Celtic faced a familiar problem yesterday. Hearts packed the midfield, which sat close to their defensive line, making it difficult for Celtic to get through, over or wide. Their best chance in the first half actually came from a Hearts corner kick, one of the few occasions the visitors ventured forward.
Sure, we need to beat Rangers, but dealing with the challenge of teams sitting tight and packing midfield will be key to winning the SPL, and that starts at Perth on Sunday. St Johnstone will not be in confident mood after their 0-3 pasting at home yesterday, so you can expect them to sit three central midfielders in front of the defence.
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sixtaeseven says:
11 December, 2011 at 14:18
one song i heard was that old Armadale classic …
♫…we hate Celtic, fenian barmen*, we will chase them, everywhere ♫
*CQN language policy applicable
Is the Udinese game on Sky Italia on Thursday?
South of Tunis
cheers
I think that may only be SKY Italy
unless you have a sky channel number for uk?
sky417 is ESPN HD coverage of Bolognia v Milan
sky442 has the non HD version of that game
HH
M
Carlos Puyol only 34?
He’s got 4 SPL seasons in him even at that age.
The shirt sales alone would justify his wages. We can dream…
Paulo Maldini was the best defender I have ever seen play.
If he’d have been born in Scotland he’s have been a striker.
Phenomenal footballer.
For all the money the EPL clubs have, what a crap standard of football it is.
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ says:
11 December, 2011 at 14:44
Paddy G
You’re a bad bad man. That puts me in the mood for a pint of the Pure!!!
******
Enjoy big pal – I will need to wait till I am on the ferry as I am the only driver..:-((
hail hail Malky MacDonald
TC
Hart had a nightmare of a game. We’d be screemin for a pen. Soft but stupid one. Hibs pen? Never saw it.
The Battered Bunnet says:
11 December, 2011 at 14:47
Paulo Maldini was the best defender I have ever seen play.
If he’d have been born in Scotland he’s have been a striker.
Phenomenal footballer.
share
Would he have got many caps for Scotland?with him doing that awful crossing himself thingy..naw think Wickasser would keep him out..
THE EXILED TIM says:
11 December, 2011 at 14:48
Hi big pal, caught your experience of Lourdes the other night when I came in.
Never been personaly, done Rome but never got the ‘spiritual’ lift I was hoping for.
Was in Knock when my family were only young, two girls 5 & 6.
A whole row of Nuns standing in front of us at open air mass.
Oldest daughter asked me ‘ how did Our Lady get here from heaven Dad’?
Her wee sister replied ‘Parachute Stupid’!!
Result = Row of Nuns stifiling laughter with all shoulders going up and down.
still need a striker and a good midfielder.but were are they
I don’t agree that the best and only real chance was the corner in 1st half. Hooper had a couple of good chances to score and should have done.
The team needs to start being more clinical and ruthless with 1st half chances as the 2nd half goal less score lines only give hope to the oppostion in the SPL that if they turn it into a dog fight and sit back committing fouls then a point could be theirs.
Personally think that we must make a space for Commons when he is fit. The guy when on song is without doubt the most creative player in squad and knows how to score too. Selection issues ahead but a good problem to have.
Top 5 defenders I have seen.
Kaiser
Scirea
Baresi
Carlos Alberto
Blanc
T B B
Couldnt hold a candle to Bobby Evans!!! H H
J67
Nae Bertie Peacock or Bobby E??? Shame on you!!!
I’m another who was raised being told that Malky MacDonald was the best Celtic player my auld Dad had ever seen.
Personally, I think the 3 best Celtic defenders I’ve seen are Bobby Evans, Danny and George Connelly, who could have been the best of the lot.
I know we continue to have injuries, but while we have to play 2 full backs, whose passing was as bad as the 2 yesterday, we’ll be in trouble of our own making. Mind you, yesterday, they were by no means the only ones who passing was dire.
Do these teams play packed midfields against Rangers?
