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Cup powerhouses face each other, spotting patterns to develop

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Scotland’s cup duopolists, Celtic and St Johnstone, face each other in the League Cup semi-final.  They are the two most successful Scottish clubs over the last decade, having won the previous 10 domestic cups between them.  St Johnstone have won on their last four visits to Hampden, whereas Celtic have incredibly won their last sixteen successive visits to the national stadium.  Something has got to give but the winner of this tie will surely fancy their chances for the trophy.

Hibs, who are the last team to win a cup apart from Celtic and St Johnstone, face Newco in the other semi.  The latter hoping to reach their third major final having lost the previous two.  Hibs last won the League Cup 15 years ago.

Celtic comfortably got the job done against Raith Rovers last night without ever hitting the heights they reached in the previous round, when Hearts were battered before leaving with a flattering 3-2 deficit.  We await a return of that blistering football.

Goals change games and win trophies and it is vital that those occupying the supporting forward roles contribute.  Jota got his first goal for the club as he controlled a pass from James McCarthy before beating the keeper at his near post.  The Portuguese then turned creator for the second.  Raith keeper Jamie MacDonald only parried his shot into the path of Liel Abada, who headed into the net.

Abada has an incredible knack for finding space inside the box and arriving to occupy it at exactly the right moment.  20 years ago, I remember a Rangers fan complain to me that his team continually fail to mark Henrik Larsson inside the box.  All he saw was Larsson, in acres of space, despatching the ball into the net.

An innate understanding of space and time, and being able to anticipate what others will do, makes the attackers’ job look easy.  It is easy, if you are gifted enough to find the right place at the right time.  I know better than to burden Liel with unattainable comparisons, but this ability to find space inside the box has been so rare for Celtic recently, you wonder if he could follow the path others have walked from wing to centre.

If Celtic are to fulfil their potential, they need to be able to spot patterns like this and know what to do about them.

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  1. prestonpans bhoys on

    TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021 4:40 PM

     

    THE COMFORTABLE COLLECTIVE

     

     

    I was just about to jump in and say the same, good man

  3. squire danaher on

    DAVID66 on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021 5:06 PM

     

     

    Squire – I am talking about generations of family’s abusing the system that’s who I am referring to.

     

     

    Nothing against people who fall on hard times, or have disabilities in fact I find it insulting that you even mention that as I never.

     

     

    ———

     

     

    I gave two examples of what are widely regarded by right wing media as “benefit fraud”.

     

     

    I didn’t suggest you raised specific examples. I didn’t mean to cause you personal insult.

     

     

    You’re now raising specific examples and I would say that if anything you’re digging a bigger hole for yourself as you’ve now introduced the issue of “deserving” v “undeserving poor”.

     

     

    That’s definitely entering into Calvinist/Weberian Protestant Work Ethic territory.

     

     

    I see multi-generational reliance on benefits in different terms than you.

     

     

    What’s the primary influence on young peoples lives? Family.

     

     

    What motivation/encouragement can young people get from home – often not for the want of trying – when generations of their family have never worked and lack the practical/presentational skills to do so?

     

     

    No offence intended. HH 👍

  4. David66 on

    Squire – Not got a clue what you are on about.

     

     

     

    I am not digging any hole.

     

     

    I see a human being needing help, I help regardless of race or religion.

     

     

    If I think said human being is taking the piss I will call it out.

     

     

    I have not got a clue what you are on about.

     

     

    I am going on my everyday/work life experiences.

     

     

    D :)

  5. bankiebhoy1 on

    I wonder if either shortie or the boys in bloo are as interested in the nugget who lobbed the offending pyrotechnic?…………………….Damn sure they woulda been had it emanated from a Green brigadier…..

  7. David66 on

    Squire- Let’s leave it at that.

     

     

    I think if we ever meet our views will not differ.

     

     

    I am not feeling at myself and after acwee chatcwith my Doc earlier, even more down.

     

     

    D :)

  8. Tom McLaughlin on

    PRESTONPANS BHOY

     

     

    Yes, I’ve attended our 3 home league games using my season ticket and on each occasion my son has accessed Celtic TV via my ST Virtual Pass without a problem.

  9. IniquitousIV on

    SAINT STIVS @ 3:58

     

     

    “and the supply chain issues aint just drivers, these eejits have burnt all the pallets.”

