On the long walk along London Road after the game on Saturday I overhead, “Any manager playing one up front clearly doesn’t have confidence in his team”. I hear variations on this quite often. It’s not true. In fact, I watched the hot favourites for the England and Wales (see what I did there) Premier League beat their main rivals with this formation last night.
Playing one up front can be as much of an attacking formation as playing two, or even three strikers. Any formation, 4 -2-3-1, 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 is not in itself overtly attacking or defensive. Even the often ridiculed 4-6-0 can be expansive.
There are a few ways to score goals. Martin O’Neill’s Celtic mastered the set-piece. For a period, a considerable percentage of our goals came either this way, or from cross balls. There’s also the classic long ball to a ‘big one up front’ who can knock it down to a penalty box poacher. Both these plays exploit the advantages of direct play, which in itself can break packed defences.
The modern game increasingly relies on alternatives, specifically creating space and movement. Don’t crowd the box, drag defenders out to allow pacey support players to break beyond them. At the very elite level, one of the game’s greatest ever goal-scorers, Christiano Ronaldo, exploits this space magnificently from the wings. Our own top striker, Leigh Griffiths, played a similar role before being handed the No. 9 role at Celtic. I suspect his best position isn’t, in fact, as a No. 9.
We need many things at Celtic, most specifically a defensive mid (another formation story), but we don’t need to revert to a 4-4-2. We need players who understand the importance of space in the final third, and who can exploit it.
Ronny has recruited a flood of wide players since arriving 18 months ago with very little success. Which has had an acute cost.
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Good morning friends and a Happy Chrismas Eve Eve from a slightly wet but very very windy East KIlbride.
BMCUWP means you dribble oot both sides of your mouth mate. Thanks for the chrimbo wishes, Whanau coming up from Welly so full house and full of fun. All the best to you and your too mate. Hopefully the players will get a grip on themselves and win with style on the road. I am not writing off Ronnie yet but getting the treble seems like a pipe dream right now. Hail Hail .
Hoooowwwwooooooooooool
Morning all.
Blowing a gale and still dark down here.
I take it there are some on here still trying to blow our manager away. I gather (from Radio Scotland) that less than 300 signed that petition. Thank God for small mercies, although even 1 is pathetic.
Where is the petition ?
How many times can ye sign it ?
Nah, a petition won’t be needed to get rid of Ronny
….once the attendances reach below 20,000….pistol Pete the piss ripper will act…imho.
Not that it’ll make any difference….
Ronnie will have his backers and his detractors. Regardless of which side of the fence you are on, and let’s assume it’s 50/50 for arguments sake, if you compare the quality of the product on offer now to that on offer only a few years back, how many think it’s improved? What percentage would say it’s improved if speaking honestly? 5% even? I’d suggest perhaps not even that.
Even in our glory years, random bad results were evident. Random being the key word. When ‘random’ changes to a pattern something has happened, and if that something is for the worse, it needs addressed.
My own view on it is that we ARE seeing a pattern, and again, my own opinion, is that the manager is a small part of the problem. I don’t believe Ronnie has the credentials to get the best out of the current squad, but then I don’t think another manager with better credentials would get much more out of them.
We need a visionary at the top level, one who sees success as being measured by football achievements and not book balancing. If the current pattern continues we will be playing in front of 25k on a regular basis, and the only way to balance the books then will be to have players on £5k a week.
Let’s hope someone will come in and set up a business plan that lends importance to football success as being a critical part of our future.
Sack Ronnie tomorrow? Won’t make a great deal of difference in the great scheme of things if the current pattern continues. If it does continue, it’s not just the CL that’ll be a distant memory, humblings by Molde and the likes will be too, as there’ll be no European football to watch.
Our football future for now is in the hands of Desmond and Lawell and it’s not looking good, and the sideshow across the city has in my view, seen many supporters take their eye of the ball in respect of what’s going on under their very noses.
Maybe you have good personal reason for your attitude to explain it, but whilst changing the world is nigh impossible, changing our attitudes to the world is a matter of choice under our control.
Things are never as they seem.
