Cavalier Celtic play. Clement’s best hope

101

It wasn’t just that delicious through ball for Aberdeen’s first goal on Saturday which should be an eye-opener for Celtic.  They tried the tactic repeatedly, as Celtic relied on the speed of Liam Scales and Alistair Johnston to recover the situation.

Celtic regularly commit eight men to attacking positions.  On occasion against Aberdeen, we saw the deepest Celtic defender 70 yards from his own goal.  This works if the opponent does not possess great speed in attack, or if they cannot coordinate a sublime pass and a run from deep.  But after recent games, you can be sure that every side planning to face Celtic will develop a plan to exploit this setup.  I fear for us in Bergamo if Atalanta enjoy such freedoms.

In the early 80s, the joke was that Rangers season ended before Blackpool’s – referring to the town’s tourist trade, not the football club.  Blackpool now run their Illuminations season into November, which gives Newco a few more weeks of hope before finishing ahead of Blackpool.

They appointed a new manager in October or early November in 2021, 2022 and 2023.  Phiilippe Clement, the latest saviour-turned-charlatan’s best hope of survival is that there is literally no executive directors in charge of the club capable of making a material decision.

All of this melodrama is unnecessary and wasteful.  They will continue to loop in sequences of hope and despair until they face the harsh reality.  Competing with a very well run, financially stronger, opponent, is difficult and cannot be achieved without incredible luck, rule breaking or dangerous risk taking.

Incredible luck happens in sport and remains Newco’s best hope for short-term success.  Rule breaking has been tried and was successful at Ibrox, but with chronic consequences.

Dangerous risk taking is the order of the day there now.  The consequences will not be liquidation and a ‘Rangers 3.0’ phoenix , but it could mean seasons of mid-table finishes, like version 1.0 saw when we first heard that Blackpool joke.

Live within your means, lads.  It’s not going to make you popular with the fans, but it sure is worth it!

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  1. Happy Monday all.

     

     

    Games are a coming thick and fast now.

     

     

    Meanwhile, over on thems media. Here is a wee response to a question asking if they can beat Murderwell in the semi:

     

     

    “Honestly yes, but most likely get beat by them in the final if I’m being totally honest. We could lose at Pittodrie, Hampden in December then a loss on 2 January will put players and staff safety at risk! Can genuinely see fans losing it completely if we were to lose at Ibrox. People had enough in August with Hampden, think how bad it’s going to be in January nevermind May!”

     

     

    If only the Germans had a word to describe this feeling.

     

     

    HH!

  2. bournesouprecipe on

    Top two clash.

     

     

    No online post mortems necessary, onwards and upwards above 30,000 feet, Celtic should have won the game, but didn’t and we succumbed to a very physical new Aberdeen rebuild, we hope sticks around till at least Halloween. There has never been a Celtic centre back that didn’t get beaten on his heels in a counter attacking one on one, and the excellent Liam Scales is merely the latest. Celtic and star man Nicolas Kuhn tried to ‘gild the lily’ in a first half romp, where a third goal would have removed ‘the dangerous 2-0’ situation Brendan Rodgers referred to.

     

     

    A bit of cautious pragmatism might have did that too, Aberdeen had to change at half time but we were caught out playing for a third unnecessary goal? instead of seeing what the visitors had done and how they were going to try and score. Consolidating a lead doesn’t always need another goal, and good job, if you meet a Celtic supporter confident about our first ever visit to Bergamo, you’re much more likely to know a supporter that sees another sitting midfielder to partner our captain.

     

     

    Celtic penalty claims are dismissed faster than Sevco managers, there was probably one in the final minutes, just no time for Greg Aitken analysis to reveal handball no search for the angles, to give us a much deserved winning goal that’s how the system works, move along Celtic. It was bad enough for a Rainjurz being second in the two horse race, but Sevco coming in third is the new show in town. The irony of Rainjurz and ‘completed liquidation’ on a weekend, with Celtic facing new challengers may have been patched by SMSM, but wasn’t entirely lost.

     

     

    MOM Alex Valle

  3. We’ve had an inbuilt financial advantage for many years now, but we’ve never seen the success we’re now seeing in that time. Cup upsets were a regular feature in Lennon’s first spell.

