Menu Close

Celtic Diary Friday February 15: A Lesson In Management.

Celtic were undone by what appeared , on the surface, to be a better side last night. Another home defeat at the hands of a side who looked far superior in every department is how most of us saw it, and when you add that to the lack of fight in our own team, then the result was fairly inevitable.

Who’s Afraid of the Big Black Bat ? I think we answered that question last night.

The collective of Valencia far outweighed their opposite number at Celtic in ability, organisation and effort, although they really didn’t seem to have to try that hard.

Why was that ?

Why are we having this discussion after yet another European home game that failed to live up to expectations ?

Valencia did their homework, worked out what they had to do, and then went out and did it.

It’s really that simple. By watching videos of Celtic since the break they would have made themselves well aware of what would happen, and how to counter it.

Good coaches come up with a plan.

Good players go out and do it.

 

The first thing they did was put Scott Brown under pressure. He’s the main man at Celtic, and as a result he made a few uncharacteristic errors, a few misplaced passes that put his team mates under pressure, and as a result, the confidence throughout the team was shaken. Other players began to make unforced errors, and thus the rhythm and concentration of the side was disturbed, if not broken.

And while we’re on rhythm..

An observer would note that Celtic are a passing side, and like to play the ball at speed on the deck. As with all pressing sides, they can be a bit physical, and so by overdoing the intensity of a tackle, by falling over “hurt “, the game is stopped, and again, the rhythm is disturbed.

Valencia were quite adept at that.

Danger men ? Forrest and Sinclair faced two defenders each time they were in possession, and the compact Spanish side had someone else covering the two initial combatants.

There simply was no way through playing the way Celtic like to play.

And when they had suckered enough players forward, they simply struck back at pace.

For the first time in living memory, at least two of us on Etims agree on something..

We played the ball across the back maj of the night..played the game in front of Valencia..played their game! Didn’t mix it up..hit a few channels…get them turning..few direct balls. Be aggressive high up. Aye they are good but we were predictable, boring & made it easy 4 them.

Celtic couldn’t handle it. Not many teams could, to be fair.

But at least we could  have tried.

The high point of this European campaign , and the one we had hoped to repeat last night was the win over Leipzig at Celtic Park.

With just five players starting last night who started that game, it was never going to happen.

And only one of them was from the back five. Boyata, who Valencia knew was prone to error..

Brown, Christie and MacGregor failed to deliver as a unit last night, largely because with their route to goal blocked, they were forced to pass behind them, and Valencia moved up in unison, and thus another backards pass, and Valencia moved up..until the Spanish had Celtic where they wanted them.

Celtic do not know how to play against a team that presses back at them. It even happens domestically. Not often, but it happens, and , along with corner kicks and other set plays, perhaps there’s an idea for a couple of training sessions.

A couple of hoofs up the park, towards target man Ollie burke, would at least have meant if possession was lost it would have been lost in the opposing half, instead, Valencia just waited for the inevitable mistake, close to the Celtic goal, and put even more pressure and uncertainty into the hopped ranks.

After the match, manager Brendan Rodgers tried to make us feel better, and hope that none of us noticed that he was largely to blame for the loss, by reading from his pre prepared post European home game script. Only the names have been changed, the pattern, sadly, remains the same..

“I thought we started the game well. We had good control and pressed the game.

“But Valencia are a team who wait on your mistakes, they are very organised and compact. Unfortunately for us we made too many mistakes, especially in the first half, under no pressure.

“When you do that against good teams it kills your momentum and puts you on the back foot. We did that too many times. At this level you can get punished for it. 

“We did it before half-time and then lost a poor goal just after half-time. So the lessons learned at this level are you really have to concentrate.

“You can get away with it domestically sometimes but not at this level against good teams. If you don’t concentrate, you bring pressure onto yourself. So it ended up a disappointing night for us.” 

Image result for blah blah blah gif

Perhaps one way of looking at it is the way Celtic play is superior to the way other Scottish teams play, but the top European sides are better at playing that way.

Its probably just that.

The performance last night was predictable, gone is the passion and fight that rouses the crowd that in turn rouses the players on to greater things.

Maybe thats where we should focus for the next campaign.

