I have a semi-regular correspondent, Raymie, who, over some considerable time now, has expressed concerns when Celtic play two central midfielders with two attack-minded players in the wide berths.
Intuitively, we should be attack minded against all Scottish opposition, especially at home, but football parks are big open spaces which requires a lot of industry to cover effectively. Scott Brown is the epitome of industry while Stefan Johansen appears to be cut from the same mould, but with James Forrest hugging the right touchline and Georgios Samaras playing his usual role on the left, Aberdeen had men over in central midfield, which ultimately determined the outcome of the game.
Neil Lennon seems to know not to play Forrest and Samaras together, they have only both started in wide positions in one league game since September, which was an uninspiring 0-1 win in Inverness. Forrest replaced an injured Kris Commons 28 minutes into a game at Easter Road in October, but although James scored Celtic’s only goal, this was one of only three league games this season we’ve dropped points.
The manager, of course, was part of a robust midfield in his time at Celtic, with Paul Lambert to one side of him and tough-tackling-always-running Alan Thompson to the other, although neither Lennon nor Lambert had the mobility of Scott Brown. It wasn’t until Martin O’Neill left and Gordon Strachan took over, that we got to see the likes of Nakamura on one wing and Maloney on the other.
If you were lining up against Celtic and realised they had two in central midfield your game plan would immediately crystallise. Teams will mostly face Celtic with only one striker, allowing five in the middle, most or all of whom will play tight. This creates a numerical advantage in the most crucial area of the field, and a basis to build forward moves on the occasions, however rare, they are able to do so.
Compare Saturday’s performances with the two comfortable wins over Aberdeen this season. In august the 0-2 victory was achieved with a midfield of Brown, Kayal, Ledley and Mulgrew. None known for their creativity but Celtic cruised nonetheless.
November’s 3-1 win saw Brown, Ledley, Mulgrew and Samaras in midfield; Aberdeen didn’t get a sniff.
One final word on the players……………
Most of us watched the away defeat to Shahkter Karagandy with some annoyance at the ITV commentators’ regular accusations that the players were not applying themselves appropriately. Neil Lennon gave voice to our objections after he heard the commentary while reviewing the game. The game went against Celtic but it was absurd to suggest the players were not applying themselves fully.
Reading comments on CQN and listening to the manager after Saturday’s game I felt we were in similar territory, with Neil saying, “We gave the players all the preparations needed”, “I can hardly single out any player, maybe James [Forrest] and Stokesy, to come out with any credit”, “There was a lack of composure, particularly in midfield and at full-back”.
I just don’t buy the lack of application or focus accusations which have been flying around here in recent days. Players spend all week gearing up for game time, when it looks different on the park, there is usually a tactical reason.
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valentinesday- Looking forward to Friday?
Forest game is on
Madrid two up away to athletico.
Two pens one foul on ronaldo one on bale.
Defo pens both dispatched superbly by Ronaldo. .only twenty minutes meanwhile in the greatest league in the world nil nil after thirtyfive
Spanish game is cup tie
Jonny the Tim
18:49 on
It’s Celtic’s security for the overdraft facility that we have the CO-Op, not really looked at it in any detail but I heard the huns are saying we have lodged deeds with the co-op for land we haven’t as yet paid for yet. Whether that is true or not, I don’t know but they seem to think there is something in it.
I just think it’s good fun watching them make fools of themselves.
BT
Cheers – that’s 1 treble down! :-(
got to get this off my chest about saturday people coming on blaming this player and that
player neil played an unfit mathews a disinterested samaras and left griffiths on the bench
someone who can score goals am i being too hard on the manager or have i got a point
please tell me to shut up or can we have some debate hail hail
Praceapta
I have leyton orient at home. Two down to Bristol city..o(
Jimbo67
Could you copy and paste that and send it to
doccqten@gmail.com
Won’t be counted otherwise mhate.
!!Bada Bing!!
