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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Serendipity presented me with a scientific analysis of one of our current problems…. So had to share.
So that puts an end to that debate
Off to watch Barca now.
You should have seen Barca Quick News after they were beaten (in last season’s CL) by the champions of the country ranked 5 places below Belarus in the UEFA rankings!
Bedtime.
No point in fretting – plenty of time to do that next Wed at 20:30. :-)
Lest we forget. Lets send the big smelly butcher away with his tale between his legs at the weekend.
Celtic being linked with Siena’s Innocent Emeghara.
Writing from phone is phone is difficult.
True story and it gets me thinking if it’s coincidence?
Few days back I asked one of the CQNers if changing the CPU (processor) will let my PC work faster?
I got the answer – “No, you will not see big difference, better check what memory RAM you can put in addition.”
I checked what is my ram and ordered addition part. I put it yesterday into into the Mother Board. Computer worked better until late now. In some moment when was going to check the news, I noticed frozen picture on the screen, frozen. Computer did not respond Ctrl+Alt+Delete. I switched it off pressing main button. Since that time whenever I switch the computer , I hear the buzzer inside the box, the screen says “no signal”.
It just gets me thinking- is this becouse my new new ram? It was okay few hours and then my ram got slaughtered?
No blood stains in computer box.
If you think I’m making the story up, it’s thee truth and I lost my music, mails and lot of work.
Big Chips
Just one point on you post about Izzy. The ball was not “deflected” into the lb area, Mouyokolo headed it needlessly into that area. Izzy is one of our few creative players going forward, he needs to play next Wed. Not sure that Mouyokolo should though!
Just my thinking on it.
Marti
Neymar
Seen a fair amount of negative comment towards James Forrest, much of which I don’t think is fair.
When James gets the ball he has three choices
1) Going down the wing, he can beat a man, and he is then faced with a dilemma of crossing to where the forward is, or where he should be. If he crosses into the space, we don’t have a forward who will attack the ball in the box, and he looks stupid.
Alternatively if he crosses towards where Stokes or Samaras are ( somewhere out left) it is easily intercepted
2) his second choice is to cut inside, and occasionally it comes off as he gets a shot away. Last night he ran into 4/5 defenders
3) He takes safe option and passes.
If ever a player suffered because of the lack of movement, Paul talked about in his leader, it is James.
Give the guy a target man to aim for and he will be a revelation.
FYI
Below is a list of dates when the transfer window will close in some of the leagues across Europe:
Bulgarian Professional Football League: August 20, midnight.
Barclays Premier League: September 2, 11pm.
Bundesliga: September 2, 6pm.
Serie A: September 2, 11pm.
Eredivisie: September 2, midnight.
Liga Portugal: August 31, 6pm.
Russian Football Premier League: September 6, midnight.
Scottish Professional Football League: August 31, 11pm.
Swedish Football League: Transfer window closed August 11.
La Liga: September 2, midnight.
It’s inconsistent, as a glance at any of the other European leagues governed by the European Professional Football Leagues will confirm.
Can’t see much happening between now and final whistle on Wednesday. If we do qualify for group stages of CL then it doesn’t leave much time to do any business. So much for Celtic getting their business done early. It’s a fact that when you remove something’s spine it tends to collapse.
Big Cup Winners
I expect all sorts of stories about transfer targets in the next few weeks, and I have my suspicions n the source of these stories.
Best thing we could do is get someone signed Monday / Tuesday, who excites fans, and can be introduced at HT.
Clashcitybhoy
Next few days, no weeks >}
HH
TET,
Agreed.
All sorts of bollocks will be being leaked.
I don’t blame Peter Lawell or Neil Lennon or John Parks, I blame all three, and whoever else is involved in our acquisition and departure strategy
Clashcitybhoy
I really don’t have any time for the transfer window, all it seems to have done is inflate prices, thus pricing out the smaller clubs.
I could see there was something needed, just don’t think the window is the answer, if someone was to employ me, I reckon I could come up with a solution >}
Who’s to blame, personally I would absolve Lenny and JP, the man with the pen is Pedro when it comes to signing players.
As for players out, Lenny must take a modecum of the blame, he obviously tells the ssm, that he can do without, he has no choice imo, he has to toe the line.
HH
Night all.
Night wee Oscar God bless. x
Clashcitybhoy
Just a newspaper story.
Nite Timland.
Take care and god bless.
HH
KTF
My Dear,dear,dear,friend.. The Singing Detective.
Ah didn’t see that Snip.. fae Mr. Z
Very, Very, Interesting!
Ah Am ,noo, more convinced than evah before that The Gandancers Manager, has plenty of Malam.
Dae ye think he could be Persuaded tae Trade Places?
Neil.. banished tae.. Georgia..is it Georgia?
And
The Gandydancers Manager brought in tae Parkheid oan the Clyde..
