What’s not in dispute about Sunday was Celtic’s overwhelming superiority in every aspect of the game. One Newco fan suggested to me that on that showing, only Nir Bitton wouldn’t have got into the Newco (not his word) team. What worked so well for us, despite an array of unenforced errors and poor finishing, was the passing and positional play from our two central defenders.
The jury has been out on Jozo Simunovic since his arrival in the summer of 2015 as we’ve seen so little of him in that time, but he and Erik Sviatchenko were fundamental to our dominance. With both full backs playing high up-field, Jozo and Erik were asked to cover the back line, often taking possession under pressure, but there were no Big Bobo moments.
They were comfortable enough to hold possession while being closed down and play a short passing game. Erik was regularly in the left back position against the touchline, but stuck to task. This meant Celtic could continue to play through periods where passing higher up the park wasn’t as accurate as it could have been.
As a consequence, Mikael Lustig and Kieran Tierney were able to overload wide midfield positions. Whenever possession was lost we were in place to press quickly.
Jozo got a good block on the only genuine chance Newco created all game (caused through an unenforced error in midfield) but apart from that it was difficult to judge any of the defenders on their defensive display, as we weren’t asked to defend for large parts of the day.
Brendan made the decision to let Jozo go to Torino in August, for the deal to fall through. One of his objectives this season will be to go into next summer’s Champions League qualifiers with three central defenders he can rely on (there is less doubt we’ll be in the qualifiers now than at this stage during the last three seasons).
Caveat on Wednesday aside, Kolo Toure has proven to be a great signing (he’s four years older than Philippe Senderos, as a guide), but it will be a while before he or Brendan will discuss next season. If Jozo and Erik remain fit, and with Eoghan O’Connell looking the part, this area of the team is well sorted.
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DAVIDOPOULOS on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 9:29 AM
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
Trump??? Logic???
Never the twain shall meet :)
==============================================
I prefer illogical to illegal .
:-)
The old sevconian cheats dont mind telling everybody how good they are.
Getting silly now.
Seemingly they dont need to beat us to win the league.
Thats how stupid these peepul are.
Fantasy now.
Hun papers lapping it right up.
HH
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 8:39 AM
Just saw the penalty incident at Hamilton last night. Collum made another blunder. Dreadful decision.
———–
i know its an old joke about refs eyesight, but I really though of that when i saw the incident. It cant just be incompetance, he gives the penalty with such certainty and instant reaction. I think he is blind.
well certainly since the pair in the back of his head dont work.
Well, Dingwall tonight and Pittodrie on Saturday.
I disagree with those thinking 4 from 6 will constitute a good haul. I will be disappointed with anything less than six with a couple of clean sheets.
Ross County are 8th; we are 12 points ahead of them with 3 games in hand so we should be looking for all 3 points here.
The Dandies were well off the pace against us at Celtic Park so we should overcome them as well. I predict 3-0 and 2-0.
KTF
MARGARET MCGILL on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 12:39 AM
So everybody and their granny wants Jozo, Erik, Dembele and probably a few others.
Rodgers urges…Scotland vow to keep….blah blah blah…..betcha pistol Pete cant wait till the January transfer window.
Clowns to the left of me jokers to the right. Old Firm I am.
____________
The easiest way to figure out who Celtic will actually sell is to have a look at how much they have left on their deal.
Jozo signed a 5 year deal on 01/09/2015
He’s going to be here for this season and next season at least.
Dembele signed a 4 year deal on 28/06/16
He’s going to be here for this season and next season at least.
Tierney signed a 5 year deal on 24/06/2016
He’s going to be here for this season and the following two seasons at least
Erik signed a 4 and a half year deal on 17/01/16
He’s going to be here for this season and next season at least.
_________________________________
All our key players are nailed down for the next season at least. Ignore the noise.
I was skeptical that Rogic would sign a new deal but he did. So this young group of players could remain together for 3 or so years.
VFR
And why not indeed.
6 points will do for me
We are due a win against that wee RC tim team….1-0 tonight
Aberdeen….victory….1-0
HH
Good Morning Bhoys from a damp Central Scotland well we can stretch our lead at the top tonight with a win in Dingwall but we will have to work hard for the result.Ross County will be desperate for the win in order to be the first team in Scotland to beat us this season I fancy Sparkie to led the line with Dembele on the bench.H.H.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 9:31 AM
DAVIDOPOULOS on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 9:29 AM
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
Trump??? Logic???
Never the twain shall meet :)
==============================================
I prefer illogical to illegal .
:-)
_____
Hahaha
Do you believe he’s never done anything illegal?
MINX1888
Many happy returns!
Have a great day!
MacJay
Hows it going.
Got some wild reading for you if you want to check it.
Should amuse you.
‘Manufacturing the Deadhead’
Quick search will bring it up.
HH
Griff to start tonight?
I’d rest Rogic.
TIMALOY29 on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 9:45 AM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 9:31 AM
DAVIDOPOULOS on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 9:29 AM
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
Trump??? Logic???
Never the twain shall meet :)
==============================================
I prefer illogical to illegal .
:-)
_____
Hahaha
Do you believe he’s never done anything illegal?
=============================================
I believe in facts.
Tell us about his illegal activities.
Proven not alleged.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:04 AM
TIMALOY29 on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 9:45 AM
I believe in facts.
Tell us about his illegal activities.
Proven not alleged.
__________
Riiiiight and I guess Clintons activities are “proven not alleged”
MacJay
What was Orwell telling you in 1984?
Ministry of Truth.
