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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. mazzy on

    Pretsonpans Bhoys.

     

     

    Think he might be afflicted with the “Johnny Giles”. But the chemist will give him a cream for that ailment which he can get whilst in for a supply of his toupee glue.

  2. shaunamura on

    A couple points on Mikey Johnson could not believe it when he was used on Sunday after so long out and bring him on to that surface

     

    secondly that night at Perth when he was repeatedly asked by NL if he was all right to continue before having to be subbed never been right since

  4. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Well played M.Ross of Celts Are Here.

     

     

    Successfully stoked the fires of indignation of a section of Celtic supporters.

     

     

    As a result he has generated attention & publicity for an imbecile.

     

     

    Mission accomplished for those who employ said imbecile.

     

    (PS – they do know he is an imbecile)

     

     

    Clicks, copy, attention … exactly what they want and all of it justifying their decision to hire him and pay him.

     

     

    Two questions spring to mind …

     

     

    1. What kind of people actually give two hoots what an imbecile thinks about anything?

     

     

    2. To that group, you do realise you are paying his wages?

     

     

    🤔🤦

  5. An Tearmann on

    Greenpinata

     

    Sound post on trials and tribulations of haulage drivers.well expressed and true.most drivers I know are only now getting a decent wage.

     

    Shortages/breaks in supply chain is down to Brexit and the stupidity of that vote in a global inter related interactive.It is a colossal f…up.

     

     

    HH

  7. squire danaher on

    El Cashico in EPL

     

     

    0-0 HT

     

     

    A positive spin on it would be that both teams are playing to their strengths; MC forcing the game, dominating possession, and high press on losing the ball; Chelsea seemingly content to surrender possession and hit on the break.

     

     

    BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2021 1:26 PM

     

     

    Yep, Celtic cyberspace talking about Boyd =

     

     

    Job done.

  8. bankiebhoy1 on

    What Mazzy said…………….

     

     

     

    The Tarbolton Scowler……………..?

     

    Easy to see how he gets a comfortable berth in scoddish meeja…..

     

    and Scotland is happy enough to accept hunned-up nuggets like him inarticulately expressing what they feel thumsels.

     

     

    Aye.

  11. jackiemac on

    Do youiz moyund if I do be tinking alouid?

     

     

    Peter Lawwell (heretofore PL) acted in the best interests of celtic

     

    PL always applied a core principle to actions and tactics whilst in post

     

    Much of his time was successful

     

    PL decided what PL thought was in ‘celtic’s best interest’ (fair enough, he’s employed to).

     

    DD is the ceo

     

    A ceo must act on behalf of all stakeholders

     

    Celtic is a business

     

    DD and Pl must promote and maximise all aspects of celtic plc

     

    DD will want to sell/retire at some point

     

    DD will want to sell/retire with a return on his investment (far bigger than mine)

     

    Newco do not have sustainability as their core belief

     

    The tactic of promoting newco’s role in the league in order to maximise celtic plc must be risky

     

    Is there an answer to – are celtic plc and cfc the same thing?

     

    It must be time to assess the footballing staff’s performance over the last 3 years

     

     

     

    thanks ghirls and bhoys – livi was a step too far for me

  12. Uncle Jimmy on

    Re the article, I’m not sure we would fancy our chances against both the other semi finalists.

     

    Our record against one of them, ove the last 2 years, has been shocking.

     

    To suggest otherwise is a largish mistake

  14. Big Jimmy on

    DRAMBOWIECELT on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2021 11:06 AM

     

    Reading back…Big J..8.29…

     

     

     

     

    Nice post mate straight from the heart wae nae malice…

     

     

     

     

    Hope your in top form mate and wee Rockstars keeping you busy lol.

     

     

    ……………

     

    Cheers mate, I appreciate you Post above.

     

    I was simply stating FACTS in my Post and I know for FACT that I have met or came across MANY Guys who are Workshy thru the years, with NO Intention of getting a Job, far less hold one down.

     

    By the same token, I have also met, and came across MANY genuine Guys who have been DESPERATE to find a Job and get themselves in Employment ( As I said, I was one of THOSE Guys whenever I found myself unemployed).

     

    I am also Fully AWARE of the terrible impact of Thatcher from 1979 onwards and her deliberate policies, to ruin working class lives and communities, as I also fell victim to her politics in the early 1980’s.

     

    Finally, and knowing DAVID66 the way I do, he ( LIKE Myself) has NO TIME, for the Chumps, Wasters and Scroungers in Society, who havent worked a day in their life, and believe that life OWES them a lifestyle.

     

    These ” Folk” have NEVER had ANY intention of finding work, and they are the ones that DAVID66 was referring to…like I am.

     

    Again, like DAVID66 I have been a ” Boss” in the workplace ( DAVID66 is STILL a Boss), and I KNOW for FACT that both myself and DAVID66 have went out of our way to help someone get a Job at some stage or other, only for those Guys to let us down big time.

     

    DAVID66 was NOT having a go at anyone who is unemployed for GENUINE reasons and neither am I, and that is why I replied to SQUIRE DANAHER in the first instance, as his reading of DAVID66’s original Post was grossly unfair and inaccurate.

     

    I have no argument with SQUIRE whatsoever, maybe he has never came across the sort of ” Workshy” Guys that I and DAVID66 have…but be in no doubt…those kind of Wasters and Chumps have ALWAYS existed…and sadly always will.

     

    Cheers mate.

     

    HH.

  15. ernie lynch on

    AN TEARMANN on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2021 1:29 PM

     

    Greenpinata

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ‘Shortages/breaks in supply chain is down to Brexit and the stupidity of that vote in a global inter related interactive.It is a colossal f…up.’

     

     

     

    ###

     

     

    It’s almost like withdrawing from an economic and political union you’ve been a member of for five decades has had adverse consequences.

     

     

    Mmmmm.

  21. Tom McLaughlin on

    JACKIEMAC

     

     

    When was Dermot Desmond appointed Celtic CEO?

     

     

    I must have been pished that day.

  22. 79caps on

    Interesting fixtures after the split. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if Aberdeen get into the top six instead of Dundee Utd, there’ll be two teams that we play at home only once this season.

     

    Nice fixture rigging by the SPFL, who have also contrived to give the Huns home games after midweek games in Europe and us away games.

  23. squire danaher on

    BIG JIMMY on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2021 2:22 PM

     

     

    Do you think the right wing media in this country distinguish between deserving and undeserving unemployed people?

  35. Saint Stivs on

    penalty dundee,

     

     

    keeper wipes him out, penalty given, and only a yellow card,

     

     

    disgrace.

     

     

    keeper saves it,

     

     

    cheatin bassas

  40. Tom McLaughlin on

    SAINT STIVS

     

     

    If the keeper brings down an opponent in the box for a penalty, it’s a yellow card. It’s only a red if it was violent conduct.

     

     

    Eg the Real Betis keeper was booked for the foul on Ajeti for Celtic’s penalty.

  41. geebee1978 on

    TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2021 4:23 PM

     

     

    Exactly. Part of the new “double jeopardy” rule.

     

     

    The ref was right, unfortunately.

  42. squire danaher on

    Dundee penalty.

     

     

    So if understand Geebee and TM correctly, the severity of the foul by a goalkeeper is irrelevant, he only concedes a pen and gets yellow?

     

     

    Is there not any scope for a red dependent on severity of the foul play?

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