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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Night all. Night wee Oscar my hero. God bless. X X
Ps gonny be a long vespers the night!!
Big Cup Winners-
It seemed to me that too many people didn`t want the ball. How many times did McGregor, especially in the first half, go on a darting run only to find that no one was level with or ahead of him? We were too slow in getting support up the park.
Lost yer tongue ?
Sleep well Timland, especialy Tims who have the good of the club at heart, and to them who are happy clapping away, you will be enlightened soon enough >}
HH
KTF
sipsini
00:07 on 28 August, 2014
Play on Saturday, these lads don’t have the glyceral to play two games in a week doncha know
Pfayr
It will take a season and a half to get a settled team , knowing each other’s game and playing as a team when placed under pressure.
Our previous “success” in the CL whilst welcome on the night , invariably involved a bunch of tall ghuys , playing a rigid formation , playing into the corners , looking for free kicks …. that way of playing would never take us beyond the last 16 and our reputation as a talented skilful team was being tarnished by the year
A change has started , hopefully it will work , no guarantees in football , it would be nice to think of Celtic embracing a modern European style of football – if you accept the Continentals are leaving us behind then we need to face up to it and try another route .
HH kip callscfc
Macjay 1
Last night is gone – we need to look after our club going forward. That means sorting out the issues that divide the club’s management and the support. Green Brigade start the thunder.
Re last night I already said in my view manager is to blame. He made a complete arse of it – again.
The Exiled Tim-
I hear what you`re saying about the tv deal and I agree that we disrupt the fans for peanuts and this costs us money in terms of lost ticket income.
But unfortunately we do need a tv deal of some sort to maintain the club and the league`s profile. Without a tv deal we would probably also take a hit on income from sponsors and advertisers as they need the tv exposure.
The SPFL needs to drive a much harder bargain when agreeing tv deals. Im sure I read that Denmark gets an absolute fortune for its league tv deal – maybe things the SPFL could learn from them.
Never mind two games in the days!
TGBS
I constantly cried, “Where’s the movement and support Celtic?” It just wisnae there last night.
are people like dalglish bonner walker hartson sutton nicholas burley provan paid extra if they say the sooner rangers are back the better.
Delaneys Dunky:
I’ve rewatched the Dundee Utd game over and over and over, and what stands out most to me was how much of that movement there was. Look at the last goal. A perfectly executed counter attacking move, with at least three players running in support off the ball.
Last night? Nada.
no forward movement because the 2 onnies agreed that holding the 1-1 result as long as they coul, with the odd break forward, and a lucky goal would see them through.
their crap.
Still can’t get over a 40 player first team squad, crazy.
Fingers crossed we ‘swoop’ before deadline day and get RD some quality to work with. Seems only fair to back a new man, every other manager has had that luxury on taking up the job. Preferably before next seasons qualifiers start. …..
James Forrest is praying for The Unconquerable Oscar Knox
00:25 on
28 August, 2014
Delaneys Dunky:
I’ve rewatched the Dundee Utd game over and over and over, and what stands out most to me was how much of that movement there was. Look at the last goal. A perfectly executed counter attacking move, with at least three players running in support off the ball.
Last night? Nada.
—————-
what stands out to me is how shite united were.
Saint Stivs:
Well even I am almost at a loss for words there …
I am seen as one of the arch-cynics around here. I give us full, and deserved, credit for what was an outstanding display.
Not much more to say on that.
JF
I was at both games. Last night compared to DU was criminal. Non triers. Punt the lot and start again.
Goodnight and God bless all Tims.
No point blaming RD at the moment
The 6-1 performance was one of the best performances from a Celtic team in a while
Ultimately I’m not too disappointed to be playing Europa League, just what gets me that we completely threw away a CL opportunity
We are a massive club, with a wage bill far greater than Maribors, so the defeat is inexcusable. Having said that as well, we were unlucky not to win 3-1 over there, but we deserved nothing at home.
Give RD time but defeat was shambolic last night as really don’t think we’ll get any funds now for transfes, where we might just have if we had beaten Maribor
Coefficient points wise, we need 2 wins to make up for points lost in CL group stage entry, all wins count the same whether CL or EL, however we play like we did v Maribor or Legia we’ll get none
HH
P27
Delaneys Dunky:
What do you think it boils down to? Gulf in class? Ideas not being communicated? Players not interested?
For all my complaining about the strategy, I don’t rate those teams that beat us. Not in a million years are they better sides than us. There were glaring issues with both of those teams and a Celtic squad that was even marginally better would have beat both hands down. Lennon’s 2012 team would have murdered the pair of them.
winning captains
00:21 on
28 August, 2014
Obviously we have a different perspective.
I just support Celtic.No ifs.No buts.Unconditional.
Some of our supporters wish to impose ,yes impose ,their political preferences onto Celtic with complete disregard for the political persuasions of their fellow supporters.
That`s the G.B. and the Celtic Trust.
The questions.
Had Celtic won last night,would you have written the piece we are discussing?
Had Celtic adopted your recommendations prior to the game last night would that have made a difference to the score?
We lost on the field.
You recommend off -field changes.
