Celtic got what they deserved yesterday. Alarm bells were ringing from the opening minutes when Newco Rangers created several chances. Their goal on 16 minutes was reward for their ability to get inside the Celtic box with remarkable ease.
So much about football is down to game intelligence, something which bypassed Dedryck Boyata in the move which led to the opening goal, as he clumsily barged into the back of an opponent who was running away from goal. After Dedryck went off injured for Erik Sviatchenko midway through the first half, Craig Gordon had little to do.
This fact illuminates the only positive aspect of Celtic’s performance – the defence. Sviatchenko and Charlie Mulgrew both played well, while Kieran Tierney would have collected the Man of the Match award, had his team-mates delivered near to his level.
Sviatchenko wasn’t in the starting line-up because he’d been out injured, but with extra time, he played (well) for 95 minutes. Leaving him out, presumably over concerns he would be unable to play 90 minutes, was a miscalculation.
From midfield forward we were individually and tactically second best. Scott Brown provided more evidence that he’s not regained top form after his injury lay-off. His touch and decision-making were both off. He had an opportunity to clear at the first goal but his contact wasn’t strong enough.
This is a real concern. Scott’s 31 in the summer, young enough to have several good years at this level, but my expectation is that we need to manage the remainder of his career carefully, in light of the cumulative effect of injuries. If this concern is valid, it will have a big impact on Celtic next season.
I did a fair amount of shouting at Nir Bitton during the first half. We were regularly overloaded 3-against-2 on the wing, while Nir remained in a central position, 5 yards away from being able to effectively press. If this was down to team orders they were complicit in a dreadful first half performance. If it was a personal reluctance to press, it was inexplicable. I could believe either scenario.
It was all too much for Gary Mackay-Steven and Patrick Roberts. Gary’s form has been underwhelming this season, but when I questioned his inclusion ahead of the game the point was made that he’s chipped in with a number of goals recently. Ronny Deila turned and walked to the dug-out to instruct Gary’s substitution after one inaccurate pass too many.
In the starting line-up, only Gary, Patrick Roberts and Leigh Griffiths had scored in our previous 7 league games. I suspect we were caught asking the wrong question here – who’s going to score the goals? Instead of asking how best to win the middle of the park. With Roberts, Mackay-Steven, Griffiths and Johansen occupying the advanced four positions we were lacking in kilograms – literally lightweight.
Contrast to when Gordon Strachan plucked Charlie Mulgrew from defensive cover to play left side of midfield at Ibrox; winning a game well against the odds.
Stefan Johansen was another unable to judge the weight or accuracy to apply to a pass, he was hooked injured after 84 minutes but could have gone earlier due to performance. His replacement, Tom Rogic, brought a considerable improvement to our use of the ball. Had we started with Rogic and Sviatchenko it would have been a different result.
The plan didn’t work for Leigh Griffiths. He was unable to hold play up, get in behind or craft a proper opening. He’s been our charm this season, but he’s no miracle worker.
More on the big picture stuff later in the week.
812 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- »
Macjay
RD is gone and certainly wasn’t the messiah, PL’s position still remains untenable, ask Rod Stewart
Point one. It`s divisive , outdated and globally discredited.
Point two. Hamiltontim admitted that was the intention of the C.T.
Point three. The shop floor running the factory.Where did that work ?
Point four. No , mate DIVISIONARY . I thought about divisive, but plumped for divisionary.
Anyway. 43,00 pounds fine for the G.B. BUT they raised a grand with their food collection.
Point five. No I don`t You are correct. It`s an opinion based on sound evidence. Years of observing entryists and their tactics :-)
T.E.T.
We have the same intention at heart. Political division is far more dangerous to our club than P.L. could ever be. Yep. That`s an opinion.
Can`t wait to be celebrating future Celtic successes with you when all this Board room trivia ( and hopefully Ronny ) is behind us.
