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| Celtic 2(2) Sporting Braga 1(4) - We'd Have Been Stuffed In The CL Anyway Edition |
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| Written by James Kelly |
| Thursday, 05 August 2010 01:41 |
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In my defence I was only convinced to punt this twice when I was alerted to a vacancy at the top of some list of ideologically pure vanguard timtelligencia, allegedly, and of which I knew absolutely nothing. But I was annoyed to find out I wasn't on it, and anyway who doesn't like lists? As a big critic of Marc Antoine Fortune I have to say fair doos on this one, his energy had a direct effect, he was one of few playing as if aware of having a point to prove, ran at their backline to begin disrupting what was till then a comfortable defensive shape, was rightly encouraged to whip in early crosses whenever possible following his success in that regard at Emirates. For his reward he helped deliver the equaliser. Getting the second goal with only 12 mins left however meant we had no chance really, although it was nice to see a moment of class, followed by a bit of passion on show from new bhoy Efrain Juarez.Some have remarked that Brown’s individual performance was OK-ish, at least relative to others if nothing else. I didn’t see it but even still, it was surely woefully lacking from a captain in any event; more generally I can't remember a less deserving figure in the role in my lifetime, and would hazard a fair guess beyond. Not only is his status coupled with long-term lack of form one of a number of factors causing us problems, he's at the very root of them. The manager has to realise this and act. Sadly I agree that Neil Lennon got it wrong from the start with a line-up short on, dare I say it, real risk. The opportunist goalscorer Gary Hooper aside it was predictable. In hindsight he and Fortune may have been a far better option than Georgios Samaras, more on whom in a bit. Without making the Artmedia debacle sound like anything other than precisely that, a debacle, WGS did at least for the second leg have the right idea and obviously managed to get some urgency across to his charges given how we came out the blocks that evening. By far the most disappointing aspect of tonight was watching the first 20 minutes play out with the same hesitant, tentative, one-paced rubbish on show from a team once again unable to manage a single shot of note. Even before their away goal killed the tie in any event we were making a full enough statement in our own right that we lacked both the heart and the smarts to even threaten a real turnaround, however unrealistic that may have been to begin with. European football may not be anywhere near close to the top of the agenda this season but surely Lennon had to understand the value of at least making a statement this evening and energising a sizable crowd, £500 per person lighter for the privilege of funding his education and rightly waiting for proof that anyone in charge at CP has a clue what they’re doing any longer. Even as we rallied the second half was pockmarked with defensive blunders approaching full-on calamities, at a time when the Portuguese had themselves taken their foot off the gas. Hardly any need to highlight the main individual culprits. Our £50k p/w tragic twins were I felt to the fore again, and it's hard not to become resentful about the way both Brown and Shaun Maloney's performance level over a period of years now essentially rip the proverbial out of their paying public. If we’re serious about progressing in any way shape of form, we have to get shot of both. Of course, that won't happen overnight, although Maloney's injury may once again offer us the worst of both worlds for another season - unavailable, unsellable. For the umpteenth time about Samaras, too often a hit when it doesn’t matter, a miss when it does. Charlie Mulgrew, go figure, badly caught out for a goal, although he was not alone in being suckered as four hoops went chasing the man in possession playground style on the touchline to leaves acres of space for the killer opener, before being embarrassingly hooked at the break. In goals, Lukas Zaluska, ordinary, unnerved and clearly having a panicking effect on an already spooked backline. Jos Hooiveld struggled, and showed that some folk have to temper their pre-season view that he is already a clear step above the like of fellow CB Glenn Loovens. So long as the defence is third-rate as a unit, his true worth remains to be seen and the need for proven quality in that department, maybe not exclusively but certainly above all else, is marked. The rest of the new bhoys naturally deserve time to show what they can do. Flinging Joe Ledley in at left back for a half because we don't have a single other senior player the manager has faith of pitching in in the circumstances won't smooth the Welshman's settling-in process any let alone what other worries it flags. Two games in and if we value our professionalism that should already be the last we suffer of the patchwork antics in a competitive fixture. The manager, well the season is now fully underway, he’s seen his team both in friendly and now competitive action. He absolutely must hit the