Lets do what we’re good at, and not what everyone else is.

 

Spanish sides have beaten English sides in 22 of their last 25 meetings, so the argument about money may not be valid. Indeed, had Celtic paid market value for the loan players in the squad, our own expenditure would be up there with other sides.

Spanish sides have dominated the European competitions over the last few years, and perhaps we shouldn;t be too hard on ourselves. With Valencia unlikely to reach the champions League via their domestic campaign, they may well have decided to focus on the Europa, winning it would guarantee a spot at the top table again.

We shouldn;t be too hard on ourselves, but then again, a kick up the arse wouldn’t go amiss.

There’s still the away leg, although even the most optimistic of us would admit the tie is now pretty much beyond us.

But stranger things have happened. Maybe we should use that game to try something a little different..

 

For now though, reality dictates that the treble treble is the target.

I think we all expected that to be the case.

 

Caption competition from Wednesday…

Martin67 February 13, 2019 at 7:21 pm · Edit · Reply →

Caption! Right to left. Ones called Ronald, ones called Frank, one missed his nap time the other ones a wank 

Today

Image result for brendan rodgers  v valencia

 

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
227 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mike A
5 years ago

Caption : Er I haven’t a bloody clue what it means, said both of them.

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

I see Bawwy Bawbag is still at it over the McGregor assault issue.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hysteria-over-rangers-keeper-allan-14000216

Thing is,this particular leg-breaking attempt was on Bawbag’s own nephew. And still he defends the thug who tried to break his teenage nephew’s leg.

That’s just shameful,Bawbag. Bawbag behaviour,in fact. Bawbag is about six inches taller than my Uncle Jim,my Dad’s brother. If a huge 6’4″ thug had tried to break my legs when I was a teenager,my 5’4″ Uncle Jim would have bitten the basturt’s balls off and spat them in his face. Having thrown my Dad out of the way to get there first!

Shameful cowardly behaviour from both banned-for-life lowlife toerags,and shameful editorial behaviour from the DR,surely a new low even for them.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Mick, he’s a hun, nothing more needs said.

maryhillbhoy
5 years ago

Spot on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Too many errors cost us the game. We’re simply not up to scratch when put up against good footballing sides. As you rightly say Ralph, it’s time to concentrate on the domestic front and try to qualify for the CL next year but that might be a bridge to far.

Bigdunno
5 years ago
Reply to  Noel Skytrot

Maybe too many Euros cost us the game Noel.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Bigdunno

Not spending some cost us the game.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Noel Skytrot

Noel,
Dinnae talk about ‘ A bridge too far ‘ ….you’ll set Charlie Saiz off.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Hahaaaaa

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

CAPTION

Eh,boss-yer no’ sending me tae left-back again?

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

RALPH

Miles off it last night. Hardly a surprise either.

https://sentinelcelts.com/2019/02/15/flat-track-bullies-and-a-punchers-chance/

Devoy45
5 years ago

Not much more to add except that for once, someone’s 4-4-2 looked state of the art!
Why don’t we try the same against them, with Edouard and Weah up front together?
Hey, sometimes the long ball out from goal is the only thing that can break down a press. I can live with it. We have tall enough targets to make it work. Long balls out to Edouard, Burke and Weah. How we miss Tierney. Last night, we were not outplayed so much as out-thought!
Winning is the Celtic way and sometimes, that involves change and compromise!
Good article Ralph.

rondo52
5 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

totally agree re 4-2-4 system. Unlike us , they knew how to operate it effectively. I recall many different systems in the past , liked the attacking 4 2 4 system, could adapt to the defensive 4 4 2 instantly.

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

PSG could loan us every attacker they have and we would still play one up front.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

Doc,
Cavani or Mbappe would fulfil that role tho…

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

I can only speak for myself but i’ve always been against it and always will be, no matter who implements it. Went into it extensively, on here, during and after the 2014 WC.

5 years ago

Caption….Look Cal, I’ve tried these same tactics in every single European game,because I don’t know anything different, if i just keep doing the same then surley it will work at least once…

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago
Reply to  KEIGHLEY BHOY

KEIGHLEYBHOY

Aye,boss-it disnae take Einstein tae work that one out!