I found The Fully Alive Experience by John Powell SJ very helpful in attitude changing. I commend it to you.#
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Auldheid
I would be very careful when reading books by Jsuit priests especially paedophile ones who settle lawsuits out of court
Still, whatever gives you that inner calm.
Database of Publicly Accused Priests in the United States
Powell
John J. 1956 P Sued Jesuit Sued 2003. Accused of abuse of 7 girls in 1960s and 1970s. 6 victims (2 suits) settled 10/05. Named in another suit filed 10/06. Woman says he abused her in 1975 or 1976 when she was student at Loyola Univ. Civil suit filed 11/08 alleges that Powell fondled and abused a 16-17 yr old girl at Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach, FL when he conducted a seminar there. Deceased per Arch. of Detroit website accessed 10/28/09. Chicago, IL Source:
Archdiocese of Detroit Status Report 10.09; Chicago Sun Times 9.9.03; NBC5.com (Chicago) 9.8.03; Chicago Daily Herald 11.06.03; Chicago Tribune 10.22.05; ABC7 11.17.05; WBBM Newsradio 780 11.18.05; CBS2 10.03.06; Chicago Sun-Times 10.11.07; Jane Doe 125 Complaint 11.06.08; SNAP Statement 11.06.08; The Phoenix 12.05.08; Chi-Town Daily News 12.10.08
Assignments:
BA.org Assignment Record
Best post or rather, the most telling post…imho…came the other week on here from, Margaret McGill when she said..,
…”This blog is dying on it’s feet, know why that is ?…Because, Celtic FC are dying on their feet.”
Yeah, Celtic FC / PLC are dying on their feet.
The club is rudderless and, it won’t surprise me if it’s on the verge of freefall.
Slowly dying at the minute but, the minute that, the died(LOL) huns are back into the same league as us again….without as much as a glove being laid on them for all their deeds….Celtic will fold.
Twists n Turns,
Good post. The rot at Celtic goes far deeper than Ronny. We need a fundamental reassesment of how the club is run, otherwise Celtic will wither on the vine.
The drop-off in crowds is one thing – but the apathy engulfing the club is quite frightening. It’s almost as if large swathes of the support don’t particularly care any more. I’ve honestly never experienced a atmosphere like it.
Twists n Turns & ItaliaBhoy
I am currently doing some research into governance structures at football clubs. I think an open conversation to explore possibilities would benefit everyone. Any ideas you guys have would be most welcome.
There is no need to guess the motivation behind our Sleekit, many-heidit pop-up(s)…..the gruff “voaice” of the terracing is no supporter of Celtic and an active disruptor of this Dear Green Place.
The huns are so active now because they know that the very, very best thing for them now is a Celtic as unstable as possible, and there is no better way to achieve that than fomenting enough unrest to get rid of the manager.
The problem for us is that the repetitive jingle of snydey spun derogatory remarks masks the genuine commentary and debate of the (genuine) Tims here.
HH
Morning Celts
Tynecastle is where the Bhoys will show who is the best in the League.
A good victory will get the Celts back on track.
No bother.
Cheer up ffs
Its Christmas:)
HH
I have to say congratulations and a job well done to the SMSM, wow! What a job they have done on my club and our manager, making a percentage of Celtic fans as gullible as the Sevco outfit.
Not only that, even some Celtic bloggers have danced to their tune and are full steam ahead with the agenda what ever it is ?
And also supporters clubs who have an association with Celtic ( for what reason they only know because all they do is run the club down) it’s embarrassing and crossed the line in my opinion.
It breaks my heart to see this stupidity being given oxygen it honestly does, as for to go bull headed at a man (RD) who has done us no wrong and is trying his hardest on his own, no back up, no media, no association supporters,…och he’s this….he’s that….he’s hopeless….go back to Norway….the jobs to big for him….he’s lost the dressing room…..DD and PL are having a meeting to see what to do with him….he’s tactically inept…..he only plays one up front….why isn’t Stokes playing?……….why isn’t Scott Allen getting more games……..why does he play Forrest……on and on and on……..oh! And here’s a great idea…..lets sack him at Christmas while we’re top of the league, in the way that a charity ran club that we are known as does?
