I really like the way we split our central defenders either side of Craig Gordon’s box at a goal kick. It induces teams to press us higher than they otherwise would, which opens up the game and allows us to build a quick break, but we’ve not got it right yet.
With his central defenders wide on the wings 6 yards from the goal-line, Craig will pass to them, but increasingly opponents push two attackers wide to cover this option. This forces Craig to seek one of our fullbacks, both of whom take up positions on the wing, near the halfway line.
This play is not a good use of the ball as possession is often lost. Worse, it’s lost while the opposition have men forward.
The space in front of the 18 yard box is crucially important. One of both of our central mids need to be there – close enough to collect a short pass and move it on. Look out for this happening. You’ll see a reticence in Craig to play short passes in a dangerous area, and in Scott (and whoever else) to want the ball in this position.
It’s dangerous, but when it works it’s transformational. Our old pal, Unai Emery, has built an impressive managerial career on getting this specific play right (it doesn’t lie behind any of PSG’s current woes).
Marking referees at corners
Another standard play against Celtic in recent months has been clearly visible when we defend corner kicks. Several Premiership teams are putting a player right in Craig Gordon’s midriff. Even before the kick is taken, the keeper is shoved and obstructed.
Craig always makes this situation highly visible. Theirs is shouting and shoving back. Arms flay, indignation peaks. But still, referees must be checking their Facebook status.
We are now unrecognisably better at defending corner kicks than we were a year ago, but if the keeper is fouled and the ball delivered into his zone, there is real danger. Two officials are employed to watch this area of play, how do we make one of them pay attention?
Craig answered this question last night by buying a yellow card for a necessary protest; a small price to pay in order to wake a dozing official from his slumber. Maybe if, as well as marking opponents at corners, we put a man on the referee, who could point and shout when the incident first arises?
Ridiculous, I know, but it might actually be effective.
404 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- »
LG has had a lot of injuries to his hammies and calfs this season so getting some game time is probably in his best interests, rathe,r than risking a longer spell out if he plays full games when not able to, BR will know and manage this accordingly.
Should we sell Gordon? I’d consider it.
What Dallas did do last night was dingy three bad tackles on KT from the guy Wotherspoon HH
SkySports breaking news- Celtic reject bid for Craig Gordon from Chelsea
TIMALOY29 on 26TH JANUARY 2017 2:12 PM
Should we sell Gordon? I’d consider it.
And replace him with who?.
Yes I know,theres bound to be somebody out there.That old chestnut.
What we would get for him would be a joke.
Saint Sivs
I hope you’re right and I’m wrong.
And/but I can why he’d potentially be unhappy.
HH jamesgang
Guid 3 pts last night….
Guid take see big Bhoyata scoring and doing well….
Guid tae see KT doing guid again as well too….
Guid on Broony getting his 400th gemme in the hoops…..but, am no being 2-faced about him coz, ah used tae no like him coz he was part of the ‘clique’ in the dressing room that put the tools away during the the last managers time at the club….IMHO.
Indeed, during our defeat to the huns in the scsf under Ronny, both Biton and Bhoyata…..feigned injury to get taken off the pitch which for me represents grounds for ‘never’ being given a Cellic jersey again….imho .
But,……that was in the grand ole days of the ole rudderless ship…..eh.
Now we’re on ole Brendan Voyage…..till thee ole Brendan fella fancies an ole Chinese take away……
Anyway,…….
TD67 – Beware of thee ole Ku Klux Klique…..lol
Thoughts and prayers for all Celts in need.
……off-oot….
TIMALOY29 on 26TH JANUARY 2017 2:12 PM
‘Should we sell Gordon? I’d consider it.’
###
If the price is right he’ll be sold.
Like every other player on the books.
It would be interesting to know what sort of offer Chelsea have made, if they have made an offer.
If Craig wants to go he will be away IMHO
I just hope he has bought into Brendans plans
Craig Gordon, Chelsea want to sell their second keeper Begovic to Bournemouth for £10m, they probably want to bank that and get experience in, he would not get a game ahead of Courtois,and would offer a pittance, Celtic have the one year option and is more valuable to Celtic than them, keep, if Celtic sell they will need to sign a first choice keeper.
Rangers boss Mark Warburton has warned would-be suitors that Barrie McKay won’t be allowed to leave Ibrox for less than he’s worth.
——-
Come on Mark – you’ve got a £6m bid on the table, haven’t you? The greatest sports journalist on the planet told us that…..
Make you think, I wonder if anyone has ever thought of deliberately blocking the referees view at crucial moments.
Celtic40me
A player would need to stand behind Willie Collum to block his view.
HOT SMOKED
:))))))))
£3 mil for Gordon seemingly, he will be a sub once Courtois leaves and is replaced.Might give him leverage for a better deal here.
Craig Gordon missed three years of his career through injury. Can’t see him moving to a team where he wouldn’t be playing.
Gordon is on the cusp of a treble. Why the fook would get leave to sit his backside on the Chelsea bench.
If there had been a bid for Craig, surely Jackson would have known about it?
He was WAY ahead of everybody else with Leipzig’s offer for McKay……..
Barney67 on 26th January 2017 12:38 pm
Fair enough – but things are pretty good if we have so little to complain about at the moment that we are complaining about repeated complaints from another individual on the blog;)
HH
Played well last night, Dembele needs bench time, enter Griff.
Forrest falling back into his old ways, sit beside Dembele, enter Paddy the Celtic park Pele.
Punt Gordon? Go back to your room and lie down.
St. Johnstone? Sorry no prais from me, dirty shower a bassas.
