Yesterday was a deflating result, there’s no doubt about it. The longer the game stayed at 0-0, the more that Livi black wall blocked creativity from our forward line, the more you just knew it would be one of they days at Paradise. Then, in the dying minutes we got the chance of a reprieve, only for our new Greek striker to buckle under the pressure. It was even worse than the game just petering out like the conclusion of a bonfire on November the sixth.
The penalty should of been retaken. Keeper way off the line and Livi player already in the box before its hit 🙈🙈 pic.twitter.com/6WT0VljQwp
— BigItalianMaximo (@Bigirishcelt) October 31, 2021
What’s done is done. There is literally zero point in going on about the decision that was made for Giakoumakis to take that penalty now. It’s like flogging a dead horse – utterly redundant exercise. Plus, it’s obvious Giorgos didn’t have the best of games yesterday. So the last thing he needs is for Celtic fans to have him on the rack already. From what I gather he actually had a decent record from the spot in Holland. Players miss penalties. It’s an irreversible fact of life in football. Would I have taken Jura off them? no, but that’s just my opinion on the matter. Big Ange gets paid to make these calls good or bad. Yesterday was a bad one. But that’s it. Done. Over. Case closed.
In all the wailing and nashing of the teeth that went on in the post-mortem from yesterday’s game, I have a different take on it from most. All the talk of systems and personnel is all good and valid points, don’t get me wrong folks. However, I feel the key element that prevents us from breaking down these teams is not moving the ball quickly enough. Simple as that. David Turnbull takes far too many touches for such a talented player. When he broke into the team against Lille last season, one of his most refreshing traits was that he was acerbic in his passing and movement. That seems to have tailed off somewhat this year.
The amount of time I saw him, Callum, Nir and Jota take countless extra touches was criminal. This subsequently allowed Martindale’s side to get back into their shape so easily it defied belief at times. On a personal note to Jota: please just put the ball in early. Too often he put the ball across when the Livingston defence (which was the whole team, plus Madden) were set-up to defend comfortably. And why no one hit a shot with a surface that is skiddy I will never know.
Finally, when we can’t go through defensive blocks like that, why don’t we try going over? Try floating or chipping the ball overhead with runners moving in. Barca did it to us in the Nou Camp under Rodgers and it worked a treat against a low-block. We don’t have the same quality admittedly, but the gulf between us and Livi should allow for it.
Having said all this, I still firmly believe that we must have some perspective on where we are at this point. The rebuild isn’t even close to being finished yet, so one must expect variation in results. We won three away on the road at hard venues. We should be chuffed considering the state Lennyball had us in. At no point yesterday did it feel like Livi would score. That’s building a strong foundation. Although I’m quite gutted at Carl Starfelt going off injured as he was just coming onto a game at the back with big CCV. It strikes again! Why oh why?
They play today and if they win it takes it back to four. It’s hardly insurmountable, is it? And for another thing, they are wobbling like jelly on a plate for want of a better analogy. Look at the form from last season to this. Anytime they feel the heat from the stands they flounder. No respite this time for the Coivid Cup winners ladies and gentlemen. And they know it, by God. We need to keep the head more than anything. If we start hitting the panic button it relieves the pressure on them and starts divisions within our family. Calmness in the midst of mania is required. As Ange said, we just move on and keep grafting away.
You win or you learn in football. Not a catchphrase but a truism which is applicable to life more generally. We’re on the right road for sure. The man at the helm has given us back our soul and core values. Let’s enjoy this journey we’re on together. To paraphrase Rudyard Kipling: “If you can keep your head, when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, yours is the Earth and everything in it, and – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!
Never forget we are Glasgow Celtic. We will always be so. We have hit a road bump and there will be many more along the way. But, we will emerge from it better off.
Keep the head.
Hail Hail!
Paul Gillespie
Consistency again from Madden. Astonished he gave us the pen in the first place though. https://t.co/quazCvteKt
— cardiffbhoy (@stephenrcardiff) October 31, 2021
All true & valid points, mate. At least Hearts & Dundee Utd both got beat too, massive results for us. Hopefully Tony Watt can do us all a turn today.
Ps. Not that sure on the use of “acerbic” for sharp/ quick passing, “acerbic wit” .. aye, but dinnae think it works as an adjective apart from personal traits.
“clinical”, “crisp” “visionary” perhaps? Not acerbic, though!
Sorry folks, I.m not buying the bumps etc, CERTAINLY not at HOME , yesterday’s clusterfk v the Livingston Sherman Tank formation, was a stark warning that if you play like we did yesterday v a team who everyone and their granny know THEY play the hump it up the park tactics, it.ll be groundhog day for us in the other two games !!…so far this season v the 10 centre backs we.ve got zero goals in 3 hours , numbers don.t lie , hence 5 points loss v Dross is too fekn bumpy for me , finally I.ve no intention of using my season card for the next farcical home game v them , 90 minutes of self inflicted torture , = a waste of time as similar result with similar tactics “
Yep,you could see from the start the passing,and movement, wasn’t nearly quick enough. The opposite of what the manager is looking for. He will be writing down the names of those he will moving on ASAP as we speak. The hysteria after yesterday’s result is laughable ,especially when you consider it was the fans themselves who indulged in fantasy,big time,before the game.
It shouldn’t really be too difficult to score goals. Much as I hate to admit it, we saw today at Fir Park the way to take goals. We must learn very quickly to do that as well, otherwise we cannot win the League. The cause is not yet lost – we have only played one third of the League programme – but we must score goals! It is what we are famous for!
I’m scared about who we are going to get in January. I would far prefer to see what we have already doing the job.
If we get Maeda from Japan in January, I think there’ll be nothing to be afraid of, my friend