Good teams can score anywhere. Great teams can defend anywhere. Celtic have set a modern time record for lowest goals conceded in a league campaign of 17, beating the record jointly held by Martin O’Neill’s Celtic 13 years ago, and by Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen in the 80s, by a single goal.
This is a remarkable achievement but the bald fact hides another story. We conceded 12 times in their first 17 league games of the campaign, but conceded only five in the remaining 21 games:
St Johnstone scored with a rebound after Gordon saved.
St Johnstone scored when Danny Swanson fired unstoppable shot.
Inverness scored with a rebound after Johansen blocked on line.
Kilmarnock scored a deflection from shot from outside box.
Dundee scored from a move which opened Celtic defence.
Unstoppable shots, or deflections, from outside the box are, from a defensive organisation perspective, irrelevant. If someone ‘buys a lottery ticket’ with a low percentage shot and it ends up in the net, you’ve no remedial action to worry about.
Two rebounds ended up in the net. We don’t make many goal-line clearances, by keeper or defender, so reacting to the second ball is worth doing when opponents get inside the Celtic box. Dundee scored an 87th minute consolation in a game they were completely out-thought. Perhaps a momentary lapse from a Celtic team who thought their work was done for the day.
That 17 goal tally, a record which stretches back 96 years, is largely a story of the last six months, but it’s been a different story in cup games over the same period, where we’ve conceded eight in eight games.
The roof fell in over in the first half against Inter Milan at Celtic Park. While the three goals could be put down to bizarre mistakes I suspect the real story is that we didn’t have the game-plan right for an opponent of that standard. The remaining game and a half against Inter was different, where we conceded only a single ‘lottery ticket’ goal.
Dundee United scored with a disputed penalty (let’s not get started) and Inverness scored three against 10 man Celtic. Those three Inverness goals contrast so sharply with the rest of the season that you could conclude that we don’t have a robust game-plan for playing with 10 men against domestic opposition. The earlier 10-man performance at the San Siro was a different (much better) story, but tactics for Inter Milan and for Inverness will always be so different they are not worth comparing.
The loss of Jason Denayer and potential loss of Virgil van Dijk provides Ronny with a real challenge to maintain or improve the defence next season, but as you will know if you’ve been paying attention for the last 10 months, it’s all about systems, not players, so there’s a lot to be hopeful about going forward…….. apart from the fact that the only goals we’ve conceded since the middle of December in all competitions were to players wearing blue or orange!
Happy Lisbon Lions Day!
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I know you are all interested in women’s cricket
Ireland ladies all out for 133
Staffs ladies 42 for 1 after 17 overs
Now you know
“By contrast our defensive record in Europe, is the worst I can remember in recent history”
Clashcity,
Using ‘europe’ as a general term and ignoring the competition, our defensive record this year was better than last seasons.
2 nil Norwich, luckily I don’t have money on the game, was convinced that Boro would walk it. Been very good all season then blow it near the end.
When Celtic are up against shite the defensive record is good
When Celtic are up against not so shite e.g. CL group stages last year scored 3 conceded 14
Burgas and Beefheart – frankly gentlemen, with I’ll considered crap like that you are part of the problem.
Do you blame all christian people for slaughtering blacks in America via the KKK? Do you hold every Jew responsible for murdering 8000 plus palestinians over the last 10 years? No?
Then why blame every Muslim for the crimes of the few?
Disgraceful comments from the two of you.
Gerrfithebrig,
Hooper is getting more than a sniff.
Not many starts but he’s definitely getting a look in.
My hooperman t-shirt is staying in the wardrobe unfortunately ;)
Season ticket renewed today. No queue when I was down but quite a lot of people hovering about the stadium.
roberttressell
15:25 on 25 May, 2015
Burgas and Beefheart – frankly gentlemen, with I’ll considered crap like that you are part of the problem.
Do you blame all christian people for slaughtering blacks in America via the KKK? Do you hold every Jew responsible for murdering 8000 plus palestinians over the last 10 years? No?
Then why blame every Muslim for the crimes of the few?
Disgraceful comments from the two of you.
