Five at the back is an orthodox defensive shape, it’s not a headcount of defenders, which is the crux of where we went wrong last night: we chose the wrong system.
Consider the space between (debutant) Gamboa and Lustig at the first goal. No one was sure who should have been picking up Messi (reveal: it was Bitton, who didn’t track the run). There was uncertainty – presumably because we tried a new defensive system out at the Camp Nou.
Another consequence of five at the back is that your fullbacks don’t get midfield cover. Instead, Sinclair and Roberts were asked to work 40 yards out. This plan came at the cost of protecting Gamboa and Tierney.
The overwhelming tactical memory I have of our win against Barca four years ago was Neil Lennon doubling up in the fullback area.
Then we had two central defenders with Wanyama (a defensive mid, which Bitton is not) in front. Our two full backs were partnered with a wide midfield player. Diagrammatically that was four at the back, but whenever Barcelona were in possession (80% of the time), seven players were protecting the Celtic penalty area.
The abiding defensive memory from that night it the thicket of legs confronting Messi every time he got the ball. There was no space for him to pass and move into. Last night, he had more space inside the box to run into that he’ll see all season. It was simply the wrong system.
During the game I was pretty annoyed at Bitton, who I blamed for the first three goals, but he’s a deep-lying playmaker, not a defensive mid, and looked clueless in the position. Although even I know you need to track Messi’s forward runs, and my 11-yr-old knew they were about to score the third the minute we conceded a free kick 23 yards out in front of goal. Reveal: barging players 23 yards out is a mistake that gets you spoken to when playing 2004s football.
We had numbers but not a coherent defensive strategy. The lessons from The Beating of Barca in 2012 were lost. Four years ago we twice played them with these back fours:
Lustig, Wilson, Ambrose, Izaguirre
Lustig, Wilson, Ambrose, Matthews (out of position)
None of Wilson, Ambrose, Izaguirre or Matthews (at left back) would get in this Celtic team. They were all pretty standard-grade defenders, but with protection on the wings and in front, it worked.
After we lost the third concentration levels dipped, tired legs after Saturday would have been energised legs if we were still in touch. I’d also tell Scott Brown not to worry too much about giving the ball away. We’re not good enough to plan to regularly retain possession at the Camp Nou.
We’re a ‘two pass then lob it into the box or win a foul’ team at this level. Accept this and concentrate on what’s deliverable – “We are Celtic, try running through this thicket of legs”.
Scotts Brown and Sinclair played well. Moussa will beat himself up about the penalty but it was inconsequential. Gamboa and de Vries looked lost, as all Camp Nou opposition debutants (there can’t be many) and exposed keepers do.
It may have been the biggest loss in Europe but it doesn’t even come close to being our worst performance. It’s not even our worst performance in Europe of the season, so we’ll get over it quickly.
You and I both remember seven goal victories being overturned a week later. This is football. The leap required to deliver a tighter defensive system is not the magnitude it may appear.
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Barca are so good they got beat 2-1 by Alaves
So big fish in a small pond syndrome it is, Last night we played a whale and it showed.
That aside, We need to sort out the gap in the middle of the team, Scott cannot do it all himself.
Brendan try Ajer in there if you are reading the forum.
Last night reminded me why I wanted to go in to Europa cup. The money we trade off for our reputation isn’t worth it. We turn up get pumped and handed a cheque. I can take it at friendlies, But not in real games.
Barca are immense I get that, But with unlimited funds its no real wonder is it.
KLV
The dust hasn’t even settled from the Celtic Park game yet and the satellite companies are already hyping the next one with a reckless and dangerous scheduling decision which betrays utter disregard for public safety, in the pursuit of ratings.
http://thecelticblog.com/2016/09/blogs/skys-sevco-game-scheduling-reeks-of-greed-and-disregard-for-public-safety/
MARKIEBHOY on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 3:58 PM
Barca are so good they got beat 2-1 by Alaves
= = = = = =
Henke missed penalties.Doesn’t diminish his status at all.
