14 Jul 2015 22:15:54
Hi Ed
I was really interested to read Nir Biton's assessment of the 2014/2105 ECL campaign when we were unceremoniously dumped out of the competition by NK Maribor after our reprieve (owing to Legia's illegal use of a player).
Both Biton and Dalia spoke about the various hurdles we faced this time last year due to the bedding in of a new regime, different systems, language barriers, upheaval, player unrest, transition and lower (than normal) confidence. What intrigued me most was the HONESTY exhibited, but that in turn took my thinking down another route.
With the money and prestige involved, and the fact that we were 1 match away from Group qualification, why did RD insist on new systems and approaches in a "must win/knock out" scenario so early in the season, when there was already an issue with fitness and freshness owing to pre-season?
If RD had a "new grand plan", would it not have been more sensible (even astute) to roll out the new tactics slowly but surely across the domestic campaign where the margin for error in a "marathon" season would have been more comfortable? Given the ECL monetary impact (assuming qualification to Groups), was it not slightly naive to assume and embrace MATERIAL CHANGE so early when there was a series of hurdles already in place?
It was only when I was reading the Sunday Herald article that I started to scratch my head. I know that some folk will argue that there is no time like the present to start new things, but there was an "opportunity" and we took an already difficult situation and made it altogether more difficult on ourselves.
Obviously, we should benefit this time around assuming the draw is kind to us, but I am curious about your thoughts on this Ed.
Did RD (and PL) get this wrong last season? Would they not have been better putting all the "new ideas" on the back burner until we had navigated our way through the qualifiers. Keep in mind that I am only raising this because one of our players and our manager highlighted the relevance of rustiness, uncertainty, and unfamiliarity on our performance, and in the end, on our actual ECL results.
On to this year's campaign, I have again looked back to move forward. The starting eleven that took to the field against Maribor last year included Ambrose, Mulgrew, McGregor, Stokes, Kayal and Berget. The other 5, who will most likely start tomorrow's match, include Gordon, Izzy, Van Dijk (noting he is suspended), Lustig and Johansen.
A look at the 5 who will re-commence battle, Gordon is not short of confidence and is certainly better off for the past season, so improvement there. Izzy, well.Izzy is Izzy and there isn't much to add other than the fact that he did have a decent second half of the season and so may come in to 2015/2016 closer to the player who graced the hoops during his Player of the Year season 3 years ago (we can hope!). BIg VVD is obviously out so we will limit comment until the next match or next round but I expect his form to steady or improve given the wider exposure and profile of European matches. Lustig will be rusty and a question mark remains over what Lustig we will actually get, but looking at it positively, an on-form Lustig would feature in most fans starting Celtic line-up. Johanssen is a better player than this time last year and he has a role that is now better defined. His influence is beyond question. Johanssen this time last year was all over the place, doing too much and, as a result, quite ineffective.
The 7 "additions" versus this time last year will include Biton, Brown, Boyata, GMS, Griffiths, Armstrong and Mulgrew. Mulgrew obviously by default due to VVD forced absence, but the rest HAS TO REPRESENT MATERIAL IMPROVEMENT surely when compared against Ambrose, McGregor, Stokes, Kayal and Berget?
We are a different (and slightly improved) team in my view, who now have faith in a system and style of play that is accepted, understood and (broadly speaking) is being embraced by eleven willing players. Now I don't know if 4-2-3-1 is better than 4-4-2 or 5-3-2 or 5-4-1. Who can say? But we do look better placed to approach any match-up in a more settled fashion with roles understood matter-of-factly.
I am looking forward to tomorrow and hope that we can get off to a flier. I confidently predict a comfortable win, either 4-0 or 5-1.