Comparing the Two Managers, based oan the Performances, in Baith of their Team Selections, in last night’s Game.. Ah figger that We Wid be Getting the Better end of that deal.
Yes, The Gandydancer Manager.. Impressed me like a Wicker Chair Wid..if Ah jist Sat Doon oan Wan.. wearing only my Boxers.
Nice Chatting ,Pal.
Kojo
‘Still, Laughin’
That’s A Blow ….
SPFL Transfer Window Closes Aug 31st
EPL. ” ” ” ” ” Sept 2nd
Why Aren’t The Dates No Longer Harmonised …?
Dirty Tricks By Ogilvie….????
To Frustrate Celtic From Getting Loans Of Any Supernumary Non-EU Players…..
From The Bloated EPL Squads…
Gotta Leave,Steve
Kojo
Still Laughin’
Kojo 23:05
Part of a full-back’s remit is to get forward. If Izzie is in the other half the left sided CB has to cover if the attack breaks down. The RB needs to come across to cover central defence. This should not be difficult. Or is it just easier to blame Izzie…..?
McDowellcelt god bless wee oscar @ 21:52
Seen on twitter there section 111 is back.. Announcement 2maro!
Talks are STILL on-going. There will be an announcement tomorrow but it may not be positive.
There is no doubt that the team were terrible last night, possibly the worst display seen for many a month or year. Worst offenders imho were Samaras and Forrest, but the whole team other, than Commons and Izaguirre, and to a lesser extent Brown, looked like they were in 2nd gear after the 1st 10 minutes. Obviously got to hope that they can turn this round at Celtic Park and hopefully go through, but lets not underestimate these opponents, as we may have seemed to do yesterday evening.
If we don’t go through then at least we have the European League to fall back on, and that may give the team a boot up the rear end. It should also make the board commit funds for the type of players needed for the European competitions,if they don’t then we are in for a couple of years of struggling in the qualifying stages of the Champions League.
While I have always been a big fan/supporter of Neil Lennon since he first started as a player at Celtic Park, and he was my ideal choice as successor to Mowbray, If he doesn’t start substituting players who aren’t performing in all competitions before the last 10minutes and less in many cases, and also give some of the fine young players we seem to be producing through our youth system, then he is in danger of losing one of his keenest supporters, which I suppose he will get over; thats it rant over. Mon the Hoops Saturday and Wednesday. Hail!!! Hail!!!! G.B.N.L.
‘I’ll make a leap of faith for hero Stan.’ Scan from Wishaw Press:
https://twitter.com/Morrissey23rd/status/370276798082199553/photo/1
.
Zbyszek mówi, trzymaj się Oscar
..
RE; Your RAM being Slaughtered..Ha Ha Very Good..at Least yours is Just your Computer..
My RAM (Random access Memory)..in my Brain has gone..l can remember My Mums first telephone number and all my relatives from 40yrs ago..but l cant remember what l did Yesterday..Ha Ha..
I Do remember Celtic got Slaughtered though..:-(
Summa
Fraser Forster IS as stupid as he looks.
Discuss.
Evening ghuys, rarely post but feel the need to spew my thoughts after last night. We WERE the better footballing team, I was particularly impressed by KC’s desire and irritation at the rest of the players when one goal down, If only we had another 3 or 4 of him on the park in Astana, I think we’d have been ok. Major blow getting hit for the second and I agree with a lot of you on here in that this was not the night to test Virgil and Steven as a pairing at the back. Naive coaching, at its worst. In fact I would be surprised if many CQN’ers or the Celtic support at large would have gone with the 2 new boys there on their pre match preferable lineups. Then again, Lenny is a GOOD manager, with many footballing minds around him and obviously felt that was for the best. God help us if he genuinely underestimated the Khazaks. Despite that, we had little going forward and time and time again, wee Jamsie Forrest disappoints. He used to take players on and angle into the box to either lay it off or take a strike. He used to be brave. I’ve noticed Kojo say it before, JF has had the bravery and guile coached out of him. Don’t know if it’s true, maybe he took a hit one day down the right channel and fears going up that particular street again. Nevertheless, he’s not the same feckless lad he used to be. Shame. I’ll not touch on Sammi, only to say last evening was one of his ‘cold’ nights. Couldn’t come at a worse time. We lacked a runner up front last night, a foil for our endeavour in midfield and Sammi’s glanced headers. This person was evident in their absence. (Stokesy, p.s. He’s no STRIKER). I have my ticket secured for Wednesday and I’m almost sure that, as long as there are more people in my mindset, it could be one of the greater nights at Paradise. With all that is at stake, and lets not forget who we are playing here, I am sure that our Bhoys will put on a good show and secure us another run at the top table of football. Sure, new additions are required, but if we knew we were facing Shaktyor Karagandy in the prelim rounds we would have said, ‘give the kids a go’. Can’t imagine Lenny chucking out Herron, Atajic, Watt and Rogic next week. That’s my piece, I’ll see most of you Wednesday, when hopefully it’ll be as exciting, if not less nail biting, as Spartak, Hail Hail and God Bless.
