Overall I was pleased with many aspects of Celtic’s play yesterday. We dominated large parts of the game and got in and around the Hearts penalty area often enough to score the proverbial barrel load.
Hearts scored a good goal. The flick from Beattie and run from Skacel were both exquisite, although a deflection off the blameless Kelvin Wilson was crucial. Enough has been said about the second Hearts goal already. Defensively we were good.
Midfield also played well, to a point, forcing Hearts into retreat for all but the opening 20 minutes of the second half. Ki Sung-Yueng should have scored twice but he’s never been a player for back post headers and I was more surprised he found himself in that position than he missed both opportunities. He is a player who continues to impress.
The question we should turn our attention to is why Celtic didn’t score more goals?
It is probably not an exaggeration to suggest Emilio Izaguirre is the best left back at the club in 30 years. Skilful and intelligent in possession, Celtic look composed when he is on the field, but he’s being kept out of the team by a free transfer from Aberdeen because Charlie Mulgrew is manufacturing the most crucial item in the game – goals.
I’m close to advocating ‘Give the ball to Charlie’ tactics. He has the ability to fire in remarkably dangerous crosses and has an instinctive awareness that the purpose of the game is to score goals. Kris Commons shares this awareness but Kris has had a wretched season and is still rescuing his game from injury and early season loss of form.
In these circumstances, Neil Lennon cannot afford to play Izaguirre if it involves dropping Mulgew as this would severely hamper Celtic’s ability to put the ball in the net. If the manager wants to use Emilio, particularly in Europe next season when retaining possession will be crucial, Charlie has to play left midfield.
Scoring goals is the primary responsibility of the strikers. None of Celtic’s current crop are impressing at the moment, but we need to look further upstream first.
We have an outstanding original canvass painting of Neil Lennon available for purchase on eBay to kick start our summer charity fundraising. This year the beneficiaries will be Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Martin Chambers Foundation and The Neuroblastoma Alliance, Aberdour PS PTA, The Haven, Blantyre. The painting, by US based artist, Joseph Gormley, is an outstanding memento of our manager during these times.
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Paul67
I would disagree with your comments on Ki.
The fact he was standing at the far post for both poor misses is no surprise if you recall the match.
On several occasions a Celtic player was able to ping a ball across the park and it landed at Ki’s feet – he did find great pockets of space – because he was roatated in the right midfield position.
However do you know where I didnt see him pop up – in the centre of the park.
Your comments on Celtics inability to genuinely threaten or penetrate I do agree with.
However I think the question we should be asking is why we told Samaras to play up front with Hooper, with their poor partnership track record. Against Killie we had Commons and Samaras ahead of the midfield in a 4-3-2-1 formation varying during the game.
Yesterday we played a 4-4-2 – playing a man who has publicly said hes not very good up front – up front. Said player started poorly and appeared to take it upon himself to move wide to try and have a bit more luck, in which we didnt react to until we substituted him.
Some poor tactical selections yesterday.
Having said that there should have been enough fire in the belly of the players to have comfortably beaten a poor Hearts team yesterday, who only had to turn up for the 2nd half to threaten us more than we threatened them.
Racingbhoy
And Martin O Neill meeting Leeds in a services station
Oops £250k DR THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Hannah says a caller has “an agenda”,the irony.The image of the hacks on Spitting Image strongly coming to the fore……
Could Sparkleghirl or someone post the sound cloud of Alex Thommo tearing wee Shuggie an new rectum.
Pleeeeeeeeeease.
eyes wide open
they threatened us more than we did them!
sorry i must have been watching different game — other than long range skacel shot and his goal i dont remember too many saves from ff on the other hand ki 2 headers hooper header etc
Does anyone know if Craig Brown ever get reprimanded for attacking the Motherwell chaiirman ?
1 rule for Neil and another for the rest.
snyde are surpassing themselves with their irrelevant craig whyte’s fault, ha ha ha ha ha
right tubby clear yer throat yer on next :oD))))))
sorry boys ever got reprimanded
no, I’M Neil Lennon “i’ll never walk alone” (fourstonecoppi ) on 16 April, 2012 at 19:49 said:
i think AT almost hinted at the FTT decision on clyde……….they’re gubbed!
Celtictaxcase (I know, he’s a nutter) also tweeted about BTT
Celtic Taxcase @CelticTaxcase
News emerging tonight that Rangers have lost FTT in what has become known as ‘the big tax case’. HMRC will now dictate if CVA is possible
one of the lads posted it earlier , here it’s again
http://soundcloud.com/jinkylarsson/alex-thomson-on-clyd
HH
soundclyde AT vs HK
http://soundcloud.com/jinkylarsson/alex-thomson-on-clyd Pass it on
Might be barking up the wrong tree here – but I thought that when the AT threat first broke he implied it was an NUJ football journalist. Was Leggo not stripped of his card some years ago?
