Menu Close

Celtic Diary Thursday August 9: The Morning After

Celtic drew 1-1 in glasgow last night with an AEK Athens side that looked nothing special.

Come to think of it, Celtic didn’t look all that special either.

The hoops started well enough, pushing the Greek side onto the back foot, winning corners, creating space, and it was no surprise when Calum MacGregor, in for the unavailable John McGinn, swept a low cross beyond the Greek keeper.

A few more looked on the cards, and there was no hint that AEK would hit back, until the defence, who it looked like had been texting each other, took their collective eye off the ball to allow an equaliser just before half time.

Two yellow cards led to a sending off for one of the Greek midfielders-i’d type his name but I’d only spell it wrong, and the visitors promptly went into their shells, rebuffing everything Celtic did after that.

Celtic made a substitution at this point, bringing in Ronny Deila for Brendan Rodgers, which meant the creativity went, the tenaciousness went and any chance of taking a lead to Athens went with it.

Even at this early stage, its apparent that Scott Brown is struggling. His leadership was needed last night, and although he tried, he wasn’t the Broony of old, and with John McGinn unavailable, we needed him to step up.

Perhaps a wee rest at the weekend will help. Give Kouassi Eboue a shot. We might have to use him next week as well.

The Greeks know how to kill a game, and produced a performance that showed this. Celtic simply had no idea what to do , other than feed James Forrest out wide, who was forced across the defence, or set Keiran Tierney loose, which ended too many times in a cross to no one.

Only when Scott Sinclair joined the fray did Celtic make inroads into the danger zone, but his team mates were too surprised to help him out.

It’s going to be difficult in Athens, but there really isn’t anything to worry about yet.

Celtic just need to be less predictable, less pedestrian and more powerful.

They learned about gamesmanship last night, and that will be a feature next week as well.

Above all, they need to keep their concentration.

 

Oh, and a little bit of guile would help as well.

They can do that.

Image result for nodding gif

Manager Rodgers, who has had a tough day or two, was optimistic..

John McGinn was ruled out for the next four years, Jason Denayer isn’t interested in coming back-no shit-and Dedryck Boyata phoned in to say he’d got a cough.

Brendan wasn’t convinced, as he could hear a piano player and a singer doing a version of the Lambeth Walk in the background, interrupted only by a man yelling something about Jellied Eels…

But he’s still backing his bhoys…

“Apart from that one error just before half-time, I would be talking about a fantastic performance. I’m still very proud of how we played and I thought we started the game very well in every element – our shape offensively when we had the ball, along with our defending and pressing, was a real high level.

“We were in really good control of the game and probably Athens were waiting to half-time to regroup, and then we obviously conceded in the 44th minute.

“The game didn’t change so much in second half, whether it was 10 or 11 men. They set out in deep block and I suppose there’s a bit of frustration we couldn’t make the final pass count in the final third of the pitch.

“But, overall, we’re still in a good position. It was always going to be a difficult game over there for us anyway, but certainly after tonight and how we played and the performance, it gives us great hope of going over there and getting a result.”

 “I think we were playing against a good side who can defend well and are strong and we threw everything out there into the game in terms of attacking players.

“It was just final pass and sometimes that bit of luck you need for it to drop to you, with so many bodies behind. It’s never easy, but the effort of the players and some of the quality they showed was very good. We would’ve liked to have got the second goal but it didn’t come for us.

“That’s how Athens play and how I think they’ll play like that out there as well. They play deep and compact in a 4-4-2, so the sending off didn’t change that side of it, but it made their mentality a bit more defensive I suppose.

“We continued to still dominate the ball and get into good areas. We had opportunities but weren’t clinical enough to finish them. We knew they were a good side but we proved we’re also a good side and can go over there and get a good result.”

Can Celtic score away from home ?

“I don’t think there’s any question of that,” 

“I think we’ll have enough of the ball and we’ve got the players of quality who can score and we won’t have to defend well.

“It was always going to be a difficult game, whether we were 1-0 up or at one each. But I always felt we were going to have to score there anyway. It’s still very much in the balance. Of course, it swings to them a bit as they’re at home but we certainly know we’ve the quality to go and perform well after seeing that this evening.”