Oh wait,doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?

5 years ago

That’s pretty good

5 years ago

Cap in hand defeat. They were under the cosh in the first 15. Maybe we try and get our concentration levels going for ninety or at least 70 and get a goal or two up. Brown destroyed outlet confidence with his brain snaps. He’s too much of an icon to be criticised though

Alan D
5 years ago

Caption…..BR :I think the Valencia goal is that way,
CmG. Really !!

5 years ago

Caption
I know broony is old and your doing the work of two men to compensate but you’ll get a breather when the game finishes. I’ve oxygen tanks waiting and paramedics on standby if needed

mcklintop
5 years ago

I don’t get it. We’ve spent days discussing how Burke is a great outlet for us when teams are pressing us high but last night when Valencia were pressing us high we didn’t try to hit Burke. Anyway lets just get this league won and the treble treble sorted.

Marty McKerry
5 years ago

A dose of realism is very much needed. Starting with a strong defence actually defending.

Iancelt67
5 years ago

You didn’t see Valencia doing dodgy pass backs to the goalie, also Sutton is right we don’t have a true hold the ball up centre forward. Maybe the sideway passing is due to Burke or whoever not making the right runs. I don’t understand Rodgers he baffles the fuck out of me. Seems to think it’ll be alright on the night. Bit like ke spinal tap

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Fuck me it’s Mike Bassett lol
Would love to see you talking tactics with Brendan….

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

No.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Iancelt,
They weren’t playing dodgy passes to their keeper because they didn’t need to.

5 years ago

So if you just take the M74, then M6, then take M58 not long ust after Blackpool then you can join me at Everton next season no worries.

puggy67
5 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

Come on Desi that’s too depressing

puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: Calmac it’s Bruce Wayne on the bat phone, the millionaire philanthropist who has special powers to help people in trouble. I wish we had one of them…

Iancelt67
5 years ago

It’s not a retirement home for old warhorses it’s our fucking team here. Fucking well pissed off more than the hun game

5 years ago

My headscratching items include

Why do we keep Edouard on the bench rather than try him on from the start..hes OUR player and a centre Forward not a loaness winger we are trying to help convert to a front man!

Why play the passing from the back game with 2 central defenders who CANNOT pass a ball forward to break the lines. We actually needed someone like Ajer last night ( ignoring Benkovich as injured). Least Ajer triues to make things happen with driving runs through the middle. This sideways going nowhere pips and slippers fitbaw is dreadful and Boyata just went further back till he was almost on the 18 yard line rather than centre line.

Forrest only person who could beat a man in second half..why didnt we push ball to him more or swap him over here and there. Folk ranting about dreadful Izzy also forget Suinclair taken off and suddenly Izzy had no forward ball to play, Edouard was drifting idly about with plenty of Valencia guards smiling at how easy it all was.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

Desimond,
Ajer wouldn’t be able to do driving runs v Valencia because he would be dispossessed easily, he runs 70 yards, stops & plays it back twenty yards.

5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Possibly, but at least his drive forward would have forced valencia to move in on him, therefore freeing up space elsewhere…maybe Christie could have got a touch of the ball if that happened.

If Boyata and Jozo cant play forward, why go for that tactic..the ticking the aesthetic football box isnt gonna wash with fans much longer under current chop and change personnel approach..no clear improvement possible over time so why bother etc

Lots of talk about rightfully missing Tierney but we also need to bring back big Tom for someone who can take a ball and turn with it rather than a lay off back whence it came!

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

Desi,
I think Benkovic & Ajer would be my first choice picks if everybody is fit, Ajer is more comfortable on the ball than the error stricken & pish Boyata.
Simunovic just can’t convince or nail that position, pity as i love him ( Kenny Miller missiles in the sky ).
I certainly don’t think Brendan get’s everything right, but it isn’t his fault if the players start the comedy passing.
Benkovic, Rogic & Tierney would have made a difference last night…possibly.

Macca
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

It is absolutely Brendan’s fault that we have comedy passing. These players are not good enough to pass it around at the back so work with what you have. Get it out early, and long if you have to

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

Charlie Saiz,
You are out your depth discussing football, stick to playing soldiers with cream mac wearing mannequin friend.

