I watched Hull batter Leicester City on TV last night without putting the ball in the net. The sheer volume and quality of chances entitled Hull fans to some consolation in the valid football adage, ‘these days happen’. Those absent from Celtic Park on Saturday are likely to assume we similarly battered Ross County, but they would be wrong. County defended throughout but were never under anything close to intense pressure.
This is one of the right times of the season to have a performance like that, they are of little use in the first week in February, when the transfer window is closed. Clues abound as to where we need to strengthen, most pointing to the forward line. John Guidetti’s drop in form over the last month has dropped like a stone, but he’s still comfortably holding onto the striker position. Neither Stokes, Griffiths nor Scepovic are putting pressure on a young off-form player.
There is also the playmaker position, which appears to be on the bench. Kris Commons has been dropped before in his Celtic career, often for important games in Europe, where more industrious, but less talented, players were chosen. I spent most of Saturday’s game waiting on Kris coming on, but if his general level of fitness counts against him for a starting position, his lack of 90 minute outings since his injury earlier in the season means that his late-game cameos look even less industrious.
As I’ve been saying since July, we only have one playmaker and if he’s not playing or off form, we’ll struggle. With a match-fit Commons on from the start yesterday, we would have won comfortably. I’m happy to accept we need a playmaker who’ll cover 15k in 90 minutes, so sign one, but if we’re going to let Commons go, or wither on the bench, sign two, before we end up dependent on one man again.
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Siesta time Zzzzzzzzz….
Weefra
In case you’re still waiting for your electric blanket to fire up……
My mum’s maiden name name was Stewart. She and her sister worked in the telephone exchange. My aunt married a local joiner called jimmy Beaton and she and her family still live there. That’s your starter for 10!
HH jamesgang
the_hudddle
That’s me getting into the groove now thanks to your help. Actually having a brilliant time going through the discs, lots of happy family occasions and amazing to see how the children in the family have grown up what feels too quickly and of course there are some special family and friends who have passed on and it is both great and emotional to see them and hear their voices again.
I could be here for a long time :-)
HH
I thought the Hun thing was to do with Attila and not the Nazis??
JamesGang, I hope not, I work for a German company!
Pedrocav
It’s not that kinda bus. It’s a good wholesome bus so it is!
Cowiebhoy.
We know all this ‘taking the dog out’ chat is a cover to go round to doc’s hoose where he’s set out his Subuteo set to learn you some more tactical stuff. And that he always makes you take the Sammi figure cos deep down you’re still his no1 fan!!!
;-)
HH jamesgang
Colour Blind Bhoy
That’s me getting into the groove now thanks to your help. Actually having a brilliant time going through the discs, lots of happy family occasions and amazing to see how the children in the family have grown up what feels too quickly and of course there are some special family and friends who have passed on and it is both great and emotional to see them and hear their voices again.
I could be here for a long time :-)
HH
——-
Glad to help, if you run into problems copying anything let me know. Cheers HH
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/
22:14 on 29 December, 2014
Ebola in Glasgow
=========================================================
Is he signing?
The_Huddle, it is.
The Hun, originally were a Germanic tribe who sacked Rome, pillaged large parts of Europe.
That’s where the name comes from.
After WW2 all clubs fans called fans of other clubs Huns, it was in general use, not specific to Rangers.
After a European game in England a reporter described the Rangers support as Huns, it stuck. Can’t remember the details of the club they played, Google it.
burnley78,
Good post mate, well thought out.
You are right in saying that many out there will be loving the derision amongst our support….to me it’s healthy debate.
Feck them, let’s get a team on the park that can wipe the floor with what’s put against us.
Had a laugh at this list, number 4 is my fav….
http://thedailyedge.thejournal.ie/most-irish-things-ever-1778527-Dec2014/?utm_source=twitter_self
doc
22:23 on 29 December, 2014
JamesGang, I hope not, I work for a German company!
