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.
[calameo code=0003901710a55b5798f06 lang=en page=1 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
681 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- »
The GB are there for one thing only, and that’s the GB, CT, and JF agenda on politics, let’s not be kidding ourselves on here, they are ultras who only get there political message over at Celtic games, they high jack football clubs for an end to there means, and care not a jot who they upset on there way making there political statements, headed by the students unions ( hidden I might ad, and hide in the background making the bullets that’s JF WEE GANG, but they denied that, some know better) as for some sort of surprise coming on Sunday? Nothing would surprise me with this mob, as I have said many times, they need the oxygen as they are running on low as we speak, they are past masters of inserting there foot in there BIG MOUTHS.
Q – Who are the current holders of the Ramsden’s Cup?
No googling.
Twitter
Clear as day – SPFL statement about automatic relegation after insolvency – last October everyone happy with that – now changed – why? Sevco
Queen of the south?
A_who cares ;)
hen1rik
09:52 on 12 February, 2014
Twitter
Clear as day – SPFL statement about automatic relegation after insolvency – last October everyone happy with that – now changed – why? Sevco
_______________
It’s called circling the wagons mate.
Typical comment from elbows- must be someone else’s fault we did nothing wrong, still that’s the attitude that will see the country’s newest club hit the skids.not the rock group/always loved Stuart adamson
So the Celtic board are again being accused of various follies by some of our supporter groups. No doubt that some gripes are valid, but I would again like to know how much JF and friends consult with those Celtic supporters who don’t want extreme Left politics or certain songs to be part of our present day club. As it is they who wish to make this a part of Celtic, it is incumbent upon them to persuade the rest of us why Celtic FC should be used as a place for putting up banners about Palestinians for example. Do they have a strategy to consult with those who disagree with them or do they dismiss them as ‘Capitalist swine’?
JF is an admirer of a Soviet lunatic who hated priests and believers. That being so, can she understand that some Celtic supporters don’t trust the motives of a person who admires Soviet lunatics. Moreover, can she understand that some Celtic supporters, mindful of the club’s history and origins, do not want our club to be tarnished by a minority of individuals who still adhere to half baked political theories which caused misery around the world? Would Brother Walfrid have wanted his club to be influenced by people who admire Soviet brutes? Having said all that, JF appears to be a passionate supporter with some valid reasons to criticise the Celtic board. Unfortunately JF’s valid arguments against the board are overwhelmed by her extreme political beliefs.
1981-82- Celtic won the League, with 55 points [in old money], from Aberdeen.
They were knocked out of Scottish Cup by eventual winners Aberdeen, at Q/F stage, and in League Cup did not even get out of group stage.
I think the group games featured the infamous debut of hoopslegend Willie Garner.
John O’Neil
09:55 on 12 February, 2014
You’re not a communist then?
This weekend I hope to do the following:-
1. Lift the old stair carpet.
2. Take out the bins (blue + food waste).
3. Hang daughter’s 1Direction calendar.
In my opinion, if I’m successful, that will represent a treble.
#BigLee’sTreble
The board get a lot of flak from fans but lets not forget that they cut season books by £100
Has there been an uplift in attendances? No. People would rather go to the pub and watch English football.
The park is half-empty every week. If you want to talk about performances this season, the fans have been the biggest letdown.
This isn’t a dig at anybody who posts here. The majority here are dedicated fans who support the club for more than 6 games a season.
mickbhoy1888
09:39 on
12 February, 2014
Ah but waht that stat doesn’t say is Arsenal’s net spend per season over the last 10 yeas is only £1.5M.
It’s probably less than ours.
John O’Neil
09:55 on
“JF is an admirer of a Soviet lunatic who hated priests and believers”
Could you provide some proof to back up your assertion John, not doutbing you at all just it’s always good to back up these wild claims with proof. We are talking about Rasputin aren’t we?
Mr Johnny Clash should mark his treble by getting Mrs JC to sew [yet another] star on his Abercrombie + Fitch trackie top.
John O’Neil
Excellent post sir,excellent.
John O’Neil
These meetings are open meetings. All supporters and views are welcome.
Simples!!!
MWD
The pain from the weekend has subsided the last few days but I am still gutted to be out of the Scottish Cup.
