Celtic Diary Thursday November 26: Put These on….It’ll Help

The last 20 Celtic home European matches have produced an average of 2.65 goals per game.

Celtic have scored 1 goal or less in 55% of their last 20 home European games.

The last 20 Ajax away European matches have produced an average of 2.40 goals per game.

Ajax have scored 1 goal or less in 75% of their last 20 away European games.   

‘Scott Brown is out for a while, We don’t know for sure yet but I heard it’s eight to 12 weeks.

‘It is nothing to do with the previous one. It was very unfortunate in a challenge near the end of the game. 

‘We hope that (an operation) is not necessary. We are waiting for the experts to look at the pictures so we can be even more sure what to do, if it is going to be an operation or not.

‘It is always tough to lose your captain but, having said that, in the last period he was out we won a lot of games.

‘Kris has been a little bit sick but he had the injury after the Molde game. It is likely it will be a little too early. He trained today but was not feeling at his best.

‘I am not fearing anything but of course there is going to be big changes in the midfield.

‘We have to put together a new one but we have a lot of good players and we are going to have a good team.

‘Of course it is more tricky, a lot of the experience is out but again we have players who can fill those roles.’

We  have heard he’s found a more energetic and mobile  player than Kris Commons to patrol the left hand side…

After giving us a rundown on who is fit and who isn’t, and after he remembered that Stefan Johansen and Nir Biton were suspended, he went back to doing a bit of old fashioned waffling to try to make us all feel better.

“There is nothing to fear and we will go into this game with no fear. The worst thing that can happen is that you can lose. You don’t lose your life, things will go on.

“The worst thing that can happen is to go onto the pitch and not give 100 per cent, either keeping something back or being afraid to do what you want. That’s what I mean about being fearless, go on and show what you are capable of and you’ll get what you deserve.”

He didn’t add that if we lost we would take it on the chin…though you felt he wanted to.

So, how should we approach the game, and who should play ?

For someone who was ready to chuck it just a few days ago, I’ve given it a lot of thought. Here’s who should play, why they should play, and what they should do.

Piece of piss this managers lark….

In goal Craig Gordon. He’s admitted he hasn’t been at his best of late, and has been working on the basics of the game, such as his positioning and his “footwork “. He has looked a little better recently, and tonight requires a big performance from him, which in all honesty, if he produces, then we won’t lose.

At right back, the dependable Mikael Lustig, but he should concentrate more on defence than attack. Ajax boss Frank de Boer said his side will attack with caution, which usually means ten behind the ball and a big hoof up front-thats not rhyming slang, by the way,- in the hope of catching the defenders out of position.

Which is why Emilio Izaguirre should fill the other full back slot, and he too, should leave the rampaging runs to the man in front of him. We must not get caught out by wingers who have a ten yard start on our full backs.

In the middle, the cool head and excellent reading of the game provided by Jozo Simunovic will also be essential. He does have a tendency to be a little enthusiastic at times, but he is getting better at timing his tackles as his match fitness improves.

Along side him Dedryck Boyata. He , too, is getting a little better, but must learn the safety first aspect of the game, and not be so indecisive. Knock the ball out if in doubt.

In front of them, it’s time for Stuart Armstrong to show what he can do in his preferred central role, and his direct style will unsettle the ajax midfield. Although in deila’s system, this is normally a holding role, Armstrong will be expected to be more offensive, feeding and supporting the trio in front of him.

The inclusion of Charlie Mulgrew next to him , directing traffic both behind and in front, could be the difference between advancing in the tournament and going out. Mulgrew hasn’t played for months, and although he is often made a scapegoat due to his lack of pace and apparent casual attitude, that old adage of “keep the heid ” will come from him. It may be that tonight we will see what we’ve been missing since the big man has been absent.

If he’s not up to it yet, then Scott Allan should start. And alternate the attacking and defensive roles with Armstrong.

Nir biton, decent as he is, tends to take too long in possession, so maybe his absence will see a little more urgency in getting the ball forward.

Still got those glasses on ? Good, then I’ll continue..

The match winning responsibilities will fall upon the next three players in this line up.

On the right, the pace and determination of James Forrest should be used to get behind the ajax backs, especially with Charlie Mulgrew’s penchant for hitting long diagonal balls , which provide both an outlet from pressure, and a swift change from defence to attack, neccesary if you want to get the crowd behind you, which, of course, is paramount.

 On the other side, the pace and directness, and not to mention contrl and crossing of Keiran Tierney should be utilised in a more advanced position.

 Free of defensive duty, and covered by the Honduran kick boxer, Tierney could be our secret weapon. The dutch may be lulled into thinking the fielding of two left backs is a defensive move….

In the middle it’s down to tom Rogic to make a name for himself. He has the chance to make himself the number ten first pick, and his directness and vision could also be crucial.

Leigh Griffiths will hold the strikers role, but will find himself heavily marked. He will need to drift and play off the shoulder even more than usual, and chase everything down. There will be mistakes in the Ajax defence if the high rate of cross balls is supplied by forrest and Tierney, who are both capable of scoring, tierney has been unlucky in that respect a few times, and his day will come.

Griffiths needs to anticipate them and take full advantage of them.

One other thing, it would help if the players shoot into the corners of the net, and not straight at the keeper.

Alright, two other things-when in possession, ditch the side to side slow build up, it allows the opposition to breathe and regroup.

 The pace Celtic will need to set will be hard on the wingers, so Calum MacGregor, Anthony stokes and more imprtanlty, Gary Mackay Steven will need to be ready and willing to join the fray at any time, and be capable of hitting that tempo from the moment they enter the fray.

Alright, three other things.

And this is the most important. and the most basic.

When we score, do not let Ajax score immediately after. Whatever it takes, we must keep the ball away from our goal for five to ten minutes after any goal we score.

Thats imperative, concentration must be even higher during this period, as it has cost us in the past.

And please, keep the heid. This game is winnable, and it will be won if every player plays to his capability.

C’mon the hoops.

Oh, by the way, a mate of mine in Glasgow tells me that he  thought he saw a load of Ewoks being chased by Darth Vader this morning. He reckoned  they looked so realistic with their  incoherent jabbering, hairy little faces poking out from hoods and the characteristic wet animal smell.

Turns out it was just a load of Ibrox fans meeting up for a day out ahead of the AGM.