Brendan Rodgers was correct in his post-match comments about supporting the players when they circulate the ball back, instead of always making a forward pass. For much of the first half, we struggled to complete passes, which made it difficult to penetrate St Mirren’s organised block. It was all too impatient. This changed when we started to hold onto the ball by making easier passes, which inevitably meant going back on occasion.
The players needed to move their opponents around in order to open up spaces. This often means circulating the ball back to the keeper, if necessary. Football is all about creating angles to move the ball forward. When everyone is marked, safe angles might not be available, but a move back changes everyone’s available angle.
Think back to all those intercepted passes on Thursday. The angles were wrong, we needed to go back instead of forward. This was screamingly obvious on Thursday and, hearing Brendan’s post-match comments yesterday, I suspect it was a feature of the Ibrox post-mortem.
This has been a bugbear of mine since the groans Neil Lennon heard against Boavista that April evening. There is a limit to the innate talent Celtic can afford to buy, but we can support and encourage good decision making in that instant when you receive the ball with 60,000 people watching, and two opponents running towards you.
We scored two goals yesterday (the first and third) by moving the ball forward quickly on a counter-attack. We can go a long time without seeing teams like St Mirren move forward at Celtic Park. When they do, the turnover becomes crucial and we have the speed to exploit whatever space is available. This is a completely different scenario to opening up a packed defence.
While we are on the subject of playing teams like St Mirren. Always when the scores are level and often when Celtic have the lead, opposing goalkeepers use up between 25 and 30 seconds to take a goal kick, and usually take around 20 seconds to release the ball from their hands. Free kicks in the middle of the park consume 30 seconds and attacking free kicks take longer still.
There is a charade at goal kicks. The ballboy rolls a ball into the six yard box. The visiting keeper pretends he is unaware of the multi-ball system and ambles after the ball that was knocked out of play. He then makes his way back onto the field and considers whether to pass to his central defenders, before ushering them up-field. Always.
Referees cannot deny keepers a moment of indecision before kicking up-field, but their inaction over timewasting is contrary to the rules as well as the interests of the paying spectator. An early booking for timewasting would discourage subsequent offences and make for a better event.
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Hiya
Agree P67, Brendan also supporting GT
p67
100% on the keepers
the refs turn their backs – beaton is a classic – then seem to start their slow count about 15 secs after the keeper has picked up the ball
they know exactly what they are doing
the other tactics are the charade at throwins (leaving it for another to throw when they were always going to) and bringing on a second ball
we even had one of them boot the ball away at one of free kicks yesterday – no booking
Who is being more disrespectful?
BR for trying to sign KT or the fans for singing about a player BR is trying to sign?
TT
Peter Grant commented several times yesterday about extra touches and lack of quick passing. It improved as the game went on. His point (get it!) was that the passes were ‘on’ and not requiring passing around slowly.
I like his commentary but he did a boo boo yesterday by saying he said ‘ at the risk of continually inveterating Johnston…’
I assume he meant ‘excoriating’ but it did sound good
Paul 67.
Couldnt agree more regarding the St. Mirren goalkeeper. My post during the game was :
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quantum on 5th January 2025 4:01 pm
I can stop shouting at the tv , especially at the st. mirren goal keeper who was doing my nut in.
TinyTim on 6th January 2025 12:13 pm
Who is being more disrespectful?
BR for trying to sign KT or the fans for singing about a player BR is trying to sign?
TT
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Shroedinger’s transfer window
Agree regarding time wasting by visiting goalkeepers, referees see what they want to see. Referee and stand side linesman both saw Maeda being blocked and hauled to the ground as Celtic made a quick break after 60 seconds. What does the referee do? Gives St. Mirren player a talking to, that’s a yellow card in every other league in world football, in Scotland it isn’t apparently. Same player eventually gets a yellow near the end of the match, which should have been his second. Just apply the rules that’s all most supporters want.
