{"id":3819,"date":"2013-10-23T20:20:22","date_gmt":"2013-10-23T19:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=3819"},"modified":"2013-10-23T20:20:22","modified_gmt":"2013-10-23T19:20:22","slug":"celtic-v-ajax-man-by-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=3819","title":{"rendered":"Celtic v Ajax – Man by Man!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thanks to \u00a0Scoobs aka<\/em> Enda for this contribution<\/p>\n

Celtic v Ajax \u2013\u00a0Man by Man (and are they good enough?)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A man-by-man assessment of the starting eleven from last night with the added question of \u2018are they good enough?\u2019\u00a0 at this level. Or are we kidding ourselves on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fraser Forster<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0Once again the Englishman was arguably the difference in winning the game for Celtic. He smothered the effort of Serero with the game delicately balanced in Celtic\u2019s favour and soon after the Hoops doubled their advantage. That aside, despite the protestation of the Ajax manager, Forster was underworked.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> Unquestionably yes. Forster has grown immeasurably since joining from Newcastle\u2019s reserves. He is prone to the odd lapse during domestic action but he can consider himself a victim of circumstance there. In the cauldron of the Champions League, Forster consistently performs mini-heroics. Celtic will do well to hold on to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mikael Lustig<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0Another solid night for the dependable Swede. He offered assistance to Forrest going forward, got his crosses in and defended with the kind of solidity we are coming to expect.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> A theme that will run across the backline, Lustig is part of a functioning Celtic defence. With memories of \u2018The Sieve\u2019\u00a0not yet gone, that is in itself an achievement. Good enough to do his job without attracting the hawks of a transfer to England, this is the type of player Celtic should covet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Emilio Izzaguirre<\/strong> \u2013 A much improved night for a man who now flatters to deceive quite often. Ajax were content to retain possession in front of Celtic and this contributed to a relatively straightforward night for our full backs who were also getting decent protection from the midfield. His crossing remains a worry but that perhaps is down to a lack of aerial threat to aim at. Tries hard going forward and clearly relishes the Champions League nights.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> Pass marks once again for Emilio, but gone are the days when we had to consider our options if the likes of Man United put an offer on the table. Seems a far cry now that they might have offered close to 10 million pounds for his services. Prone to being out of position due to a penchant for getting to the opposition byline; that\u2019s an occupational hazard.\u00a0 He still belongs at this level. Just.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Virgil van Dijk<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0Continues to impress. His partnership with Ambrose is flourishing with each passing game and both men retain a coolness in possession that Gary Caldwell could only try to tell you he had. Typical Dutch, van Dijk seems to know instinctively when to punt it clear and when he has, or can create, time and space on the ball.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> That night in Kazakhstan you\u2019d have laughed at the suggestion, but van Dijk already looks a clever piece of business by Neil Lennon and his backroom team. He is assured in what he does and young enough to continue on an upward curve. The best compliment I can pay him right now is that of the three \u2018key men\u2019 we lost in the summer, Kelvin Wilson is missed the least. If anything, we\u2019ve upgraded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Efe Ambrose<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0Alongside his Dutch partner, Ambrose is beginning to look like one half of the central defensive partnership we have been craving since Mjallby, Balde and company departed the scene (Bobo didn\u2019t quite depart as linger forever but he didn\u2019t create the contract!). Ambrose also has a tasty knack of dribbling the ball well beyond the half way line at times and this can create havoc against opposition expecting a simple pass to a full back.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> Forgetting his nightmarish Juve experience when Lennon chose to put him on the field still carrying his boarding pass, Ambrose has been a revelation. Like Lustig, we should hope he stays under the radar of potential suitors and be glad we have him. A central defender is only as good as the partner he can trust. This looks promising.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Beram Kayal<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0Considering how little game-time he has enjoyed, Kayal was heroic. His confidence visibly grew following the wonder strike that made it 2-0 to the good guys. The wee spin away from his man in the centre circle, drive forward and stinging shot after the hour mark I don\u2019t believe would have happened before his goal. Let\u2019s hope he can build on it.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> On his day, undoubtedly, but getting him on it remains the problem. Injuries, loss of form and Victor Wanyama have ensured Kayal\u2019s promising Celtic career stalled somewhat. He clearly has the talent. Lennon must find some way of coaxing out the determination and hard work to bring it out of him consistently. A managerial \u201cproject\u201d if ever there was one.<\/p>\n

Charlie Mulgrew<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0the usual from Charlie. Hard work and application but always that \u2018yard off the pace\u2019\u00a0at this level. His set pieces remain his most potent weapon and he won\u2019t let anyone down but the feeling persists that he is a sitting duck in the Champions League. Things slow down when Charlie gets the ball.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> If we are to become the consistent Champions League team we long to be, then no. Mulgrew is lacking, especially as a midfielder, at this level. He almost always seems rushed in possession and often concedes the ball back. As a unit in midfield, he weakens the chain. A useful squad man, and capable of a shift in the Champions League, but long term we must seek more.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

