We hoped that Celtic’s anaemic 57 minutes against St Mirren last week would serve as an indication that performance levels needed to improve ahead of yesterday’s game against Newco, but many of the same facets were in evidence.
Anytime I have seen Newco this season they seem to start brightly. By contrast, Celtic tend to feel their way into games in a low-energy manner. This was evident yesterday. The game was moments old when Erik Sviatchenko was pressurised into a mistake, which brought Newco deep into Celtic territory. It was 3 minutes before we crossed the halfway line again.
Erik’s next two touches were also unassured, which interrupted the flow of the ball. It looked like Newco had decided he was the Celtic player to press. His central defensive partner was caught flat when a touch by Miller saw the ball pass through him, allowing Waghorn the first of his great opportunities to score.
Passing was clearly ineffective. Celtic simply didn’t keep possession throughout the game. The pitch seemed fast, how many times did you see a through ball run out of play? I wondered if Brendan decided to pull back groundsmen on watering duties?
Scott Brown opened in an advanced central midfield position, often ahead of Stewart Armstrong, with Nir Bitton the only one of the midfield three consistently playing his regular role. While the objective was clearly to pressurise the Newco defence, it came at a cost of ball retention.
Callum McGregor brought composure to Celtic’s play when he replaced Bitton at halftime. He was prepared to hold the ball, draw opponents in, and pass or move. This served to underline how poorly we were in this respect during the first half.
Stewart Armstrong created and scored a goal out of nothing. When he went off we not only missed his edge around the Newco penalty area, we became porous in midfield. Ball retention then took a further downturn and we lacked tightness.
Newco deserved their goal and, at that point, I thought deserved their point. They neutered the left flank threat of Sinclair and Tierney, which isolated Dembele. With Celtic unable to circulate the ball to any effect, which was the crucial tactical element of the game.
The psychology of refereeing is a weighty subject. Bobby Madden booked four Newco players before cautioning Scott Brown, but the real test isn’t applying a player’s first yellow card. After his booking, Waghorn twice tumbled theatrically inside the box in a blatant attempt to win a penalty. Both should have resulted in a second caution, but having booked so many Newco players, Madden froze.
Pointing to the penalty spot in added time of a tied game is a big decision for a referee. For whatever reason, Madden didn’t want to do this when Hill took Leigh Griffiths down with a waist-high challenge.
I could debate the reasons why he didn’t want to do this with you all week, but we both know why. At least the manager and players know what to expect in the semi-final.
Our raffle for Alzheimer Scotland to win this magnificent canvas (above) ends at 14:00 TODAY, so you’ve less than two hours to enter.
We ask for a minimum donation of £5.
You can enter through this MyDonate page, with the money going straight to Alzheimer Scotland.
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Yep Dallas, Obviously there has been a change of plan at Celtic Park this year re Development Squad. You are allowed a quota of overage players & last year we regularly had 3 or 4 first squad players on the team.
This year we almost exclusively play the kids, maybe it’s the best thing for developing talent but we will probably not win the League.
I don’t like Portuguese football, national or club, they are a very talented nation but there’s a huge element of cheating and extreme cynicism to their game.
It wasn’t always so, I loved the Benfica side that won 2 ECs in a row. The first one they defeated the then hated Barca as they had put out the majestic fan favourite and EC undefeated Real Madrid in the 1st round.
I still recall hearing the score on the wireless as I got ready for school, I was gutted as were all my school pals, Real had never been beaten in the Big Cup and to do so tae their fiercest rivals was stunning.
However, in our eyes there was a God as Benfica defeated them 3-2 in the final, this was a really good Barca side containing Magyars Kubala, Kocsis and Czibor as well as the highly influential Luis Suarez who missed Lisbon while with Inter due to injury.
Incidentally, Benfica’s 2nd leg semi in Vienna against our old friends rapid had to be abandoned with two minutes to play due to crowd riots and pitch invasion.
Scotland’s representatives that year were Hearts while england’s were Burnley, both nations game was a lot fairer then.
The following season they repeated their victory against a very strong Real containing Santamaria, DiStefano, Puskas and Gento. Benfica’s side this time included the Mozambique Pelé who after his death big Alfredo noted was the best player of all time.
