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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I have no doubt that if our attitude is right and the fans get behind the team we can get through.
Until then I would be more than grateful to hear absolutely nothing from the Celtic camp about letting everyone down – do it for the fans blah blah blah. They need to do their talking where it matters and that’s on the pitch. Until then I’m fed up with the lot of them players management team and whoever failed at Board level to manage the changes leaving us weaker than before going into these matches.
They all owe us big time.
Why..Oh, Why Was Vergil Allowed To Take That Free Kick Late In The Game….?
Central Position…..
Just The Right Distance For KC Or CM…
Who Looked To Be Shaping Up To Take It…
Before Deferring To The ‘New Kid’…..
Who Made A Complete Hash Of It….
What Was He Doing Even Taking A Free Kick…..
Having Supposedly Suffered A ‘Stress’ Fracture Of The Ankle One Month Ago..?
Did Ian Black Lay A Bet For Him..?
~~~~~~
No Flies On So’ton’s Argentinian Manager,Porchettino…..
Had Three 18-Year Olds Playing In The Team Alongside VM…..
On Their Opening EPL Fixture…..
AWAY To West Brom….
~~~~~
Assad’s Forces Being Blamed For Launching ‘Chemical Attack’..?
Not Buying It….!
Really trying hard to believe all on hear who are trying to show a bit of confidence in next weeks game.
I will be there roaring the Bhoys on but have 2 questions…
1 Are we confident we will score at least in 90 mins?
2 Are we capable of keeping a clean sheet?
I’m struggling to come up with the right answer
A light insanity
My name was mentioned as a polo mint city CSC.
True but take cars most games and we are full.
As far as I know there is a bus from Legends dont have a number but can get as
we sometimes use like you to give kids something different.
Other bus I used for years went from Plathorn drive up near St Brides not been on that since we started taking kids every week.
Sure someone will be more useful.
TBJ Praying for Oscar Knox
22:03 on
21 August, 2013
Doc
Boydy ? Lmfao
Capitano
Need to try to get one Friday
Thinking of driving towards ek… stop off at the farm Road up to the rolls Royce test centre to let it go
Great view over the city from up there
—————————————————————————–
TBJ, sounds like a plan. Will try and get more lanterns.
HH
TBJ, aye ok, you convinced me, get it done Peter!
We’ll never be able to afford the fee or wages though!
twists
Well said. Sammy must play LM, but if Lenny’s thinking of playing Derk (who will probably suit this game), will we see Sammy unthinkably dropped to the bench for this one? May turn out to our advantage especially if we still need to score after 60 mins, fresh legs and pace from Sammy.
Burghbhoy
22:24 on
21 August, 2013
1. Yes, capable of scoring 2 or 3 providing we play a striker (preferably Balde as they looked vulnerable in the air at the back)
2. Doubt it
Reflecting on what I saw I thought my my how well were we suckered. Led to believe that Shakter had little skill and were solely dependent on strength. Led to believe we might be playing in an almost empty stadium. Wrong on both counts.
I did say before I wouldn’t make any prediction as I hadn’t seen Shakter play but would have a better idea after the first leg. Well now I would say Celtic have it all to do to get through and I am not at all confident that we can do it primarily because Shakter are very very well organised and have a two goal lead to defend whilst Celtic seem capable of making a mistake without any pressure upon them.
Three things however give me hope.
One is that Shakter will be the ones who have to make a 3000 mile trip.
Two is that if the fans turn up and there is no guarantee of that a packed Celtic Park is a formidable place and may spook Shakter.
Three is that there is every chance that Shakter will not enjoy the good fortune they had twice in a row.
Finally I am sure that whatever team takes the field they will be aware that our target is to score two goals in 90 minutes and let extra time take care of the rest.
Tough but not impossible.
How we can do it is the big question
Anthony Stokes is not by any stretch a favourite of mine – often too greedy and often makes poor choices but what he does have is quick feet and speed of thought and he combines well with Kris Commons. Bearing in mind that Shakter will play in a similar shape with 5 at the back and at least 4 in front of them we will need nimble feet if we have to play through them and Stokes does have that as does Kris. With Shakter’s height I’m not too hopeful of cross balls causing much trouble unless they are delivered with pace across the 6 yard area ideally from the touchline. Much will depend on delivery from the flanks with heavy responsibility on James Forrest to finally come good.
Boerrigter hopefully will get a good run out against ICT and be ready to run at Shakter on Wednesday next. There is every chance that energy levels for us will be high and I expect us to play at a high pace with every chance of winning free kicks in dangerous areas. I have no doubt that one goal for us will unsettle Shakter.
I hope it comes early.
Cheers jc2 :)
Bigchipsuk, booooooooo !
Don’t spoil my dreams
.
Morning Bhoys..
Any Update on Celtic players Stats.. Are the 5km from Paradise Yet..
Obviously Fraser Foster won’t be as He was Too Scared to Come out of His Hotel room..
【ツ】
Summa of StatStatusUpdatesCSC
a light insanity
Will check for definite space on Monty bus and can let you know tomorrow.
