What’s not in dispute about Sunday was Celtic’s overwhelming superiority in every aspect of the game. One Newco fan suggested to me that on that showing, only Nir Bitton wouldn’t have got into the Newco (not his word) team. What worked so well for us, despite an array of unenforced errors and poor finishing, was the passing and positional play from our two central defenders.
The jury has been out on Jozo Simunovic since his arrival in the summer of 2015 as we’ve seen so little of him in that time, but he and Erik Sviatchenko were fundamental to our dominance. With both full backs playing high up-field, Jozo and Erik were asked to cover the back line, often taking possession under pressure, but there were no Big Bobo moments.
They were comfortable enough to hold possession while being closed down and play a short passing game. Erik was regularly in the left back position against the touchline, but stuck to task. This meant Celtic could continue to play through periods where passing higher up the park wasn’t as accurate as it could have been.
As a consequence, Mikael Lustig and Kieran Tierney were able to overload wide midfield positions. Whenever possession was lost we were in place to press quickly.
Jozo got a good block on the only genuine chance Newco created all game (caused through an unenforced error in midfield) but apart from that it was difficult to judge any of the defenders on their defensive display, as we weren’t asked to defend for large parts of the day.
Brendan made the decision to let Jozo go to Torino in August, for the deal to fall through. One of his objectives this season will be to go into next summer’s Champions League qualifiers with three central defenders he can rely on (there is less doubt we’ll be in the qualifiers now than at this stage during the last three seasons).
Caveat on Wednesday aside, Kolo Toure has proven to be a great signing (he’s four years older than Philippe Senderos, as a guide), but it will be a while before he or Brendan will discuss next season. If Jozo and Erik remain fit, and with Eoghan O’Connell looking the part, this area of the team is well sorted.
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ERNIE LYNCH on 25TH OCTOBER 2016 3:33 PM
Aye Ernie, that about sums it up I suppose.
I’m off to find a brick wall …………
KTF
What happened to the Sevco Spam Roll money?
Carlos Alberto RIP
Art of War well said
!!BADA BING!!
My claim to fame? I had a kick about with Carlos Alberto at the 1994 World Cup
Carlos Alberto R.I.P
HAMILTONTIM,
CONSULTATION DOCUMENT RE REPEAL OF OBAF
Has there been any indication of quantity of submissions made? And, are there still people who submitted responses which call for repeal but who erroneously ticked the wrong box in answering Q1 who can yet rectify their mistake by e-mailing Mr. James Kelly, MSP?
James.Kelly.msp@ scottish.parliament.uk. HH
Juventus director claiming Pogba’s agent was paid €27m for negotiating his transfer to Man U.
This happened before somewhere? Forked if I can remember where?
Watford are being investigated by the Football League for allegedly supplying false financial information.
The Telegraph newspaper claims it has obtained a forged bank letter submitted when Gino Pozzo became the Hornets owner before the 2014-15 campaign.
Watford won Premier League promotion that season, and could have points deducted or be fined if they are found to be at fault.
Watford said they are carrying out an internal investigation.
An EFL spokesman confirmed it had started an investigation into “serious allegations” and had contacted the club after receiving information from the newspaper.
He said Watford had been asked to “provide a full and detailed response to the allegations”.
The Telegraph claims the “fabricated” document shows that the holding company which owns Watford – Hornets Investment Ltd – had enough money to be issued a bank guarantee of up to £7m and therefore allow Italian Pozzo to take control of the club.
The newspaper says there is no indication that Pozzo himself knew that the letter had been obtained or submitted on his behalf.
In a statement, Watford said it had “no prior knowledge of any concerns about the authenticity of the document” and that more than £20m had been invested in the club since the takeover.
It said the club “takes this matter extremely seriously” and would report back to the EFL next month.
Sorry to hear of the death of Carlos Alberto. May he RIP
What a player he was and in a brilliant team in 1970. I well remember his cracking goal against Italy.
YNWA – Carlos Alberto R.I.P.
Carlos Alberto 1970 Brazil Team ,arguably one the greatest national football teams that played on this planet.
RIP Carlos Alberto.
So, have we all seen this?
