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.
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AN TEACH SOLAIS on 13TH MARCH 2017 4:34 PM
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2003/318.html
Why doesn’t Mr King simply show the Takeover Appeal Board evidence that the £18m invested by “him” WAS actually all his own money?
Of course if the £18m included money invested by the three bears then it would be difficult to deny that they were part of a concert party.
Mr King…..?
I thought I recognised the guy sitting to the left of Sevcos new manager, it is Mendez who used to play for the dead club, he was well briefed and a nice staged managed question from Patterson on Sky asking why he considers Sevco the biggest club, not a probing question the reply totally agreed in advance he claimed a 144 year history for Sevco and 54 titles, Confessions are on regularly mister sevco manager as lying is a sin.
Hello folks
long time an all that
Over and above the now predictable black arts of Madden, we seem to be shipping a bit of water.
Sinclair and Dembele were posted missing in my eyes and should have been running their back four a merry dance. We finished the first half with around 70% possession and were poor.
I hate to say it but Boyata & Sviatchenko are probably not good enough or are too unreliable/nervy as a pairing.
Our next game will be interesting – if we see Boyata or Sviatchenko getting un-pressured possession coupled to a lack of showing from our midfield, we’ve learnt nothing.
If not for the St Mirren game I’d have said that was just a bad day at the office, but there’s an achilles heel been identified and it’s being exploited.
Every dog has their day and all that but we made a very ordinary team look just that.
U
MWD…
Sorry,I didn’t make my point clearly enough,I meant fight it on the pitch,in games,always be up against it.
I’m with you on the board not standing up to it when the opportunity has been there,as in the cases you mention.I don’t really see the board as anything other than accountants and have little interest or faith in them to do anything other than crunch numbers.And even if they did take a genuine stand the influences behind the scenes in this country would make sure they failed as it benefits their favourite club.
This is all just my opinion,of course.Maybe there’ll be a great uprising and corruption in the game will end and all will be fair and equal.Naw holding my breath mind.
HH
ERNIE LYNCH @ 4.37pm
Thank you for the reference to the legal case. My memory was a bit fuzzy about the details.
So, it seems that there is a legal precedent for action after a serious injury but now I wonder if HSE could become proactive and in some way instruct referees regarding their legal responsibilities to protect players under HASAW Act.
Thanks again for posting the case to which I was referring. Cheers. HH
Dessybhoy 4.39pm
Pedro Mendes is the new Sev manager’s agent …… (I think)
GFTB
He is still a liar
https://mobile.twitter.com/ScotlandSky/status/841306367323455489
;)))
Dessybhoy 4.53pm
I would not dispute that :-)
Liars only kid themselves on
What I found strange about the penalty incident yesterday was the reaction of Strachan, McCann etal who kept telliong us gobshites – they obviously think that’s what we are – that the Newco player actually touched the ball as he chopped down Griffiths in the box. These people are probably on good money from Sky and should never be allowed near a studio after yesterday. Can’t wait for the Cup semi.
Watch the full 90 again.
Cheating apart I now don’t think we played as badly as I first perceived while at the game. We were though lacklustre, slow to second balls, eg. Hun goal, and very poor with our passing through out the team. Dembele and Sinclair poor with regards ball retention. Biton is just not good enough. Eric was all over the place when put under pressure. Browny didn’t play as bad as I first thought but his passing was shocking overall.
It’s obvious that if a team decides not to sit off us then our game plan is lost. Brendan needs to rectify this. St Mirren did it last week and the Huns this week. So over to you Brendan to smarten up the players in that regard so they are prepared in future for teams who are going to close down the space quickly.
As for the officials? Get in aboot them PLC or one day you will be looking at a legal claim from one of our players with regards their personal safety while playing.
MWD
Mind that penalty at Tannadice when we were told by all and Sindry it wasn’t a pen because the DDU player got the ball after coming through our player from the back.
Nothing changes even when the rules state otherwise!
MWD
THETIMREAPER on 13TH MARCH 2017 1:50 PM
Got a reply from JPT re Madhun….
Thank you for your email, I completely understand your points although these are issues that I’m not authorised to comment on. My understanding is however that there is a process for Clubs to grade the refereeing performance and the SPFL take a view on things once the Club reports have been received.
I have passed on your comments to our senior Management team.
*****
TimReaper
Thanks for posting that. The answer leads to certain obvious questions.
Why is JPT not authorised to comment on this? If he is not authorised to comment, who at Celtic PLC is, and will they?
It would be interesting to know if there are rules that preclude Celtic from making their reports available to fans/shareholders. If so, what are they? If not, will Celtic make available their report cards on the various games/referees? If not, why not?
****
I bet those documents would make interesting reading, and would go a long way to clarifying questions that many of us have about the relationship between Celtic PLC and the league.
MWD
I much prefer when a forward wobbles his own legs, then falls over with no opposition contact – that’s a definite penalty. I think their genus is Ibroxian?
U
Moonbeams 5.09pm
Don’t disagree with your post, I think BR has been brilliant for us but this blaming the pitch is giving the players an excuse, and as overpaid children they will use the pitch as an excuse…..
