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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Paul67
Efrain Juarez, what is your opinion about what went wrong there?
Start of last season I could not see past him for ending up player of the year. Now there is talk he will go back to Mexico.
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ says:
4 January, 2012 at 16:01
I’m not convinced with big Daly – it might just be the surname Sutton that makes me prefer John to Jon!
Each to their own jude!
Hail Hail
Tombola
Celtic XI lose out to Kilmarnock
By: Mark Henderson on 04 Jan, 2012 14:59
A BOUNCE game at Lennoxtown today (Wednesday) saw a Celtic XI lose 3-1 to Kilmarnock. Neil Lennon was in attendance to see Emilio Izaguirre, Kelvin Wilson and Paddy McCourt all play the full 90 minutes in a side consisting mostly of players from the Development squad and youth ranks.
And it was one of the youngsters who gave the hosts a deserved lead in the 25th minute. After some neat link-up play, Filip Twardzik supplied U17 striker Denny Johnstone in the box and he confidently drilled home into the far corner.
The Hoops passed up several opportunities to increase their advantage and were made to pay after the break as Kilmarnock completed the turnaround with two goals in the space of three minutes midway through the half.
And as Celtic pushed forward desperately for a leveller in the closing stages, the Rugby Park side sealed the victory on the break.
CELTIC (4-4-2) Cervi; Toshney, K. Wilson, Jones, Izaguirre; McCourt, McGeouch, F. Twardzik, Blackman (Lindsay 45); Keatings (Yaqub 65), Johnstone
Not Used: Findlay, A. Brown, Feely
DBBIA / BT
I like the matching jumper and curtains.
Dontbrattbakkinanger says:
4 January, 2012 at 16:06
—–
Old BT in “not smiling in photo” shocker…
HH
Giggs
bigjie says:
4 January, 2012 at 15:37
Is this the goal that Mjallby scored ?
http://i36.tinypic.com/2v0mlwp.jpg
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bigjie, the punchline graphic to that was very funny, cheers.
More links about Jumpers and Curtains
ASonOfDan says:
4 January, 2012 at 15:41
After 3 hours of being on sale, the tickets for the semi-final are almost sold out. Only a couple of sections left in North Stand.
HH
——————–
that would be quite remarkable to sell out celtic sections fot that fixture.
the £15 adult, and £5 per kid obviously makes it definately more affortable.
given the huge Celtic support at East End Park, easily 8,000, are the bhoys now mobilising for a special treble run in, i hope so.
‘Nenad Pralija, the ex-Croatian international midfielder and former official at first division side Split, was detained on Wednesday in connection with a probe into bribery and match-fixing, media reported.
The national anti-graft bureau USKOK has been probing alleged corruption by Pralija, a police spokeswoman told HINA news agency without elaborating.
Pralija’s arrest is part of an ongoing probe into the rigging of matches and bribing referees, national television said. As part of the investigation another three top football officials were detained in the past month.
They include Croatia football federation (HNS) vice-president Zeljko Siric and the head of the national refereeing association, Stjepan Djedovic.’
Corruption in football must be rampant.
HH
Saint Stivs
The Celtic support was wonderful in Fife on Monday. Certainly not surprised that there was absolutely no media attention given to the Dunfermline fans who were ejected from the stadium, after attempting to leap over the barriers and run towards the celebrating Celtic faithful after the 3rd goal (I think).
Fingers crossed we only get stronger, and give us a season to remember…
HH
Giggs
ASonOfDan says:
4 January, 2012 at 15:41
Where did you hear that mate?
I was at Celtic Park about 1. No queue at all and I got to pick anywhere in the ground I wanted from all 3 stands.
So I’m sitting between Neil and Johann in the dug out, 3 along from Paddy.
Paul 67, agreed. The defence has looked very assured in recent months. I was one of those calling for Big Dan (and a few others) to be dropped irreversibly in October, to my shame, but everyone has pulled their socks up since then. On the other hand, I always knew big Fraser would come good :)
CELTIC FC HMRC SUPPORTERS CLUB BADGE
MWD
GiggsyBhoy says:
4 January, 2012 at 16:37
i bet they were huns in disguise.
did they do it in a “haud me back, haud me back ” type manner.
i mean 3 vs 3,000 ?
offcourse we will see these peepil defended in an embra court.
no offense i would guess.
“Certainly not surprised that there was absolutely no media attention given to the Dunfermline fans who were ejected from the stadium, after attempting to leap over the barriers and run towards the celebrating Celtic faithful ”
Radio Scotland’s take during the game, no joke, was that the Dunfermline fans were being lifted for their reaction to the Celtic fans taunts.
Cameron Zakount might be worth a punt. I think he might be out of contract by the summer.
Barton is a reprehensible human being but I fail to see how his red card hasn’t been overturned.
Watching Sky News and they were doing a review of the new Meryl Streep movie about thatcher. it said Tory MPs are angry because it doesnt show her in a dignified manner and in all her greatness. What is it with these people and dignity.
Sally McCoist is introducing a new ‘one touch pass’ system designed to save on wear and tear on the players boots.
Cameron’ Zakount?
That’s nae way to talk about yer esteemed prime minister.