Dallas? Son of a papel, Celtic, Catholic hating Masonic orange bassa, who showed flashes of proof, that he like his father, is a dirty cheating bassa.
Other than that I enjoyed my night, PC guys, GIRFUYs
Bhoyata the new Muscles from Brussels.
Training going forward should just be put every reserve and youth player in the 18yard box. First 11 have take long shots and try other ways of scoring.
That’s what we are up against for remainder of the season. Teams trying to get 0-0 draw.
Andrew Dallas:
“I’m very fortunate to work with good referees on a regular basis. Steven (McLean) was my referee coach and I train regularly with Willie (Collum). They’ve been fantastic in offering advice and encouragement and they’re always available for a chat about decisions and incidents from matches.”
That explains his performances.
“My dad has been invaluable for me, as it has allowed me first hand to see what experiences being a referee can provide.
“To have his opinion and advice available 24/7 has been incredible and if I can do half as well as him, I’ll be delighted.”
That explains his career path.
Joeinbelfast,
Burns cigs were Sweet Afton, my f-i-l smoked them.
Fo we really thank that after all the time CG spent out of the game, during his peak years, that he would choose to spend his later years sitting on a subs bench.
He has already proven that there is more to life than money when he rejected the £1m insurance payout offered after his injury.
Posted from a bar stool in Letterkenny.
CG has it good at Celtic, where he gets regular games, and has a chance to play in the CL. However, if he went to Chelsea, he likely wouldn’t play much, but, if he did (say due to injury), it would be against much better opposition (in the EPL, and, maybe the CL).
Plus, he would likely get paid a lot more than he is at Celtic.
He has done us a fair turn at Celtic…. so, if he decides to go and chase a higher wage and take care of his family financially….. I cant really fault a guy for doing that.
so, if he goes, he goes with my thanks for what he has done, and best wishes for the future …and we will find someone else to take his place …
and life will go on.
Letterkenny barstools seem quite talented,posting on CQN now.It’s a miracle I tell ya. ;))
From The Guardian.
Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States of America and perhaps the world’s most infamous real estate mogul, has spent decades flamboyantly branding everything from hotels and casinos to golf courses with his name. He has also invested in a range of businesses beyond the world of development, ranging from fine bovine products (Trump Steaks) to education (Trump University). Less widely known is that he nearly bought Rangers Football Club.
Around the time Rangers were facing their own dire financial situation, Trump was working to push through his first Scottish golf course in the coastal village of Balmedie, just outside Aberdeen. Trump, who has Scottish roots through his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, became aware of the opportunity to bail out the Glasgow club and took a close look at their finances.
His interest appeared to be genuine and he was sort-of qualified: Trump had a background in sports franchise ownership through his tenure running the New Jersey Generals, an American football club in the short-lived United States Football league during the 1980s. He also claims to be a Presbyterian, another commonality with the historically Protestant club. In the end, though, the financial situation at Rangers was so dismal that even Trump walked away.
From the comments section.
1.5million came to watch every home game.
Isn’t he already a member of the orange lodge… ?
Rangers would have dragged Trump’s name into the gutter. He wisely gave them a wide berth.
At least they’d have had a decent wall.
And Celtic would have paid for it!
HT and anyone else interested
I see that the OBaF act will now be looked at in a review of all “hate anti-social legislation” by a judge, so it does not look like it is being removed from the laws of the land as this review will take a year.So much for listening to Parliament, Politicians when in opposition are willing to criticise others but when it is themselves being criticised and told to repeal something they passed , they refuse, whats the word for that?
3m for Craig Gordon – Big Pete must have choked on his cornflakes when that bid came in
Baba,
Letterkenny Bar Stools are well known were their witty and erudite musings, even though they are guilty of the odd productive ticks errors.
TTT…
Sorry,couldn’t resist mate. ;))
Craig Gordon has been an exceptional signing for Celtic.
It will be a bad blow if we were to lose our goalkeeper at this stage of the season.
I could have sworn that he got a new contract recently enough – obviously not as it turns out.
There’s not much that Celtic can do now – It’s entirely up to the player.
Brendan hinted there is a lot of money to be earned at Chelsea.
They’ll increase the offer I expect.
Anyway fair play to whomever it was decided to take the risk and bring CG to the club.
HH.
Baba….,
It’s nice to know that someone has actually read one’s post and offered a comment…….. especially a genuinely witty one.
16 roads – Celtic über alles..
I believe it was Ronnie that brought CG to the club.
BR bought Dorus, we also have Bailly and Fasan, some might think 4 is too many.
I thought that bit on had a very solid game last night. He took the ball many times on the half turn and distributed it solidly to those players charged with pushing forward. He also broke into a fill sprint on at least two occasions.
I do feel he might make it with Brendan.
HH
barney@12-38pm
You seem like a guy with an agenda.How ironic.
I am a self appointed commentator?
Maybe just a Celtic fan who has lived away for many years and knows what it’s like to be wondering how the boys are playing.
Scathing criticism ?Did you read my posts last night as i said he played fine and did nothing wrong but merely expressed my opinion that he alters the style of the teams play to our detriment.
Are you one of those uber and hysterical types who has no problem attacking Celtic supporters who have a different viewpoint from you?
22 point gap – do we even need a keeper? Can’t we play with a “backy” liked we used to do in the park?
BARNEY67 – Indeed. It’s doubtful though if Ronny Delia did the paperwork.
I hope that Craig Gordon stays.
£3million is nothing to Celtic anyway – we don’t need the money.
We are not the peepil in need – We Are The Celts,we the CHAMPIONS.
HH.