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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Auld Tam
Mo Bangura will feature against Celtic, say loan club IF Elfsborg
STV
19 July 2013
The striker is currently with the Swedish club, who will face the Scots in the Champions League.
Mo Bangura, Celtic, August 2012.
© SNS Group
Mo Bangura is set to face his parent club Celtic in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
The striker is currently on loan with Swedish side IF Elfsborg, who have been drawn against the Scottish champions in the competition.
Neither side are confirmed as having reached the next stage but are expected to progress, with Celtic 3-0 up on Cliftonville and Elfsborg 7-1 ahead against FC Daugava.
That has raised the possibility of the 23-year-old coming up against his employers, with UEFA rules not prohibiting a player on loan coming up against his parent side.
Speaking to STV after the draw, Elfsborg’s club operations manager Stefan Andreasson said the striker would be in their squad to face Celtic.
“He will play,” Andreasson told STV. “I have sent an SMS to Peter Lawwell about the game but not about Bangura. He knows the agreement.
“Bangura is doing well with us. We have had an OK start in the league and he is an important player for us.”
A statement from UEFA confirmed their rules do not forbid Bangura from playing against Celtic.
“As we, in line with the FIFA regulations on status and transfer of players, consider a loan to be a transfer, we do not have any regulations regarding players not playing against their parent club whilst on loan to another club,” the governing body told STV.
“If a player is duly registered on the player list of IF Elfsborg then he can play against any team that Elfsborg are drawn against.
“Any agreement between the two clubs that this player wouldn’t play against Celtic should Elfsborg be drawn against them is purely between the clubs.
“UEFA would not have any involvement or consideration of this agreement, it would be neither endorsed or enforceable by UEFA.”
Bangura, who is on loan to Elfsborg until December, has netted six goals in 17 games, including a goal in their 7-1 win over FC Daugava.
Signed by Celtic from AIK in 2011, the player failed to make an impact in Glasgow, scoring no goals in 16 competitive appearances.
……………..
This was from STV. As clear as mud. Maybe you’re right.
Burnley78 1216-
Sutton chucked it at Celtic after Larsson left? Really? I remember him scoring against Barcelona at Celtic Park in the Champions League after Larsson left. If only someone in the current squad would chuck it like that….
He Played 37 times in 04/05 and scored 16 times. Despite having the unfettered pish that was Henri Camara as his first post-henke partner for half the season.
Henri Camara incidentally was the first of our many make do and mend loan signings, coinciding with the beginning in earnest of the Peter Lawwell reign at Celtic park, and averaging 2 a year over the period 2004 to 2015. And camara was so crap his loan was terminated halfway through the season.
Right, who,s for a ZTP ringtone. The acgr shoppe is open 24/7. Get it right up thon hin bastards every time your plumber call.
Git it right up thum.
Millions ready to go at acgr@outlook.com
No Fear
HH
Sips…..
It’s a shame…..some are missed more than others ;-))
Dig out Avatar…..;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
Dont care who we get in the CL as long as we score more than 3 and concede less than 14 like last time.
BMCUWP…..
If/wen you call me……ZTP….will tickle me ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
Evening/morning all. That`s me just hame. Who is Macjay fighting wae the night? Anyroadsup, is it time for a change of goalkeeper? WE all have our opinions about this. Ten guid saves and then one error (if it was his error) and he`s crucified. Would Dorus do any better?
BigChipsUK @ 12:01am…
“Well, we’ve eliminated the Champions of Gibraltar, Kazakhstan and Israel to earn the chance to draw CSKA Moscow, Napoli and Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League group stage. “
Or how about PSG, PSV and PSI (Pounds £££ per Square Inch (of pitch)) = Man City?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf9LUNB-JsM
WeHaveEnoughAirMilesThanksCSC
BMCUW
Good morning “M” just about to hit the cot, and looking forward to my family over for my big day. Have a good and safe shift and talk the mo. HH my good friend.
Weefra….
You got nowt to say to me…..re organic Tupperware….;-))
You & yours are in my thoughts ;-))
FTSFA
H.H
Champions League Draw game,
Have a go and see who we/you get???
In mine we got, Benfica,Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon
I can’t swear by it’s accuracy but it’s what’s new (SFA take note)
Lurking Huns, sorry I don’t have a Petrol Cup app;)
https://inker.github.io/cl-draw/?mode=gs
THELURKINGTIM
Ooft, lol, have not a clue what that means, but, great to hear from you and hope you and yours, are well. HH.