Fud.

Iljas Baker
5 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

You are certainly right Charlie. I don’t like to accuse anyone of narcissism but I noticed fairly early in BR’s tenure that he believes he can do wonders with his coaching. Coaching of course is good but you can only do wonders with those that have the potential to be wonderful. Burke for example is only with us because he isn’t wonderful and will probably never be. Ditto most of the team. You need to be pragmatic as you say, work with what you’ve got when you compare it to the opposition not when you compare it to your own squad or other SPFL teams. I think Lennon’s learned a lot since leaving Celtic and it would be interesting to back him with money and see how he does.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Iljas Baker

Erm…he lft because we didn’t back him with money!

5 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

Izzy is finished at every level..thats why he was in sunshine getting a pension top up.

Im not saying he wasnt rotten but theres a lot more I was expecting from a lot more of the players than from him..

Yet again Brendan has me wondering if its just make it up as you go along…Hayes did ok the other week but duly bumped for a guy that no-one expected Brendan to ever play again after recent mauling.

BJF
5 years ago

Ralph hate to agree with you but it was a lesson in management. In terms of preparation did we scout Valencia, who ever did it keep your dishwashing job you are going to need it. Valencia did their preparation, last night I said onnhete how Brown, Christie and McGregor could all have an off day at the same time. They didn’t Valencia knew their game and nullified them totally. Where was the exhausted team. in 8 th place ( not 5 th BBC pundits, do your homework) that wasn’t firing on all all cylinders? I also said they played 4/4/2 and both their strikers scored, they just ran over us when they needed to. Just heard Bain on the radio saying the tie isn’t over. I am ok about that attitude.Celtic go out and take it to them and give us a match, make us proud, didnt expect to go through but that was toothless last night, you can do better.

5 years ago

Total joke last night – no attack whatsoever, missing a direct dembele and Paddy Roberts who would attach them and get us up the park. This possession play bain/boyata/emilio/brown and then start again is a joke. We are 2-0 down and playing at the back all the time, not the celtic way by any means.

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Franco Baresi

How would he have done if he was going to receive 40-60 passes, under pressure, and told he can’t clear it, only play short passes to other, under pressure, defenders?

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

FFS…..

jimmybee
5 years ago

We only got there because the norwegians done us a favour this team is way short of European class. But tactics deployed by Brendan are shocking. Like at ibrokes he chose not to match up or even put another midfielder in to get a foothold into the match. Same old same old.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
PISH….we beat Leipzig or was that Rosenborg to take the credit for that?

Salad Queen
5 years ago

BrEndon can’t change his stype of play, in jock land he can successfully adapt the players. In europe totally different ball game hence how lie well will not give the money.
We will stumble over and win 8 in a row with the loan players.
So many players leaving in June and signing the elgin city centre half for 25000 will not get us into the champions league.
I reckon Steve Clarke will be in the dugout in the summer with a very limited budget.
Top team in tarten territory that is our limit.
I’m afraid it will have to do, Europe is just a wee bonus.

puggy67
5 years ago
Reply to  Salad Queen

gonny drop the jock land mate – makes you sound like a UKIP dick

rondo52
5 years ago
Reply to  Salad Queen

Totally agree about BR limitations , seen it on several occasions. He appears to struggle when his plan A fails. Steve Clark waiting in the wings. your other points hit the nail on the head.

broxburnbhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  rondo52

So Brendan is done it seems for many of you? You think its his tactics or do you think Valencia and PSG and Bayern just have much much better players? I think we may be spoiled and stupid if we think Steve Clarke will lead us to European glory or that Brendan is somehow finished and tactically naïve. FFS get a grip. Neil Lennon is passionate and now a serial failure at his last few clubs including Hibs where his temperament cost him his job and he created a toxic workplace. If you think Steve Clarke or Neil lennon will be able to lead Celtic to European glory you have your head up your arse

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Salad Queen

Charlie Saiz,
Bleat bleat bleat…
Give solutions ffs?

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Salad Queen

It’s SCOTLAND, ya prick!