     

     

    Saint, that reminded me of my first day of summer work at a Black and White owned woodyard in

     

    Port Dundas in 1965. The yard assembled the staves for the barrels made by the coopers. The foreman, a toothless older man, standing in front of a mountain of staves, confronted the 4 students who had just started fir the summer, and said, “See youz, see that widd therr, Ah waant yeez tae palletalize that widd.”

     

     

    Stuck with me for 56 years, that succinct instruction.

  10. Wishaw tim on

    David 66 , hope you’re ok with doctor , also what you done for big jimmy, you don’t need to prove yourself to anyone, especially on here

  11. squire danaher on

    DAVID66 on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021 5:29 PM

     

    DAVID66 on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021 5:06 PM

     

     

    Squire – I am talking about generations of family’s abusing the system that’s who I am referring to.

     

     

    ——.

     

     

    I think you’re talking about deserving and undeserving poor. IMO that’s “digging a hole” based on doubling down on your initial point about “benefit fraud”

     

     

    ////

     

     

    If I think said human being is taking the piss I will call it out.

     

     

    I have not got a clue what you are on about.

     

     

    I am going on my everyday/work life experiences.

     

     

    ——

     

     

    Your idea of ‘taking the piss’ is clearly based on your perception of the individual without a knowledge of where the individual is, or has come from, on their life journey.

     

     

    I am also “going on my everyday/work life experiences.”

     

     

    I’d say if we’re talking as Celtic supporters then maybe I’m closer to Brother Walfrid’s vision than you – if only based on what you’ve posted.

  14. ernie lynch on

    DAVID66 on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021 5:06 PM

     

    Squire – I am talking about generations of family’s abusing the system that’s who I am referring to.

     

     

     

    ###

     

     

    How many generations are you talking about?

     

     

    The reason I ask is when I grew up (peripheral housing scheme) there were virtually no long term unemployed, and those who were obviously had issues of one kind or another. Nearly everyone had a job. You went through school knowing that when you left you’d get a job, whether you wanted one or not.

     

     

    That all changed in the mid 70s.

     

     

    People didn’t change, but the economic and political climate sure as hell did.

  15. Saint Stivs on

    Iv,

     

     

    I was up Port Dundas this week on my whistle stop tour of glasgow.

     

     

    There is a new development of there and Sighthill, St Rollox, I have to say , I like the housing design and the new “industrial” bridge.

     

     

    My father in law was a cooper, trained on one of the western isles, and worked at the lochwinnoch cooperage.

     

     

    your wee story triggered another memory, the barrel yards in janefield street, next to the creamery.

     

     

    it is a longlost story, but James Qullin original committee member and defector was at onetime the largest producer of barrels in britain.

     

     

    ” His successes go further than simply expanding his business property portfolio. Indeed, by 1881, James Quillan was a master cooper, who owned the largest cooperage in Britain with over 180,000 casks passing through it per year.”

     

     

    https://thecelticstar.com/james-quillan-the-celtic-founder-who-defected-formed-a-rival-club/

     

     

    The distillery

     

     

    https://www.whisky.com/whisky-database/distilleries/details/port-dundas.html

     

     

    the new bridge (4 minutes, only watch if your interested)

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Xunrql5N0

  16. An Tearmann on

    Yup Ernie.Denis introduced Monetarism.1976.

     

    Finger out the dyke since and the advance of capital has been ongoing since.profits up while “natural” rates of pay means a drive to the bottom-zero hours etc.regressive eh.

     

    Any noo words.looked up grifter prices on e-bay.dear

     

     

    HH

  25. Saint Stivs on

    Callum McGregor: Celtic captain signs five-year contract

     

    Last updated on3 hours ago3 hours ago.

     

    From the sectionCeltic

     

    Callum McGregor has succeeded Scott Brown as Celtic captain

     

    Callum McGregor has succeeded Scott Brown as Celtic captain

     

    Captain Callum McGregor says his new five-year deal provides vital stability for Celtic under Ange Postecoglou.

     

     

    Academy graduate McGregor was already contracted until 2024 but is “proud” to prolong his stay further and aims to see out his career at the club.

     

     

    He has won six league titles, four Scottish Cups and four League Cups in 338 games, scoring 54 goals.

     

     

    The 28-year-old has 37 Scotland caps and scored his first goal in the Euro 2020 defeat by Croatia.

     

     

    Celtic beat Raith to reach League Cup semis

     

    Celtic make £11.5m annual loss

     

    “I love this club, it’s been my whole life and I enjoy my football here,” he said.