 

He could be accused of papering over a few cracks there, but essentially he is right, the Greeks will play exactly the same way in Athens, and Celtic have to just raise the tempo a bit.

But I’d suggest maybe changing the formation …. maybe surprise them a bit.

 

The words of Calum MacGregor after the game suggested that Celtic maybe did slip back into the old Deila style of waiting for something to happen instead of going out there and making it happen.

We’ve shown in the last couple of years we can go away and score goals and get results.

“It’s about the discipline having the tactical awareness over there and then letting our attacking players cause them problems.

“It’s far from done.

“We were disappointed. When they went down to 10 men, you anticipate going on to score a few goals and win the game.

“Credit to AEK though. They set out their stall and made it difficult. We had a few shots and crosses but it never quite fell for us.

“We are still positive and upbeat. We created enough chances to think we can go over there and get a result.

“We expect more of the same. They are in a strong position but you could see last night we can create chances.

“We need to be defensively strong because we can’t afford to concede over there.

“The standard goes up when you get through the rounds. You see it with the organisation and the standard of players.

“They didn’t have much in the game but they got one chance and scored a goal. Teams are more ruthlessness when you go through the rounds.

“We need to defend better when we go there but we are still positive.” 

Effectively, we need to take the game to them. At pace, and with power.

 

A section of the support, that one thats always looking for someone to blame, reckon that lasts nights result was down to the board not securing the players Rodgers needs.

As usual, Mikael Lustig was deemed to be “past it “, Hendry was “not CL class ” and Scott Sinclair shouldn’t have even been on the bench.

The players read this nonsense, and yet still put in a shift when asked to.

Sometimes it doesn’t go to plan, and sometimes they have an off day. Screaming at them isn’t going to help.

As for new, champions League quality players, that isn;t going to happen unless you’re in the champions League every year.

Top players can afford to hang on and see if Celtic make it, something else that will be in the back of players minds when they attempt to get through these qualifiers.

Celtic cannot match the wages down south, nor offer the glamour of the English league, they can offer a great support-sometimes-and Champions League football.

When the latter is secured, the top players will look at Celtic, but not until then.

So until then,

Image result for love the one you're with

Yesterday, we had this..

Steven R August 8, 2018 at 9:39 am · Edit · Reply →

I actually overheard the AEK team talk, but i couldn’t understand what they were talking g about – it was all Greek to me!!…

 

Today…

We all may be a little down this morning, and although this made me smile, its kind of accurate.

Brendan Rodgers went to the Celtic board and asked for someone who could light up Celtic Park.The Celtic board came back with new lights and an Electrician 

We hear that Lee Congerton, despite criticism, is actually doing his bit and compiling a list of targets, approved by the manager, its just that Peter keeps forgetting where he left it…

Then again, whoever decided Comperr was what we needed shouldn’t even be allowed to choose what colour socks to put on.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
172 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

CAPTION-Pass the whisky,ya munters!

Btw,we definitely need a new CH pairing next week. Ajer is suspended.

london Celtic
5 years ago

Good article, but the fact of the matter is we needed a good CB two or three seasons now.
Someone is not doing there job at CP. Simple as.

puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: Tragedy strikes as every man in the town drowns themselves in a brewery.

I was 20 feet from Sinclair and the only danger his crosses posed was to the crotch of the first Greek defender. Unsteady Eddy is clearly for the future as is Ajer – boys doing men’s jobs. Griffiths and Eddy looked like 2 guys who met in the car park. I may be old fashioned but what the fuck happened to striking partnerships? This tippy tappy pish is doing my nut in. There is trouble at mill with the board and the manager briefing against each other in the press like a New Labour bitch fest. I think we will beat them next week though.

5 years ago

Caption,jesus,mary and joseph.quick bartender get me a brendan quick,that will be a dble trble .HH

Cortes
5 years ago

Caption: The faces that launched a thousand quips.

Monti
5 years ago

One positive from last night…..Kieran Tierney is still a Celtic player.

