Even though we lost, at last we played one of the big boys and had a bit of belief about us. Unlucky not to take at least a point but when you can only afford the quality of player we can, stupid mistakes tend to happen a bit more often. Forrest has hopefully shut up the boo boys for another while and if we can get in a good CB and GK in January we might make a decent fist of the EL if we don't get yet another cruel draw.
Proud of our three academy boys tonight, McGregor, Forrest and Tierney were superb. As for the Europa I said that months ago and was dismissed by the usual suspects. We might not do anything in it but if we can reach the level we're capable of then we could definitely have a decent run.
Yeah it was good to see, especially as they count as home grown players and they are hard to find in a small country. I don't think we're good enough to win the EL (before the January window) but I do think we're good enough to beat almost all the teams in it on any given night. If we can just sort out or weaker areas then you never know.
Good spirited performance last night and not simply trying to contain them. We actually went for them at every opportunity and as we all seen, we were outdone by calamitous defending for the first, although their second was probably a mixture of good play from them and not up to scratch defending from us. Some superb individual performances from Tierney and Forrest. The former we just expect, but Forrest often splits the support. I’ve supported him more than not but he is very frustrating when you know he can turn in the sort of display he produced last night but doesn’t keep it up. Hopefully he can take his chance with Roberts out the team and show us more if that. It’s blatantly obvious where the problems lie. The only centre back I trust is Simunovic, but we can never get him fit for any length of time. Boyata isn’t quite Efe Ambrose, but he simply can’t be relied on. He has done more good than bad for us this season, but a howler is never far away. I said at the start of the season we were playing with fire allowing Craig Gordon to remain as first choice keeper and I’ve seen nothing to change that view. As well as getting one or two centre backs in, we simply must look at bringing in a keeper who goes straight in as number one without question. If you are going to lose a game then last night is the way to do it. We deserve credit for the performance, but there is also an element of them stepping it up when they had to and killing us off. As much as we troubled them, they are a class act and one of a handful of clubs who you would put in that elite group who are on a different level from the rest.
Whilst I agree we do need a centre back in as it's an area we can definitely improve I actually think Boyata played really well last night. Yes he was at fault for the goal, he's let it bounce thinking theres a player behind him who will see it through to Gordon. Apart from that one misjudgement I thought he done everything else really well against a dangerous team. Gordon probably should have stayed on his line but he's not expecting Boyata to let it bounce through and then see's the player breaking in behind and has a split second decision to make. Both mistakes but I think they're getting too much stick for them as they had good games otherwise.
It’s not just a knee jerk reaction to last nights game. Neither Gordon or Boyata instill the sort of confidence required for big games. They are not bad players and are not calamities, but we can do far better in the position that we are in. I blame Boyata more than Gordon for the first goal last night (unless he received a shout which I doubt) but both are not reliable enough overall. They get away with a lot domestically, but we need to be looking at upping the quality back there if we have any intention of improving at a higher level.
I'm agreeing with that but commenting on last nights game I think Boyata played really well, he's definitely improving but we should be looking at another centre back as well.
He has improved, but I think this is as good as he gets and he will always have a blunder in him. Ideally, Jozo stays fit and we find him a partner, but him staying clear of injury for any length of time seems a long shot.
On another note Nir Bitton is another who is moulding into a position he's not familiar with, again I thought he played really well last night in what was a big test.
I thought he did well too, but I still hope we have natural centre backs playing sooner rather than later. Bitton is a decent player, but not someone who I would have in the first team all being well.
A few tweets from Bayern players about last night. . Home Bayern@HomeBayern___ 11h11 hours ago Arjen Robben: "Incredible atmosphere, great fans, thanks for the applause of the Celtic fans when I was subbed off." #CELFCB Celtic Football ClubVerified account@celticfc 4h4 hours ago "Football in pure culture, like it was in the old days." - Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on the #CELFCB atmosphere. #UCL Home Bayern@HomeBayern___ 18h18 hours ago Arjen Robben on Celtic Park: "This is an atmosphere you do not often experience. You have to enjoy it a bit." #CELFCB Mats HummelsVerified account@matshummels 19h19 hours ago Great stadium and outstanding atmosphere. Loved it. Hopefully till next time FC Bayern USVerified account@FCBayernUS 22m22 minutes ago "That was a football experience of pure culture. Throughout the night we felt goosebumps." Also it was a nice touch from the Munich fans to unfurl a banner reading 'Repeal the OBFA' * Offensive behaviour at football act. The Munich ultras have continually backed the Green Brigade and shown solidarity with them.
Last word on the German reaction to the game against us last night. Here is a report from Bild Newspaper, we take this for granted simply because it's what we do but for others coming here it's a fantastic and unbeatable occasion. . . Liebeserklärung vom BILD-Reporter - Die Stimmung bei Celtic ist magisch Translated. . .
Out of the three McGregor I feel has always been the one who has been the most under-estimated. He is a player who I think most fans like, but I think many (including myself) possibly felt he was maybe a level below what we require. In recent times I’ve changed that view and I don’t think I am alone. If he was a player we had brought in from abroad I think he would be looked on far more favourably than he has been. I feel that he has always had to work harder at impressing and this is what I admire about him. His attitude is superb. He never spits the dummy, always makes himself available and never hides. He is a very intelligent player who can improve even more in the years to come. I hope he does this at Celtic Park.
Was booked on our supporters bus for Paris tomorrow but have had to pull out due to my back playing up again and the 20 hour journey wouldn't be doing much for it. As for the game Rodgers will again go and play our own game over there when some say we should sit in, I disagree because we'll more than likely be beaten doing that anyway and regardless of the result on Wednesday our young team will learn loads more by going and trying to go toe to toe. Yes it could be a very long night but it would have been anyway.
I’m all for us playing our own game but not at the expense of 6,7,8 goal doings. I just don’t think that helps anyone. The reality is that we will never get near these particular sides no matter how much we learn. Finances have dictated that they are out on their own. It says a lot when many of us are going into this game hoping for only a two or three goal defeat.
It could be a long difficult night for us at a venue where they are averaging 4 goals a game and conceding very few. . .but it would be that for any team going there and is the toughest venue in world football right now. Their last 3 CL home games have ended 4-0 v Barca. . 3-0 v Bayern and 5-0 v Anderlecht. Hoping we can apply ourselves in the game but realistic to know they will be too good for us. I think players CAN learn more from going toe to toe as our performance against Bayern at Celtic Park showed, we may lose 5 or whatever goals but we'll move on and compete at our own level against the likes of Anderlecht. It's all about performance tonight and i'm sure we'll get the usual stick from the usual suspects if we lose heavily against the best team in the world right now but result wise it's all about what happens in Belgium for us.
0-2 currently at the half. Qarabag reduced to 10 men. Think it might be safe enough to make some rotation subs.
