Surprised? Well, yes. This was a no-contest early-on in Maribor last week. Even though Celtic didn’t come home with the win, the chances, balance of possession and play, were well in their favour. A defeat last night was never out of the question, but it was the nature of the defeat that was most concerning. We were second best in defence, midfield and attack.
Pre-match, Ronny told us he expected Maribor to sit in and counter-attack. They didn’t, forcing Celtic into disarray. We were fortunate to go in level at halftime; I was screaming out for a tactical change from 20 minutes in.
Kris Commons proved his value. From the moment he arrived, we had an out-ball for the first time in the night, but it was not enough.
Celtic tried to qualify for the Champions League without a target man, or a striker able to play the kind of football Ronny Deila requires to play his kind of football. Stokes, Griffiths, Pukki and Balde are not an appropriate Champions League strike force, by some distance.
We have plenty of midfielders who are happy to pass and run but no one with the composure to hold the ball. Brown, Forrest and Tonev were all missing, but none will occupy the holding roles given to Kayal and Mulgrew last night. Or to Wanyama two years ago.
The defensive collapse since last season is unfathomable. Virgil van Dijk was clearly a class above, whether in defence or attack, and Mikal Lustig was also assured – it is perhaps no coincidence that we lost the goal moments after he was replaced, but Efe Ambrose and Emilio Izaguirre have returned from the World Cup in alarmingly poor form.
This is where we are. We knew this at the end of last season, perhaps Neil Lennon did too. Ronny Deila has a significant rebuilding job on his hands.
Will we make a significant moves forward this week? This season? The Europa League isn’t the cash-cow of the premier tournament, and it carries none of the glamour, but it is a competition we need to be ready for. Perhaps more importantly, qualification planning for next season’s Champions League starts now.
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Gotta Leave, Steve..
JIs gie Ronny a Fair Chance.. Wan Season.. ?
Yes, Ah wid Consider Gien Him at Least ..Wan Season , tae
Show us whit he hiz Goat.
His Story ..his Jist Started.
No too Much tae ask?
Kojo
Still,Laughin
!!bada bing!!
13:17 on 27 August, 2014
Embdae name another team in Maribor’s league?
Embdae in Slovenia name another team in Celtic’s league?
Hearts will be a test – they’ll be full of confidence.
Celtic are back to square pre NL 2010.
Fans got nervous last first during awful first half. Everyone picked up in the second but when the goal didn’t arrive from some good play we got nervous and they grew in confidence.
Maribor were the poorest side we have been beaten by in a number of years in Europe – no more than a pot Europa League side. But a similar defeat to other home cup ties v Morton and Aberdeen last season so the issues are not new.
On this basis Hearts will be a difficult tie.
Mowbray got no backing?
What do you call Keene, Camara, Brafheid etc?
Joe Filippis Haircut
12:55 on
27 August, 2014
Turkeybhoy. That is just your opinion they played well in the 6-1 win over Dundee Utd.also they repeatedly say they are enjoying working with Rony.However,you seem to know otherwise.What information do you have to back up your opinion ? H.H.
Players who HAVE performed at a level above,seem to have lost any semblance of it.
Players body language.
Players running around not even remotely looking as if they are going through the motions.
Going out of the CL without as much as a whimper.No passion,no drive,no fight.
As I say,its only my opinion,but I am only going by what I have seen before at other clubs.
Same symptoms.We will see.
Maribor = pot 4 Europa side!
Wouldn’t surprise me if Scepovic and his agent were looking for alternatives now
After some reflection since last night my opinion hasn’t change one iota.
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=15967&cpage=27#comment-2284044
MWD says AYE
VAN GAAL OUT!
Bring back Davie Moyes!
HH!!
MickTT
Good post which puts things into perspective. But investment in the team is an absolute must. Going into next years CL qualifiers without a quality striker yet again would be absolutely criminal.
kitalba
13:11 on 27 August, 2014
Two years from now how many are going to be left to care?
We should run a charity (s)weepstake.
———
The same number that were there four years ago, I expect. Those who go to watch the team regardless of the position in the league, or if it’s CL or against Morton in the League Cup.
If that means I’m the only one there, then at least there won’t be any moaning from behind me.
ziggydoc1-a football fan would
The Honest Cover-up. Rumour is Scepovic is distancing himself from a move to Celtic now if it is true it means it is not easy to get players of quality to come to Celtic. H.H.
Mowbray brought in MA Fortune and Danny Fox.
Then in Jan 2010 rather than deal with the main issue (Mowbray) the board approved changing an entire team.
I’d love to hear BTM’s account of his time as manager.
macjay –
Without wishing to speak for Ernie, I believe he meant that even where a player has it written into his contract that he is allowed to leave when he wants to, it is still up to Celtic to demand a suitable transfer fee for the player.
So if, for example, Virgil has such a clause in his contract, it doesn’t mean Celtic are legally obliged to sell him to, let’s say Everton, for 10,000 pounds just because that’s what they have bid.
Also, some players have it written into their contract that they are allowed to leave if another club bids in excess of an pre-agreed amount, say 2 million, for him.
Those who backed Lawwell’s ‘get us to the CL then we will sign some players’policy,what do you think now?