Surprising that….

Monti
5 years ago

Sounds like a Pravda article to me today, Ralph.
Nothing is wrong, all is well and everything is positive & calm & fucing rosy…
PISH!

Brendan wanted McGinn & didn’t get him, not good enough.
The defence has been an issue for two years now & still hasn’t been sorted.

It’s not fucking good enough!

5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Erik cant bring the ball out from the back..hence surplus to Brendans style requirements and punted

FredDDobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  desimond

he doesnt pay for us any more so who gives a fuck either way

Daniel Docherty
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

We didn’t look like scoring the entire second half how is that a defensive problem need another creative mid-fielder when things not going right for Tom Rogic

FredDDobbs
5 years ago

The problem last night was BRs tactics. Griff should have started and we should have had 2 up front. Gamboa I must admit looked a player against rozen and I would have started him rather than lustig who looks like hes going to get skinned all night over there.

FredDDobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  FredDDobbs

If gamboa can put performances like that in then we should give the guy some credit and more match time.

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

MONTI,

PL,the best poker player in the world. Overplays a winning hand,shrugs his shoulders,its only the fans money.

Tosser.

Too clever to spend money,costs us £30m and maybe our manager too. Neither of which are for the first time.

Chris
5 years ago

I couldn’t read to the end as the first few paragraphs are pish.
Throughout the ninety minutes we played well and contained AEK except for the goal which was an error on the part of Lustig. He should never have let the boy cross it from the fecking corner flag, he was complacent thinking it was going out. Brings me to my next point crosses into the box apart from the header by Griffiths the crossing from both sides was piss poor and we could find a man in hoops despite having multiple opportunities that was poor tactics or poor from BR it was piss poor execution from the players. KT might have been man of match for the effort and for the assist for the goal but every other cross missed its target.

To blame Rodgers as you did in the first few paragraphs is just fecking lazy.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Fair diary today Ralph and now that the emotional dust has settled we’ve got to have faith that we can still do the biz in Greece and that the board will sanction signings. I’ll admit I’m the worlds worst when it comes to being upset when things go wrong but it’s only because I’ve a love for the club that at times is insane and I suspect the rest of the folk on here are no different. That’s just what you get supporting the club.

Caption…Gerrard’s new signings wives make up the new Sevco WAGS

Jaysus, the women in that pic are fucking frightening

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Noel Skytrot

Noel,
I’d ride all of them

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,

You’re right no well mate. I suspect in the real world that would be your harem. Lol

They all look like they’ve gave the juice up, joined a temperance society and are syphillis ridden tambourine bangers.

DannyBhoy
5 years ago

Good article Ralph but the John McGinn nonsense is just that, nonsense. If the sum total of his ambition is to play for Bruce at AV then good luck with that John! This is not a player that every Celtic fan was screaming out to be bought at ANY price when his move was first reported the reaction was decidedly lukewarm, now when he’s gone to AV he’s all of a sudden the missing link, he’s not and he wouldn’t have played last night or next week etc. etc. He would have made NO difference! His Champions League, big game experience? Zero, the same as me!

charlie
5 years ago

it aint over till its over COYBIG

charlie
5 years ago

caption thank fuck a lke a swally

charlie
5 years ago

caption a wonder how many guys they drove tae the drink …..though hotlips in the middle at the back is growing on me

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

he he

Mike
5 years ago

Started the season with an awesome duo up front, pace, power, strength
and then we lost Moussa, bhoy did we miss him last night. And so did French Eddy. Two mistakes at home, two goals against us, we sorely miss that seasoned old pro at the back. I remember big Mark Reiper coming in and our defence improved instantaneously. That white thing that exploded on the park, was my brain…. If only we hadn’t conceded just before half time, Athens got the lift and we never seemed to have the same belief. Sign up Zeus the god of war and remember the Spartans, green and white warriors, we shall overcome, if we believe. COYBIG.

henkesdreadlocks
5 years ago

Caption………

If ever a picture would drive you to drink…. et voila.

bogbhoy
5 years ago

This site is nothing more than the new daily record. Ralph with his anti Tierney made up stories and just general bullshit with a hint of bigotry against our own fans. Then we have charlie saiz, again with the hidden bigotry against our own fans and a hatred for anything Irish or rebel. Typical of someone who served in the british army. Then we have monti who seems to finger them both. Do yourself a favour Bhoys, make it your last visit to this pish hole, will for sure be mine. Hail Hail

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  bogbhoy

Que?

henkesdreadlocks
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Did that roaster not get banned before, or is it a case of de javu on my behalf.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  bogbhoy

bogbhoy,
If you don’t like the site, fuck off then!

