Now that the dust has begun to settle on our latest expedition in Europe, many are taking the same view that the signs are very positive but that we lack those elusive, elite qualities in front of goal. We have had chances aplenty, of that there can be no other conclusion arrived at after watching our six Group F games.
The swashbuckling style and panache with which we approach domestic football has been applied consistently by Ange Postecoglou and the players – warts and all. Differences in front of goal and the tendency to drop a gear or two in terms of pressing and passing quickness were evident throughout the short and sweet episode.
However, we have created and put some pretty decent opposition through the mill with our movement and ability to press from the front of the football pitch. The 60 minutes or so against Real Madrid at Celtic Park was probably the highlight of the whole tournament for us, as we repeatedly peppered their goal and ran a classy outfit ragged for that magical hour.
That is the display that must be our springboard onto bigger and better things on the European scene. And the excellent Alan Morrison of Celtic By Numbers has reiterated this fact through the summarising of Opta Analyst’s team style comparison for the UEFA Champions League 2022/23.
The stats man took to social media site Twitter and he revealed:
“Celtic playing top end football with low end players
“A slightly crass simplification but ye ken whit I mean.”
Celtic playing top end football with low end players
A slightly crass simplification but ye ken whit I mean https://t.co/zkEDSLtCfB
— celticbynumbers (@Alan_Morrison67) November 3, 2022
The process for Celtic now is extremely clear: build. Ange has proven he has the ability and football knowledge to find gems in the market place at prices that the Hoops can afford to pay. It is key now that the heirarchy allow the funds to strengthen Postecoglou’s hand at this level. No doubt the team will evolve even more by this time next year and one or two of the current crop will have moved on. But that is the challenge; we keep growing, building, and try to become that modern football club we all know we’re capable of.
Ange is building Celtic in his own image. He even said everyone has their own blueprint and this club is no different. We are hamstrung to a certain point in that we can’t buy ready made quality. Having said that, we can sure as hell try and turn the rough ones into diamonds. It’s been done in the past. Now we have a manager who can make the players and supporters believe.
All hands on deck Bhoys and Ghirls, there’s something special a-brewin at Celtic Park!
Paul Gillespie