Monti
5 years ago

Fucking clowns on here having a go at Brendan….fucking idiots!

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Absolutely.

The usual suspect has probably had a stauner since last night while spewing his usual bile.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Cha,
Season ticket holders tho….more educated than the rest…

Cough.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Cha,
Wouldn’t notice 🙂

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

European targets:

CL Group 2 years out of 3 – success
EL k/o 2 years out of 3 – success
Beat ‘next level’ teams Anderlecht, Zenit, Leipzig – success
£100m added to coffers – success

If we want to kick it on to the next level then we know what we need to do BUT this is against our operating model so the only likelihood, if we don’t maintain the current standard, is no k/o games, no group stages, no £10s of mils, empty seats, cutbacks etc.

broxburnbhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

spot on Cha

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Yep,
7 trophies out of 7 certainly does speak volumes!

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

” judged in Europe “? Ok you say the manager is inept tactically in Europe…
How did he get two draws off Man City, then?

flinker
5 years ago

No Ajer = bleeding goals.
Check it out.
Only how I read it

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  flinker

You might be onto something there. Some centre back stats:

%won conc p/g
ajer 71 0.50
benkovic 61 0.43
boyata 72 0.64
hendry 50 0.93
simunovic 65 0.85

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

That worked as intended, clearly.

The Cha
5 years ago

Caption “Hey McGregor, it says here you’re the new Xavi, how about playing like it rather than setting up goals for them?”

rondo52
5 years ago

told you before boss , we shouldn’t play hangman during the game. That will happen later.

puggy67
5 years ago

Now the Peolpe’s Front of Judea aint going to like this but there is only one way to get to regular last 16 in the CL. Sell the club to an oligarch, you know an Abramovich type, some on here hate the board and brnad them criminals so that shouldn’t be a problem. Should it?

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  puggy67

Puggy,
I’d rather never play in Europe again than do that.

Signed, Naughteus maximus

Monti
5 years ago

Will never have a problem being beaten off a better team, that is what happened last night, nothing more, nothing less.

Valencia brought Gameiro & Guedes on as substitutes, probably about €90m worth….but we are expecting IZZY to cope?

Lol.

If some will listen, our problem is in the boardroom NOT the dressing room!

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Their MOTM, last night, was the Russian guy that cost them zero.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

Doc,
When you look at his wage i think you’ll find he is costing them quite a bit.

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Looked into it: he’s on loan right now and will be signed at the end of the season for €7m (£6.15m). His current wage is reportedly €25k (£22k) per week with his contract, next season, it will rise to €35 (£31k) per week.

Revenue from most recent accounts:
Valencia – €101m (£89m)
Celtic – £101m

They spend their money on players, we either spend ours on disco lights or don’t spend it at all.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

Doc,
Well said!

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

Charlie, i’m not suggesting spending money just for the sake of it, but it should be acknowledged that we have the finances to outspend opponents like Valencia.

Once again, i’m not one of these ‘St Brendan’ guys, I hate the formation and think the vast majority of his signings are nowhere near good enough but the guy has won the domestic treble and deserves support from the board. What happened in the summer was a disgrace and if the board are unwilling to back a successful manager, then who are they willing to back?

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

reply stolen

Iljas Baker
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I see where you’re coming from Monti but it wasn’t just being beaten by a better team, it was the manner of the beating. Why keep trying to pass out from the back when it’s not working in fact is causing problems? And how come so many players had an off-day? This was a competition over two legs and we had a home advantage but we didn’t have the tactics to make a fist of it. Remember we got beaten by Hibs Hearts and Rangers not because they have better players but because of their tactics. So don’t discount tactics, especially when these are knock out games not a league campaign.