Puggy67
5 years ago
Reply to  bogbhoy

Bye then

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago
Reply to  bogbhoy

there’s plenty of other sites that will accomodate you. The thing is it’s all about people’s perspectives and opinions and you might not like them or agree with them but that’s cool. This is a platform for all Jungles to vent, talk shite, express valid points, criticise and in general rabbit on about Celtic and what’s going on in the world. Personally attacking people on here isn’t a productive thing to do as it only increases the likelihood that the serve will be returned. Remember also that you don’t know anyone on here personally so attacking them is a fruitless act.

I don’t know Monti, nor Comrade Saiz or any the rest of the folk on here but they’ve always been okay with me and that’s enough. Others haven’t and that’s fine too. HH

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  bogbhoy

Its ok Weered, He has risen from the Bog, so it must be Old Croghan Man. He came out the Bog looking sheepish with long red hairr, i.e.
Bigred. 😉

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Weered, Watched a program last week 5 episodes BBC4 about the history of Ireland, they showed a Bog body, of course the corpse was flat, was it the Clonnart man, cannot remember but his hair was long and red, an interesting watch and looking forward to episode 2.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  bogbhoy

🙂

TicToc
5 years ago
Reply to  bogbhoy

Ha, Weeredfanny, ye canny keep them lips shut, can ye?
Does yer nose protrude like the wee man in the boat?
You harp on like a right old bag!
HaHaHa 🙂 Fanny indeed.
HH

5 years ago

Im seeing a lot of folk say “McGinn wasn’t a must have”, “Wouldn’t pay that for a squad player” and “23k a week for a squad player no chance!”.

That isn’t the point.

The point is that the manager who has brought in £60m in 2 seasons demanded QUALITY and deemed McGinn to be in that bracket.

We fucked that one up and then amazingly don’t even seem to have anything else in the pipeline bar a young loanee which we had to wait on Man City finalising!

This is terrible planning. We had league sewn up early doors and have had plenty of time to know what we had to offer key players in key positions.
Lights and re-signing players are not enough to satisfy Rodgers and not enough to satisfy a squad that needs new faces to ensure quality improves and is always challenging within itself.

Izzy…fuck me..is that how bad its got?, we just go back to what we know?

To add to the woes, now every signing will seem rushed and be met with a shrug rather than a “oh cannae wait!” feeling of excitement.

Position of Strength CSC my arse

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  desimond

Make hay while the sun shines. We have been stagnating for a while with no end in sight, we are showing no ambition and our long term domination (10IAR) is being put in jeopardy.

Saying ‘Aberdeen wont challenge us with mcinnes there’ or ‘sevco will go bust this season’ won’t win us anything. We actually have to keep improving. We have to actively build from a position of strength.

FredDDobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  desimond

Dont forget the celtic board forgot the world cup was on

Doc
5 years ago

Last night was poor, let’s not kid ourselves. We spent half the game putting in dangerous crosses to no one then when we had players in the box we stopped crossing and started playing outside the box to take potshots. Tactically, we were poor, they had a flat four in midfield and we played most of the game with two holding midfielders, was it naivety or a public signal that our bombscare defence needs serious cover?

It’s been obvious for over a year that Ajer is poor when the ball is in the wide areas and it showed itself last night. Large parts of the game passed Ntcham by but he was too deep to affect the game, even when we dominated until our goal, Ntcham barely had a meaningful touch. Eddy was easily marked and crowded out and had to drop back to get on the ball. We keep making the same mistakes and wondering why we aren’t getting better.

