Can we all just agree to change nothing? I know it was a dead rubber and I know it’s different playing against a 10 man defence, but honestly, just, change, nothing.
We had a defender at the right side of defence, not a frustrated winger. That subtly rebalanced the team; Kristoffer Ajer (22) was not 20 yards further upfield to connect to a Mohamed Elyounoussi pass, but he was back to provide cover and balance to the two to his left.
Christopher Jullien and Shane Duffy had their most assured game together – although Shane, you were never winning that ball, you should have shown the player down the line instead of committing to the foul. It was a mistake that would have been sore on another day.
David Turnbull (21) got one goal, one assist and got the assist for the penalty. That is an incredible return for a player who has been sitting in the stand or out through illness all season.
After a couple of substitute appearances in 11 months at the club, Ismaila Soro (22) made his starting debut and was even more influential than Turnbull to the flow of Celtic’s play. The deep lying central midfield player has several jobs: protect the defence, intercept opposition moves, get the ball forward quickly and accurately. A lot of off the ball work is also required; the best in the business are in position to stop moves before an interception is required. Ismaila did all of this very well.
Like Soro, the lack of opportunities afforded to Patryk Klimala (22) made me think he was less effective than our other strikers have been recently. Apparently not. Patryk is all about movement. He can take a ball, bring others into play and – effectively last night – win corner kicks. At no time did he try to beat three players on his own, take note, Odsonne.
After THAT pass at Tynecastle in 2019 you may have wondered what happened to Ewan Henderson (20). The player had a lost 18 months but, like the rest of the midfield last night, he was on his game. He was tidy and intelligent in possession. Use him.
The biggest compliment to the midfield and defence is that Conor Hazard (22) had little to do. Blameless at either goal, he got a foot to a dangerous ball, handled and distributed well throughout.
I don’t know who deserved the win more, the players, the manager or you and me, no doubt someone has been busy running a poll on the subject….. Onto Sunday!
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Paul67
Last night was a breath of fresh air, bloggers asked for changes and we got them.
No idea why its taken nearly a year for Ismaila Soro to make a debut, David Turnbull played all of Motherwell’s games till his move and should have been shoe horned into the side much sooner also on the evidence of last night night.
All easy with hindsight MOI had a great game in a withdrawn role, , Henderson was excellent, but we’re running short of ‘right backs’ and injuries could be a blessing in disguise for filling the role properly.
More of the same on Sunday the first step on the road to Poundland.
M.O.M David Turnbull
Bada Bing,
I have been sickened by the attitude and performances of some of our players. Only very slightly tongue & cheek did I advocate a firesale.
Scott Brown does not come into that category as he has always given total commitment. He still has s role to play, alibet a changing role.
Play the youngsters but Scott can still act as a mentor.
To answer your point. Yes I would play him on Sunday, but not necessarily for the full 90.
HH.
Squire Danaher,
Firstly Scott Brown deserves every respect. I don’t understand why that’s a trade-off against other players who seemingly don’t. I get bias but the approach is illogical. Ntcham’s contribution is heavily skewed – some great numbers from CBN that Ollie’s performances are at a higher level than a declining Scott but people see what they see.
Oh, and did you sit passively when Ntcham skooshed the ball over the Lazio keeper in Rome last year, the goal in the cup final against Motherwell or the precision pass to set up Tierney at the end of a great move at Anderlecht?
He’s been passed pillar to post in a crap team system like so many others around him. I don;t think he’s been used well at all by Lennon.
HH
The difference for me with Broonie is that we played narrower under Rodgers, now we don’t so there’s more ground to cover. So still a place to play just depends on formation.
Looks like we have been pro active for a squad next season (which I’d love a yoing team full if energy) but probably took our eye off this season.
Pleasing performance all the same 🍀
Bada Bing – as I said earlier, pick the team on merit, not reputation and certainly not sentiment.
Two clear facts for me this season are:
1. Scott has been played far too often without rest.
2. Scott has not looked anywhere near the player he was up until 2018-2019 season.
Saying it is time to leave him out is not disrespectful. He no longer justifies a starting place. Other than Ibrahimovic, it happens to them all 😀
Let’s watch big wide hoof try to end Turnbull’s career on sunday and no one will say anything.