Thought Crime…Face Crime
Two-Minute Hate.
HH
A very happy hoopy birthday to MINX 1888!
HH!!
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 9:49 AM
Thanks for your consideration , pal.
Very thoughtful.
Reading tomes , I`m afraid , I don`t do much of now.
I got a surfeit as a student.
In any case , the moment I see political bias , I turn off.
Gimme facts.
OR gimme some truth .
Pre Watergate John Lennon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDDJeM5R4PM
TIMALOY29 on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:06 AM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:04 AM
TIMALOY29 on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 9:45 AM
I believe in facts.
Tell us about his illegal activities.
Proven not alleged.
__________
Riiiiight and I guess Clintons activities are “proven not alleged”
========================================================================
Understandable change of tack.
Indeed Clinton`s activities are proven .
Emails trashed .
Wikileaks.
Where have you been ?
MacJay
An interesting article which looks at how culture is created.
Political bias?…..its all constructed for the same purpose.
Social control and Social engineering.
Im asking a basic question here…’How do you control society’?
Think about the history of LSD for example.
Just a few bones to chew on:)
HH
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:06 AM
MacJay
What was Orwell telling you in 1984?
Ministry of Truth.
Thought Crime…Face Crime
Two-Minute Hate.
HH
=========================================
Orwell.
1984 ….written in Argyllshire in a wee cottage in the middle of Winter.
No wonder it`s bleak.
:-)
Magnificent portrayal of totalitarianism.
Right or Left . Irrelevant.
Evil.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:13 AM
Can you specify what exactly was illegal?
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:17 AM
Im asking a basic question here…’How do you control society’?
==========================================================
Rule number one.
The fewer laws a society has , the more civilised it is.
History of LSD ?
Truth drug , like pentothal ?
TIMALOY29 on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:20 AM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:13 AM
Can you specify what exactly was illegal?
=================================================
I see you have chosen to ignore this question.
Not surprisingly .
TIMALOY29 on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 9:45 AM
I believe in facts.
Tell us about his illegal activities.
Proven not alleged.
==================================
” Can you specify what exactly was illegal?”
Do your own spadework.
Macjay@ 10:17
Exactly!
Now…we are on the same path here, but at different ends.
Facts….Here is a wee fact…..Google, have more cash reserves than any country in the world.
Think about that for a sec.
A Super Corporation with powers people have yet to understand fully.
We move way beyond traditional left-right notions of ideology and politics.
The power of the internet,,,in 20 years, has totally altered the wiring of the human mind.
Big Brother is here…..and not the TV version.
They create your reality, and mine.
HH
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:28 AM
O.K.
But are Google a force for good or ill ?
For me they are a force for good because they have provided me with this conversation and much more.
Why should I begrudge them their riches ?
They provide a service.
Big brother Google ?
Yes .
If they use their power for evil
Do they ?
In fact , I am more concerned about the power of Murdoch than that of Google.
MacJay
Political totalitarianism evolves into media totalitarianism.
We go from Lenin, Stalin, Churchill, Truman via Thatcher, Reagan, Bush, Blair, Putin…to Apple, Google, Samsung…Bill Gates, Richard Branson.
Neat wee formula there:)
HH
Well, that’s the last time I listen to Donald Trump…….
……… got a brickie in to build a new wall, to replace the fence that was useless, between my back garden and the neighbours. Popped his bill through the neighbours door.
Judging by his initial response, I’d say he is not gonna pay, no sir, he ain’t gonna pay ;)
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:26 AM
Macjay: “I deal in facts. But they are all secrets so don’t ask me what they are!”
I’d probably start McGregor or Armstrong ahead of Bitton tonight…
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:37 AM
MacJay
Political totalitarianism evolves into media totalitarianism.
========================================================
Or maybe the other way round.
Chicken and egg, :-)
Six and half a dozen ?
I get your point , though.
Western government subsidised media ( U.S.A. , U.K. , Australia ) are dominated by leftist propaganda.
You probably won`t agree , but if that were true , you would agree that is not a good thing .
Yes ?
Or if it were dominated by rightist propaganda .
Equally undesirable.
Yes ?
Maybe even bring Patrick Roberts in?
But we must be mindful not to change things too much.
TIMALOY29 on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:46 AM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:26 AM
Macjay: “I deal in facts. But they are all secrets so don’t ask me what they are!”
======================================================
Tim.
I enjoy a full frank exchange of views.
I`m not interested in ” winning .”
That`s the difference between you and me.
HUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE on 26TH OCTOBER 2016 10:44 AM
All he has to do is restrict the flow of funds to Mexico.
Easy peasy.
Bring back Kolo or stick with the Jozo and Erik? I think still with the pairing from the weekend for the next two games and bring back Kolo for the BMG game next week.
*stick not still
Obvs.
Dena
Thoughts and prayers for the beautiful B and your family.
Macjay
Its beyond left and right.
The information age, personal computers, digital technology.
Now….if someone would have told us, when we were say 21 years old……that in the near future you will have a personal computer….i would have said….No F…..Way.
Its Star Trek.
Yet….here we are being actively involved in technology, that we had no conception of, not so long ago.
Thats truly revolutionary beyond any notion of 19th and 20th century politics.
Technology is a real time revolution.:)
HH
HH
Davidopoulos on 26th October 2016 10:51 am
Maybe even bring Patrick Roberts in?
But we must be mindful not to change things too much.
—
McInnes tried resting players last night :))))))))
leftclicktic
Aye, but he replaced bottle merchants with inferior bottle merchants ;)