[Official TC Thread] Celtic vs Happoel Be'er Sheva match thread. Wednesday 17th of Aug, 19:45, BTSport2

Be a fine and a slap on the wrist

 

The Daily Record article you're referring to (?) was posted during the match :smiley-laughing002:

 

Naw just read one there from the sun mate.

 

Watch the teacher doesn't catch you on your phone in class son

 

I wouldn't pay too much attention to Rupert Murdoch's pro-Zionist rag,dude

 

Nervy, yet ultimately a very pleasing display from us last night. Watched the game for a 2nd time last night and it reaffirmed my original thoughts. Aside from 5-10 minutes of the 2nd half, which in fairness to Hapoel they took advantage of the opportunities. It was a supreme display.

Dembele on the bench was a fairly big decision(a theme which ran through the night) given his impact in the previous round(more of which was to come). O'Connell kept his place at centre back despite Erik being available and Rogic continued in midfield, although the Biton was fit.

I anticipated them sitting in and making it hard for us to break them down. They played with a back 3(or 5 depending on how you look at things), however in the 1st half they held quite a high line and left themselves open all over the field. Not particularly sure why they took this approach, as it seemed to go against the grain of previous rounds. Or did they genuinely fancy there chances tonight?? Did they try to peruse the away goal and hope to defend the rest of the night??

Whatever the reason, it played right into our hands and in particular Scott Sinclair. Our attacking pattern was Griffiths dropping short(dragging out one of the 3 centre halfs) and laying the ball back. The vacated space was attacked by a diagonal run from the opposing wide player(for example Sinclair in our 1st goal). It brought about our 1st goal and on at least 3 other occasions, we were a final pass away from getting in on goal. They defenders couldn't deal with it and they were dragged out of position time and time again. The wing backs could have offered help, however this would have left Tierney and Lustig with all manner of time (and space) on the ball. They eventually made the adjustment prior to half time.

They dropped a lot deeper, more akin to what we see on a regular basis at domestic level. As a consequence, they offered little in an attacking sense for the rest of the half. While they did drop deeper, on a few occasions Toure stepped forward to make an overload. They at times left 2 and sometimes 3 players in advanced areas. Which gave room for Rogic to operate in plenty of space around 10-15 yards outside the Hapoel area. As Rogic dragged players central, it opened up space in the wide areas. For the 2nd goal, Toure stepped forward with the ball, from there we were able to get around the outside of the defence and cut back a cross behind the defenders facing the goal. The move was complemented by the desire from Griffiths and also his lesser appreciated heading ability. He applied his desire and ability to great effect, putting us 2 up.

At that moment I didn't think things could get much better. But they did and what a way it bettered.Good work rate from Griffiths to capitalise on the defensive mistake and force a foul from the defender. He then dispatched a Nakamura against Man Unite-esque shot into the top corner. While the source of the goal wasn't down to our great play, the finish was tremendous.Bang on half time as well.

The start of the 2nd half was weird. We seemed stuck between trying to do what we did 1st half and looking to control possession. Essentially we done neither. The pressing of the midfield was disjointed and they managed to play round us. They went from a team who trudged off at half-time in bewilderment, to a bit more confident and having belief in what they were doing. In saying that both goals were pretty poor on our behalf. The 1st came from our corner,where they broke to halfway and the slipped one ball behind. We were disorganised. And while McGregor stepped up to play offside(unaware of what was behind him), O'Connell had dropped a good couple of yards deeper. Had McGregor matched the run, there's a good chance he and O'Connell could have been able to double up on the forward. At least it would have delayed the play and allowed us to get more bodies in position. Instead the forward burst into the area before firing beyond Gordon at the near post. It was mentioned in commentary that it was a night for Gordon to put on a display. The goal left a few more questions about his recent displays.

Less than 2 minutes later we were back under the cosh and our comfortable position was beginning to unravel.For me Lustig gave the guy too much room, gave him enough space to pick out a pass and Melkison drove home a 2nd goal. Again defensively we just weren't there. The pressure was on big time and the atmosphere which was positive,got edgy.

Brendan made a few changes, Biton for Rogic and Janko for Lustig. Rogic had struggled along with the rest of the team, to influence the game. The spaces and time on the ball had been tightened, which we know he can still function in. However it was as a collective not down to the individual. Sinclair was less prominent and Forrest was working more in defence than on the front foot. Biton came on and for a good period we settled on the ball. They had dropped off the play and we knocked it around in front of them. For the next 10 mins or so, we played like what we probably should have done. Keeping control of the game and keeping them at bay. However we used this period to regain our composure. McGregor made way for Dembele. It looked like we went with 4 up front in Sinclair,Griffiths,Dembele and Forrest. Brown and Biton were the midfield. With Janko and Tierney backing up the attack.

Fourth goal came via a corner won by Forrest. Some indecision over who was meant to take it, before Griffiths deliver toward the back of the 6 yard box. Initially it looked like Biton on TV, however Dembele got the connection as he competed with two of his teammates for the ball.

Hapoel opened up a bit more after the goal and we began to see the space reappear in the midfield. Fittingly, Brown picked up goal no 5 and a goal which could make all the difference next week. Brown's performance in the midfield was tremendous. It had a bit of everything, pressing to win the ball,playing the passes and making forward runs. A Scott Brown display of a Hibernian vintage. After being denied by the goalkeeper in the early moment of the game. Brown redressed the situation by firing in a right footed effort, after his left footed swinger had rebounded to him. It was a very good finish, displaying good technique.

Brown was the pick of the bunch for me. On the occasion of overtaking Billy McNeil in European games played. Big performance in a game marking such a milestone.

I said I would be delighted with a 2-0 win. I feel confident after last night that my Tuesday and Wednesday night's over the coming months, will have me viewing us against some of Europe's top sides.

 

That's a relief , you pay the fine as well should we get one then.

I shouldn't but :smiley-laughing002:

 

Should be * neither, as ive stated its ok for UEFA to bring politics into football when it suits them

 

Aye,couple of years back they fined us for something or other,then a few weeks later they had us commemorating 'MADIBA' with a nice big on-pitch banner :smiley-laughing002:

Every national flag is political - so we really shouldn't have a case to answer.

 

That and standing with Paris after the terrorist attacks mate, that is a very political statement yet they want to punish us for flags, ok lets just sit by idly whilst Israel slaughters fellow humans en masse

 

Great night, great result.

We need to be careful and prepare well for the game on Tuesday. It's far from job done. It'll be a long and uncomfortably warm night over there and we'll need to make sure we're not fatigued in the second half. We should rest every player that needs it on Saturday and really use our squad.

They'll feel they can get the goals they need based on the 2 fairly easy goals they managed to get last night when they really needed them. To that end, we need to make sure we're not heavily defensive. Inviting them to try and beat us would be a mistake which I'm sure Rodgers won't make.

They need an early goal, if we can get to half time without conceding or get a goal of our own we'll be in a great position. Concede early and we're up against it.

 

I was horrified to see the Israel flag flying on top of the North stand last night.

We were sitting near the away end, the smug attitudes towards Palestinian sympathy over there was nauseating.

 

Wish i could shake your hand for all the work you do for this forum, pal!

Brilliant quality too! lol

 

haha no problem.

 

Legend

 

anybody got English lang. highlights?

 

[ame]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ez3VayCKVMU[/ame]

 

For the celtic fans that bet £40 in this thread that we'd loose, get it up ye!

 

:smiley-laughing002::smiley-laughing002:

I couldn't believe we went to even money last night!! Managed to get £100 on us