     

     

    BR came in and introduced a style of play which for the most part, we’ve not significantly moved away from – attack, attack and more attack.

     

     

    That’s seen us win 5 trebles and two doubles in the last 8 years.

     

     

    So, personally, I’ve no problem with us leaving ourselves open and committing men forward in large numbers. It works.

     

     

    It will work in Europe as well against sides outside of the top leagues. Wednesday will be tough and I expect a long night. I’ll be judging us against Bruges, young boys and Zagreb, not Atalanta or Leipzig.

  4. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    Aberdeen sitting on an impressive 22 points from 8 games, but a goal difference of only +9 suggests a huge outperformance of points collected per GD which couldn’t be sustained over an entire season.

     

    Of course that’s not to say they won’t start winning games by clearer margins, which would change the equation, but I just don’t see a 90+ points team there.

     

    Let’s see how they cope with having a target on their backs, with the pressure they will get from raised expectations and how they react when they (as they will at some point) lose a game.

  5. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    Yep, I can’t say I’m looking forward to Wednesday.

     

     

    Re. Clement, they’ve turned/are turning on him. With no proper executive structure and a rabid hun in the Chairman’s seat, he’ll be gone if they fail to beat Aberdeen.

     

     

    As I’ve said before, the worry will be they get lucky and stumble upon a decent manager.

  6. Interesting to see around Europe those teams in smaller countries who fail to achieve the holy grail of decent European runs aligning with domestic dominance.

     

     

    Copenhagen last season were a good case in point, as were Porto. Brugge only succeeded in sneaking their domestic win due to the crazy post split double points rule in Belgium. Olympiakos failed domestically in Greece etc etc.

     

     

    We see the same issue at home with St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Hearts all starting badly in both league and league cup as they struggled initially to compete weekend and Wednesday.

     

     

    Aberdeen, Motherwell and Dundee Utd have all fared better in both domestic competitions with no distractions.

     

     

    The point is Aberdeen can be laser focused this next few weeks. I say this despite their having 3 games in 8 days from next weekend for the first time this season.

     

     

    Celtic (who play Aberdeen at the end of this stretch) has 4 in 11 days and rangers (who they play in the league at Pittodrie in their 2nd game) will also have 4 in 11 days and 3 in 7 prior to playing at Pittodrie.

     

     

    It is tough for Celtic having to compete on multiple fronts whilst playing with such intensity but it is just as tough for rangers who seem to be failing on both fronts. Their Aberdeen game will see them travel up less than 48 hours after their game with St Mirren next Sunday. This game just 60 hours after their game with ‘Mid Tier domestically’ Steau who are now hitting form.

     

     

    Aberdeen will be laser focused on Dundee Utd on Saturday and then have a bit more prep time for a ‘battle’ with Rangers on Wednesday next week. They will then face the challenge we do each week now and have just a day to recover and travel away to Glasgow for the semi final with ourselves. I would have preferred an early KO but that side it is great that we are the Saturday game. Our opponents are stepping into the unknown after a huge energy sapping game on Wednesday.

     

     

    For once the fixtures are better for us. After Atalanta we have a bit of recovery before Motherwell on Sunday. We then have Dundee at home Wednesday and no travel issues for the Saturday’s semi final at a ground we know well.

     

     

    We really have no excuses this next 12 days. I hope our manager learned a bit this past week. I hope he realises playing with 3 extremely left footed defenders does not work. I hope he realises sometimes cover for the back 4 in the form of a defensive mid is a necessary evil.

     

     

    No one expects a result at Atalanta despite them not being as good as last year. Hopefully not humiliation though. A win in all 3 domestic games is vital though. Hopefully rangers and the dons can batter each other and we can then deprive Aberdeen of any oxygen by winning at Hampden.

     

     

    Do this and we should enjoy a final with Motherwell just before Xmas and be setting ourselves up for a great night v Leipzig.

  7. Paul 67

     

     

    “On occasion against Aberdeen, we saw the deepest Celtic defender 70 yards from his own goal.”

     

    —————————-

     

     

    This happens regularly under various Celtic managers- e.g. at most of our corner kicks.