Iancelt67
5 years ago

I actually feel bad running broonie down he did a couple of good things not entirely his fault he was spotted as the lynchpin and swamped because they did their homework. On another note I thought the ref was superb. What a free edging thing is to see a proper ref in Scotland

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Also think that tierney would’ve got to their forward for the second goal. Izaguirre lost the man badly here

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Refreshing not free edging remind me to proofread posts

5 years ago

Don’t think Rodgers is beyond reproach. We seem to have the same discussion after most games in Europe . Don’t buy into them being so superior. I don’t think they were, not enough to be spooked by them. Not Barca or juve. Run of the mill la logs team with capable players. Rodgers puts the team out there he’s got our only true forward on the bench with a winger up front. He but a kid on instead of our only forward at ibrox. If nothing else we are allowed to be at least puzzled by his choices

5 years ago

La liga ffs

rondo52
5 years ago

Totally agree about BR limitations , seen it on several occasions. He appears to struggle when his plan A fails.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  rondo52

PISH

Macca
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Not pish on the evidence to date. Brendan not done anything in Europe ever…

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Macca

Brendan’s Euro record:
– CL Group 2 years
– EL k/o 2 years
– £100m revenue
– notable scalps; Aderlecht(a), Zenit, Leipzig

Anyone who doesn’t consider that a success is doesn’t understand what success in modern football looks like.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Macca

Macca,
Bollocks!

Brendan has given us two seasons of fucking joy, never been seen before at our ground!

Appreciate it & celebrate it…..embrace it, get right behind Brendan!

PeteCon
5 years ago

Caption: “Here’s the plan for the second leg. In the name of the father……,”

jrw
5 years ago

It seemed to me to be clear after about 15 minutes that we weren’t going to have a good day as after that we never remotely looked like scoring. Folks here have flagged some of the reasons:

– we couldn’t cope with their high pressing game (they did their job throughout and recognised that by never giving your opponents a minute’s peace they will soon make a mistake)Insisting that you must always play the ball out to feet from almost the goal line is inviting trouble – hoofing the thing down the park now and again has its value too
– odd to keep Edouard on the bench until late – can only assume that perhaps he is still not 100% fit; he did show a few fleeting glimpses of the sorts of problems he could cause a defence by running at them.
– they nullified CalMac and had two sometimes three men on Sinclair
– you can get away with small mistakes in the Premier League but at this level you are more likely than not to pay dearly for them – that’s what happened again last night. Valencia had five shots on target and we managed two, so the difference was not massive on that point. Until they scored neither side really looked very dangerous.
– we are just far too slow at times – look how long it often takes to take a shy? Sean Fallon commented once that you should always start with a high tempo as it is difficult to switch up later in a game.

5 years ago

Good post

5 years ago

Caption – ok cal, what’s your bet? Eh stick me down for two goals, over 2.5 corners, over 2 bookings and a wee kid nicks a baw…

Monti
5 years ago

Weered,
It’s not rocket science m8, which you would think make it easier for Charlie Saiz to grasp?
When you have two football teams, one is clearly better than the other & regularly plays high tempo, high quality opposition, if that team is of a mind to beat you, they normally will.

Yes we have beaten the best teams over the years but we had to carry a lot of luck to get these results.
What we are reading today is the opinions of ‘ supporters ‘ who think we should be ‘ taking these teams ‘ like Valencia, based on romantic notions of previous achievements.
Last night the problem wasn’t tactics, the manager or fucking Brexit negotiations…..it was another team being higher in quality, ball retention & creativity than Celtic.

Brendan picked the side, he put his faith in them, it’s those players who continually gave up possession….not Brendan.

The know alls giving it the ” Valencia aren’t the Valencia of 2001 “pish….maybe they aren’t but they do have world class players, French, Portugal internationals, Argentinian’s!

They are the better team, they won…wow!

Nice lights tho….

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

It’s not about how much, it’s about the board driving through & dekivering his first choice targets.
Valencia had Piccini at right back last night, a player who was reported to be close to signing for us, Lawwell wouldn’t do it & we now have the Dortmund third or fourth choice RB.

Monti
5 years ago

Weered,
They expect James Forrest to be like Jinky & run rings around their entire team at will!

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Excellent stuff, just the usual suspects girning the usual suspects.

Not a single criticism of the Great (Green and) White Hopes, McGregor and Christie, who are supposedly going to lead us to European glory for years to come.

The former (Iniesta/Xavi comparisons etc) was responsible for the first goal and may have also had a “hand” in the second given how many times he gave the ball away, when not under the same pressure as Brow.

If any EPL scouts were looking in and could get the pair for £10m they’d pass and happily spend more on McGinn.