I think BR has gave them a wee reason to blame, but in saying that Madden still I cheat in my eyes, let’s hope we make sure whoever the ref is on the semi final he canny get the big decisions wrong, embarrass them into making the correct decisions, am sure BR is more aware of this than any of us :-)
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
Why are our players suddenly overpaid children, what’s that mean??
Miller tackle on Armstrong
New Angle CSC
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
Shoulda gone to Specsavers!
What the banner said
BSR- EBT Cheat Steven Thomson would say’ he never fouled him enough…’
Why would you think any SLO has any authorisation to comment on anything that happens on the pitch?
https://twitter.com/celticmatchworn/status/841262168553213952
Great banner from the GB
Starry Plough 5.27pm
Just a throw away comment, been catching up on all the interviews and after match stuff and a few players re-iterating Brendan’s words about the pitch, just my opinion, but if we give our players an excuse they might hide behind it, still doesn’t change Madden costing us the win…. No malice in the comment
Sevco are the world record holders of the new ‘no fouling enough’ tackles.
Choose stealing the proceeds from a charity game.
Uly
Long time no post buddy.
How are you?
Aye, Waghorn should be renamed to Wagwhistleref
GFTB
We should be training on our park in the lead up to Hampdump game. Hampdump is going to be 10 times worse than oor park so a week of full blown training games on it should bring us down to standard do we are up to standard. If that makes sense?
:@-)))
MWD
Choose lying about ‘eleven players’ being assaulted at a cup final.
Bullshit Bingo CSC
CRC
Great news on wee shays sister. Congrats to Shay and his family.
MWD
Pedro Mendes is Brother Pedros agent. The man who called R*ngers to offer his clients services after a stellar spell in Qatar. Seemingly he offered a previous Portuguese manager to R*ngers before they hired the Tragic Hat.
Yesterday was not a shock to me.
We were outplayed a Hampden in last Seasons Scottish cup final.
We were outplayed for the first 20 to 25 minutes at Ayebrokes in the Hogmanay fixture ,and whilst we had the greater number of chances in the second half in that match,they still opened us up,but for a bad miss by Miller they would have earned a draw.
The team have had an amazing run ,but there are areas where we can improve.
Boyata and Sviachencko are not as strong a defensive pairing as when fit Simunovic partners either of them.
But my main area of concern is that our wide men can be very ineffective down the right hand side.
Yet again James Forrest produced nothing in Sevco match.
Paddy Roberts was a major disappointment for me ,as I had thought he would roast any Sevco fullback.
He did nothing when he came on.
Thankfully we didn’t have to endure an unconfident GMS.
But Brendan needs to have an alternative down the right if James Forrest isn’t performing.
Sinclair and Dembele were our worst performers on the day.
Maybe a wee rest in needed.
I think we can rely on Leigh Griffiths to score goals .
Lustig and Tierney were ok.
Armstrong ,Broony and Gordon were our best performers .
Brendan needs to fix the centre midfield for the semi final ,,the centre of defence ,and I would play a front 3 of Sinclair,Dembele and Griffiths.
TT
Correction.
Last seasons Scottish cup semi final.
TT
I remember not being fouled enough once…
How did I feel? Hurt! Angry! Betrayed even…
I demanded the referee bring the player back to half me in two properly.
Maybe if I’d been wearing the Hoops…
Sevco set to announce another star on their jersey for gaining Parkhead draw.
If a centre half whilst tackling a forward in the penalty box ,pulls out a machete and chops him into pieces but in doing so gets the ball first, is it a penalty?
HASAW etc Act 1974
This has been cited on CQN previously – the HSE have no remit on what is deemed to be a contact sport between participants playing to; recognised sporting rules, articles of associations (regarding interpretation) or codes of conduct relating to said rules.
The HSE can and only will intervene (in a sporting situation) where it’s deemed to be a breach of H&S regulations relating to equipment/ venue that results in serious injury or fatality. e.g. A ridiculous situation but nevertheless an example – a faulty crossbar collapses resulting in a player receiving a fractured skull (and consequences) or worse case resulting in a fatality.
The HSE could intervene where sports facilities were deemed dangerous but highly unlikely – the Governing Body or Licencing Authority would be first port of call.
As for the MIBS – most likely (possibly mandatory – I don’t know) they will carry Personnel Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance. Any consequences relating to their interpretation (or non) of sports games rules would be vigorously defended in a Court of Law.
There are a number of cases (personnel pursuit of damages) that have made the High Court – few have been successful. Probably the most high-profile one being Paul Elliot (Chelsea) .v. Dean Saunders (Liverpool) for £1M damages – the case was thrown out by the High Court Judge and costs awarded against Paul Elliot (note – not Chelsea).
IF the HSE had wished to get involved in sports (in general) for H&S reasons – don’t you think they would have stepped in years ago to legislate on boxing or other so-called violent contact sports?
Moonbeams 5.40pm
That makes sense :-)
Get our bhoys at barrowfield and not the lush fields of lennoxtown, I honestly have no fears about the semi final, they had their day yesterday with their last gasp draw and helping hand (shakes) :-)