I got my wish last night, that Leigh Griffiths would reach the 40 goal mark for the season, and what a great goal it was too, memories of Love St ’86. Also delighted Leigh was aware-enough to mimic Henrik’s ” five zero” gesticulation when he reached 50 in 2001.
40 goals for Celtic in a season is a very rare achievement, as Paul John Dykes pointed out this morning, it’s now only been done 13 times in 128 years. Jimmy McGrory (four times, three in a row) and Henrik Larsson (three times, two in a row), are the only two who have achieved this more than once in their Celtic careers, so Leigh knows what he needs to do next season to get a really special place in the history books.
As for the other pertinent points from last night’s game in Perth, I can cut Stefan Johansen some slack. McDiarmid Park was a farmer’s field not so long ago, and St Johnstone’s first goal looked like it came as a result of a plough intervention.
Efe Ambrose is another story. Last night’s decision to challenge (Logan Bailly) for a ball inside his own six-yard box was inexplicable but consistent with his general awareness this season. When the new manager is in place, someone inside Lennoxtown needs to find the earliest possible moment to sit him down and play the Efe highlights video.
We have a good central defender in Erik Sviatchenko (club captain in the making), and one who could become so in Jozo Simunovic. If Jozo gets himself fit for July we should be well-placed for the qualifiers, but those two aside, we are struggling in central defence.
Out of contract Charlie Mulgrew is in the latter stages of his career, but can be trusted to do a job without causing unnecessary alarm every week. Mikael Lustig’s days as a rampaging full back may be limited by his persistent hip issues, so playing as auxiliary central defender, as he often does for Sweden, works on paper.
I’d be far from confident facing Champions League qualifiers with Efe or Dedryk Boyata, who could still makes Belgium’s Euro’s squad, but if Jozo’s fit, signing a right back, with Mikael covering central defence, feels like an appropriate use of resources.
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Almore
Think Kerrydale opens at 10.30?
The Magnificent Aberdeen lose 0-1.
Wonder if Aberdeen Quick News is in meltdown this evening. Sheep 0 – Minis 1.
Almore,
Dunno about this Sunday but last Sunday it was 1030.
JJ,
They were a wee bit magnificent at the start. Returned from the garden and they were losing. That’s fitbaw for ye. :)
HH
Winning Captains – I’m in again for helping fund an advert – Guardian would be a good location.
BBC’s view of “Company running the club” is, according to many previous statements, contrary to corporate law in Scotland. This isn’t an issue of emotion, personal view or opinion – just hard, legal facts about status.
How they can stick by that line is mystifying.
Raymond
TBB
I am not convinced that it is subjective to say that a regular pairing of van Djik and Denayer was more successful than our various pairings this season.
JJ
https://youtu.be/R0XZ9qjMil8
Stone Roses first single in 21 years
TBB
“This creates a small number of good chances, data for which I do not have and will not seek (help yourself!, suggest the xG system of scoring chances analysis would provide interesting data).”
Hey- I’ve already done the bulk of the factual research- think it’s your turn to prove your thesis.
“Given the managers and clubs in the league have largely remained unchanged, it’s not a leap of faith to suggest that SPFL managers better understand how to compete with Celtic, and “execute their game plan” to better effect. ”
Maybe not a leap of faith but certainly it’s overlooking alternative explanations such as the absence of Van Dijk and Denayer, and the fact that Euro managers and teams had us sussed in both seasons no matter the quality of the CBs.
And Charlie Mulgrew should be offered a ne deal
Can cover Centre half, left back and holding midfield roles
And in my opinion, as good a centre half as we have on our books
Many players I would be letting go before Charlie
The Battered Bunnet
Put more simply…2 defeats at pittodrie. And we never learned from either.
Aberdeen on their home patch, play a very simple game plan versus us.
A direct style.
They tried the same at Celtic park on Sunday, but it isn’t as effective due to the wide open spaces of Celtic Park.
Their keeper launches everything towards our left back area.
This isn’t a slight on Kieran Tierney. Derek McInnes probably sees Lustig on the other side being better in the air.
What disappointed me on Sunday and twice at Pittodrie, is the likes of Bitton. In the team to protect the back 4. 6ft 6 in height, and barely ever wins a header.
Cast ur mind back to Johnny Hayes screamer at pittodrie . Same area of pitch, and Bitton found wanting.
