After the defeat at Ibrox on 29 December, we anticipated changes, but the most significant decision Brendan Rodgers made was the most unexpected. Celtic’s man of the match that day was goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, without whom the score would have been significantly worse than the 1-0 defeat. Remarkably, he was dropped and has not played since.
The reason for this has nothing to do with Craig’s ability between the sticks, it gets to the reason we lost control of the game: how quickly and accurately we move the ball. Despite a man of the match performance, Craig was dropped because Brendan realised our game plan can be easily dismantled if we are pedestrian in possession.
While Scott Bain is better with the ball at his feet than Craig, and Craig’s liability in this area is limited, central midfield was significantly more culpable for what went wrong at Ibrox.
Since then Callum McGregor has been restored to his normal midfield berth, Scott Brown has retained his place and Olivier Ntcham has been absent through injury, so the manager has had no major selection choices to make in this area. Olivier is now fit and in with a chance of making his first appearance of the year in Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie, while just as we were at Ibrox, we are short at left back, where McGregor moved to fill in.
Brendan has some big decisions to make this week. A central mid of Brown and Ntcham is not right for the football we play. In taking the least expected decision, to drop Gordon for Bain, I hope we saw a sign that Brendan values the velocity with which we circulate the ball.
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Todays CQN Coupon. BY the way, we had our closest coupon of the season last Saturday with 5 correct and the other 2 being draws. One of these weeks…
Bobby Murdochs Curled Up Winkelpickers – Mansfield
The Exiled Tim – Sunderland
Lennybhoy – Watford
Jobo Baldie – Partick Thistle
Awalkacrosstherooftops – Arsenal
Pogmathonyahun – Bradford
GFTB – Sheff Wed
Bloody Hell Pete, even for you this is a long shift. Checking back you are going for over 12 hours. Incredible.
BSR – Yer alright – I’m Tchaikovsky.
Cannae wait for the Valencia game. Taking the night aff Work for it, I hate leaving early but needs must.
The Stands are Full Bro – Magical.
laterz.
corkcelt on 9th February 2019 10:12 am
Bloody Hell Pete, even for you this is a long shift. Checking back you are going for over 12 hours. Incredible.
…………….
You are a dafty for an olde wan – went way longer in my Prime. :D
LaterZ
I’m a dafty OK. Now that Pete has gone to bed the blog grinds to a halt.
I feel obliged to post something interesting or controversial. But that’s really not me.
Think I’ll scrub some bathroom tiles and check back in a wee while.
Jobo. You can bet your last pound that if we were winning 1-0, Thompshun would have added the proper added time of say 6-7 mins, 3 for the 6 subs and Izzys time injured.
The cheating will go on bhoys you can be sure of that. Their needs must..
D. :)
Got my own seat back for the València game.
Apparently UEFA no longer require it.
Eurochamps67
Howdy folks – see the Yanks have nominated a new ‘Axis of Evil’ among their southern neighbours – Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela I think they said.
Sounds like we are warming up for another expansion of democracy, US-style.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of those governments, as always the civillians would innevitably bear the brunt of any military action; hopefully it is nothing more than sabre-rattling.
HH
BGFC
Ref Watch
The timber Craig Thomson is carrying cannot be acceptable. Ridiculous.
Also the ref V St J at home , constantly took up a position to receive a 15 yd forward pass from Scott or Calum , he was like an extra man at times for the Saints blocking our passes. Lack of experience against teams that actually pass the ball.
Amateurs
Jobo, I mentioned the clock watch thing on Wed night
6 subs, and physiology on pitch twice in 2nd half, which included Izzy being stretchered off
Now, Very well done Brendan – let’s get some professional referees from South of the border, to support the amateurs ?
Any other professional sport, with millions of pounds at stake being refereed by amateurs ??? Who consistently get things wrong ( or right in the view/ case of 1 club)
( amateurs that earn £880 per game – that a very very healthy wage for a very high percentage of our population)
Jobo,
Not only is Thompson guilty of the two minute rule.
It appears to be the default position of most of the game management referees who trade in Scottish football.
They don’t let the match flow, according to the natural progression of the game, applying the laws of the game.