That ‘soundclyde’ above. I was trying to fix that when the blog broke. Maybe it was me.
Whatever, I’m sure he has more evidence than that one tweet.
Rumours circulating that BTC has declared and that Blue Knights are walking away.
Celtic Taxcase @CelticTaxcase
anyone know of a good file sharing website where I can upload proof of the FTT result?
Celtic Taxcase @CelticTaxcase
To those tweeting – I don’t have the full results but I have a leaked file from someone at HMRC confirming the result. Will be uploaded by 9
Not to worry…….Snyde will only allow callers who support NEIL on tomorrow night …..
Arsenal 1 Wigan 2- 37mins,I noticed Wenger said today,anyone convicted of diving should get a 3 game ban…..Eduardo anyone?
“@jaydeemorgan: Blue Knights ready to “take a step back from” Rangers bid. Check http://t.co/VPHilVDQ soon for details.”
Why not Charlie at CB with Izzy at LB
Charlie is better than the other numpties we employ at CB
Btw I don’t think we defended well yesterday
Listening to AT’s masterclass again. Kwality.
I had misquoted him earlier, he actually said, in response to Keevins’ defence of Guidi’s failure to accept he had been threatened:
‘I’m sorry Hugh, the moral ambiguity of that is just absolutely reprehensible’
An absolute Brammer!
….and the way he owned the hun….
caller, I mean
!!Bada Bing!! on 16 April, 2012 at 20:40 said:
Heard it on talkSPORT – refer to a Review Panel and if guilty give player a 3 match ban. Excellent idea – 3 months and the problem would be cured!
Campbell Ogilivie is “hugely conflicted” and must stand aside to avoid any possibility of conflict
5 minutes to go at Ibrokes still 0-0
AT on radio snyde was immense.
Yesterday I had a mood uplift by taking my ould man out for his 83rd birthday celebration after the game but football chat was off the menu.Tonight though the
mood has been uplifted even higher following the AT slot.
How sad is it that we need AT from England to ask basic questions regarding the
governance of Scottish football. Hugh Sneevins retorts that he is a sport journalist.
Indeed shug you may be,however does your sport remit not involve asking why the
SFA still have an employee whose position within the game totally compromises
every ethical issue in relation to the ongoing investigation of rankers fc.
The sores in Scottish football have been allowed to weep for years.
praecepta- breathtaking hypocrisy ,I actually liked Wenger up until that incident.
Molly maid have been called to radio clyde for hygienic deep clean of area wee sneevins was sitting at !
The BBC and the herald have confirmed that the bloo nites do do walking away.
angelgabriel on 16 April, 2012 at 20:45 said:
”How sad is it that we need AT from England to ask basic questions regarding the governance of Scottish football.”
It was ever thus.
sparkleghirl,
I want the BTC to deliver quicksmart but CTC is a spoof so prepare to be disappointed. See http://celtictaxcase.wordpress.com/ if you need convincing.
David from larkhall was perfect fodder for AT.
couldnt have worked out better……AT’s reply certainly shut Rodger and Spew up from bigging up their “journo” colleagues King and Jackshun.
Superb.
A real journalist giving it to them both barrels and they sat there and took it in the face as they dont have a leg to stand on to try to run away.
Good enough for the rats.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Meanwhile, in other news, Whyte says no way will he appear at SFA hearing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17733970
I listened to snyde ( against my principles ) tonight because AT was on it.
It was Neil basher after Neil basher until AT came on.
He showed Keevins and Hannah up for what they are.
First call after AT left…back to the Neil bashing.
Switched it off.
Hail hail
MME
the sickness in the pit of my stomach is just starting to wear away now after yesterday.
to help cheer me up I was thinking the one thing that could put a flourish to the end of the season would be to give them a proper gubbing on the 29th. the final nail in their coffin before liquidation.
i think we would all remember that more fondly in years to come than perhaps what might have been a run of the mill cup final win over hibs.
to prove my point I don’t really remember very much from the 2005 or 2007 finals but certainly remember the many great victories over them over the last 30 years
I think the genuine shock at Alex Thomson’s disbelief at the lack of basic journalism,in asking pertinent questions of Der Hun speaks volumes of the Country we live in.
1-1 FT in u17 cup
goin to pens now
no extra time
Green Brigade let off smoke bombs in the Broomloan Stand.
Wonder if they’ve heard about Paul Murray’s Fakeover?
Gregg, yes, I know he’s a nutter, but this isn’t his usual tone.
Also this
Eugene @the_eriugena
The Herald and BBC Scotland confirm Blue Knights have walked away
The FTT would be a good reason for that. Possibly. Allegedly.