Outside Hampden, a wise man told me, “We’re going to win, because you wouldn’t want one of their players in our starting lineup.” This is 100% true, but Philippe Clement’s gameplan came perilously close to working.
Celtic dominated possession (67%) and, when things clicked, played all the attractive football. Newco, however, had almost twice as many attempts at goal (19 to Celtic’s 10). Their keeper kicked the ball long most of the afternoon, their players got stuck in so effectively, they picked up 8 yellow cards (which is fair enough), and they had one tactical masterstroke which combined with the direct and combative style, almost got them over the line.
The reason they came so close, despite having an inferior squad, is that they figured out how to press Celtic. Their first two goals came from a press which looked like it was triggered by a starting pistol. Passes by Greg Taylor (led directly to a goal) and Liam Scales (led to a corner and subsequent goal) were intercepted as Newco’s midfield and forward players sprinted into action.
Newco’s clear strategy of attack was to give the ball to the Celtic defence. That’s why Jack Butland kicked long, that’s why, from kick off in the 88th minute, they launched a long ball into our territory. Give it to the Celtic backline and pounce on the results.
We watched this game against Brugge and again at Dinamo Zagreb (and to an extent at Pittodrie). Three opponents have now figured out how to stop us passing through a press and each game has ended in a draw as a consequence.
At halftime I hoped Brendan would be able to sort this but changes were largely ineffective. Alex Valle’s appearance at the start of extra-time improved things, his first touch and choice of pass was on point, although by then, Newco were tiring and running the clock down.
The strategy which sees us miles ahead in the league, on nine points in the Champions League and with the League Cup back in Paradise has been rumbled. This will be our first uninterrupted week with a full squad on the training field since August. The manager has work to do.
The game came alive when Celtic were able to get the ball to Nicolas Kuhn, which was all too seldom. He crafted and scored what should have been a winner in the closing minutes of normal time. Daizen Maeda’s goal was so typical of his play over the last three years against Newco. His speed took the ball off Balogun’s toe, before a delightful cushioned touch and finish.
Penalty kick competitions feel like a lottery when you lose; you find evidence they are not when you win. Nine of the 10 kicks were excellent, even the saved kick, low and a yard inside the post, was not a bad penalty. Both teams clearly practised last week.
Kasper Schmeichel read four of the kicks he faced and dived to the correct side. It was a matter of time before he stopped one. Jack Butland only went the right way once. That’s why Celtic won the cup!
We won one League Cup only once in each of the 1970, 80s and 90s, a period which saw Rangers collect the trophy on 15 occasions. Celtic then collected the trophy four times in the 2000s, five in the 2010s and now three times in the 2020s with five to play.
So much football history played on at Hampden yesterday. These are special times, enjoy them!
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Happy Monday all!
Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday R2ngers.
HH!
119
Dipped into thems media. Just wow!
Shat, cracker and I’m yer mawn.
“Outwith”, “just nigh”, “ah wuz like’at”.
That’s enough Scottish and Belfast cliches, Ed.
#singinganddancing
While predictably giving us no favours, I thought Beaton had a decent game yesterday.
Great time to be a Tim and well done to our penalty takers, although I agree they were all decent pens.
Paul67
I’ll settle for Brendan’s tactics of 13 wins from 13 visits to Hamdump 👍
Excellent article.
Agree with every syllable
League Cup winners 24/25 – Celtic FC
Glenowen on 16th December 2024 12:13 pm
Excellent article.
Agree with every syllable
League Cup winners 24/25 – Celtic FC
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Me too!! No need to add. HH
Aye history , that sees Sevco still level with St Johnstone on one trophy each.
Flashbacks to 94 with what looked like a late winner only to let in an even later equaliser, although on that occasion the wee team held their nerve better in the shoot-out.
Definitely dipped since Aberdeen s-f/Leipzig. Possession retention poor, goals conceded really poor and generally lacking the flow and tempo we had at that time.
Big step up needed if we are to do anything in Europe.
This is Celtic’s only free midweek until the first week of February, following which we’ll likely have two UCL knockout ties to add to the schedule, which with SPFL matches scheduled gives 2 games per week until the beginning of March.
If Brendan has work to do, it’s this week or not at all.
Talk of ripping up the game plan after winning the first trophy of the season, sitting on a healthy lead in the league and only having lost one competitive game all season across all competitions in mid December seems a bit ott to me.
Clement’s tactics were the same tactics we’ve seen from Sevco for several years now – sit back, play direct and counter attack with pace when we slip up.
They’re a team that relish playing the underdog role. When the onus is on them to attack and break down opposition, they will continue to struggle because they can’t play out and build up play.
I seen absolutely nothing from them yesterday that would give me cause for concern.
Well done, Brendan, players and coaching staff.
