A week ago you and I discussed how Newco fans were more confident ahead of a Celtic game than they had ever been, while we, chastened by a lacklustre Celtic performance against them last month, thought we had a game on our hands at Hampden.
Five days after a very one-sided Scottish Cup semi-final and sentiment in both camps has shifted. Newco were awful on a level that it is hard to do justice on the page. Celtic were imperious in possession and attacked with a swagger.
Don’t let what happened a week ago cloud your judgement. I’ve been going to Ibrox for over 30 years, and many on here have been going twice as long, but no matter how poor old Rangers were in that time, we seldom had it easy. On my first visit there we scored four second half goals against a truly awful outfit, but 45 minutes into the game we were two down and struggling.
If you win at Ibrox, you have played well. Celtic will need to be unscrupulously faithful to their tactical system. Brendan will know how to prepare the players for this. They will need the concentration and energy to deliver the performance.
I have some worries for Pedro (apologies, but I’m not sure if he’s going to be around long enough to make it worthwhile learning how to spell his surname). His 10-second principle is a case in point.
In the interview Chris Davies gave to a few Celtic bloggers, including myself, he explained that when Celtic lose possession, the players are told to spend up to six seconds pressing directly for the ball. If they fail to win possession back in this period, they are to drop back into defensive positions.
They have been trained to do this since preseason. It’s risky, and you will note that they do it every week in domestic football, but the technique was used sparingly in the Champions League group stage. The risk of a Barcelona-type team passing through the press is dangerous, as when players are pressing, they are out of position.
This is how modern football is played, but Pedro should be cautious. You cannot reeducate players overnight. If you attempt to and fail, it’s the manager’s responsibility. In fact, this quote from Pedro is exactly what you should expect when you try to force a new system onto a team midseason:
“When we analysed the game in some moments of the game some players were acting in one direction, which was the right direction and other players were not doing the same thing at the same time.”
This was clearly not the outcome Pedro expected, but his explanation suggests he has a lot to learn about how to tactically change football teams.
What’s worse, instead of shielding his players by taking ownership of the blame, he put the players in the dock. It is no surprise that you can detect grumblings of discontent emanating from loyal Ibrox sources.
Taking about “in the dock”, Sir David Murray is currently in the witness box at Craig Whyte’s trial. Proceedings are enthralling, but we’ll catch up with that later. A point worth reiterating:
It is acceptable to report on what was said at court, but unacceptable to prejudice a witness or defendant with your view on that individual, or on evidence presented. So stick to what was said – that’s fascinating enough.
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Get them hung.
hail Hail
Too good for them!
Shouldnt have read the article
Bunch of cheats
I demand a recount
ACGR,MT and TTT
tainted podiums
The 6 second thing is interesting. I’d worry Newco players will steal the idea but they can’t count that high.
Gooood afternoon CQN
Celtic by Numbers Thanks for response
Does that tell us whips Griffiths is not a regular starter if his passing completion is worst in team ?
How does that compare to Moussa
Brilliant stuff :-)
Hail Hail
I can’t believe that whatever Pedro tells them beforehand, that this team will stand off as much as they did in the first half at Hampden. If they try, their fans will storm their dressing room at half time. They are hurting and will come out fighting, so it will need calm heads (S. Brown hope you have your cool head on), but the opportunities will come as they career round the pitch chasing shadows.
Oh, and Martin Bain on 39 months notice? What sort of contract is that?
FASSREIFEN
Also their concentration doesn’t last that long. Somewhat less than a goldfish, in fact.
Hangings too good for them! What they need is a good kick up the arse.
:-))
Paul67
I also read that Chris Davies had predicted the half time changes our opposition would make ?
Again good stuff
Hail Hail
WITS. Your right you can claim my 2nd place. Sorry can I still back your tips :).
ACGR. I am currently halfway through a bottle of black whisky. Its a 20year old Speyside 43% single malt and is beautiful. I got it as a present and thought it was a bottle of dark rum at first. Have you came across a black whisky M.
HH
KTF
UTLR
WITS
I posted a thank you to you late last night, don’t know if you saw it.
Took your three selections on a small Patent. Result!!!
As I am unwaged, it was a great boost. Thanks again and HH to you.
” on my first visit there we scored 4 second half goals ” .
On my first visit there we scored 1, conceded 2 and Bertie Auld missed a penalty very late in the game New Years Day 1959 — an absolutely minging day . Walked there and back from Queens Cross… Strong memory of seeing an absolutely blootered Deady Bear bellowing Conway Twitty s -It’s Only Make Believe -as he was being huckled into a plod mobile.
FAO BRTH
Or anyone else booked for the Gala Dinner in Lisbon on the 24th May
Can anyone confirm or clarify the dress code for the evening ?
BRTH has said “Green & White”, but for instance, would shorts be considered appropriate.
Dress shorts that is, as it will be really warm in Lisbon.
Celtic should profit tomorrow from Pedro’s new defensive set up at corners. A loose collection of blue shirted statues not yet on first name basis.
