That was the latest instalment in a long running series of Behind the Couch Celtic away performances in Europe, with the wonderful exception that after Hapoel Be’er Shiva had us on the rack in the opening period of the second half, Celtic put five at the back and closed the game out without any stressful incidents in the final 15 minutes.
There are a few moments worthy of comment:
Hapoel’s penalty came as a consequence of Celtic pressing high up the field for the first time in the game. The home team dropped deep as they were temporarily reduced to 10 men, but when Celtic pressed high to take advantage of an opponent receiving treatment, they easily passed through us, switched the ball left and gave Saidy Janko his first difficult moment of the night.
More on Saidy in a moment, but we cannot allow teams to pass through us so easily. We should never have been caught so high up field. Our alertness, interceptions and tackling were not good enough. Craig Gordon’s block at the penalty was priceless (or at a price of circa £26m, if you’re being picky).
There’s a reason teams who mark zonally at corner kicks don’t mark the penalty spot. It’s because headers from the penalty spot need to be exceptional in order to beat the keeper. Sahar’s goal wasn’t an exceptional header. It bounced before passing Craig Gordon three feet inside the post. It should never have been a goal, and although Craig’s mistake for the second was more evident, the first was as worrying a goal to concede.
We’re fond of talking about “schoolboy errors” in football but Saidy’s lack of awareness of his direct opponent and goalkeeper at the second goal was a classic error from the 9-year-old’s game. I’ll be generous and say he’s not ready for a game at this level. Craig Gordon doesn’t have a let off for this one, either. While his fullback made a mistake, an alert keeper would have prevented the goal and knocked Saidy into next week. Awareness concerns exist for him too.
Whether it’s Craig’s self-confidence, or that the defence don’t have confidence in him, goalkeeping mistakes came perilously close to seeing us drop out of the Champions League last night.
Not that Craig shoulders all responsibility for what was a weak performance. The middle of the park was experimental and looked it. On the back of one of his best games for Celtic a week ago, Scott Brown’s passing, control and influence was miles off the pace.
Scott, Callum McGregor and Nir Bitton were swamped in midfield. Too few Celtic players were showing for the ball, which was thrown forward aimlessly whenever a Hapoel player closed us down. If central midfield is right, your defensive and goalkeeping frailties are less evident, but we were exposed too often at the back last night. There was a period in the second half when watching on TV made it impossible to know where we were going wrong. After a Hapoel chance, we would see a replay, and before it cut back to live pictures, Celtic had lost possession and were again under pressure. This happened repeatedly. Central midfield was the major problem with the performance, if not the result.
Don’t let any of this dampen your spirits. We’re into the Champions League group stage, a fact which will see us break through the £80m turnover mark for the first time. By comparison, turnover was £51m for 2014-15, the most recent season accounts are available for.
Despite the increase in expenditure this season, we’ll pay our bills without increasing borrowing or selling players. We’re on the circuit again, which means we’ll find it easier to attract talent going forward, it means we’ll find it easier to attract commercial deals and pretty much every KPI at the club will become that bit more attainable.
Last night was a transformational day in the life of your football club. We’re back, enjoy it!
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My opinion too … you may well be right.
HH
G67
Cheers
Sky lookin good.:-)
Celts there.
I would love us to sign Wilfred Bony on loan.
That would be a game changer.
A real out ball to a big man who can hold off any defender ,and chip in with goals.
One can but dream.
TT
Thanks for the responses bhoys.
Glad the monkeys get feck all from our graft.
Kev j…hope you’re keeping well mate, it’s been a few years since we met up at the Q&A in the club.
Hopefully catch up again soon. HH
Ltd on years years ago ,about how we let McCarthy slip through our fingers.
But at the time we decided to sign Ki .
He was a better player,we sold him for millions ,and in my opinion ,whilst both have not set the heather of fire.
ki has stood out in some games in the EPL ,where as MCCarthy hasn’t .