Usually after a poor result the diary talks up our opponents as world beaters and I disagree, today the diary said AEK are a poor team but I still disagree. I thought they looked a bit of the pace and lacking sharpness but they were ok on the ball, didn’t try to stupidly play it out and held it up well. I think they’ve got a lot of potential and with a bit more fitness and close support on the ball they could be a handful.

Our signings don’t fill me with confidence and the positions we are weak in are ones we’ve signed players. Might post something later about that.

Caption: Our transfer shortlist does not look good.

Monti
5 years ago

What’s happening with the stripping of titles?

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Will never happen. The SFA won’t do it and any chance UEFA would take action ended when Platini was removed.

henkesdreadlocks
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Are our board of directors determined to keep the new huns alive. Are they trying to throw them lifeline after lifeline? Why are they continually silent of the cheating and corruption in Scottish football. The latest decision to rescind the red card for Morelos is staggering. Blatant fucks and our caretakers just sit there and take it up the ass. The reasons are obvious, the Old Firm has never gone away in the eyes of the buffoons in the boardroom.

Monti
5 years ago

Henke,
Spot on with that m8!

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Yes absolutely, I read about the Morelos red card rescind, another nail in the coffin of good governance, silence is complicity. We wait and wait for a statement of intent, but it will never come, good people are intent in calling it out, but that is the boards job, the lack of leadership is a disgrace. The SFA/SPFL a private club for the complicit.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Henke, it’s all about capital and nothing else.

charlie
5 years ago

great comment henke its no a chase we are slowing doon tae let the zombie bastards catch up

5 years ago

Caption: this is the original photo that inspired the comeback reply of…

AH WIDNAE TOUCH THAT WI’ YOURS!

True fact!!

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago
Reply to  Steven R

Or…

“I wouldnae fuck that wi a seven iron!”

Alzyerpal
5 years ago

Caption : “…Which is extremely unfortunate and creates an insurmountable impasse? Any lips, untainted by bevvy, would be joining their owners on the last stage out of Dodge”

Brencelt
5 years ago

Keep the faith. This tie is there for the taking.

Caption: Knowing they wouldn’t even get a kick in a stampede, their only chance of a kiss was ended by that sign.

PaddyBhoy
5 years ago

“Spot the cross-dresser competition # 67”

Tonythetic
5 years ago

Looks like you’ve been calling it right for months now on the transfer budget. “resource limit reached”

IBhoy
5 years ago

If we had signed John McGinn in June, he still wouldn’t have started last night. He was never going to replace Brown, Ntcham, McGregor, Rogic or Forrest.

FredDDobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  IBhoy

Rogic was shite

broxburnbhoy
5 years ago

Our major problem in Europe is our inability to score goals. Last night we let in 1 goal. We did that against Rosenberg too. that’s 1 goal off a clean sheet. Our issue last night was scoring goals. we had opportunities to score and then we kind of ran out of ideas. When that happens at some point the defense will get pressured. I’d rather have a couple of mistakes at the back while scoring three or four goals. Now we need to score in Greece. AEK is a team who will sit back and try and hit on the break. 0-0 will put them through. All our training sessions up to next week should be based on offense v defense practice with a few set piece plays and the management team thinking about formation changes during the game to fox the Greeks.

broxburnbhoy
5 years ago

John McGinn is only worth taking about as a symptom of what looks like an inability of the scouts and PL to identify and purchase players who would add value to Celtic and the right price and salary range. While we have money to spend our scouts and PL really need to cast the net far and wide looking for younger talent globally. Africa , Asia and South America come to mind. Fishing in the bottom half or second tier of the top leagues seems to be working poorly outside a couple of real gems that left us for big money. Would John McGinn or Stuart Armstrong have made a difference last night?

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Guy was in fixing a matter with my broadband and on noticing my Lisbon Lions t shirt he came out with- “looks like there could be a bit of a crisis at Celtic?”

Replied- “We’ll never, ever go through the same crisis that your former club did when they went tits up and you didn’t do anything about and now support a franchise club.”

Fixed the issue but not even a cheerio as he went. Thick Huns.

