO
If we had won 2-0 it would be a more serene blog today.
(Not trying to understate the off field problems BTW)
Who would Brendan go to ?
What do all the clubs who aren’t at the door looking for Brendan know, that we don’t know ?
@ TURKEYBHOY on 9TH AUGUST 2018 1:56 PM
“What has he asked for so far,he has not got.”
Have you been in a vacuum? Just read the quotes. It’s not James Forrest, it’s not “board haters” its not “anti-Celtic Celtic fan” that are making this up. It’s Brendan’s own words which evidence his displeasure. Look at the quotes- those are not made up media spin.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/16404195.big-interview-brendan-rodgers-believes-his-players-and-supporters-deserve-better-than-this-summers-lack-of-investment/
When Brendan was linked with Arsenal last season, I was 100% certain that he would not leave us for that club. I wrote that, when a lot of people seemed very panicked by Dermot Desmond’s assertion that he deserved to be linked with that sort of job and that he hoped the manager would stay.
I never had the slightest doubt that he would.
I cannot say that with any confidence today, and believe that even a mid-table EPL club would give him a decision to make. Brendan has his career after Celtic to think about, and as much as he loves this club – and he does, he clearly does – presuming his loyalty is just as daft as presuming John McGinn’s has proved to be.
We need to make that guy feel like the most important person at Celtic Park, or the risk of losing him is high and it won’t take an Arsenal to prize him away from us.
Have we signed an 18 year old French centre half?
Ouch.
Just saw that Herald headline.
Someone please tell me ‘we deserve better’ is not a direct quote.
@ THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 9TH AUGUST 2018 2:33 PM
Not direct quote. That is some spin. But plenty of damning quotes in there unfortunately.
I’ve been off the Blog for a few weeks due to work commitments at the European Championships. If todays Blog is symptomatic of the last few weeks, I’m glad I missed it.
As I see it (in no particular order):
Brendan Rodgers pubic;y stated he was unhappy.
A lifelong Celtic supported chased the filthy lucre down in Birmingham rather than come and win trophies and medals with “his boyhood idols”.
BBC quote a nameless source kicking a manager/board split – verbally only and have NOT put it onto their website! A well-known Celtic Blogger pens a Level 5-esque piece piece – and I quote: Is it now the policy of our club to behave like the mob across the city, with anonymous briefings and the settling of issues in public instead of private?
Celtic play very well in a European tie.
Celtic defender makes a monumental error and we lose a goal.
Put all of that together and mix well and we have:
Celtic are out of Europe.
Brendan Rodgers is going to resign.
10 in a row is off the table.
The huns have really improved by signing 11 nobodies.
SMSM have Pope-like omnipotence.
Rodgers canna spot a centre half
Jack Hendry is the escaped goat
It’s all Peter Lawwells fault.
Any lurking huns will be having a field day.
The bottom line is that Celtic, IMHO, played very well against a resolute (more than decent) team and should have scored more. The Greeks kept it very narrow and congested their penalty box denying us space. Lustig and Ajer contrived to gift them a goal just before the break and that changed the whole game plan from their perspective. In an open game, we are a better team and I think we may see that next week. We need to score probably 2 goals next week and I think we will. If the naysayers believe wee aren’t up to it, then they will or will not be proved right next week. Me? I think we will go through and I also think we will sign more players in the next 22 days. The whole transfer issue will become clearer after 17:00 hours tonight. We can then take up the debate again (for real) after next Tuesday.
KTF
Brendan, if he hasn’t done already, should sound out, NFL, or even Roy Keane, who said on ITV, that he was tenth 10th in the queue to replace NFL, before Ronny got the gig.
I know that this might not sit too well with folk on here, but, maybe Charlie Nicholas was right when he described Celtic FC as nothing more than a rich man’s plaything.
Absolutely soulless.
James Forrest.,
Thanks for the reply.I dont know where to go with this now.I think you will agree,the main bone of contention with the team,is the CH position.Can you name me one CH that Brendan has asked the Board to back him on?I cant.Does not seem to be on his radar,or else,we cant find anyone,at present.If we had signed one in the past week,he would not have played last night,if Boyatta is anything to go by.Myself,and others keep saying,we have a while to go in our market.Why cant that be enough for now.Lets see how we strengthen in the CH department.In saying that,we are reading Brendan wants the Italian boy from Liverpool.Another midfielder.
I have some Liverpool fans as mates.They liked Brendan,but keep saying ,his weakness was defence.
Keep on churning it out.I love it.HH.
“A Level 5-esque piece …”
Pitiful.