I also believe that lenny has been told he can’t speak out anymore for fear of reprisals and we all know this needs calling out.
Frimpong got taken out last week and nothing said and a fair yellow card. My arse. Should have been red al day long, but as long as we say nothing, nothing will change.
Greenpinata,
Scott Brown has been gash this season and a major part of our team’s dysfunctional problems.
Scott Brown is a longstanding Celtic legend.
Both statements can sit beside each other. Some people over-emphasise the latter to justify his continued presence in the team.
In the current cock fight start with your best eleven.
Scott Brown is not a player you’d have in your first eleven NOW and going forward.
HH
Still buzzing from last nights performance!
Hopefully Soro, Turnbull & Henderson get a lot more game time.
Aside from changes the dynamic of our midfield, it will also make us less predictable to the opposition due to the unknown in our play somewhat.
Could prove useful on Jan 2nd & give sevco a lot more to think about.
Even the dugs in the street knew the type of changes that were crying out to be made.
They were – finally – and the result (but more importantly, the result!) followed.
As I said last night, I’d already seen more in 10 mins that I had in 10 matches.
I watched young Henderson last night, and all I could think about was that majestic pass that split open the Jambos so long ago. Not even a sniff since. Let’s not let a second Henderson slip through the net.
Impossible to argue with Paul’s article today. The most damning indictment is what’s left unsaid – that it took till just before Christmas to make substantive changes to a team that’s been devoid of spark since August.
HH jg
HH jg
Big Wavy
“some great numbers from CBN that Ollie’s performances are at a higher level than a declining Scott but people see what they see.”
I’m not going to disrespect Broon on here by making a flippant comparison or observation.
I take your point about his other flashes of talent over 3 and a half seasons, you rate him higher than I do and it’s all about opinions.
I agree that he and others haven’t been well deployed by the manager but that’s another argument.
I don’t think his infield demeanour helps. The most animated I ever saw him was when he went ploughing into challenges at St Mirren one night in what seemed a hellbent and ultimately successful attempt to get himself sent off.
HH
Squire D
I don’t think his infield demeanour helps. The most animated I ever saw him was when he went ploughing into challenges at St Mirren one night in what seemed a hellbent and ultimately successful attempt to get himself sent off
——
That was mentol. I was like 🙈🤷🏼♂️💥
Mibbee he was trying to be more like Scottie B???
HH jg
Squire Danaher,
I think ‘we’ (Scots and Irish) have a bias for action on the field. Call it blood and snotters. The french guys, even big George in his pomp and others were all criticised for not showing that to us. Hell, we want old Neil back to his screaming self to assure us !
I don;t think the above correlates with performance or output on the pitch. And having the data guys pour over contribution in real terms shows this. I think we have it with Laxalt atm. A bias for action but a realisation that we are impotent as an attacking force on the left hand side.
I think these kind of analysis are on us to modernise as much as the coaches.
HH
big wavy
quantify – games / stats – all of the games – where scott brown was not in the top 3 or 4 performers.
hard to get 3 or 4 performers in any of the games granted.
he has had a few really bad games but in various games he has been our most decent performer.
I cannot think of a single player who has outshone (maybe Laxalt) Broonie consistently since the start of the season.
there are handfuls of player who should be dropped/punted before Scott Brown.
and i want to Soro to start Sunday
Can’t agree with no changes…. I’d definitely have Eddie back… No other player can score goals of the calibre of his goals in the San siro and Prague….. We need him….. I’d play Turnbull… And Soro…… I’d keep the defence fom last night…. Possibly Christie for Moi… Possibly not….. I quite like the thought of a Christmas tree formation with Christie and Turnbull behind Eddie and a three behind them of.. Frimpong Soro Mcgregor…. With the solid back four of Ajer Duffy julien and laxalt…….. With a very strong bench
big wavy on 11th December 2020 12:54 pm
WOW, comparing the relative contributions of Scott Brown and Olivier Ntcham and coming to the conclusion that its pretty much even stevens.
Your analysis technique needs some work.
DENIABHOY- thanks for reply, my point was reading back the last article, some of the stuff about Broonie was ridiculous IMO, I still think he has a role to play, on and off the park this season. HH
Lads.
