Well, that’s that then.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ange Postecoglou’s baptismal Champions League campaign shuddered to a halt last night as Leipzig stunned the hoops with two second half goals.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Celtic, as per usual, rattled the woodwork, missed a few sitters and generally will be a little annoyed that yet again, despite making a fist of it, there’s still the cold hard fact that one point out of a possible twelve simply isn’t good enough.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But it’s not time to throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet, and for the next couple of days, just before you send that tweet about what you would have done instead, maybe remember that it’s unlikely Michael Nicholson will be ringing you to tell you you were right all along and that you can start on Monday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the four games so far, Celtic have created 53..or 54…depending on which statistical source you believe……chances.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And scored two.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
That may point to a lack of top class forwards, or it may point to something else….those fine margins we talked about a few weeks back.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
An inch to the left and Matt O’Riley’s daisycutter opens the scoring last night, or an inch lower and the follow up\u00a0 does the job.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the opening match against Real Madrid it was a similar story with Calum MacGregor’s effort, or even the early chance that swept past the post.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This time, well, 53 or 54 times, they didn’t.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
All is not absolutely lost, there’s still a remote chance of getting third place, if the other teams all withdraw, or if we play for snookers, but there’s probably little point in putting any money aside for a European trip in the New Year.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We had a go, but fell just short of what was required. We’ll get better.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Which is why I’m a little amazed at some of the social media outbursts post match. We expect a certain level of disrespect from the media.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Maybe even gloating or downright abuse.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We expect them to put further pressure on what really is a fledgling team at this level, probably to disrupt the build and maybe even coax players to leave, so that we never get the chance to see where we’ll be next year , or the year after, if we continue to progress at the rate we have in the last twelve months or so.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But do we need our support to pick out the scapegoats ?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Given the amount of advice flying around last night, Ange must be sitting there this morning feeling like he’s won the lottery, having so much knowledge and wisdom to fall back on, with fans telling him how to utilise players they’ve never met into a style they cannot comprehend at a level they can only dream of playing at.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Yes, we all have our opinions, and we should be free to air them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But I’d wager a shiny shilling that not one of us has the experience or knowledge of what it takes to mould a side to be successful at that level.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We want two things from our football.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Entertainment, and with that comes the drama, the disappointment and the tears, alongside the glory , the laughter and the cheers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We’ve got that.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Success ?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We haven’t done too badly, domestically at least, and if we had been completely outclassed, not retaining possession, or creating chances in the UCL, then maybe we could say we’ve reached our ceiling, but we have competed, and we have been perhaps unlucky.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Certainly we’ve missed key players at different times, and that we’ve still had a go is a credit to all of them, players, coaches and management.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As long as we can say we’re getting better, moving forward and progressing, then we should stick with the plan.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I’ve seen some say that we should change, undo all the work that has been put in so far, and those doubts are probably echoed among the players.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We needed a break in one of our games to remove thiose doubts completely, it didn’t happen, but if we keep doing what we have been doing and keep believing in why we’re doing it, success at a higher level in a way that will make us proud will come.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I believe the phrase is Keep the Faith<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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