Celtic didn’t quite cling on to their European campaign last night as Shaktar Livingston put everyone behind the ball in an attempt to secure the draw that would give them a crack at the Europa League.
After all, it had worked against Real Madrid so there was no reason to suspect it wouldn’t work against Celtic.
It nearly didn’t, but they were good on the break, and cynical when Celtic broke.
That’s the lessons to be learned at this level, and as to paraphrase the manager, although we look on paper to be the whipping boys, we weren’t.
“It’s about experience and striving to improve. The boys are in the dressing room feeling flat and that shows where our ambitions lie. It’s our first time here in five years. We know the areas we have fallen short in this campaign and the areas we need to improve in.
“But that only comes with experience and the task is to take what we’ve learned in to next year. We have to be in this competition every year if we really want to make an impact.
“You can’t go five years without being in it and then come in and expect to make an impact at this level. That’s our challenge, that’s what I mean about becoming a Champions League football club. We need to be there every year.
So what were the areas we fell short in ?
What can we do to improve our chances next time around ?
How should I know ? I’m just a fat bloke who drives a van .
Actually, though, the alertness required to drive such a vehicle for ten hours a day means I can spot things that others may not.
One thing that stood out was that Celtic were maybe half a second out in a number of areas, probably caused by thinking about what to do next as opposed to doing it reflexively.
Half a second slow in making a pass, or receiving one.
Half a second slow in deciding whether to shoot or pass.
Half a second slow in choosing to tackle or merely closing down.
That’s how fine the margins are at this advanced level, and improvement in that area comes with hard work and experience.
It’s not enough to say we missed the influential Calum MacGregor, or the unpredictable but effective Jota.
But we did, and the absence of such players affects not only our own morale, but slightly lifts the morale of opponents.
Ange Postecoglou can be rightly proud of how far his players have come in such a short period, and whilst we should not accept merely competing as an achievement, and don’t worry, he won’t, the way in which the side faced the challenges of the campaign gives heart and hope for the future.
No one let anyone down, and all of them showed they are fit to wear the hoops.
Social media, of course, would argue that point.
There is always a search for a scapegoat, some operate under the mantra that we’ve lost so therefore it must be someone’s fault. Last night Maeda, who contributes far more than most realise, O’Riley…who is progressing at a phenomenal rate….was pilloried for , actually, I’ve no idea what. The verdict seemed to be he had his worst game in a Celtic jersey, which to my eyes may be true, but if that was his worst game then he’s set a pretty high bar.
I thought he was excellent.
One failing of the support is that we say they should shoot when they pass, or pass when they shoot.
That’s all very well when you’re sitting in the stand or in your living room.
Those decisions are made instantly, or even quicker if that’s possible, and many, many factors come into it.
Some the player gets right, some he’ll get wrong.
One wonders of the outcome of the last few games at home in the UCL would have been different if supporters had been as harsh on the visitors as they are on their own…..
Already there are cries to strengthen the team, which would be to abandon the work already done.
Yes, fresh faces will always add to the squad, but only if they are thr right ones.
And only if we need them.
If we are to lose a player or two, we need to bring in better quality than we have lost, which of course, is financially very difficult.
But we do seem to have several projects already underway, and whether we like it or not, in the real world, we must focus on development rather than using the cheque book.
As far as I’m concerned, there’s a lot more to be happy about than concerned with as far as the team and it’s performances at this level go, and whilst we’d all rather prefer to be still involved at some level, we’re not, and those free midweeks after Christmas can be used to work on those shortcomings that have.
Despite how it felt last night , or even this morning, we can be proud of the way our players have risen to, if not quite matched, the challenge of top level club football.
And we can do that safe in the knowledge that things will only get better.
Yesterday, we had this…..
I won…
Danylo Sikan gets ready to face Celtic in the Champions League
Well, he made me laugh.
Today….
New Daily record journalists, discuss the game last night.
Caption: little Gio talks tactics with Ronnie Corbett
caption,” I got home at half past eleven and guess what Dud?”
