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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Sevco latest………………still deid.
BMCUWP – thanks for that.
Although it does no harm to rummage around other corners of the ole internet.
For example, were you aware that cats do the craziest things?
BSR
…..and the remains decaying.
BMCUW
I never criticised the right to have an opinion.
I, merely pointed out that believing in an opinion you had invented and then making deductions and plans of actions from that, is a pretty unsound way to behave.
you start with:-
I believe NFL is a numpty.
We shouldn’t have a numpty running Celtic.
Therefore we should sack NFL.
GIGO principle, I think its called.
there are certain players who underperform that you just know will do better at their next club, even if that club is in a better league…
I think we have a pile of them within Celtic at the moment.
Ole Rab fair gave John Brown a warm send off from Dens – so they say.
the honest mistake loves being first
13:22 on 11 February, 2014
A quick question to change the subject for a minute.
A defender chips the ball up then heads the ball back to the keeper so that the keeper can pick the ball up.
The keeper boots the ball away without touching the ball with his hands.
You’re the ref, what is the correct decision?
———————––—————————————————————
I would say play on.
However, a friend of mine was a referee, and awarded an indirect free- kick against the defender in Scottish Junior cup game. He said they were ” Circumventing” the rules!
Do I win a prize?
HH
DONTBRATTBAKKINANGER
Indeed they do.
Varmints keep cosying up to me despite the fact that I canny stand them!
I’m not a great animal-lover,though I wouldn’t harm one.
A few years ago,my mate and his lass went to Glastonbury and asked me to house-sit.
Within reason,of course. Open/close the curtains appropriately,look after the cat,etc. it was a weekend,after all!
They arrived back,no sign of the cat. Brought it in two hours ago,I said.
It was outside,drenched. They were none too pleased,and my protestations of innocence fell on deaf ears.
My mate apologised a few days later. He discovered the darn cat (!) jumping outa the bathroom window!
Goldfish for me,mate. They don’t tend to hang around too long…
Culstbhoy…
What does that tell you?
Dontbrattbakkinanger-Going by Saturday’s attendance and growing apathy, Murrayfield could be the wrong option.If we were drawn against an Elfsborg type team,we would be lucky to fill Firhill or Rugby Park (not advocating giving those ratbags any business BTW).
SETTING FREE THE BEARS 1506
Here is what you posted earlier.
~~~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~~~~
setting free the bears supports res. 12 & oscar knox
14:43 on 11 February, 2014
bamboo
With respect, you or I have absolutely no idea on what the input is from our asst. coaches before, during, or after a match day. trying to form an opinion based on a visual observation of their match day behaviour is as close to making decisions on a basis of ignorance as you can come.
P.S. Peter Grant pointed a lot of things out. Would we have him back? :-)
~~~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~~~
I’ll leave it to others to make their own mind up that I read it wrong or not.
But if your premise was the basis for any post,it would be a pretty disinterested (sic) blog.
The honest mistake
Depends what he is chipping it from? Open play – there is nothing to prevent any player chipping the ball and heading it? If the keeper then boots it away then no offence has taken place. If he picks it up then no offence has taken place either.
If he is chipping from a free kick then he has touched it twice which is an offence. Same for a goal kick or corner (stretching it now!)
RU a ref?
HH
the honest mistake loves being first
13:22 on 11 February, 2014
A quick question to change the subject for a minute.
A defender chips the ball up then heads the ball back to the keeper so that the keeper can pick the ball up.
The keeper boots the ball away without touching the ball with his hands.
You’re the ref, what is the correct decision?
There is no decision to make,no offence has taken place.
BMCUWP.
You were correct with your first attempt. Yellow card to defender and indirect free kick. The foul is the attempt to circumvent the pass back rule.
As for Saturday. It was my nieces first game and my brothers first game for many years She had a great time and to be honest, apart from the result , we all did. She’s hooked. My brother wants to get back as soon as possible too. Every cloud has a silver lining.
Hope London was kind to you.
Hh.
79caps
13:33 on
11 February, 2014
Turkeybhoy
So you are saying we should play without wingers?
