Dinamo Zagreb v Celtic 6pm KO(Thursday 11th December- BT Sports 1)

Confusingly. Poor defensively, but good enough to ship 3 past them.

Usual slack passing. I swear it looks like I am on the pitch with how easy we give the ball away at times.

Showed good fight back at times. Not too fussed honestly.

 

I agree, first two goals are something that Broony would have cut out and I would have fancied him to get back and close down the play for their 4th as well.

 

We can't draw too many conclusions from this game because it was a makeshift Celtic team in practically an exhibition match. Scoring three goals away from home is generally good, but not when your defence is horrendously bad and concede four

Some players blotted their copybook, and I am thinking of MacGregor, Matthews, Ambrose and Wakaso here. I don't really see any future for these players with Celtic.

 

If we don't have a mass clear out in the next window i'll be surprised. After this enough is enough.

 

I'm still smiling about the "Last Christmas" bit from the fans

 

RIP

 

Some promise going forward, but some hilariously bad goals lost. As others have alluded to, you could have driven a bus through the centre of our midfield tonight and we were powder puff at the back with what was not a million miles from our normal back 4.

Matthews worst game for Celtic, what an absolute nightmare he had!

 

Which makes you laugh when we hear comments of how we can win the EL, in the press from players or on here.

no chance.

We can progress, but lucky pairings will have to help in that.

 

With due respect, i dont think this is an objective assessment.

You were full strength at Parkhead and won 1-0, but I thought we could have won 3-1 with a smidgeon of luck.

Tonight, your first goal was clearly offside, and Pinto was heel chopped in the box but didn't get the spot kick. We also had other numerous clear-cut chances. And our goals were not fluffy efforts from set pieces, they were well-worked team goals and one long range effort

In summary, we are rubbish at the back and, at best, average all-round, but i think we are at least on a par with what is IMO the poorest Celtic i've seen in years.

 

We've not had Guidetti in the Europa all season mate, that makes as far from full strength, we are ridiculously reliant on him up front.

But the ease that you made chances with tonight is a Celtic without Scott Brown, we're usually gash without him.

 

In the first game we were on a poor run of form and playing dire football really. At the moment we're starting to click, the manager is getting his views across to the players. However, we had already qualified and tonight we were missing Brown, Denayer, Lustig, Forrest, Stokes and Guidetti. With those in the team I'd fancy us to beat Zagreb easily enough.

We were so bad tonight, it's not really an indication of where we're at though.

 

Prepare yourself for a WeatherBomb of negativity

Here goes....

Seen a few folk picking out the defence as the whipping boys for tonight's showing.

While they never covered themselves in glory the problems started from higher up the pitch. WE were over-run in the middle of midfield and in the wide areas. McGregor was non existent going forward and defensively. Wakaso on the other side was no better, although Izzy much more competent than Matthews( he had a stinker tonight). The aforementioned wide players never matched Ivan Pinto and the opposite wide man( name is beyond me at the moment), leaving Izzzy and Matthews 2v1. This happened as early as the 3 minute of the game and we never dealt with it.

The two goals in the second half while both good strikes it was a result of midfielder getting a free run at the centre of our defence. As a result our defenders had no choice but to back off and defend the 18 yard line, to prevent through balls to the forwards; which in turn allowed them time and space to line up shots at goal. In contrast we were never afforded the time and space like Zagreb were for the majority of the match. Johansen and Biton done Ok. Johansen though was a shadow of the player we've seen in the advanced role. Indeed the overall performance was the exact opposite of Motherwell, little to no high pressing from Scepovic or Commons. More often than not it was easy for Zagreb to advance into our half. Commons doesn't offer enough in the pressing game(has done so in previous games),whether it's down to lack of game-time or will to do so is another issue.

It wasn't that impressive either going forward. McGregor other than a good cross which Scepovic couldn't reach first half,offered little. Wakaso spent most of the time searching in field for the ball. Although this allowed Izzy to get forward and cause a threat wide. Too many loose passes and gave the ball away cheaply. Scepovic struggled to hold the ball up or win much in the air( from kick outs and general play at least). He took his goal well and was unlucky with the header late-on. He looks to be a threat inside the area, which we have been crying out for but we needed a bit more from him during open play. Commons who was arguably meant to be the link didn't produce much in that aspect. More often than not turning out of good opportunities to play forward, something which he wasn't solely guilty of doing.

As whole unit we didn't defend well. Resulting in easy possession and opportunities for Zagreb. They have a few bodies who looked decent, young lad Brozovic was impressive in his play, Soudani and Fernandes caused us no end of problems again. Defensively they don't look to clever.

Thought Stokes and Henderson showed flashes of what we missed from our starters. Henderson worked hard to protect Fisher and Stokes was looking to drive at the Zagreb defence whenever the opportunity arose.

Disappointed at the display tonight but we have achieved qualification. We played as if the outcome didn't matter and thankfully it didn't. I don't know if 2nd best to Salzburg (by some distance )is that great but it's where we are at this moment in time.

 

I forgot about Guidetti and acknowledge that he is class, but with a limited midfield (at least compared to ours) i'm not sure he'd make too much difference. Then again, with our defence, a harmless long ball is like a Pirlo defence splitter :smiley-laughing002:

And yes Brown would certainly have made a difference tonight. Although I could say the same about Vukojevic for us.

 

A fairly accurate assessment regarding being on a par etc.
We are both fairly average european sides right now.

 

I don't know how good that Vukojevic is, but let me assure you that he is nowhere near as important for ye as Brown is for us. We simply cannot function without Brown

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdnmmHH7gfE#t=29

Anyone hear anything about trouble?

See Club Stewards in it also

 

I feel sorry for you guys if you fall apart as much as we do without Brown without that guy, it's honestly quite embarassing.

 

* Pigs.

 

* * he hits the kid some belt.

 

Police brutality whatever way you look at it, had to * reach over to smack him and all.