20:19 on
11 February, 2014
valentinesday- Looking forward to Friday?
_________________________________
It’s my special day, has been since 2012.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks
HH
I think the basic tactics and team shape should be based on 2 banks of 4 when the opposition has the ball. Each of the mid 4 should be helping out their partner in the back 4. Very simple.
And when the ball is retrieved the player in possession should always have at least a couple of team-mates making themselves available for a pass. So plenty of movement off-the-ball is required. Then with our superior players we should win every game against scottish teams.
doc is neil lennon
20:04 on 11 February, 2014
I have emailed my Team, mine is based on what they achieved, not on what they necessarily achieved in the timespan.
Surprise surprise Lenny is my Captain…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Jimbo67,
Pas de deux, I’ve been rumbled!
BCW,
In Europe’s major leagues, clubs treat their National Cups as a secondary competition and team selections reflect this.
I wonder, do our cosmopolitan collection of players subconsciously adopt this attitude, thereby lowering their commitment in cup ties?
How else can we explain the comparatively inept performances in these games?
thomthethim for Oscar OK
Not so sure our players from abroad had a problem before ?
Have to admit I’m fed-up with Celtic teams in the last few years failing to uphold their predecessor’s fight in the Scottish cup.
Evening,
My first season going to games was 85/86, was hooked straight away and followed Celtic everywhere all through the 90’s when things were really bad. Going to the games was never a question, if Celtic were playing I was going, regardless of opposition, it was Celtic I loved watching.
This is the first season since then that I have not went regularly. Decided not to renew my ticket this year purely based on the football Celtic play, it bores me.
I have no problem with getting beat, in fact there was a time when we got beat you looked forward to the next match even more than usual as the unlucky opponent was going to get it big time. Those days are gone.
I am all for competition just not when we need to lower our level to create it.
Lenny has now been in charge for 4 years, I do not see where he has improved as a manager. I do not see the team getting better.
I accept that this is very difficult to do when we sell players without replacing them with similar quality, the board seem hell bent on making his job as difficult as possible.
In saying that he still has a fantastic footballing budget at his disposal (in comparative terms), but the football I have watched at CP in the last few seasons has been disappointing to say the least.
I do not expect to win every game, I do expect progress and to be entertained after a hard working week shelling out top dollar from my limited budget.
HailHail
TTT
I assume you aren’t watching the Madrid derby…? 8)
“We have lodged deeds with the Co-op bank for land we haven’t paid for.”
I can’t imagine anybody’s solicitors allowing transfer of title deeds without getting the readies up front! Then again your average hun has a degree in economics that’s why they keep getting shafted financially.
LennyBhoy, all picks are good, Lenny was on his last legs though, Zengh Zi now has bee picked more often!
It really doesn’t matter buddy, it’s a great way to discuss the last ten years acknowledge achievements, and there have been many, and iron out creases.
bamboo
I agree, but sometimes in scotland when we are up against parked defences, there isn’t space for players to run into, hence they need better ball control, similar to what Barca have to do, any player at Barca is confident that he can control the ball no matter how many players are round him.
Maybe if we trained for longer, say 8-10 hours a day instead of 4, the players would get better, and fitter.
Just saying like.
HH
Or differences of opinion, whichever.
Plenty of time to think about your team left, and more information will be made available when CRC gets home.
Maybe it’s the deeds to Ayebrokes we’ve lodged with the bank :-)
Cultsbhoy. You’re right Flood didn’t get a chance. After all he looked like an extra from Trainspotters and he wasn’t Fletcher. Remain unconvinced that the Hibs man would have won us the League.
Thomthetim and BCW
It is all about the league and CL qualification, IMO.
Look at the celebration when the winner went in against Shakter Karagandy in the CL qualifier, when Lenny sprinted up the line and dived on a mountain of players.
If that had been the Scottish Cup Final I doubt if there would have been that outpouring of joy (and relief).
Not saying I agree with it, but the CL is the only game in town these days.
