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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Kojo
I don’t think it will take Izzy long to get back to his best. Once he is, someone will have to make way for him. That someone won’t be Joe Ledley, but Izzy can only play at Left Back. I expect to see him there.
Anyway, we are spoilt for choice down that side. Our right flank is a different matter. Funnily enough, the best pairing I’ve seen there was Juarez and Brown – think that puts me in a minority of one!
Realistically, Matthews/Forrest down the right, Ledley/Sammi down the left would be my preference.
Is it too early to talk about the Udinese game? Will we see Hooper and Stokes up front? I hope not.
My dear,dear,dear,friend..Navanbhoy
So Ye dinnae Normally Read Thru awe Ma Peerless Prose?
Hmmmmm
Let me think aboot , that..fur a Minute…afore Ah gie
ye a Reply tae that news.
Heck. It wullnae Tak A Minute..Pal..
tae gie ye an answer..
Here it is..
Ah don’t Blame Ye!!
Ye hiv sound judgment… Ye shouldna tak the Risk o
Hiving yer Mind.. cluttered up.. wi…
well.. Clutter.
Kojo
yer pal.. who likes ye aloater, already.
No Stokes?
Possibly the form player thus far…who’d be a manager eh?
Thought all our Away games were televised.
That stinks.
SwanseaBhoy
Assuming the full squad is available, I wouldn’t put it past Lenny to play Vic at CB against the Huns to accomodate Broonie in midfield.
With Izzy at LB, then that would mean dropping either Charlie or Dan. Decisions decisions!
Maybe we should just wait and see who’s available on the day?!
T4
tttt
Sensible thinking as ever:o)
Forrest needs a rest, he’s in trouble of becoming the new Ki, disappearing out of games too quickly.
canamalar
I’d be tempted to give Forest a rest on Sunday at Perth and replace him with young Dylan.
Well spotted by Mr Brines yesterday, the penalty for Rangers, right on the goalline.
Makes you wonder how he managed to miss the basketball dribble by Michael Duberry last season in exactly the same position on the pitch.
goldstar10 says:
11 December, 2011 at 19:03
If that Duberry penalty was against the huns(nae chance)the media would
still be up in arms,but because it was timmy,hardly a mention.
canamalar
Agree – I’d play Mcgeouch against Udinese. Forrest was poor when we played them at CP.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Zj_t6oaf4&feature=related
in case anyone forgets what he brings to the team…
HH
voguepunter- It’s amazing how quickly that one has been erased from the collective memories of the lickspittle poodles.
Mr Brines can spot a penalty, when he really has to, like yesterday.
HH
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. Up Over Goal
Pal..
Ye are smarter than a Tubeful o’… Smarties!
Yep.. You are Right.. it wullnae tak Izzy long tae get back tae his Best..
Ah wiz only… being Whimsical.. as is Ma Wont.
Heck.. Why must everbuddy Believe that..
When ye write oan here…
That Ye hiv tae Mak Sense???
Whit a DULL IDEA!
Right?
Course, it is.
Sure, it is Imporant fur Yer Posting tae Mak Sense…
But..
Surely…
Noo and again.. we must hiv a . change o’ Pace..
and go fur the Entertaining Factor..
.
Variety, is .. efter awe..
The Worcester Sauce..o’ Life!
Incidentally.. Pittin oan Ma Serious Hat..fur a Minute..
Ah thought the Juarez wid hiv bin a Great Addition tae oor Team…
Ah canny understaun why he didnae …work oot..
Musta Bin.. Some kinda..
Personality.. Conflict ..wi” well…?????
Tak yer pick.. Ah dinna want tae Speculate oan… Who.
Kojo
Yer pal..who likes ye aloater.
Vmhan, Kano 1000 – Supporting Lenny & the Green Brigada! says
Thank you. It’s reassuring to know that if I don’t get a reply, then there’s another avenue to go down.
To be fair, I only sent the message this morning. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.
Brown Kayal Wanyama Ledley Commons
play this midfield against rangers and bring on mccourt near the end
play samaras up front he ALWAYS plays his best against against them
ht,
prefer McCourt or Brown, would leave blooding the bhoys until later in the season, once we’re 12 points clear :o)
Sir Kojo.
Mon vieux incorrigible…
How’s it hangin’ ?
Ah totally concur wi’ your SubmiSSion ….
oan the composition of Oor Middy….
Yep,Joe Ledley at left-back………..an we’re cookin’ wi’ Gas !
Howeva………between you,me and the stuffed Mynah Bird…ah seem tae recall ye were no quite so enamoured wi’ oor Man Fae the Valleys,scarce five or six weeks ago…”Oot o’ his depth comin’ tae Celtic,nae charisma…widnae be in Ma team today”…cue dazzling opening goal fae Deadley Ledley,an’ MOM performance
,tae boot.In truth,he hisnae looked back
since.
