Shakhter Karagandy covered 5k more ground than Celtic last night, 500m per outfield player. That’s 5.5m per minute, per player, or an extra meter every 10 seconds or so. That kind of advantage means that when the ball breaks loose in and around the danger area, the more active team are in space – which happened at both goals.
Conversely, when Celtic were in advanced positions Shakhter players were there in numbers. The difference was not caused by exceptional exertion by Shakhter, in their match with Maribor last night, Viktoria Plzen covered 11k more than Celtic, or a clear 2 meters every 10 seconds per outfield player.
Despite enjoying the vast majority of possession the Celtic players were lacking in movement and ideas. Being short of ideas is one thing but lack of movement is altogether unacceptable. We have to prepare fitness levels ahead of the second leg meticulously; Inverness on Saturday is only relevant for those who need game time ahead of Wednesday.
The Mouhokolo-van Dijk novice partnership was a surprise; a lot of faith was shown in players few of us know much about. Could we have held Kelvin for another few weeks? Would it have been less of a risk to play Ambrose and/or Mulgrew in defence? Yes to both, I suspect.
We learned Georgios is not a striker in 2009. He is one of our most effective players when away from home but not as a striker. Anthony Stokes is a striker but his style is just as unsuited to the formation we played last night as Georgios’. We seemed to pick a team to combat Shakhter’s strengths which didn’t play to our own.
I’m not convinced signing a player one week before an important game is an ideal preparation but taking the money early for Hooper, weeks before Amido Balde (or anyone else) has settled and considered a viable starter, is a calculated risk which is now in sharp focus.
We should also show some respect to Shakhter. The club are miles out of their depth at this stage of European football but they left with all the credit. After the game, manager Kumykov played down his chances, “we are not the favourites”. He’s a clever man who knows what he is doing.
It is possible Celtic will play as badly next week but it’s more likely that we will put on a vastly better performance. Between now and then we have plenty of opportunity to wallow in an embarrassing defeat, so knock yourself out, but I’ll hold fire until the tie is decided, which I expect to be in Celtic’s favour. Bring it on.
You got to love European football.
Penalty kick practice, please……
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Jude
Is he not locked up with godber ;)
Looking for a bus leaving from E.K village for Saturday’s game. Bada (thanks) mentioned one leaves from the Monty. Someone has said the village inn and legends. Im taking 11year old son and 15 year old daughter. Can anyone recommend which one is most suitable and a contact?
I received my tickets this morning for the return leg next week. I really hope we can overturn the result from last night as the Champions League really is the place to be. I haven’t enjoyed a season as much as I did last season for as long as I can remember and the main reasons being the ability to focus on the Champions League without having to worry about the Dead Club gaining points on us when we performed poorly before/after Champions League games.
I watched the new Pro Evolution Soccer trailer today and couldn’t believe the coverage that Celtic get. Have a look….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inbf_VAWRM4
Now I know the arguments for and against the strategy that the Club has adopted. However, I find it really hard to understand why we would risk the potential world wide exposure we can get on the back of Champions League football (as shown in the link above) by not strengthening the squad in order to be prepared for this tie. Look at the exposure we have received on the back of one successful campaign. Why are the Board risking this potential?
On the other hand, the squad we have should have been capable of beating Shatktar Karagandy last night and on another night we would have scored a few goals. However, the team selection and lack of a striker was criminal last night, in my opinion. Now why Lennon chose to go with Samaras up front as a lone striker only he knows, but its clear it just doesn’t work.
I hope we can get a full house for next week and cheer the Bhoys into the Group Stages of the biggest footballing stage on earth. However, I raised the concern on here on Sunday that I was extremely surprised at the lack of tickets bought to date. I hope for the sake of the team that the fans turn up and the ones complaining on here about the lack of commitment shown from the Board still show their commitment to the team on Wednesday! We can do this together!!
Hail Hail.
TBJ@21.24
Jet lag? Tiredness? Hacked of in general?
Evening CQN predictors, you should have an email re: payment details.
If not drop me an email at cqnpredictor@gmail.com
HH
CRC
Simple game really is football.
Get the basics right and you are half way there.
Pass to a team mate.
Pass and move.
Basic stuff that we seem to have problems with on a regular basis.
Villa robbed again – handball by Terry
Pukki only got one touch for the 5 or 6 mins he played. The fact that he did play though suggests he will be staying in Germany. Schalke’s Farfan looks to have gotten a bad injury too. Miraoslav Stoc looks a great player for PAOK.
Marti
TBJ Praying for Oscar Knox
Ssssshhh The SFA widnae like it…awe them visa ‘n’ paperwork..
Oglach HH brave Oscar
20:30 on
21 August, 2013
weeminger
20:21 on 21 August, 2013
Oglach – while I think your point is partially valid. Not all plastic pitches are the same. You’d be as well saying why can’t the play the same at Fir Park as they do at Celtic Park, they’re both grass.
==
Exactly my point no 2 pitches are the same be it plastic or 100% real grass. Professionals should be able to adapt to the conditions. We train and play on both surfaces but I have yet to hear someone blame the fact we lost a game because we were playing on long Kentucky blue grass as opposed to good oul Donegal sod.
———————-
It is not just the surface that might differ but more tellingly what is below it.
So if you hoof a high ball up the park and it bounces two things happen.
1) The time the ball is in the air gives a forward time to get closer to the defender.
2) Crucially if the defender lets the ball bounce and the bounce is higher than on grass (and differs from one artificial pitch to another) that gives the forward time to put the defender under pressure.
That bounce introduces a level of uncertainty until players get accustomed to it and gives an advantage to those that have and play to it.