Good article Paul.
One thing about teams that try to stop you playing they seldom win, especially cup finals
Their Hun tears are delicious.
Thank you Brendan and your bhoys.
A ball is deemed not to be in the gold or out of pmsy until the full ball has crossed the line.
How can a foot on the 18 yard line the be deemed to be inside the box?
Jefte should have been red carded for his rake down the calf of Nic and Raskin should have been off for wrestling and fouling Celtic players often, but he might not have been on the park to score the OG.
119-4
Some on here in recent weeks have criticised Celtic in part because our opponents, beit Falkirk, Aberdeen, and Brugge have had the audacity to turn up, and also because they see those games as an opportunity to develop a negative narrative in relation to our Manager. And dont kid yourselves that the resentment towards Brendan’s return emanated only from the ‘Green Brigade’, not so, it can also be heard from those still banging those not so distant drums. Tant Pis
Whatever weaknesses we may have here or thereabouts the one thing this Celtic team does not lack is mental strength.
And so it goes…..
Daizen the Daddy
HrvatskiJim
World records you say
https://x.com/TamseIIicsonIII/status/1868618272205307941?s=19
HH
Cant agree.Every team we play tries the same tactics.Hibs,on the day played it well last week.Sometimes it works,law of averages,sometimes,most times,it does not.They tried same at Celtic Park,worked until we scored,then were all over the place,3-0.
We are allowed to have days when the game plan stutters.Could be 3 or 4 players not performing well,other team having their best game unexpectedly.A lot going right for once.eg Hubs.
Brendan will not change our style,he will tweak it,new signings, maybe in January,better at the system.Don’t try to repair something that just might need a touch of new oil.
Still buzzing.
Paul 67,
Excellent summary. Even SFTB could not have put it betterand im sure he would have endorsed every word.
Overall a great day yesterday, all the emotions in play lubricated by copious refreshment.
What happened in the game is now irrelevant. There is only one relevant stastictic.
To the winner , the spoils
HH, the journey continues.
We win that game 9 times out of 10 with the exact same tactics. No need to change anything, just try to improve and keep players sharp and standards high. Eliminate the individual errors that cost us.
It is much, much easier to contain than to force the issue – we were always the dominant team in that game without being anywhere near our peak.
That bodes well for us and is an even harder pill to swallow for them
TJ
@conceptcanvas St.Brendan
Watch til end
https://x.com/conceptcanvases/status/1868377920429048308?s=19
HH
The let’s get ‘eight’ players booked tactic.
AT @ 1:02
Very good
Only game I have been disappointed in was in Zagreb.They were poor,and I think we were happy with the point.I will take a point in games,ie, Brugge,who were very good first half,no problem,but Zagreb,I am convinced,was a great chance to get the 7 year old monkey off our backs.Probably why I was pyoor raging.
Anyway,next target,stay unbeaten,gub them on the second,gub,YBs,give Villa a game.What a season awaits.
My wife , daughter, son in law and two grandweans watched the game in the hoops bar in Teneriffe . My other daughter and her man watched it in the big tree pub in ML5.
Lots of text and vids flying about during game.
At full time I got a video of my 14yr old grandson Sean celebrating in the street with fellow tims.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM HAPPIER after a Celtic game.
That’s what its all about.
Thank you Celtic
I watched the whole game again.
Brendan is the most professional and capable manager. His intelligence and calmness shines through, compare and contrast his reactions to the baldy belgian.
We won the cup but could only draw the match, but even then we are in winning positions twice and through individual errors we lose poor poor goals, it happens but the hoofball in a swirling wind is the most obvious of approaches, hardly tactical genius is it.
And yet, we still scored 3. AGAIN.
Maeda goal was sublime again, that control and set up, the speed of execution, just superb.
Goal 3, the lung busting run from Arne makes the goal, the layback is perfect, I see a lot of questions about his price tag, well between european goals and assists, and his cool penalties, he is payinng it back in instalments. Sell him in january ? he would go for more than £11 million. But it would be foolish to do so now, he has development and growth and game intellgince and decision making all to be improved.
As to their goals, they played the conditions, and foulded their way around the park. All their goals were preventable. We are often too many of the defenders to far forward. That 4-1 breakawy with CCV blocking a case in point.
Losing the 3rd equaliser, that one was just really poor from the collective.
But, you know what, the coolest man at hampden , organised and cajooled and did it again.
Those penalties, all the players were up for it.
As to their non-penalty, having your foot on the line after being foulded, even just in that instance, the correct award is a direct free kick, the direction of play, and when the offense started is the determining factor, the fould started and finished outside the box. Thems the rules, they actually hate that game after game the rules are being followed and they cannae take it.
We are the people, close them gates.
Paul67,
I agree with your article.