Howeva…..dontcha think that Joe might
be getting a tad frustrated…..playin’ as
a defensive holding player,for the sake of
the team,when his true instincts are those of the exciting attacking middy……
exactly what we’ve been crying out for since MON stole Stillian..
So what would the inscrutable Nutsy have tae say…………… aboot this ticklish
Conundrum ?
An’ we’ll no be sellin’ Oor Darlin’Izzy or Matthews anytime soon……
so ye can haul thae bones back out o’ the Campfire.
Mr Lawwell’s errand boy…so ye are !
Yer Pal…….who’s wise tae yer perfidious
Agenda.
up_over_goal – I don’t think Dylan is registered for the EL.
PS Enjoy reading your players ratings, Cha is a very under appreciated member of our squad, he has did well since his horror moment in France. Good shout.
what is the latest with commons is he injured
One thing I,d like to see with the current team is upping the tempo at the start of a game, by that I mean when we get a corner for talking sake instead of Charlie sauntering up to take it I,d like to see them taken quicker same with shys, freekicks etc especially in the early stages of games. Make the visiting team feel theyre under pressure from the word go and get the crowd right behind them. As a bhoy watching celtic in the early 70s we were relentless in the early stages of a game often killing the game in the first 30 mins. I know we were probably a better team back then but I also think we are good enough to still do this with the quality of opposition that come calling to Parkhead. Also one thing that stands out when we are up against a packed defence like yesterday , when we do get in behind them Hooper or Stokes should be attacking the near post more often as so many balls are cut off at this point.
Roddybhoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=14SKaMfkxfM&NR=1
super duper gary hooper
Kojo
There’s always a needle of sense to be found somewhere, somewhere, in your posts!
Hail Hail
Canamalar
Only 12…
I’d give Dylan a run out purely because It’s more of a straight swap.
It won’t happen though, I fully expect Broonie to be start on the right at Perth.
BBC highlights from yesterdays victory over Hearts for anyone outwith the UK
Celtic 1-0 Hearts
goldstar10
Oh, yeah. Forgot about that – thanks for the reminder.
Cha hasn’t quite done it yet, but was looking the genuine article just before he left for the Asian Cup. I wasn’t surprised when he was named in the team of the tournament. He hasn’t quite done it here yetr, and I don’t think Forrest knows how to play with him, but give it time, perhaps?
Would like to see him score and do a routine from those wacky Korean ads.
notthebus says:
11 December, 2011 at 18:40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov5bm7Lhl1o
Jeez, that hit the spot…sitting here with lump in throat.will we see his like again?
jmccormick
Your not a celtic fan if you don’t have a tear in your eye watching that
Just switched on Napoli v Novara on ESPN to see in the team line ups Novara coach: A. TESSER. I thought for a minute fat Sal had got himself a new job…….then realised I hadn’t read it right.
Must admit i do enjoy reading the post on this site, lots of different views on lots of subjects. It would seem that the majority on here today are all picking Ledley, Kayal and Wanyama as the main first pick for midfield, and i fully agree with that choice. Anyway have to go now. I look forward to reading more possibly tommorow. Heres David Peter Deans signing off.
HAIL HAIL.
bigjie at 11 December, 2011 at 19:34
Thanking you, sir, much appreciated
;o)
Paul
Yesterday was another example of our lack of a physical presence up front
When the pass and move gambit doesn’t get a break through in the first 20 minutes – we can easily drop points to any well organised team
First half our two wide players were not producing enough nor were our two strikers holding the ball up well enough
This then puts huge stress on our two central mids who are often battling against 3 or 4 opponents
Kayal and Wanyama worked very hard to win their area but neither are greater nor inventive passers of the ball
Given that we play in Scotland not Spain and the refs do little to protect the gifted player from assault – we need an alternative
For me that would be a strapping 6ft+ CF like the boy Holt at Norwich
– someone who either Hooper or Stokes could play off and who is capable of being a “wall” for midfielders to hit with passes and who could convert some of the crosses we can deliver from either side
That to me is a far greater priority in January than a CB
Lets keep on winning by whatever means!
HH
Bigjie
AND,excellent quality.
Cheers again,bigman.
croppybhoy
What about Yakubu? I hear Blackburn could do with some cash.
coorslad 15:42
“…women from Creggan, the Moor and the Bog”
sixtaeseven and macjay
not a problem guys .
Apologies if this has been discussed to death but i’ve just watched the BBC highlights and can anyone tell me what the penalty was given for yesterday
greenlion2
how the self confessed hearts fan Murray could see a penalty in amongst that , but couldnt see the ball wasnt placed on the spot is beyond me .
maybe im just biased though …..