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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Chairbhoy on 7th January 2025 6:06 am
Great post regarding our Left Back situation. From what I have heard there is unfortunately absolutely no chance of Greg Taylor staying.
Signing KT would not be a direct replacement. As Arsenal have done we would also need to find a replacement when ( not if ) KT was out with injury.
KT has been out since the Scotland Switzerland game at the Euros with a hamstring injury. 6 months ago.
We are informed that he is fully fit now, but has he played a full 90 minutes ? I dont know.
To summarise, if we signed KT we would have to have a quality replacement on tap.
HH.
Good morning from a snowy North Staffs – grandson’s school is open 😀.
It’s the time of year where my garden looks as good as the neighbours.
I hope we have a plan B for the LB position. I can’t say I’m keen on KT coming home.
TAURANGABHOY @ 7:46 AM, GREENPINATA @ 8:15 AM,
Yes, think the reality of loosing Greg has hit home to many of us, myself included
Sorry to here it’s a done deal GP – but it looks like we may have to fork out for KT or wait until the summer.
Meanwhile, we definitely need quality back up
Keiran played 2/3rds of a Cup game recently and came off with cramp, which means he’ll be a ways off been match fit, even then he can’t play this months UCL games.
So guess we’ll see how it pans out…
Might be time to give Valle a few runs out, see how he does.
Hail Hail
I haven’t read back yet, but I woke this morning to find an Email from CELTIC TV offering me Wednesdays match against Dundee Utd on ( PPV) at a REDUCED Rate of only £5.99 due to the disruption of the game against St Mirren.
Nice gesture by Celtic TV and the Club. I have taken up their kind offer straight away.
HH.
AN TEARMAN
Re Bobby Lennox hat trick in Glasgow cup game 1966.I remember that year ie Glasgow cup games three 4 nil victories and another Buzz bomb hat trick against Patrick Thistle in Final at Celtic Park…..in goals for Thistle Niven of seven fame.
Should read AN TEARMAN.
I would LOVE to have a SEASON SEAT for the MAIN STAND at Celtic Park, or the opportunity to make use of one IF a Season Ticket Holder can NOT make certain matches ?
Ive TRIED to join the Waiting List but to no avail……..it seems that there is a ” Imaginary Waiting List for the actual Waiting List “.
I would prefer the MAIN STAND, as there are NOT too many STAIRS to climb etc.
In the meantime, I will continue to watch CELTIC TV for LIVE Games and/or the other TV Options whenever possible from ma ain wee Hoose.
LOL.
HH.
Good morning,
and a very Happy New Year to the good folks of Celtic Quick News………………….
Isn’t it funny how those that would denigrate The Dear Green Place would find it so hard to stay away and spend such a long time sat at its generous and forgiving platform?
Brass neckeckery at its bestery!
:)))))))))))))
HH
HNYCQN CSC
DAVID66….
I hope that you and the Family all returned from Tenerife safe and sound, with NO Delays etc ?
Welcome home Mate.
I havent been out since I met up with my Two Brothers and their wives last Monday ( DEC. 30th 2024) in the Shipbank. So Ive NOT had any drink since then, and I havent met ANYONE Face to Face since that great day out.
However, I MAY go out for some Beers before the end of the week ?
All the best for the New Year to you and all the family.
HH Mate.
FAO BELMONT BRIAN….
Hows it going ya Chancer ?
LOL.
All the best to you and the Family for this New Year.
HH Mate.
FAO BRRB..
How are you Mate ?
All the best to you and the Small Doll for this New Year.
See you soon Mate.
HH.
I can’t see any chance whatsoever that Celtic will pay Arsenal a transfer fee for KT – surely we must be looking at a loan – or perhaps he just signs a pre-contract now and waits until summer before joining permanently (if that happens at all).
West Ham about to change manager – can’t see KT making any commitment in their direction.
Brentford also mentioned – but I would suspect also just a loan with perhaps an option to buy if KT can prove his fitness (both full back positions are a big short term problem at Brentford).
Of course, Celtic are in a similar position as Arsenal wrt Greg Taylor. If Celtic cant afford to let him go in January for a small fee, he will leave in summer. Provided Valle is also here until summer, I don’t see any immediate cause for concern.
Is Celtic only interested in KT, we have other positions we need to fill for now and with the qualifiers in mind, I read that Welsh has moved but nothing on the official website, communication from the club is still poor unless they want money.
ITALIAN COPPA CUP FINAL Last Night…
INTER MILAN v AC MILAN.
I had the CORRECT SCORE of 3 – 2 with the Bookies in the above match….But for the WRONG Team !
It was literally a ” Toss Up” when trying to choose what Team to take.
Inter were TWO Goals up and LOST.
Sometimes, I can be a CHUMP !
LOL.
HH.
HH.
Inter Milan are now also a BUNCH of CHUMPS.
LOL.
HH.
I’m seeing some good posts about our left back situation but I am not seeing any mention of our own young full backs, namely Matthew Anderson and Adam Montgomery. Not sure what is happening with the latter other than he returned from Motherwell after a bad injury. The former though, best I know, is spending his second season out in Austria and hopefully will be able to return to Celtic at the end of the season. Hope we do not lose him as we did with Doak, (Middlesborough now) Kelly (Millwall) and Vata who is getting some games at Watford. Lets see if Anderson has a future with us, hope so.
new article posted.
stay warm ghirls ‘n bhoys
(mindthegapcsc)
Test