While, of course, I am as happy as Larry that we won yesterday, I have been worried for a couple of weeks about how poorly we have been playing. Teams seem to have decided to harass our captain, who subsequently has not been able to run games, as has been his wont. Imo. we need to find another way to play.
dessybhoy on 16th December 2024 12:59 pm
Jefte should have been red carded for his rake down the calf of Nic and Raskin should have been off for wrestling and fouling Celtic players often, but he might not have been on the park to score the OG.
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Yup Dessy; Beaton allowed Raskin to foul all game long, then just booked him at the close to make it look right. But cheaton behaves better now his mugshot supping at the Hun pub is doing the internet rounds.
I agree with P67’s assertion Baldemort’s tactics were good; as was their aggressive implementation of them. Almost a 2-5-3 at times to my eyes; pressed our defence and choked down the mids.
AJ was a shadow of his normal self and Tony’s not reaching the levels he did under Ange’s mentorship.
One other thing I would like Brendan to do is figure out how to make Kyogo as lethal as he used to be. Daizen has become the most impactful of our Japanese cohort.
i am still laughing at the santa hats videos, nothing saysa hardcore ultra hooligan like being chased around the streets with a light up bobbling hat on.
tubes.
I am sorry to be that guy but the game didn’t end in a draw yesterday. It goes down as another victory for good over evil. Yes we were nowhere near our best and made several mistakes that we wouldn’t normally make but we still overcame it. The media is bigging thems up big time for being galant losers. They are a bunch of clugging barstewards, and if that game was reffed by someone other than an Ibrox season ticket holder or ex one, would have had several sent off. I am glad someone mentioned the challenge by Jefte on Nicolas. That was a dirty one and if you watched Jefte running back into his box, he was high fived by several of his teammates, so premeditated again. Raskin is a wee dirty runt that had two assists for us yesterday. The rangers end emptied quicker that midnight mass on Christmas eve, or a moonlit flit in Tintae crescent Wishy in the 80s. Every team goes through phases good and bad, but I don’t see any need to change our system. That Brendan St. Mungo video was brilliant. I spent the whole time downstairs in my TV room by myself shouting, cussing, kicking every ball, till my kids came down and closed the door to the outside world as they were embarrassed at how many times the words orange and cnut came out of my mouth. A better man would have apologized, but…:)))
What a great time to be a Celtic supporter, though everyday, win or lose, we are special.
Hail Hail.
Sean
TOMMY JOAD on 16TH DECEMBER 2024 1:09 PM
We win that game 9 times out of 10 with the exact same tactics. No need to change anything, just try to improve and keep players sharp and standards high. Eliminate the individual errors that cost us.
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Can’t disagree there!
The Ibrox club displayed overall synergetic benefits from a combination of less able individuals, but it was not enough to win.
Celtic had a negative synergetic performance from more talented individuals, but still secured the win.
It’s called getting the job done and it’s habit-forming HH
they won One thousand nine hundred and sevent two cup winners cups.
we are never going to overtake their trophy count.
roon yeese timmy.
https://eplindex.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1055392541h-696×511.jpg
For me, Clement had sussed the best way to set up and play against us a while back ( as have many other teams , most notably Hibs a few weeks ago).
His problem is simply that we have far better players. When those players aren’t fully on their game ( and several weren’t yesterday ) then the gap closes and the game is tighter than it should be.
If anything needs to change it is , perhaps, that the players now need to accept that They are not the total duds they have often been in the last few years , at least in games against us, and up their game accordingly. I appreciate that’s easier said than done.
At no point yesterday , until we went to penalties, did I ever think we’d lose that game. We should have killed it in the early part of the second half when we showed that the gulf, when we play to our best , is still huge. The current league standings bear testament to that.
The press coverage today just feels like another one of the many times Ra Rangers are coming.
It was the same after the 2019 Chris Jullien League Cup final ( when they really did outplay us) , the 2016 Cup Semi Final, Anges 3-0 loss after the league was won in 2023 , the Covid League title and any other number of times.
The dogs bark but the caravan moves on.
It’s a truly great, historic time to be a Celtic fan and has been for well over a decade.
Let’s enjoy it and hope we never look back and think we took it for granted.
It’s never easy. Sometimes we just make it look that way and sometimes, like yesterday , we don’t.
Afternoon all.
Well done Brendan and the Bhoys.
Scottish League Cup Champions 2024.
Thanks for the updates on the blog during the game yesterday, however, there were a curious number of unfamiliar monikers posting on the blog, not all of a supportive nature.
Strange that💚🍀👍
https://cdn.celtsarehere.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/lc_celtic_rangers_5080-1-1-1920×1435.jpg
I might give up on this site as I see PAUL67 is still having digs at Brendan.