Hail Hail
GO TELL THE SPARTIM on 19TH APRIL 2016 8:41 AM
Macjay
RD is gone and certainly wasn’t the messiah, PL’s position still remains untenable, ask Rod Stewart.
===============================================================================
I`ll call him now.
Macjay A different coach would still have the park/Lawell projects forced on him Would have no say in transfers So no point
Agree that RD must go. But only a coach who will run the football team is needed
PL has no intention of leaving a highly paid job with a bonus earned by selling our top players to balance books. Easy peasy for his pension plan
Macjay, can you tell him that his last album was him back at his best, the songs suited his voice way better
TWISTS N TURNS on 19TH APRIL 2016 8:30 AM
Some responsibilty for taking the advice of our scouts ?
Scouting surely ain`t his role.
Surely ?
But he`s copping it for the Boerrigters of this world.
P.L. may well be a problem , but Deila`s the disaster.
Macjay
See if you weren’t a right wing tory arse licker, you would hold a very different view of our board :-)
HH
GO TELL THE SPARTIM on 19TH APRIL 2016 8:46 AM
Macjay, can you tell him that his last album was him back at his best, the songs suited his voice way better.
===================================================================
He knows that , mate.
He`s a smart cookie.
He also knows a diddy coach when he sees one……………
:-)
From phils blog
Now who could he mean paul67 See below
Of course, the senior people in the Parkhead boardroom have their well-placed shills in the Fifth Estate.
Think of it as the message board equivalent of succulent lamb.
That can be a useful deflector shield at times like this.
No decent manager would ever work under Peter Lawell.
The PLC will not pay for a good manager.
Moyes wouldnt have Lawell interfering, neither would Keane.
Therefore, there will only be a few willing to work under Lawell.
Someone Lawell can control.
Imo….It will be Neil Lennon.
Who else is a serious candidate?
HH
Sack the Board.
Surely the Celtic support have been punished enough.
Someone put up earlier we have signed between 50-60 players in past 4 or 5 seasons
At what cost, and what requirements
I can think of 3 major success in this lot
Wanyama, Forster, VVD
How is that strategy working out, how is that department performing ?
I think it would be fair to say, possibly at most we should be looking at 2 / 3 players per transfer window ?
Just think how our Accounts would look without this total folly
Please sort this Department out as well PL
Modren politically pure socialist Celtic is rubidge
..although it might explain why we’ve signed so many left wingers
THE EXILED TIM on 19TH APRIL 2016 8:49 AM
Macjay
See if you weren’t a right wing tory arse licker, you would hold a very different view of our board :-)
HH
====================================================================
Chaps` botties do nothing for me , my friend.
:-)
Issues, mate.Issues.
Don`t lock yourself into a box. Right or left.
You`ll find yourself attempting to defend the indefensible.
Cameron`s a clown over Brexit.
Some Tory arse licker ( sic ) me.
Now , big Boris ?…Well now , that`s a different matter.
I`ll go with him.
Macjay
We played Braga and Utrecht without having replaced boruc
Artmedia with the borrowed aliadiere up front
Sion, having only resigned Forster on loan the day before
Karagandy with Mouyokolo who had played 4 games in the previous 3 years being thrown in and no replacement for hooper and wanyama
Legia with Forster playing while a move to Southampton was being teed up, Berget thrown in having been signed the day before,
Maribor with a goalie thrown in at the deep end when he had played absolutely no football in the last 3 years
Malmo with boyata thrown in when he had played about 20 games in the previous years
Strong theme through all of this – huge gambles with strangers and folk who are very ring rusty – but crucially cheap – thrown into the games that make or break our season and determine our income streams
This repeated patten does not befit a supposedly well run club
You don’t have to be a socialist or a member of the Celtic Trust to see it
Those comrades known as the dogs in the street know it
Our club is not being run as well as it could be and certainly not in a way that justifies an executive remuneration of 1 million gbp
Macjay
Boris?
For manager or CEO? :-)
DBBIA
Id honestly prefer…..the winner of the Scottish Grand National to manage Celtic, rather than NL.
