The reference to the goalkeeper is of course ironic. Gordon had 2 shots to save and 1 fumbled cross that caused mild alarm. Celtic certainly had a frustrating and uncomfortable night at the Lerkendal Stadium. But it wasn’t “torrid” as some in the Scottish press would have you believe. Rosenborg swamped Celtic with 2 shots … [continue reading]
Rosenborg
Celtic Adapt (Just) In Time
Celtic had to come from 0-1 down to Rosenborg. It is to Rodger’s credit he changed the Celtic attacking shape. But this had contributed to the Hoops deficit. Celtic set out with Forrest just behind Edouard to mimic the shape given by Edouard and Dembele against Alashkert. This meant Sinclair was high and wide on … [continue reading]
Why Faster is Better
A year after toiling to a 0-0 draw, Celtic threatened to sweep Rosenborg away, settling finally for a 3-1 advantage. A year on, what changed? Firstly, there was a lot that was similar about the two performances. Celtic dominated possession in both matches (71% and 70% this season). The Hoops completed less passes but more … [continue reading]
Familiar Foes for Fleet Footed Celtic
The Champions League money is such that smaller leagues can get distorted. Multiple year winners are common throughout the Champions route to the group stages. Therefore, for Celtic, the list of potential opponents becomes familiar. Last season Celtic competed against Astana for the second year in a row. And this year for the second competition … [continue reading]
Norwegians Blue
? “One of us made history, you made The Song of Norway” ? Celtic made it four European away games undefeated, and recorded their fourth clean sheet of the season, in Trondheim, as Group Stage football was guaranteed. The mouth of the cash river that is Champions League football has been reached. Navigating to safe … [continue reading]
Intrigued, but not Enlightened
The treacherous nature of playing teams half way through their season, in July, was amplified as Celtic struggled against a well organised Norwegian champion. Off the field events had dominated the headlines in the build-up, but on the field, there were worrying echoes of the Deila reign in Europe as the game started slowly, then … [continue reading]