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Celtic passing, the horseshoe shape and Spanish movement

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  2. NorrieM on

    eSwatini = Swaziland, name change earlier this year, at behest of King Mswati 111, to celebrate both his and his countries 50th Birthday

     

    Stunning wee country incidentally

  3. Delaneys Dunky on

    Pog

     

    She is better looking than the Coatbridge she devils fae hell that clicked wi Sipsini and I in BV. Amazed we are still alive. ?

     

    YNWA

  8. Delaneys Dunky on

    Bada

     

    You drew out the CQN Intellectuals HSJJ and Norrie.

     

    Thought you were at the wind up wi that name. ?

     

    YNWA

  10. Melbourne Mick on

    DELANEYS DUNKY

     

     

    Good morning from a seriously wet Melbourne though some

     

    of the state needs the rain because of drought.

     

    FRIESDORFER has kindly sent you PADDYMACS email addy and

     

    he’s looking forward to a nice wee gab with you.

     

    By the way did you see my post last night just before PAUL67

     

    changed the blog header? about that night in Amsterdam and

     

    Chicken George?/ Johan Cruyff, thought it was a class act from

     

    one of the best players in the world.

     

    H.H Mick

  11. NorrieM on

    DD

     

    I visited Swaziland ( as it was then) in 1985/6, absolutely stunning place, and was proud of its independence,

     

    Still have a couple of soapstone figures I bought from local traders on roadside ( how many lived their lives)

  14. Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles on

    Well last night in Harrogate before heading up the road to Glasgow. Meeting four friends (of over 40 years) from Uni on Thurs for a wee swally and a Ruby. Two of them over from Canadia. Meeting one of the Canadian Bhoys again on Saturday with his good lady for the Hibees game. A big thank you to the Hunskelper General for giving me his season tickets so that they could go to the game. Picking up said ST’s from Malorbhoy on the way up the road tomorrow and he has promised me a wee afternoon tea ? Not often you get anything from Malorbhoy other than abuse ? ???????

  15. Delaneys Dunky on

    MM

     

    It was a doobie Cruyff was toking. ?

     

    Have a very long email for Paddy.

     

    His letter to me hit a few local connections.

     

    Small world. Half a world away.

     

    Oasis CSC

     

    YNWA

  16. Melbourne Mick on

    Ha ha if i thought doobys could make you play like him

     

    i’d have taken up the fags as well.

     

    H.H Mick

  18. Delaneys Dunky on

    MM

     

    Met Chicken George and his son in the ground in Seville. We gret in unison at full time.

     

    YNWA

  20. NorrieM on

    SFTB – sorry ipad (CQN) continually reloading

     

    King Mswati 3rd – blame iPad ?

     

     

    DD, another place I visited 1985 Bophutatswana- so what is it famous for ??

  22. NorrieM on

    Melbourne Mick

     

    I know George does Celtic hospitality

     

    Also seen him driving a Taxi in Viewpark ( wee Jimmy’s home village)

  24. Saint Stivs on

    as an aside,

     

     

    i passed the big dumbarton high school on sunday, final stage of demolition, quite sad,

  30. Delaneys Dunky on

    Saint Stivs

     

    I had a party when they demolished the VD school in Scotstoun. Saint Tams demolished them at fitba, and demolished them in our religious war gang fights on Scotstoun Showgrounds after school. Glasgow Warriors home pitch now. Took their name fae the Saint Tams Fenian Warriors. Hahaha

     

    YNWA

  32. Delaneys Dunky on

    DBhoy

     

    Excellent sir. Thank you.

     

    Reckoned I was the only The Music fan on here. Wrong.

     

    Magic track too. Thanks

     

    YNWA

  33. NorrieM on

    Ok

     

    Bophuthatswana, has Sun City, was at concert when Rod got banned by Equiti for playing the Super Bowl

     

    8 of us in the hoops, ( not all Tims ???) so Rod welcomed us to front of stage, then gave us “your in my Heart”

     

    Full section of super bowl closed off for his bird at time Britt Ekland

  34. !!Bada Bing!! on

    If Roy Keane was a pundit tonight, what would he have made of that nonsense? Taking money under false pretences…

  37. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    WHAT IS THE STARS on 16TH OCTOBER 2018 9:49 PM

     

    Thomthethim

     

     

     

     

    To hell with the Craig Gordon love in.

     

     

     

     

    What about coming up for that corner at Tynecastle!!!

     

     

     

    ******

     

    Did he score ?

     

    Naw.

     

     

    So whit’s yir problem, pal, eh ??

  40. Billy Bhoy on

    If Ronnie O dislikes the aroma of pish in the dressing room he’ll be glad he isn’t a Scottish footballer playing under the tutelage of Alex jakey McLeish.

     

     

    The dressing rooms at Hampden must smell like a sewer.

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