But who else is going to put up with NERO
Maybe Frank Spencer.
Who knows….but id bet a pile of sawdust would have a better strategy than PL.
PL…the man who believes his own publicity…Mr i made Celtic great.
What next…an absentee landlord with a ridiculous 19th century moustache.
Its a farce…..pity Brian Rix and Ronnie Corbett are no longer with us.
HH
SYDNEYTIM SAYS SACK LAWELL NOW on 19TH APRIL 2016 8:44 AM
Sorry I missed you Sunday night in Cheers.
We had an absolute ball ,in spite of the result.
The coach must decide with the scouts and take their choices to Lawwell whose job it is then to arrange a deal and the finance.
I`ll be astonished if that is not precisely how it happens now.
Less than 4 years after the ole Horribles went into liquidation the ability of Celtic to snatch defeat from the ole jaws of victory remains undimmed.
PeterLatchfordsBelly on 19th April 2016 8:33 am
So the entire ‘Rangers’ Board were in tears after the game?
——————
Tears of laughter, probably.
The Green Man- the trainer? the jockey? or the wee horse?
the glorious balance sheet on 19th April 2016 8:59 am
Fantastic This sums our club up
Macjay
“Point two. Hamiltontim admitted that was the intention of the C.T.”
Naw , he didnae and you have been corrected on this distortion before and still make it.
Your original point two was “The intention of the C.T. is simply a Board run by supporters. ( Presumably with a fair sprinkling of C.T. members.) ”
Whereas the Trust’s own statement has always been:-
“The Celtic Trust was established in 1999 with the primary purpose of providing an umbrella organisation that, through the mobilisation of the combined shareholdings of ordinary supporters in Celtic Plc, would seek to give fans a greater say in the running of Celtic as a means to assist Celtic to prosper on the playing field and financially, while also staying true to its historic roots as a social institution taking proper account of the community which it serves.
The Celtic Trust is a supporters’ trust, an organisation established to represent the interests of small shareholders and supporters at Celtic. It’s Constitution as an Industrial & Provident Society (a co-operative) gives each member one vote on matters of policy, and with regard to electing the officers of the Trust.
Every year the Trust has to submit annual accounts to the Financial Services Authority (FSA). As an incorporated body it can own shares in its own right, and we do own shares in Celtic.
In addition, to its long term aims, the Trust, is in regular contact with the Club to represent our members and to raise issues of concern to supporters as well as putting forward ideas to improve the relationship between the Club and the supporters.
We work closely with a number of other supporters’ organisations and we are always willing to enter into joint activity with other Celtic fans around issues of concern eg ticket allocations, stewarding, ticket pricing. If you would like to hear more about our activities please see our archive of articles on this site or contact us via the contact page.”
Note the huge difference between a Mission Statement that calls for ” a greater say”, and their resolution which called on the plc to accept the election (NB) of one fan onto the Board with your distorted version.
But, if you see such honest words through the distorted lens of your glasses that tells you – “They’re all entryists and reds under our beds”, you will not take their word on trust and you will present your own distorted perception as truth.
Back to work now for me
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 19TH APRIL 2016 8:58 AM
‘Boris Johnson. Liar, conman – and prime minister?’
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/26/boris-johnson-mendacious-eu-referendum-next-prime-minister
Cowiebhoy 8.53
I have been pointing this out for a few seasons.
The man who decided Armstrong,Cifti and GMS were good enough to help Celtic get into the CL should be replaced.
The man who signed Cifti,Carlton Cole ,and Then Kazeem Richards ,within 4 months of each other ,is an utter incompetent.should be sacked.
The man who decided on Bangura,Badle,Pukki,Scepovic,I could go ,on and on ,and on.
The man who decided ,Moyokolou,Boerigter ,would suddenly become fit .
should be sacked.
I pointed out here that I thought Simunovic was gong to have injury problems.
I was mocked.