HHS GMB
praecepta
Aye they fear him alright.
Hopefully it gives the Villa players the boost they deserve.
You not coming over now ?
HH
TSD
You tube some of the free kicks Virgil hit in Holland. Then you will know why. :-)
Capitano
Hoping to see loads of lights above glasgow
Doc
Wages.. three bags of monster munch ,).
tbj
Just read your earlier post re the racist bassa.
You are absolutely correct. But then, you knew that.
Illegitemaenoncarborundumcsc
I see all of the seeded teams either won or got a scoring draw in their away legs tonight.
Watched a bit of the Arsenal game which fair depressed me too. Seeing their pace , movement and incisiveness compared to that turgid dross from us last night. I know they have wealth beyond our scope but I can’t help feeling we are out of our depth in the CL.
I didn’t feel that last season.
Still, success breeds confidence. If we can turn the tie around next week and then sign a couple of quality players, who knows?
Much as I respect the job Big Peter has done in balancing the books, can’t shake the feeling we are being taken for mugs!
Summa
Im feeling a bit responsible for sammis form dip… I wished him luck in Friday. :(
Doc
Its all about opinions mate… ive got mine and I stick to it
Others can make their own mind up.. I just object to idiots who don’t know me mouthing off at me
Cheers amigo
TTTT
Yes, 1:1 in Bucarest against Steaua is good result for Legia. I had fears before the game. They knocked back Ajax last year and beat Chelsea in Bucarest in last UEFA League edition. Dan Petrescu who is Dynamo Moscow coach now told that this Steaua is best Romanian team since 1989.
Sammy should be benched, Hez a lump of wid, a myths, and a non starter for me in this or any other team, lots in here love him that’s there choice, ME I would have chased him 3 years ago, a big chancer, and a fan dancer, my opinion only, I don’t blame him for Wed. Night, I just think that 90% of the games he plays, we look like we have 10 men on the park, bin um.
TnT, how about:
Zaluska
Lustig, Van Dijk, Mulgrew
Matthews, Brown, Commons, Ledley, Boerrigter
Stokes, Balde
I don’t think that Forster, Izzie, Mouyokolo, Forrest or Samaras did enough in the first leg to earn a starting place in the second leg.
Matthews can push forward and supply ammunition for the front two… and he has been known to run on into the opposition box himself and cause defenders a few problems. And as necessary he could drop back into the right back position, allowing Lustig (who has played at CB) to move more central. If necessary Ledley can drop back to assist Mulgrew, who again could move more central as required.
It also gives us five across the midfield who can run at or through the defence, forcing their big (cumbersome?) defenders to have to turn, with the possibility of picking up free-kicks in dangerous positions, or perhaps even a penalty (and a red card for a defender!). All five of those Celtic players have been known to score goals when running into the penalty area and picking up a cheeky through ball, which Stokes, Brown and Commons are all more than capable of supplying.
And with two proper strikers up front, the rest of the team can actually have an option of a forward pass in the attacking third.
Waddya reckon?
The free kick Virgil took was left of the posts so suited a right footed kicker. In any case splitting hairs on who should have taken the free is hardly that important in the overall scheme of things. Main problem is that we didn’t sacrifice a sheep before the match.
TET
Hit the old retiral on the 8th August – got binned end February (ageism). Wasn’t prepared for it and its taken till now to get pension stuff sorted out.
Will drop you email – looking at October (depending on CL – hopefully thumbs up).
Good night all
Mr Z well done to the Legia a good result away from home
Z
Great result for Legia, here’s hoping they finish the job next week!
P27
tonydonnelly67 He was played out of position, not his fault.
CorkCelt, I thought we slaughtered 14 sheep before we flew out for the match…
Patrick
Earlier today my thoughts were to stick with James on the right, but having watched the game for a 3 rd time, I’d prefer to see Sammy on the right and Derk left, or Sammy on the left and Derk right.
Both have a more direct running style than James does and will get their quicker in my opinion.
If they can get success wide and fire ball across the box, Stokesy could be the bhoy on the mark. Anything scrambled clear, and Joe and Kris would be the 2 bhoys to feed off them.
Everything needs to be done with pace and urgency next eek. If Derk and Sammy are doubled up on, Izzy and Adam can provide options on the overlap.
Broony and hopefully Kayal, can keep collecting and feeding it wide.
The bhoys at the back will have a quiet night so they need to be focused and not ball watching on the occasions Shaktar venture up the park, which won’t be often. They will go 4 5 1 I believe, and lump it forward to their lone striker at every opportunity.
Im a Sammi fan but we cant afford to carry him next week.
Bring back Efe!!!!!!!!!!! :))))))))
Good night all
TBJ, it’s what a blog is for, opinions that is, not mouthing off.
Got my lanterns today, so Che, if you’re lurking I’ll bring a couple on Friday.
3 mins to go and Athletico 1-0 up v Barca – PP still offering 10/11 AM to win?
Big chips
Looks good bud though I’d prefer Matthews in there instead of Lustig letting Kayal come in, but in general, yes, I like your team.
Thank you, guys.
Precepta
It’s just the 1st half mate.