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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Up over goal
is it that hard to give the guy his name?.kris commons has ran his race at celtic park, you don’t like it, that’s fine, but have the decency to at least address the guy by his name,
Haven’t been online for a week or so, as I have been in Australia meeting the in-laws. Didn’t even see the RC game, but sounds like I didn’t miss much.
All you oz tims…what a beautiful country you have!
Just wanted to pass along holiday wishes to CQNers everywhere.
Mike in Toronto (who is currently in beautiful Sydney)
Can i just say some folk bein criticised for bein critical of manager. My criticism earlier has easier solution. Yeah results cud be bit better but Im fairly happy with where we are in all trophies but all i want the now is to see us play with 2 strikers, everything else to me is window dressing, 2 up front the Celtic way, not much to ask
Gene
Yip, – they aren’t interested, and do not see the sporting integrity argument that only some Celtic fans see. They want it smoothed over and carry on regardless.
Very surprising stat.
scotlands shame
20:28 on 29 December, 2014
Can i just say some folk bein criticised for bein critical of manager. My criticism earlier has easier solution. Yeah results cud be bit better but Im fairly happy with where we are in all trophies but all i want the now is to see us play with 2 strikers, everything else to me is window dressing, 2 up front the Celtic way, not much to ask
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Do any clubs play with 2 strikers these days?
The huddle
we started Saturday with 3 strikers
masty is neil lennon and both of us are supporting wee oscar
20:36 on 29 December, 2014
The huddle
we started Saturday with 3 strikers
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I know that was going to be my next point :o)
the_huddle
20:35 on 29 December, 2014
Man U, but they play three at the back to accommodate.
Man C did for a while earlier in season but dropped a lot of points so they reverted to one up front and closed gap on Chelsea
We neither need or have to play with just one striker in the SPFL.
Gary67
20:39 on 29 December, 2014
the_huddle
20:35 on 29 December, 2014
Man U, but they play three at the back to accommodate.
Man C did for a while earlier in season but dropped a lot of points so they reverted to one up front and closed gap on Chelsea
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The old school 2 striker partnerships are a thing of the past, something old school fans will have to get used to (until it comes back into fashion).
I’d argue that this current Celtic team playing in this league would score more and win more games playing 5 cloggers in midfield and a big man up front. But I really wouldn’t want to watch that.
An tearmann
Just reading back, and the same to you big mhan
the_huddle
20:35 on 29 December, 2014
For the older bhoys on here……
See when Celtic changed formation from 4-2-4 to 4-4-2 did everybody moan about not playing the Celtic way ?????
4-4-2 is outdated and only played by dinosaur’s. Ronny is trying to play the way most teams play now, given time and with the right players it will work HH
Mike in Toronto.
Mike in Toronto (who is currently in beautiful Sydney)
——
OohErrVicarCSC
HH jamesgang
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
20:41 on 29 December, 2014
We neither need or have to play with just one striker in the SPFL.
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We played 3 strikers against Ross County
Mighty Tim & Zico Maltese Falcon
Heartfelt sympathy to both of your respective families
Thoughts and prayers for both
Young forward thinking manager finding his feet in a new league/country, Top of the league, still in 4 competitions after Xmas and a transfer window to come, what’s not to like?
I remember the days of Biggins, Slater etc, so more than qualified to scroll past the doom merchants on here without batting an eyelid.
Good times aplenty to come.
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?
the_huddle
20:43 on 29 December, 2014
Saturday proved that playing one or two up front isn’t the problem, it’s the lack of creativity behind and wide of the striker(s) that’s the problem. We struggle with 4-2-3-1 because we don’t have good enough players to play in the 3, possibly with the exception of Forrest but he’s never fit. But we struggle to create enough chances in any formation.
WeeFra :-)
Doc, I see some still not paying attention :-)
For final time
We did not play a 4,4,2 on Saturday. If we were supposed too, then the plays weren’t paying attention or lining up in that format
The huddle don’t care bout other teams. Know we had 3 strikers but i mean playing a partnership up front occupying 2 centre halves. Its maybe just me, it’s something i think is important, modern football poorer in my opinion for phasing this out. Not lookin for anyone to agree or feel need for smart arse comments, just an opinion but of course I’ll be talkin rotten an not gateway clue
“Have a” not gateway.
Is the ‘playing 2 strikers’ thing,this seasons ‘zonal marking’ thing?
I’m sure it will alllllllllllllllll work itsel oot.hh
Gonnie you ghuys stop this. I’m sitting here wi ma calculator trying to work oot awe these numbers yer throwing at us. 442-4321-42212….. ffs remember us auld ghuys who are used tae just turning up and watching the game. Never knew before we entered the grun who tf was playing and where. Gies a brek please. Hahahahaha
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
All this formation stuff is irrelevant without a player who can make a telling pass to create real scoring chances. How may did we have against RC?
AnswersonapostcardCSC
Football too complicated these days. Play full backs at full back, centre halves at centre half, wide players out wide an strikers up front. Don’t fit players round system, fit system round players. Modern day football bereft of entertainment
Gary67
Saturday proved that playing one or two up front isn’t the problem, it’s the lack of creativity behind and wide of the striker(s) that’s the problem. We struggle with 4-2-3-1 because we don’t have good enough players to play in the 3, possibly with the exception of Forrest but he’s never fit. But we struggle to create enough chances in any formation.
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And we struggled last couple of season whenever we went 2 up front and 2 wingers while playing in the SPL, it’s a tough one. As I posted above play 5 in midfield and we’d win well, I believe, but I don’t think it would be pretty (if that makes sense).
You are right of course better players and formation matters less, comes down to making better signings.
Btw
The last number should read…….42211. Sorry :-(
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
CowieBhoy, it was 4222.
I know you know.
#
# # # #
# #
# #
# #
That’s how we lined up.
It changed a bit, ok a lot, but that is how we played.
Ha, when I did the wee # graphic, it worked great on my iPad.
Spacing and everything!
its aw about the players ! no the system or the manager ! the players we have are no good enough !
mighty tim and and Zico-Maltese bhoy:
My thoughts and Prayers with you both and your respective families.
May God Bless their Souls.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Some fantastic posts earlier today, which included many with suggestions on improving our current issues
Thanks to Sandman, BRTH ( a novel mind) & EddieinK
Jonnyrambo
Just for clarity in point 3 of yours – we do already live within our means
Could I add a suggestion for our board – hopefully a positive, and not about the standard of our team
Get across to Dortmund, and see how they are managing to keep 80000 fans on board and apparently happy, with a great stadium atmosphere
Then see what you can do in Scotland with Celtic
Hail Hail
Doc, was it not the fabled John Barnes 2,1,2,1,2,1 that we played? :)
Sorry, missing 1 somewhere ?
21Nov2006, it was the same sort of formation, and as effective, unfortunately.
coatdykebhoy
20:57 on 29 December, 2014
I think it is a combination of both personally. The majority of the Players that Ronny is trying to fit in with the those that he has brought in himself are not doing it in his system.
The majority of the Players I refer to were played by Neil and did well within his system.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Feck, here we go again, ma hieds nippin’ . Lol.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.