I watched it over and over again on Sunday.
Then look at Hearts goal against us, at Tyncastle two weeks ago. Again, Bitton running alongside the opponent. Incapable of putting an effective tackle in.
Here in lies the problem
On maths exam
Might be better if youngsters don’t look at on line answers just now. They will just be someone’s idea at this stage. I know a few people who mark in a variety of subjects.
They all say final marking instructions are not issued until markers meeting, taking account of pupil performance in a sample of scripts from pupils predicted to get different grades. Looking at on line stuff from what might be a dubious source might do more harm than good.
If the paper is difficult, marking instructions can be softened and cut off are scores lowered so that there is not much difference in the percentage of pupils getting A, B or C from one year to the next.
They all say that marks needed to get the different grades can vary greatly from one year to another.
Apparently the cut off scores from previous years are shown on the exam board web site.
When my own were doing exams and thought papers were more difficult than they thought they should have been, that is what we were told and results seemed to back this up.
The best advice we were given was to keep going and write something for all questions rather than give up, as the odd marks you might get from this could well push your grade up if everyone else had the same problems.
Hope it turns out ok for all. The hard bit is helping them through the trauma.
GM: Thanks for that, should probably be same this Sunday.
DD & ATS: See you Sunday
Goodnight all,
JJ
Breaking news from Pittodrie:
https://youtu.be/D15HPy4x73g
The centre halfs of course have a role to play in this. Irrespective whether Denayer + VanDijk,
Or Erik + Mulgrew.
However in Ronny’s 4-2-3-1, where the full backs provide the width,
We could have Maldini and Baresi , and still get exposed, as the system needed good defensive midfielders, that can read the game and plug the gaps… And tackle.
Ronny’s 4-2-3-1. Was flawed due to lack of protection from the defensive mid area.
Add to that the occasions that Ambrose, Blackett, and Boyata were relied upon…. Then u get your Molde, Malmo, occasions.
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 12TH MAY 2016 9:53 PM
On maths exam
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for that – my wee one looking a bit calmer now!!
HH
COWIEBHOY. How are you fella ? I checked out and young Chris Mitchells father is indeed called Phillip and is a policeman so it is the chap you worked beside at UCP. H.H.
RUGGYGMAN on 12TH MAY 2016 9:58 PM
Spot on. One of the reasons that Van Dijk is doing so well is that he has two designated sitting midfielders in front of him. One of them being Victor Wanyama.
Paul67 et al
Don’t know if it has been mentioned earlier, but I noticed that a response from the BBC referred to a position adopted by the BBC Trust. As of the the White Paper, announced today in Parliament, (which will not become a Bill as such) the BBC Trust is about to be totally abolished. Might not be such a good reference point for BBC Scotland to hang on to.
quonno on 12th May 2016 7:09 pm
MASTY on 12TH MAY 2016 6:02 PM
Looks like another Masonic cover up with the Royal bank
Maybe someone who knows about these things can enlighten me.
Would it be true to say that the only person punished for the banking fiasco was a guy brought up in a council housing scheme and that the establishment protected its own?
*A Tradamus Lampada FP who came fae the Peoples Republic of Brucehill.
topkat on 12th May 2016 5:19 pm
Just heard that Ronny wont be joining in the celebrations on sunday……came over the radio…..says hees catching the plane after the game ends to visit his family in back home in Norway
*interesting comment, going tae visit his family, no just going home. Mibbees, just mibbees there’s still a billet for him at Lennoxtown.
Like no other
Glad it helps. I know how hard it is to make the youngsters feel better.
Another thing I found was that mine tended to dwell on what they thought they had got wrong rather than thinking about how much they had actually got correct.
Also the papers are made up so that a number of questions will be answered correctly by only a small percentage of pupils so even the majority of pupils who get an A would not be able to answer those questions.
BBC now regulated by Ofcom, which is a QUANGO or in other words an arms length extension of the Goverment.
I believe that opposition managers, both in the SPFL and in Europe, worked out how to play against Ronny’s Celtic pretty quickly. It wasn’t always successful for one significant reason.
Celtic had better players than the opposition particularly in domestic games and this meant playing counter attacking football. It’s all very well knowing how to beat the opposition but you need the players to do it also.
