Celtic FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2024/25

Stupid mistakes cost us again, should really be used to performances like this away in Europe but it isn't getting any easier.

Predictable stuff yesterday. Ange has been brilliant since he came in with an attractive brand of football that the players have bought into. Champions League though is a completely different level. He can't set up v RB Leipzig away from home in the CL the same way as he'd set up v Motherwell or Kilmarnock. The midfield 3 that started McGregor, Hatate and Riley is far too lightweight for a game like last night. Also they're pushed too far forward, all it takes is one stray pass and Leipzig were running at the heart of the defence with the full backs probably pushed forward as well.

As said; Ange has been brilliant domestically and a breath of fresh air but this is a major step up and a steep learning curve for him as well as most of the players who are new to the CL. Big test for him and the players to see if they can get 3rd place in the Group with 3 games left. 2nd is gone at this stage I'd say.

Abildgaard did ok I thought in what was essentially his debut bar a few minutes appearance v Motherwell. He got caught very far forward losing the ball on the edge of Leipzig's 18 yard line as well same as McGregor before he went off. He was probably there under instructions though.

Ange needs to adapt and mix things up for this competition, he also needs to game manage better. He was slow making subs when 2-1 down with guys like Riley and Hatate and Maeda ineffectual or out on their feet. He and the players need to respond next week and show signs of learning on the job.

McCarthty came on against Leipzig. He looked ok as he has done in several cameo appearances coming on towards the end of games. He mustn’t be able to get fit enough to start a game though which is unfortunate.

Apparently Ange in his interview before the game said he expects McGregor to be out for around a month so not as bad as first expected

What a roller-coaster that was,we were poor again today,still missing too many chances againbut we pulled this one out of the bag,the officials were an absolute disgrace

Don’t like the look of that line up Ange is putting out v RB tonight. Expecting goals at both ends.

0-0 at halftime. We’ve defended better than I thought even though some of it not surprisingly was last ditch stuff. Giakoumakis is a good finisher of chances and hopefully we’ll see him on soon.

Very disappointing bhoys. It was only a week or two I was saying they had a great chance to finish at least third, and a poster pointed out that 2nd place was well on. They have to go to Madrid now and get something, not impossible, but will be difficult. I was flicking between game and fantastic events at Hampden, and it looked a real end to end game. Thought Celtic had a couple of great chances to take the lead, thought Kyogo was very very poor. No composure at all. I read on Twitter that’s seven champions league defeats at home on the spin, a new record?? Last win was in 2013 against Ajax, hard to believe.

It’s a long long shot; Madrid will have qualified and will likely play the reserves, so this isn’t over. But one step at a time, need to beat Shaktar first and set up last game shootout.

It’s a big step up from the SPL to European level and Ange and his team are miles off it. You can’t be going into a CL game without a recognised DCM. He had options, not great ones perhaps but still better than what he chose. His philosophy is to play the same way against Motherwell on a Saturday as Leipzig on a Tuesday. It’s nonsense he has to adjust the tactics and team selection for a completely different task. How Maeda is continuously picked often to start games and yesterday he played the full game when there are also several better options is beyond me.

The manager has some credit in the bank after winning the league last season with some enterprising football. He’s used up all that credit with a display of shocking naivety in this CL campaign though.

3rd place still an outside chance, he and the players need to wake up and make a decent effort of getting that. They didn’t ever really look like they even believed they had a chance last night. Some early pressing and then the tank was predictably empty.

Great team performance from celtic today,great too see maeda get on the scoresheet,that ref is an absolute cheating bstard.