Shaktar Victory
No matter how many times I've been there, seen it, lived through it, I just can’t bring myself to understand the magic that happens at Celtic Park.
About 65 minutes gone, there was just no way I could see Celtic scoring again, no way I could see them winning.
Far more intelligent and eloquent men that me, have failed to understand, never mind explain what it is about Celtic on these nights that make them the most special team in the world.
It’s not just the supporters, that would give you and I too high a place in it all. It’s Celtic. It’s the strip, the history, the players, the stadium, the songs, the hope, the belief (sometimes), the passion, the disappointment, the stage, the fans, the teams and players of days gone by. So many tangible’s make up the intangible beauty that is Celtic, that not only wins games like last night, but also reinforces the belief all around the world that Celtic are one of those special clubs. Where people are drawn to, and once here never can escape completely.
Celtic becomes a part of you, every bit as much as you become a part of Celtic:
Ninety-seven minutes to do it all again. To be deflated, to build yourself back up, to lose our way (and players), to bring ourselves back into it, to hate the opposition, to get hold of the match only to give away chances. All of this, to end where so many have ended before. Twelve months ago Nakamura did it, against Milan Scott McDonald did it. As Neil Lennon said "Yes I've seen this before, every time I come here, I don’t know why you're all surprised" It should have been, whose turn would it be tonight?
McDonald endeavoured and was directly involved in the first, with his sheer persistence causing the Shaktar defence enough concern to force the error giving the ball to the calm and impressive Jarosik. The buzzing from one defender to the next continued to cause them problems, and won a couple of the corners late in the game as we tried to keep the pressure on. But it wasn’t a day for McDonald or his less persistent partner Hesselink, to be the hero.
McGeady too, no lack of effort from the young Irishman, and like McDonald certainly played a supporting role in the story of the night. But his obvious talent led the Ukrainian side to double up on him, giving him a hell of a task to play his part as effectively as he has done. However, he worked away, and what the defence prevented him doing in terms of dribbling and taking them on, he certainly made up for in delivery. Two or three crosses giving opportunities that really should have broken Shaktar hearts, with Donati's 92 minute strike making up for Jarosiks far simpler first half chance.
Brown worked determined as ever and got about the pitch well, but there will be future European nights at Celtic Park where his name will be song at the final whistle. Much like Boruc, who one excellent save apart, had little chance to impact on proceedings in a match winning capacity.
Naylor and Kennedy, both had prologues giving them a script worthy of the last minute winner, however injury curtailed their games and both had to be replaced early on. Naylor having such a torrid start to the season, really looks to have got over it, and looks far more confident, what timing a hero's performance would have been for the willing fullback who had little time to do anything constructive before he went down in distress to be replaced my midfielder Donati in what had to be a tactical reshuffle. Even more concerning was the sight of the collapsed Kennedy on the Celtic Park turf, after his early mistake giving Brandao an easy chance for Shaktar to go one up, a goal would have been great for the big man, to ease the pain of the 3rd minute. Although that pales in significance to the worry that his first half substitution was a reoccurrence of the knee injury that kept him out for over two years. Hopefully it wont prove to be anything as serious as that, but indeed, Left him out of the race to be the man to bring Celtic back to touching distance of the last 16 of the Champions League.
McManus didn’t do too much wrong and a steady performance (albeit with mixed distribution) kept him away from the glory that he and McDonald enjoyed against Milan. After the cruel injury blow to Kennedy, Pressley took his place alongside McManus in the heart of the defence, and in truth gave one of his most assured performances in a Celtic shirt. Kept it simple, and gave the ball to those more gifted at the beautiful game than himself. In his first game in 7 months, Pressley even remained back at Corners thus ruling him out of any goal scoring opportunities, in a clear attempt to maintain a level of sharpness and energy until the final whistle.
If any player on the pitch was deserving of not only a victory, but also some personal glory, it would have been Paul Hartley. Will work tirelessly with all his experience in any position given, and showed that he will give his all for Celtic. Being shifted to left back would seem galling to most midfielders but Hartley got on with the task at hand and performed more that admirably. But an overlapping fullback he will never be, and was content to sit in, hold his position and let other vie for the glory.