     

     

    The tactic itself is not wrong- it all depends on where the most advanced Aberdeen player was at the time.

     

     

    If the Aberdeen player was also 70 yards away from the Celtic goal- it would be a mistake but, if all the Aberdeen men were in their own penalty area, it’s completely safe- even our slowest defender (CCV?) would win a race to the half way line with Duk or Sokler if they had more than a 5 yard start. If the ball was cleared further than our half way line, the race would be won by Schmeichel who would be 30 yards plus from his goal at the time.

     

     

    What was the layout of the Aberdeen players when you spotted this tactical “mistake”?

  8. I thought Walsh leniently indulged the Don’s Scandic hammer thrower in midfield, allowing him to disrupt and dig-up our midfield artisans.

     

    Valle showed well all game but on more than one occasion I feared for how unguardedly he left his leg in at some tackles; on another day he might cop it bad from someone planting one on him.

     

     

    I actually thought the Killie LB had a decent showing; no speed machine but a big lad who knows defending.

     

     

    Yes AN DUN: 5 trebles and two doubles in the last 8 years is an amazing achievement we should all savour. Nevertheless there’s much evidence of mattress soilage days out from an Atalantian adventure. Yet my best hopes are just as likely to come true as my worst fears.

     

     

    PARLIAMOGLESGA? CSC

  9. Can someone explain what we have sold a really strong defensive mid who was POTY in Japan and has won POTM in his new division in his first month despite having a glaring need for a defensive mid in Europe and bigger domestic games. A guy who played a pretty key role in our run in last season ?

     

     

    Also why are we repeatedly playing a left sided centre back out of position when we have a good and highly rated right sided centre back in the squad ?

  10. BURNLEY:

     

    Cos Chris asked Brendan for a favour.

     

    To give him game time in case CCVs injury is more long term than we hope.

     

     

    PS when you mention right sided, you mean Maik not Stephen right ?

  11. Interesting to see praise for Valle.

     

     

    Many around me were really not of that mind.

     

     

    I thought the early thuggery really shook him both physically and mentally. To his credit he stuck in but periodically seemed as if he was towing a caravan. Maybe from the knock he took.

     

     

    He will have learned a lot. My issue, as with Trusty and many others, is how extreme his left footedness is. In that respect it was good to see Kuhn twice deliver the ball with his right foot for a change on Saturday

  12. And totally agree Walsh (who has been getting better) had a poor game on Saturday.

     

     

    It was like an old Aberdeen team of the 80s With Pringle as the referee.

  13. In the modern game playing out from the back and maintaining a high-line is de rigueur. Most teams in the top leagues seem to play that way. I saw a couple of goals very similar to the first one we lost when watching Match of the Day. It is seemed to be an acceptable risk in order to impose your game on the opposition.

     

    —————————-

     

    PAUL 67

     

    It wasn’t just that delicious through ball for Aberdeen’s first goal on Saturday which should be an eye-opener for Celtic. They tried the tactic repeatedly. Celtic regularly commits eight men to attacking positions. On occasion against Aberdeen, we saw the deepest Celtic defender 70 yards from his own goal

     

    ————————–

     

    BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 21ST OCTOBER 2024 12:02 PM

     

    A bit of cautious pragmatism might have did that too, Aberdeen had to change at half time but we were caught out playing for a third unnecessary goal.

     

    ———————

     

    Both comments maybe hinting at change in tactics when playing at Celtic Park – quite frankly I don’t see that happening domestically – we will continue to look for the next goal and in consequence lose the odd goal in return.

     

     

    In an accompanying article on CQN – CURIOUS CASE OF BRENDAN RODGERS: MISSING IN ACTION, the author writes “There was no sign of Brendan Rodgers on the touchline. Curiously he opted to remain seated in the dug-out with his assistant John Kennedy in the midst of onfield catastrophe; both looked more than a little transfixed at what they were witnessing.

     

    —————————–

     

    I don’t consider a draw against Aberdeen a catastrophe; however perhaps Brendan, like most of us in the ground, was expecting the team to push on and get the third goal early in the half. Based on the way the first half had gone that was a fair assumption. If the article implies a lack of interest in proceedings by the manager and staff, I’m afraid I reject that. Probably he had said what he had to say at the interval and was looking for more of the same – up to that point Aberdeen had been toothless.