———————————————————————-
Well said.
Europa league was something like scored 13 conceded 15
Robert,
I didn’t blame every Muslim. Nor would I.
Thanks for the Gary Hooper updates.
Meanwhile at the cricket [just before tea on the fifth day], NZ are 131-5
Regardless of the result this has been a proper Test match.
geordie munro
15:26 on 25 May, 2015
I just meant he has been a bit part player obviously coming off the bench, if (when) they go up Alex Neil will be looking for people who will start & score in the Epl, I would have Hoops back in a minute
All hail the great American tax payer!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
We done well to get £4.5/5 mil for Hooper IMO
Geordie Munro
You are right
Season prior we were in Champions League, where we lost a barrowload in Barca, and werent too clever in Amsterdam
This season we were in an inferior competition the Europa League, against what is technically inferior competition, and managed to concede 3 at home to Inter, 4 to Salzburg etc.
Both of those results were well into our season, and the time for the new manager, new system excuse had worn out
This concerns me
Gerry,
He struggled a bit with injury last season and finished top scorer playing in a dire side.
I’d have him back too….on a free obviously :)
Are two blatant examples of ref incompetence / cheating ….the failure to award a penalty and the subsequent red card in successive ICT games going to be ignored by CFC
It may be difficult to prove cheating ….incompetence is plainly evident
Do nothing CFC and we will get what we deserve
CCB
Beating Barca at home and getting pumped away ….it’s the CL against a great side …it happens
Getting bumped home and away by Legia…..not really the same is it ?
Your point is well made
Geordie Munro
Sorry, Geordie, calling them Rangers when they’re not helps the Big Lie to succeed.
I don’t call the local Poundland Woolworths just because it used to be, pre-liquidation.
Why do what the cheats want us to do?
So, if posters refer to them as Rangers on here, fine, just don’t expect to be given peace to do so.
Same goes for our Club when they do it.
Beatbhoy, from his abode in Mayfair.
Hail Hail!
Nir Biton was sat near me in Glasgow airport yesterday. Happy to have pictures and sign programmes.
Next 2 flight leaving were Manchester and Birmingham. Hope he just has friends over there!
When tested against half decent opposition our defence has been found wanting.
It will be weakened by the loss of VVD and probably Denayer going.
Izzy is a weak defender as are Ambrose and Matthews.
Sorry ,we are ok when playing against piss poor Scottish teams.
As for it being more about the system than the players.
Suarez out Ballotelli in.
TT
beatbhoy
15:46 on 25 May, 2015
Geordie Munro
Sorry, Geordie, calling them Rangers when they’re not helps the Big Lie to succeed.
I don’t call the local Poundland Woolworths just because it used to be, pre-liquidation.
Why do what the cheats want us to do?
So, if posters refer to them as Rangers on here, fine, just don’t expect to be given peace to do so.
Same goes for our Club when they do it.
Beatbhoy, from his abode in Mayfair.
Hail Hail!
————
Woolworths are still around
Clashcity,
This seasons defensive record in Europe wasn’t great but it’s averageish for the last 5 or 6 seasons in Europe.
There’s been a few slightly better and a few slightly worse.
TT
Quite
Hope you’re well champ
TinyTim
15:47 on 25 May, 2015
When tested against half decent opposition our defence has been found wanting.
It will be weakened by the loss of VVD and probably Denayer going.
Izzy is a weak defender as are Ambrose and Matthews.
Sorry ,we are ok when playing against piss poor Scottish teams.
As for it being more about the system than the players.
Suarez out Ballotelli in.
TT
——————-
If it’s found wanting with VVD and Jason then we might improve by getting rid of them :O)
Regarding Islamic fundamentalism in the UK.I was surprised to read that one of the most common books requested by those in jail is “Islam for dummies.” Don’t know the veracity behind this but if it’s true imagine being locked up for some ideology that you then have to research?
I think Mancini when at Man City was interested in Nir but couldn’t get a visa at that time, not sure if that’s true or I imagined it, but hopefully PL is making sure Nir is on a new lengthy contract just in case
Burgas Hoops
15:04 on 25 May, 2015
‘SEAL ALL borders in every western country to ANY Islamic person, and that means NO MUSLIM IMMIGRATION into any Western country (which wants to survive).’