It has been said before that Gary Caldwell is not good enough at Champions League level, however no-one can call into questions Gary's determination, effort, and most all off bottle. To his detrement Gary Caldwell will not hide, he will take the ball and he will try his best. Yes often that is not good enough, and I don’t think it will benefit anybody to turn Gary Caldwell into a good footballer, because it would be stretching the truth. But lets for once give him credit, credit that is deserved for anyone who works like he did last night, for the bottle he has, and for the help he has given us when he stands up to be counted. Spartak game, Boruc and Naylor almost crack under the pressure and go for each other, who splits them up Gary Caldwell, not our captain who is standing beside him. First penalty of the shootout to take us to the all important group stages, who steps up, a centre forward, Hesselink, no, a centre half, must be our captain then, no, Gary Caldwell. Against Milan his calm and controlled shot caused Dida more problems that Rab McHendry giving McDonald his goal. Last night, his efforts to get forward in the latter stages have to be applauded, as indeed does his slipped pass to Aiden on the wing leading to the goal.
But Gary will only ever be part of a team able to take Champions league points, if he has other players around him, good players, match winners. Last night, one such player, a good player indeed, was Jiri Jarosik. Not only did he put to bed the nonsense that he isn’t up for the fight, but he put in a goal and all round performance that was deserved of his man of the match award. Not the left midfielder that will hit the by-line, not only due to his natural foot being his right, but his game is far more on a calm, passing, possession play that on big nights is needed more than the plain effort and pace that fans sometimes think best. Jiri not only tackled, marked and covered his and any other man he could, he used the ball well, and along with his fantastic strike to draw level, got into two great positions from which he could have scored. What Jiri does particularly well, he refuses to be bullied into playing the rushed pass and has the presence of mind to build the move slowly without playing a pass blind just to force it forward, which in pressure situations is always a consideration.
However well Jarosik played, and how great a strike his goal was, there was one reason why Jiri Jarosik was not the name on the tip of 60,000 tongues leaving Celtic Park last night. That reason was Massimo Donati. With a basic overview, the Italian was purchased with Champions League performances in mind, so therefore last night was purpose built for him, and accordingly he delivered. Things, unfortunately haven’t been as simple as that for the likeable Italian, who was disappointed not to be named in the starting eleven for the second consecutive Champions League again. There was good reason why he was amongst the subs, Paul Hartley has been giving the type of performances, with grit, passion, composure, and stability that Massimo has struggled to show since the first couple of matches. Tonight he came on and tried to put that all right. It didn’t all work for him. But his effort was plain to see, and on the 47th minute of the second half, there was something else plain to see.
Massimo Donati had just become a part of Celtic and Celtic in turn had just become a part of him.
About 65 minutes gone, there was just no way I could see Celtic scoring again, no way I could see them winning.
Far more intelligent and eloquent men that me, have failed to understand, never mind explain what it is about Celtic on these nights that make them the most special team in the world.
It’s not just the supporters, that would give you and I too high a place in it all. It’s Celtic. It’s the strip, the history, the players, the stadium, the songs, the hope, the belief (sometimes), the passion, the disappointment, the stage, the fans, the teams and players of days gone by. So many tangible’s make up the intangible beauty that is Celtic, that not only wins games like last night, but also reinforces the belief all around the world that Celtic are one of those special clubs. Where people are drawn to, and once here never can escape completely.
Celtic becomes a part of you, every bit as much as you become a part of Celtic:
Ninety-seven minutes to do it all again. To be deflated, to build yourself back up, to lose our way (and players), to bring ourselves back into it, to hate the opposition, to get hold of the match only to give away chances. All of this, to end where so many have ended before. Twelve months ago Nakamura did it, against Milan Scott McDonald did it. As Neil Lennon said "Yes I've seen this before, every time I come here, I don’t know why you're all surprised" It should have been, whose turn would it be tonight?
McDonald endeavoured and was directly involved in the first, with his sheer persistence causing the Shaktar defence enough concern to force the error giving the ball to the calm and impressive Jarosik. The buzzing from one defender to the next continued to cause them problems, and won a couple of the corners late in the game as we tried to keep the pressure on. But it wasn’t a day for McDonald or his less persistent partner Hesselink, to be the hero.
McGeady too, no lack of effort from the young Irishman, and like McDonald certainly played a supporting role in the story of the night. But his obvious talent led the Ukrainian side to double up on him, giving him a hell of a task to play his part as effectively as he has done. However, he worked away, and what the defence prevented him doing in terms of dribbling and taking them on, he certainly made up for in delivery. Two or three crosses giving opportunities that really should have broken Shaktar hearts, with Donati's 92 minute strike making up for Jarosiks far simpler first half chance.
Brown worked determined as ever and got about the pitch well, but there will be future European nights at Celtic Park where his name will be song at the final whistle. Much like Boruc, who one excellent save apart, had little chance to impact on proceedings in a match winning capacity.
