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[Official TC Thread] Celtic v Anderlecht: Tues 05/12/17, 19:45. Bt Sport ESPN

Discussion in 'Celtic Chat' started by JC Anton, Dec 2, 2017.

Discuss Celtic v Anderlecht: Tues 05/12/17, 19:45. Bt Sport ESPN in the Celtic Chat area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. John Bhoy79 What chance have you got against a tie and a crest

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    I'm not so sure mate, our recent record suggests we ARE normally this poor at home. Also, while i think Anderlecht were decent, i also think we made them look better than they are. As in every game bar Munich at home we just sat off the opposition and didn't do anything like enough to stop them. In that 1st half anytime a Celt got the ball there was a guy in purple right on him immediately yet when Anderlecht were in possession there was no one near them most of the time. Their RB spent the game on the RW all by himself pretty much. In Europe we're lacking in all areas but none more so than the defensive side, we just aren't used to a high-tempo, pressing game which all the top teams in Europe face every week.
     
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  2. Callum McGregor The Captain Gold Member

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    Think Forrest had to drop deeper because Lustig was being ripped apart.
     
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  3. Callum McGregor The Captain Gold Member

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    :50:
     
  4. Sean Daleer Free Palestine Gold Member

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    Isn't it strange how (in some peoples we were lucky to beat Anderlecht but tonight we were just *.
    And if we had better defenders and played Ntcham from the start we might have won.

    If yer auntie had baws etc...
     
  5. Mr. Slippyfist

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    Well * said ma man!

    :57::57::57::57::50:
     
  6. Sean Daleer Free Palestine Gold Member

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    Come on to *? How was our result a freak result in Beligium and yet there's wan't a freak result last night? They go a fortuitous goal to win, I'd say that was much luckier than us in Belgium.
     
  7. HoopswithPride

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    Truth be told, Anderlecht are technically very good and Celtic looked inferior. Whether the latter is reality is up for debate overall, however last night Celtic fell way short of their usual standards set out over the last year and a half. Granted the quality of opponent is a step up from the week to week competition.

    Anderlecht were tactically well organised, as are some opponents from time to time. Their quality on the ball was light years ahead of our domestic opponents. They kept the ball well, the movement was miles better and they had an actual idea of how they wanted to play the game when in possession. Hanni was a thorn in the Celtic side the whole 1st half. Gerkens and Onyekuru occupied the wide areas in the final third, keeping Lustig and Tierney on guard. Hanni floated about between Brown and the centre-backs. He moved around the park freely with only one requirement, be available for the ball. As a result, Boyata and Jozo never knew how to deal with him, as he dropped in and around Scott Brown. Another advantage of Hanni floating around, it allowed Anderlecht to outnumber the Celtic midfielders. Brown, Armstrong and McGregor were getting the run around as they tried to press Anderlecht, who passed around with ease. Dendoncker sat slightly deeper and dictated the play. Dembele like his other team-mates were left chasing for the majority. The numerical advantage in the midfield and control of possession allowed Appiah and Obradovic to force Sinclair and Forrest deeper. In Forrest case, he was doubling up with Lustig to counter the threat of Onyerkuru.

    Rodgers altered the formation after about 30 minutes with Forrest and Tierney becoming wing-backs. Sinclair was pushed into a central role behind Dembele, with the duty of curtailing the influence of Dendoncker. Transforming from the 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-1-1, matching up man for man in the midfield.


    Celtic in Possession

    While Anderlecht were fluid in their movement and their passing was crisp and accurate. Celtic were the opposite. Laboured movement and sloppy passing blighted the 1st half. Passes were played behind the players and not onto their forward movement.

    The biggest difference was the lack of interest and abandonment of what has been a core of Brendan Rodgers approach, playing from the back and playing through the press. Rodgers throughout the whole of the 1st half was animated and frustrated by this approach. Neglecting a core principle and a key part to re-establishing themselves in the game, when on occasion it was applied and performed, Celtic played through the press and got themselves up field. Often, it was down the left-hand side with Tierney and Sinclair.

    These instances were few and far between in the 1st half, which was a result of the endless long kicks from Gordon towards Dembele. These were ultimately fruitless, it would be harsh to lay the blame at Gordon for this. Although Tierney and Forrest were available at an intermediate level for the ball.


    Indeed, it seemed a few players were almost “passing the buck” when it came to taking onus or looking to initiate the play in the midfield. Credit must also go to the Anderlecht set-up in this scenario, which forced the longer pass. Armstrong was particularly culpable in this scenario and no surprise he never reappeared for the 2nd half. Sinclair was the other not to appear, Ntcham and Rogic being the replacements.