SteveNaive
5 years ago

AEK were not as good as you say Doc and, like others were cute and cynical in equal measures. Tier nay was killing their full back, could have been given a penalty and fizzed in two excellent crosses that any decent stricken has to read . Eddy was poor but these are the chances where you don’t even have to gamble, just follow the path of the ball. We had 18 shots on goal and another day would have scored more. They had good support and noise from a wee drop of fans who didn’t get the irony of their “Fight all fascism” banner next to their big Union Jack . Green Brigade banners on UEFA were superb. No two ways about it, we are short… look at the bench last night . Ajer will learn from the runaround he got but misses next week. How do we have ?

SteveNaive
5 years ago

Apologies for the typos there…will wear my glasses

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

I see the media are going on about the possibility of Windass and Tavernier being touted down in Engerlund. Was it just me or did Phil MacGiollabhain not predict that the above along with Foderingam would be hawked about a while back?

Cartvale88
5 years ago

Caption
Dundee’s Belles live in hope!

We were conned by a clever opponent, that basically defend with the odd breakaway, also cynical time wasting.

We have been conned by a board that believes in new lighting museums and hotels. Great for the tourists, but no the true supporter. The issue is the defence and lack of spending, Compere, who he? Hendry a big boy, OK for the SPFL, but in Europe, no. Ayer is learning the be a defender, he has been a forward and a midfield player. Ah but wait Izzy is returning to shore up the defence, well at least Lustig and h could soon get the bus pass.
AEK only one netted this round due to the Greek coefficient, they are not that fantastic, Rosenberg would have given them a game.
Next week if Leigh plays with Eddie in a 3-5-2 we will score, but defensively the team are poor,Megan and he mighty Liv scored on Saturday.
The board must spend and bring in At least one quality playe at the back, possibly Dawson, we should have brought in McLean..

5 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

Cynical…we could do with some of that..kick the ball out the park and the man tae style cynicism…could have prevented that goal for a start!

The “play lovely fitbaw” mantra can so annoy, at one stage Hendry fought to keep a loose ball in and swept it straight to one of their guys standing in middle of pitch, where..guess what…Hendy was meant to be marking!

Lord of the Takeover Panel
5 years ago

Has Craig Leaving positioned himself nicely for knob of the week with his obsessive and crass grass comments.

No wonder the national game and set up is so unprofessional in Scotland.

Mike
5 years ago

There’s one hell of a fixation in Scottish football about.. Grass, its too long, its too short, its not green enough, its not quick enough, its too plastic, or a player is called one. There’s only one real kind of grass and that’s of the cough medicinal kind.

Getting stoned, used to be what happened in biblical times to women when they let their standards slip, or came with the tulips from Amsterdam. Some get their kicks from booze, some like me get it from football. No matter how long the grass is, or what happened in the last game, you look forward hourly to your next fix of watching Glasgow Celtic the drug of choice for all Celtic supporters.

5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Don’t forget though, we have a new pitch, perfect for 5 yard passes acros the opponents 18 yard line while the keep “a tight block defence” and smoke cigars.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  desimond

If ever there was a lesson on defending, we watched it last night, unfortunately it came at the wrong end. How I longed for the players to take a chance, remember when players used to dribble, no, not that kind, the kind that the ball stuck to the Jinky bhoy’s foot while he played “here we go round the merry go round” and left them bewitched, bewildered, dizzy. Forrest did at least try to cut in to the packed box, as Sinclair did his one trick, “stick your left leg out and wiggle it about” my eyes went blank at the side by side, backward passing, while as you say they stood off them thinking, “is this all they have” disappointing. What about the confusing double talk from the board, “is this all they have” supporters are not daft, they see through that guff.