James Forrest<\/strong> \u2013 His penalty was fabulous given the antics of the Ajax delegation beforehand. As noted in The Diary, that he stayed injury free while all that went on was a relief in itself. Forrest always posed a threat to Ajax when he got the ball. Adding goals \u2013 not just from 12 yards \u2013 to his repertoire is helping young James progress nicely.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> For me the jury was always out on Forrest. Seems to be injured more often than not and I couldn\u2019t really see what he was bringing to the party. Or at least I couldn\u2019t see enough of it. Last night in the second half he picked up the ball, ran at his full back, Blind, and took about five yards out of him over 20 yards to cross into a dangerous area. In that moment the penny fell. He is a talent. A precocious one right now, but we need to nurture him along and let him grow. Exciting prospect.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Georgios Samara<\/strong>s \u2013 I\u2019m with The Diary on the Greek. One of those nights I thought where he failed to impress. Running with the blinkers on most times (never more so than when he ran straight over the sideline!). Despite it all, he ghosts past his man and into the box to create the second goal. That\u2019s the thing with Sammy\u2026you just never know.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> No. Yes. No. Yes. Maybe. Oh Lord you frustrating man. Right now, Sammy is on the crest of a good PR wave. Pundits have decided he is exciting because you never know what he will do. Champions League opposition have decided they had better take caution in case he does something great. It\u2019s getting harder therefore for him to be creative as teams double up but he is still trying. Probably unfair comparing anyone to Larsson, but remember how he used to pick the ball up out wide, run at a man and essentially\u00a0 \u201cwin\u201d a free for the team. Dangerous position and a chance to regroup. Sammy just seems to run into them. He will never be Henrik Larsson, but he\u2019s doing just fine.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Teemu Pukki<\/strong> \u2013 got on the ball, twisted and turned quite a bit in central positions and tried to bring full backs and wingers into play. Aside from swinging a boot at Lustig\u2019s first half cross though he didn\u2019t worry the Ajax keeper. Short on evidence but he doesn\u2019t seem blessed with much pace.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> It\u2019s too early to say of course, and the man deserves a chance to prove himself. This isn\u2019t a personal criticism but overall last night in the final third, Celtic just didn\u2019t carry enough threat. It is the toughest commodity to find in football of course, goals, but you get a gut feeling when a team at least poses the threat of finding the net. Replacing Hooper is Lennon\u2019s biggest challenge and may require Lawwell\u2019s biggest cheque. This is the Champions League \u2013 we aren\u2019t f**kin about now! This problem relates to us becoming a regular at the party, season in season out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Anthony Stokes<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0Like Pukki, pace is not his friend. Stokes has stepped up admirably since Hooper left the building. His late surge put Karagandy out and his \u2018game-awareness\u2019 allowed him invite that tackle on last night to win the penalty. The question mark hanging over the Celtic forward line this morning must be, had the penalty not come when it did, what would the final outcome have been?<\/p>\n

Stokes is certainly trying to grasp his chance, but it is doubtful that he will ever possess that cutting edge to find himself scoring goals regularly in the group stage of the Champions League.<\/p>\n

Is he good enough?<\/em> That last statement is the crux of the argument. Where does the Celtic manager truly believe goals will come from in Europe? If we play 3 more group games this season and 6 next term, do any of us see the current strikers hitting four or five goals in open play?<\/p>\n

The main ingredient missing is Hooper\u2019s pace. He was the differential. He also had the striking talent of shooting on site. Sometimes to the detriment of the team but overall that\u2019s what a potent goalscorer does. In Stokes, Pukki and Balde, something is missing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In summary –<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lennon needs assistance. Sure the squad is stretched and we can look to welcome back Commons, Brown, Ledley, Matthews and Boerrigter. None of them will solve the deficiency in the final third.<\/p>\n

Lennon\u2019s tactics and organization \u2013\u00a0as well as the players willingness to carry them out \u2013 mean we now pose a credible threat away from home. We are not cannon fodder any longer. On that basis along the Celtic boss deserves the board\u2019s backing as he tries to locate the fabled \u2018blue chip\u2019 striker.\u00a0 That little bit of quality is the key piece missing in what is otherwise a very pleasing jigsaw for those of us partial to a pair of green tinted glasses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thanks to \u00a0Scoobs aka Enda for this contribution Celtic v Ajax \u2013\u00a0Man by Man (and are they good enough?) A man-by-man assessment of the starting…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/etims.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/huddle-2013web_1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-ZB","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3819"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3819"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3819\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3821,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3819\/revisions\/3821"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}