There are some interesting stats behind Celtic’s meteoric rise to the top of the league and Rangers equally spectacular collapse.
Prior to the 5th November Celtic had played 12 games, scoring 23 and conceding 12. Since then they have played and won 10 games, scoring 21 and conceding just 3 times. So there hasn’t really been a significant increase in goals scored per game, but there has been a massive improvement in the defensive figures. Nine different players have scored during this time with Hooper, Samaras and (despite injury) Stokes scoring three or more during this time.
By comparison, Rangers have scored 15 goals in their last 10 SPL games with the goals coming from six different sources. Nikica Jelavic is their only player to have scored more than twice but he needed penalty kicks to achieve this. This period corresponds to Steven Naismith’s absence from the team.
Incredibly, seven of Rangers 15 goals in these games have been either own goals or penalties. Dundee United, Dunfermline and Motherwell players have all scored for Rangers while Rangers have benefited from four penalties. In total these seven goals have earned Rangers six points. Only one of Rangers 25 goals prior to this period was a penalty and none were o.g.s, so their period of good fortune coincided with their period of greatest need, a recurrent theme in the Scottish game.
None of Celtic’s 44 SPL goals this season have been scored by opponents and only one has come from the penalty spot, not that we seem to keen to score penalties.
The figures demonstrate the importance of having a variety of players who can contribute goals on a consistent basis as key strikers are always liable to injury or loss of form. Hooper and Stokes have already missed chunks of this season and Georgios Samaras started the season in barren form.
Celtic’s figures are all the more stark considering their most prolific midfielder, Kris Commons, has failed to launch his season due to a frustrating few months of injuries. Goal-scoring midfielders are a precious breed.
I was surprised at how little appetite Nikica Jelavic appeared to have for the contest at Celtic Park last week but a return of 2 goals from 10 games indicates the problem may be well established. He spoke to a Croatian newspaper this week and – unlike his manager when asked about the player being sold this month – informed them he had no intentions of leaving Rangers and that he was “focussed on playing in Scotland”, although he did reference Rangers financial problems.
If Rangers are budgeting on selling Jelavic they may well find the player wants a piece of the action before agreeing to move on.
Thanks to BigchipsUK for the research on the SPL goal stats.
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Rumours on KDS that 2 of our ‘favourite’ journos have been bagged
The nasal one and the geezer from Star Wars
WGS says:
5 January, 2012 at 09:42
What is this about Derek Rirodan returning
when jellyfish is sold don’t be surprised if he joins novo, o’connor, sandaza and boyd at poundland
Ten Men Won The League says:
5 January, 2012 at 09:42
Rumours on KDS that 2 of our ‘favourite’ journos have been bagged
The nasal one and the geezer from Star Wars
—-
that would be some size of bag…wheely bin proportions ;-)
HH
M
ST
I admire your ready access to both boardrooms. Impressive access you have at your fingertips. Or just a frustrated fan with scant business acumen.
What does ‘bagged’ mean?
saltires en sevilla
They could always apply for jobs at Charlotte House
Oh no, wait a minute… :)
Oh sacked,right.
aspergerscsc
Kayal,
Just seen it on KDS WHEN I LOOKED IN THIS MORNING.
Whos been sacked guys?
HH
Keevins and Jabba sacked? (I presume the nasal one is Keevins or could it be chick Dung?)
If it is true, why now?
Is it sacked from Radio or from the paper? Or Both?
They could always get a job at the ra*gers news.
Oh, wait a minute!
Wasn’t that a cost cutting casualty too!
Snake
From what has been posted it looks like the paper
A lot of unconfirmed reports atm.
Poster on RTC just put some things up.
HH
From Twitter
@charleslavery looks like the whole place is going down the toilet perhaps we will see cracked daily record mastheads
Snake Plissken 5 January, 2012 at 10:04:
Old editor gone, old boys club gone.
If only they could find Keech Union Jackshun too.