St. Stivs/Blantyre Kev
The Dunfermline fans (all 400 of them) were situated in the McCathie stand. From my perch behind the opposite goal, they seemed to charge from the back of the stand to the front, and proceeded towards the Celtic fans, cue an influx of stewards (there were actually more stewards than “aggressors”, by the look of it). Personally I found it hysterical, the ol’ “look at me, charging those pesky Feenyins”. A few of them were lifted – we carried on “huddling”.
Party Time.
HH
Giggs
Twitter is the only place where you get excited if someone follows you.
Regarding the Dunfermline fans trying to get at the Celtic support.
I was at the Tony Mowbray Testimonial game at Middlesbrough a few years ago. In the stand next to the away fans, which was for home fans but mostly empty, you had about six Boro fans right down the front getting very animated by our support and started gesticulating to us to basically ‘come ahead’. Which some of our fans did! The result was a few sore jaws for the Boro fans and our fans were put back from whence they came.
When asked about it the next day, the policeman in charge said that the Boro fans got what they wanted and that the Celtic fans were magnificent! No issues.
I believe the Scottish press tried to make an issue of it, but got nowhere.
SPF
GiggsyBhoy 4 January, 2012 at 16:57:
So that’s two games in the last few months where the Celtic fans have been charged at by the opposition fans in their stadiums. Add to this the assault on Lenny, then it is only a matter of time before there is big trouble at a game. Of course the Celtic fans will get the blame for it.
Just found out ole Pat Butcher got the chop from Eastenders, poor cow.
Tim Malone Will Tell says:
4 January, 2012 at 13:31
DBBIA,
you do realise that there will be a whole bunch of lurking Scottish hacks trying to figure out who the hell ‘fenetre du Janvier’ is and who he plays for – I expect to see a rumour about him in tomorrows record.
—–
pmsl
do they know about the young Bundesliga star Dasisdas Fenster?
HH
M
I was at that game too . I dont think they were genuine Boro fans probalby Nazis trying to stir up trouble. It was good to see a few of them getting a sore face.
Hear we are linked with Brazilian wonderkid Janela do Janeiro.
Blantyre Kev – when did tickets go on sale? Cant see anything on cfc website. Cheers
ASonofDan:
Where you hear that there are only tickets left for a couple of sections in the North Stand?
Although the tickets are reasonably priced, I find it hard to believe, not that I doubt you but it leaves me with a problem as I am waiting on mates returning from overseas before organising our usual block booking.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
The Mogga game was shocking.
Some of the most violent fans I have seen. They were hurling bricks at the buses when we arrived in Middlesborough. Terrible place.
The Celtic fans invaded the pitch at half time to get at the Middlesborough thugs who were getting laid into the Celtic fans in the family section stand across from their main stand. There was a good 6,000 or 7,000 Hoops fans down there. 2 Celtic Bhoys went on at half time and gave their boys the come ahead and their 50 mob were then set upon by 3,000 mad Celtic fans. The coppers were behind the Celtic fans saying get into them Jocks. I got a cuff round the ear from a copper from running about the pitch with a tricolour. No harm done. Middlesborough fans battered and Celtic fans back in the benches behind the goals it was onto the 2nd half.
I think we drew 0-0 and Tommy Coyne scored an overhead kick. My mum gave me a hiding when I got home though. Newsflash on TV of roiting in Middlesborough and there is young LiviBhoy at the front with a tricolour leading the charge!
Oops. I was only 12 at the time. Our bus got home at 1am which didn’t help. Think the game was a 3pm kick off. My dear mum wasn’t chuffed about that either. My auld Da had a twinkle in his eye when I told him of my adventures of my first solo trip away to watch the Bhoys down South.
HappymemoriesCSC
LB
Weren’t we linked with a guy called Hi Munless through a number of transfer windows?
Think a few of the hacks fell for that one.
Why were no Scots mibs interviewed for this piece? 26mins 44secs in
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0194knf/BBC_News_at_One_04_01_2012/
I think we drew 0-0 and Tommy Coyne scored an overhead kick.
That should have been 1-1. Cheating of the highest order to score a goal and not get it.
Haha
LB
Tickets went on sale today for SF.
Online, they are selling them a block at a time, but as Kev says if you go to CP you can take yer pick.
The Green Brigade are still waiting to hear if or where they will have a dedicated section.
Semi final tickets v Falkirk are available to buy online on Celtic website. Click on match tickets then online ticket sales.
LiviBhoy
Great memories from that trip too. Mental, absolutely mental.
Ten straight league wins have enabled Celtic to turn a 15-point deficit into a two-point lead in the race for the Scottish title. Just as impressive as this 17-point turnaround is the fact that it has been achieved inside the space of two months, with the Bhoys leapfrogging old rivals Rangers thanks to their most consistent run of form so far under manager Neil Lennon. Key to Celtic’s revival has been the transformation of a defence that, having been the club’s Achilles’ heel in the early part of the season, has now conceded just three goals in ten matches, keeping clean sheets in six of their last seven. Among the teams shut out were Rangers themselves, beaten 1-0 last Wednesday in a typically passionate Old Firm derby made even more frenetic by winds that peaked at 90 mph.
FiFa.com