TT
Good night bhoys and ghirls.
Champions League here we come!
Thank you Celtic, thank you Brendan and thanks to all the players last night, all the players, everyone a Celt.
Monkey noises and other racist behavour from Rostov supporters earlier in that game. Russian commentator informed about consultations between the referees.
TinyTim
that would be too much for me I would have to start saying positive things towards the PLC :-)
HH
Thanks, Philbhoy!
I haven’t forgotten about the photos, i just need to find them and then scan them.
Been a wee bit busy recently as I started work in July and have officially ceased my 5 years of house husbandry. We’re all still trying to get into the groove of having to do all the housework, cooking, packed lunches, washimg and ironing etc in the evenings. I’m knackered!
2-0 Rostov
DHARMA BAM
You’ll get used to it!
Best wishes and take care!
Peter Bosz will not last long at Ajax – they are bleedin awful
James McCarthy is a good player but hides in the big games when hes needed most
As any Republic of Ireland fan will tell you
After last night im not sure hes what we need
2-0 Rostov, wiping the floor with Ajax
Ajax go 2-0 down away to Rostov (3-1 down on aggregate) and they look worse than we did last night. Both headers from cross balls. Shadow of their previous teams
Tinytim
half the number of EPL games as Mc Carthy and James moved up from Wigan to Everton. KI went sideways
HH
McCarthy turned into a dirty wee so and so when i seen him last season, plenty yellows and reds,
Bada,
Rostov putting a bit of a shine to Ajax!
Philbhoy
I’m not surprised you turned the tv on and off!
on 22ND AUGUST 2016 8:28 PM
I think we should lose the game tomorrow by 3-0.
This would guarantee Beer Sheva 3 more away games against top European teams.
The home sides could then organise a pro Palestine Flag display followed by a Green Brigade type Match the fine for Palestine fund raiser.
More worldwide recognition for the Palestinians and much more money to a very needy cause.
Imagine how much Barcelona fans would raise! Imagine the publicity.
Yes I will happlily agree to Celtic throwing the game.
Some things are more important than a football match.
You must be so disappointed!
3-0 Rostov
Rostov 3-0 up on Ajax. Actually Ajax are worse than we were last night !
3-0 Rostov , loving it……
LOL. Ajax are a shambles and it’s delightful to watch…
Robbie Keane – sorry if it’s been posted already
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/words-cant-express-how-proud-i-am-to-be-irish-robbie-keane-to-retire-from-international-football-after-oman-swansong-34992636.html
Any update on the new cafe beside the superstore?
TINYTIM
Disagree on Ki and McCarthy assessment.
While i think the price Everton paid for McCarthy was to high he was one of their better players.
He does not seem to ad much offensively but can win a tackle so would be good for us.
Ki is your typical modern midfielder.Has great passing stats but only because he takes the easy ball everytime.He has never established himself at any team and that says it all
What a shame :-) Jari Litmanen is turning in his bed.
Ajax Aff Oot !!
Good :)
HA ha AJAX
Sore Bosz.
ehhh Philboy I think you will find that the pub that I enjoy a refreshment in is the HQ of an affiliated Celtic Supporters bus
4-0
4-0 Rostov – Ajax appalling
As much as it is nice to see Ajax get pumped, the Rostov antics are embarrassing…
Oh dear 4-0
ALMORE@ 9.04pm
If the PLC don’t want to push for an in-house cafe, perhaps they could lease some ground to eg Starbucks to do the necessary and collect the rent.
Re Ajax : Glad that our supporters wont have to experience the thugs masquerading as police. HH
Avoid Ajax —- GOOD. That shit needs to go away. Dutch high level involvement. PLC take note.
Celtic and Ajax in the early 70`s were the best football had ever seen
HH
Ajax have much more of the ball than we had last night, but are now down 4-0. Small margins.
IniquitousIV
You have to feel sorry for the poor Ajax away fans, not :)