Last night’s convincing win was exactly what was needed. Hearts were subjugated by three goals and an avalanche of chances, John Guidetti got off the mark and we kept a clean sheet after eight games without one.
We are a lot more potent up front than we were a month ago and the return of Scott Brown in central mid has tightened things up but that defensive record remains a concern. Hearts were utterly outplayed and failed to score, but that wasn’t for the lack of hospitality from their hosts.
It’s not clear what the difference is between last season’s record-breaking run of domestic clean sheets and our current porous look. Jason Denayer is partnering Virgil instead of Efe Ambrose, while Efe has been shunted right to cover for injured Adam Matthews and Mikael Lustig, but this wasn’t the case for some of our European nightmares last month.
Apart from last night’s pass between two statues, Emilio has overcome his early season jitters and Craig Gordon has been impeccable in goal.
It’s more likely that whatever changes have happened to the shape of the team, specifically, what is happening in front of the defence. Emilio’s back-pass last night occurred when he was under pressure and his midfield options were busy looking for a forward pass. Anthony Stokes’ error on Sunday led to Motherwell’s goal, but it happened on the halfway line. Against Motherwell! Who were able to exploit a lack of defensive cover.
Ronny’s Celtic press quickly and high up the field. I like this plan. As he navigates the squad into a position where this is their natural state there will be transitional damage, but the basis of every successful team is keeping the back door shut.
It will be some time before the manager gets a chance to finalise his defence as he awaits the return of Matthews and Lustig, and he decides on whether to partner van Dijk with Ambrose or Denayer (or Lustig), while Emilio could benefit from being pushed on the left by Charlie Mulgrew. In the meantime, Brown and Johansen, together with whoever plays wide, will need to practice their reverse gears.
St Mirren have failed to score in five of their last eight games, so as well as three points, and a clean sheet, we should be looking for whoever plays in goals to have a trouble-free afternoon.
Thanks to everyone who donated to the Great Scottish Run fund in aid of the Celtic Foundation, and to those who signed up for the race to do their bit. I know our gas has been at a peep recently but the flame of why we are Celtic fans burns as brightly as ever.
You can sign up for the race through the Foundation here, or if you’ve misplaced your trainers, you can help me hit my target here.
[calameo code=0003901718cdc4362fa2e? lang=en page=4 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]Many thanks.
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eddie
I have long suspected it was thus . Good to have some, albeit anecdotal, evidence. Those are the kind of posts I like to read on CQN !
JJ
that jay interview
jeese oh,
what a bhoy.
Repost from end of last article, doh, many have said I am behind the drag curve…!
(thought for the day – does the 3 dots in the ellipsis include or exclude the exclamation mark?)!!
friesdorfer
17:58 on 25 September, 2014
The result was the main thing, otherwise some good some not so good. What a cracking finish to get Guidetti off the mark. Agree the point about Izzy crossing to the 6 yard line so that the ball can be attacked. In the second half, from my vantage point in the North Stand, 202, it was evident that Efe continually opted to play inside or back, particularly when McGregor wanted the ball down the line, thus slowing down play considerably. Also too many players not looking up and spotting the excellent runs of McGregor, Tonev and Scepovic, which must be very frustrating for them. And, why is McGregor playing on the right when he is so one-footed? But, on the whole, a great improvement on Sunday – here’s hoping for more of the same.
Final plea – looking for a good venue in Icmeler, Turkey, to catch the matches on Saturday and next Thursday – flying out early tomorrow. Many thanks in anticipation and HH.
Coneybhoy @ 18.54hrs.
While it is always good to reminisce about the past, sometimes we only remember the good times.
We may have had massive crowds on occasion but our league attendances for 1983 & 1984 were 23.740k and 18.390k respectively.
HH
http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/club_records_league_attendance.php
Good Evening Timland.
Love the Ryder cup,but it did not stop me from taking
a o/t shift the morra to pay for tickets for me and the young
Miss to watch Celtic in my home town.
