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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Special delivery for TD
quonno
19:30 on
11 February, 2014
Auldheid
18:15 on
11 February, 2014
However their support did not fall away, possibly because of that sterner domestic competition and there is the conundrum for Celtic. Set the standard higher than is needed to win the SPFL and qualify for CL proper but reduce domestic competition, set it lower and risk not qualifying for the CL where the rewards are very very tempting.
Regardless of CL qualification over the years, in collusion with THEM, via promoting measures like keeping home gates, getting lion’s share of TV revenue and preferential voting rights, Celtic has endeavoured to lower level of domestic competition.
========================
Perhaps but THEM were around as competitors to Celtic and stopped othere clubs because THEMs presence usually meant other clubs were always 12 points away from either THEM or us.
Without THEM other clubs are are12 points better off potentially but over the course of a season our much great strength in depth means that is unlikely to be bridged.
My point is that in the absence of THEM as the same standard of competitor that they were with financial doping, how do Celtic trade off keeping domestic competition at a level where the league is viewed as competitive if setting a CL standard just puts us beyond reach?
Should doing well in the EL and not poorly in the CL be the standard Celtic go for? It would put us in Europe after Xmas and opens up possibility of other Sevilles.
Helicopter Sundays are a thing of the past for the foreseeable future.
tonydonnelly67
21:59 on 11 February, 2014
It’s a joke, ok we lost I’m certainly not happy that’s why I have stayed away, I was in today for a wee laugh, but I checked back to what people had posted, and you know what, I wasn’t surprised, the amount of Tim’s in here post, and post well I will stand by them and the team, manager, board,and PL, but honestly the Huns in here with Tim/ Mick /Taig nicks are a joke, and I am taking it up on my self to tell you, your team is sheet, or shite, I hate your club for what you stand for, and what you are, you are the dregs of of humanity of this country and the pond life of this nation, I am upset with the weekend result of my team, and not a happy camper, but as most of you know, I don’t slag my team, my manager, or the board, it’s called, FAITHFULL THROUGH AND THROUGH, a thing people have forgot in this site, this weekend.
———————————————–
Am no biting..
MickTT
Ayrshire is Green and White
HH
Bruce
Keane
Solskjaar(sp)
Hughes
Wilkins
Pallister
Robson
Miller
McLeish
Starke
McGhee
McLeish
Hughes
Bruce
Robson
Strachan
Clarke
Ince
…….
Kojo
22:16 on
fur wance we agree oan sumit
*****CQN Dream Team*****
Update
30 teams submitted to date and not one making sense :-)
Thank you and keep them coming, and don’t forget to take advantage of the coming days/weeks review.
HH
CRC
TET
The Arab billionaire
Ince at Blackburn
The Comfortable Collective
Methinks there might be more than 11?
Tet
Nah i think mines wud win tbh
B-)
Terry Butcher,eat yer heart out!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2vcJibyBRAM&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D2vcJibyBRAM
Remember to email your CQteN dream to doccqten@gmail.com
Posting your team on the blog might make you feel all managerial but it will not count in the vote.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers ………fc not plc
22:58 on 11 February, 2014
Terry Butcher,eat yer heart out!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2vcJibyBRAM&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D2vcJibyBRAM
__________________________________________________________________________
PMSL there!
HH
How much has Chelsea spent on managers and players this season?
I got 9…….
Bruce
Hughes
McLeish
Ince
Robson
Keane
McGhee
Solskjaer
Strachan
CRC
Dont worry i did
I wonder wat my prize will be…
B-)
BMCW
Seen a guy do that to a bus-shelter on Maryhill Road! :-)
GlassTwoThirdsFull
Now I’ve seen the answers – sure there are more than 11 but don’t want to give the game away.
Bhoylo83
Mind and Email your team to doc :))
Good night all
Jude
It was a wind up twitter feed, I said that later.
HH
………………
B83
Naw, with Lenny in the team, we will prevail >}
HH
Dalglish and Souness! (Scotland)
Night all, off to put Gerry to bed!