I’m not looking for blood and snotters.
I appreciate somebody can hit a 40-yd killer ball and look effortless.
But ON’s onfield demeanour just looks like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Fritzsong – from last thread. Cheers.
In truth, just a bit of lazy irreverence on my part.
But an important point – if you focus your search for failure, weakness or the negatives strongly enough?
You’re bound to find them.
We won.
That said, Gene’s earlier point worth repeating – One swallow does not make a summer.
All for nought if we don’t win on Sunday.
Killie are inferior to Lille but more familiar with our play.
Surprise them Neil.
Wouldn’t be shocked if Soro starts on the bench.
He was terrific last night but has had virtually no game time and began to cramp up on that heavy pitch from around 80 minutes.
PS – Quadrophenian …
“Just watched all of THEIR game v Lech”
Sorry to hear that. Get well soon.
🙂🤔
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
Squire D – pretty much with you on Olivier Ntcham.
There’s a maddeningly talented athlete in there.
I think he has suffered the most from Moussa (Le Grand Chien) Dembele leaving.
For me, Turnbull moves ahead of him in the pecking order off the back of last night’s performance alone.
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
Spikeysauldman,
Picking out best players this season is like picking the best looking huns in the crowd.
Look, before my volume of posts gets turned into a Scott Brown bash, it isn’t. Scott has played to his 35 year old body average. He’s been asked to be a fulcrum playmaker but has no creativity. He’s been asked to play as a DM but is both too indsciplined and then too slow to react. It has a knock on impact on McGregor’s game who equally gets moved out of position.
The issue for me is picking a young, vibrant team in a system that produces our best chances of winning. At DM we have a better player suited to that in Soro, arguably. Play him. Creatively we have a raft of players better than him to produce chances.
This is not the end. Play him like Liverpool play Milner – at the end of games to get the team over the line.
My last before the vultures circle for me again :)
HH
TIMMY7_NOTED on 11TH DECEMBER 2020 1:45 PM
big wavy on 11th December 2020 12:54 pm
WOW, comparing the relative contributions of Scott Brown and Olivier Ntcham and coming to the conclusion that its pretty much even stevens.
Your analysis technique needs some work.
—
Not my work at all. Put on the kettle and have a nosy yourself fella. It appears you’ll learn something.
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/ntcham-bias/
https://twitter.com/bunbegb/status/1337146692362244099?s=24
Have a look
I noticed that live last night fantastic effort, was expecting that to end up in the back of the net.
Frimpong available for Sunday.
@Neil Lennon
Sometimes effort will beat skill and I would play polish paddy from the start on Sunday. This is what I love when watching football, leaving every last ounce of energy on the park.
I will wager now the Broonie and Christie will start at the weekend, if they do it just will add fuel to the fire that Lenny is a dinosaur coach, will he have learned, I have ma doubts, hope I am wrong but he hasn’t learned so far so there is nothing to suggest he will have now.
In regards to some players not looking interested, it may be worth considering that some players ( like the rest of society) are coping with Covid, Lockdowns, Tiers, limited friends and family personal interactions better than others. Just a thought.
I know a few strong characters who haven’t coped with what has happened since February well at all.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could have a McGarvey/Nicholas type front two with Eddie and Paddy.
Very different players I know but one with all the ability and one with great work rate and commitment.
Soro and Turnbull were brilliant last night. Lot of guts from Callum to step up and take that PK after that horrendous mistake for their goal. Polish Paddy ran his arse off from start to finish. Said a few weeks ago to give these bhoys more than 15 minutes, now reward them on Sunday. Nice to feel a wee bit of positivity today, keep the hun culchys here in Alabama off my back for a wee bit. Never knew there were as many huns here till we went on this bad run. Thought big Ajer at right back did very well. When he got forward last night for the third goal, it reminded me a wee bit of his run and finish against Aberdeen. Great deliveries from Turnbull.
Keep the faith.
Hail Hail.
Sean
Not sure about LH — I think he needs a bit more maturity and focus before he is 1st team ready.
He has some quality is his play but looks a bit lost at times last night.