In certain games ,yes.Our best performance of the season was against Hearts with no wingers.We have amazing full backs,just why the obsession with wingers?.They are always hot and cold.Its the nature of being stuck out wide,where Lenny likes them.When Sammi is good he is unplayable,when bad,oh dear.Same with Forrest.When you play both and both are not very good,its a nightmare.Play one or the other,not both.
archdeaconsbench
It tells me a few things:
1) we have too many similar type players (predominantly midfield and forward)
2) we are more focussed on turning a profit on projects than building a TEAM
3) we should move players on more ruthlessly
4) sometimes players and clubs are not a good fit for each other and it’s nobody’s fault
5) our coaching/ scouting system is not as effective as it might be
etc
anybody like to share their preferred starrting 11 from current squad…?
Just on. Read Paul’s article and agree in part. However I have bemoaned that team selection more than once this season and last and the one before it. I am still angry that it should have been played in Saturday. I am now going to scroll back so apologies if I am going over old ground.
Pointers
philboy
Sevco deid in Europe latest
Chalmers
11 Feb 2014, 09:59 AM
Auldyin
11 Feb 2014, 01:00 AM
Spoiler: click to toggle
Thanks for the detailed reply, Auldyin. I take it that the membership for less than three years will prohibit Sevco this year and over-rule any SFA support then.
Well if UEFA think Article 12 important enough to create with regard to integrity of UEFA competitions, they are unlikely to agree to another Article (15) meant for clubs who do not fall foul of Article 12, to circumvent Art 12.
Then there is the Derry precedent so it is highly unlikely, but such is the dark power of the darkside ya never can be 100% sure.
A wee bit added info on when the 3 years exile is up.
NewRangers obtained SFA membership at start of August 2012 (3rd?)
The UEFA licensing cycle in 2015, if the date used this years applies, will need to be completed in terms of the SFA submitting a list of applicant, by 31st May 2015
NewRangers will not have been members of the SFA as UEFA see it by 31st May 2015, they are 2 months and a few days short of consideration.
UEFA set the final submission date although the SFA set when they start the process.
Now whilst the suspicion will be that the date will be delayed to favour NewRangers it will not be the SFA who set the final submission date and UEFA will already have scheduled in the start date of qualifying rounds in Jun 2015, so room to wriggle is too tight.
So it looks like season 2016/17 at the earliest for a return to Europe assuming they have qualified, and by Europe I mean the Europa League not the CL, God knows when they will get a sniff at that as matters stand.
Did the guys investing on the basis of UEFA money do their homework in terms of when to expect any return?
via auldyin KDS
a light insanity
No problem, it is still being discussed.
(Sack the board)
Cultsbhoy
===============Forster=================
Lustig=====Ambrose===Van Dijk=====Izaguirre
===============Mulgrew================
=========Brown=========Johanssen======
===============Commons==============
========Griffiths==========Forrest========
Mulgrew & Johanssen can switch, Commons & Forrest can switch
THE HONEST MISTAKE
Glad to hear it,mate. Been trying to get my niece hooked for a while,but it is blinkin’ freezing where we sit!
Not given up,of course. She is the proud owner of my original CQN badge for starters,and if she disnae up her gemme,I’m having it back!!
London was magic,outstanding company and great curry. Decided on a vindaloo this time after nearly over-reaching myself in CQN company the last time.
I even managed to get the last train.
Since you’re asking questions from our childhood-i.e.YOU ARE THE REF,here’s one.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
Great day though.
Kayal33 and Philbhoy
That formation, and variants of it, were seen again
Our very next game, following those two great results , was our Barca 6:1 drubbing. We played Biton Ledley and Brown with only one player who could be dismissed as a mere winger, Boerigter. We even brought Charlie on for the attacking Pukki at half time to shore up with more solid midfielders but we shipped 3 goals in each half.
We then went to Hibs for the start of our Turgid Period. We cannot blame the 2 winger syndrome for that as we had Brown, Ledley and Biton starting again. Next up was Hearts where we had Biton, Brown and Ledley again; it was 0:0 at half time but we introduced a winger, JF at half time and scored just after the hour mark. We then added Sammi at the 70 minute mark, making two wingers, and won 2:0.
In the next three 1:0 borefests we had:-
St. J- Matthews Brown Ledley Commons/Sammi
ICT- Forrest Brown Ledley Commons/Sammi
Partick- Forrest Brown Ledley Mulgrew
I include Commons and Sammi as interchangeable as Sammi did not play left mid for 90 minutes in any of those matches.
There is no clear correlation that says 4 solid midfielders = good or that 1 or 2 wingers = bad. Our football form is much more elusive than a chalkboard tactic.