     

     

    GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 21ST OCTOBER 2024 12:20 PM

     

    Aberdeen sitting on an impressive 22 points from 8 games, but a goal difference of only +9 suggests a huge outperformance of points collected per GD which couldn’t be sustained over an entire season.

     

    ———————–

     

    A valid analysis which I hope is correct, but only after the meeting at home with the Ibrox club.

  14. God read back this morning chaps; a mix of sober reflection of the weekend and cautious outlook for Wednesday.

     

     

    I assume the crazy gang have other things going on.

     

     

    HHTT

  15. From Jimmy Bell’s bigot room :-

     

    “I think if it was sir Alex rather than Souness that took over us he could have won us the European cup inside that short window where it was possible for a team like ours to have done so, easy to say that now but his record speaks for its self”.

     

    The poster overlooks several pertinent points :-

     

    1. Fergie claimed that he suffered discrimination while a Rangers player , saying “I was completely bombed out , training on my own . I can only assume it was because of Cathy being a Catholic” .

     

    2. Fergie was furious after (winning) the 1983 Scottish cup final because he felt the Aberdeen performance was poor and they missed the opportunity to “put the knife in them (Rangers)” .

  16. Atalanta away is the big concern. Will Brendan adapt to be more defensive minded or will we play as we did in Dortmund. Saturdays game when we lost 2 goals on the breakaway must be a reminder of the issue facing us on Wednesday.

     

     

    Will he throw CCV in as he is our best defender or will he go with the same team as Saturday. I feel he will go with the same team.

     

     

    In terms of tactics we have to avoid the break and 3 against 2 as happened several times in Dortmund. Why not just leave 3 back at all times. One of the full backs staying back while the other is up the park. Big Jock was supposed to have told Craig and Gemmel this in Lisbon. Our equaliser came from a Craig cutback to Gemmel. Who knows!!

     

     

    What ever happens we need to defend better

  17. The returnof weeron on

    Some comments about a defensive midfielder….

     

     

    Calum has (sort of) had this role. He’d work the ball forward between the 2 CB’s. However, this season, in response to his cracking goals, he has said that Brendan wants him to ‘follow the ball’ when we attack.

     

     

    Dortmund and Aberdeen, we left a big hole between CB’s and the MF. A swift pass into that area is likely going to trouble us.

     

     

    I hate when this kind of thing happens. I REALLY hate it when it happens more than once.

     

     

    Weeron

  18. garygillespieshamstring on

    I don’t think it is worth risking CCV against Atalanta I if he is not 100% fit.

     

     

    Why risk him aggravating the injury in a game where we are very unlikely to get any result?

     

     

    He could well end up being out for the games we have a chance to win and progress in the tournament.

  19. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    Weeron – yep, a number of times we lost possession in their final third and Aberdeen were able to play a quick pass out to their number 7 standing in that “big hole” who was then able to turn and drive at our defence.

  20. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    Yes, but is worth risking CCV if his presence could be the difference between a loss and absolute hammering?

  21. Dexter P. Bampot on

    Off to Bergamo tomorrow with a real feeling of trepidation

     

     

    I was in the Bernabeau for the 1-5 and at the Metropolitano for the 0-6

     

     

    The Madrid game was actually enjoyable and we played quite well. The result was skewed by penalties including Celtic missing one and Jota scored a belter which we really enjoyed.

     

     

    The Atleti game was different. Yes, the red card sealed our fate but we were well and truly trounced in that game and sadly I left at 0-4.

     

     

    It really is not much fun being viewed by home fans as plucky little Celtic.

     

     

    Further repeatedly losing so heavily takes its toll on the players and the fans.

     

     

    To be honest, I think there is a chance we could be viewed again as lucky losers on Wednesday. Our defence really looks very shaky without CCV.

     

     

    Firstly, Trusty is still learning the ropes And both he and scales are very prone to being picked off with any sort of pace and strength.