I will be sat in the big chair, remote control(lazy bastard) in hand
all day Sunday,off in Monday so I can kick the erse out of it.
Thunder Road
Agreed I’m glad it no my job t pick the team..
This recovery time is no good, it is causing me read papers. Last one the Metro has Robbie Neilson saying that if Craig Gordon gets anywhere near fit he has the opportunity to move back to the Premier League where he belongs. Where do these people come from? Not from our world that’s for sure.
Rye…
Thanks for that.
Cheers
Evening,all.
Just been reading back,I have to ask how many different games did Celtic play last night?
I’ve rarely seen so many differing opinions,certainly about a comfortable victory. But heyho,opinions by definition will differ.
Just got blindsided by a post at 1601. I think CORKCELT should bookmark it and repost anytime the bad vibes get the better of us on here.
Btw,to have Henrik Larsson described as being ‘from the old days’ just isnae on!!!
For the first 20mins until we scored last night I thought we were atrocious. Terrible ball control and passing, def looked liked a team bereft of confidence. Do we have a midfield? never noticed, kept losing out on second balls, our defenders just headed back into space, never directed them to a fellow Celt. If Ronny has a system he is also not going to develope it if he keeps rotating the team and does not pick a settled eleven. Time to give McGregor a rest, brought nothing to the table last night and was always forced infield to cross on his left. He must be being tutored by Charlie Mulgrew to stand on his right foot. Things need to improve soon.
connaire12
Hope the recovery is going well :D
You answer your own question. These people do not come from our world. Neilson is one big hurting Hun.
Hearts people must hate seeing CG, who they see as one of their own youth products, playing for us.
connaire12
19:23 on 25 September, 2014
This recovery time is no good, it is causing me read papers. Last one the Metro has Robbie Neilson saying that if Craig Gordon gets anywhere near fit he has the opportunity to move back to the Premier League where he belongs. Where do these people come from? Not from our world that’s for sure.
Seriously……Lawell wouldn’t even think twice about selling Craig Gordon if a hefty bid came in next summer….January he would still be in ‘unproven fitness over a season’ territory in my humble opinion.
The term world class gets over used but I genuinely believe that a fully fit CG is exactly this.
He is a wonderful athlete and goalkeeper at his best.
There will certainly be coaches , managers , and scouts from the big leagues very aware of his rehabilitation and progress.
Greenpinata
I think i was the 0.09 then but probably ’round’ up to 0.1 now
Greenpinata
Lost the last bit of my post.
Euro comp is my point, should be able to sell out no matter the comp format.
We tend to point to the chances the opposition have without looking at our own. It is true that they hit the bar and missed a penalty. Equally however JG had 2 great chances before those two incidents, so we could have easily been 3 up.
Re the concerns on keeping a clean sheet – I loved Ronnys’ comment post match…. that he’d rather win 5-4 than 1-0, although best would be 5-0. The Celtic way is bold, attacking football…. he’s got that one nailed. We could have conceded last night, we could also have scored more… on the balance of play the score was just about right… although 6-3 would have been more fun :-)
See its 11/1 for a 15 – 13 USA result.
That’s tempting!
hotshot- McGregor is doing what Forrest does,cuts back all the time,we will need to learn we are now playing with a CF,get the ball in the box…..
Coneybhoy.
I appreciate your view,
HH to you.
My concern re Celtic is the conversion rate on chances made. Very poor compared to recent years IMO.
Hopefully John and Stefan can improve things!
larrybhoy
the commentators kept pointing out that we played a risky game by our forward pressing leaving opportunities for the opposition. They could however have applauded our attempts to play attractive attacking football.