domestic ground running against ICT and preferably make a statement of some sort with the performance also. We have way more to lose than them, and I'm nervous about it. If we do win, I have a feeling we may all be thanking, and further raving about perhaps, our exciting new Mexican midfielder. In difficult circumstances, Efrain Juarez is for now, sending out the right signals about his appetite for the fight, and we'll need that, yes, even to claw back above this h*n team. I had us as underdogs in this tie to begin with an anticipated a defeat.. The nature of it concerns me in parts though, especially tonight's evidence - if what Lennon lacks in tactical nous is at least to be compensated by his understanding of the character and passion essential to the role in the aftermath of the Mowbray experiment, then I would have expected to see some more fire in the belly this evening, but it plain wasn’t there until it was too late, against a side who were mentally boarding their return flight. Our objectives for the season haven't changed one bit. We’ve at least one marquee signing almost certain to be delivered, though that one (yes, that one, him) isn’t a defender. And you really can’t overstate how crucial major improvements are at the back as we attempt to regain the SPL. The Europa League? Respectability at that level on the side is still not an altogether unrealistic target for the season, but only some colossal conditions. The remainder of the transfer window still has massive amount to tell us especially since any EPL firesale will be short and spectacular in just the last few days of the window, with the 25-man limit on squads raising the fascinating possibility of Man Citteh and others offering heavy incentives for clubs to take on some very capable (at our level) players left out. The new managerial axis of MON disciples better have a good plan though, be serious about streamlining the squad back to a hardcore of quality operatives offering more bang for buck within a reorganised wage structure, and over the course start dictating certain very important terms for Peter Lawwell to relay to the organ grinders. |
| Last Updated on Thursday, 05 August 2010 14:39 |
Comments
i've banged on and on for as long as brown has been at celtic - the guy cannot play fitba - end of.
he gives the ball away even when not under pressure, he tackles badly and contributes little but a gurney face and an attitude... the only way that man continues to be picked for the celts is that managers must be intimidated by him, what other reason can there be?
now, crosas isnt the answer to all celtics problems, but he can do so much more than brown ever will, yet he rarely gets a game.
exiting brown would be a start, admitting, even at such an early stage, that mulgrew was a mistake would be further proof that lenny has got it.
... and mccourt on for barely 5 minutes...
i love lennon... but i'm worried already.
I would like to think NL is signing players to improve the first team rather than as squad players, in which case Ledley, Juarez and Kayal (admittedly unknown but a dedicated defensive midfielder) should be given the chance to prove their worth and Brown dropped or punted. However, it seems that as captain he is guaranteed a game and these new signings will be played out of position - square pegs in round holes so to speak. What must Ledley be thinking having to play at left back in his second competitive game??
As johnd says, this is an early test for NL. Maybe if he shows the bottle and sense to at least drop Brown we might see Brown and others fear the manager and raise their game.
Also, while I'd love a Keane or a Bellamy, the money may be better spent on couple of proven, class defenders. How many clean sheets have we had in the past caledar year? Problem is, there needs to be movement in and out but how many of our players are sought after. What happened to interest in/bids for Samaras and Hinkel?
Apologies if this sounds too pessimistic but I don't think we can afford a slow start to the SPL season. The dark side still have the core of their team and look like they may actually be splashing cash - on a former Celtic target!!!
Come on Celtic do the right thing!!
If he is allowed to run down his contract and walk for free next summer i will be sick at the though of him having cost £4.4m and £1m a year in wages and we have had zero in return.
We are stuck with Maloney on his high wages till his deal runs out and he goes off the championship it seems.
The biggest problem last season was the defence. 2 centre half's should have been the priority back in May. Here we are now no nearer to the problem being solved. I'm not surprised to be honest. And lennon's talking about Bellamy again last night! can't beleieve the celtic PR machine are still peddling this guff, and that people are still buying it.
the board keep telling everyone that will listen that 'we' are a global club... the fans need to see club activity that reflects that, we, the fans, no longer believe the hype...
give us a team that matches our support, or else we might support from a distance... always tims, but not fools that the board can soak for cash.
the board might do well to remember that we pay their wages.
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