DB to open the scoring from a free header:))
In amongst them Celtic..
MIGHTY TIM
I was given a bottle out of someone’s private cask, by a client when I left a job, which was held at the Glenlivet Distillery.
It was really dark and when I first poured it I thought it was Cognac. Tasted great too.
Starry Plough
Hunderbirds
Saw that
Thanks for the kind words,glad you made a few bob
Starry Plough
I would have the first team have a look at the under 20’s and how they used set pieces. Nearly every corner was different and it caught out the opposition on a few occasions.
New TShirt getting first airing in Newcastle this morning. Down with my bhoy who is at an interview for job. I have 3 hours to kill.
HH
KTF
UTLR
Interesting court case this a m Findlay to me, seemed to be making out King was the good guy, nothing like a wee bit of Hun on Hun to make your day :)
A wee shameless spamming lunchtime bump – Callum McGregor, by numbers –
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/water-carrying-for-galacticos/
HH
Not so sure LG will start tomorrow, i think Brendan might go Sinclair, Roberts and Forrest ….
WITS-HH
Hunderbirds it’s called Bhein Dunne (spelling) it means black mountain. Your right it is superb.
I have asked my bro in law who got it for me if he can get me 3 more. I will give one to CRC or BRT&H to raffle or auction for our bhoy Shay.
HH
KTF
UTLR
YORKBHOY
I saw that yes, they really worked the set pieces well, I’m sure BR and CD will have noted last weeks weakness at corners from the Orcs. We could have had several goals with better finishing from our Bhoys!
HH
WHAT IS THE STARS on 28TH APRIL 2017 11:57 AM
ACGR,MT and TTT
tainted podiums
*****
I am proud of my honourable third place, which sits proudly beside my first of a few days ago.
I could have challenged for top spot, if I hadn’t made lunch and brought in the turf before reading the article.
As your tips prove, my WITSey friend, you cannae win them a’. : > )
Cowiebhoy on 28th April 2017 12:02 pm
Goood afternoon CQN
Celtic by Numbers Thanks for response
Does that tell us whips Griffiths is not a regular starter if his passing completion is worst in team ?
How does that compare to Moussa
Brilliant stuff :-)
Hail Hail
———————————————————————————-
Noooooooooo.
It is certainly not a case of High Pass % = Good and Low Pass % = Bad. Similarly, it is not a case of High Pass % = good passer and Low Pass % = bad passer.
Let’s take Boyata and Griffiths again.
Boyata has the highest passing completion rate in the squad – currently 95.82% pass completion success. Why ? Because under Rodgers he has been drilled to keep it very simple. He therefore completes low risk passes and lots of them. He has 1 assist for passing to someone who belted it in from distance, and has created 0 chances. He takes no risks.
Griffiths has the lowest passing completion success in the squad and has done over 3 seasons – this season it is 69.23%. Firstly he does not attempt many passes, around 25 per 90m, and secondly his passes are often high risk – trying to play balls into positions where there are a lot of defenders. He also has less time on the ball and is under pressure as soon as he receives it. So in general attacking players will have less success at passing.
Next season I will attempt to capture packing rates. (I know) explained here – this will tell us the degree to which a player actually hurts the other team by taking out opponents with their passes as opposed to playing lots of safe 5 yard passes like Bitton. http://bundesligafanatic.com/impect-packing-the-future-of-football-analytics-is-here/
Griffiths v Moussa.
• Griffiths completes 17.7 passes per 90m @ 69.23% success.
• Dembele completes 18.3 passes per 90m @ 76.71% success.
Some player is Moussa. I compared them here: http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/a-striking-success/
HH
TONYDONNELLY67 on 28TH APRIL 2017 12:33 PM
BMCW
Good memory lol, it was actually a coke can, volleyed it right in the Clyde along with his bran new Lotus slip on, it was my stag night 1972, ended up in the Locarno and he got in with no shoes, bouncer at the door stopped him..ho! Canny get in here wi wan shoe on pal, wee Tony volleys the other wan right out in the middle of sucky st. Bouncer pissed himself and let us in, ahhhh the memories, good time, good pals.
Moravcik – I’m sure dress shorts will be fine. If it’s roasting I’m wearing shorts tae; as is ACGR but he’s wearing the really short shorts.LOL
Slainte
tony
Sir dementia
Might be of interest to streamers.
http://www.the42.ie/spotify-for-sport-3363067-Apr2017/?utm_source=twitter_self
Email “DG let slip that this opinion was required for CW other investors”
Findlay “clear indication Whyte had other investors”
Findlay “you knew”
Murray “I don’t recall the details”
Witness shown notes by a David Horn from 3/11/2010
States: “Octopus meeting discussing CW £15m possible facility”
1/2
Witness shown notes by a David Horn from 3/11/2010
States: “Octopus meeting discussing CW £15m possible facility”
1/2
Cheers TORONTONY
https://youtu.be/rcjpags7JT8
PAUL67
Were you another one in the oul’ enclosure underneath the stand that day?
Seems that was the first ever CQN dayoooot!!!!