The Scottish Cup represents a huge signifigance for me. It was the first trophy I ever saw us win as a child. As a 2 year old I am reliably informed by my mother that I sat for 120 mins and watched Celtic defeat Rangers in the Scottish Cup final. Having a Bhoy myself of roughly that age I sometimes think she is making this up but she swears it’s true and she is no big lover of football or Celtic. As she went off to make the dinner she was forced to run back into the living room to be faced with me covering the TV crying ‘My daddy, my daddy’ when removing me from clinging onto the TV screen she was faced with two sets of supporters knocking lumps out of each other and mounted police rampaging up and down the Hampden turf to restore order. It seemed I was hooked on not only the Celtic jersey but also the Scottish Cup from an early age.
My next Scottish cup moment was in 1985. A successful semi final negotiated against a decent Motherwell side and it was Hampden for Celtic for the 100th Scottish Cup final. A wonderful occassion. I was 7 years old. My first cup final. I had yet to won a genuine replica jersey but had managed to get to a number of matches with my father which was way more important to me than owning official Celtic gear. I remember everything about that day. The drive through to Glasgow. Parking up at near Hampden and taking a ball and a carry out for my cousins and us kicking a ball about from early to near KO. Itwas a huge occassion. I thought it was the greatest day in the football calendar. To a wee Bhoy like myself I hadn’t realised the importance of the league title. My perception was that to go to hampden and win the Scottish Cup was the pinnacle. It was the final game of the season. Everyone looked forward to the cup final. People were excited. There was men in fancy dress and top hats and people were drinking, singing and generally enjoying themselves. I had never in my life seen a more joyous occassion. This was it. The game of the season. Into Hampden after some kind of mix up at the turnstiles. I think they had been moved from the bottom of the steps to the top. It caused a bit of panic. The crowd was callosal. To a wee boy the noise and the crowding was incredible. On entering hampden I enjoyed the spectacle of the pipe bands. Probably not something everyone enjoys but I thought it was wonderful that these men with pipes were marching up and down at our national cup final. It added to the occassion and really brought home how important the Scottish Cup was that it was different to any match. This was not a league game. It was the Scottish Cup final. Celtic managed to turn around a defecit through a Provan free kick. Probably one of the Scottish Cups greatest goals and a moment I won’t forget ever. Then the wonderful header from McGarvey to seal it. I remember the players lapping the pitch with the cup. Lobbing it around like a rugby ball and sharing the joy of the support wrapped in scarves and flags thrown from the crowd. It did not get better than this. I was on a high for weeks. I recounted my tales to my freinds for months. I still talk about it now. I had been to many games. Probably near 50 at 7 years old but that was the day I knew I was a Celtic supporter. I was hooked.
We have had many great cup finals since then. 1988 was special. We followed the same supersticious routine as 1985 and were delighted that the scoreline was the same in favour of Celtic. It was the last game of the season. We secured the league title and although we had done so in 1986 I didn’t quite get it. In 1988 I got it. I was older. I had attended more matches. I knew the importance of the league but the Scottish Cup was still special. It was another wonderful occassion. I have seen it since on TV many times and felt proud to say I was part of it. 1988 was probably a better day than 1985 due to the weather it looked amazing. I can only imagine other kids at home watching that thinking I want to be in there.
There have been many finals since then and many a cup run. When you travel to games every week watching Celtic through good times and bad the Scottish Cup was always a wee glimmer of something different. A trip to a ground you had never visited before or a wee change from a bad run and a chance to get a win under our belt in a competition that had been a very huge success in Celtic’s history. The Scottish Cup is our cup. Teams don’t just beat us in the Scottish Cup. They have to rag the cup from our grasp. We don;t lie down in the Scottish Cup. Teams have had us beaten many times only for us to pop up in the dying minutes and find an equalizer and most times also squeeze a winner in the net. I think Billy McNeill said their is a romance about Celtic. I think we all get that. You are not a passing Celtic fan. People talk about their clubs to me and they support them but they don’t get it. Celtic supporters are fanatical about our club. We love our team and everything about it. It is also often said there is a romance of the cup. It’s a phrase coined when a minnow knock a giant out. Ahh the romance of the cup.