The deid team had been eliminated by Standard Liege with Bogside Bhoy Johnny Crossan snatching a double in the 1st leg, while an excellent double winning ‘spurs went out tae the eventual winners in the semis, the following year they would be the first british side to win a European trophy the ECWC aka the “mickey mouse” cup.
This love affair with the Lisbon side continued the next season when I bunked school to watch the final live fae Wembley (nae floodlights then) where after taking an early Eusébio lead my new favourites succumbed to a double from Brazilian/Italian international (his mother was Italian) Altafini (nicknamed Mazzola due tae his resemblance on the park tae Sandro’s da).
That AC team was captained by Paolo’s da Cesare and contained the brilliant Gianni Rivera as well as future Vatican City team manager and Cooperator of Opus Dei “Il Trap”.
En route tae the final AC took care of Dundee and Ipswich; this was when rupert the bear was still in oz and hadn’t ruined the beautiful game yet.
However, the pork and cheese love in all changed in the summer of 1966 when the national side literally kicked Pelé out of the tournament.
Brazil had to win to avoid elimination for the first time since 1934. From the kick off every time Pelé touched the ball, he was savaged by an opposing player; watching it on tele it seemed that every time the great man managed tae evade two fouls he was violently hit by a third, he had to be carried out of the stadium at the end of the game unable to walk. He actually retired from international football after that and was only coaxed by the Brazilian President to return for what football supporters would call the greatest WC in history.
What was mystifying was Portugal were a really good side and Eusébio finished the top goalscorer, they were also the mother country for Brazilians and even to this day Portuguese fans can be seen waving Brazilian flags during WC campaigns.
After that I was cheering North Korea, especially after they’d turfed oot the Azzuri in the sections, in the next round particularly when they went 3 up in 25 minutes only for the genius that is Eusébio to rescue the game with 4 goals without reply. However the next test was the semis when they were paired with the host country. Oh dear what can a poor wee Scottish lhad do, actually hope if possible both teams get beat.
For years they were the best country never to win anything, a lot of that can be put down to their arrogance and petulance on the park. The “golden generation” for example defeated england, Romania, Germany and Turkey to advance to the semis of the Euros only to fail due to indiscipline including lengthy suspensions for Nuno Gomes and Paulo Bento for assaulting the referee.
There has always been a nasty side to them and we only have to look to Seville for proof in the pudding there. Sir Matt must be birlin in his grave at the site of the pretentious one in the dugout at OT.
Now that a side which blatantly tossed the rule book out the widnae yesterday, and that’s without the former PNE thug, have mourinho lite and his henchmen in charge and also the new found confidence that the mitb as well as naesurname working behind the scenes will almost ensure we should be prepared for worse at hampden next month.
Neg
That was an amusing post from you.
Made me smile at first then I felt sadness, because of the truth in your post.
HH
Jude 10.17pm
I think Leigh is the best striker we have…… Moussa has been great but I think Leigh is better
Get them both on the park
Burnley78
If you don’t mind me asking, from a corporate perspective, what did/do you think of our chairmans actions at end of game yesterday, have you ever seen this before
I refuse to attend a game against that mob now, as I believe they are being treated differently from any other club, and getting preferential treatment
If DD was there yesterday, I hope he boots Bankier where it hurts – oot the door
He can then join their board
Jude
Start your Josh in the semi.
Sure his grampa would give him a good pep talk. Hahaha
FAIRHILLBHOY
I think Kenny was everybodys go to guy .
You know and i know Kenny was the best at everything !!!
You’ve thrown me now i was Guessing your initials were J W .
if you know me you’ll know i’m not the brightest ….so you’ll have to spell it out for me .
Anyhoo good night take care :)
DD
Hows it going bud?
HH
Neg
Same question to you as posted at 22.24
I thought he was embarrassing- not for the first, second or even third time
Why the need to toast the way he did
As previous, why treat them differently ?
Marspapa
Did you get my text response last week ?
To be honest I’m still spewing myself.
We let that shower light a wee flame yesterday.
Major noise has to be made about the MIBs in the build up to this Semi-final.
So far, by and large, we’ve accepted that performance from Madden.
Read back at some of the asinine comments “we just need to score even more goals”. Why the hell are you writing such ? Are you daft enough to believe that ?
Celtic from A-Z need to mark these charlatans cards before the Hampden tie.