I’ll keep my distance from this baying gutless mob, and take it as it comes win, loss, or draw, one think I will never have on my Conscience, is that I had nothing to do with getting an honest nice guy trying to do his best at the job he has …….sacked, Discusting behaviour and cowardly in my opinion.
Oh! And some of them are even saying Merry Christmas on here, I kid you not.
Merry Christmas?…. Aye right….. like the Huns in here you can GIRFUYs as well.
TD67
I didnt see many on CQN happy about the petition.
I wasn’t happy about it either.
So.i hope you are not having a go at me?
HH
The narrative is that downsizing and limiting our ambitions started just after Seville and contributed to MON leaving because he wanted to drive faster.
Posters are now claiming that view is vindicated because we have not been in a CL group for the past two years
We made Europa League last 32 and lost narrowly to Inter last year, so basically, we have one year of abject failure (this one) to add to season 2010-11 as another abject Euro season and 2005/6 as the Artmedia season.
So, after MON’s 4 successful Euro seasons, we have had 7 good Euro seasons and 3 bad ones with a moderate one in 2009/10 that can be put in either category.
Even if we count it as 7 good and 4 bad seasons, it remains hardly compelling as evidence of a terminal irreversible decline. The fact that 2001-2005 was a successful “blip” in a mediocre record from 1981 to 2000 does not add any weight to the view that we have been rubbish since 2005.
During a period when we were achieving that high water mark of last 16 CL appearances three times, the narrative was the same- the fitba’s rubbish, the manager is a dud, the club is downsizing and lacking ambition and we are headed for crowds of 20k.
Miserabilists have produced a relentless tide of negativity towards this club during both good and bad periods of recent history. This year, there is justified cause for complaint about our Euro record (none at all about our domestic position) so there is some rational for them to fill their boots and wallow, at least until we restore a healthy lead in the league and reach the latter cup stages winning, at least one, hopefully.
However, I predict too that there will be many fallow seasons ahead as economics prohibit us from being a meaningful participator at the top table- so Good News there, eh? There will be plenty more opportunities to complain.
But, spare me the view that “we predicted downsizing and we have been proven right” because you have been saying it since 2005 and I remember 3 great Euro seasons since then and 4 other very satisfactory ones. I also remember finishing a long way behind the dead team in the league and behind the likes of Aberdeen and Motherwell too. We were 3rd in 89, 5th in 90, 3rd in 91,92 and 93, and dropped to 4th in 94 and 95.
But, though that was a mere 20 years ago, apparently we are the worst Celtic team in 30, 40 or 50 years. Are you convinced of that? Are you convinced that we are in the same kind of trouble that we were in between 89 and 95? Really??
Last day of work for me before I get a few days either side of Christmas. Off to do some of that work now
Watched the movie ’71 as recommended by a bhoy on here,powerful stuff,well worth a watch,was on Film 4.
It’s Wednesady. Our next game is on Sunday.
I’m stating this fact, the one I’m about to state not the previous facts, in the hope that the jinx I now cause will have time to wear off by the time we play Hearts.
Celtic have not lost 2 games in a row under Ronny Deila.
Astonishingly he’s not good enough to manage Celtic according to some. I’ve liked him from day one and contrary to Andy Walker’s opinion, I quite enjoy the way we play.
p.s. I also liked Tony Mowbray but got that wrong :)
Ah, it’s Wednesday, not Wednesady.
setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on 23rd December 2015 9:35 am
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You can massage the figures….spin the narrative….whatever else you choose but, what you can’t deny is that….the amount empty seats at Celtic Park has grown since Martin O’Neill left the club….probably, Neil’s 1st season was a sell-out but….once the board / PL reigned him in….apathy has been the biggest dweller at Celtic Park….it’s over.
SFTB
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/in-defence-of-the-4-2-3-1/comment-page-8/#comment-2742228
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I wish I’d posted that.
This petition to sack Ronny. How many people were involved, how many signed it?
Was there so many signatories that it justifies being mentioned all morning on SSN?
