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.
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Archie McPherson just dissed the current record (in comparison to the Lions?)
AlwaysFindANegative CSC
BSR
Nobody wants to drive him there,.. show him the bus stop across from Waitrose in Byres Rd…747 to Glasgow Airport.:)
HH
THE GREEN MAN
Can Conte not bid for big Dorus ?
Nir Bitton, wouldn’t be my cup of T, in saying that I reckon it’s the enviroment that doesn’t suit him, somewhere like Spain-Italy and he would be in his element imo, or more to the point, somewhere that the referees are honest and apply the rules of the game fairly, but while he is our player he will get my support
bournesouprecipe on 26th January 2017 6:45 pm
Go on then, I’ll do it for £5M. Does it include petrol money?
The name’s….. Kouassi Eboue Kouassi
Jeez the Beeb with the inevitable potential negative…… are this side really as good as the Lisbon Lions (the answer is obvious) or does the league record say more about the quality of the opposition?
Bloody hell we know our history, everyone knows what Celtic did in 1967 and against whom both domestically and in Europe.
We know the old Rangers were strong then, as were Kilmarnock, Dundee, Hibs and others.
This Celtic team is being built and is going from strength to strength — I wish to God the others were strong as well provided they are run properly and honourably.
Scottish Football alas suffers the hangover from years of one club improperly and unlawfully fixing the finances and taking steps to ensure that others were deprived of finance by The Bank that would be blue ….. but bust!
That, combined with the ridiculous TV money in England, will ensure that we are most unlikely to see a Scottish league that comes anywhere close to the standard witnessed in the late sixties or early seventies.
But when that competition was there and did exist — one team rose to the top and stayed there for a long time against excellent opposition.
Guess who?
16 ROADS – CELTIC ÜBER ALLES… on 26TH JANUARY 2017 6:34 PM
‘The club decides if to keep or release the player, regardless?’
##
Celtic brought CG in from the cold.
He was injury prone.
In those circumstances the clause doesn’t seem so outrageous.
If he stays I’d imagine he’d want a wage rise and a longer contract.
I think the decision will depend largely on whether there’s anyone else out there below the radar who would be a suitable replacement.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 26TH JANUARY 2017 6:49 PM
BSR
Nobody wants to drive him there,.. show him the bus stop across from Waitrose in Byres Rd…747 to Glasgow Airport.:
##
He could even get some Portuguese custard tarts while he’s waiting for the bus.
Ernie Lynch
Plenty of tarts down there.
Dont know about custard ones though:)
HH
GORBALSTAM
Ernie
☺️
Trump’s new cabinet: Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb:)
HH
Mark Wilson is so thick,he is talking himself out a job
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 26TH JANUARY 2017 6:49 PM
BSR
Nobody wants to drive him there,.. show him the bus stop across from Waitrose in Byres Rd…747 to Glasgow Airport.:)
—————————————
You can tell a lot about a man by his cultural reference points. Waitrose??? I always knew you were a Champagne Socialist! Would Kamerad Green Man like quinoa with his bubbles…?
;-))))))
Chelsea submit an offer for Craig Gordon.
Celtic reject their bid.
Brendan Rodgers is quoted as saying Craig is “going nowhere”.
An hour or so later, some supporters are on CQN discussing Gordon’s replacement.
Un-bliddy-believable.
Is this the same Craig Gordon who had the temerity to come up for a corner when his team where a goal down at Celtic park???
He is our best keeper and a keeper who actually comes out with his knee up to protect himself and give the striker a ‘dull yin’ should he come near him
Not for selling imho ☘️
what happened to the Craig Gordon money?
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on 26th January 2017 7:14 pm
Is this the same Craig Gordon who had the temerity to come up for a corner when his team where a goal down at Celtic park???
He is our best keeper and a keeper who actually comes out with his knee up to protect himself and give the striker a ‘dull yin’ should he come near him
☘️
———————
I’m fairly certain CG is trying to play the ball with his knee, he’s just late by about a minute :O)
NATKNOW
Champagne Socialist….Ha
Try, Fenian Street Fighter:)
Waitrose….dearest fruit and veg known to man, too rich for my gruel diet.
I could have just as easily said Waterstones.
HH
BLANTYRETIM
Me neither. We’ve been spoiled the last ten years with The Holy Goalie,Forster and now Gordon.
But the nightmare is just waiting around the corner,imagine another 30-odd years wi dross between the sticks.
The huddle
I jokingly said if we see CG to Chelsea the sell the lump of wood to Bournemouth then we get the Holy Goalie back
Simples. Com
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 26TH JANUARY 2017 7:18 PM
NATKNOW
Champagne Socialist….Ha
Try, Fenian Street Fighter:)
Waitrose….dearest fruit and veg known to man, too rich for my gruel diet.