2 sides of the same coin – it is getting the balance right that is the difficult task.
ryecatcher
18:10 on 25 September, 2014
If Celtic are there I’ll be there, why would supporters not go ? HH
Bada Bing
It is so obvious, we have players who can get to the bye line and cross but they never do it. We now have 2 centre forwards who are possibly able to cash in on this, Ronny says he wanted that to happen but yet sends out wingers to play on the wrong foot so that crosses must come in from in front of the defence and not from cut backs from behind the defence….baffling. Maybe it will change once we see Wakuso in action. Still can’t understand his game plan……if there is one.
JUSTAFAN
The matches tend to be close,certainly over the last 30 years or so.
Though 3 out of the last four haven’t been!
Think I’ll go for the draw. Should get 12s no bother.
Some really strange opinions on here tonight…
Telfer the best RB since Danny? Aye right!
Johansen had a poor game the other night? In the first half he didn’t have his best match but got much better from half time.
Izzy has his best game for ages and he still gets slagged for giving away a chance (not a goal mind you a chance) for the opposition.
Gizzabreak CSC
Every Celtic goal from the 70s v Deadhuns…..
My personal favourite is Joe Craig’s winner in the pissin rain on an uncovered Broomloan Road
What the hell did we care about the weather that night?
Enjoy Bhoys……
► 9:35► 9:35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCDjbus-yE4
13 Jun 2013 – Uploaded by WILLIE COLLOW
Celtic goals v rangers in the 70s. WILLIE COLLOW … The Rangers Football Club – Action from …
hotshot-agree,still more questions than answers just now.
I’ve no problem with players coming inside to cross with their good foot as long as its not EVERY time. It’s the variety that counts..it creates uncertainty in minds of the defenders. Sometimes inside sometimes outside. Its what makes the combo of the full backs and wide players important. The opportunity to overlap and come inside. Simple really lol.
Anyone got a link to the Jay stuff everyone seems to be on about, apologies guys haven’t had time to scroll back to far.
On the one hand many (including me) say Ronny needs too get a settled team, but many of the same (not me) think McGregor should be rested.
I agree Calum isn’t having the best of times at the moment, but I’d stick with him and let him play through the sticky patch. He will be a better player if that happens. We need to be in a position where we can nurse players through setbacks. Winning helps, where that is concerned.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
19:25 on
25 September, 2014
Evening,
Just back from holiday a few days ago. The day I arrived, met my friend, said hi, and the first thing he said to me was about”Wee Jay” because as you know he was a sensation all over Greece too.
lilys
Rye…
Joe Craig’s goal…the 2nd best goal ever v the dead team IMO.
I went bonkers that night!!!!!
eddieinkirkmichael
Page 4 @ 16.01hrs.
HH.
ryecatcher
Still one of my favourite Celtic goals against the deid team.Can still see it going in.If my memory is correct i think that was our first victory over them for 11 games at Ib*ox.
Met Joe couple of times once down in Blackburn when he played for Rovers.
Can’t seem to find any footage of Harry Hood’s hat trick v Deadteam in League Cup Semi 1973/1974…..certainly not on that last clip I posted.
Remember my da taking me to Hampden that night when Oor Harry battered thems single handed with his hat trick.
Think big Tam’s Dundee beat us in the final?
Horse-trainer Nicky Henderson is very worried about what’s going to happen to his man-hole.
Eh,whit?!
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/25/cheltenham-rebuild-project-on-time
Evening Timland from a seriously wet hun free mountain valley, Lenny must be around, the thunder is loud !!!!!
No been on for a while, whit’s happenin ?
last night, Ok, but we were up against a 2nd rate outfit, had they got their goal could have been very different.
Breath is still on hold.
Something just no right wit the defence, canny put the finger on it, apart from the obvious, lack of protection, but sumtin else….VvD to laxi, don’t know, RD was a defender in his yoof, he should be able to sort it, or is he all out attack ?????
Who knows, I was all out RD when he came in, blind faith if you like, the blindness is fading , even after the one swallow last night.
HH
Regarding the islamic state…i just heard on channel four that their main source of funds is from oil(fields that they have captured)…simple question…whos buying the oil?….