    Celtic 2nd Half

    With the formation set as a 3-5-1-1 and the introduction of more possession orientated players in Rogic and Ntcham. The game was on a more even keel and for at least 15-20 mins of the 2nd half at least, Celtic were the more dominant side. The ball was no longer going long towards Dembele, often it was wide to Lustig and then through the midfield. Ntcham who replaced Armstrong, was the out ball in numerous occasions. He was finding space on the left and driving forward, forcing Anderlecht to defend in numbers. During this time, Celtic built some pressure and created some openings Ntcham combining with Dembele in areas between Appiah and Kara. However, the main opportunities were coming from set-pieces, Lustig and Simunovic having chances. The latter’s chance came after he had unfortunately connected with an Appiah cross and diverted it into his own goal. The goal came at a point where Anderlecht had been less of a threat and less control of the game, unlike the 1st half. The goal came from more sloppy play akin to the 1st half, which appeared to be been altered. Dembele gave away possession when he knocked down a header, instead of bringing the ball down and maintaining possession. Ntcham appeared to have recovered the situation, only to lose the ball in the wide area. Where seconds later the ball was delivered into the box and Anderlecht were in the lead.

    From then both teams seemed to settle for what they had. Anderlecht needed a 3-goal win to steal a Europa League place but looked more content with a victory. Celtic players seemed happy with that and never attacked with the desire which has been seen. The game fizzled out and the referee who seemed to be struggling with the pace of the game, offered up 2 mins of injury time (which were played out on the halfway line between two Anderlecht players).


    Celtic were poor. Poor in possession, lethargic movement and if I’m honest, poor attitude. Brendan Rodgers in his post-match interview, openly questioned his players. Questioned whether they were good enough for this level of football. And given the performance they done nothing to disprove that. Anderlecht do deserve praise for the way they went about the game and appreciation for the level of technical ability on show. Two pieces in particular spring to mind. Appiah killing the ball stone dead after a clearance from over his head and Hanni killing a switch of play on his chest, with the ball sticking to his chest like it was attached by Velcro or some other sticky substance.


    For Celtic, it’s onto the Europa League and while this maybe the level where the team can be more competitive, they will need to be much better than last night and cannot dissolve under conditions that were difficult but not unsolvable.
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2017
  8. cidermaster Gold Member Gold Member

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    Yes and each round is a double header of course,so a decent run gives us 3 double headers or more:84: And that is what will happen:50:
     
  9. Gabriel Beidh an lá linn Gold Member

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    Andelecht at the airport now. Got a few pics with my bhoy. Nice guys
     
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  10. Officer Doofy Come to me, human man Gold Member

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    Kidnap Hanni, Onyekuru and Kara please.

    Oh, and Dendoncker.
     
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  11. BR Fenian Army

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  12. Gabriel Beidh an lá linn Gold Member

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    DD was in the bog and they wouldn't wait
     
  13. Cha Du-Ri

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    Although we have achieved our goal of getting European Football after Christmas, we need to really look to see if anything is being done about taking the next step. We played our best football at home on Saturday of the season, to the best opposition so far... (in my opinion based on the 2 games prior) then we go into a game where we should be getting a draw at least and playing like an away team with our backs against the wall. Understandably we wanted to avoid getting beat, but no wins in 6 home games in the CL over the last 2 campaigns at home... I'm sorry but I don't see any progression there. Maybe I am being sceptical though as we are expecting to take our exact style of play and comfort level from domestic into European competitions.
     
  14. John Bhoy79 What chance have you got against a tie and a crest

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    In Belgium Anderlecht were totally out of form and for some reason their boss set them up ultra-defensive. That gave us time to find a bit of form after starting the game sloppily. Anderlecht didn't get lucky last night, they just played better than we did(not hard). The goal may have been fortuitous but the result was just, the last 15 mins or so we never even tried to get an equalizer we just camped in our own half hoping not to concede another. Pathetic.
     
  15. Sean Daleer Free Palestine Gold Member

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    Aye we were lucky, and they were better.

    Anything you say.
     
  16. Sean Daleer Free Palestine Gold Member

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    We caught Anderlecht when they were * and we got lucky. But Anderlecht didn't catch us when we were off form and they weren't lucky, only better.

    This place * me off at times.
     
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  17. leeso-ardoyne

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    Any highlights of the game. Brought the kids over for itand has a great time, and even thou we got beat, wouldn't mind seeing some highlights.
     
  18. richardm

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    Referring to a good result in Brussels as a "freak" is an odd one indeed, it's almost as if you are saying under no cicumstances are we good enough to put in at least one good performance now and again, I don't buy that for a second and if you really believe the only way we can win games is by a "freak" then you really are one of these defeatist moaning fans that only seem happy in the face of misery, out of interest was the win over Astana a "freak" as well or does that one not count as it was a qualifier or some other excuse?
     
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  19. John Bhoy79 What chance have you got against a tie and a crest

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    You don't think they were the better team last night?
     
  20. Sean Daleer Free Palestine Gold Member

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    You don't think we were the better team in Belgium?