Why have Celtic and our support seemingly fell out of love with the Scottish Cup? Have we fallen out of love with it? The priorities for me each season are simple. Win the league, Win the Scottish Cup, have a decent run in Europe (By that I mean compete). In these times it is clear that the club feel that Europe is important money wise of course it is but so is success. Winning leagues and cups is bread and butter to Celtic and I can’t for the life of me understand why people are not all that bothered by being knocked out of the Scottish Cup. I was gutted! I still am but I am not angry about it anymore. I was at the weekend but not now. It has gone and we are out and I wish Aberdeen all the best in the remaining games. If you can’t win it yourself it is probably better to be knocked out by the eventual winners.
I’m not sure what has gone on in the clubs thinking but we no longer seem to think the cup is important? The crowd at the weekend was dissapointing but everyone makes their choice to attend a game or not. People complain about lack of competition but argubaly it was the most competitive home game we could expect this season. It was bizzare. In any event the players didn’t seem to be up for it. people can say what they like but the performance was poor. A mistake in the cup is punished with elimanation and we were knocked out by the Dons who performed better on the day.
Do our players not think the Scottish Cup is important? We effectively have nothing left to play for. The league can be won with a couple of victories. Have they got complacent? Have the team gone stale?
I don’t mind losing. Never have done and will be first to congratulate any other supporters I come across after the match in my local pub from any team. I win with class and lose with class but I want my team to at least make a fist of it. I want us to win fair but I want us to compete hard and give the opposition a match!
Celtic throughout their history have always done well in the cup even through our darkest periods and 1995 was a great win for us when we had won nothing for years. I don;t buy into the fact that we have to focus on Europe and the league is the priroty and winning it by X amount of points by X amount of clean sheets would cap a wonderful season. It won’t 2 cup finals will be held in our wonderful stadium and we will compete in none of them. We didn’t even get close. I can’t put my finger on why that is.
Morton happens. We can lose a one off match and the focus was on Europe at that time but looking at the side we had out. To not score in 120 mins of football against minnows who had been soundly beaten and went on to sack their manager was a concern. It was a warning shot. The team were not up for it. They maybe didn’t get the cup. I can’t believe we seemed to make the same error again. I can;t blame the manager too much but he must take his part of the blame for the team selection and for the substitutions. The main culrpits were the players though who didn;t appear to have the application and desire to win the cup. You have to go out and win it. It will not be handed on a plate. The Aberdeen team look hungry. They will put their foot on your neck if you are face down in water to ensure you drown and they win. They are a side on the up. Our team look a side who are either tired or just not up to the fight. Once we went down we were never coming back.
We don’t seem to have that fight and inner strength sometimes required in the cup. In the league we are coasting but we couldn;t raise it in the cup and that saddens me. The cup fnal is a huge highlight. I would have woken up early that morning with excitement and probably like that 7 year old going to my first cup final I would have been waiting for the game to start and my team to bring back the cup.
That will not happen this season and the season is pretty much over the league has been won for that long. Our next big match is probably the CL qualifiers. Are they our new cup finals? They appear to be like the Championshp play offs in England. They provide a match up with similar sides to reach the promised land of money and glamour games.
I like the Champions League. Who doesn’t? Our club get to welcome the worlds best players through the gates of Paradise and we can compete at the top level and beat the best clubs in Europe on our day.
I’m afraid that if we can;t compete with clubs in our own country for the cup competitions then what chance do we have in the Cl qualifiers? We will no doubt meet better if not sides as hungry and as talented as Aberdeen will our players be up for it? There are no 2nd chances. We made very heavy work of Elfsborg and Karagandy this season. Possibly another warning regarding our lack of motivation and desire. There appears to be a mentality in the team that we will just be good enough because of the team and players we have.
We have to go out and earn it. We need to want it more and fight for every ball. We have maybe lost a bit of fight.
I for one am gutted about Celtic not contesting and possibly winning the Scottish Cup. Really gutted but as always if we learn from it we can turn it into a positive. I guess I will get my answer at an unusual venue in Edinburgh in late summer when we compete for the riches of the CL. I just hope we are ready and up for it.
Apologies for the long rambling post and probably many spelling mistakes. It’s a type of therapy for me after a loss that hits me hard! HH
LB
DBBIA
A+F?
