Trending
Celtic News Now
Celtic Quick News on News Now
Celtic Quick News
You are at:»»Marking referees at corners, take more risks at the back

Marking referees at corners, take more risks at the back

404
By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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.

img_1866-8.jpg

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

404 Comments
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11

  2. Magnificentseven on

    Why would anyone want Boruc back? He gave up on us the last time, completely unfit and lacking motivation before he was punted, keep the professional.

  4. KEVJUNGLE on

    Would I be correct in saying that, TOHG with the fenian rid hair,……won ‘every’ cup final that he played for his beloved Glasgow Cellic ?

     

    Eleven I think ?……LEGEND…..who’s flag fly’s proudly on the ole Jungle roof.

     

    Anyway,……

     

    ….off-oot-zzzz….

  5. Delaneys Dunky on

    TGM

     

     

    One of the many funny moments on CQN happened tonight. You being branded a champagne socialist. Hahaha

     

    If only they knew you like I know you.

     

    So funny.

     

    HH

  7. !!Bada Bing!! on

    BSR- 7/4 not to see out his first term in office….very short……but he has buried more bodies than Jim Taggart…

  9. ernie lynch on

    GREENPINATA on 26TH JANUARY 2017 10:23 PM

     

    ‘Craig Gordon owes us big style.

     

     

     

    He knows that and will act accordingly.’

     

     

    ###

     

     

    It’s not his decision.

  10. Gordon on

    BT & JIMMYNOTPAUL

     

     

    I don’t think any other Celtic goalkeeper has 3 cup winner medals (in the same year).

     

     

    Evan Williams played in three Hampden finals in 1970 – Scottish Cup v Aberdeen (1-3) Glasgow Cup v Rangers (IL) (3-1) and League Cup v Rangers (IL) (0-1), – sadly he only got 1 winners medal !

     

     

    Interestingly BT, your dad almost completed the feat 4 years earlier in 1965. A Scottish Cup medal v Dunfermline of course, a few weeks later a Glasgow Cup medal v Queens Park (5-0 at Hampden). He missed out though in the 1965 League Cup final that year (2-1 v Rangers (IL) having played most of the game beforehand. Ronnie Simpson kept goal that day.

     

     

    It does seem these days we dismiss any past Glasgow Cup triumphs otherwise the Lisbon Lions 1966/67 record would be recorded as 29 games unbeaten !

  11. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Greenpinata on 26th January 2017 10:23 pm

     

     

    Craig Gordon owes us big style.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    He knows that and will act accordingly.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    HH.

     

    Kind of difficult to quantify that one for me mate, yes we did take him on when there was major doubts about his fitness, but to be fair , he’s hardly missed a game and been outstanding over the piece.Strange one for the Club to deal with IMO.HH

  12. Delaneys Dunky on

    M7

     

     

    Agree, Artur had his summer in Paradise.

     

    If we sell Craig for silly money, any of our other three goalies will get us over the line this season. Gives us five months to recruit a top quality goalie for big money.

  13. Thirds63 on

    Sometimes I think I’m on a parallel planet….

     

     

    Craig Gordon is a really fine keeper. His first year with us was fantastic. Form was very bad for the first quarter of last season but he worked hard and recovered and was more like himself later.

     

     

    The sequence of Artur, Fraser and Craig is by a country mile is the best we’ve had in the fifty odd years I’ve been watching Celtic. Possibly the best in our history.

     

     

    It would be compounding madness if the suggestion of bringing the HG back were ever to come true.

     

     

    Now if CG wants to leave then good luck to him……He would still be one of Celtics best ever keepers.

     

     

    HH

  20. Delaneys Dunky on

    TGM

     

     

    Would love to be in attendance when you debate with your nice but dim detractors.

     

    HH

  21. Greenpinata on

    Ernie,

     

     

    Maybe you’re correct, I forgot about his wife.

     

     

    According to BR his family is settled here

     

     

    HH

  25. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    DD

     

     

    I cant walk down Maryhill Rd without the Mormons stopping me for a chat:)

     

    Avoiding me now though since i insisted on giving them a half-hour lecture on Joseph Smith and the Golden Plates( ‘That was a lucky find eh’):)

     

     

    HH

  26. jc2 on

    Couldn’t agree more. Was trying to say to pups on way to game

     

    if they had watched some of the dross

     

    we had in goals they would appreciate

     

    THG Frser and Craig.

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    THIRDS63 on 26TH JANUARY 2017 10:34 PM

     

    Sometimes I think I’m on a parallel planet….

     

     

     

    Craig Gordon is a really fine keeper. His first year with us was fantastic. Form was very bad for the first quarter of last season but he worked hard and recovered and was more like himself later.

     

     

     

    The sequence of Artur, Fraser and Craig is by a country mile is the best we’ve had in the fifty odd years I’ve been watching Celtic. Possibly the best in our history.

     

     

     

    It would be compounding madness if the suggestion of bringing the HG back were ever to come true.

     

     

     

    Now if CG wants to leave then good luck to him……He would still be one of Celtics best ever keepers.

     

     

     

    HH

  27. dennytim on

    Fair hill Bhoy

     

    You will get the game in hoops bar Los Christianos next to Aquamar apartments good pint of tennants as well

  29. calleyroadbhoy57 on

    Evening Bhoys. Long, long time lurker but as im going to Lisbon I thought it was time I introduced myself. Really looking forward to meeting those of you who are going and putting faces to names. And before anybody asks, Naw, am urnae. Ok? (Smiley thing) HH

  30. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    CALLEYROADBHOY57

     

     

    Welcome.

     

    Keep posting.

     

    Sure you urnae a hun:)

     

     

    HH

  35. BABASONICOS71 on

    Speaking of huns…my hun neighbour was speaking with me the other day and said

     

    “I’m a better person than you.”

     

    “How did you work that one out?” I enquired.

     

    To which he replied,

     

    “I’ve naw got a hun staying next door to me.” ;))

     

     

    I’ll get me coat.

  36. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    CALLEYROADBHOY57

     

     

    Same as my good self:)

     

    Knew quite a few ladies from down your way, thankfully, i managed to escape from them.

     

     

    HH

  38. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    THEGREENMAN

     

     

    Did you give them the slip by nipping into Waitrose? Clever move…

  41. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Quiz Monkey ‘how many letters are in dyslexia?’

     

    Me ‘ how are you spelling that mate?’

  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11