Shambolic Celtic no change from last season
Hoops have it all to do
Before we start, we appreciate it is still very early on and we are in no way ruling Celtic out of the running this season….or indeed for the second leg. Trophies and medals are never won in July so let’s not get carried away but based on the first competitive match of the season, Celtic do not look to be improved from last season.
The sponsor on the front of the shirt may change and some of the names on the back may be different but it appeared to be the same old Celtic as the 2009/10 season. The first goal they lost came from a shambolic decision by the officials, the second came from a corner that couldn’t have been defended in a weaker manner and the third goal was a huge blunder by Lukas Zaluska.
If David James’ agent has anything about him, he will march into Celtic Park and ask for an extra few grand per week after that showing from the Polish stopper. In all fairness, Zaluska had nothing else to do all game apart from pick the ball out of the net three times but it’s hard to put a positive spin on that.
In trying to look at the positives, Efrain Juarez had a strong debut although he may have dipped later on as tiredness take over. Apart from that, it was hard to see any positive signs from Celtic…Cha Du Ri never really let anyone down but too many players once again failed to show when it was required.
Celtic captain Scott Brown managed a performance entirely fitting of his Celtic career to date, as did Glenn Loovens. In the middle of rebuilding his squad, Neil Lennon should listen very carefully to any bids made for these players. Jos Hoiveld was no great shakes alongside Loovens but he still managed to stand well above the Dutch defender.
Charles ‘Charlton’ Mulgrew….or Charlie Brown as one wag at the bar had dubbed him….lived up to all expectations placed upon him. A sweet left foot cross, a shot that will have goalkeepers scrambling but absolutely no defensive talent or nous to speak of.
However, it would be harsh to single out any player as being particularly worse than the others. It would have been easy for many to quip during the second half that they never knew Maloney, Ledley, Yeung or Samaras had been brought on.
3-0 down probably suggests that Celtic have too much to do in the home leg, even if Braga showed they had nothing special about them. The problem was, they still managed to look far more cohesive and together than Celtic.
It’s early doors but the 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 hybrid didn’t work for Celtic and the tactics or formation will need to be worked upon…and quickly.
The Emirates tournament gives Neil Lennon two more opportunities to tinker before the home tie and who knows, if Celtic grab an early home goal, they could set up an almighty European comeback.
If that happens, the thunder may be back at Celtic Park. On tonight’s showing though, it may be more damp squibs and weak showers than thunder!
Are Celtic bound for the Europa qualifiers?
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HA HA ,,,SACK WEE NEIL WASTED 10 MILL,,,,SELL AIDEN YOUR MAIN MAN LOL
AWAY GOALS 0
3 DOWN THANKS 4 XTRA CASH ,,,,,KITTY ALL GERS LOADS A CASH THANKS NEIL
BYE BYE BYE
A disappointing night but I am not too upset. There is a second leg where at the least pride can be restored and the Europa league is a more reallistic competition for Celtic at this stage.
IN 3 weeks Celtic will be a better side and the personel will be different.
This match confirmed that too many of the old guard simply won’t do and I would expect more comings and goings before Inverness.
At least this is a rational assessment of the situation unlike other sites.
Another away game for Tic. Another defeat.
We need Gers to produce something before Scotland slip shamefully further down the list!
A fair and accurate reflection.
Very dissapointing first competitive outing, the only positive I think was Juarez and the fact that it’s early days leaves me with a flicker of hope..
Scott Brown has been given enough chances and when he looks at past Celtic captains he should really ask himself some serious questions,he was a disgrace to the jersey and is not captain material.
Never seen the match, managed to see a youtube montage of the goals. The pictures of the penalty decision was far from clear so I will bow to others knowledge on that to say if it was a penalty or not. The second goal was reminiscent of a gaol you would see scored in the Sunday Pub Leagues, absolutely shocking defending from a senior side, as for the third and final goal, simply inexcusable from a professional keeper to get beat in that manner.
I checked the stats on the BBC and it made for very poor reading;
Posession 62% Braga – 38% Celtic
Attempts on goal 11 Braga (5 on target) 5 Celtic (2 on target)
Fouls Braga 14 – Celtic 22
Looks like they were chasing the game most of the night and possibly the negative team formation resulted in this. It’s a rotten time of the season to be playing such an important fixture and Celtic won’t have been helped by not having any great time to bed in some new players, the loss of Keane and Boruc also had an effect as well.
Too much to ask to turn the second leg around now, especially with Celtics defence. I know the game isn’t on live TV and the first game is free on the season ticket, but can you realistically see a full house next week for this game?
