Celtic passing, the horseshoe shape and Spanish movement

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I watched the first half of Spain-England last night and although the Spanish will regard it as a horror show, that verdict should be limited to how they defended.  The home team’s movement off the ball was a joy to watch.

Every modern dominant team, including Celtic, seem to play what is commonly referred to as a passing game.  When Celtic play it, it looks like a passing game, but when Spain played last night, passing was subservient to their movement.  When a player received the ball, everyone else in a red shirt was on the move, giving him straightforward options.  No one was boxed-in, forced to try to beat a man or lob a rash ball forward.  Successful passing became a consequence of off the ball movement.

By comparison, Celtic stretch play from left to right, in a regular horseshoe patter, presumably in an attempt to create space between defenders.  A direct cost of this is that players have fewer options in possession, make more predictable passes and are forced to play it sideways or back more often.

England shredded Spain, which could be linked to the fluidity of the Spanish, but I suspect it had more to do with a failure to keep a straight defensive line, than a direct punishment for off the ball work.

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  1. I thought the goal against St Johnstone, finished off by Dembele in the invincible season was a joy to behold, twenty six passes I think, to top it off everyone in the team touched the ball, better than the one against Lyon imo.

  2. THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 16TH OCTOBER 2018 6:41 PM

     

    Delighted to see Craig Gordon publicly supporting Leigh Griffiths, over the shoddy treatment from Mc.Leish.

     

     

    Craig is the quiet man of our team. He doesn’t say too much, but, as he showed as a Hearts player, when there was some internal problems. Steven Presley also stood up.

     

     

     

    As a professional, Gordon is an inspiration to any footballer, in the way that he battled back from a career threatening injury, refusing to accept an insurance payout, to reach his current level of performance.

     

     

    He may not have been born a Celt, but………

     

    _______________________

     

     

    Totally agree. And to think I was against signing Craig as I mistakenly thought it showed a lack of ambition.

     

     

    I am happy to eat my words.

     

     

    HH.

  3. Delaneys Dunky on

    Saint Stivs

     

     

    Noticed in your photo fae George Square that all the lassies were bonny and the blokes handsome.

     

    Have you found a handsome hun or bonny hun lassie yet?

     

    Naw. Didnae think so. ?

     

    YNWA

  4. okay bhoys thought that this might stimulate some debate, was asked on another celtic site, packy what would have happened if inter had held onto their lead in 67, well for a start millions of tims throughout the world would not have grown up with the magic of Lisbon in their hearts, and that 14 inch black and white tv me and my dad watched it on would have smashed, because he would have put one of his empty screwtaps through the screen.lol. makes you think though, would that Italian defensive style prevailed against the swashbuckling celts guess we will never know ,but bhoy am i glad my old man did not have to put that empty screwtap through the tv.hh,

  5. Back to the article – it depends which way the horseshoe is pointing.- most of the time the toe is pointed to the opposition goal instead of the other way.

  6. BP1

     

    life is full of what ifs – we were underdogs in Lisbon but favourites in Milan -i’ll take ‘one star means more’CSC

  7. GENE on 16TH OCTOBER 2018 8:43 PM

     

    saint sivs

     

     

     

     

    St Patricks day 1968. Eire ??

     

     

    ——–

     

     

    your good Gene who is it.

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