“What Peter?””
“that Maeda was shite, so was the rest, useless in Europe.” Said Peter.
”Are you even a Celtic fan,? “ asked Dud.
”Naw” said Peter. “ I just go for the glory nights.”
all said in a dull monotone
Caption: Liam and Noel Gallagher hold press conference to deny they are reforming Oasis
I read somewhere last week that Celtic were among the top percentile in CL scoring chances created. So, stating the obvious, our finishing needs to improve at this level along with our decision making in the final third and maybe just a wee bit more composure. A run in the Europa League would have been good for the team’s development but we’ll get another crack at it next year.
Peter Cook and Dudley Moore discuss the correct way to describe a Hun.
Thanks Ralph for gathering all my rambling thoughts into one succinct article. We didn’t get a night of euphoria this campaign but the progress is obvious and I’m content with that.
One thing I’ll point out is that for virtually all of his career Ange has been a Southern Hemisphere manager. He has a knowledge of leagues down there that others don’t. That’s why I think that the January transfer window is always going to be big for us while Ange is here. The two big benefits of this will be a strong finish to the season and a group of players getting six months to bed in before the next European campaign. The future is bright, the future is OurAnge (you can use that one if you want)
“You may be right in thinking that maybe Maeda was the dud, Dud. To
me though the fault lay with O’Riley really.”
The last annual Meeting of the “Remember the last time we won at home in the Champions League” takes place
Caption…
Here, you’ll never guess who called me up last night to discuss angeball .
Who called you then ?
Only Greta bloody Garbo , I said Greta ,Greta what do you know about ball games …?
Ralph worryingly you hit the nail on the head. The slow decision making was clear and so unlike Celtic. It is not a match I would have wanted to play without our two best players, Callum and Jota nor having Starfield absent.
O’ Reilly was good in the first half, poor in the second. Maeda and Jamsie injected pace when they came on. We had the chances to score, down to us. A mate said he felt Josip proved a weakness on European nights with goals coming down his side, interesting, anyone else conscious of that. I am left flat and disappointed, probably like a night with Liz Truss, but the direction of travel fir Celtic is good.
It’s not a lame excuse citing Calmac and Jotas absence as a contributing factor. I think if our first 11 are fit and on form we had a chance of CL progression but most likely 3rd and post Xmas Europa football. And a chance of another Seville and who would knock that back? The CL is a cartel. Some countries get it, Shakhtar’s weekend game was postponed to let them rest up, we were in a 7 goal game. But the SPFL are too greedy to care about a coefficient.
You sound like Ange’s PR man Ralph. Bit of constructive criticism wouldn’t go amiss.Had the young Shakhtar substitute not missed a sitter then we would have had an even starker reminder of why we’re not a CL team and why we’re not even in the Europa League – 2 goals on the counter leading to a defeat! The Shakhtar manager wasn’t drawing attention to his players’ lack of experience, he was celebrating a draw and European football while we have to wait another 9 months or so. Ange’s thinking is flawed: you don’t gain more European experience in your domestic league, you gain it playing against better opposition. He should have ensured we got Europa League football at least to keep testing his players at a higher level than SPFL. Then we’d be better prepared to some extent for CL football next time.
Unlike you I am not convinced some of our players are CL level players, it’s easy to be deceived watching them play against SPFL teams. Frankly our Japanese players have failed to set the grass alight in Europe, not because they lack experience but because the opposition is better, fitter, faster. That criticism applies to other players too, including Jota and O’Reilly. And will Ange always believe the main thing is to score more than the opposition? That’s fine in SPFL but a bigger ask in CL. Wouldn’t it be wise to pay a bit more attention to the defensive side of things? It’s looking like Ange needs more European experience just as much as his players do. Hopefully he’ll realize that if you keep doing the same thing you’ll keep getting the same result. I won’t mention Einstein but the opposition also aim to improve and not just through experience – through buying better players and through studying the opposition and adapting tactics- see Ajax and Brugge whom we are often compared to.