,
You could add Neale Cooper to that list as well.
HH
ttt
Mail to U
HH
Night you all!!
Night wee Oscar God bless my hero x
TET
Ya tease!! <:0)
King Lubo
JIst read yer Submission.. which wiz directed at Me…
Pal… Here is Ma Answer.
Ye must remember …afore Ah go Any further..
Ah hiv fur .. the Past.. Year?…
Wrote several Pieces oan Here..
Pointing oot..
this..
“The Difficulty in Us Getting a Striker who well.. Strikes..Is No Awe doon tae the
Unprofessionalism o’ the Striker,,in the Picture..
The Main cause fur Us hiving so many.. Non Scoring Strikers oan oor Books..
Is that… Oor Mid Field Warriors ..ur No Providing the Necessary Provender,tae
properly Feed oor Stirkers.
They are being starved.
Having said awe awe that.. Ah am sure that Ah hiv Made Ma self very Clear,in this..
We Need Better Room Service fae the Room Staff in Hotel Celtic.
n.. yes.. therefore..
Celtic, soitenly Need a Very Capable Provider o Scoring opportunities. to provide Forage..fur our Badly Under-NourishedStrike Team.
Ah hiv already outlined my Ideal Structure ..re garding oor Central MID FIELD.
Ah wid Always Play..
Three Strong… Tough Tackling Mid Fielders.. in oor CENTRAL Mid-Field.
Accompanied by..
ONE.. Schemer in Chief.. a la .. Your Namesake.. Lubo.
At this time we do Not Hav one..
Commons is Not . my Idea o a Schemer..
He is More ..Ma Idea ..of a Center Forward…
Yes.. Ah wid draught Him into that Role..
Na.. we are still Lacking in Obtaining the type of Mid Field General.. which Ah wid
Like..
Stefano.. our recent Acquisition..is..in Ma Opinion.. which may or May not be…. a Premature one..
is this..
Ah feell that Stefano.. Is Not the Guy , that we Are Yearning Fur..tae pit the Gee- up.. intae
oor Stultified Stickers.
Ma Ideal Mid Field wid be composed of FOUR HORSEMEN.. .No Five..or Two.. or any ither Number.
Four.. wid Be Ma Limit.
Once we goat the Mid field Squared away.. then it wid be time tae
Deal wi.. oor Strike force.. n the rest o the Team formation.
Anither thing..
Ah wid ONLY USE..
Jist….ONE.. Oot n Oot WINGMAN..
Sure we hiv goat a Loat tae dae.. tae get this team o oors
Ship- Shape n Bristol Fashion..
the only Fly in the Ointment..is
Is… Neil the Man tae .. Shape oor Ship??
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Midfield Isolation
That was the Japanese Import with the bonus live tracks on it?
Bit too Classix Nouveau for me
U
TET
Now that I’ve seen the answers – I can add 6 to the list.
praecepta
Are the 11 I’ve got right?
And there are six more than that?
Bruce
Hughes
McLeish
Ince
Robson
Keane
McGhee
Solskjaer
Strachan
Dalglish
Souness
Cheers.
W. Miller (that I got) – Aberdeen
Gough – Livingston
Aitken – Aberdeen (C/T Villa)
Bannon – Falkirk
Archibald – East Fife
Nicoll – Notts Co
Sharpe – Oldham
………….. and even Albiston – Droysden
Re The Dream Team, Haven’t scrolled back, what period does it cover, or must it be selected from a specified list. I ask this because what teams I’ve seen published do not include Henrik, so I assume he is ineligible for selection, as he would be a Banker for any team.
Iv’e no seen the list, how many are on it ?
HH
BTW, is there a prob with the blog, sometimes when I refresh it’s coming up different, or is it my computer.
GlassTwoThirdsFull
Your 11 are correct – but I guess the answer is 20+ (when you count the Mexico Squad in 1986). 12 of the 22 man squad went on to manage teams!
Stevie Clarke at St Mirren
Question was English Premier League….
GlassTwoThirdsFull
Now you have gone and spoiled things >}
HH