Naylor and Kennedy, both had prologues giving them a script worthy of the last minute winner, however injury curtailed their games and both had to be replaced early on. Naylor having such a torrid start to the season, really looks to have got over it, and looks far more confident, what timing a hero's performance would have been for the willing fullback who had little time to do anything constructive before he went down in distress to be replaced my midfielder Donati in what had to be a tactical reshuffle. Even more concerning was the sight of the collapsed Kennedy on the Celtic Park turf, after his early mistake giving Brandao an easy chance for Shaktar to go one up, a goal would have been great for the big man, to ease the pain of the 3rd minute. Although that pales in significance to the worry that his first half substitution was a reoccurrence of the knee injury that kept him out for over two years. Hopefully it wont prove to be anything as serious as that, but indeed, Left him out of the race to be the man to bring Celtic back to touching distance of the last 16 of the Champions League.
McManus didn’t do too much wrong and a steady performance (albeit with mixed distribution) kept him away from the glory that he and McDonald enjoyed against Milan. After the cruel injury blow to Kennedy, Pressley took his place alongside McManus in the heart of the defence, and in truth gave one of his most assured performances in a Celtic shirt. Kept it simple, and gave the ball to those more gifted at the beautiful game than himself. In his first game in 7 months, Pressley even remained back at Corners thus ruling him out of any goal scoring opportunities, in a clear attempt to maintain a level of sharpness and energy until the final whistle.
If any player on the pitch was deserving of not only a victory, but also some personal glory, it would have been Paul Hartley. Will work tirelessly with all his experience in any position given, and showed that he will give his all for Celtic. Being shifted to left back would seem galling to most midfielders but Hartley got on with the task at hand and performed more that admirably. But an overlapping fullback he will never be, and was content to sit in, hold his position and let other vie for the glory.
It has been said before that Gary Caldwell is not good enough at Champions League level, however no-one can call into questions Gary's determination, effort, and most all off bottle. To his detrement Gary Caldwell will not hide, he will take the ball and he will try his best. Yes often that is not good enough, and I don’t think it will benefit anybody to turn Gary Caldwell into a good footballer, because it would be stretching the truth. But lets for once give him credit, credit that is deserved for anyone who works like he did last night, for the bottle he has, and for the help he has given us when he stands up to be counted. Spartak game, Boruc and Naylor almost crack under the pressure and go for each other, who splits them up Gary Caldwell, not our captain who is standing beside him. First penalty of the shootout to take us to the all important group stages, who steps up, a centre forward, Hesselink, no, a centre half, must be our captain then, no, Gary Caldwell. Against Milan his calm and controlled shot caused Dida more problems that Rab McHendry giving McDonald his goal. Last night, his efforts to get forward in the latter stages have to be applauded, as indeed does his slipped pass to Aiden on the wing leading to the goal.
But Gary will only ever be part of a team able to take Champions league points, if he has other players around him, good players, match winners. Last night, one such player, a good player indeed, was Jiri Jarosik. Not only did he put to bed the nonsense that he isn’t up for the fight, but he put in a goal and all round performance that was deserved of his man of the match award. Not the left midfielder that will hit the by-line, not only due to his natural foot being his right, but his game is far more on a calm, passing, possession play that on big nights is needed more than the plain effort and pace that fans sometimes think best. Jiri not only tackled, marked and covered his and any other man he could, he used the ball well, and along with his fantastic strike to draw level, got into two great positions from which he could have scored. What Jiri does particularly well, he refuses to be bullied into playing the rushed pass and has the presence of mind to build the move slowly without playing a pass blind just to force it forward, which in pressure situations is always a consideration.
However well Jarosik played, and how great a strike his goal was, there was one reason why Jiri Jarosik was not the name on the tip of 60,000 tongues leaving Celtic Park last night. That reason was Massimo Donati. With a basic overview, the Italian was purchased with Champions League performances in mind, so therefore last night was purpose built for him, and accordingly he delivered. Things, unfortunately haven’t been as simple as that for the likeable Italian, who was disappointed not to be named in the starting eleven for the second consecutive Champions League again. There was good reason why he was amongst the subs, Paul Hartley has been giving the type of performances, with grit, passion, composure, and stability that Massimo has struggled to show since the first couple of matches. Tonight he came on and tried to put that all right. It didn’t all work for him. But his effort was plain to see, and on the 47th minute of the second half, there was something else plain to see.
Massimo Donati had just become a part of Celtic and Celtic in turn had just become a part of him.
posted by Michael__67 at 6:23 AM
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