Did you notice during last night’s game the most important goal-type we’ve scored all season? Nir Bitton headed the ball forward to John Guidetti, who could have knocked it on, but instead was shoved off the ball, resulting in the ball progressing anyway. This scenario created the most valuable commodity in football: space.
There is an enormous amount of misunderstanding when teams line-up with ‘only’ one striker. Especially when this striker plays as a false 9 dropping deeper than a conventional striker would. Intuitively this sounds lacking in attacking edge, but it you have three whippet-like midfielders in support you create space for them to dart into, just as Stefan Johansen did to such effect at Firhill.
Whenever I see criticisms of this strategy I think back to Ireland’s victory over Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands in a must-win World Cup qualifier in 2001. Netherland’s started with van Nisterlrooy and Kluivert as strikers, before adding Hasselbaink and our own van Hooijdonk (replacing a midfielder and defender respectively), but they failed to beat Shay Given.
The game was a textbook lesson in how to deny your own strikers that most valuable commodity, the Dutch went out of the World Cup that afternoon.
Ronny still has plenty of work to do, but you can see his plans mature by the week.
I’m enjoying the many comments on the English TV deal, and our paucity. Without getting too philosophical, money often determines your sense of self. Our comparative lack of money will temper our ambitions for Celtic. Three years ago, losing a player to Southampton would have seemed an affront. In future, this might look like an objective.
It’s not all doom and gloom. We have a place in the football world, and in the Champions League, but we should talk about it, as well as future TV deals. Pick up on it tomorrow or next week.
Thanks for everyone who got in touch yesterday about CQN11 St Patrick’s Dinner on Friday 13 March. We’ve almost got the line-up confirmed, and it’s a cracker. Email me for booking information, celticquicknews@gmail.com
132 Comments- Pages:
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Will both Gary MacKay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong feature against Inter?
Apart from Gary MacKay-Stevens and Barry Robson, what other players have scored within their first 5 minutes of wearing a Celtic Jersey?
Yours in Celtic,
TB&F.
H.h.
aye
Clear at the top of the pops by a margin.
Pretty darn happy with that performance. Big end of February coming up and feeling good. As happy with our play as I have been in a good while.
HH all.
Ps I smell Friday.
HAIL HAIL
ogilviebhoy
12:28 on 12 February, 2015
That’s pretty cool
Time to get a second mortgage
With corals hibs are 2/1 in 90 minutes 5/1 half time and full time and 13/2 to win by 2 or more
Another few bucks saved last night watching the game on Sky
Which got me thinking since making the choice not too travel to away games, I have saved a right few bob which more than covers my yearly subscription to sky allowing me to indulge in a more comfortable spectator experience and have a wider choice of fare
So there’s not going to be any indignat calls from me cancelling my subscription
Btw Ronny Deilas regime seems to have a marked effect on Gary McKay Steven from last nights coverage he seems to have lost a couple of stone since leaving Dundee Utd
Paul67
Do you think that Ronny will go with 4-2-3-1 against Inter?
If so would that be wise?
truth_beauty_and_freedom
12:29 on 12 February, 2015
Apart from Gary MacKay-Stevens and Barry Robson, what other players have scored within their first 5 minutes of wearing a Celtic Jersey?
Jorge Cadete?
Paul67,
Completely agree. The calls on here earlier in the season for Rd to play two up top to ‘get more goals’ were cringeworthy to say the least.
I think we finished with 4 up front v St Mirren under btm and played 3 up top under Lenny v Ross county and we know how they ended up.
It will be really interesting to play Inter, will we go at them or ca’ canny?
Tbf,
The bould Jason is one.
Thanks Gary67
I don’t know the answer to the question, but was interested to know who else has achieved this? So far then these players have scored within their first 5 minutes of wearing a Celtic Jersey:
Jorge Cadete
Barry Robson
Gary MacKay-Stevens
Yours in Celtic,
TB&F.
Repeat plea from last article
Any chance we can lay off the “he’ll go”, “we’ll lose them” chat till at least nearer the window?
Experience tells us there’s always another player to step up or bring in when someone moves on so why the obsession that we’ll never recover if someone leaves?
Every player is only one bad tackle, misplaced foot or an accident away from their career being over. We know that well enough from big Kennedy. So lets not pin our hopes on one or two guys, paid handsomely by the way for the priviledge of playing for us, to such an extent we get anxiety over them maybe moving on!