Night night. HH
WEEFRATHETIM
Enjoy it,mate. Cany beat a family do.
HH
thelurkintim
I think it’s only uour hpme phone number I’ve got. Does ZTP work on that?
Jee-zoh,bit more attention to be paid before I post!
Bigchips
Real Madrid, ManCity and embdy else.
Just woke up for a piss and realised it is because I am excited about Celtic.
Praying for Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund and a poorer pot 3 team.
Hail Hail
Second attempt we got Real Madrid, Man City and Sporting Lisbon.
Celtic the last team drawn in the whole draw.
Nytol
No point worrying, says Rangers boss Mark Warburton
As the huns move from endangered species to threatened. Next year the hun species will move from threatened to vulnerable and the year after to thriving. Its a long way from extinction.
Mags,fuck `em. Let them die.
BMCUWP,
I told ye….paper n pen…..gave u my mobie ;-)(
FuxacheCSC
FTSFA
H.H.
Fifty per cent of my wish list for this season has been achieved .
Thank you , Celtic.
Thank you ,Brendan.
Bummer.
Here was me hoping.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/gers-figures-scotland-s-deficit-at-14-8-billion-1-4211076
Nice turn of phrase , Scotsman
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-in-bottom-pot-of-seeds-for-champions-league-draw-1-4212022
Macjay……yer a liar….
Europa till Christmas….was wat I was expecting…..Champions League…..fills me with fear ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
CLTooearlycCsC
KTF
H.H.
I told you….
07984829503….
24/7CSC
FTSFA
H.H.
QuadCSC
wowzers …;-))
THELURKINTIM on 25TH AUGUST 2016 1:36 AM
Macjay……yer a liar….
Europa till Christmas….was wat I was expecting…..Champions League…..fills me with fear ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
===============================================================
Fills you with fear.
And Celtic with pound notes.
It’s a welcome consequence….
A bit like the Gb’s fundraiser….:-))
FTSFA
H.H.
THELURKINTIM on 25TH AUGUST 2016 2:04 AM
It’s a welcome consequence….
A bit like the Gb’s fundraiser….:-))
FTSFA
H.H.
==================================================
Pay the debt YOU have incurred .
Just the way I was brought up .
Which differentiates me from the hun.
:-)
MACJAY
What differentiates us from the hun is
ZTP not FTP!!!!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 25TH AUGUST 2016 2:43 AM
For the next four ( 5 ? ) years would be nice.
” Pinched ”
i love honesty.
In 1992, UEFA commissioned Tony Britten to arrange an anthem for the UEFA Champions League which commenced in August 1992. He composed a ‘serious’ classical piece, in a style similar to some of George Frideric Händel’s works. The composition is heavily influenced by Händel’s Zadok the Priest. Tony Britten acknowledged that “there’s a rising string phase which I pinched from Händel and then I wrote my own tune. It has a kind of Händelian feel to it but I like to think it’s not a total rip-off”.[3] For the recording used in television transmissions of UEFA Champions League matches and events, the piece was performed by London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and sung by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus.[1] The chorus is in UEFA’s three official languages: English, French, and German.
So we have played as far East as possible,as far South as a champions league match has ever been played , that means with my school bhoy logic we are going North to Moscow and West to Lisbon. Whats the furthest away team we can get in the other pot?.
Frequentflyermiles.csc
Just checked looks like Napoli to me.
So it’s Cska, Sporting Lisbon and Napoli.
I think we could finish second last in that group:-)
HRVATSKIJIM@4:31
Thank you for posting this link – every Celtic supporter should watch it and take heed.
The malcontents among us, the ‘bonus’ and heated driveway shouters, the board-haters, the GB ‘Che Guevaras, the amateurs in the Truss – could learn so much about what it takes to run Celtic – of course the majority of them don’t want to know – ignorance is what is necessary to feed their never-ending unsubstantiared and uniformed drivel.
We all breathed a great sigh of relief on Tuesday night as we scrambled our way into the CL – a place that we need to be on at least a semi-regular basis, if we are to survive in the shape and form that we all aspire to……and yet, a small minority within the support would put all that a risk and gamble with the very future of the club by wilfully and blatantly setting out to break the rules that allow us entry to competition.
Regardless of whether certain rules are deemed to be unfair, regardless of whether we like them, or, not – we must abide by them – by all means campaign to have them changed – but do not sacrifice Celtic FC on an altar built on a single political dogma.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S_-EIMDGew