The run the game in a manner which they think will make it a better spectacle, i.e., a closer game.
If that means playing spurious advantage laws, or ignoring fouls/penalties to the detriment of the team who are leading, so be it. The sponsors and “neutral” telly viewer gets more value for his money.
CAVEAT
In the case of the Lanarkshire refs, the above needn’t apply.
Hello again all you young rebels.
Apparently Hibs are seething at Celtic trio being let off from censure.
Really! maybe ( definately ) our enemies come in all colours and not just blue, but
i knew that, and really some of our support should keep that in mind when they
constantly moan and groan.
H.H Mick
Anyone know the statistics / recent records of 2-game ban offers’ being rejected?
Has any player, having been given a 2-game ban offer, rejected it, gone to “trial” – and got off?
Suppose you can see where I’m looking.
MELBOURNEMICK
How’s it gaun Mick ? It’s blowing a gale here in Girvan wish i was back down under ?
I’m sure I saw something recently, but can’t remember where or by whom, laying out the formula for added time involving Celtic games, e.g. if Celtic 2 or more ahead, max 2 mins, if Celtic 1 ahead, 5 minutes, if Celtic losing, 1 minute, etc….
I’m sure its just coincidence but radio Scotland’s 2 numpty presenters Cowan and Cosgrove are calling for an end to the compliance officer, and for a game to finish at the final whistle with no comebacks, as I said coincidence.
Cowan actually bored with it all now he says.
Tubes the pair of them.
Bored with transparency, justice and integrity. It’s a Meehan thing
Meeja
Pog- brilliant
Cow and Cos try for irreverent but only make it to irrelevant.
Have never understood Stuart’s desire to be associated with that talentless eejit. (Like him or loathe him Cosgrove does have a brain)
Jobo- injury time been a bugbear of mine for years,the biggest cheat is Thomshun. The Hibs player down for at least 2 minutes just before HT,1 minute added…..
https://twitter.com/sportbible/status/1093928728139386882?s=08
Messi….
STUART COSGROVE ?
Been years since I last heard him doing football stuff on the radio .( it was crap -haw you Jimmy Sunday Post style guff for those that like that guff )
I remember him from the dancing in Wigan / Stafford / Stoke / Blackpool / Cleethorpes etc ( and the Miners Welfare thing in Allanton) (near Shotts ) .In those days he was very much a St Johnstone man
His Soul Trilogy is a fine read ( Detroit 67 / Memphis 68 /Harlem69. ) As is his personal history re Northern Soul—Young Soul Rebels.
I’d hazard a guess that Cosgrove doesn’t have much of an input into the content of the show.
Most of the subjects are utter guff that would barely amuse a six year old.
Cowan seems rather upset about the compliance system all of a sudden. Wonder if anything has happened very recently that would cause this…….?
SOT.
Cosgrove still a St Johnstone man ,but playing to the undead with this nonsense.
H.H
……….Cow and Cos………………..lumpen guff, execrable pap in a See-You-Jimmy hat.
Both unemployable anywhere else on the planet.
Tavernier to score anytime 5/2….says it all
Alba v Éire now in Murrayfield. I’m going to watch it on Virgin Media One (formerly TV3) for totally unbiased reporting.
Oh, and I’ll be downing a dram or three of Teelings Irish whiskey.
C’mon Éire.
Getting ahead of myself there. KO is 2.15pm.
Almore, I’ll be watching it sober but will have a dram or three of Jameson’s tonight to wet my new grandson’s head,
Corky: Comhghairdeas leat ar an ngarmhac. Enjoy the game and the drinks.
ROG in bullish form on the panel.
Jobo- spot re the refs and ‘elastic’ time added. Once again football ignores a totally workable solution – big digital clock which is stopped by a timekeeper for mutually agreed reasons – player being treated, subs coming on and perhaps, but more controversial, at a signal from the ref if he/she/non-binary suspects time wasting.
Corkcelt- enjoy,good health to all.
Jinky- the 4th official could be in control of the time, they do nothing else…
Alba starting strongly.
Mon the Scots…do this mob…no offence to our cousins across the water….as we give away a try…ffs
Úd Éire.