——
Hopefully you’ll be able to retire before the 29th century!
I prob won’t!
HH jamesgang
16 Roads
were you at Leopardstown today ????
Come on WBA give RD a call
Doc
22:27 on 29 December, 2014
The_Huddle, it is.
The Hun, originally were a Germanic tribe who sacked Rome, pillaged large parts of Europe.
That’s where the name comes from.
After WW2 all clubs fans called fans of other clubs Huns, it was in general use, not specific to Rangers.
After a European game in England a reporter described the Rangers support as Huns, it stuck. Can’t remember the details of the club they played, Google it.
———
I thought it was from the Cup Winner Cup game where the Spanish papers compared them to the Hun, saying they hadn’t seen the like since the Hun sacked Europe (not the Nazi kind)
JamesGang, not with the way Mrs Doc burns my Credit Cards I won’t.
The_Huddle, I’m sure it was an English Journalist, game v an English team.
Read it here, so usual inaccurate lazy journalism may have been at play.
I’ll have a look see.
Doc
22:32
Think you’re right, it was early 60’s against Wolves or Birmingham.
From Answers.com
in 1961, rangers travelled to wolverhampton to play wolverhampton wanderers in the European cup winners cup. true to form, their supporters ran riot through the town destroying everything in their path. in an article appearing in the English press shortly afterwards they were described as ‘coming across the border like marauding huns’. thus, a humorous accurate and nonsectarian term of endearment was created for the rangers.
Term of endearment, PMSL!!!!!
Eddie, good memory, Wolves it was.
What is disappointing me, is for a man who beats the fluid system drum so hardly he is incredibly rigid with his formations.
His preferred formation is incidentally the one I believe is most suited to modern day football and how he is trying to set the team up is well intended – however he is not learning.
I started out banging the same drum as him and his preferred formation but quickly realised that 4-2-3-1, whilst intended on being attacking is actually very defensive and inpenetrable in the SPL and in particular at home when we play against blanket defences.
The 2 wide men exist to exploit space and run inside the full back and centre back wreaking havoc with high paced tempo – however at home in the SPL they just run in to walls of opponents.
So rather than being a weapon in the armery its a weakness because while they are crowded out, the solitary striker is also out numbered and alone.
Further to that we are doubling up in the very areas we werent supposed to – the flanks.
The flanks is the most impotent area of the attacking part of the field – and sending crosses in to that solitary striker is pointless.
The bottom line is we need 2 up front – without reverting to the footballing dinosaur 4-4-2.
Luis Van Gaal is using an interesting formation – its not quite the MON 3-5-2, its almost a 3-4-1-2.
Why do we have 4 defenders on the park at home in the SPL?
3 will do.
Lets avoid having 2 players on the left and 2 on the right – 1 each will do.
Lets put bodies into the area of the park most pentrable in the attacking sense as well as being the crucial area games are won and lost – the middle.
Lets recruit technically good players, like the ones Legia Warsaw have, that thrive on one twos and play short crisp passes and are constantly on the move.
Stick to his preferred 4-2-3-1 and a very promising young manager will eventually have to cut his cloth in other surroundings, while we just carry on treading water.
Doc
22:36 on 29 December, 2014
From Answers.com
in 1961, rangers travelled to wolverhampton to play wolverhampton wanderers in the European cup winners cup. true to form, their supporters ran riot through the town destroying everything in their path. in an article appearing in the English press shortly afterwards they were described as ‘coming across the border like marauding huns’. thus, a humorous accurate and nonsectarian term of endearment was created for the rangers.
————–
I stand (lay on couch) corrected, was always told it was cup winners game and the Spanish calling them it (and referencing Hun and not Ze Germans), Cheers
Burnley 78,
Hope you are well.
Read your post about the manager and I hope you are right.
I’ve already made my mind up, and I am not a fan of our new manager.
