{"id":18011,"date":"2022-10-26T07:26:45","date_gmt":"2022-10-26T06:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=18011"},"modified":"2022-10-26T07:26:45","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T06:26:45","slug":"celtic-diary-wednesday-october-26-on-the-one-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=18011","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Wednesday October 26: On The One Road"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

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After all, it had worked against Real Madrid so there was no reason to suspect it wouldn’t work against Celtic.<\/p>\n

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It nearly didn’t, but they were good on the break, and cynical when Celtic broke.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s about experience and striving to improve. The boys are in the dressing room feeling flat and that shows where our ambitions lie. It\u2019s 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut that only comes with experience and the task is to take what we\u2019ve learned in to next year. We have to be in this competition every year if we really want to make an impact.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t go five years without being in it and then come in and expect to make an impact at this level. That\u2019s our challenge, that\u2019s what I mean about becoming a Champions League football club. We need to be there every year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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So what were the areas we fell short in ?<\/p>\n

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What can we do to improve our chances next time around ?<\/p>\n

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How should I know ? I’m just a fat bloke who drives a van .<\/p>\n

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Actually, though, the alertness required to drive such a vehicle for ten hours a day means I can spot things that others may not.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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Half a second slow in making a pass, or receiving one.<\/p>\n

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Half a second slow in deciding whether to shoot or pass.<\/p>\n

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Half a second slow in choosing to tackle or merely closing down.<\/p>\n

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That’s how fine the margins are at this advanced level, and improvement in that area comes with hard work and experience.<\/p>\n

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It’s not enough to say we missed the influential Calum MacGregor, or the unpredictable but effective Jota.<\/p>\n

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But we did, and the absence of such players affects not only our own morale, but slightly lifts the morale of opponents.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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No one let anyone down, and all of them showed they are fit to wear the hoops.<\/p>\n

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Social media, of course, would argue that point.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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I thought he was excellent.<\/p>\n

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One failing of the support is that we say they should shoot when they pass, or pass when they shoot.<\/p>\n

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That’s all very well when you’re sitting in the stand or in your living room.<\/p>\n

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Those decisions are made instantly, or even quicker if that’s possible, and many, many factors come into it.<\/p>\n

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Some the player gets right, some he’ll get wrong.<\/p>\n

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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…..<\/p>\n

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Already there are cries to strengthen the team, which would be to abandon the work already done.<\/p>\n

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Yes, fresh faces will always add to the squad, but only if they are thr right ones.<\/p>\n

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And only if we need them.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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And we can do that safe in the knowledge that things will only get better.<\/p>\n

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Yesterday, we had this…..<\/p>\n

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\"Image\"<\/p>\n

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I won…<\/p>\n

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Danylo Sikan gets ready to face Celtic in the Champions League<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

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Well, he made me laugh.<\/p>\n

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Today….<\/p>\n

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\"Image\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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