Hector steps up to the plate and delivers his review of the Celtic players and Oor Brendans performance in Germany…
Gordon 6 – Made one decent save in the first half and a near post save in the second. No chance with goal. Didn’t actually have a lot to do!
Gamboa 6 – Burst a lung to get up and down the right flank. Has a habit of blootering the ball as far up the field as possible when under pressure! Very early days in his Celtic career and as history has shown us, new players, especially foreign lads need a bit of patience and some time to settle in.
Izzy 6 – Defensive weakness exposed when he never picked up the BMG player who put in the cross for their goal. This is one area Tierney is far superior. However, knuckled down and put in a decent performance down the left flank.
Lustig aka #Tache 6 – Had a lot of possession as BMG dropped deep and worked well with his backline and midfield to take the sting out of the game. Was solid if unspectacular and other than an opening five mins didn’t really see a BMG storm!
Sviatchenko 6 – Pretty similar to #Tache although did have the added challenge of picking up 8ft 9 BMG defender at set pieces
Armstrong 6 – Gave the ball away a few times and seemed to slip more than most! Great learning experience for this guy who will come on leaps and bounds from this game. His energy to support the attack and defence exposed the weakness of Bitton and shows what Armstrong can bring to the team. Much more to come from this lad IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD.
Brown 9 POTM – IMMENSE. Have you ever seen a transformation in a player as what we have witnessed with Scott Brown in the past handful of months? I haven’t! I thought his best days were gone but a case can easily be made that we are now watching the best football we have EVER seen from Scott Brown in his Celtic career. We all know about Broony’s strengths…energy, workrate, tackling, winding people up! What we are seeing now is very different. His awareness in finding space for a pass and dropping deep into centre back defensively. His touch, technique and passing is now that of a top quality footballer. Long live the Fife Xavi!
Broony Stats: ( courtesy of WhoScored.com)
Defensive Duties:
Passing Stats: ( PS : Pass Success, AccLB : Accurate Long Ball, AccSP : Accurate Short Pass etc)
Rogic 6 – One of our better players in the first half. Always made himself available and retained possession well. As ever though, completely fell out of the game around the hour mark. Needs an oxygen tank strapped onto his back at half time!
Forrest 6 – Didn’t offer a great deal offensively bar one good run early in the second half. What he does do well and possibly goes unnoticed is offers very good defensive protection down the right flank. Which is needed against very good teams.
Sinclair 7 – So unlucky when a wonderful curling effort hit the inside of the post. Was always available for a pass but didn’t receive the ball often enough for my liking. Links up really well with Dembele and created a good chance for the big striker just before we equalised. A quality footballer.
Dembele 8 – Baws of steel! £40m you say….aye, what about the other leg! This lad is 20…Yes…20. just let that sink in as you see him scare the life out of champions league opponents. Won the penalty and showed wonderful character (I was shiteing it!) when he coolly slotted the ball into the net. Had another shot saved after he turned the defender and then bullied the life out of their defender on the halfway line only for the ref to inexplicably award a foul when he would have powered through on goal.
Manager 8 – Took lessons learned from the first game and made good tactical changes…that’s all we ask! Had 7, yes SEVEN of our players pressing BMG on their penalty box throughout but also sat deep when required. Brendan is just in the door and he’s transformed the team. Just wait until he improves the team every transfer and watch us go in the next few years. It’s going to be a great time.
Absolutely spot on with your Scott Brown overview. Paul McStayesque so far this season. Long may it continue.
Wwhhhhaaatttttt?
Brown is a good player, Paul was world class!
Spot on with the exception of Armstrong, thought he had a poor game until the latter stages when he seemed to have more confidence after they went down to ten men
I thought Armstrong was a bit of a headless chicken first half but settled into the game as we took control.
Lustig nearly cost us twice early doors with some really poor pass selections out of defence at a time when they were dominating the ball though he too grew as the game went on.
Gamboa needs game time I think he’s taking time to settle but I believe in Brendan and think there is a player in there who will come good hopefully.
Certainly has pace to keep up with the quickers wingers.
Don’t get the high mark for Dembele who for me anyway does not work defenders hard enough when playing as a lone striker.