###
Trouble is, how do you tell if they’re Muslims or not?
Damned cunning some of these fuzzy wuzzies you know.
Had a big debate with a Hun last night.Apparently FIFA,Uefa;lawyers;SFA and almost everyone else on the planet believes Oldco didn’t die.
‘Songwriting for Dummies’ is on wee Art Garfunkel’s readin’ list.
He’ll soon show that shortarse smartarse Paul Simon a choon or three.
DBBIA/YoucancallmeHaraldCSC
theglasgowcelticway
15:53 on
25 May, 2015
Had a big debate with a Hun last night.Apparently FIFA,Uefa;lawyers;SFA and almost everyone else on the planet believes Oldco didn’t die.
—————————–
but these all represent the ‘football family’ and from a football point of view it is nice and convenient to say that as it keeps everything neat and tidy
these people however cant redefine what the words liquidation and incorporation mean, and by any definition what happened to oldco represents death, no other way of looking at it
roberttressell @ 15 25
Indeed .
An Irish pal of mine was working as a GP in Birmingham in 1974..He was badly beaten up by some skinheads for being a murdering Irish ****.
Paul67
There are more than financial reasons why Celtic need CL football next season because Sunday football whilst in the EL, is an SPL match day spoiler. Celtic have no time to prepare a brand new Centre Back pairing for an attempt to qualify and it makes perfect sense to block Van dijk’s exit until August, at worst. Both him and Jason Denayer finished the season in perfect tandem, in easily the best CB pairing, since Mjalby and Balde.
With the expected return to Man City of Denayer a probability , Charlie Mulgrew and Efe Ambrose will be used to back fill. The transfer window leaves no time, and Stuart Armstrong and Gary MacKay Steven were this seasons CL qualifier signings, and there is no Paradise windfall after a season with EL pickings.
Early departures of vital players will not be an option, and Adam Matthews should be included in new contract negotiations tying him to Parkhead as our most reliable right back, backed by the improving Darnell Fisher.
The exit door will include, unwanted players including Boeriggter, Balde ,Pukki ( who has at least two years left on his contract ) returning loanees Wakaso and Tonev.
It’s good to have a settled side but playing in July whilst contracts end on 30th June, make it impossible. New signings will be a bonus and we must take the qualifiers with the basis of the side that completed the season so well. As a seeded side we should progress, ensuring Saturday match days, and the money that qualification, ensures Celtic stay in a different league.
The_huddle
Whit? I could’ve been havin’ pick’nmix all this time ah was missin’ it!
The fact remains, Rangers ain’t, as King confirmed when he talked about the financial strength of his virtually debt-free club.
Not Rangers, then!
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/rangers-administration-full-list-of-creditors-1-2325870
Art’s reading list shows he must have had loads of the ole Bookends.
It’s the beginning of the silly season.
Let the hyperbole, SMSM fueled speculation, jumping to conclusions, tenuous rumours, hysteria and stating opinion as fact begin.
That’s just on CQN on any given day where the punters are bored to tears, with nae fitba to argue aboot.
Thank heavens there’s no any elections during this time, or there would have been real carnage.
I intend to spend the summer weeks secure in the knowledge that Ronny is on the job, and will spend my time cycling with intermittent pit stops at local breweries.
Let the games begin.
Ern lynch
Whats the problem with Art Gartfunkel??
San Diego Bhoy
16:04 on 25 May, 2015
It’s the beginning of the silly season.
Let the hyperbole, SMSM fueled speculation, jumping to conclusions, tenuous rumours, hysteria and stating opinion as fact begin.
That’s just on CQN on any given day where the punters are bored to tears, with nae fitba to argue aboot.
Thank heavens there’s no any elections during this time, or there would have been real carnage.
I intend to spend the summer weeks secure in the knowledge that Ronny is on the job, and will spend my time cycling with intermittent pit stops at local breweries.
Let the games begin.
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I heard Ronny is taking the Liverpool job ;o)