     

     

    Secondly, the defence has very little protection under Rodgers’ system- in effect relying only on Calmac in front of them. Unless we are to suffer another humbling, surely Brendan has to provide more protection in the form of a second holding midfielder?

     

     

    Of course come game time on Wednesday my trepidation will have been overtaken by mindless optimism and I will be confidently predicting a top eight finish for Celtic in the Champions League.

     

     

    So come on Celtic!! The big cup’s coming home!!

  22. How many CL games has CCV missed?.Far too many.Injuries seem to be around the Sept,Oct ,past few seasons.Critical time.We need to take a look at this.Having two left footers play is not great.

  23. Re Saturdays game

     

    -We should have been 3 or 4 ahead by half time.

     

    -Well done to Aberdeen on luring us in before busting out to get a well earned draw.

     

    – I thought Arne went out of the game after an especially robust challenge late in 1st half

     

    -Where is/what’s the craic with Nawrocki?

     

    -Valle needs to look at his boots as he was slipping to much

     

    – as a few bloggers pointed our,GM and RC we are suspect to the dortmund template we’re our central defence is asked questions of and we seem worryingly slow to answer.

     

    – we need to be more malleable as a defence,a lot quicker in retreat.

     

    – it is noticeable our loss of confidence when we are asked questions of.

     

    – Walsh firmly applied 4 fouls til yellow rule when facing tims,we need more protection for Engels and kuhn.

     

    – Engels and Calmac are still learning to play.

     

    – Duk handball was a pen.

     

    – we erred and gave balls away to much leading to Aberdeens goals,worrying with Atalanta coming up

     

    – still top of the league

     

     

    HH

  24. garygillespieshamstring on

    The Blogger

     

     

    Good question.

     

     

    I suppose it comes down to whether we believe the hammerings we have taken in Europe are down to the personnel available or the tactics employed.

     

     

    My fear is that the same approach will lead to a similar outcome.

  25. Turketbhoy

     

    Generally your posts are well made and concise, but you are very negative in some.

     

     

    You slagged off Daizen , sure he made a mistake, but you have to ask, should he have beeen playing after all the travelling he’s done, bound to be a tad slower. Maybe, Palma or Jamsie would have been better starting.

     

    Respectfully suggest you get some positivity training , instead of the glass being totally empty all the time.

     

     

    Best to you

     

     

    KINGLUBO

  26. Saint Stivs on @1:09pm

     

    1400 unoccupied but paid for seats at celtic park on saturday.

     

    …….…

     

     

    Seats are for bores who expect to be spoon fed their entertainment.

     

     

    Solution get a Government who’ll outlaw billionaires and introduce laws and conditions which allow fans to own their own clubs like what happens in Germany despite that great country getting colonised by woke wnker filled Governments for the last 80 years coz they got rid of the evil bankers back in the day and not by the hysterically written version of events and Hollywood fiction movies written by those who have lied about every other part of the history books.

     

     

    Get rid of the majority of seats leading to a new concept were fans will feel that they have to put a shift of work in to support the team – like the good old days – and a kind board who’ll bring back the old “Comrades all” blind eye operated by the Kelly & White board who allowed 30% of the attendance in for free with a lift over the turnstiles ie the young fans of the future.

     

     

    All seating was implemented by Thatcherite grifters and goons who carried out a [ psyop ] at Hillsborough 1989 killing 97 Liverpool fans which was used to terrify fans about the safety of football terraces and open up a stock exchange – wall street – banking cartels – back door into football clubs – the working man’s game was on the way out.

  27. Quadrophenian

     

     

    ‘I actually thought the Killie LB had a decent showing; no speed machine but a big lad who knows defending.‘

     

     

    Yes he stood out a mile. He was my MotM. We should keep an eye on him.

  28. Said exact same thing on Sat

     

    last season and sure season before CCV missed big games Feyenoord (a) Real (a)

     

    that i can think of mainly because i was there but sure he missed more.

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Turkeybhoy on 21st October 2024 2:42 pm

     

    How many CL games has CCV missed?.Far too many.Injuries seem to be around the Sept,Oct ,past few seasons.Critical time.We need to take a look at this.Having two left footers play is not great.

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