This ‘Dundee United period’ of our history will be remembered for years, but despite Sunday’s Cup Final win, the fondness of the memory is yet to be established. If we drop the ball tonight, the League Cup will look like little more than the consolation prize.
It’s been a while since we’ve had to play an important game without Stefan Johansen. Add this to the fact that we are also without our two recent recruits from United and you have the makings of an experimental midfield. Given a choice, I’d prefer to have a player with a point to prove than someone marking time.
Billy Beane has appointed official adviser at AZ Alkmaar. Former Oakland Atheltics’ (baseball team) general manager who was the inspiration for Michael Lewis book, Moneyball, will be cutting his teeth in Dutch football. Like the Oakland A’s, Alkmaar have to figure out a way to compete against teams with greater resources.
The lesson from Moneyball is seldom understood. It’s not about buying low and selling high, or imposing some-or-other financial prudence, it’s about measuring things which are really important in the game but not yet being measured.
Moneyball tactics from three years ago are not Moneyball tactics anymore, perpetual innovation is the lesson. Good luck to AZ.
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Goal
Get in
Speed readers not on today :-)
Is anybody there?
5
Aye me!
I’m currently reading the book on moneyball, very compelling. Brentford about to sack their most successful manager, interesting
Was beginning to think I was getting set up there :-)
HAIL HAIL
3-0 NIL
Cmon the hoops
Had the same score Sunday
just keep wee Jamsie AWAY from the spot kicks.
HH
Nearly a top ten finish for me… A personal best.
HH
Can emdy provide a radio internet link for those of us across the pond?
Hopefully not breaking blog rules with that request
HH
gsu
Hhmmmmm.
The hoops or dropkickmurphies.
Hhmmmmm.
I agree Paul, tonight is absolutely crucial for Celtic. If we don’t win, last Sundays league cup win will look like a consolation prize.
A win tonight and I don’t expect Celtic to suffer any slip – ups in the Scottish cup this season. Utd pose our biggest threat I feel.
HH
Paul Hollywood always has something to prove.
Thunder road from previous.
Tis yours sir.
Could Paul67 or some kind gent who has my email addy please pass on.
Cheers.
I’m not saying Paul ISN’T a kind gent btw :)
lefthandpillaroldjungle
12:40 on 18 March, 2015
Hhmmmmm.
The hoops or dropkickmurphies.
Hhmmmmm.
—————–
I saw them at the Barras a few years ago. Had tinitus ever since. Great band but the sound at Barras way too loud
CP for me tonight
‘Mon the hoops
Henderson to replace Joe Handsome please and thank you.
Having lost the final on Sunday, and trailing a distance behind ICT in the league for the European place, I expect the Dundee Utd players will look upon tonight’s game as their last big chance to take something out of the season.
I expect a very tough night, and a disappointing one for us unless we turn up and play from the very start.
Added to that the lingering sense of injustice the Utd players carry from the last 2 matches against us, and the unsettling resort to a physical game instilled by Jackie Mac, and our boys better be ready for a fight.
This one is going to need everything we’ve got if we’re going to win it.
that last post reminds me of a joke.
Why did the bakers hand smell?
Cos he kneaded a Jobby.
Is it on telly tonight or has Champions League kiboshed that?
Just woke up from a horrible nightmare where Dick Advocaat had been appointed manager of Sunlun….. Only to find out it is sodding true… Not a happy camper!
Looking forward to tonight. Will be interesting to see how the midfield shapes up minus Stefan
wonder what the odds of a red card for a United player are?
If Charlie or Matthews were fit I’d look at pushing Brown forward and playing Charlie or Ambrose along with Bitton.
Can’t see that happening and I think Henderson will play on the left , commons middle and stokes right.
Team for tonight:
3-5-2
Zaluska
Lustig Mulgrew Wakaso
Mackay-Steven Armstrong Rogic Johansen Boerrigter
Pukki Baldé
.
Ah, wait a minute… Time for plan B:
4-4-2
Gordon
Matthews Denayer VVD Izzie
Brown Bitton Commons Henderson
Scepovic Stokes
Having lost the final on Sunday, and trailing a distance behind ICT in the league for the European place, I expect the Dundee Utd players will look upon tonight’s game as their last big chance to take something out of the season.
I expect a very tough night, and a disappointing one for us unless we turn up and play from the very start.
Added to that the lingering sense of injustice the Utd players carry from the last 2 matches against us, and the unsettling resort to a physical game instilled by Jackie Mac, and our boys better be ready for a fight.
This one is going to need everything we’ve got if we’re going to win it.
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I agree BB, I expect this to be a ‘dog – fight’ tonight with Celtic fielding perhaps the weakest side that we will field over these 4 games .We need to roll up the sleeves and win the personal battles all over the park.
I am not as concerned about this Saturdays league game with them because I know we will have a stronger starting 11.
HH
Tonight is the big one we will have a lot of players back for Saturday
TBB
Spot on. Hence need for real support tonight.
Watching the budget there on my lunch (I know I know)
Who is that sitting on Terresa Mays left hand side? :-o
Hubba hubba csc
Northerncelt67
Nailed it mate. Huge game.
Marking time – Guidetti and maybe MacGregor
Points to prove – Forrest, Stokes, Scepovic, Henderson, and maybe Kris Commons.
Start the same as Sunday with Jamesie in for Stefan? Bit light weight maybe.
Maybe Adam will be fit,
CG
Efe, Jason, VVD, Izzy
Broonie, Bitton.
Adam, KC, Anto
Leigh
Bring on Jamesie, Scepovic and Liam if and when required.
If Adam doesn’t make it replace with Jamsie.
EC67
Surprising for someone to leave baseball to work in football let alone 2nd tier football.
As Paul says, the edge changes all the time- what works for a few years will no longer as competitors take on the same practise. Looks like the SPFL provides the best Moneyball can offer right now.
Soon KKKFC will be impersonating CFC’s philosophy and we’ll be competing for the same players.
Is the game on Celtic TV tonight for us oversea-ers ?
Oh and a point on attendances
I remember in OFM’s treble winning season we played Hearts on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon in the 1/4 final.
Attendance was only 34k……and in that season our lowest league attendance was 57k v st Johnstone, with the majority being 59K+ and more than one topping 60k.
For years attendance at cup games for both competitions has not been great and the resulting lack of atmosphere has seen us struggle to win games that should be comfortable.
Team for Saturday:
Gordon
Matthews Denayer VVD Izzie
Mackay-Steven Brown Johansen Armstrong
Griffiths Stokes
.
I can’t believe I am leaving out Commons and Bitton, but what is the alternative… short of fielding 13 players?! And then we have Lustig, Ambrose, Wakaso, Henderson, McGregor, Forrest and Guidetti not in the line-up either. We have far too strong a squad to be able to keep everyone happy!
If we turn up and play well , We will win.
Virgil to score,
Keep yer eyes on the MIB , they will return to kind at some point.
till later all
Game audio only tonight on Celtic TV…. Buggrit