D J Smyth
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike I failed to see a wonderful defence last night . A long ball into corner & a pull back into box opened us up for a goal . No midfielders around to help
On the other hand C MacG got the ball with his back to goal and 6 or more defenders right beside him , between him & goals . Cal was given time to turn & score . Where was the good defending .
If we score & don’t concede for 15 mins . The Greeks could panic & we may have much more room

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  D J Smyth

D.J. that’s why I said “The good defending came at the wrong end” Calmacs goal slipped past two players.
But they AEK defended extremely well especially when down to 10 men, they were organised and disciplined.
You were right about the AEK goal though the midfielders were missing and our defenders ball watching. Ours were not disciplined, instead of keeping in position, they followed the ball, a common trait when the defenders are so young. It was probably the worst time for us to concede, they were lifted and we seemed to lack belief.

Daziekanowski's nightclub child
5 years ago

Right! Last night…
Gordon – Didn’t have too much to do but is the usual with the ball at his feet
Lustig – Didn’t do much wrong in my eyes, everything in the first half was up the left
Tierney – Not one of his better days, was ok but crosses in second half were dire
Hendry – Not ready for the first team and his confidence is not helped by the crowd getting on his back constantly
Ajer – Needs an experienced head beside him to talk him through the game, switched off badly at the AEK goal
Brown – being asked to play deep to help out the centre halfs leaving the midfield light
Ntcham – started poorly then grew into the game
Rogic – 5/10 performance
McGregor – ran all over the pitch looking for the ball and helping others, good game
Forrest – Came into the game in the second half and caused problems, again the first half was dominated by the left side.
Edouard – Not enough creativity in midfield to release him, ended up against 2 or 3 defenders on his own too often

Sinclair – If he could get by a man, get to the line or cross a ball he would be a player

Griffiths – Ran the defence about and surely a start in a 3-5-2 next week

That’s my tuppence worth

Devoy45
5 years ago

Our game plan in Athens should be to score an early away goal and then another. Our main problems lie with our attack: we don’t score from set pieces and we squander too many chances.Our ideal two up front are Edouard and Dembele. We need Griff in for set pieces. Why not a 4-4-2 for balance:
Gordon
Lustig/Hendry/Simunovic/Tierney
Forrest/Brown/Ntcham/McGregor
Edourard/Griffiths
Brendan needs to switch our attack to another formation in order to confuse the Greeks.
We don’t score enough from corners, throw ins and free kicks. The whole week should emphasise offence.
Sinclair gave them lots of problems too.
I’m still optimistic about our chances in Athens.We have five or six players who can get us those away goals.
C’mon the Celtic. Hail, hail.

Leões de Lisboa
5 years ago

Caption: Alcohol sales go through the roof (what’s left of it) down Govan way.

Mike
5 years ago

That’s debatable Weered after the first twenty minutes it disintegrated into a mechanical waltz. But there is a lot to think about, like why bring in a manager on a reported big salary and not back him, he is successful and brings in a ton of dough and then the greed sets in and then its fuck off. Why tell Fulham NO to big transfer fee for a player most of the support don’t rate and then not play him last night. You could have got £10 mill. GBP for him and brought in two really good centre-backs. Why do we keep on buying pish centre-backs, like young Hendry freed by Wigan, why not play the two older more experienced ones. Why buy a midfielder when we don’t need him. I.m totally fucking confused. 😉

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

🙂

5 years ago

Caption
Etims wives stand their ground ahead of another planned get together at an unknown venue

Rebus67
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Ian,

Was Rogic a luxury last night?

Nope! He was just marshalled out of the game like several others.

Rebus

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

ffs ian we need tae get you backty the land down under before ye get a burd ha ha ha ha

Mike
5 years ago

I did reply, but it got caught up in Weered tape, if it comes up in the next couple of days, I might still be alive. 😉

Mike
5 years ago

Get the searchlights fired up, Mon the Bore, the Maribore, Gerrard your team took one hell of a beating.

Mike
5 years ago

Caption, The life and the times of the Stepford wives, lips that touch liquor will be pumped with vigour.

SteveNaive
5 years ago

Anybody think Yannick Bolassie would be a good signing if we could get him ?

Rebus67
5 years ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

Steve,

Dembele is our only aerial threat, ot the Grif.

Rebus

Rebus67
5 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Oops! Ot = not!

Rebus

rebus67
5 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Charlie,

In fact, just plain wrong!