BABASONICOS71 on 14th September 2016 3:39 pm
oops
*TWOTHIRDS
Apologies bud
——-
Been called a lot worse:-)
James Forrest
Let me guess – a day with absolutely NO English games?
4:05 Beverly
Thumbs UP !
Good analysis Paul. Although I must admit I would have played a back 5 for this game as well. The team was exactly as I predicted.
Actually, didn’t you hint at thinking the same way last week when you said something like you’d be amazed if Lustig played as a conventional right back?
game now wiped from memory (as a defensive mechanism)
could we not go straight to the europa league in future ?
KEVINLASVEGAS
What reputation??
Serious question…
James – spot on – we should be playing them around 5th November – we will have played some teams 3 times before our second encounter. Rigged league
Jc2
Glad you were on. Won like Barca …all too easily:-(
i hate the delayed run up penalty
to me its done by shitebags and charlatans
guys who want to make it look cool, but in reality either dont have the ability, or the confidence in their ability, to pass a ball into the corner of the net from 12 yards
in that case they shouldnt be taking the penalty in the first place
remember back in the day when a commentators words at a penalty were
“…steps up, shoots and scores”?
now its
“steps up, stops, shuffles, looks up, shuffles again, side foots the ball towards the goal”
pure does ma nut in so it does
…and no, The Shitebags and Charlatans never played at Ye Oldeee Burns Hooowwwwffffff
but yes, modern day delayed run up penalties done by shitebags and charlatans are indeed rubbish.
before anyone else gets those in…
STARRY PLOUGH
We’ll we used to be kings of Europe, That was a while ago i suppose. ;)
Your right, but we still consider ourselves a big club,
Money has wasted it. I am all for supporting the Bhoys no matter what but when you see that last night (500m buys that) and the money from Sky it’s very hard not to call shenanigans on the whole thing.
Taking a pen knife to a machine gun fight.
Long term it’s a very depressing picture.
Just my two cents,
KLV
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Gamboa making his debut against the best team in the world after only a handful of training sessions was definately the wrong choice. He should have been introduced this weekend coming and given some time to get build up an understanding. It would be nonsensical to write him off at this point. He needs games, last night should not have been his first though.
5 at the back was always asking for them to dominate us. They are the best in the world at pressing the midfield and keeping constant pressure on the defence, we played into their gameplan last night. Possibly 4-5-1 with 3 central midfielders could have limited the damage but we will never know.
I said before the season started Champions League would be too much for us. I’m still over the moon we are there though. A run in Europa against teams of a similar calabre was my preference before the season got under way, still possible if we snag 3rd I suppose but last night proved how clubs like Barca have moved away from us in quality.
The next decade will be huge in European football. Aleksander Ceferin’s election victory for UEFA President today will hopefully signal an end to these Super Rich clubs carving the competition up to suit their own greed and signal genuine, fair restructuring that benefits all leagues under the UEFA umbrella.
If that restructuring comes up with a proper League structure with promotion & relegation just as domestic leagues I would be all for that. It seems inevitable that a European Super League will happen, why not go all in and make it in the format of domestic league pyramid systems? It is the only system that would be fair.
If you dont have the guts to take a penalty like this then you are a sh*tebag…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8TeCUcMiSE
celtic are out of there depth and should not be in champions league otherwise we will have more results like last night and im only being realistic
As long as we bounce back on Sunday and the players have no long term effects of that we should be fine, But after that with an eye to Manchester I hope they don’t lose confidence, because it could happen.
Gordon back in on Sunday?
KLV
WRONG SYSTEM CAUSED CELTIC TO CRUMBLE.
INDEED TO GOODNESS YES.
FAR FROM BEING BRENDAN’S SELECTION OR TACTICS BEING THE SYSTEM THAT CAUSED CELTIC TO CRUMBLE, IT IS A SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN AT PLACE AT CELTIC PARK FOR SOME THIRTEEN YEARS.
IT IS KNOWN AS YEAR ON YEAR RELENTLESS DOWNSIZING IN QUALITY.