Reminds me of the suggestion I heard recently that the biggest factor for 16 and 17 year olds in how they’ll vote in the ole referendum is what would happen to Hollister if we vote YES.
JohnnyClash, I put it to you that the “Take out the bins (blue + food waste)” in itself constitutes a worthy double. Your weekend efforts if fully achieved would therefore eclipse Elbow’s treble and should surely be recorded as a historic quadruple.
Maybe Hollister would be able to turn the lights on, courtesy of a windfarm driven surge in the ole voltage.
john o’neil
09:55 on 12 February, 2014
John,
Some of our present board members adhere to half baked political theories which continue to cause misery around the world, in fact from what I read on here there are food banks in the UK, that really says a lot for me.
AR
Laudrup, Clarke, Mckay, AVB, Di Canio, Jol, all sacked this season by EPL clubs. Some had it coming but others you could make a case for, or even question the Owner/CEO sanity.
Muelensteen, Hughton, Lambert, Allardyce and Pardew, all shortening odds in the sack race.
Sherwood and Monk gearing up to be replaced by some foreign ‘name’.
Why does the man who inherited a Championship winning side and has taken them down to 7th or 8th in the league, seem to get an easy ride? I spoke to Everton fans on holiday who were glad to see the back of Moyes, saying that winning not a single trophy in ten years was unacceptable. And yet he lands the plum job, with the usual megabucks to spend, and, as the Man U fans say, ‘given time to settle in as Fergie’s a hard act to follow’.
If City win the league I think that opinion will change overnight. If my sneaky bet Liverpool win it, he’ll be sacrificed.
Either way, English football’s going to hell in a gold plated handcart.
I’ve loved the English game since the days of Jimmy Greaves, but its lost on me nowadays.
A Ceiler Gone of Rust- surely the food waste will be tainted?
Interesting, Bristol City have installed safe standing seats ahead of getting permission, one would have to assume they’re quite confident of getting it.
http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/20140212-safestanding-1354602.aspx
Eddieincarmichael
@09:58
Was wee Red Jinty or is that wee red binty a Russian queen at one time or another
Discussing Boney M song now class
There lived a certain man in Russia long ago
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow
Most people looked at him with terror and with fear
But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear
He could preach the bible like a preacher
Full of ecstacy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire
RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
There was a cat that really was gone
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russia’s greatest love machine
It was a shame how he carried on
He ruled the Russian land and never mind the czar
But the kasachok he danced really wunderbar
In all affairs of state he was the man to please
But he was real great when he had a girl to squeeze
For the queen he was no wheeler dealer
Though she’d heard the things he’d done
She believed he was a holy healer
Who would heal her son
(Spoken:)
But when his drinking and lusting and his hunger
for power became known to more and more people,
the demands to do something about this outrageous
man became louder and louder.
“This man’s just got to go!” declared his enemies
But the ladies begged “Don’t you try to do it, please”
No doubt this Rasputin had lots of hidden charms
Though he was a brute they just fell into his arms
Then one night some men of higher standing
Set a trap, they’re not to blame
“Come to visit us” they kept demanding
And he really came
RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
They put some poison into his wine
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russia’s greatest love machine
He drank it all and he said “I feel fine”
RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
They didn’t quit, they wanted his head
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russia’s greatest love machine
And so they shot him till he was dead
(Spoken:) Oh, those Russians…
Marrakesh Express
Manchester United had an iconic Scottish manager who won a European trophy and league titles and cups and then won very little for about 25 years.
They tried to replicate him in other managers but didn’t really do it until the 1980’s. A few of the glory hunters will pick another club for a while.
Man Utd supporters have been spoiled. No club will ever dominate England for a longer period than Ferguson did in Manchester.
Moyes is doing no better or worse than any other manager could at Man Utd this season.
LB
Kelly’s Whites Grants and Farrells
Celtic fans on the board no thanks
Morning Celts
As TD has already alluded to, there will be a wee surprise on Sunday methinks. Not one you’ll like Tony but stick your hands over your ears and shut your eyes for 90 mins, I’m sure you’ll be fine :>)
As for contact with CFC, I’ve some recent personal experience in that last Aug I replied to JP Taylor’s original letter at the start of the season, to date I never received a reply from JPT, I did eventually get some good communication from Anne-Marie at the TO when speaking to her on another matter.
