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Dropping Gordon was ballsy, now manager has other decisions to make

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  2. Dbhoy on

    Haven’t seen you in quite a while

     

    I was down the hold just passing time

     

    Last time we met was a low-lit room

     

    We were as close together as a bride and groom

     

    We ate the food, we drank the wine

     

    Everybody having a good time

     

    Except you

     

    You were talking about the end of the world…

     

     

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t7ElEHJpvNs

     

     

    HH

  9. glendalystonsils on

    DESSYBHOY on 9TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:22 PM

     

     

    I agree . An often seen ploy. In spite of Fool Time Whistle’s thorough forensic defence of Defoe.

  10. Dbhoy on

    All the subtle flavours of my life have become

     

    Bitter seeds and poisoned leaves

     

    Without you

     

    You represent what’s true

     

    I drain the colour from the sky and turn blue

     

    Without you

     

    These arms lack a purpose

     

    Flappin’ like a humming bird

     

    I’m nervous ’cause I’m the left eye, you’re the right

     

    Would it not be madness to fight?

     

     

    We come one…

     

     

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=65EfTFUFDwI

     

     

    HH

  12. petec on

    Keep on Winning Celtic – We have a song that is Timeless.

     

     

    The Secret Wans cannae handle cheating and not Winning. :)))

     

     

    Keep on Winning Celtic.

  13. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    Where Defoe is cleverer than the average hun, is, that he doesn’t claim for the penalty and looks like he is anxious to play on, thereby giving the ref a “decision to make”.

     

    Cute.

     

    Way back in my youth, it was always a feature in Rangers’ game that they put pressure on the ref.

     

    This was done by claiming for shies, corners free kicks,etc., that they knew were not entitled.

     

    The logic was to sow doubt in the ref’s mind, sure in the knowledge that he would give them something.

     

     

    As for Defoe not having previous in sub aqua scuba activities, I watched a couple of Derby Co. games recently, in which M. Waghorn pen, was playing.

     

     

    There was not a hint of the thuggish style he displayed with impunity in Scotland.

     

     

    It would be interesting if any of us of a researcher bent could trawl through Alfredo’s disciplinary record at his previous clubs,to see if he has acquired extra skills since coming to Glasgow.

  14. Tontine Tim on

    SILVER CITY 1888 on 9TH FEBRUARY 2019 7:50 PM

     

     

    As I understand it, for serious foul play you miss the next game regardless of the competition. After that additional missed games apply to the competition where you earned them.

     

     

    *Which means that although he has another 2 games to go the replay is in between the league games so he’s eligible for that.

  15. Fool Time Whistle on

    The Huddle

     

     

    The videos last week & this week show no such thing. In my view they show precisely as I outlined today & last Sunday/Monday. In today’s video the contact between Broadfoot & Defoe that I described is clear. Last week’s video & still photos were pretty conclusive too – again as I described it.

     

     

    If someone wants to see simulation then they will undoubtedly see it.

     

     

    You may see things differently both visually and in other ways, but that doesn’t make your subjective view THE definitive one. In addition, it neither makes you wrong nor me right.

     

     

    I’m happy with my take on both of them, but I know that a dissenting view is sometimes not that welcome on here so I qualified my post with the tin hat reference.

     

     

    I don’t know Defoe at all but his reputation so far is as a consummate professional footballer & a decent person. Unless the evidence of any cheating is clear & unequivical I won’t condemn him.

     

     

    There are enough genuine cases of simulation, cheating AND inconsistent refereeing without connecting dots that aren’t there to invent a reason to complain.

     

     

    Enjoy your night but enjoy tomorrow morning more.

     

     

    Gutenberg

     

     

    I can only say as I see it. For the incident involving Broadfoot in the Killie box I see absolutely no sign of cheating. None at all & for me, no question about it either.

     

    I see Broadfoot’s right boot connect with the outside of Defoe’s left boot as he attempts to go past him, at which point Defoe, with his balance well into the top half of his body, stumbles to the ground holding the outside of his left boot/foot.

     

     

    Now if only we had referees whose judgement we trusted with any confidence at all this would hardly be an issue. I only want fairness & transparency – but for all teams – otherwise it’s a worthless objective.

     

     

    Dessybhoy & Glendalystonsils

     

     

    As above guys, but for me the contact was his left & leading foot with Broadfoot’s right boot – not his right leg at all. I even went back for another look or three genuinely looking for your assessment Glen. For me, it’s his left foot that is first stopped going forward & his right leg is flailing in mid air as he loses his balance. From the only angle I have seen I can see no contact with his right leg.

     

    But like every position I take – I reserve the right to change my mind & eat humble pie.

     

     

    Hope you all have a great what’s left of the night. It’s only 6.30pm here.

     

     

    Any win for us tomorrow will do – just being in the draw will suffice.

     

    I imagine St Johnstone will be as happy to see the back of us as we will be of them.

     

     

    HH

  21. GFTB on

    Petec 11.44pm

     

     

    Read on here about the Kano foundation, at one of BMCUWP days oot in McChuills met some of the Kane family through CRC … but only this week I actually appreciated what that foundation actually do, young kids who get interested where otherwise they wouldn’t …. a terrific legacy and one the family should be very proud of…. that’s “our” Celtic :-)

  23. petec on

    Gerry Bhoy,

     

     

    What a tune, hopefully the Celtic SMBU and their utter hatred with Beautiful and Incredible fitba. Sevco is a Bitch like no other – I mean their Administrating Lovers of Cheats.

  29. sannabhoy on

    DBhoy , apologies for an impertinent question – I’ve been off for a while and am not up on monikers .

     

     

    Are/Were you travellerbhoy ? we’ve lost touch over the last couple of years – my fault .

     

     

    Sanna

  30. GFTB on

    Petec 12.01am

     

     

    The Huns are a necessary evil, canny be arsed with all the shoite on here at times …,then the same posters post non stop about the Sevs and their favourite baddie Mr Lawell … and then any day of the week they sit on Twitter and come on here posting “exclusives” trust me we have our fair share of rockets while we laugh at the Sevs ..

     

     

    Celtic and Brendan are in a good place and guess what we might not win the morra then there will be 50 pages of shoite to wade through …. I hope Brendan gets the treble treble and I think he will be for me I would delighted to take 8 and see what happens

     

     

    Sometimes the guff on here are punters who are only happy when Celtic aren’t doing well …. or so they’ll tell you Celtic aren’t doing well

     

     

    Brendan 100% not out (yet:-)

  31. Billy Bhoy on

    Fool time whistle

     

     

    You’re well named mate. Fool by name and fool by nature.

     

    Defoe deliberately stuck out a leg and ensured contact! It’s as clear as day. I actually laughed out loud watching it real time as did my wife and son.

     

    Now, I gave him the benefit of the doubt with the earlier penalty incident but now, well, I’m not so sure.

     

    It’s all looking a bit desperate to me. Their season could have ended tonight.

  36. Dbhoy on

    Sanna

     

    Different bhoy, haven’t seen him post for a few weeks, next time I see him on I’ll let him know you were asking for him.

     

     

    HH

  37. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    FOOL TIME WHISTLE on 9TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:44 PM

     

     

    A natural stumble from a trip ( intentional or otherwise ) , which is what you suggest happened , does not include a little leap in the air.

     

     

    Defoe`s fall is not natural . It`s exaggerated .

  40. petec on

    BB, I have not seen anything, I had a wee nap. :))))

     

     

    The huns got an extra game – GOOD.

     

     

    The huns, the huns – Sickened that Stevie G is becoming a monster.

     

     

    You are so sad when you pander to a crowd no matter who you are.

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