HOPEFULLY, THE RECRUITMENT OF BR SIGNALS A SLOWING DOWN AT LEAST IN THE ABOVE RACE TO THE BOTTOM.
T & T and WITS – Thanks and well done for the Musharrif and Dream Walker tips. Keep them coming.
HH
Twist n Turns
Couldnt remember who posted tIP so THANKS
Not going to get rich on what I am willing to BET i.e £5 today
Still enjoy taking money off bookies
Good tip, WITS.. I had it at 3/1.
KEVINLASVEGAS
History shows us that yes but in the CL which has been going for quite a while now we’ve never been beyond the last 16.
Sometimes I think that’s half the problem when we’re talking about Celtic defeats in Europe, our away record speaks for itself.
We had some really great results at home over the years but the were the exception rather than the rule and even in the glory days of MON when Parkhead was indeed a fortress we didn’t get out of the group stage.
Our reputation now tin hat on comes more from the atmosphere at Celtic Park being a place where great footballers want to play rather than the silky skills of our team.
I think Brendan will makes us better in Europe if given time to build a team but the money gap now seems a bridge to far for us as we saw last night and I can’t see it changing anytime soon.
Sorry for the depressing view as you know I’m usually clapping away:))
HH
No. It was 5/2 !!
A restructure would be awesome. Because as it as the poorer clubs have no chance at all. All the lower seeded clubs will be out after the groups with maybe one or two exceptions.
KLV
Guess I missed WITS winner
: > (
FOGHORN LEGHORN on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 4:19 PM
i hate the delayed run up penalty
Me too. I also hate to see keepers jumping about on their line, pointing to the side and generally trying to put the kicker off ,as the Barca keeper did last night.
KEVINLASVEGAS on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 4:28 PM
NEVER LET YOU OR ANY OTHER TIM FORGET THAT THE EUROPEAN CUP’S MOVE FROM A SIMPLE, HONEST KNOCKOUT COMPETITION TO THE PRESENT FAVOUR THE RICH, SECTIONAL FORMAT, WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF SDM AND RC OGILVIE AND LIKE MINDED GRAB ALLS.
GLENDALYSTONSILS
Correct the Barca goalie should have been cautioned for unsporting behaviour, oh hold on that would mean:))
i’vehadtochangemyname on 14th September 2016 4:16 pm
game now wiped from memory
——
What game? :-)
Who left the tip? WITS or TnT ?
JJ
JC2 – WITS posted Dream Walker last night, finished 3rd, was fine as an e/w bet
HH
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 4:37 PM
FOGHORN LEGHORN on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 4:19 PM
i hate the delayed run up penalty
Me too. I also hate to see keepers jumping about on their line, pointing to the side and generally trying to put the kicker off ,as the Barca keeper did last night.
———————————————–
i dont really have a problem with that, i still think the penalty taker holds all the advantage if they have the ability
STARRY PLOUGH on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 4:38 PM
Or even just a word of warning from the referee.
Of course, if it became a yellow card offence goalkeepers would soon stop all the Bruce Grobbelar stuff.
Not entirely sure it was the system that was the problem.
I think I would have gone with a back five (although it was always going to be a risk bringing in a new player), but with three in the middle.
The main problem for me was a lack of concentration. Players switching off, ball watching, not tracking runners.
If there’s one team you CAN’T do that against, it’s Barcelona.
STARRY PLOUGH,
Feel exact same, But not wanting to depress anyone either. ;)
Domestic domination and that’s about it. Not even any point in chucking 20m at it, because it would just mean getting beat at the same phase by one or two less goals but with the same end result. The teams in there spend 50m on one player without thinking, That’s our whole pot for the year.
scary.
KLV
STARRY PLOUGH on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 4:38 PM
GLENDALYSTONSILS
Correct the Barca goalie should have been cautioned for unsporting behaviour, oh hold on that would mean:))
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its allowed in the rules is it not so cant be cautioned as far as i know