Glad you agree about Ronny.:-)
Which saddens both of us.
macjay1 for neil lennon,
I realise your not a fan of the GB but they know how to create an atmosphere that intimidates teams.
Sadly missed last night.
You will remember the jungle and the Celtic end in full voice, singing in unison and the noise it created!
The problem being… Unlike in those times, mates are scattered all over the place due to seating.
That wasn’t a problem when we had a team full of Henkes, Sutton, hartson and others that gave us something to sing about, that has not been the case for a while now.
They orchestrate the singing like the jungle of old and others join in and lifts the place.
Yes, they should keep the politics for outside Celtic park.
My son and daughter will drift away with the poor play they are watching and no atmosphere in the ground.HH
World Peace
Are you Stephen Patrick? :)
ames Forrest is praying for The Unconquerable Oscar Knox
00:29 on
28 August, 2014
Saint Stivs:
no offence meant bud. i thoguth united were utterly garbage.
celtic were not briliant as many put it, united were abjectly poor.
defended abysmally.
any consolation to the happy clappers though, not you, there will be more rubbidge to meet in the league and we will win it anyway.
ronni is a dud.
lawell is a millionaire
Can anyone tell me why Delia put on our flying Dutchman to replace Lustig with 20 mins to go, when its 0-0 and we’re going through ? WHY ??
@Sunderland_Talk: According to @CaulkinTheTimes, we have offered £6m for Celtic CB Van Djilk.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon:
To me this comes down to the principles of warfare. (Bear with me here …)
Last night was a £20 million night. To have not spent a penny on that team – an off-field decision – when they had clearly toiled against Warsaw was shameful, but it was not the only screw up. That was the equivalent of scaling down your army from a twin-theatre-and-small-skirmish capability to a rapid deployment force, and then praying you never have a major war.
In those circumstances you have to equip those guys with EVERYTHING you can, every minor advantage there is. The Green Brigade are a force multiplier. They turn Celtic Park into a cauldron of noise. They light up the place, and it sparks the rest of the support.
They are an enormous asset on a night like last night. The failure to come to even a temporary accommodation with them, even for that one game, was a colossal mistake that resulted in a dead, tense, nervy atmosphere for our players instead of an “OMG where are we?” one for them.
It speaks volumes to me that we failed at so basic a thing.
JF
I got a bad feeling that Johansen was giving CM bad passes to make Charlie look daft. I played midfield and would have chinned SJ for those bad passes.
As for the squad, punt ASAP
Twardzik
McGeough
Pukki
Balde
Ambrose
As for Mulgrew don’t buy the he’s not good enough, he won POTY in 2012, and not a bad player when in defence or LM, just not quite a CM
Izzy was truly woeful last night, but he looked unusually tired. Maybe a two week break for Izzy
I don’t think Griffiths will do much I have to say, so maybe get rid
Stokes I’d keep but not as our first choice striker – we need two decent ones in
Berget played well in second half, I actually like him, see how he goes in EL and if well buy him January
Kayal looking good again, Bitton I’m not convinced, brings me on to Rogic, he can go for me
I hope VVD stays, but both he and Denayer will only be here for 1 year max, so we need at least one more CB now, one more Jan
Keep Matthews and Lustig
Gordon excellent keeper, direct replacement for FF, the only direct replacement we have got for one of our main players who we’ve sold
Having sold players for so much, and two years of CL money, plus this years EL money, it’s unbelievable we haven’t spent £10m at least this year
We need to spend now and Jan so we are in position to qualify next year
HH
That tweet from Sunderland says it all.
Four million knocked off his value in one night.
The smell of desperation and fear stinks out our club. The vultures are circling.
Shame on the men who allowed this. The cost of this just keeps on rising.
Good morning all.
DD
Just before I go to my cot, was brilliant to finally meet you on Tuesday night. Pity about the performance.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
kdc,
With the size of our player pool…then again:(
Night all, hopefully we get a pick me up on the transfer market… And get shot of our baggage players.
Why do so many of our players get injured…….and be out of the game for so long ?
Then why do we sign injury prone players ?
Troubled times (again) to be a Celtic fan
Night Night Timland.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
sipsini
00:32 on
28 August, 2014
I used to be a stupid wee boy myself.I used to go to the games with other stupid wee boys.
We like to think we dragged Celtic over the line to victory on occasion.
No doubt we did.
The G.B. are an organised group who boycotted the game.
Let`s now reward their,according to you ,potentially match losing absence by negotiating with them.
They perhaps played a role in our loss.
No matter.
“Come back lads.Please forgive Celtic.
We need you.”
Apart from the aspect of giving in to threats of boycott.
There`s a principle there.
The bum`s rush.That`s what I`d be giving them.
Just looking at CL results
Malmo are through. Maribor are through. Lubogrets are through
All in expense of seeded teams – us, Steaua Bucharest, Red Bull Salzburg
Interesting – failure for all three teams
At the end of Dundee utd game interview with jacki he never said celtic were excellent. He said he was imbarssed. I think he saw something we never.
James Forrest is praying for The Unconquerable Oscar Knox
00:38 on
28 August, 2014
Will reply later.
Duty calls.