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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QUONNO
Capitalism has a lot to answer for.
KLV
Weird davie, Walks away with no ban after his hissy fit on saturday.
sfa done sfa again. Weird. :)
KLV
Onemalloy
Thanks but Mushariff is the one I am talking of. It won today and I thought WITS posted it but JC2 is thanking TnT! Seeing as it won, I want to thank the correct tipster!
I just got the impression last night that the young and relatively inexperienced Dembele was unnerved by the keepers antics, where a more experienced player might not have been.
If you compare that penalty to the one Dembele so confidently tucked away against Astana ….
FOGHORN LEGHORN
A simple headbutt would suffice then…
Keepinitclassy CSC
Can’t say a bad word against Dembele , the kid has been awesome since he signed. Last night was never going to be anything but a consolation pen, So he was as well getting his miss out the way just now and save his goals for games we can win.
In Brendan we trust to get the Bhoys going again. We were all gutted last night, Onwards to the next game, Brendan will have to work hard to lift them and reinstall the self belief that was missing before he took over.
As a side note, Lets see what Gamboa has, Our Mikel is starting to look slower and slower. Gutted for him.
KLV
Markiebhoy
Barca rested eight players at the weekend.
Your point is nonsensical.
HOT SMOKED on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 4:47 PM
Onemalloy
Thanks but Mushariff is the one I am talking of. It won today and I thought WITS posted it but JC2 is thanking TnT! Seeing as it won, I want to thank the correct tipster!
——————————————————————————————–
Crossed wires my friend, my response was to JC2 who missed WITS tip from last night
HH
Onemalloy
Yes. I realised that after I had posted ! No problem,
JJ
kevinlasvegas
So Dave what have you got to say in your defense
NO SURRENDER
case dismissed
Do teams ever man-mark Messi? I mean instruct a player to follow him wherever he goes on the pitch and stay as close as possible to him at all times. What if Armstrong had been given this role? And if Henderson had man-marked Iniesta, making sure he only passed the ball sideways and never forward. Could this have made a difference?
FOGHORN…
You cannot be calling a 20 year old who scored a perfect hat-trick against thems a shitebag,shirley?
Or Socrates,who used a similar technique when hitting a penalty?
Not my favoured way of penalty taking but don’t think it marks you down as a shitebag.
Garner’s behaviour on the pitch is much more akin to that description.Or Elbows McCulloch.That’s real shitebaggery.
HH
Twisty
You put a smile back on my face with the tip this morning
11/4 winner ya champion ☘☘
Davey c’mon mate we already let you off with kicking that Hibs fan, screw the nut mate when the cameras are on ye.
Aye right ye are WATP
Obvious criticism of Dembele’s penalty. He checks his run, keeper rooted to the spot. Should have put his laces through it to his right, gaining max power. Would beat a keeper 99% of the time.
MING
You won’t be far off. Joke of an organisation.
KLV
I was sure that was weird davie kicking out at that hibs fan, if it was him then the sfa and police scotland would have pulled him in for that. ;) Aye.
KLV
Kevinlasvegas
preferring direct entry into Europa as opposed to Champs League is nuts and cowardly.
KEVINLASVEGAS
Aye his summons will be winging it’s way to Weird Mansions as we speak:))
On the penalty – it was predictable and sure enough the Barca goalie predicted where it would go.
He would have studied this and would have had a plan for either Dembele or Sinclair.
Dembele’s short run up also gave a big hint at what he was about to attempt.
Another missed penalty could be the difference in getting us something at this level of football. I’d rather that we pre-select a new and surprise penalty taker each time. It widens the odds for the keeper, especially if our player had pre-match instructions where to place the kick.
Canamalar
Agree ditto WGS, MON
TM and RD were expensive mistakes.
Is Brendan on a one year rolling contract ?
HH
I heard the SFA are going to ban Lenny for Weir’s sending off.
Surely experts could prove one way or the other if it was Weir that booted the Hibs fan from the footage available?
I watched the game live last night on Spanish TV (Antena3) and as usual the Spanish commentators constantly referred to Celtic as “Los Católicos de Glasgow” – the Catholics from Glasgow. They do that every time.
Now, to be fair, I think they probably do it out of pride or perhaps obsession, but as a “Club Open to All” since our inception shouldn’t Celtic subtly pull them aside before their return to Glasgow and put that in context?
Maybe they should also be made aware of the OBF ACT, just in case they fall foul of it?
I’ve no idea and could care less, but we were possibly 5/6 protestants, 2/3 catholics with maybe a muslim and a jew, not to mention the odd non-God fearing atheist – not unlike some version of DONOVAN’s “The Universal Soldier”, playing on the field last night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC9pc4U40sI
I could understand them referring to “The Rangers” as “Los Protestantes de Glasgow” – although that’s unlikely to be a problem for them anytime soon!