Otherwise, I fear we’ll be in for yet another series of “honest mistakes”.
I see the shares in Celtic are at 95p .Must be the news that Celtic are going to build a hotel.
TONTINE TIM on 13TH MARCH 2017 10:21 PM
Interesting post. Pedro is a Catholic and that is known to ra peepul. In some quarters over Ibrox way that remains unacceptable and will hurt them. Personally i think through time it will be a problem and will be used to undermine him through the SMSM and their own support. What do you think?
WIN THE SEMI AND GO TO IBOKE AS CHAMPIONS!!! LUVLEY JUBLEY!!
Gerry, if my prediction comes true , it will be the first ever lol
The Tim Reaper
Thems might burn Pedro at Glasgow Cross:)
HH
How big will the jakey free perimeter be for the new hotel? Embdy?
Mags 10.28pm
No need to share your experiences on the blog…….
Although
Bennetts on a Sunday night was a decent wee night out
TGM
All good here S. That your Tim credentials being doubted again?
The SMSM would say you bring on yourself like Lenny, for telling your truth.
Felt we were holding back to save injury against a hun side who had been snortin’ red bull.
Mags
What rules do you mean ?
COWIEBHOY
NOPE !!! you dont call or send me flowers anymore …whits happenin !! :)
Could be my phone pal.
MM 10.28pm
Groundhog day.
Mags
I missed the :-)
Delaney’s, I have noticed from the our line ups in the games, a mixture of 17 – 20 + year olds in the squad plus Luke Donnelly, Joe Thompson , Fiacre Kellecher and Aiden Nesbitt who are on development loans with lower league clubs .
Marspapa…
Apologies B but navigating this blog is difficult at best, will give you a call soonest…
Best ever to you V and the girls…
Regards & Hail Hail…
TBM
DD
Im an Unrepentant Fenian Streetfighter,..those that doubt can find out:)
HH
Margaret, You may well be the soundest guy ever but I must say I find the regular unnecessary sexual references in your posts extremely distasteful.
Kids do read these pages and there is absolutely no need for it.
I realise of course I’m leaving myself open for one of your “devastating ” responses, respond whatever way you want. I will not get involved in dialogue with you.
THETIMREAPER on 13TH MARCH 2017 10:32 PM
TONTINE TIM on 13TH MARCH 2017 10:21 PM
Interesting post. Pedro is a Catholic and that is known to ra peepul. In some quarters over Ibrox way that remains unacceptable and will hurt them. Personally i think through time it will be a problem and will be used to undermine him through the SMSM and their own support. What do you think?
*they’ll humour him for now but I do recall an interview with some zombies outside hades just after PLG had strpped bammy of the captaincy and it was along the lines of “barry is rainjurs PLG isnae”, in other words barry is a ken dodd and PLG a casey affleck.
THEBARCAMOLE
Aye yer at a difficult age aul yin :))
BIG-CUP-WINNERS on 13th March 2017 10:36 pm
You know. The rules. The ones that referees are supposed to adhere to.
Any Celtic players “gettin in aboot them” yesterday would have been red carded pronto.
corkcelt on 13th March 2017 10:40 pm
Dont be shy.
RE THE ST MIRREN GAME MC CANN RECKONED THEIR MANAGER TOLD THE TEAM TO IGNORE BOYATA WHEN HE HAD THE BALL
INFERRING HE WOULD DO SOMETHING STUPID WITH IT.
GFTB
No worries mate.
Bennett’s eh?
D D
I LIKE IT
Mags
Of course.
Any player knows how to dish some out, without the stuff they were allowed.
Anyone remember a Celtic player getting involved yesterday ?
DD
My nearest and dearest are trying to prevent me attending the semi-final:)
My insurrectionary intent might get the better of me:)
Grrrr
HH
Dallas
Was out with Marcus last week. He said Fiacre is an outstanding talent and tipped him for stardom. His mate Jacko Irvine looks like getting a move to EPL in summer for mad money fae Burton.
Dallas 10.33pm
It will be the most important prediction ever, even yesterday her mother said to me, she is Celtic daft, the fact I go out my way not too influence her makes it even better……..I think she is getting the bug to annoy me as I am showing no interest but deep down am over the moon :-)
Mind games CSC