Every newbie makes mistakes, but I see a repeat of Barnes and Mowbray, and what really concerns me is the same mistakes being made time and time again.
Ross County gave us a lesson on Saturday on how to organise a team, and break up the opponents play.
If we had learned our lessons , we would very probably have been in CL group stages and / or won our Europa group.
As I said, hopefully you are right, and I am wrong.
See cowiebhoy!
Doc knows stuff!
HeDaMhanCSC
HH jamesgang
Eyes Wide Open @22.38hrs.
Wow that’s way tooooooooo complicated.
Leigh Griffiths et al would struggle to remember that.
HH.
WITS – Today and yesterday chief.
Never seen racing as good as that in my life before.
Jezki will win the CH.
Three from Gigginstown that were mightily impressive:
Lieutenant Colonel.
Road To Riches.
Don Poli.
HH.
Tim Malone Will Tell
20:48 on
29 December, 2014
Jonny Rambo – great posts.
The other thing that confuses me is whether people actually want to see a challenge for us in Scotland or not.
Do we need to gub everyone 5-0 every week – or is that just too boring ?
It would appear that unless we morph into Barcelona, Aberdeen become Real Madrid and Dundee Utd. are Atletico then any challenge is unacceptable.
Or is it reality that for some, the only challenge that really matters is if it comes from some incarnation of the huns?
—————————————–
Good questions. Aberdeen winning the league would prove that Scotland doesn’t need a strong “The Rangers”. We do talk a lot about wanting competition but then when a team comes within 4 point of us folk get nervy…
The_Huddle, you were correct that it was the Germanic (Hun)tribe.
When I googled it I came across one Huns site that tried, desperately to make it sectarian, saying the root was Hanovarian!
As in the Royal Household, they were trying to link Hanovarian with Hunovarian.
Seemingly this would make it sectarian.
Bizarre, but true.
Jamesgang,
How are you big chap, I couldn’t hang around on Saturday, so I missed meeting most at the corner, next home game is long way of, here’s hoping we can catch a beer then. HH
Ok get the kettle oan for this one, and feel free to critique :-)
The Board,
work and deliver on a strategy to get back to 52000 season tickets ( even if only minor increase in income)
Deal with the football strategy, and get rid of the individual who has given us Balde, Pukki, Boerrigter, Tonev, Wakaso etc in the last 2 seasons alone, they are costing us a fortune ( and I could go on) sign 1 good level player per season and not 3 or 4 duds
Implement a clear strategy which will ensure Lennoxtown does deliver
The Team, I believe we do have the squad if played to the correct system, Ronny may have to step back on his formation, before we move forward with his chosen one, once he gets his players, but I am going through the current squad as of now
goalkeepers :
Gordon here for another 2 seasons, so good
Zaluska, out of contract in 6 months, do we need to buy ? No for me, been rumoured as interested in Randolph, why ? start using our set up, promote Fasan as back up ? McCabe steps up to under 20’s ( I like that name :-))
Defence :
Mathews was good prior to his extended injury, his form will return so right back
Lustig is class, but I will repeat, has played less than 50 league games in 3 full years with is, can we afford him constantly on treatment table ? I prefer him in at centre half
Fisher as back up right back
Efe, always a disaster around the corner, but pace often gets us out of jail – subs bench
Denayer, looks the part, if we could sign keep and play
VVD, will eventually go
Mulgrew, in as Centre half, he was Scotland’s player of the year playing this position 2 seasons ago, he can also cover left back
O’Connell, start giving him some games to see how he is
Izzy how good a defender is he ? Very poor crossing as an attacking fullback, play as a defensive fullback, now we need another Left back
Midfield
Brown, we currently cannot play without him, poor in possesion and poor passing ability, I would play on right
Biton, gets a game as he can keep possession and play a pass, important we retain the ball
Johansen, fantastic work rate, poor passer of the ball, would play on left
Kayal, out of contract, let go
Henderson, looks a decent prospect needs games, can play centre or right
Commons, has lost his touch, regularly caught on the ball and loses possession, would more game time help ? Unfortunately I think his time with us is up, unless he is played at head of a midfield diamond
Forrest, when fit is decent on the right
Mcgregor, never a winger, could he play at head of a diamond ?
