http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/footba...or-side-s-humbling-in-holland-86908-23911231/ NEIL LENNON last night insisted he was to blame for Celtic’s humbling in Holland by Ajax. And the Hoops boss admitted his side can’t afford a repeat of their dismal defensive display when they take on HJK Helsinki in the Champions League qualifiers. Lennon went with a back three for the first half in Amsterdam and saw his side slump 3-0 behind inside 26 minutes thanks to goals from Siem de Jong, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Thulani Serero. He then changed to a back four but there was more misery in store as Charlie Mulgrew saw red for handball after the break. Daley Blind scored from the spot to complete a 4-0 rout and Lennon accepted full responsibility for getting his formation wrong. He said: “This was a bad result and I’ll take the rap for the first half because I tried a new formation with a back three. We’ve not had a lot of time to work on that so I will hold my hands up.” Frank de Boer’s side were sharper, fitter and stronger than the Hoops and could have won by more. Celtic have claimed just one win from four games on their tour of Germany and Holland. Lennon isn’t too downhearted but knows there will need to be an improvement for next week’s Euro clash at Parkhead. The Parkhead gaffer fielded close to a full-strength team against Ajax and said: “You learn a lot about your players in defeat. “We’re not demoralised. It has been a good trip and we will now focus on being ready for the Champions League game on Wednesday week.” Former Rangers defender de Boer was surprised that his rampant Ajax side managed to beat the SPL champions so easily. But he’s sure Celtic will improve before their Euro qualifier. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/ I think the next few friendlies, NL needs to pick his settled formation and starting 11 to get in shape for the qualifiers/league start.
I'm never too worried what happens in pre-season friendlies. As long as the team are fit and prepared for the CL qualifiers then that's the main thing. We've had some terrible pre-seasons in the past and gone on to have an excellent season following that.
Celtic always have ****e pre seasons... Good to expirement but can't be good for team morale - getting pumped. Norwich next then Inter...
ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh, ive done it. maybe best I should retire at the top. no need to linger around like Tinas smelly feet. i never even noticed Pud.
Need to be prepared for this Helsinki mob, they put seven past that team they played. It's the defence that worries me just now, Lustig looks like a weak link at the moment.
I used to feel the worse the pre season the better the season, so here's hoping. Just hope the ****s are fit for the start of the season. Few of the players look like they've enjoyed their summers too much. It's fair enough but means they are going to be slow out of the blocks, which isn't good when we have qualifiers against sides who are probably mid season as I guess the Scandinavian leagues are?
Yeah, not convinced by him ... Matthews is a much better option at RB. How many years has it been said that teh main weak link at Celtic is defence!!!!!
Yeah, fitness levesl yesterday looked poor... even the super fit Ledley looked slow! Double training sessions needed!
Well what we certainly didn't need going into this CL tie was any sense of entitlement or arrogance - I think we'll be fairly on our toes now at least.
Never rule out the Scandanavian teams, they are always good and and have competitive football in buckets compared to the rest of us. That said, friendlies are notoriously a bag of ****e. I remember a few years back when we pumped AC Milan 6-1 in a friendly. The game was brought forward a week but cannot remember why.
Spot on Mick, we've done that too many times over the years. Whether it's going into a first leg or a second leg with a lead. Need to get through this qualifier and we'll guaranteed CL or EL group stage at least. I personally don't think we're ready for the CL anyway, although the money would be good, the Europa League would be a more realistic testing ground for us again.
Who were that Icelandic team that raped Dunfermline in Europe? Remember when the fans sent Calderwood that postcard addressed to "Fat Judas Tango Man"...
I think we can forget about a back three in Europe. We don't have enough pace at the back for it. Only saw the first 30 mins but it was frightening how easily we were cut open. A lot of players did look off the pace though. Quite worried about that Helsinki mob. They're a fair bit into their season so are fully up to speed and they're sitting top of their league.
A back 3. That'll get destroyed against most European teams playing with two wing-backs and a front 3. Why not play someone like Wanyama as a sitting midfielder who can become a temporary CB like a lot of teams are doing these days? Busquets does it for Spain and Barcelona.
Back 3 baffled me a bit as well when the whole of the footballing world is moving towards 4-5-1 or even 4-6-0. Maybe he was trying it because we only have 3 defenders.
Maybe he was trying to recreate the MON days Anyway, it was a shambles. They managed to cut through the middle (which should in theory be more difficult with a back 3) time after time, and got behind Izzy and Matthews all too easily too. I also think playing 2 up front was something we'll never do away from home in europe so not sure why he went with that. Hooper and Stokes barely had a touch and we were down a midfielder as a result. Surely the last we'll see of 3-4-1-2 (or whatever the **** it was )
