Its The Godfather CSC all over again:
Just when we thought we were out of the “clawing misery from the jaws of delight” business, they drag us back in!
A dishevelled Celtic staggered their way to a 2-2 draw up in Inverness and despite raining attacks down on the ICT keeper, we didn’t kill the game as we should have and then ultimately paid the price with a late equalizer slapping our happy faces sullen.
Brendan tried resting a few and shaking up the personell but ultimately it didn’t work out as he or we hoped, and it has only raised more questions than provided any answers.
Heres the ratings:
De Vries – 5
De Vries could be Dutch for “shoogly peg” cause that’s what this keepers jersey is now hinging oan. A fair chance of the new guy getting dropped come the League Cup game as the pressure is now on for Brendan to make a change once again in goal. Should never have faced the powerful shot for the ICT opener but some feel he should have still did better. The punch clear just before the 2nd ICT goal was also a little weaker than some would like. Fine with ball to feet but we aren’t asking him to dribble, just stop shots going in!. You can bet Craig Gordon will be sharp in training today!
Gamboa – 5
Even De Vries shakes his head at this new start. Just in the door but already joining our long line of total no-mark right backs. Got up the park enough, with one skewed shot of note, but seems to have no defensive qualities whatsoever, which some Liverpool fans would suggest sounds like a Brendan defender. Not helped when team formation leaves massive gaps for full backs to fill and the new right back needs all the help he can get after 2 poor showings.
Erik – 5
Hit the post with a header in second half but the main Erik talking points for Celtic fans was how he was all over the place without his calming influence Toure beside him. Erik the Viking went to Erik WTF! Could have been sent off for an altercation when chasing ICT player bearing down on goal but referee judged it to be a non event. Whether he was tired or not used to such a physical contest or both is one to clarify but will have to shape up to keep his place with big Jozo now fit.
Lustig – 6
Punted into centre half beside Erik to accommodate both Kolo Toure’s rest needs and Brendans new galloping right-back Gamboa. Didn’t do anything of note either badly or praiseworthy in the centre but those suggesting he could be a Celtic centre half wouldn’t have been singing praises on this showing. Eventually moved back to his regular right back berth with Jozo coming on and Gamboa going off. Lets keep Lustig there for now please.
Tierney – 8
One of those days when Kieran Tierney, a 19 year old boy had to carry the team on his back. The boy was up and down the park all day and even played in the cross for the Rogic goal. In truth he was our best striker over 90 minutes and tested the keeper and the goal on a good few occasions. If we manage to hold onto Tierney beyond next Summer I will be surprised as its hard to think of a more promising left back out there.
Broony -6
The Captain got booked early on and while not exactly hiding, wasn’t really that much in the game of note which was a shame as this was a game crying out for the experienced heads to guide us over the line rather than discussing finer points of referee law. Sadly was not to be.
MacGregor – 6
Talk about a player who can divide a pub. Half of the people watching the game in Sweeneys on the Park were raging at young Callum while the other half were pointing out how he was actually doing something compared to others who had fallen out the game. In fairness the boy doesn’t hide but for every rocket shot against the bar, there was a 30 foot sky high effort and we all know he isn’t a long term figure in the Celtic midfield
Roberts – 5
Aberdeen, Rangers, Barcelona and now ICT. All games where Roberts has been on the park and did next to nothing. Harsh?..perhaps..but bar a few runs we still arent seeing anything of note from young Patrick. After the recent injury our bhoy wonder is clearly struggling to recapture the form from last season and with every average performance his confidence could suffer. Rodgers has to consider if Forrest deserves the starting nod as Roberts is not covering back on the right hand side and opponents are enjoying the space.
Rogic – 6
Scored a good goal for Celtics opener and lively for the first half. Sadly yet again, it was another “Is Rogic on?” second half and the twinkle toes weren’t twinkling any more the longer the game ran on.
Sinclair – 6
Scored a lovely 2nd goal with a great run from inside his own half, his 5th league goal in a row no less, but in reality, that was it bar a few flashes. Watching the game, it was expected that Sinclair would the player to step up and grab the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half but sadly it just never really happened. Even Sinclairs remarkable energy levels seemed drained by the end and perhaps a rest is needed.
