It takes years off your life watching games like that one tonight! It is not really good for us more mature gentlemen at all!
Yet it started so well with a fine goal which seemed to put us in easy street. But then we gave away two “pantomime” goals and we had the horrible feeling of deja vu that once again we were going to blow up in Europe. But the difference was that after a dreadful end to the first half and a hair raising start to the second, we rallied a little and although our Dutch friends will undeniably feel that they should have won (over the two legs they missed at least six reasonable chances), Celtic showed the professionalism to absorb a little pressure, recover from the mistakes made and to win through. Sometimes, particularly in Europe, you have to do just that.
One thing Postecoglou has definitely installed is DESIRE! pic.twitter.com/Ef74cFy4pC
— LubosEleven (@ElevenLubos) August 26, 2021
Mistakes? The teams that do best in Europe tend to be the ones that make the fewest mistakes, Celtic made a couple of absolute howlers last night in defence but fortunately recovered and did not give away any more free gifts. Joe Hart’s howler was his first for Celtic. Let us hope it is his last of such a magnitude, and we can possibly stretch a point and say that Starfelt was unlucky to a certain extent, but patience is beginning to wear a little thin with the Swede among the less tolerant of the Celtic supporters. But he and Welsh had a good second half even though they had to ride their luck a little.
You don’t got off with slack play in Europe. Passes must find your own man, for the opposition can immediately hurt and punish you if you don’t. This was the poorest midfield Celtic performance I have seen for a while with far too many passes going astray, and times when the ball simply passed McGregor and Turnbull by, as the fit Dutch players threatened to overrun us. But we weathered the storm and the Dutchmen eventually tired. It is disturbing however to see Celtic being second to the ball as often as they were last night.
The game was played at a furious pace throughout, and both teams are due a great deal of credit for entertainment, even though we may have picked up a few knocks. The game in Armenia on the other hand in the afternoon was boring in the extreme and far less interesting than the Test Match between England and India on SKY. What effect those two games game will have on Sunday remains to be seen, but at least we can look forward to seeing who we get in the draw today.
What is certain, however, is that for European matches, we will have to up our game, eliminate errors and remain fit enough to last the pace.
Difficult to pick a man of the match last night. Possibly Ryan Christie? I certainly hope we don’t sell him before the transfer window “slams shut”, as Sky Sports will put it.
There’s a game on Sunday now I think, isn’t there?
David Potter
Over two games we beat a very good team after last seasons debacle in Europe its a massive achievement and hopefully we get a decent draw. Roll on Sunday. Hail Hail