And the closed top tiers at CP on Saturday just underline that.
Doc is Neil Lennon
Team sent. A Grand Old One , I think you’ll find.
Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox
bournesouprecipe
19:46 on 11 February, 2014
Can I Have
Still hold the believe NFL knows more than me, who thinks like others the format was wrong, he’s got the job, the platform, the badges, and the back up team, and the twenty one point lead.
You mention fear, or maybe a reluctance to change, that’s a young managers mistake.
I accept that but if I made so many of the same mistakes at my work, I would out on my erchie!!
I just wonder if NFL is going down the Branson route( not the pickle)”If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!
Is the CFC job the one to learn on?
BT,
No, but perhaps because it is a Derby gives it the extra “edge”.
We used to elevate Glasgow Cup ties to “must win” games when playing a certain late city rival.
BCW,
Just trying to get a handle on why, more often or not, we come unstuck in cup campaigns.
In Jock’s day, it was the League Cup where we had the dreadful record in Finals, even though we got to the finals.
Why?
Jeg er,
I suspect you are right and it appears that a large section of the support share that view.
It also appears to be the same in other countries, probably due to the expense of STs.
It would be interesting to compare attendances in Germany, where STs are cheaper.
Mail demands foreign aid to be spent on replacing British carpets 11-02-14 THE Daily Mail has called on the government to stop sending money to poor foreigners when it could be used to replace carpets right here in Britain.
The newspaper has launched a petition which has actually been signed by people.
In a hard-hitting editorial the paper said that British carpets must always come first and that most foreign aid was used to build Chinese spaceships.
Meanwhile, the Mail underlined the horrifying extent of Britain’s humanitarian crisis by illustrating its story with a photo of a moist BMW.
Martin Bishop, from Somerset, said: “I’ve only had this carpet six months and now it’s all soggy. I’m really unhappy, but the government won’t even buy me a new telly.”
His wife Sarah added: “How many BMWs have to get wet before the government stops trying to impress stupid African babies?”
Professor Henry Brubaker, from the Institute for Studies, said: “People who don’t have flood insurance either didn’t ask for it, which is mentally defective, or were denied it, which should have caused the first faint stirrings of something being amiss.
“If we are going to use some foreign aid money, perhaps we could make a film about how not to buy a house on flood plain.
“It’ll be called How Not to Buy a House on a Flood Plain, it will be 10 seconds long and consist of me holding up a piece of cardboard on which I will have written ‘don’t buy a house on a flood plain’.”
He added: “Meanwhile, you can still do your bit for Britain. If you meet someone today who has signed the Mail’s petition, try your very best to urinate on their legs.”
Evening folks,
Been a breathe of fresh air reading the blog today. Thoroughly enjoyed the variety of opinions regarding team selections and tactics. And been nice to see that the trolls are nowhere to be seen.
Nice to see CQN getting back to it’s old self as it nears it’s 10th Anniversary.
Dan
thomthethim for Oscar OK
Big Jock won 6 league cups,not bad for a dreadful record.
póg, tá na haineamacha dochreidte
Creed bain Hill – the names say it all – corporate culture i mbéal feirste
Googybhoy – Still having trouble logging in to PC?
If so try this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2REmXBrMLU
Right there’s a method in the madness with this ?
What would you do if you brought a friend in to your house every night and they started to be disrespectful about your house ?
thomthethim
When we were over in Barca, we got the use of very good season books, expensive seats, 120 euros a pop, anyways, the season books cost them 750 euros,this includes all games, Copa del Rey, CL, yer man told us that season books for the cheaper seats cost 300-500 euros same package, decent value for the fare on the pitch.
HH
Are EPL/Championship defenders brilliant, or are their strikers crap? Can’t believe the lack of goals tonight, especially when I’ve got a “baifty” coupon on!
HH
Awe no
Very funny, did laugh out loud at that…
hen1rik
I would take the hint and try improve matters without resorting to physical violence or bribery.
HH