Which brings us to Piccini who was head and shoulders above our players, defending effortlessly and being more of a goal threat than any of ours.

Both of those would’ve been in the Green & White last night but for the gross negligence of our £4m CE.

Doc
5 years ago

Same performance from us last night, fed up going on about our ‘damage limitation’ formation and ‘fanny-about at the back’ game.

Caption: The black armband is for our European campaign.

Benjamin Lynch
5 years ago

I put up a message on Celtic Noise about this, but Valencia is a beatable team. Their wages are only £9m more than ours, and our turnover is actually higher than theirs. The difference is that they are used to playing at a high level against Spanish opponents (drew Barcelona 2-2 at Camp Nou their last away fixture) and had the belief that they could do a job at Celtic Park. And they did!

Celtic’s loss is down to individual mistakes. On the first goal Izzy played the goal scorer on side. On the second, Simunovic was defending a nasty piece of turf about 10 yards away from the goal scorer who tapped the ball into an open net (no other players in the box).

This is where failure to recruit a CB and a backup LB in the Jan window cost us. But at least we have £40m in the bank, right?

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Benjamin Lynch

BL,
…..and Disco lights….

Benjamin Lynch
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti, the disco lights are a non-issue IMO. There was an underlying issue with the flood lighting at the stadium and UEFA standards which required Celtic to upgrading the lights. Once they were committed to doing that, spending a few extra quid to make it a better experience for fans was a sensible decision and not one that was a significant incremental expenditure.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Benjamin Lynch

BL,
I think it’s shit & not Celtic m8
Just my opinion, i’d take them out today!

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Charlie Saiz,
Not more concerned, just questioning their addition.

BJF
5 years ago

Ian right on about Brendan not being beyond reproach still our best manager in the past 40 years though. The other thing, I moaned because the referee didn’t give us things I wanted but in fact he was very good, tried to let the game flow though Valencia weren’t for letting that happen. Brave words coming from our from the manager so ok let’s evaluate the tie over boghbtounds and see if Celtic have a bit of fight in them. Doubt seriously that Brendan is going anywhere that old chestnut comes up every summer, just daft talk.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  BJF

Haha ” a weak SPFL “?
Why was it weak then?

Salad Queen
5 years ago

At 2 down still playing tippy tappy pish from the back. Shoud have been route one and 3 or 4 at the front line.
Hope we go with at least 2 up front next week for the whole game.

Cartvale88
5 years ago

BR was culpable last night, sometimes you have to change when plan A does not work, he seems to believe playing the ball from the back and one up front works.
However we have dead weights in ur defence Boyata was half asleep,as for Simo, totally out of his depth. Izzy made the mistake for the first goal, but Boyata and Simo were at fault for ball watching.
Our midfield was closed down, Valencia also went to ground at even opportunity,.
Europe over the last few seasons appears to be a bridge to far, teams like AEK, Valencia, are beatable.
There was a lack of intensity, almost a clinical way of playing b the team, felt sorry for the support.
At least Liewell will b well pleased at the light show

Benjamin Lynch
5 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

Cartvale88,
I’m not sure BR had the wrong tactics. A more direct route would have seen Valencia control a lot more of the possession, and given the way they moved the ball last night they probably would have scored 1-2 more goals with an additional 10-15 minutes of possession.

The issue, I think, is that Celtic isn’t used to being pressured like Valencia presses us last night. Few teams in the SPL even attempt it, and fewer still have the skill to execute that game plan without being ripped to shreds by our superior domestic talent. In my mind, Rangers (in the 1-0 loss) and Hibs are the only clubs that play that way against us, and we didn’t cope with Valencia any better than we did against Rangers or Hibs when Hibs choose to press us.

This can be solved on the training ground, but it’s not likely we’re going to get a lot of experience outside of Europe. Trial by fire for the Bhoys… in a perfect world we would have better domestic opposition like Valencia do, but that is out of our control unless one wishes to engage in conspiracy theories regarding a certain club who plays at Ibrox.

jimmybee
5 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

Izzy made the mistake for the first goal bit harsh. Calms gave the ball away cheeky in the first place Boyata is sleeping and could have intercepted if he had been on his toes. Izzy only guilty of not being aware of the line.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Yer bang on Weered, we have absolutely wonderful facilities, a set of fans who make European nights so special that in my humble opinion, its unmatched in Europe. What we lack is a wee bit of dosh being spent to enable us to compete against other European sides that have quality.

