Celtic FC vs Udinese FC

Sickening way to end the game. To have played so well, against a top European side, and then to be denied a deserved 3 points due to some blatent cheating is just sickening. Their keeper kept them in it for me. There's no way we should have only drawn. That said, there are pleanty of positives from tonight. In Europe, we are still very much a developing team, and it may well be a number of years until we are back to the former European days of MON/WGS. Tonight we actually looked like a European team again. It's been so long since I've seen us set up in Europe without the defensive 4-5-1, particularly against such a good team. We set out to attack from the start and got our reward. Defence looked good, a bit shaky at times but generally decent. Bangura looked quality. Even though Udinese put out a weakened side, their starting XI could probably take any SPL team. We outplayed them tonight. Let's hope we can continue this form. On the downside, Sammy has got to go. I've defended him time and time again, and my patience has finally run out. Worst performance in a Celtic shirt from him today. Gave the ball away every time he had it, never bothers trying to win it back when he loses it, cost us goalscoring opportunities with dreadful passing towards the end and gave away the free kick which lead to their goal. Punt him.

 

What a kick in the nuts was that pk at the end there. Blatant dive too. You didn't even need to see the replay before you knew it was a bad call. But then when you see how close the ref was and how blatant a dive it was it is just unbelievable he gives it.

Credit to Lennon for playing 4-4-2 and having a go at Udinese tonight. We deserved the 3 points no questions although you have to say their keeper was outstanding. The save from Mulgrew's free kick in particular was world class. But tonight we were definitely the better team. The key for me being we looked so much more solid and tight defensively. That gave us a platform and the confidence to have a go at Udinese in the game.

Hopefully we can build on this performance and really have a big day against the hun jrs on Sunday.

 

There is no doubt that the late penalty decision for Udinese was very soft to say the least, but that's football. The referee was not the best, however I also have to be fair and say that some Celtic players got away with fouls which should have drawn bookings, so you can't have it all your own way.

I agree that compared to four or five years ago our current team are poor in terms of European pedigree, however our directors are getting a relatively easy ride at the moment, let's face we're steadly sliding down the European slope under Desmond and Lawwell.

 

First of all, we didn't rest several players due to disrespect of Celtic, we did the same in the first gane against Rennes as well. With all the injuries on our offensive players and Torje cup-tied we had to rest Di Natale, can't risk him this early in the season, would have done the same if it would been Atletico Madrid away. We had a tough start of the season with the Arsenal games and three out four leagues been away from home. We also got some young guys that need to get some gametime and what better test than Celtic away to see their character?

Specially in the first half you were the better team, we got a bit better when Isla and Benatia came on but to be fair it was Handanovic who saved us a point, he is such an amazing goalkeeper!

I think the penalty was a 50/50 call, it was a clumsy move by your player but Neuton did go down easily for sure.

Oh and if your team were as good as you fans are you would be in fighting for the Champions League title every year! Also thought Bangura was sharp and im sure he will do much good for you, good luck!

 

Excellent game to watch - Lennon really surprised me with the formation, gutted we didnt come away with all 3 points but thats football, much better European performance so can only hope we keep on playing like that.

 

Agree with the ratings here, except Maj.... I think he done really well and really stepped it up.
Pretty sure I can remember a player sprinting past him, and Maj catching up and recovering the ball....that's not this season's Majstorovic, for sure lol

 

As a Udinese fan, I'm very happy for the result, got thanks to our youngsters and, of course, the help of three more experienced players in the second half. Better result with minimum effort. See you lads in Udine!

 

Minimum effort.. a 88th minute penalty to secure a draw and you think you didn't have to make and effort?

 

^^^ I know, there goalkeeper was probably MOTM.ha

 

Minimum effort in the sense that
PINZI
DI NATALE
DOMIZZI
ASAMOAH

4 of our best players, just had a rest to be fit for Sunday.
And
BENATIA
ISLA
ARMERO
just played 45/30 minutes, so they did not spend much energies too.

 

proud of the bhoys last night . Devastated . Bangura looks like a good player .We just never get the luck we deserve in big games . we need to take this level of performance on and cut the gap . hail hail

 

I know what you mean but minimum effort isn't the right term mate

 

Money talks. I'm not sure if you're aware of this (heck, I'm not even sure if you're a genuine Udinese fan or a Hun in disguise), but the difference in money spent in Scotland on transfers and money spent in Italy on transfers is huge. Your club have the funds available to go out and buy big name players from all over Europe. Celtic did at one time, but it's been a good few years since we've had those kinds of funds available to us.

Being totally honest, I think the only player you have that would have troubled us from the start would have been Di Natale and even then, we've still to determine what our best centre back pairing actually is, due to the injuries we've sustained early on in the season.

 

Apologies if this has been posted previously, but anyone know where I could see highlights of the game?

 

Asamoah in my opinion is an absolute incredible player, along with Di Natale and their keeper who are genuinely world class.

 

Mugged for the penalty, but if we'd carried our 1st half performance into the 2nd we wouldn't have had a problem, could easily have had the game done and dusted in an hour for me.

Think it's gone already I'm afraid, minimum of 4 points from the next 2 games if we are to stand a chance.

 

Udinese goalkeeper won them their point he made some incredible saves.

 

Not sure what you mean?



Edit
Unless you mean in europa league table.

 

Still absolutely gutted, and now they know that we aint' a push over it will be much tougher in Italy