Celtic didn’t deserve to lose, but same old mistakes are still evident…
When I awoke this morning I felt like I had a hangover. I hardly drink and the strongest thing I had last night was a coffee. That’s how bad I felt, and I’m sure most or indeed all of the Celtic supporters were feeling the same way.
Last night was a crushing blow, to play so well and come away with nothing is a bitter pill to swallow. Even a draw would have been seen as a major disappointment so to lose is just, well purely deflating. Lazio didn’t impress me and they were there for the taking. It’s a missed opportunity. Another one.
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I’d have taken a heavy defeat better, as we’d have deserved nothing, but last night we put so much into the game and did more than enough to merit a win. Everything was there that’s been missing for so long in Europe. The passing, the tempo, and sometimes even the fluency. Kyogo’s goal was top drawer and even in defence we looked assured…apart from the two goals obviously.
But that’s the problem right there, mistakes. We don’t seem to learn. We will get away with it domestically most of the time, but Europe is a different ball game. In Rotterdam the game turned when we failed to set up a wall so conceded from a free-kick that bounced off the turf before hitting the back of the net. Last night we conceded from a corner to give them an equaliser that their play didn’t merit.
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For as poor as Lazio were, they still have quality players and that is the difference at this level and something we’ve got to quickly rectify if we want to compete at this level. With Atletico home and away next it’s going to get even tougher as the Spanish side are clearly the best in the group and will be targeting six points against us to ensure qualification.
Let’s hope that we can get something against Atletico so that we at least we aren’t going into the last two games pointless.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Join The Celtic Star at the Kerrydale on Thursday 19 October when we celebrate the launch of Matt Corr’s new book Majic, Stan and the King of Japan which tells the story of Gordon Strachan’s first season as Celtic manager. We’ll have the trophies that the Celtic team won that season plus well delighted welcome our special guests John Hartson and Stephen McManus, both stars of that Celtic team.
And we have other guests to be announced later this week plus there’s live music from the wonderful Boolavogue. Tickets are selling fast for what is sure to be a wonderful night of Celtic conversation and music and you can order below…
Sickeningly undeserved defeat but in the cold light of day it annoyingly seems that we keep shooting ourselves in the foot through sheer naivety.
The truth is that we have a few players who fall short of what should be the Celtic standards. For all the hard work put in by the likes of Maeda & Oh, they have no composure whatsoever in front of goal. Hatate is gifted but failed to show it & is unacceptably lazy without the ball. One has to ask what sort of coaching allows players to continually blast the ball over the bar or make wrong decisions in the last third of the pitch.
I have no issue with CCV coming on though did think it a bit strange given the length of time out injured. His rare mistake cost us but where was Johnson – nowhere to be seen for Lazio’s winner. Another thought occurred – why do we never put a defender on our goal line – both Lazio’s goals could have been prevented had we done so?
We were not unlucky. We were naive. Oh racing to make their goalie take byekick on 94mins. Johnson bombing forward on 95th minute. Its NOT unlucky. Only uisng 4 subs. Not unlucky