Neilmcallumlennon
You still never answered the question………. how many clubs in the English 2nd tier have a football budget of nearly 40 million quid ??
Dear all,
This too shall pass.
Yours faithfully,
Davidopipopolopoulos
Some posters moani g that the team that Lennon left should have been able to easily beat Mariibor.
Would this be the same group of players put out of 2 domestic cups and embarrassed by Our Euro opponents
!!bada bing!!
13:27 on 27 August, 2014
ziggydoc1-a football fan would
Koper?
is Ronny on this blog, its just that every time we see him he is
Aff oot!
boom boom
darwinsbeautifulidea
You have answered a question I was wondering at the game and the answer is not what I wanted to hear.
When Lustig went off I assumed we did not have a centre half on the bench. If Denaayer was there and was overlooked in favour of Boerigter then I really worry about Ronny.
bringing on Boerighter meant shifting Matthews to right back and Ambrose to centre half. Basically shifting our whole back line in the nervous closing stages of a tight match. Utterly abysmal decision making instead of making a straight like for like sub. Not to mention the fact that Boerigter is useless.
!!Bada Bing !!@13 17
NK Gorika
NK Celje
NK Zavrc.
Only because I streamed Maribors games in order to see what they were like .
bada bing!!
13:24 on 27 August, 2014
Just to add to a cluster—- of a season-Prepare yourselves for Sunday games
Motherwell (H) Sun 21/9
Hamilton (H) Sun 5/10
Kilmarnock (H) Sun 26/10
Aberdeen (A) Sun 9/11
St Mirren (H) Sun 14/12
A game on the 30th Nov but no league fixture showing that weekend.
———————————————————————-
My boys team starts to play Sat 14:30 kick offs this season, now from a totally selfish point of view and totally tongue in cheek, we both have season tickets and it kind of suits us now. Every cloud has a silver lining. ……!
HH
Celtic pulled out of the bidding for the Polish striker on Tuesday afternoon. It had nothing to do with last night’s result and everything to do with the Serb agreeing to sign.
What happened to JCs comment about buying the best Scottish talent available.
Stuart Armstrong & John McGinn would be an improvement on Kayal & Biton in our midfield.
4 days to sort out the squad for the next 5 months. On September 1st we will see if the board are backing Deila.
We needs real strikers.
We need experience.
We need players who can do the basics of control, pass and move, players who can read the game and react appropriately.
We need rid of all the light weights and those who haven’t improved over the years.
That means Pukki, Balde, Boerrighter, Ambrose, Matthews and Zaluska must go.
The younger players who only play sporadically must either be played in their correct position for at least 10 games this season, loaned out or moved on.
We cannot allow so many players to tread water and deny others the opportunity to improve the team.
Maybe we should seriously look at the likes of Armstrong at Dundee United, Pawlett at Aberdeen? We missed an opportunity with Robertson and Gauld.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
13:09 on
27 August, 2014
It completely agree.
the blogger formerly known as gm
13:26 on 27 August, 2014
Mowbray got no backing?
What do you call Keene, Camara, Brafheid etc?
The winter transfer window saw the foyer at parkheid as the centre of an exciting frantic universe and typified much of what’s wrong with Scottish football (keeping up with our English overpaid market).
ugh..awful grammar!
Were our Glycerol levels too low last night or were we just sh*te?
Last night the managers poor team selection and game management were responsible for losing against a competent opponent.
As against Legia at Murrayfield the midfield were found wanting against a team pressing us in this area. It’s a credit to Charlie Mulgrew that he kept persisting but he is no playmaker. Contrast with Maribor numbers 5 and 10 who both ran the game, one from deep and the other between the lines. Both no doubt earning less than our lads.
RD needs to learn quickly. I like and agree with his theory. However the practicalities are that he does not at this time have a squad that can play the way he wants. An eager and undefeated Dundee await.
As for the PLC board stop treating us with contempt. Too much taking and not enough back.
Vinniethedog – what does the £40million football budget cover? I take the point you are making, but it’s not necessarily the case that this figure is only on playing squad. So wouldn’t be surprised if a few English championship clubs have larger player wage bills, but a lower overall football budget as they don’t have an extensive scouting op, training ground costs, youth system, etc
RD reminds me of Pat Fenlon who was lauded at league of Ireland level but exposed at Hibs.
Bada Bing. It was a strategy which could go either way unfortunately it was the negative outcome.However,we all know there are no certain out comes in football.With the players we have I think most of us would expect Celtic to beat Maribor at home but again that didnt happen but that is football so I would still support our CEO to get it right more often than he gets it wrong.I believe that we need to support R.D.and J.C. and give them at least one season before calling for there heads. H.H.
Dear goodness, BBC Scotland won’t spring the cash to show Maribor goal on the luchtime news. It was just a slide show with radio commentary. Be thankful for small mercies. Talking of which… aren’t we all glad we aren’t Man U. supporters. #alwayslookonthebrightsideCSC
Paul
Just logged in,1st time from work.
Your leading article is timid and lacks focus.
We had a year to plan for last night.
Our “cup final” produced a display on the park that
was inept.
No excuses.
The rot starts from the top down.
Those running Celtic FC on our behalf are guilty
of negligance.