If I can see it ,how can’t the full time specialist experts .
Now the biggest problem is that the man who selected the men who found these duds,is allowing these men to continue.
For this alone PL must be strongly criticised.
We have wasted millions ,lost millions in CL income ,because our scouts and managers have signed players of poor quality and with continual historic injury problems.
It is an utter shambles.
TT
It’s 2016 ,16 years into the 21st century we’ve won 10 league titles and another one on the way, sack the board? Ferkin socialist are all the same never happy, tell me any team that’s done that in any sport in the world? Sack the board, get the socialists in there, I right gimmi a friken break, I know some in here hate this, but CFC back res12, FACT.
Lurking Huns GIRFUYs
ERNIE LYNCH on 19TH APRIL 2016 9:07 AM
But right about Brexit.
Aye.
The Grauniad preaching to the loony left converted.
My friends in Celtic,
Ultimately ( I think ) we all want to see a successful team on the park playing the ” Glasgow Celtic way”
Who gives a flying f@@k what type of board brings that goal.
A socialist board —-who cares. ? And why ?
CT members on the board. Why ? Will their first priority not be to fellow CT members ?
No agendas, just Celtic.
HH.
Y not 67- Bayern Munich, for one.
DBBIA/RolandWolfarthCSC
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 19TH APRIL 2016 9:06 AM
Macjay
“Point two. Hamiltontim admitted that was the intention of the C.T.”
Naw , he didnae and you have been corrected on this distortion before and still make it.
============================================================================
We`re talking facts here , not opinions.
Please don`t accuse me of distortion.
I have no doubt that his statement on C.Q.N. some time back could be confirmed by him.
Ask H.T. to deny it.
Please.
Airbrushing at work.
Nothing new there then.
Ps : best chieftain of the Bearsden / Milngavie. Highland games.
Red Rum..
Ps : that is Mulguy for any lurking huns.
Capitalism….re-arranged for the benefit of Peter Lawell.
A man who sacks people, but refuses to accept responsibility for his own failings.
Adam Smith would have been amazed, Robespierre would have been incandescent, Marx would have been outraged.
We now have changed the course of modern history by instituting a new economic structure, where everybody is held to account…with the exception of PL and the Celtic PLC.
Truly ground-breaking.
The stupidity is beyond the realm of human reason.
And they say Mao and Stalin were control freaks.
But let me say….that when they offer you the KOOL-AID….dont drink it.
HH
Would you all stop talking about Peter Lawwell, big Mick McManus says that we don’t realise the job he has done.
So there…
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14435745.Peter_Lawwell_has_done__incredible__job__says_former_Celtic_captain/
I see MSM
Calling out
Peter lawwell
Yet paul67 not
S.F.T.B.
But, if you see such honest words through the distorted lens of your glasses that tells you – “They’re all entryists and reds under our beds”, you will not take their word on trust and you will present your own distorted perception as truth.
===============================================================
I`ve asked you to refrain from misquoting me before.
I ask you to do so again.
And you accuse me of distortion.
DBBIA
Trainer, Jockey, and Horse….rather than NL
Stable-lad as well probably…..at least we would be ok for a few tips for Cheltenham
And Santa Claus as the new CEO….if he isnt available, Franz Ferdinand, Sparks, and Ant& Dec.
Any one of them would be able to see instantly….that Derk was an imposter.
The wisdom of fools eh.
HH
Dontbrattbakkinanger on 19th April 2016 9:14 am
Y not 67- Bayern Munich, for one.
———————————————————-
Basel pretty dominant in Switzerland. Decent European profile in that time too.
TINYTIM on 19TH APRIL 2016 9:07 AM
Not disputing your points on the other players, particularly forwards, but why did you suspect Simunovic would have injury problems?
It’s not in his history to any great degree – he seems to have made quite a lot of appearances for such a young defender up to his arrival with us.
As far as I can tell there’s only one gap in his appearances that might have been a long term injury and that was across the winter break in 2013/14 season.