And what about all those poor corner kicks and free kicks? Isn’t there a way to improve them. It doesn’t just come with experience. Were the players too nervous, too tired, just don’t have dead ball skills? I seem to remember Nakamura put in a tremendous amount of time practicing free kicks (and not at the urging of his coaches!). Who’ll ever forget that sublime goal from a free kick against Manchester United? We need to identify specific areas of improvement not just say it’s all a matter of experience.
Good positivity. Nice to see.
My ambition for this team is they all stay together, I hope no players leave and that would mean we don’t need anyone to come in, another year together will bring the experience we need, because I genuinely believe this group of players has what it takes,the only criticism I would make is the players must believe in themselves the way the fans do but experience will bring that HH.
we don’t need anyone to come in
I think we do. This team is too lightweight in midfield and given the number of chances missed obviously we need a no9. Dare I say Giakoumakis should be starting ahead of anyone else as well. CL came to soon for us imho.
Fair points there. I thought Shacktar did to us what we do to other teams. Crisp precise passing round opponents.
Take our chances and score a few of the 63 shots on goal we are in a different place.
Caption; what am I going to do with myself, seeing as there is not anymore midweek games.
Fair points Ralph. Good job is summing it up. This is a team in development and getting very close. They were in every game in the CL and we did have multiple chances in every game too. They competed well for most of every game. I think very much on the right track and back next year for another crack at it
When the dust has settled, what have we achieved?
Very, very little and all the feel good pish, doesn’t alter that.
Incremental progress from game 1 to 5? None.
We got a lucky break for our goal, their’s was a wonder strike (albeit against an untackling defence) and they had 2 other golden chances that they should have scored.
If that was them sitting in then thank God, as I’d hate to think what would have happened if they attacked more.
We were in 1 of the weaker groups, certainly 2nd and 3rd seeds, which should have given us a chance but we’re as far away as if we were in a Group of Death.
If we simply take it on the chin, dust ourselves down and go again then it’s going to be deja vu all over again.
Caption
The laptop genius discussing where Ange went wrong against the Miners!
Your description of Shaktar quite apt, six in the back line on more than one occasion a bit like Livingston. There is a nervousness about Celtic, now there is nothing to play for bar pride we might see a game against Real.
Shaktar are not particularly great but they are set up in Such a way that nullifies the opposition. They attack on a break away format which at times Celtic players seemed at a loss what to do, stop them in there own half. As for set plays, Celtic were wayward last night, but you could not take your eyes off the pitch
I drove a round trip of approx 230 miles to go to last nights game. Because of hold ups due to heavy traffic and diversions arrived 6 minutes late only to find all turnstiles closed and unable gain admission to stadium. A rude and belligerent steward advised us to go to turnstiles round the corner if we wanted to gain admission. He also advised us that it was Celtic FC’s policy to closed gates at kick off and in future arrive on time! After futile argument we headed to next turnstile only to be met by supporters and steward heading to where we had just left. After much chaos a turnstile was opened and we tried to enter only for my card to be rejected and my partners paper ticket also to be rejected. A delighted steward told us to go to ticket office for replacement tickets. You’ll never guess? replacement tickets didn’t work at turnstile! Advised to try another turnstile they had reopened. Success at last gained admission to hear roar as we scored. Between us we spent about £130 tickets and fuel, hours of travel only to miss first 33 minutes of action. As a club we can be extremely amateurish at times.
Caption: ‘Rangers’ need to beat Ajax by 5 next week to stay in Europe according to the comedian on Sportsound.
He’s just said they still have something to play for. They struggled against Livingston at the weekend.
*rangers goal difference now minus 18…they had their a*ses handed to them and Napoli took tea breaks during the match or it could have been even worse. Their nice staunch orange strips didn’t inspire them…totally outclassed. Geo looked like a rabbit in the headlights…dead man walking.
No points -18 goals. And the clown said it again.
And a final ass whupping to come next week which likely will give them the
title of worst team in Champions League history.
hunz bummed again ,. nool pwan begorrah