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.
If you would like to read the new CQN Magazine, GO HERE to read properly, and for FREE, the graphic below is just a taster.
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Valentinesday,
We were in about 13 or 14 consecutive finals and the ratio of wins in that competition did not reflect our superiority in the league.
I’m not complaining or criticising the Lion’s era, Heaven forfend, but it is still an anomaly.
Villa Cardiff game on in the background.. Bloody awful match…
yorkbhoy
21:00 on 11 February, 2014
Villa Cardiff game on in the background.. Bloody awful match…
It’s just made the weans go to bed!!!!!
Ok well can someone tell me why our fans listen to this scum show because all they do is slag Celtic and never slag the cheats & charity thieves.
From slimm gym
Clyde SSB…A Quick Summary…Why I Don’t Listen
For the first time since last season I listened to the first hour of Clyde SSB tonight, for those people like myself who don’t regularly listen, it’s still mince. Here is a quick summary of the first hour of the show this evening. Jim Delahunt was in the chair with Gordon Dalziel (GD) and Gary Ralston (GR) as guests.
First on Lee McCulloch telling the masses how RFC could possibly win the treble this season, while punting quarter season tickets for the bears. As GD said they can only play what’s put in front of them.
This was followed by RFC fan wanting to know if they win the Scottish Cup are they in Europe next season. He then went on to say that all the money that Celtic and Neil Lennon had this season, they were an embarrassment to Scottish football, oh the irony. He finished by advising the nation that Albion Rovers will take 10 – 15 thousand to Ibrox as Coatbridge is full of Celtic fans.
Next to hit the airwaves was a gentleman who hoped Neil Lennon was big enough to admit he picked the wrong team against Aberdeen, however, his job will be safe if he qualifies for Europe. GD chipped in that Neil Lennon’s substitutions were atrocious.
The next caller spoke about discipline in rugby, the only interesting part of the call was GR met Ally McCoist at Murrayfield last Saturday against England, maybe looking for players.
The next caller was a RFC fan who wanted to discuss Richard Gough and Alex Rae fan buy out. He also said Ally doesn’t do walking away but he jumps around a lot and as an RFC fan he wanted to know how Ally stood with regard to a fan buy out, good luck with that one.
Next was an Aberdeen fan who wanted to know when Mark Reynolds would get a Scotland call up. GD said they hadn’t won anything yet and Willo Flood and Barry Robson who were thrown out of Celtic Park (were they ?) dictated on Saturday.
I think the next call was from a Celtic fan who vented his spleen about Saturdays performance being an absolute disgrace and the manager and coaching staff were negligent.
This was followed by Gordon an RFC fan who got tore into Lennon and Lawell, two for the price of one. He said Celtic Park not biggest and best stadium, Murrayfield the biggest and 4 star Ibrox the best (ahem). When it was pointed out Celtic meant football stadia and Celtic is 60832 and RFC is 51082, he disappeared after criticising Lawell again, demanding when poppygate enquiry was due and raving about the Celtic tour of Japan in 2008 which never happened and RFC suffered as the league could not be extended that season, GR told him he was childish.
Save the best for last, John the RFC fan ranting about Celtic’s hidden debt, bank of Scotland secured loans, Coop’s unsecured loans and paying money to Gibraltar. Then got stuck in to HMRC about EBT’s and finally Craig Whyte.
I typed this up as I listened to the programme, so apologies for any spelling errors. What have I learned from this exercise, if you are a Celtic fan don’t bother running up your phone bill.
(What A Waste Of an Hour)
I think Neil should play 4 at the back with a defensive midfielder sitting in front of the defence. 4 midfielders with 1 more in an advanced role and 3 strikers… Easy this management lark…
TET,
That would makes sense.
It lets fans know what their outlay for the season would be, with the luck of the draw regarding the number of home games.
However, I’m not sure that we could afford to include Euro games in our package.
Thom
I think the bloated money gained from qualifying for the Champions League has blown national cup competitions out of the water.
As you say, not just in Scotland but everywhere. Who gives a feck who wins the Copa del Rey in Spain, unless it is between Barca and Real – and that’s got nothing to do with winning the cup? Is there even a cup competition in Germany? Or Portugal?
I used to love Scottish Cup Final days. Putting six past Hibs was my first one.