     

     

    “It was a very easy decision, I want to be here for as long as they’ll have me. I had good discussions with the board in terms of where we see the club going.

     

     

    “It’s important at the moment that the club have a bit of stability as well. I’ve never looked to leave Celtic.

     

     

    “They’ve put a huge amount of faith in me since I was a young kid and to complete the story, coming through to play in the first team and now being captain, there’s no more special feeling than that.”

     

     

    McGregor made his Celtic debut aged 21, scoring in a 2014 Champions League qualifier at KR Reykjavik, and spent a season on loan in England’s third tier with Notts County.

     

     

    He was appointed captain this summer by new manager Postecoglou, succeeding long-serving skipper Scott Brown who joined Aberdeen as Celtic ended the season without a trophy for the first time since 2010.

     

     

    “I’m in a good place now mentally and maturity wise to take the next step and bring success back to the club after a difficult last season,” added McGregor.

     

     

    “In terms building what we’re trying to do, the style we’re trying to play, it takes a bit of time to gel everybody together.

     

     

    “But there’s real positivity within the camp that we can do something special.”

     

     

    Celtic manager Postecoglou said McGregor has “shown outstanding qualities” since he took charge in the summer.

     

     

    “He espouses the values I’m after,” the Australian said. “He understands what we’re trying to build and, on and off the field, he’s not just talking about it, he’s living it and he’s showing the behaviour that I want leaders to show.”

  29. The Comfortable Collective on

    PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021 5:14 PM

     

    TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021 4:40 PM

     

     

     

     

    THE COMFORTABLE COLLECTIVE

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I was just about to jump in and say the same, good man

     

     

    Thanks guys – just checked the log on again. Now saying you can buy the game for 12.99 so the pass now done by the looks of it.

     

     

    At Celtic Park on Sunday so no biggie.

  32. MadMitch on

    EL @ 5.51

     

     

    You are possibly conflating two separate events.

     

     

    1) Early 60’s baby boom / 61 to 65 — remember the “huts” being added to schools to accommodate the bigger intakes.

     

     

    That meant that the economy found it harder to utilise all the extra labour that was becoming available — YOP’pers was one of the rough and ready responses to the issue.

     

     

    The main issue during 76-79 was the growth of employment in the UK..

     

    Unfortunately the working population grew at a quicker pace so unemployment also increased.

     

    The Tory press only sold one side of the equation and because they won they wrote the history.

     

     

    2) Maggie and her localised recession that followed the 79 election — she made unemployment mainstream in a manner that had not been seen since the 30’s. She was out to hobble the working class for having the temerity to support the miners against TH.

     

     

    Maggie changed the outlook of a lot of people — she made it acceptable to be unemployed because she took great delight in destroying private sector manufacturing so that she could stick it to the public sector.

     

     

    She destroyed 30% plus of private sector UK manufacturing — not a lot of people know that.

     

     

    Then she sold the recently unemployed to the US / Japan / EU for starvation wages where the guard dog was worth more than his handler.

     

     

    TB / GB made great efforts to solve this catastrophe with the minimum wage / tax credits / children’s support services — was it enough?

     

     

    Probably not but it still made a huge difference and delivered huge progress across a wide range of areas that the ConDemNation and BoJo are doing / did their best to reverse.

     

     

    Please ignore all those who shout that they are all as bad at each other — they are either right wing propaganda to keep the turnout low or shouty Trot mentalists howling at the moon through a jealousy of progressive politicians who actually can draw a crowd of the working class.

  33. Tom McLaughlin on

    THE COMFORTABLE COLLECTIVE

     

     

    That’s CelticTV for non season ticket holders. If you scroll down that page you will see further information re VirtualPass for ST holders.

  34. prestonpans bhoys on

    TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021 7:41 PM

     

    THE COMFORTABLE COLLECTIVE

     

     

    What a man, just got into my static outside Aberfoyle and before I could type Tom’s done.👏I can’t make Sunday so joining you in the ‘free pass’ too👍👍

  38. MadMitch on

    LS — good start to his career.

     

    He played — and passed — with conviction.

     

    Unlike too many on the night.

     

     

    He looked fully involved / up for it.

     

    He deserves more time soon.

  42. scullybhoy on

    westcraigs on 24th September 2021 7:13 pm

     

     

    Let’s get political.

     

     

     

     

    Free the Malvinas.

     

     

     

     

    Free Quebec.

     

     

     

     

    Free Hawaii.

     

     

     

     

    Free the repressed.

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