Big Jimmy- read a club statement re power cut yesterday, mentioned the CTV coverage, nothing about refunds
burnley78/fanadpatriot
As stated Chris Davies is doing very well at Birmingham, back at the top of League One.
You made a good point re his time at Spurs with Ange, I heard yesterday that they are fifteen points worse off than at this time last year. That would put them third in the EPL. Of course Brendan Rodgers has been his main influence re his football philosophy, ie keep control of the ball, but he has own backdrop, and if you listen to him he will say, sometime you have to adapt to what is in front of you. Pleased to see he is doing well.
It looks possible that Celtics attempts to sign KT may not be going as he wished .
He is now hedging his bets and buttering up GT.
BT committed the ultimate act of disrespect towards our club and it’s fans and players when he abandoned us , mid season .
He should keep his big arrogant mouth shut , when it comes to the subject of respect .
TT
Celtic Park power outage update https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/january/05/celtic-park-power-outage-update/
TT
so should he have buttered up GT if the signing of KT is not going to plan ?
or maybe done so but not used the word respect when talking about the fans.
why would it not be going to plan ?
(btw, i’m not BRs biggest fan)
loving the backing of the GB these days :)
Paul67
My only build on your comments which I agree on would be that re the issue of time wasting : as a paying supporter it is frustrating to see our captain not communicating with the ref from the first minute on what the goalkeeper is doing !
At least that early action would ensure everyone was watching for this and crowd engagement and noise on this would happen earlier.
Ditto throw ins. Some opposition defenders take 40 seconds plus ie kidding on they don’t know where the ball is, nobody knows who’s taking the throw in, interchanging person throwing, dries the ball multiple times, come for a short one …no let’s go long …been watching this shyte for decades
Heard 1 chant for KT from GB yesterday. Not really seeing it as disrespectful to GT.
Some of the negative crap from our support about GT over past few seasons has been a disgrace. I totally agree with BR that he has been a fantastic player for our club. I hope we can sign someone close to his level of energy and commitment and desire to improve and win.
!!Bada Bing!! on 6th January 2025 12:21 pm
Big Jimmy- read a club statement re power cut yesterday, mentioned the CTV coverage, nothing about refunds
……………
Yes I read the Club statement earlier this morning.
HH Mate.
Booking GKs is futile, as no referee would have the minerals to give a 2nd yellow for yet more time wasting. I posted last year an idea,if a player in a team gets booked for time wasting, the referee should point this out,if a team mate is also time wasting, red card,that should sort it.
Spikeysauldman
I can only speculate that KT’s agent is looking for terms that Celtic won’t meet .
TT
” WE ARE ALL GREG TAYLOR”…
MON the GREG ” SHUT YER HOLE FAT BOY” TAYLOR.
I sincerely hope that Greg STAYS at at Celtic. He has been a great servant thru the years.
HH.
35 mins each way ‘ ball in play ‘ would sort out the time wasting however not the disruption.
Mosr supporters groan at the constant back and across movement – at least we do at Vale.
P67
You forgot the bit where the GK daunders to the opposite end of his 6 yard box just to waste a few more seconds.
I think opposition time wasting negatively impacts on the fans patience at a game more than our often ponderous and negative looking passing. CalMac should be on the refs case from the first minute each game for this – and other instances, e.g. opposition players kick the ball away on the rare occasions they are penalised.
Sadly the ref and assistants yesterday were slowing down our quick FK and throw in efforts as much as the opposition players which doesn’t help.
Despite all of the above, it was a routine and stress free victory made even better by Hibs not Hibsing it earlier on.
I appreciate (and agree) with much of what BR said post match regarding the crowd getting onto the players BUT I dislike the way he said it. He doesn’t look like a happy chappy ATM; some on the bus thought his post match presser resembled his behaviour prior to his mid season flit…
QB
If there is one truism in football it is that if an agent wants free publicity for his player link them to Celtic FC.