Not good enough. I would get rid of Lennon now before another season runs away from us.
He was clueless last night with a lineup that was ridiculous.
He has had nearly 3 months since the season fizzled out to prepare for this.
Not good enough and not up for this job
An utterly insipid performance from the usual suspects again. The worst thing is Braga are a fairly average side (what does that make us at this point?) who we should at least have been able to hold to a draw or a one-goal defeat.
I had a feeling when the draw was made that this tiei had just come far too soon for a team who have barely trained, never mind played, together. All this is no excuse for what was witnessed last night.
Despite all of this I still believe it is somewhat possible to turn this round. An early goal to lift the crowd next week and who knows? Looking at Braga’s league record from last season they have a staggering home record aren’t too hot away from home. Let’s hope this pattern is continued.
Another performance like last night and forget it. It’s time for the new guys to realise what European nights can be like at Parkhead. The usual susspects (Brown, Sammi) i have no further comment on.
Jeff Squire,
I had major reservations (and still do) over the appointment of Lenny, but to call for him to be sacked one game into the season is idiotic and not worthy of a response, which shows how daft I am! Get behind the manager and the team.
Having seen the game here’s my thoughts. I think the scoreline slightly flattered Braga what with some dodgy referring decisions and Celtic looking quite comfortable until Loovens & Zaluska both flapped to cause the second half goals.
The game came far too early for this squad, it’s also better to show up inadequacies in the team now instead of having players who flatter to deceive for the fist month or so and leave us struggling after the transfer window.
My personal hit list: Brown, Loovens, Zaluska and Mulgrew. Not good enough to be first team regulars at Celtic Park.
Ki is going to have to start imposing himself before he joins this list above. Cha & Juarez both looked ok but Ledley and Maloney were both anonymous.
Samaras I thought did ok, without any support. He wouldn’t be my first choice of striker though.
Billy Stak’s Irish Jig. I have been behind the team my whole life & I will be sitting on my seat as usual this season.
What we witnessed last night was not acceptable & Lennon’s inexperience was painfully obvious.
We need to be realistic, the performance & tactics where dire.
Mogga done the same last season, making big changes to the squad & panic buys, they don’t work.
The idiotic thing is not acknowledging this; we are Celtic not a project for a rookie.
I agree that he maybe should not have been given the role in the 1st place and I stated I still have deep-rooted reservations, but to call for him to go after the 1st game of the season? Come on.
BTW, I never questioned your Celtic supporting credentials. We are all hurting from last night.
Celtic unveil their new number 33 – Israeli International Beram Kayal
More Photos here http://trunc.it/9vuar
Jeezo Dubs,
We have more midfielders now than Dublin has pubs!
Goalie, centre half & left back now Mr Saville please!
Fair comment Billy Starks Irish Jig.
Hail Hail fellow Celt
The only problem I can see with having that many mid fielders is that we still have Scott Brown.
We’ve also lost N’Guemo, Robson, Kamara, Flood and Caddis since last season and now we aren’t playing McGeady in Europe.
If we are going to play 5 in the middle we are going to need some more bodies. Hopefully someone will take Brown!
Indeed, I would exempt the new Bhoys from serious criticism at this point in time, but the ‘Usual Suspects’ were at it AGAIN last night. No names need be mentioned. We know who they are and I would like to think Lenny also knows.
Bugger it, I’m going to mention names! Sammi should never ever be seen in the Hoops again regardless of ‘promise’ shown in pre-season friendlies. Scoosh is not fit to even wear the jersey never mind the captain’s armband. Zaluskas is certainly NOT a suitable replacement for THG. Mulgrew (ok he is a ‘new’ guy) looked like someone they picked up from a local 5 a-side venue.
I sincerely hope Lenny takes to this management lark like a fish to water because at a club like Celtic their is little room for error and he must learn fast. In the meantime of course he has my backing but I seriously couldn’t stomach another season like the last one.
Hail Hail Mr Squire.
Jos Hooiveld is not taking the defeat in Braga very well. he wishes he grabbed some of his team mates by the throat.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11781_6285895,00.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=celtic&utm_content=celtic
Well said Jos. All this plain talking is appreciated and refreshing to hear and it is good to know he is hurting and taking a bit of pride in his performance but I would much prefer the talking (and strangling!) be done on the park.
Loovens also made similar noises after the match.
If he was able to defend in any proper manner, the second Braga goal would have been prevented.
Talk is cheap.
And Zaluskas blamed the baw! Whit a bawheid!