Hot Dates!
Johnny the Tim, fab Virgil, badabing.
Sorry guys, yellow cards all round.
Runs away with straight back, socks pulled up and whistle in mouth like a Dallas cowboy.
bsr
I know the one on the left!
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
14:54 on
11 February, 2014
Crikey, we’re still analysing that game to death……has noone got any news on the sevco demise…..get your priorities right FGS….. :)
Your post merely confirms something I said on here yeserday.
Too much attention being paid by posters to THEM and our own deficiencies, and there are some, being swept under the carpet.
Sir Paul
Raymie,is right.. You are Right..
n.. Kojo,is Right..
Aboot whit?
This..
Clever Ba’ Manipulator’s..
Canny TACKLE!
Wait a minute..
Did Raymie, say That?
Did You Say That?
Ah Know that.. Kojo, Said That..
Anyway…
It’s True.. It’s wanna they Un- Written Rules that everybuddy Hears Aboot..
But, nobuddy Knows Why.. Somebuddy Disnae ..
Write About!
Yep..it’s Become… a fact..
Ki, Couldnae Tackle.. right? Neither, could.. the Bishop?
sure Baith could go thru the Motions.. But.. When Awe wiz said n No Said..
Neither. still wiznae a Very Effective…
“Wirer-Inner”,
McGeady, Maloney, Naka, Wee Jamesie… Charlie Tully… ( Charlie Tully.. Who He?…ed) Awe clever Ba’ Thingmies..
An Nain of them could Knock the Skin affa Rice Puddin’!… whilst attemptin tae mak a Successful Tackle.(Especially…Charlie!)
Noo , Ah hiv only gien ye a Few Names.. but Ah could Fill this Page.. wi..Names o’ Clever Ba’ Thingmies.. Who couldna mak an Effective Tackle. n you , pal… Know It.
Noo, Hivin Said awe that..
This Presents us Wi a wee Bit O A Problem..
Right?
Oh ,yes it diz.. disn’t it?
Where in a Fiba Team Formation..is the best place tae Put.. a Clever n Talented.. Ba’ Artiste????
Hmmmmmmmmm…
Well..it seems tae me.. that This IS anither wan o they
UNFORSEEN PROBLEMS.. that.. Naebuddy .. has .. Well .. Forseen.
whenevah… they sit doon tae Map oot . thur Team Formation.. fur the Day.
Noo, if ye expect. Kojo.. tae come up wi.. the Answer tae That Yin..
Ye hiv anither think Comin’
Fur..
Whit dae Ah know aboot Fitba Team Formations?
Nada.. Zilch.. Zero..
Howevah.. Ah kin tell Ye wan Thing.. which May help ye figger oot..
Jist Where in the Formation One should NEVAH Dump …Your Clever Ba’ Manipulator..????
n Ah suppose ye Ur way Aheid o me oan.. The Where??.. ( Sure Ye Ur, Paul.. )
Well..
It’s a Lead Pipe Cinch..
IT SHOULD NEVAH BE ..
OAN EETHUR WING!
But.. that is JIST THE PLACE.. where.. Awe the Fitba.. Manager’s PIT THEM!
which…
Diznae…
Mak Sense tae Me.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
I select a seven iron, hit it badly and fail to reach the green. Nothing wrong with the selection.
JJ
George Square live near Timmy Council Chambers
THM
So it is.
FIFA Law 12 (excerpt)
uses a deliberate trick while the ball is in play to pass the ball to his own
goalkeeper with his head, chest, knee, etc. in order to circumvent the Law,
irrespective of whether the goalkeeper touches the ball with his hands or
not. The offence is committed by the player in attempting to circumvent
both the letter and the spirit of Law 12 and play is restarted with an indirect
free kick
HH
Kayal33
15:00 on
11 February, 2014
I agree totally.Said it at the time.
Your team is the one I would play,and I am sure many would like to see.Biton,Mathews back ups for the middle.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
Stoapit,you!
My own personal favourite,legs and eyes.
http://lost-emilie-de-ravin.pblogs.gr/maggie-grace-sanon.html
jungle jim
Try a 3 wid!
It’s freezing………..
TBM
THE BARCA MOLE
Be grateful yer not down here then!
Warm in the pub,mind.
The Honest Mistake loves being first- I need to join the Ludge mate….:}