SFTB
Your “hard evidence” fails to stand up the point you’re trying to make.
Opposition managers at home and in Europe have had considerably better results against Celtic this season versus last. That’s pretty hard evidence to challenge your assertion.
Over to you to dig out the data that better evidences your position.
TBB
It’ll be interesting to find out who’s decision it is that Izzy has played his final game in the Hoops, if in fact that’s the case.
It won’t be Ronny’s, so it’s either Izzy himself, the board or the first of the clear out. But by whom.
I’d keep Izzy, in fact I’d play him every week in the left back role with Kieran in front of him. Talking to a few Tims in Perth they were all in agreement but were divided on who would play which position. For me KT shades the more advanced role because of his incredible ability to pick out Celtic players in the opposing box.
If Izzy does go then I’m sure he’ll go with the best wishes of every Celtic supporter.
WINNING CAPTAINS
Sorry if my post to you last night,came across as a bit bitchy. A wee bit of frustration,fingers crossed that our wait is worthwhile. The work you and others do for the blog deserves better. HH
Doc-HH
Re: qualitative versus quantitative
Neither of the arguments takes into account the vagaries of every seperate game, weather, state of the pitch, referee, but most importantly the form of the players and in some cases the downing of tools, perhaps if that was factored in then RD might’ve gotten respect he deserved for winning two titles, yes winning two titles
RD not joining in the celebration on Sunday, shame. I wanted to do the “Ronnie Roar” one last time. Wish all the best in the future.
Sipsini-had a couple of beers after work, will catch up with the Peaky Blinders tomorrow hopefully HH
Hmmm – insufficient evidence eh? Suddenly Fred the shred takes on a whole new meaning!
HT
It’s hard to say, Izzy is an emotional guy and will know Kieran isn’t going to be shifted. It’s probably a bit of both. He’s 30 and will want to play. On the other hand it wouldn’t surprise if PL wants to cash in with only a year left on his deal. Playing both together could possibly work in Europe but I don’t think it’s a good long term option in the SPFL. We all love Izzy because of his commitment but shouldn’t forget he has been a liability at times, especially in some of the bigger games. Probably time for him to go imo, with our gratitude and blessing of course.
HAMILTONTIM on 12TH MAY 2016 10:32 PM
K.T. aint broke. Don`t fix him.
I have thought for a long time that Izzy would have been better playing midfield . Sadly his crossing was woeful and didn`t improve.
Magic guy , though.Played for the jersey. And imagine the culture shock for him and his family living in Scotland.
HT
“Celtic had better players than the opposition particularly in domestic games and this meant playing counter attacking football. It’s all very well knowing how to beat the opposition but you need the players to do it also.”
See! This is where logic can tie itself in knots.
proposition 1: The opposition manager has worked out how to beat Celtic
proposition 2: The opposition manager does not have the players to beat Celtic
SFTB’s proposition: The opposition manager is talking a load of mingin’ mince since he will not be able to prove his proposition.
WC
I’m in.
Celtic getting involved as well would mean they are reaching out and starting to re-connect with the fans. I wish you luck with this and hope Celtic see the light.
HH
CRC
Not read back apart from this page but I would have stuck with Ronny for a variety of reasons. Can’t really be bothered to list them tbh as all those top coaches that we all know post on here would just poo poo my reasoning.
While the football under Ronny since about Nov has been mostly dire who could argue that it was ever any better over the previous 6 years? Lenny’s record in the cups was even worse than Ronny’s and like Ronny he really only had 1 decent Euro run. His last was an utter embarrassment getting humped home and away.
We will now go forward as we have done since 1974 getting humped year in year out in Europe with the odd year where we punch above our weight.
Ronny’s gone and now we can look forward to the likes of Owen Coyle being linked with our club. But hey the Rangers are back and that’s all that matters.
Ronny will stay for the trophy presentation and lap of honour surely? I take it they mean behind the scenes celebrations. I hope he says a few words after the match, I’m sure he will. The guy is a class act, in spite of everything.
Tontine Tim
It doesn’t suit everyone’s narrative but the RBS failure played a significant role not just in the British banking collapse but in the world financial crisis.
Interestingly Alex Salmond wrote to Goodwin when he was about to complete his last insane take-over offering any assistance Fred required. In other words Salmond was co-opting us into bankrolling this man’s delusions.