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE
That’s not spin mate, the headline was designed for full effect on the Celtic Support, wether or not Brendan is unhappy or not The Herald took his words slapped a headline on it that does not appear anywhere in the article and it’s job done.
We’re now in full blown drama mode with Brendan heading for the door two days later!
Surprised at Brendan not expecting that..
TURKEYBHOY:
I’m concerned at that, mate. I have to admit. I’ve actually written about that concern a couple of times, because I’ve heard Brendan talk about being “satisfied” with Simunovic, Ajer and Boyata and that, frankly, scares the living daylights out of me.
I can’t say however that he’s NOT given the board targets to sign in that department and who haven’t been delivered because I just don’t know.
But when he spoke yesterday about what he saw as the “priorities” he said retaining last year’s strength; i.e. a replacement for Armstrong and one for Roberts. I’m told he still prioritises the signings of a wide player and a ball-playing midfielder over the backline … and yeah, it worries me.
compper has been a unwelcome bit of luck for us
Who would win between
Surprised
or
Suspected
Hmmmmmm ?
“WE DESERVE BETTER”.
I am sure I have heard this somwhere before.In fact,was it not on a banner somewhere.
Anyway,Mea Culpa,Brendan to be the next Pope.
Maybe not,I can just picture it
“I want another Mitre”
“But you have 30 there to choose from”
“Skinflint bassas,never mind your driveways I want another one”.
starry plough
Surprised at Brendan not expecting that.
——————————————————–
The consensus seems to be that Brendan was firing a shot across the bows of the board. Fine. Politically useful ploy. However, I don’t think Brendan really took into account how it would be spun, or how it would divide the support. I agree with his sentiments, but I vehemently disagree with the timing of his comments. This should not have been a story in the week of one of our biggest matches of the season. It just shouldn’t have been. You would not make the same comments a day before a cup final. Madness.
DAVIDOPOULOS:
I understand exactly why he did it, and it was more than a warning shot. Brendan has his own reputation to protect, and he has no intention of allowing the board to bask in the glory of success if he thinks they’ve not helped him achieve it, nor to pass the buck in the event of failure when part of the responsibility for it lies with them.
This isn’t Ronny Deila here, this guy has his own power within the game and is fiercely protective of it.
@ STARRY PLOUGH on 9TH AUGUST 2018 2:40 PM
The headline is spin, but look at the quotes- that is the concerning part! If it was an opinion piece with no direct quotes from Brendan, we would ignore it as it would be typical media bias, but it isn’t.
It’s in black and white with Brendan’s comments. You seem to be ignoring the content and following this idea that it’s all media spin, it’s not.
To think otherwise is some Trump-esque level of fantasy.
No word from the board about the cheating. Then not spend any money and get the fans minds pre occupied on that. The board r at it. Bankier is a wankier
VFR…I think I’m the only one who mentioned 10 in a row today but I did not say it was off the table. I only asked if some believe that…
I reckon our CL campaign is as good as over but I’m not going to whinge about it – these things happen. Disappointing for Brendan not to get McGinn but there’s still 3 weeks to go of the transfer window – surely there are players at least as good as him that we could get?
Centre half is the key – we really need to strengthen there with an experienced player and not a project. We all know that but hopefully the club does too.
From midfield to front we’re fine, even for the Europa League. The next three weeks will pretty much define the support’s mood for the rest of the season.
James Forrest
Aye, fine, but I would almost regard that putting the ego before the importance of that match. He could have easily have made the comments on Friday’s pre-match press conference. Brendan is entitled to use the press conferences for his own ends, I just don’t feel that the timing was right.
DAVIDOPOULOS:
It’s hard to disagree; this has been a bad week on all fronts.
Honestly, people inside our club need to be having a serious sit-down and an airing of grievances to sort this lot out. If that happens we might actually be stronger for it … the club has felt, for months now, like it needs a good shake and maybe this will do it.
When was the last time we had so many posts on here?
KevJ…I hope you and all your friends (wink wink) are keeping it lit…
Rodgers has rejuvenated the club but the inability to fix the defence and tactical mistakes in trying to go toe to toe with the likes of PSG have been the main concerns to date. The first, of course, may only be partly his fault, or not his fault at all, and he has certainly earned the right to rectify the latter.
But there is clearly an issue there which has come to light regarding transfers thanks to recent comments in the media.
Highly concerning the amount of time it takes to get deals done and the amount of late knock backs we seem to receive, with lack of an adequate plan B. As someone referred to earlier, Sevco liked the look of a player who player well against them in a European tie and 4 days later they’re parading him. Sevco FFS.