Dembele – 5
What a week. From the high of a Hat-trick to a missed penalty in the Nou Camp to Invisible in Inverness. A terrible game for the young forward who was never in it. One of those days where the ball seemed to get caught under Dembeles feet, bar one memorable shot after a nice turn which the keeper managed to parry away. A harsh reminder that our MAIN striker remains out of the team injured and the quicker he gets back the better for all concerned as Dembele doesn’t need the pressure of leading Celtic on his young shoulders just yet.
SUBS
Jozo – 5
Came on for Gamboa for last 20 minutes to partner the shaky Erik in the middle with Lustig moving to the right. Simunovic did well on the ball as he tried to steady the ships defences which were under some battering but the breach came in 88 minutes. Will hope to get more match time as soon as possible and Alloa game looks like a good place to start.
Forrest – 4
On for Roberts with 15 minutes left and didn’t really get the chance to get into the game.
Armstrong – 4
Came on with 5 minutes to go which was far too late. Had one chance near the very end which he tried to place in top corner but went wide of the keepers right hand post.
Manager
Brendan – 5
Like Dembele..what a week for the manager. From the love in against Sevco to the humiliation of Barcelona and then this irritating result in Inverness. This is a game that should have been over and done with by 60 minutes but Celtic couldn’t see it out and the buck stops at Brendans feet.
The manager tried to balance “win needs” with “team needs” but it just didn’t come off. Rodgers rested Toure and dropped Bitton but in the end he seemed to forget that goals win games, or in the end in this case, lose us points and its very much a case of 2 points dropped which could easily have been avoided..
Unusually for Rodgers, its his subs I would question and personally I think that he should have made his subs earlier, especially leaving it so later to bring Armstrong who was so clinical last week on for a fading Rogic. The team looked like fatigue had set in by the end and while from middle to front we can and at times against Caley did look so good at times, at the back it is still too often like a jumble sale.
Anyone else wondering if a ramshackle defence is “The Modern Celtic way”?
Despite 5 wins and a draw in the league, eyebrows are now being raised. While everyone is fully behind the manager, the goodwill cup once runneth over and now is starting to recede and I’m sure Brendan is well aware of how fickle fans can be. Rodgers cannot hide behind any praise for their keeper or the “its still early days for this defence” excuses and needs to take urgent action regards our defence.
The players in the Celtic defence are all International players. There is no excuse for the panic and the lack of organisation. Major work needs done and a set formation established. Please can the onus be on keeping a clean sheet rather than counting the overlaps of 2 attacking full backs with light wingers alongside. Rodgers seemed to be well enough informed at what to expect in Inverness but didn’t have his team set up accordingly.
With major doubts hanging over his Keeper and Right Back signings. its going to be an interesting time for the Celtic manager over the extremely busy September\October period.
Tierney is fantastic getting up and down the line but they are relying on that side, hopefully gamboa can provide this when fit, if not they can always look at ralston or wardrope
Good summaries of team performances Desi. Another thing is I don’t think Sinclair and Dembele have really gelled yet, or Dembele with anyone. It’s frequently the wrong run or the wrong pass. As I said in an earlier post that was like the Deila era all over again.
Dembele needs time. He’s only 20 so he’s bound to make wrong decisions but so long as he is learning from them he should develop into a great player.
It was only a couple of years ago we were being told Griffiths wasn’t good enough and look at the improvement there.
No mention about how poor our defensive coaching has been? Looks like John Kennedy is not up to it but will he be replaced ??
I had questioned JK role before and after so long I now think the question steps up a level to see what the man in charge decides…changes needed etc?
There is an argument that you could say the fault doesn’t lie at JK ie “defensive coaches” door as the problems could all stem from the need to have the 2 fullbacks so far up the park and thus leaving central pairing exposed to attacks with large gaps in the side, ie to much focus on attack attack by Manager(s)
Roberts cant cover and Brown/Bitton cant seem to stretch out to sides either and no other defensive minded midfielders in side. Somethings gonna have to give eventually, the players or focus on attack all the time with this formation.
We are relying on a 35 year old. That’s it basically summed up.
Spot on there J.