However this lack of energy might be down to a lack of a real reserve team.
Main thing is NL now knows that we have a youth team and that some might be not bad.
Do we have a recognided U20 / U21 team at the moment?
GK = ???
Defence
Midfield
Attack.
We need to give them a higher profile to get them ready for the first team.
Brown has not been gash this season.A few poorer than normal games,but the bar he has set is very high.
Have to laugh on here sometimes,a few poorer games from Turnbull and Work,they will be jostling for position to drive them to the airport.
Big Hazard had nothing to do all night,never made a save,and lost 2 goals.Getting the thumbs up from same fans who are slaughtering Barkas for the same stats.
Soro,not work
I am fairly confident that Soro and Turnbull will get their reward on Sunday.
I am less sure that Hazzard and Henderson will get their starting place or whether it is merited.
The main reason is we do not have two assured CB’s , as Paul asserted in his leader. We have Jullien slowly getting back toa level of adequate form and Shane Duffy, sadly, still in the grips of a nightmare rut. At most other times, I would be happy to see Welsh replace Duffy in the team and try to earn that spot but not at a time when we can scarce afford any dropped points or vulnerabilities.
I am afraid we need Ajer’s pace in centre defence to cover the slow turning CBs we have. I would play Ajer as right sided CB and Jullien in his favoured central role in a back 3. We have no-one ideally suited to left side of a 3, so we have to rely on Duffy, Welsh or Bitton making a fist of it until we can buy better. Maybe Luca Connel , as a left footer could be tried there.
So my selection is
Barkas or Bain- (don’t much care which but Hazard should get a regular bench spot and be promised the 2021 SC games)
Ajer Jullien AN Other
Frimpong Soro Brown Laxalt
McGregor Turnbull
Edouard
If we are struggling to score or if we are far enough ahead, sacrifice Broony for another forward- Klimala or Ajeti.
the blog doesn’t seem so angry today, thats a good sign,
must say I do respect all the guys coming on here and giving us their opinion on what’s what – c/w an explanation,
thats what this blog is all about surely,
however these guys that come on with no opinion of their own with the sole intentioon to ridicule someone else opinion,
these guys will be the death of the blog,
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Ian McGeechan is a brilliant rugby coach.
(Total thinker, allied to the bloody killer instinct of Jim Telfer as a forwards coach)
McGeechan always spoke of the ‘top 2 inches’ as being the most important part of the physical make- up ….. the thinking bit.
And how when you’re tired, it should quickly there. Decision making.
Might it just possibly be, that having played more games than any other professional in world over the last few seasons, might be a bit frazzled??? 🤷🏼♂️
That said, even when (re)fresh, I’d want him further up the park, cos he pure gives me the fear in ‘defence’!
HH jg
Madmitch
Who’s LH ?
In answer to Sid from earlier:-
Yes. last night WAS still a dead rubber for us.
We remain out of the Europa and out of the LC (and, in the minds of, thankfully a minority of fans, out of the league race too).
All we earned from last nigh was a small amount of money, some co-efficient points and a large dose of optimism that there just might be the first signs of light at the end of a large tunnel.
I have never given up on this league but I do not under-estimate the challenge. Sevco are clear favourites, justifiably so. Leagues can be won and, indeed, have been won with gaps larger than this one.
But most times, they are not.
So, we are in a situation where we need to go on a run and they need to start showing some signs of frailty. Our run does not have to be a 19 match haul of 3 pointers but it does need to be a run where fewer than 4 or 5 points are lost over the next 19. Their run needs to see them drop more than those 4 or 5 points in their next 17 matches. To bring this about will require us winning , at least 4 of the 6 points available from our next two matches against them.
Our next 19 and their next 17 will take us to the Top 6 games, the last 5 fixtures in the league. If we can go into that group of game, within 3 points of being level , or better, we have a fighting chance.
So much can go right and wrong over the next 17-19 matches, a group of games larger than those we have played already, that the situation COULD be entirely reversed.
This recent run has severely damaged us but it has not killed us, thankfully.
But, I acknowledge it remains a huge task, made only a little lighter by last night’s result and performance.
There’s a rare upward turn in the corners of my mouth today that has not been evident recently.