But …
Is it just me or does anyone else think that our Social Mission Statement is being belittled or ignored in some way?
http://www.celticfc.net/pages/corporate_socialmission
Hail! Hail!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC9pc4U40sI
Latest Mori poll result
If you were setting up a stunt involving a sex doll and sevco scarf, what would be more embarrassing?
Going into a sex shop and purchasing an inflatable doll : 2 people
Buying a sevco scarf : 9998 people
Is it safe to come out?
jockodee
of course catholic means universal ( open to all ) if they said Roman Catholic then that would be different
:)
Gary G
I can imagine the scenario whereby the Dons supporter is OK buying the Blow up Doll but asks his more brazen mate to go in for the Sevco scarf 0:-)
JJ
79CAPS on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 5:01 PM
Do teams ever man-mark Messi? I mean instruct a player to follow him wherever he goes on the pitch and stay as close as possible to him at all times. What if Armstrong had been given this role?
=======
I was thinking about this after the game and Armstrong was the player I thought would be best suited to it. Effectively play 4-4-1 with Armstrong shadowing Messi everywhere. Problem is he’s so good he’ll still find space with Armstrong hounding him and you still have Neymar and Suarez to content with.
I watch a bit of the NFL and the best coach in that league(Belichick) is notorious for trying to take away what the opposition offence does best, and make them beat you some other way. However there is parity in talent levels in the NFL(which he overcomes with great coaching), whereas we are completely outgunned. Sure it is worth a try, but also sure it will have been tried before.
Our biggest problem last night was midfielders not tracking runners and the back 5 not picking them up. 2 static lines caught ball watching time after time. Their movement is incredible so I’m not too downhearted. We’re not CL quality but we need the CL revenue to become even remotely competitive. I would have went 4-5-1 with a narrow back 4, but I also heard the Alaves coach say 5-4-1 is the way to play them. Rodgers is as big a student of the game as it comes, I’m sure he’ll learn from it, though we may have to take a few more drubbings on the chin.
Reggie
Thanks for responding with those interesting comments. I fear you may be right about more drubbings. Man City under Guardiola could be next one.
REGGIE
Armstrong for his defensive qualities or for his legendary tackling abilities:))))
Paul67
Surprising article, and I don’t think 5 at the back was the root cause of
the weight of our defeat.
Any number of fan dango 3-4-5 at the backs, and Barcelona would still have run amok.
Five at the back let us give Gamboa a game, why?, and better sides than Celtic get hammered playing ultra defensive line ups.
It’s a simple game but best leaving the ‘tactics’ to the manager and coaches IMHO
We played the game as tourists.
We played the fear for about 85 of the 90 minutes.
We gave away 3 fouls last night — that is shocking.
The lack of appetite was palpable last night.
Too many just wanted to just get the game over with.
When our substitutes came on they soon were playing with less energy than the Barca team.
We played with no confidence and no belief
It is not the first time that this has happened but it was the worst outcome.
The rebuilding job has to start now — we need to make a game of it for the rematch.
If it has to be 30 fouls then so be it — 2.5 per outfield player including subs.
I’ve heard of a half chance but never a half foul. What does one look like?
Regarding the numbers last night — has a team ever conceded more goals than fouls in any form of football apart from 7 a side youth / U10’s?
Unfortunately, I think the only way we got results in Barcelona is to have the keeper having a great night.
We have lost 13 goals in the last two visits. David Marshall and Fraser Forster were key to results we got. Had it not been for them, both games could have been heavy defeats.
Not attaching blame to DdV here, just thinking that great shot stopping is required.
79CAPS on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 5:57 PM
No worries mate nice to talk football.
STARRY PLOUGH on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2016 5:58 PM
Purely for his energy. Messi would ghost past even great defensive players, Armstrong at least has the motor to get back and just have a body on him. To be honest you could play 7 games in 7 different ways against that team, and still get pumped 7 nil in all of them.
The minute the CL draw was over, I knew there was very little chance we would win a game in our group.
Our seasons cup tie finished the moment the whistle went in Israel.
Pocket the cash, focus on winning the league, while having one eye on next season’s CL qualifiers to ensure the further liquidity.
This season’s CL is for Brendan and his assistants to learn what it means to up against the likes of Barca and Citey, then adapting tactics with the level of players we have. If we played Barca again next year, I’d expect a 3-1 against to reflect that progress.
It’s where we are in the corrupt hierarchy we find ourselves in, let’s learn the methods to occasionally give UEFA an odd TD67 style GIRUY. Lenny did with 18% possetion.