HH
HH
I am now seriously concerned that Brendan’s patently obvious frustration will lead to a similar exit to Martin, Gordon and Neil. It would be devastating, and lead to joy in Govan, where, apparently the Stevie G express is coming.
I was not entirely convinced about McGinn, although he played very well against us in the 2-2 tie last season. However, I was persuaded by the combined views of Broonie, Lennie and Brendan.
The net result is that the last 4 weeks have been farcical, a waste of valuable time, and led to a lack of cohesion at the Club.
There exists some evidence that we were also gazumped and pipped at the post by Valencia’s signing of right back Cristiano Piccini from Sporting Lisbon for circa 7 million Euros. If this is true, and happened at the eleventh hour, it will have on the one hand aggravated Brendan’s frustration, but on the other, indicated hopeful ambition on the part of the Club.
We have three weeks to rectify the situation. PL and the Board can dispense with all fractious speculation by clearly supporting their Manager and bringing in his targets. No more dawdling until the last second and coming out with, “Well, we tried, but……..”
INIQUITOUSIV
James Forrest on 9th August 2018 2:55 pm
DAVIDOPOULOS:
It’s hard to disagree; this has been a bad week on all fronts.
Honestly, people inside our club need to be having a serious sit-down and an airing of grievances to sort this lot out. If that happens we might actually be stronger for it … the club has felt, for months now, like it needs a good shake and maybe this will do it.
———————————————————————-
Agree with this 100%. Time for people to sit down and sort their shit out like grown-ups.
Anywye……
Huff
Puff
Blaw
Wont change one iota.
If you, Celtic supporter’s want to be taken seriously.
You have to withhold season ticket money, until the PLC is broken and the club restructured along the same lines as those which Jeremy Corbyn is constructing the Labour party, by first of all, draining the swamp.
Only then will Celtic supporter’s be taken seriously.
I don’t mean this as a, cheap jibe, but, Celtic supporter’s played a bad hand when they fell for that PLC’s £49 trick, it portrayed you as the types who could be easily mugged.
Only Celtic supporter’s can change that perception, and you have to.
All the best. HH
Anyway,maybe lighten the gloom somewhat.Was in Kusadasi this morning,and I noticed not many shops open.Strange.Went to collect my new Visa,and on returning,the place was swarming with Police.Raiding the shops for fake gear.Never seen that before.Funniest bit was Mehmets,who has been churning out the Hun tat,had stayed open,and was getting tanned.Loads of Orange tat getting thrown onto the street.
Was wondering,was Glibby behind this.Never trust a man who cant look you in the eye.
Last year we signed Johnny Hayes and the drama-queenery went up about three frilly corset-notches.
This year we didn’t sign McGinn and the King louis wigs and petite bonnets are blowing off.
Brendan hates the board. The board loathes and undermines the manager.
How do we know this? Idle speculation. Suddenly there’s no sophistry anymore – everything you hear about the discord among the Tims is true. BBC journos are pillars of integrity.
Was it that easy?
All it takes is Slippy G signing a few unknown ‘superstars’ whilst blitzing the Huns Capital One card and payday loans for the angst to grip.
Brendan Rodges has is cushty at Celtic. Hero-worshipped, legendary status on the horizon. So he has some issues with certain aspects of his current working relationships.
People differ in opinions in any company. Professionals don’t sulk about it; they work around it.
That’s not Brendan’s problem – ultimately it falls at the feet of the man or men sanctioning/not sanctioning the manager’s requirements in the transfer market.
Is a disagreement over a fee for an over-rated Hibs player a ‘serious’ flaw in a working relationship?
No laughing at the back – you’ll upset the fainters currently fizzing into a tizzy in the front row.
Jozo will play next week. Eboue will play next week. Celtic will win and advance. Celtic will sign a couple of players. John McGinn will slink off to Birmingham and pop up only in the predictable lamentable SMSM articles about his forlorn love for Celtic, a lifelong ambition so consuming he mistook claret and blue for green and white.
In the words of Seth Gecko:
Everybody be cool.
You.
Be. Cool.
Anyway, would love to crush and pulverise the despicable Levein’s grasshoppers on Saturday…
Chavez,
I’m looking forward to see who we get instead of McGinn. After all the manager himself has said he wants a replacement for Armstrong.
Unlike others I don’t believe Celtic should pay their Celtic supporting employees less than everyone else or the going rate for that matter. Anyway I thought we all swallowed this story McGinn went to Villa because he would get more game time there.
That statement just smacks of a lack of class btw and reminds me of the Rangers McInnes statement we all slagged.