But I am afeared those days have gone. £15 million for CL qualification and small change for winning your national trophy.
Although maybe come September that nice Mr Salmond might up the prize money…. or maybe not.
Henrik
Here’s a thought. See if you’re a Celtic fan, don’t bother listening.
I’ve taken to listening to Classic FM whilst driving.
The occurances of road rage have decreased exponentially :-)
Hen1rik
I remember listening avidly to Clyde phone in with my Dad as he drove back from the games.
Now I only listen to Celtic podcasts .
Sometimes if I wonder if I’m becoming blinkered , hearing , debating only our point of view ?
Thanks for your last post.
Reminds me of why I stopped listening to guff like Clyde!!
These southern english getting all excited about a few inches of water.
Ive noticed that as the damp is inching closer to London its now becoming a mega disaster.
Soon they’ll be wanting to move to high ground -migrate to an indendent scotland.
Lets get the border controls up quickly.
thomthethim for Oscar OK
I have a couple of things that stick in my craw.
It goes back to WGS days when he in that quirky style of his introduced rhetoric like, it was ok to draw an away game or that it was not a disaster to get beaten. Celtic lost a link to the past when MON arrived and it continued during WGS tenure.
Before Celtic always had a core of guys who had been at the club for years: McStays Aitken’s McGrains guys of that ilk.
Don’t get me wrong MON and WGS were great times but that continuity factor that carried our spirit, pride and expectations were diluted.
HT
‘Driving miss Daisy’ Comes to mind.
Getaffthefeknroadnletarealdriverthroooooooooooooooooo
can anybody put a date to when celtic became a ‘business’ ?
have we been a mirror to the debt generators in Europe and the epl ?
is there something different about our path through the tv dominated structures of late ?
is there any justifiable argument for joining up with these false economies ?
fritzsong
20:41 on
11 February, 2014
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.
Problem is that due to a lack of willingness to pay price, we will never know.
Oddly enough a couple of weeks ago WGS was saying that Fletcher improved every club he went to.
Ohits
Sorry mate
I put a coupon on tday with WH & was told NF game off
My apologies if u removed them from your coupon
hen1rik
I despair when I hear a tim talking about what was said
on the phone-in last night or about what was in the papers
today…….feck me, what’s to be done!!!!
jackie mac,
I would guess circa 1892.
adi_dasler
No mate its ok was already on , 3 teams winning waiting on Villa .
Remember to visit Itunes and download Roll of Honour- starve the SNP and FOCUS of the oxygen they need to fuel their anti Tim campaign- only 79p
And Agbonlahor misses a sitter.
Any update on TET’s scoop from last night??
Hen1rik
Thanks , I suppose, and a VC for your courage in listening to that mince on that stupid show which uses ITV’s theme music for the 1974 World Cup. I guess you are not naturally a masochist. Mad possibly but not a masochist.
Jimbo67 supporting Oscar Knox
Ohits
Was going to tell you R M to win ( honestly) but wasn’t sure what teams would be out
Forest 1 up..
Ohits
Which line-ups would be usef
hen1rik
21:03 on 11 February, 2014
Radio 4 and relax
What a save marsh
Marshall great save .
!!Bada Bing!!
What has Billy Davies done to his eyebrows ?
adi_dasler
Had Villa , Southampton , Chelsea and Forest , unlucky again .
VP
Strangely now that I’ve changed my radio listening in the car, taxi drivers no longer annoy me.
Until noo!!! :-)
Willo’s time with us could have been much better for him and us if skippy had put that header away against the Huns .he put it on a plate for him
big-cup-winners
21:33 on 11 February, 2014
!!Bada Bing!!
What has Billy Davies done to his eyebrows ?
Probably need them like that to get into his kind of parties.
A wee teaser from Phil.
@Pmacgiollabhain: I have detected a few tremors in the SMSM today that they are-finally-going after the RIFC/TRFC financial story.
#Progress
HH
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
21:07 on 11 February, 2014
I wasn’t listening mate I’ve stopped over 6 months ago I’m referring to that blog and my blood pressure & health has improved ever since I’ve stopped :))
The question is – would you have Hooper back?
Ht- classic fm? Thought you would be on your forward planner !!
( that’s what mrs m tells me she is doing)
*ht replies- ” what’s a forward planner! ” :)
W Brom equalise.