My Team For Wednesday
———————Forster——————
Matthews-Lustig-Mulgrew-Izaguirre
———–Ambrose—–Ledley————
Brown——–Commons—–Boerigter
—————–Stokes——————–
http://thecelticnetwork.com/2013/08/21/its-healthy-to-ask-questions-with-respect/
Morrissey the 23rd,
if you don’t mind me asking where are you getting your info re the GB announcement from
francisgeraldallen
00:13 on 22 August, 2013
I mirror your sentiment regarding subs. That is one of the most irritating things I’ve been mulling over. If its broke, fix it!! Lenny failed to see what was needed to take pressure off the defence. Should have move Mulgrew back to CB and got another into centre mid!!!
gordybhoy64 @ 00:49
A good source. ;)
Glorious Balance Sheet
Great post. It shows very clearly that too high a percentage of our transfers IN are last minute deals.
They sure are very mindful of the balance sheet.
How does Celtic compare with other clubs in this respect?
And we’re all off to Dublin in the green………….Herenveen
with our bayonets glistenin’ in the sun…………..Finbogasson
and if at first you don’t succeed
pull yer foresk*n ower’ yer heid.
James Forrest – ‘Blame me for Shakter loss’
AS SCOTTISH football followers – of a Celtic persuasion and otherwise – queued up to take pot-shots at the club for their defeat in Kazakhstan, James Forrest volunteered yesterday to feature as a villain in any of the blame games.
A week after impressing in a memorable England v Scotland friendly at Wembley, Forrest’s stock fell again when he failed to convert a point-blank header during the 2-0 Champions League play-off defeat by Shakhter Karagandy.
He was not the only Celtic player to stand accused of failing to deliver on a night that stood to make or break the club’s season, but it was a mark of the 22-year-old winger’s maturity that he asked not to be spared of criticism.
Part of his willingness to take flak seemed to emanate from his confidence in Celtic overturning the deficit in next Wednesday’s return leg at Parkhead.
“We had a lot of chances in the first half and we regret now not finishing any of them,” said Forrest.
“I had a good chance and I should have done better. I wouldn’t say it was a good save from him [Shakhter goalkeeper Aleksandr Mokin]. I’d say it was a bad miss.
“But once we get them back to Celtic Park I am sure it will be different. We are disappointed about last night but we are already buzzing about next week.
“The tie is certainly not over,” he added. “It is only half-time, basically. But we know we have to score a few at Celtic Park.”
Forrest again spoke with maturity as he echoed his team-mate Charlie Mulgrew’s assertion that Celtic should not seek refuge in excuses for what was a humiliating result.
“We have a very big game next week and we have to pick ourselves up for that. We will be on our own pitch, but I won’t use the fact last night’s game was on artificial grass as an excuse for the result,” he said.
“The surface was good, and we have played on artificial pitches a few times now, so that had nothing to do with what happened.”
Shakhter, who were eliminated from Europa League qualifying two seasons ago when they followed a 2-1 home victory over St Patrick’s Athletic with a 2-0 defeat in Dublin, celebrated wildly the greatest result in the history of Kazakh club football on Tuesday night.
No club from the oil-rich Asian country’s Premier League, formed in 1992, has yet reached the group stages of the Champions League and the chairman of their league, Mikael Gurman, accused Celtic of lacking the desire of the hosts at the Astana Arena.
“The Scots came and expected to win the game – they didn’t even think about the possibility of a draw,” said Gurman...Good to know their Chairman reads my Posts..;-) Summa
“But they paid the price for thinking like that and they completely misjudged the situation.
“I believed in victory and said before the game Celtic were a team that could be beaten. Our players showed more desire to win.
“Shakhter tactically outplayed their opponents, defended well and attacked at the right moments. I thought they could have won 3-0 actually, but 2-0 is good enough.
“They are gaining experience with every game in Europe and have nothing to fear in Scotland.”
Shakhter’s Russian coach, Viktor Kumykov, was a little more circumspect as he assessed the state of the tie, saying: “We still believe Celtic have a chance to qualify.
“We believe the game in Glasgow will be even more difficult because Celtic are a more experienced team. We still have a chance, a little bit more of a chance than before the first game.
“You need to play in a very disciplined and organised way and I think we did that.”
Summa
Morrissey the 23rd,
oh well I hope they are wrong,cheers anyway
The bottom line is as STUPID as he sounds?
Discuss
There is no agreement yet and there is not much time for the lads in section 111 to get their tickets organised in time already. If it is going to be sorted for the next home game. It will need to be resolved today.
Summa
I, for once, agreed with Davie Provan and felt that Jamsie never got any support down the right.
Jeez he was back in his own penalty area lookin’ furra baw.
Teuchter