The big CB won most of the aerial battles too from what I remember though it has to be said he is a real handful when turning and running at defenders in the box with some great feet and strength.
He took his penalty well and looked unfazed at stepping up again when asked.
I thought iZZy did really well considering his lack of game time so a major plus there.
Out the 3 wingers I felt Jamesie perhaps contributed less in an attacking sense as both Sinclair and Roberts caused them issues.
Overall a solid performance barring the opening 15-20 minutes where they dominated the ball.
Interesting to note how deep Brown dropped when both WB pushed up creating that 3 at the back some of us were hoping to see so obviously Brendan had thought that threat through.
We made a good side look average second half I thought and Brown was a major contributor in that regard.
He was excellent and led by example.
A bit protective of Armstrong, gave the ball away more than a few times.
I do remember a particular incidence however in the 2nd half where he ran back circa 60 yards to retrieve his mistake with a great tackle. That’s why I like the guy, his attitude is great. But he must improve on the ball, and while Bitton is hot and cold right now, if Brendan can find the Bitton who played against Inter a couple years ago that’ll do for me.
Armstrong was fairly decent that night too I seem to remember Gerry?
Though I agree he was poor first half in Germany better second.
Well done Hector Lector,
Why can we not get a strong pair of centre halfs,who would be playing week after week,i like what Toure brings to the defence and Sumonovic will be a great player if he stays fit,but once again we go into a big match with players playing out of position and frankly they look that.
Our midfield Broony except is good going forward but weak going back or tackling.
Dembele and Sinclair are great signings,i hope they stay a long time.
Thank goodness Brendan kept Izzy,the jury is still out on Gamboa.
That ref? gings whit a duffer,he got so much wrong.
BMG. were mince there performance was so much worse that at Celtic Park,they looked like they were there for the taking.
The team shows a far better knowledge and savvy than before Brendan arrived,he is great,tactically aware and can change subs. when necessary and tactics during game time.
The future looks even better.
I don’t agree with Bandido regarding Brown, he was guilty a few times of losing possession, on one occasion nearly costing us a goal.
He was a 7 at best for me.
Armstrong found it tough going but this lad has a lot to offer Celtic, domestically at least.
Thought Izzy looked decent again, caught out for their goal but shit happens, seen something in Gamboa that gives me encouragement going forward, he needs games.
I agree (fanfare) Monti also I don’t think Brendan would have brought Gamboa in if he didn’t have the ability to cut it at Celtic.
Could be one of those who needs time to bed in like Jozo for example.
The whole team was 8-10. Couple of more additions and we will be there or there abouts next season. The German fans where a great laugh. Welcomed us into there pubs an had the party songs on!!
Best trip to date. Feeling that there will be plenty more to come under Rodgers
Bgbhoy,
Glad you had a good trip and hope to see you and the old man soon!
HH
Charlie saiz,
Absolutely!
Monti, I agree with you lol. I wasn’t comparing them. McStayesque was just a phrase to describe how well he has been playing since Rodgers has been at the helm.
🙂
I wa stole that Armstrong ran more than 7km more than any other player on the park, no wonder his passing was shite. Still did well though, as did the team. As broony I’m not surprised people want him drug tested. I keep thinking that I’m on acid while watching him play this year compared to last season. Am I on acid??? Yes I might be or at least having some crazy flash backs to when we had a top quality midfielder! Keep it up buoys. Hail hail
I’m astonished to see Armstrong, Forrest and Rogic who were largely posted missing in action, with the same ratings as Izzy, Gordon, and Eric who all played really well.
Must be the blinkers you’re wearing.
Still Griffs on the bench,The Weeman almost single handidly got us the Title with his goals last season.Dembele is coming on leaps and bounds Leigh needs playing time.Moussa and Leigh upfront with Sinclair and Roberts.Forrest is more concerned aboot his hair.McCarthy in January would be an excellent addition.HH.Titles staying with us for a Good Few Years.GIRFUT!!Our Future is Peachy
Nobody has mentioned it but I’m a bit concerned about Broony resuming his international career. Would be a shame if he regresses because of making too many demands on his body and perhaps picking up niggling injuries. Hope he is getting monitored and advised.