I’d like to say also that in my own experience the folk I’ve met in the GB are like all other decent Celts I’ve met, speaking about the game our players etc, I’ve never been asked or spoken to about politics specifically by anyone in the GB, it’s the politicians who brought this to our door IMO, sometimes literally!
The GB should be welcomed back by the rest of the supporters who will benefit as the volume gets turned up and they will have an opportunity to join in. The players and manager will benefit as the GB provide an unconditional support for the hoops on the park, and the plc will benefit as the tills start pinging again and crowds increase prior to ST renewal.
Looks like a win win for those mentioned including TD, those who will not be happy are the ones worth watching, the politicos who wish to even up the score, the specialist police unit who only hear and see what they want (Dons fans etc), will there be a big upset amongst 1 or 2 in our plc that the GB return? I’m not sure on that but worth watching IMO.
If some of the above has a political slant then it’s a Green one and just comes from an inherent love of our club, the Celtic.
Let the people sing!
Good idea!
Let’s fill our board full of Huns instead. Ooooopppppsssss!
Oooooppppppssssss. Am I to late with that suggestion?!
MWD
Morning all.
Breaking news from Italia:
Italian hun Gattuso has, allegedly, turned down overtures from a Malaysian club. He ‘dreams’ of a return to Glasgow to the club he used to play for. He appears to be unaware that they are deid.
HH!!
Vmhan
I noted an unofficial return of a few of the GB with the Feynord group on Sunday past. :-) Stewards noticed too as there was some finger pointing. half expected the Nazi’s FoCUS division to be brought in but the group was left to enjoy the game with a few songs.
MWD
Let The People Sing
For those who are in love,
there’s a song that’s warm and tender.
For those who are oppressed,
in song you can protest.
So liberate your minds and give your soul expression.
So open up your hearts,
I’ll sing for you this song.
CH
Let the people sing their stories and their songs,
and the music of their native land,
Their lullabies and battle cries and songs of hope and joy,
So join us hand in hand,
All across this ancient land,
Throughout the test of time,
it was music that kept their spirits free,
Those songs of yours and of mine,
It was back in ancient times,
the bard would tell his stories of the heroes, of the villain of the chieftains in the glen.
Through Elizabethan time and Cromwellian war and fury,
Put our pipers to the sword,
Killed our harpers and our bards.
Chorus
Ireland, land of song,
Your music lives forever,
in it’s valleys, in it’s mountains,
in it’s hills and in it’s glens.
Our music did survive,
Through famine and oppression,
to the generations gone,
I’ll sing for you this song.
Chorus
Morning Timland from a damp hun free mountain valley.
Magic if the GB are coming back.
HH
timaloy29, Great post.The support has been a big let down for me the past two seasons.
Livibhoy, loved reading that. The 80 final was my first final and only my third game, was also there in 84, but 85 & 88 are really special for me too. I love being involved on cup final day!
Vmhan, thanks for that and I’m sure the vast majority of the Celtic support will welcome the return of the BG.
I was rather hoping Sundays surprize was going to be that the GB were holding their AGM, Q & A session and pre-match Karaoke in the brazen heid prior to carrying JF atop their shoulders all the way to CP resplendent in full evening wear and diamond studded tiara.
Ach well, I’ll settle for the return of the Glorious Green Brigade to paradise instead.
quonno @ 09:12,
“….. On Saturday Celtic fashioned a stick that will be enthusiastically wielded on their fans backs, should THEY win Scottish Cup.”
Guess I’m the only Celt that wants them to win it.
My reason – well in all this oldco/newco drama/farce we have seen The Rangers Football Club shielded from repercussions of their wrongdoing and wanton mis-management.
At the heart of this has been the SFA.
The Scottish Cup – the oldest Trophy in World Football – is their primary event.
Now, they will have to state whether they regard newco as a continuation or not.
They will have to decide whether newco get a Europa spot or not.
In other words, it will highlight the sham and it will give every reasonable decent thinking football supporter in Scotland an opportunity to show how corrupt Scottish Football is.
Tim Hat? possib…
Hail Hail