I’ve been thinking about this for some time and something needs to be done here.Defence not been right since Lenny left and gotten worse since Danny McGrain not been about.
de vries is minging. and that new RB ffs
is it just me or are the two in central midfield just not good enough? brown is having far more bad games than good these days and his best games are nearly all behind him. but its bitton who worries me. if ant offer came in for him in the summer, I would have taken it. 50p would have done. he offers no protection to the back 4 and gives the ball away all the time.
and it does not matter how good or bad the opposition, each game seems to pass him by.
it might offer some explanation for the panic in defence.
I think of it similarly Alan: the mid don’t “protect” the backline and the backline don’t protect the goalie and the goalie needs a lot of help. I think the fans will eventually force BR to sort things out if he doesn’t before that’s necessary.
Tierney and Sinclair are developing a great understanding on the left, we need that same understanding over on the right. HH
Remember macnamara and donnely monti , the right brothers! With mcstay and collins and peter the pointer , what a midfield that was
remember Paul Telfer and Nakamura…theres Cover and Creative genius personified
Delbhoy,
Yep, loved it m8
Like most Celtic fans, I don’t mind winning 4-2 or 5-3. However, no team can score 4-5 every game, not even Barca. Most games will be won 2-1, 1-0 or sometimes 2-0. Big Jock said the measure of a good team is being able to confidently see out a 1-0 lead for a 1-0 victory. That hasn’t happened with us for the last..what..five years or so? We know that at 1-0 or 2-1 (yesterday) we will be found wanting at a free kick or corner in the dying minutes. Brendan must somehow find a way to keep a solid defence whilst going forward on the break. The answer is in the formation or in whoever can track back and protect his defenders and defending midfielders. Deila almost got this right in his first year when we set a record for fewest goals allowed, so it is possible.I think our offense might centre around getting the ball to Sinclair in good positions. I think the guy is amazing at taking on defenders. His only fault at Inverness was not getting the ball enough…not his fault.
Lots of good points.
Brendan has already highlighted the physicality of the side, and I expect this specifically will apply to midfielders. We need people in the Wanyama mould, big solid and football wise who can kill a game.
McGregor is a busy bee but ultimately bees just get swatted away. Bitton is just a sideways player and not a tackler or battler. Broony looks knackered given he made a great start to the season. but been on the wane ever since. Rogic, Christie and Amrmstrong all want to play further up the park away from the dirty engine room area.
We need to get a firm diamond between keeper – 2 centre halves and -centre midfield general. Once that’s established, they should be able to direct everyone else.
Your right desi , paul telfer there was a great player , very reliable. This defensive midfielder were looking for , wasnt that the position ajer played and captained his club in norway. Im surprised henderson hasnt been tried in midfield , he can defend and attack
Not sure I agree with all. Keeper made some outstanding saves n I counted 3 off the woodwork so more a case of it not going our way but we done enough to win 2 games IMO. Jozo was at fault for their equaliser n Tierney for giving away a ridiculous free kick against a team like ICT, although I fully expect him to be there next year n the year after that n thought it strange you’d be so quick to say otherwise.
Tierney – left backs are like gold dust and the EPL are paying mental money for unproven second stringers. Tierney is proven and has all the qualities needed to be at the top of many shopping lists come the summer if not January.
I don’t WANT him to go, I want to be there celebrating his testimonial after he includes at least 7 years as the Celtic captain. I’m just being realistic.
As for the team, its low marks for almost everyone because we did not BEAT the team at the bottom of the league. Opta don’t decide who wins games depending on stats. Brendan should have did better and his team should have did better too.
Desidemonas ratings 7 out of 10.
Desidemonas Beutifull bright green tee shirt 12 out of 10.
I hope Gordon gets his spot back as Dorus is no shot stopper on the evidence so far. Bailly got a game for the youngsters and if I remember right stopped a penalty (last season) and looked pretty good with his feet. Good to see Jozo back maybe Erik and he are a good combination. Would rather see Henderson alongside Brown than young Ajer for now. Ajer is still making a few mistakes for the young team but he looks really good generally. I woould like to see Calvin miller and Aitchison get a few minutes in against Alloa if we go a few goals up, they deserve it. Its still early days and Sinclair is a real steal and could play up front if Dembele and griff both injured. We have really good choices in most parts except DM. that Ogu looked good to me. Maybe we could buy him of HBS. Cheers HH.