Tonev and Wakaso have shown glimpses, but ain’t going to make it with us, let go
No comment on Boerrigter and Berget
Forwards :
Guidetti, has hit the wall, I would sign though, if the money and deal is right for us
Scepovic, needs a run to decide
Stokes, has tried on left and has skill
Griffiths, not a winger, could he play at head of midfield diamond
So I would play us in a 4,3,1,2
Gordon (Fasan as back up)
Mathews (Fisher)
Denayer / Lustig ( O’Connell)
VVD (Mulgrew)
Izzy (Mulgrew + a.n other)
Brown ( Forrest/Henderson)
Biton (Henderson/Brown)
Johansen (Stokes + a.n other)
Commons (Griffiths/Mcgregor)
Scepovic (Griffiths/Stokes)
Guidetti (Griffiths/Stokes)
I would sign young McGinn as the a.n other on LHS midfield
we need another back up for Izzy, no idea who our young left back in reserves is
If Commons goes, sign someone decent who can dictate play
I still have concerns with the stated team on ability to control possession with first touch, and find a pass though, so that will need addressing
But that team and system Will Win the League with ease
Now the young 16 year old Norwegian may be a superstar, but do we not have any young players who could rise to the challenge ? Never seen Calvin Millar, but last season he was rated in worlds to 10 16 year olds
How’s that for starters on a Monday night :-)
eyes wide open
22:38 on 29 December, 2014
It starts off 4 at the back but the full backs are attacking most of the time so it’s really just 2 until Virgil goes on a Mazie then it’s 1 and if that 1 is ambrose it ends up none :-) HH
Sips
I’d love to have a beer or several with you pal.
Glad to see you haven’t been changed by your poash seats experience! Still talking to ra riff raff!
;-)
I’m good pal. A poignant time but stoked with lots of good memories.
KTF
HH jamesgang
Doc
22:45 on 29 December, 2014
————-
Yeah I found this, though I doubt it as I doubt a Hun manager would ever say that :O):
Term used for a Rangers supporter. First used by in the judicial deliberation laid down following the infamous rioting of Ranger fans in 1972 after their cup winner cup victory. The judge is known to have said that the fans displayed hun like behaviour (i.e. rioting charging looting not disimilar from Atilla the Hun). The rioting was abhored by the Rangers F.C manager who said “It is to these tikes, hooligans, louts and drunkards that I pinpoint my message – it is because of your gutter-rat behaviour that we Rangers FC are being publicly tarred and feathered
hun skelper
22:49 on 29 December, 2014
eyes wide open
22:38 on 29 December, 2014
It starts off 4 at the back but the full backs are attacking most of the time so it’s really just 2 until Virgil goes on a Mazie then it’s 1 and if that 1 is ambrose it ends up none :-) HH
———–
That’s what get’s me, we sure don’t need 4 defenders back against one striker but we often concede because it’s 1 against 1.
Jeezo cowiebhoy!
Doc’s tutor in is fairly paying off!
You write good. Super good!
HH jamesgang
re the term Hun.
My dad is 88 and has told me two variations of where the use of hun came about.
In the first world war, the Germans were known as the hun and as Rangers fans were loyal to the British monarchy, who were German, then they became known as Huns.
Another explanation he gave me was the number of Rangers players who had jobs in reserved occupations, e g working in the shipyards or a munitions factory, but were not called up to fight in the war thus they were termed huns.
It may be a lot of keich then again it may not.
FFs, again, I agree with CowieBhoy(not a multiple log in, honest).
4312, perfect formation for the players we have.
Attacking fB’s, a solid platform for Kris, or Leigh at the point.