Or are Level 5 now providing Sky with their Scottish input?
GARY67 on 23RD DECEMBER 2015 9:49 AM
This petition to sack Ronny. How many people were involved, how many signed it?
Was there so many signatories that it justifies being mentioned all morning on SSN?
Or are Level 5 now providing Sky with their Scottish input?
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/in-defence-of-the-4-2-3-1/comment-page-8/#comment-2742234
Aided by some in here too I would say.
Just checked, 277 people have signed petition. 277 signatories equates to coverage on national sports news channel.
GARY67
Dirty tricks campaign….hun motivated.
The meeja want to stick it to Celtic…we all know why.
So no doubt they will be raging, when the Celts maul the wee huns on Sunday:)
HH
Tom Boyd is better than SuperSutton on 23rd December 2015 9:41 am
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The amount of empty seats has grown under Ronny’s watch…don’t you get that ?
Btw….I think that Tony Mowbray had some good stuff in his locker but….he fell into the same old trap that cost the jobs of so many Celtic managers in the early 90’s…he tried to play football the ‘Glasgow Celtic Way’.
Why, didn’t he bring the same template that made him so ‘interesting’ at Hibs ?
Bottom line…you can’t play football the ‘Glasgow Celtic Way’ if….you don’t have ‘Glasgow Celtic Players’…it can’t be done. Tommy Burns tried it and, it could be argued that, John Collins was his best player as, the Maestro was ‘done’ because he had to play next to Peter Grant for so long but, the point is….Mr Stein’s teams didn’t play the ‘Glasgow Celtic Way’ either…well, not every week.
A guid savvy manager, assesses the players at his disposal and, plays to suit their strengths…imho
At the Celtic of today….the manager has to be a puppet or…he won’t get the job.
Mr Stein wouldn’t get the managers job at today’s Celtic.
The big picture….is needing a make over…starting at the top of the club…anything else is…putting a sticking-plaster onto a patient after major surgery.
Hail Hail
I have always enjoyed supporting the hoops at sometimes more than others. But there are so many on CQN who it only makes them miserable why they bother with there charade I have no idea..They constantly attack any blogger who seems in the least positive about Celtic and the constantly moan about the board the manager and the team and often reading there posts it seems to me they think they could run the club better than the current custodians. Although I admit I was low after Saturdays game it is our first domestic home defeat of the season hardly the end of the world.My message to the negons and they know who they are is find something that brings you pleasure and stop moaning life is to short to go through it in a state of depression. H.H.
Good morning all. Just read back to find the moonhowlers have plumbed new depths. Anyhoos they will never stop me from supporting (and renewing my ST as long as I can afford it) our wonderful club. HH
TD67
You should take it up directly with those you hold responsible.
Call them out.
You might find a few who don’t think RD is the man to improve Celtic, me included.
However, as long as RD is manager of Celtic, he will get my support.
No need for petition imo.
Hope ive made my position clear.
HH
Just had a wee check, last night was a long night but not as long as the night before. :-)) HH.
Gary67 @9.54
Good point mate .
Sky Sports is a Hun Ridden Midden .
I would not give them a razoo !
HH
WeefratheTim
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See if the club is so wonderful….why have almost, 40,000 Celtic supporters left their seats empty ?
HH
WEEFRATHETIM. Good morning fella. H.H,
Different opinions should be welcomed,but to get a petition going to sack Ronny is disgusting.
Celtic supporters ,maybe some of them ,supporters of other teams you can bet on that..Name and shame them.
Joe Filippis Haircut
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Only asking but….why, have you dropped the…
…”In PL I Trust.”
…”In Ronny I Trust.”
…addy-on bits at the end of yer posts ?
Hail Hail
Just had a nice email from Celtic TV with seasonal greetings. Nice touch. HH
Something is afoot for sure.
The SMSM is in overdrive.
Darren Jackson ex celt .. surely an ex Scotland player being harangues over a private matter.
Neil Lennon on BBC national news this morning. Over unsubstantiated rubbish.
The pro RA teacher
DD in the country
HH
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
Just a wee “Merry Christmas” for their core audience?