John James is suggesting that this is what is happening vis a vis Kieran Tierney. We know, or should know, this is how it works. KT is all but a free agent, could potentially get offers from lesser London clubs, and more importantly pocket the sign on fee and a far higher salary than he would possibly be offered at Celtic.
The agents have even got the Green Brigade on board. Job done.
Celtic power cut finally halts Peter the pointer
Burnley78
GT’s effort and commitment have been exemplary.
On occasion’s he has played very well .
On occasions he is outmuscled and outjumpec.
He also shapes his body to play the ball backwards instead of opening up his body to play the ball forward .
Eventually .I hope to replace him with a more physically imposing defender who can play a forward pass with more frequency , and quality.
TT
I suggested a simple solution to a friend the other week re. time wasting: take time keeping out of the hands of the ref with the clock running only when the ball’s in play e.g. clock stops when the ball goes out for a throw in and starts again when the throw in is taken Clock stops when the ball crosses the bye line and starts again when the keeper kicks/throws it back in to play. Ditto free-kicks/corners/penalties.
Quite simple really.
Based on performances over the last few games, would you start Valle or GT for next game? I think GT is a good and extremely hard working player but he has not had any genuine competition for his place since he made it his own. Most of us on here have said for years we needed a better quality LB than GT, which is not being disrespectful to him. He gives his all, no question about that. But if we can sign someone of a much higher calibre, which KT is, then I am all for it. As long as we have an able deputy to ensure we have cover, what is the problem?
AJ is a significantly better RB than Ralston but, when needs must, we know Tony will give his best and that is normally more than good enough in SPFL games. No reason not to have the same scenario on the other side of the defence.
Coneybhoy at 12.15
Pesky wave function collapse 🤪
Blogger
Sounds simple but how would it affect the supporters who rely on trains, boats and planes to get home? HH☘️
The Club will need to step up and refund fans who bought PPV for the match.
The statement says coverage was interrupted, in my case, coverage was terminated. It never came back.
well done brendan, great interview again.
he refused to talk about an arsenal player, he protected GT, and called out the people who dont appreciatee why we recycle/retain the ball.
attendance yesterday for a sold out game was shocking, all those no-shows, a waste of tickets.
compare liverpool, all seats still occupied on the 90th minute.
Patience will be tested to the max, when Goodwin the spoiler of games, brings his 11 men behind the ball to CP on Wednesday night.
” We need to strengthen in general. We know what we’re looking to do and we’re 100% confident the club will do everything to support that. We have deals we want to do between now and the end of January “
Brendan Rodgers 5th January
‘I won’t speak about it’ – Rodgers on Tierney links
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/c4gp104rl0jo
Manager Brendan Rodgers refuses to discuss reports that Celtic have held talks with their former defender Kieran Tierney about a return to the club.
Too often we hear from Refs and others, that’s the rules, you might not like it but it’s the rules. Am thinking offsides and interfering with play and also handball. If you use that as a defence, then it’s also got to be used as a means of enforcement . The sight of 3 different players impeding Idah at kick offs and constant time wasting has got to be addressed and if Brendan has a dim view of some aspects of our support, he could vocalise same about the product that is football, as could many other people in same position of power. I’d like a simple, would be good to see officials take action against constant time wasting and that great euphemism, ‘game management’, which is really cheating.
From Anthony Joseph on X:
UPDATE: Celtic have accepted KV Mechelen’s loan bid for Stephen Welsh.
It’s understood 24-year-old is in Belgium and will tour the club’s facilities today, with a view to having a medical tomorrow.
The six-month loan deal is expected to be completed this week.
KV Mechelen would be a great loan destination for Stephen Welsh. Good club, nice town, welcoming locals, and the chance to develop without the pressure of being expected to win every game. The Belgian league was good for Jack Hendry and if Welsh embraces it, he could do well there. He and his family are Celtic through and through, I wish him all the luck.