If not, why not?
Or have I asked a silly question?
U
Paul67 The best way to beat a packed defence is to get in behind it on the wings and from there deliver good crosses into the box.Unfortunatelty neither of our wide men James or Sammi did that yesterday.When thinking of big Victor it makes you wonder why the bigger European teams didnt spot the lad ive no complaints there loss is our gain but as they say in this part of the world hes a Brammer.H.H.
re a packed midfield / defence
i saw recently that wee Lionel slotted a pass thro to the equally wee Xavi who rounded it off with a smart finish
Xavi commenced a dash over 20yrds at which precise moment young Lionel set the ball in motion toward the exact square millimetre of the aforementioned Xavi’s imminent point of arrival – neither a cumbersome nor a Bambi-footed CB/DM/LB/RB/GK could reach that location before it would be too late to do anything about it – such are the laws of physics – and such are the laws of genetics (i.e. natural talent)
happily for us
:)
Not sure if it was the weather, the walk or the drama of the game that took it out of me but I have just got up after yesterday.
Mind you it might also have been the first alcoholic drinks in a fortnight and the intoxicating company of Houl yer wheesht, Hebcelt and my lurking china.
Flicked through some old emails and found this….even if you have seen them I reckon you’ll still pee yer pants at one or two of them!
Answers you wish you had given
Hail Hail
Estadio
Paddy G
great story, made me forget about my hangover for a bit there!!
Was it South of Tunis who mentioned Gentile. Personally, I thought he was a thug. John Charles, however, was a real great.
Young McClean coming on for Sunderland.
T4
The lhad MacLean just coming on for Sunderland.
Slightly before my time Jude but outstanding according to my old man.
Certainly Connelly and Danny would be in the top ten and possibly Gemmell who ran ” La Grande Inter ” ragged on that famous afternoon in 1967
Good article Paul – its something we failed to prepare for yesterday in how we lined up.
In my opinion the way to go is a midfield with 2 out of Forrest / McCourt / Commons.
The best way to break down a packed midfield is to pass through it at speed drawing the opposition to the ball and ball watching – with our guys running off the ball.
I dont think the way to go is to employ Forrest in a traditional winger sense when its Stokes and Hooper in the middle because they wont win the bulk of the crosses and I dont think the way to go is Samaras. Samaras likes to have time on the ball before deciding what hes going to do and more often than not slows the play down while hes doing so – at the same time allowing a packed midfield to regroup and organise.
I also agree with Gordon – ability to shoot from distance is massive too.
I also think Martin O’Neills type of target man should be an option – a tall, strong and physical type to play it over them when you need to.
Our Greek striker is not a target man because he only ticks one of the 3 boxes to make one, not his fault mind you.
Thats the cousins young boy just came on for Sunderland..
Roccobhoy’s relative James McClean on for Sunderland with 15 minutes to go.
Blackburn doing one of those packed defence things for all of the second half
voguepunter 1- Kano 1000 says:
11 December, 2011 at 14:39
wanyama song is easy
it’s a 5-parter made up of
3 + 2 as follows….
3 x VW
2 x W
haha
Hen1rik
Who do we complain to? Try the nearest brick wall!!
Young Mc Cealns in good hands!! Where does he come from??
Sunderland get a deserved equaliser.
T4
1-1
And the trademark leap from MON….!
T4
Jude,
Pretty sure young McClean is a Derry bhoy…….
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ says:
11 December, 2011 at 15:11
Young Mc Cealns in good hands!! Where does he come from??
share
From Derry,and declared for ROI earlier in the year..
The Battered Bunnet says:
11 December, 2011 at 14:47
Paulo Maldini was the best defender I have ever seen play.
If he’d have been born in Scotland he’s have been a striker.
Phenomenal footballer.
share
In my opinion BB, I think Franco Baresi was the best defender to have played. Maldini does run him a very close second. Do you remember the incredible Milan defence of the late 80’s early 90’s?