I could have just as easily said Waterstones.
————————
:-)))
BMCUW. :-)
Should any reprobates or decent human beings be in town tomorrow usual place and time….
Good point EL.
Stupid selling the player unless he wants to leave the club.
£3-5million or whatever seems a fair price considering the goalie only has a year left, plus the option of another year.
How much is it going to cost trying to find an adequate replacement?
The squad is settled, Brendan is trying to build, and we don’t need the money.
HH.
TONYDONNELLY67 on 26TH JANUARY 2017 3:35 PM
I absolutely agree with all of those points. Spot on!
Firstly,well done Celtic in equalling the record,I have seen it done twice now,so I ignore the likes of BBC et al trying to diminish a superb effort.
Regarding Bitton,not my favourite player,by any means, but if you attended last nights game he afforded Armstrong lots of cover and it resulted,in my view SA, being man of the Match.
Four things did concern me associated with last night.
1.Dembele poor apart from1 good header.
2.Forrest,tidy but ineffective,went to outside only when pushed.
The form of these 2 players do not justify the absence of Roberts and Griffiths.
3. At 70 mins Tierney was done,why are we allowing the boy,recovering from injury, to approach burnout,despite plenty cover on bench.
4. Despite 400 games and a terrific servant, has Broony learned nothing, re his push late Second half,looked a Penalty and everyone around me delighted it was not given.
In my view Young Dallas took a decision to ensure his dubious career progression remains controversy free.
It may not be popular to say this but I do not think we are as dangerous without Griffiths in team,he approached all games with the same urgency,and is always a threat.
excathedra44 on 26th January 2017 7:25 pm
Regarding Bitton,not my favourite player,by any means, but if you attended last nights game he afforded Armstrong lots of cover and it resulted,in my view SA, being man of the Match.
Four things did concern me associated with last night.
1.Dembele poor apart from1 good header.
—————
Dembele hasn’t really been playing well for ages, he scores goal but goes games without providing anything. All in my opinion of course and I’m sure i’ll get the usual responses but I don’t really rate him.
Id start the Griff ahead of him but he appears to be in vogue and Celtic can’t afford to ignore the sort of money apparently on offer
Craig Gordon for £3M at 34? Makes you wonder how Sevco value Kenny Misser at 39.
Imho
Our opinion means nothing because Birthday bhoy Brendan has done as Big Jock did, moulded a disjointed but talented squad into a team who win loose and draw as a unit
This team can make our experience magical
I for 1 am enjoying it
EXCATHEDRA44 on 26TH JANUARY 2017 7:25 PM
Agree with every single word.
Glad you wrote it for me cos I have an evening of cleaning the whole house ahead of me!
:-(
HH jamesgang
BT –
Hear Hear
Blantyretim, I couldn’t agree more.
By the way, I think Celtic were every bit as far ahead of the rest in Scotland back in 67 as they are now. Maybe the Lions were the better team but that might be because the others were better than the current lots.
By the further way, the European trophy the deid team contested was usually called the Runners Up Cup, certainly on the Continent.
Jamie McCart
Celtic youngsters risk two inhibitors; a broken leg at Murray Park and a red card against Aberdeen. Congrats, you’re batting .500 and you still have two legs.
Celtic’s second team can’t score goals. Time to clear out the coaches.
natknow
Every Celtic player rests somewhere on a scale of:
Great………………….to………………” I’d drive him to the airport masell ” scale.
JAMESGANG on 26TH JANUARY 2017 7:45 PM
EXCATHEDRA44 on 26TH JANUARY 2017 7:25 PM
Agree with every single word.
***
Jamesgang,
Ex Cathedra is a Latin phrase which means “from the chair.” It refers to binding and infallible papal teachings which are promulgated by the pope when he officially teaches in his capacity of the universal shepherd of the Church a doctrine on a matter of faith or morals and addresses it to the entire world.
As this statement is clearly a matter of faith (it being about Celtic, and all), and it is posted on a blog (so we can assume that its intended audience is the entire world), then we must assume that this is, in deed, an ex cathedra statement.
Which means that you are, in a sense, obliged to agree with every single world.
nihilobstatCSC
came across this today, hadnt seen it before, if you have a half hour , and your an Barack fan, quite brilliant.
“Obama out:” President Barack Obama’s hilarious final White House correspondents’ dinner speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxFkEj7KPC0
https://twitter.com/soka25east/status/824659242137161728
Linked with this guy…