Hail Hail
14 Jul 2015 23:00:43
I have said it since it happened ,is that the only one responsible for last years CL shambles is RD,with his gungho system change and playing the wrong personnel and tactics,I am confident this year will be more successful as the players are used to his system now and he knows the players capabilities better,what did Biton mean by language barriers?,RDs english is every bit as good as NLs
14 Jul 2015 23:22:57
Hi paradise nice to see you still not let your typist go mate lol
We dissected this all last season mate , it is done and dusted the refreshing thing for me was how honest he was on how/where he went wrong at that early chapter
Nothing we can do about it except move forward in the direction I now think we are going one thing for sure IMO it is just going to get harder & harder year in year out to get CL qualification and that my friend might be the hardest of all pills to swallow
ATVB JB7
15 Jul 2015 00:03:00
Hey Jamie
Typist excited about new living wage but it just means more words per minute Lol. Need to see value and as a tough taskmaster the typist should have seen it coming.
I know this was probably addressed last year but it came up in this weekend's paper hence my raising it Jamie. It was a horrible judgement call. We can say that experience has delivered a new improved RD but last year's experience came at a helluva price and RD has some making up to do in my view. For me he still has a lot to prove
We were a fearful team last year. Will be be geared this time out or will the nerves and the occasion see is crawl back in to our shells?
Hmmmmm
Aindoh, we're on the same page
15 Jul 2015 00:06:00
I have to slightly disagree with you Jamie. We will no longer meet the likes of Arsenal etc to qualify where in my opinion we have no chance. Now we are up against 3 qualifiers yes but vastly inferior opposition compared to Arsenal. If u take an average of 5 years of trying to qualify, against the likes of Arsenal we will probably not qualify once unless we got extremely lucky. Now take 5 years of Maribors etc we would be expecting at least 3 years of qualification.And if we didn't pass the 1st two rounds then we might as well chuck it lol.
15 Jul 2015 00:06:54
Good evening Aindoh
Maybe the language barrier involved Berget LOL
15 Jul 2015 00:29:30
Agree rayman
Of course the issue is that certain champions from certain countries are investing and improving. Reputationally at least we should be 3 in 5 or 4 in 5 years etc but when you look at the likes of Salzburg and Dynamo Zagreb and even the likes of Steau and Plzen, they aren't exactly consolidating or rationalising. They are improving. Thus we need to improve at a commensurate rate
It can be done certainly and we need to remain optimistic ( albeit vigilant). One thing I would add is that whatever the relative strength or weakness of the various " champions pathway" participants, we are nonetheless playing against teams who are used to winning and who will be naturally confident as a result.
We cannot approach these games tentatively or with fear. Fear and cautiousness can be like playing against an extra man!
15 Jul 2015 00:29:47
Hi Rayman / Paradise
Rayman naturally a hope you are right , but am not confident based on our purchasing in the last few seasons & PL continual gambling/short changing us particularly in a quality front man
Paradise a typist that does a night shift pmsl that is no living wage material that's time and a half you tight wad ;-)
Listen, last year a made my views made more than most but it is gone , cannot be holding against RD in my view guys now yes granted when there was no sign of improvement , but not now in my view (y)
15 Jul 2015 00:59:41
Hey Jamie
Leave PL alone. That poor man works every hour god sends to attract the creme de la creme of football talent ( on loan . .) and gets a paltry £750000 per year for his endeavours! So a bit d respect. Poor man doesn't even have a secretary.
In RD we trust ( if you insist). Jamie, fore RD hasn't won a key match yet. The big tests were Legia Maribor Salzburg Inter and Inverness.
No matter the opposition during our ECL journey, the pressire will be immense making these matches HUGE. If he can navigate a route to the Groups then I will give credit where credit is due and volunteer plaudits galore
Hail hail
15 Jul 2015 09:21:01
Hi did RD not admit last year that he made the mistake by trying to change the way we play to quickly? This year If we can get maybe 2 new additions I can see us quality
15 Jul 2015 11:37:42
Yes Tony he did, what we don't want is him saying the same next year. As paradise (secretary) has noted he hasn't won a game of any real importance yet. Now is his time he has got what he wanted pre season (no travelling) has got players he was after so now there is no excuses. The fans demand CL football and no doubt so do the board so its down to him now.
15 Jul 2015 14:06:23
totally agree rayman