Monti
5 years ago

Charlie Saiz,
When were we ever a GREAT side on the European scene, Lisbon & at times in the ‘ 70’s aside?

It’s a myth.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I think your angle is limited, you have an agenda against Brendan & it comes across quite clearly.
That interests me, you claim to be a Celtic fan but you have a chip on your shoulder when it comes to a man who is breaking record after record?
The man has not been given the tools to go a step higher i.e.european football.
Castagna
Piccini
McGinn….just three of the managers top targets, all or any of these guys would have lifted the quality of the team & helped the guys already there.
The board are not showing ambition, they are standing still, which is criminal.

I’ve also noticed a trend in that you ‘ back ‘ managers & players who are making a cunt of us?
Deila = failure – you back him.
Ambrose = disaster – you back him.
Boyata = made a cunt of the club & the support – you back him.

Brendan Rodgers- 7 trophies out of 7, on his way to 8 in a row & possibly another treble.
Two CL campaigns out of three.
Two draws v Manchester City? Do you manage that if you are tactically inept?

Well?

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

No you fucking have, it’s quite clear!

Celtic mikey
5 years ago

We are the stJohnstone’s of European football.
In 4 days it’s a complete role reversal.
I can understand our current standing in Europe but misplaced passing,few shots on goal, lack of fight, no subs at half time, no long ball to rough them up, being pressed and not changing tactic. Not even a simple act of swapping the wingers over for a change. Only profession where millionaires can’t work out a solution to a problem.

Monti
5 years ago

IN BRENDAN WE TRUST…..SACK THE BOARD!

Cartvale88
5 years ago

Lenny had a plan B as Chesney Benjamin, sometimes two up front with a long ball works, think Samaras, Lenny used that tactic on more than one occasion.
BR believes we can play through a team, which means if they play high pressing football you can lose the ball.
They may have scored more goals, but at least we would have given them a fright.
They had studied how we played and every time Forrest or Sinclair had the ball two men marked them. The defence as usual were pedantic when they had the ball, at least Bain is better than Gordon when passing the ball out.
There are too many poor players that he stands by, Boyata, Simo, Izzy is past his best as Broonie.
He has to go for it in Spain, even if we get hammered, one goal could give them a fright
Anyways that’s my opinion

Benjamin Lynch
5 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

No arguments here Cartvale88.

Simunovic and Izzy were only in the squad due to injuries to Benkovic & KT, (to say nothing of forward planning during the transfer window!). Brown is still the heart and soul of the team, but it’s abundantly clear he doesn’t have the legs to play 90 minutes at that intensity multiple times per week anymore. Father Time is catching up to Broony, and BR would be wise to give him proper recovery time each week and pick his spots for inclusion in the squad rather than making him an automatic starter each week.

I do also agree that BR needs to have a plan B and a plan C tactically for these matches, whether that includes the long ball or not.

This isn’t the first, or last, time we’ve had difficulty breaking down a team that has 10/11 men behind the ball, organized and compact in the middle of the field. The big difference is that Valencia has as much skill as Celtic and kept us from scoring and we’re also good enough to capitalize on our mistakes – which most SPFL teams lack.

I still remain optimistic that the team can do a job in Spain next week. If we can go to the Ethiad and score 3 against Man City, we can definitely go to Valencia and score 2+.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Benjamin Lynch

We didn’t score 3 at the Etihad, we scored once!

Devoy45
5 years ago

Play on the deck (if we can) go long ball (sometimes) if we can’t. We have some tall men up front: Burke/Weah/Bayo/Edouard/Rogic so let’s play to our strengths and mix it up a bit. Killie will press us so let’s do something different beginning Sunday.
Brendan and the Bhoys keep up the good work. Nobody’s perfect.
We love Brendan and we love The Celtic.
Hail, hail…

Follow us on Twitter @ETimsNet