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Clement get tactics right but Celtic still win the League Cup

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  2. EKBhoy on

    Darwin

     

     

    Even if the Green Brigade were nowhere to be seen in Glasgow City Centre, media and politicians will still call it an OF problem and miraculously we get promoted to first in the queue, Celtic Rangers problem. Scotsman on its front page had a caption about the trouble , green background, white writing …..

     

     

    The big bhoy who gave the young Hun a straight right jab to the kisser in what looked to the world as self defence, should have had a headline innocent bystander self defence against Rangers hooligans.

     

     

    Still , best ever was police are looking for West of Scotland football fans when 2 Croatians were stabbed outside Ipox a few years back ….

     

     

    Theyreallinonitcfc

  4. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Timbhoy163 on 17th December 2024 12:17 am

     

     

    Kris Boyd needs to be sacked by Sky Sports as he isn’t impartial when it comes to him making statements about our football team ,McCoist is another one who needs replaced on TNT sports ,can someone really explain to me why so many ex Sevco players get these gigs .

     

     

    ———-

     

     

    ££££££

  5. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    TB163 – it genuinely boils down to loot.

     

     

    R2ngers fans are the easiest marks in the sports subscription game.

     

     

    Biggest reason Sly Sports (and others more recently) play the O*d F**m, “The gap is closing” card so blatantly.

     

     

    It works.

     

     

    These mugs swallow it every time and keep their wallets open.

     

     

    By contrast Celtic fans are, in the main, pretty passive about accepting balloons from the other side … and don’t rush to cancel.

     

     

    Partly to do with our culture being less supremacist of course but, increasingly, also the general relaxation that comes from winning.

     

     

    I see more and more Celtic fans perceiving the MSM treatment of Scottish football as the curiosity it is and ignoring that parallel universe they’ve created to service a specific demographic.

     

     

    So these broadcasters get the best blend at subscription time

     

     

    Rabid slavering numpties en masse plus a decent (but smaller) number of Celts.

     

     

    Kerching.

  8. Turkeybhoy on

    Headline today,

     

    ” Celtic warned to expect news from the SFA today”( regards the penalty )

     

     

    😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

     

     

    Quaking inour boots.

     

    The new idiot,CEO has waded in on his first day,and fired of another one of their” Statements”.

     

    Utter madness has reall taken over at that club.First fekin day !!!!!!!!!!.😂😂😂😂😂😂

  10. An Tearmann on

    Mad Tam and your 50 moniker brigade

     

     

    You are not a boil Tommy,you are fake

     

    You do not go near Celtic Park

     

    You do not attend any agm

     

    Fake monikers like you should not be tarred with the same brush as active and participating Celtic fans.

     

    You are trying to play the same sketch as active contrarian ‘prick Galloway you fail miserably,not as erudite as he is and tho he shared a platform with Vermin farage,He is not a known boat chaser like yourself.

     

    Celtic fans do not do definitions,especially from the prick who crank called Franco Sandaza and not someone whose claim to fame is being banned from most radio stations.

     

    Pyros were discussed at agm,you did not get the answer your botty pecking merited tough chitty.

     

     

    ”It is a public order issue” a spark of truth in a post that is a grid of kack,you did not get the answer you wanted at agm so go cry,your unionist friends are flowing like rivers,our board are in communication with various Celtic fans,you do not like that.tough.

     

     

    And quite frankly you are still ragin we won on sunday

     

    A quick read of updates sees you at your usual ‘invent an enemy’ with your ‘some on here’ dont like.shoit…it was our japanese players who were the target of your poison,we see you fake

     

     

    Remember Tam,call George if you want to chase a boats

     

    Andrena whoever he/she/it is,put in a wee appearance as your fake monikers gathered to revel in a hun victory

     

    Jan the man- as no one agrees with you Tam invent a moniker who does eh Tam

     

    JHB – the boat chasing refugee boat chaser

     

    Cloud9- CBC shoit talker fishing for hun friends asserting thats why our bank balance is so high.

     

    Lastly Darwin/Dobyin your fake slavering of our board only highlights your own dualities ansd duplicity.

     

    You have enough fake monikers to set up your own Celtic fan grouping- The Fakes.

     

     

    We see you Fake

  12. Darwin on

    spikeysauldman on 17th December 2024 10:11 am

     

    darwin

     

     

    they most definitely are celtic fans

     

     

    whether you are , seems up for debate

     

    ———————

     

    There is no debate – I support – they use Celtic for their own ends – they hurt and harm.

     

     

    I don’t need to justify myself to you, or, anyone with an output snide of remarks.

     

     

    Supporters don’t hurt and harm – they support – the clue is in the name….supporters.

  13. fourstonecoppi on

    Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 17th December 2024 10:39 am

     

    Timbhoy163 on 17th December 2024 12:17 am

     

     

    can someone really explain to me why so many ex Sevco players get these gigs .

     

     

     

    Easy peasy……Empire/Establishment/GSTK….the list goes on!

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