THE EXILED TIM
21:38 on
21 August, 2013
Too much watching Barcelona for you. :)
John O’Neil,
No arguments on them being dreadful, although he did have a genuine excuse, we really were skint back then.
HailHail
A light
I travelled on the ek bus that left from the village inn for killie last year… it was pretty full that day.
My mate in work travels on another from ek.. I could ask him if you need a lift
a light insanity
21:36 on
21 August, 2013
jobo/jc2/kelvinbhoy are all from the land of the snowy roundabouts.
Hopefully one of these fine CQNers should be able to assist.
HH
CRC
praecepta
Villa were robbed, took Chelsea at evens so no too bad >}
BSR
All pretty stone faced… clearly under instruction to keep shtum.
I reckon a major character reference on the jet. .. and lenny got the bed :);
Starry
After the swedish physio fiasco we better no mention brazilians around celtic park :)
Paul67,
I came onto this site because I thought of all the sites this was the best.Informed,intelligent.I am disappointed after reading todays article.To bring up the lack of a striker,and say that bringing one in a week before such a game,is to be honest,condescending.As everyone knows we have had a fair amount of time to get someone in.We messed about as usual in the attempts to bring someone in.Underbidding badly.There is a going rate for strikers as we were only too happy to cash in on when we sold Hooper.You want a bit of quality,you spend a bit of money,maybe even what you took in for the guy you just sold.No one is asking to break the bank.God knows we know from past experience that aint gonna happen.We made money on Wanyama,why not go evens on a striker we probably could double our money on in 3 years?.
Sorry to say,this today just sounds like an official Celtic pronouncement.No offence,but very let down.
Auldheid
A lot to be said for the way they play >}
HH
I know legends is pretty good…when I’ve been over I’ve gone in their bus….bhoys are always good
no apologists
21:16 on
21 August, 2013
Barring any last minute hitches, expecting a positive statement from Celtic tomorrow regarding the Green Brigade. One thing for sure, the absence of the GB next Wednesday is not worth contemplating.
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no offence intended n.o. but I seriously think you have your priorities back to front pal.
who do you go tae parkheid tae see? who did you grow up supporting?
the GB or the Mighty Glasgow Celtic…. case rested!
Remember Artmedia Bratislava, I know it’s not the same as last night but deciding whether to go to the return leg that night was a no-brainer.
WHY?
Because I’m a TIM ! how are we gonnae turn over a 5-0 deficit ah asked maself?
never mind says I, just get there and support the team.
we nearly done it, so close.
so, 0-2 at home to the Khazaks, we WILL do it,trust me.
forget the blame game as we’re goin’ roon in circles.
Lantern ready for Friday. Be positive for Oscar- Be positive for Celtic
Keep The Faith
HH
Has the blood letting stopped?
Capitano
Local supplier of lanterns please ?
haven’t seen the match was at work but from comments from those who did see it they report it was a lack lustre performance. Our away record in Europe is not good so why did we not go and just kill the game? give them no encouragement we don`t have to win away from home it can be done at PH. unless I`m wrong we also have no coaches at PH who were strikers in their day so this may be contributing factor in our poor forward and striking play. I`m not sure that we have the guile to break down what will be a stubborn defensive display from them they have no reason to come out and play and that makes us very suspect to their counter attack. It won`t be a night for the faint hearted so its 90 mins of do or die!
Great night for the away teams in the CL qualification games, doesn’t make me feel any better about last night!!
Dinamo Zagreb 0 – 2 Austria Wien
FT Fenerbahce 0 – 3 Arsenal
FT PFC Ludogorets Razgrad 2 – 4 Basel
FT Schalke 04 1 – 1 PAOK Thessaloniki FC
FT Steaua Bucuresti 1 – 1 Legia Warszawa
Only popping in for a minute to post the following 3-minute link. Absolutely brilliant!!!
http://t.co/Y5rZxZf0Yo
TBJ
Johan’s giving them rubber ear was funny.
a light insanity
21:36 on
21 August, 2013
The buses referred to in earlier posts are the only ones I know of. I would have offered you a lift but have young kelvinbhoy and his pal with me on Saturday. Hope you get something sorted mate – and enjoy the match!
TET
Twice!
Ivanovic should have been straight red – 2 mins later puts Chelski 2-1 up.
Terry deliberate handball – should have been a pen.
Villa were all over Chelski last 10 mins – should have been 11 v 10.
Seen on twitter there section 111 is back.. Announcement 2maro!
Jobo
Only.pop in for one minute. .. and demand three minutes… are you peter lawell ;)
celtictom
21:24 on
21 August, 2013
Hear is a bite of wisdom from Einstein.
“You cannot fix the problem with the mind that created it”
Look at over the city for an example of how wise old Albewrt was but back to Lenny.
He is risk averse that is how he played the game, it is how he thinks. That has its benefits but also its costs. As long as one outweighs the other the costs will be accepted.
However one of NL’s benefits is attitude. He gets Celtic and I’ll bet he is as angry and annoyed as any supporter and I’d be loathe to lose that. The answer therefore is to add to his management team someone who is less risk averse.
I do not have a name in mind but I’m sure the CQN mind can contribute. What’s Lubo up to?
Captain – we need a reverse Utrecht next week….which sounds about as painful as a McGuire Heel….alledgedly! :-)
T4
There isn’t one player in the squad who can jump, attack the ball with his forehead, and direct it away from the keeper.
TBJ
It was mentioned earlier that Di Canio had dropped him.
A light
If you don’t get a bus sorted come on Friday night… I am in cambuslang. .. 5 mins to the village. . If your stuck I can pop over
Modern heeds like threepenny bits are rubbish.
Auldheid
Good shout, but again, Lenny will always prevail, he is the manager, his decision is final.
HH