If it’s true about Keevins & Traynor then this surely is a sign of a crumbling old media empire. What was the thing that Keevins alluded to on Snyde earlier this week with regards to Celtic and him and legalities? Could this be connected?
saltires en sevilla says:
5 January, 2012 at 09:39
Scary.
That’s as close to my view on what is needed in this transfer window, as anyone is likely to get.
Árd Macha
IF Keevins has been sacked then maybe he’ll get a job at a real paper and start reporting properly again………….
Tumbleweed.
If sacked, is it because they are crap at their jobs and the readership is dwindling?
Or is there a more sinister reason?
I think we should be told.
Maybee Jabba and Puke will start up an online blog providing fair sports commentary.
MWD
Apparently Steve Kean has phoned Suralex with a message of support
Hamilton, Traynor and Bob Caldwell all binned.
AllegedlyCSC
Ole Mo bounced?
Unfortunately the nasal one still has a job
Jabba oot on his erchie
From KDS
Traynor confirmed gone.
TMWTL
Could you not just have left us hanging a wee bitty longer to enjoy the non fact that Hugh had been march out the door.
You’ve ruined my day noo.
:-)))
MWD
Ard Macha
aye -hope the ‘penny drops’ with the guys that can make it happen ;-)
HH
M
Lhads,looking for some help.Made a mess of work travel arrangements and
I’m now going to be in Pattaya,Thailand the weekend of the Utd Game on the 14th.
Anyone recommend anywhere to see the game?
Would prefer to watch it with fellow Tims than on the laptop.
Cheers.
ianinascoli at 09:16
How are you doing these days?
I for one would love to see Commons back: he provided a stack of goals from midfield and provides that wee spark of invention we are missing.
Number one requirement is a proven scorer that can score with his napper: we have little or no ariel threat.
Don’t want to sound negative, but we are not far away from handing out regular humpings to the rest of the SPL.
What about a clear-out at bbc shortbread now?
Imagine a fair balanced imparial scottish media.
I have a dream.
ST
It is impossible for anyone no matter who they are to get every single transfer absolutely correct all the time.
Take 2 of English footballs biggest signings for proof that money and pedigree doesn’t guarantee success.
In the past couple of years we have had far more successes than failures yet you chose to focus in on one transfer where the player hasn’t really had time to show what he can or cannot do.
The fact that the club is so well run allows us to spend £2m on a player and for that not to be catastrophic.
Mort
We now head live to a fast food roll van somewhere in the Southside of Glasgow….
SDM: What happened?
JABBA: They’ve rumbled me Sir Dodgy
SDM: How?
JABBA: Pass me some succulent spam and a glass of your finest cordial and I will tell all…
SDM: ….and how, pray tell, are you going to pay for it?…….
MWD
Apologies for that :)
Latest is that El Nasal’s P45 could be next in the post. The cost cutting has not finished with those 3
JackIrvineJackIrvine
Jobs carnage at The Daily Record. All senior guys.
How ironic would it be if Speirs replaced Jabba. How that would hurt in the South Side and their moronic following.
Interesting also that over on Leggoland I( I know) he is bitterly complaining that BBC Radio Scotland Sport is about to go massive surgery with many old “favourites” exiting.
He is complaining the C in BBC is not for Corporation but one of the world’s greatest religions.
Are the winds of change finally blowing?
Keevins will be too old for the dundie, just let him run his contract down- he’s probably raging he’s not got a pay off!
ST
Did Peter Lawell win the last OF game?
Or
Was it his fault we were 17 points behind in the first place?
Sorry guys I should have stated that I’ve tried CelticBars and found nada.
Lhads,looking for some help.Made a mess of work travel arrangements and
I’m now going to be in Pattaya,Thailand the weekend of the Utd Game on the 14th.
Anyone recommend anywhere to see the game?
Would prefer to watch it with fellow Tims than on the laptop.
Cheers.