Prepare for a laugh…
https://www.calendarclub.co.uk/sports/football/rangers-fc-annual-2017-r181200
It’s available for pre-order at several outlets. This is apparently the approved front cover.
Do they have the worst PR in the world, or what?
Or is it a Sports Direct ploy to deny them even their tiny amount of merchandising income?
They most certainly leave a big tip for themselves over at the crumbledome.
“I remember Ian Durrant , one of the coaches at Rangers when I signed, telling me that if Rangers played Barcelona then the fans would expect a win – and Rangers were in the second division at that stage. That is how it is up there.
“I did think, ‘Surely not’. But I saw it for myself.”
Law has been an ever-present for the Bantams and has helped the Yorkshire side to six wins and just one defeat from their opening 15 matches leaving them sitting third in League One.
I was born in 1971 but brought up on tales of 2 football teams from prior to my birth:The Lisbon Lions and Brazil ’70.
My old mhan made sure I appreciated beautiful football.The goal scored by Carlos Alberto in the1970 WCF was a perfect example of what my dad hoped I would appreciate.
Carlos Alberto RIP.
A GENUINE footballing legend.
Reading kevj there , he certainly has some valid points . I can’t for the life of me understand why celtic plc have accepted all the injustices bestowed on us . That club we played on Sunday ,in any other country in the world would be out the game by now for proven cheating , They have gotten away with murder , and one day they will be back and challenging celtic . Add to that the turning of the other cheek with regards the media , they have ridiculed every aspect of our club , and the support , they have made up demeaning stories, held old stories back until a time that is going to cause the club most harm . Continued the same club myth ,and enhanced the new club at every turn to the detriment of every other club in the country . They should have been tackled and dealt with many years ago . Also need a calling out of the woeful refereeing in this country . Two seasons ago blatant barefaced cheating cost celtic a treble , I am old enough to remember Wharton , Syme and co , MIBS that altered the outcome of matches against us , but what is most worrying is that on that particular semi final day , the guys in black showed unbelievable arrogance to simply shrug their shoulders to the non award of the most blatant penalty kick you will ever see . I doubt Wharton , or syme .would have risked not giving that penalty . And now more than ever tv picks up more of these decisions . The officials that day ,didn,t care a toss , they knew nothing was going to happen to them , it’s when you see decisions like that , you have to make a challenge . Hampden park blazers know what’s going on . Hope the res 12 guys achieve their goal .
Carlos Alberto RIP
Meet the New Firm
Same as the Old Firm
Aye us Tims wont get fooled again. That Thompson’s a cheatin bassa.
Took the plunge and clicked on the Martin Kaymer advert for Mercedes. How spooky is this, although I am based in the west of Scotland and never visit any Hun blogs or websites, I was immediately directed too the Mercedes Deutschland web page. How the the hell did they know that I was travelling to Gladbach on Tuesday and intended to look about car showrooms rather than going on the swally
ps Asked at the local library for them to order the Andy Lynch book in……nothing beats a free read
pps anyone know which Scottish airports the Italian national airline fly from
Football without a PLC prostituting itself is nothing.
Afternoon
Sad to learn of the passing of Carlos Alberto. Brazil 1970 was indisputably the best national team I have seen – those who saw the great Hungarian side of the early 50s said Puskas’ team might have been their equals but I am not that old- and Carlos was their captain and the man who scored their signature goal.
RIP
Carlos Alberto, Brazil Legend, RIP.
Probably the most viewed goal of all time.
What about Clodoahldo’s dribble, beating 4 men en route to goal.
FIELDOFDRAMS – Thems calendars will become collectors items, mark my words.
Look forward to the Antiques Roadshow in 100 years and someone presents one for inspection – Will anyone remember who the team were?
RIP Carlos Alberto a wonderful player in a wonderful team.
The 1970 boys from Brazil undoubtedly the greatest national team ever, IMHO. A team full of real superstars that no other Brazil team could ever hope to emulate. Too many overpaid Prima Donnas these days who are more interested in diving, waving imaginary yellow/red cards and where their next tattoo is going to fit. None of them fit to lace the boots of that team.
Like the Lions they came from a bygone age when playing the beautiful game meant much more than money a time that is unlikely ever to be seen again.