Rebus

SteveNaive
5 years ago

Agree CS, Griff would have been on them crosses I think. Need everyone to stay U maimed from Hearts now.

Rebus67
5 years ago

I posted earlier on the big issue or non-issue facing the club today. It has surfaced today with a vengeance on Celtic blogs, most of whom have over reacted to the issue.

This issue or non-issue is the state of the relationship between BR and PL. according to Phil, there was another incident in which BR had identified a CB who was reasonably priced but the board dithered and we lost him.i suspect that this was Schar, the Swiss player who had a release clause in his contract. If true, then the McGinn situation shows a pattern.

At first, I feared the worst when BRwent public with his concerns, but now I believe it was a shot across the bows, as a warning to the board. Other managers have used this tactic beforeand have not resigned shortly afterwards.

Let’s not lose perspective on this. BR’s interview can just as easily be seen as an indication of his desire to stay at the club, long term, rather than the opposite. The next three weeks will be indicative of the future of this issue.

Rebus

Rebus67
5 years ago

On CL qualification, I fear we can forget that for this year. AEK do not conceed many goals and they do not need to open up to score at home. Home advantage and the heat will do the rest.

We need to start planning for next season…..now in this window.

A good start would be conditioning our negotiation strategy by upping initial offerings for players, thus shortening the cycle.

A bargain player is only a bargain if you complete the signing.

Rebus

5 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Can’t curl up and die rebus gotta have a go it’s AEK not Madrid or psg this is totally doable just be patient play tight and don’t knacker Édouard that’s what happened last night boy ran himself tagged and when it got to playing ten men he was too fucked to do anything it’s going to be hot were a dogs chance at least . The mentality of the Greek team is strong if nothing else they’re a team who work for each other and don’t lose shale. Well drilled and seemingly play for there badge. Looking forward fuck the nihilistic stuff let’s get into them

rebus67
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Ian,

Hope you are correct. I shall be shouting for the Celtic on the night.

Edouard is due a good game..maybe it will be against the Greeks.

Rebus

Rebus67
5 years ago

Post gone missing, apart from the one above.

Rebus

BJF
5 years ago

Really disappointed with last night’s performance, Rogic and Odsonne didn’t turn up and Hendry and Ajer
were poor, as young players either needs to play with a more experienced defender. Our only experienced centre half is Boyata, his contribution to the Invincibles and Belgian’s World Cup team testify to that. Don’t know if he is worth £9m but just pulling in money and letting big players go is not the answer. Mc Ginn settled for double wages and will probably be in the Premiership with Villa next season so no lack of ambition there.
Before last night’s game who would you have played him instead of Ntcham, Brown, McGregor, Rogic, he would have been a bench warmer for a couple of years.

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  BJF

who would he have replaced einstien ffs mc ginn was a prospect nothing more

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

so who would he have replaced einstien

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

so wit wans the bench warmer einstien

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

like sumdy said on last mondays diary see saiz hees only clever in his ain loft ha ha ha ha

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

a pound tae a penny sad sack saiz is back oan mondays diary tae find the culprit ha ha ha ha

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

your fulla shit saiz did lenny say who he wis gonny replace annaw

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

so mc ginn was gonny replace broony ha ha ha ha he disnae even play in the same position but tell us mer enstien

5 years ago

http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/now-its-a-slump/

In December 2017 I defended Sinclair pointing out his form was just fine after his multi award winning opening campaign. Almost to the day of the article you can pinpoint definite form regression. Bugger. Edouard needs help.

Devoy45
5 years ago

MCginn is young and we will get him in a few years anyway. He won’t get to play much down south, same old, same old…that’s no reflection on his skills or worth. We need to get Kouassi some match time as he is one of our few holding/defensive midfielders. Nobody else does what Brown does.Scott Allan should also be allowed to show what he can do.
at Hearts (with AEK in mind only a few days rest after that)
Hendry/Simunovic/Ajer
Hayes/Brown/Ntcham/Kouassi/Sinclair
Edouard/Rogic
This is a more physical lineup to combat Levein’s rugby approach.

Follow us on Twitter @ETimsNet