We’ve got what we’ve got till at least the summer. Lets live in the moment a bit more
COYBIG
Je suis Rope Holderer
MWD said AYE
Positive article in London free newspaper city AM:
Page 13:
http://www.cityam.com/sites/default/files/edition/frontcover/Cityam%202015-02-12.pdf
PS Brother Walfrid was an Eastender.
Paul67
Good shout.
Everybody is a striker in the Deila system.
The acid test is one week away.
bournesouprecipe.@ 12 19 ( last thread ).
Not true. Another component of the urban myth that has them underestimating Celtic.Inter knew they were playing a very good team .The support knew they were playing a very good team.The Italian media of the time knew that Celtic were a very good team and had no problems saying so.
That must have been one of the youngest starting eleven average age ever to have worn the hoops -which got even younger after the second half substitutions -keep it up Ronny
We should all pay homage to the Viking spirit that clearly lives on within Stefan J – go to Spotify, Grand Magus and “Fight”
John Guidetti’s movement was excellent all night. He was involved in two of the goals, came close to scoring with a volley and was wrongly called offside on a couple of occasions when he would have been clean through.
As an aside, Nir Bitton is excellent at making space, passing and keeping possession, but I’ve never seen a six footer who is such a poor header of the ball.
Gary67
12:37 on 12 February, 2015
truth_beauty_and_freedom
12:29 on 12 February, 2015
Apart from Gary MacKay-Stevens and Barry Robson, what other players have scored within their first 5 minutes of wearing a Celtic Jersey?
Jorge Cadete?
Gary 67
What a great night that was 5-0 against Aberdeen. When his goal went in I think the noise put the beeb off the air..
HH
Kdc,
Some shoulda canned that sort of chat on the day of the dundee game on the 31st Aug.
Virgilwillbesold csc
Paul.
Stuff the EPL.Overrated.
Give me the Champions league on a regular
basis.
So much that is wrong in the modern game
exists down south.
It sucks out the life long enthusiasm I’ve
had for the beautiful game.
south of tunis
Oh well.
Perhaps Mancini should have taken a leaf from Herreira’s book just in case their natural arrogance gets a shock.
Gordon j,
Absolutely.
Guidetti is playing much better than his recent goal stats suggest.
HH
time for change
12:23 on 12 February, 2015
Bless them……..they will eventually crawl under the same rock from whence they came…..
No to league changes also….
There’s a buzz about the place!
67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors
wouldn’t be too soon!
HH
glasgowdave – 12:48
Knocked out Radio Five Live, yip.
freedom
12:29 on 12 February, 2015
Larsson got a assist with his first touch :-) hh
Bitton is growing into the jersey.
Big time.
Along with captain Broony, positional
awareness will be vital next Thursday.
Finding this one game at a time malarkey
tough to deal with.
Gordon_J,
While I do agree with you as regards Nir Biton’s lack of heading prowess, it was his header that led to our 3rd goal, last night.
I am still a bit sceptical about Guidetti. I do agree that he worked hard last night but his first touch when Armstrong scored was poor. He could/should have scored himself.
starry plough
12:12 on
12 February, 2015
I really do hope RD can build that spirit and I expressed previously my hope that games like Inter may keep the likes of Denyer on board. Even just for another season loan. Since, good as he is, I still don’t think he’d be an automatic for Man City at the moment.
To be honest I’m happy if the best young players consider us a good stepping stone to EPL by offering CL (hopefully) experience along the way.
hamiltontim
12:34 on 12 February, 2015
Paul67
Do you think that Ronny will go with 4-2-3-1 against Inter?
If so would that be wise?hamiltontim
12:34 on 12 February, 2015
Paul67
Do you think that Ronny will go with 4-2-3-1 against Inter?
If so would that be wise?
———————————————————————————————————————–
If he does, I hope it’s a real back four. The past few weeks we’ve played a back two, with them being too far apart and the nearest players being Brown and Biton, plus big Virgil going walkabout. Ok for most of the games in Scotland but won’t do against Inter.
Glasgow Dave
You are correct sir.
I was listening to it on the wireless (old school) and the Beep went off air due to the roar when oul Jorge hit the bag of the onion bag!
Brilliant night that.
Parkheadcumsalford,
I know I’m being picky with Bitton. It’s not his natural game to go winning headers. But when I see him jump for a ball he always looks like he has no confidence in actually winning it. He is a big lad and should be able to use his physique a bit better.
Mind you, when Guidetti shows strength it is usually a free kick the other way.