It’s called living the Lie.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/mind-the-gap/
So a referee that deliberately orders a k.o. without informing the TV camera’s because he was criticised for not
giving a Sevco red card wouldn’t chop off a perfectly good Celtic goal?
While I enjoyed reading Andy Lynch last night I never asked any questions and/or made any comments as by the time Andy had made the breakthrough I was 3.5k miles away in another continent.
I can recall us signing Andy and wondering why, not questioning his ability or Jock’s judgement, but left wing was a position, even with the Bear having left, that we seemed to have covered with the Buzz Bomb, Paul Wilson and even Tid more than capable of filling.
After a brief start he dropped out of the scene for a while and then returned firstly at centre in a SC tie at Boagheid retaining his position in the side for the next 2 games before dropping out again and not returning for another month only this time at left half.
We were an aging side by this time and really struggling as the TIAR dream had faded. Interestingly enough as poor as we were we still managed to win both cups that season, unlike naesurname’s fraudulent side that failed to win anything at the same junction of their dishonest run.
He retained his place in the side eventually swapping roles with Pat McCluskey including the SC and Glasgow Cup Finals.
Left back was another one of those roles where we went from a position of strength, big Tam, Willie O’Neil, John Gorman and Davie Hay when needed to playing out of position players and weakening the system like Jim Brogan, Pat McCluskey and even big Tid.
Andy grabbed this lifeline with both hands and went on tae captain the club and live the dream by scoring the winner against the deid team in the final.
He should be an inspiration to the likes of Liam Henderson and Calum McGregor in that if you work hard and persevere the door can open for you.
Celtic set to lose wonder kid Dembele……………….debut for England
A negative Celtic headline at any cost
Phil’s up …
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/playing-by-numbers/#more-8179
Heid sacked at Wigan joke, he got them promoted spending next to nothing,
If anyone wants to watch highlights of Sunday’s game, they are on BT sports 3 between 7 + 8 tonight.
Also Gladbach are playing Stuttgart on BT2 at 7 45 tonight.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37769286
Gary Caldwell sacked by Wigan.
Thoughts with those from CQN facing health or family health issues today.
Current Celtic players on CQN would say what they say to the press and these comments are usually reported by CQN Magazine in the various features published every single day.
If we were looking at the books we publish simply on commercial basis we’d have gone ahead with very few of them.
Charlie Gallagher just wanted his story out there for his family. CQN helped.
John Hughes was about to be stitched up by an unscrupulous ‘vanity publisher’ and would have taken around £10k of the big man’s money, which he’d never have seen again. CQN did it for nothing.
Brendan Sweeney worked for 4 years researching Celtic The Early Years (thus Jim Craig was on CQN with his friend from Celtic Graves who had a book to sell). CQN published it, rather beautifully for free.
Could go on, maybe you’re getting the picture.
Last night set off for an hour’s drive to meet Andy Lynch at his home, we started at 7pm and finished around half ten. I got home just before midnight. No-one bought a book while Andy was on the blog but it was mega good click bait! If we’re doing it to flog books to unsuspecting Celtic supporters we are clearly dafter than we look and that’s not the brightest.
I’ll consider the matter further on the wee drive tomorrow to Dingwall to secure more click bait in the match report.
RIP Carlos Alberto, a World Cup Winning Captain.
Phils piling on the hurt today, something about to break? Hopefully:))
Bourne, our media never cease to annoy us with any negative slant they can find about Celtic.
You would think with the lack of talent, at international level, in our game, the media would want every potentially good player who could play for Scotland, does not play for another country.
Does anyone remember the Texaco Cup? I think it was the early 1970s and Airdrie played Hearts in the final or semi final at Broomfield. Living in nearby Coatbridge, I took myself up to see the game (played on a midweek evening). That makes me think it must have been the final. I found myself in amongst the Jambos in a very large crowd. Hearts had Fonald Ford, Drew Jarvie, Drew Busby and DREW Lynch in their team. That’s what they were calling our Andy! Hearts were great and cuffed Airdrie 5-0 (I think). Donald Ford was a speed merchant and ran amok.
Fonald = Donald of course.