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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Tontine Tim, the Scottish cup game against Dumbarton you mentioned in your post earlier, was one of the first away games I went to. I went with my dad and my dad’s oldest brother.
My dad worked most Saturday’s so my mum would not let me go to any away games, even at Firhill, if my dad was working.
I think we won 2 1 that day.
Just saw pictures of Fernando Ricksen on STV.
So sad as he struggles with Motor Neuron Disease. HH
Joey Barton leaving will be like a new signing
Mark Hateley
Just found this on the Georgia State University Hall of fame site:
Scottie O’Neill (Men’s Soccer) – One of the winningest coaches in GSU history, finished his 11-year career with a 143-57-4 (.711) record, winning conference championships in 1983 and 1986, while advancing to the championship game in 1976, 1978, 1980, 1984 and 1985. O’Neill coached 30 all-conference players including two player of the year award winners. He had the top seven seasons in victories in school history, led by 18 wins in 1984. He was also the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 1978, 1984 and 1986. O’Neill was inducted into the State of Georgia Soccer Hall of Fame posthumously in 2002.
Scottie, real name Hughie (RIP) was a Tradamus Lampada FP who hailed from the Peoples Republic of Brucehill growing up in Bontine Avenue, a great Celtic mhan tae boot.
Thomthethim/Tontine/emdi
Re Paddy Crerand
Do you know if Paddy and Charlie Gallagher are cousins?
Only askin as long deceased neighbour said she used to take them over to the Gweedore area on the derry boat as weans.
HH
AN TEACH SOLAIS on 25TH OCTOBER 2016 6:02 PM
Just saw pictures of Fernando Ricksen on STV.
Just saw the pictures there myself, almost brought a tear to my eyes. Despise anything about the other side but…..
Being a betting man I would wager a fair whack that Warbiola already has his CV in to Wolves and Wigan.
RIP Carlos
Evening fellow Celts. Hope you’ve all still smiling from the result on Sunday.
Watching the game again I was trying to lip read what Gilks said just before the half-time whistle. Looks to me he says something like “he’s terrible……should go off…….”
Be great if any lip reader out there could have a look and let us all know what was actually said!
HH
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLAS on 25TH OCTOBER 2016 5:59 PM
Tontine Tim, the Scottish cup game against Dumbarton you mentioned in your post earlier, was one of the first away games I went to. I went with my dad and my dad’s oldest brother.
My dad worked most Saturday’s so my mum would not let me go to any away games, even at Firhill, if my dad was working. I think we won 2 1 that day.
*we did, it was my last time in Boagheid which I used tae frequent when younger and too young tae be allowed up tae Parkheid on my own.
It was also the last game I ever went tae with my own da that grew up in the shade of Boagheid.
This was the game where big Cush saved Kenny fae being ordered off after Wispy wound him up and our wee talisman tried tae throw a punch at him.
thoughts and prayers for fernando ricksen – very very difficult illness that
the watford bogus bank letter originated from a journalistic investigation – different planet that to govonia
The images of Fernando Ricksen are extremely sad.I see a human being suffering not an ex player of Rangers.
I wish him some comfort in his life and to those close to him.
R.I.P. Carlos Alberto.
I remember the Brazilian manager, Mario Zagallo, in an interview saying that the 1970 team”s style of play was learned from watching the famous Glasgow Celtic team of 1967!
Watch your bets, Liverpool got a reserve team out v Spurs
!!BADA BING!! on 25TH OCTOBER 2016 6:33 PM
Watch your bets, Liverpool got a reserve team out v Spurs
Good, I’ve taken Spurs at 15/4 in my treble tonight
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
Bourne, a quick techy question, got my first I-phone! Is it best to stay with Safari or to use Chrome??
Macman in the valley
SP
Wigan sack Garry Caldwell.
Don’t know if anybody has posted .
I’m still on page 3.
G64- Spurs look slightly stronger, a few changes too…..
BSR…. following up on Starry Plough’s tech question …..
I cant find my iphone. I know I saw it this morning. Any idea where I left it?
(sorry… but that is about as ‘high tech’ as my questions get) :)
MIKE IN TORONTO
Haven’t had mine long enough to lose it yet:))
HH
Starry … the one smart thing I did with it is … I installed a thingy (tech talk) on my ipad … so, that when I lose my phone, I can locate it using my ipad …. and vice versa … quite useful!
of course, there are days when I cant find either! but, on those days, I generally find it best to just go back to bed, and start over the next day!
Phil’s up again …
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/an-incremental-tale/
A close up of the Thomson cheating on BT now
Just arrived in chilly Dingwall. The advance guard of Tims. No much goin on here on a Tuesday night.
http://www.independent.ie/life/family/family-features/my-husband-died-24-hours-after-our-wedding-wife-of-celtic-fan-embarks-on-epic-journey-35160300.html
MIKE IN TORONTO
I saw that, good move:))
Hours of happy fun:)
Mighty Hamilton up 1 nil
Mon the Accies..
2 or 3 bad results for the sheep in the next few weeks and we’ll have hampdump to ourselves
Am I the only one who would like to see Aberdeen have a decent run? I dont see them (or anyone else, frankly) having a good enough squad to run BR’s team close over a full season ….. and the more teams (I am thinking Aberdeen and Hearts) that finish above the zombies, the better as far as I am concerned….
BadaB
Just an observation, but every time you post about a team playing a weakened team they nearly always win.
No saying that the pool will win but……..:-)
HH
Mike in T….
I agree!
HH
MIT, certainly would not argue with your thinking , we have a hell of a fixture list coming up so a few points dropped here and there for aberdeen will be fine by me, sevco are irrelevant in the bigger picture
DD did you see my post re The Victoria restaurant in Dingwall, worth a visit. H H Hebcelt
exslaemuribhoy …. I agree they are irrelevant …. but that doesnt mean that I dont enjoy seeing their fans suffer! :)
Tontine Tim, thanks for your reply about our game v Dumbarton.
The Sons had a some good players then, Jim Muir, the Mcadam brothers, Ian Wallace and John Bourne.
The Sons strip looked good also.
Stuttgart on top v a sloppy Gladbach. In saying that, Gladbach have just scored with their first attempt on goal on the 30th minute.
Tontine Tim, Bourne should be Bourke. Bloody autocorrect.
MIT, like your thinking. It’s good living in the west of scotland just now, they are suffering badly . Hilarious to watch and listen to them. “The Gap” is wider than Niagra Falls