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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Keradine – “Is Neil Lennon ready for a job in England?”
Kenny – “What’s wrong with the job he’s got?”
Brilliant!
BSR
Ole Henrik is not on the list as he officially left us in June 2004 and CQN did not start until July 2004, so he did not play any competitive games for us in the CQteN decade or 9 years and 8mths :-)
And yes he would have been a gimme.
HH
CRC
Celtic Yoofs Beat Kilmarnock, the Day.
Young Herron.. the Scorer.. 1 – 0
Great Woik, Kids..
Howevahhhhhh..
The Doo Hickey ,which Piqued Me..in the Secret Place..in Ma Boady.. Which Luvs tae be.. well.. Piqued..
Wiz that…
Fisher, wiz Played ,in this Game
IN THE MID FIELD..
Noo ,Is it Jist Possible..
That .. Neil n Co.. Hiv Bin
Reading .. Kojo’s Stuff..oan Here???
Hmmmmm
Kojo
Still,Laughin
PS
That bit about the GB was not anti GB but the fantasies of an auld man.
Those of the Tiller Girl times will recognise.
If there were rumors of a Sevco event this week would the bookies give odds on it or would they be too afraid of reprisals..??
justcuriousecsc……….
Good Evening Timland.
Busy selecting my CQteN dream team,shock and stunned
to see Kojo has been omitted from the managers list.
Valentine’s Day
Pal.. Ah wull tak that as A Compliment
Jist tae Spike yer Guns!
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Kojo…..it was a compliment great one!!!
Couple of months ago one of our North American brethren published the next round of Super Bowl matches.GB versus SF anyone else have to have a second look at that with maybe a wry smile?
eddieinkirkmichael
17:21 on 11 February, 2014
Monaghan1900
16:19 on
This is what is getting them so excited.
http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/Purchase/ViewDocument/17695356
__________________________________________________________________________
FANTASTIC!
………………………….wtf does it all mean?
HH
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
17:36 on 11 February, 2014
eddieinkirkmichael
Are the Co-op HQs really in 1 Balloon Street in Manchester?
Does Nena live at No.99 behind a red door?
——————————————————————————————————
Yes, that is really their address
Bristol bhoy, natknow, weeminger, thanks, I’ll give these a try.
Valentine’s Day
It WIZ!
Michty Me!
Sorry, Mucker..
Consider yer Guns..
Un-Spiked!
NIce Chattin..pal
but Ah gotta Go, Joe..
See Ya.
*****CQteN Dream Team******
14 teams already submitted to date as the early bhirds get their votes in.
Remember, you must email your team to doccqten@gmail.com
We will not pick up your team if you post it on the blog, so it will not count towards the voting.
Voting open to bloggers, lurkers, friends and family. Spread the news and get those teams coming in.
HH
CRC
For the late night music crowd/fans of jazz/ or just fans of great music ….
I just learned that Gregory Porter is doing a show in Glasgow on May 31 …. worth checking out!
For those of you who haven’t come across him, here is a sample … enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HvpIgHBSdo
HH
Jazz………………..gggreat!
fastshowcsc
thomthethim
I think NFL would argue blind he wasn’t doing 4-2-4 and ‘wingers’ are expected to double up and be Bertie Auld ☺
You know me, I’d have a Celtic that had the crowd waiting in vein for us to cavalry charge. The wee Jamesie on the wing beating one after the other, works one week in three depending on who you are playing.
When Forrest is the only threat because he’s doubled and treble marked, you’re in trouble.
Happens in big games against good opposition and men behind the ball.
The Biton issue was too late because we we’re too quickly 2-1 down, and we don’t do defender for attacker.
Having said all that the line up for St Johnstone will be less
familiar.
HH
KrisCommons i reckon that lenny asks to much of Kris, and im sure we dont get the best from him which is a shame, because Kris is a very clever football player. and when lenny takes him off , thats when the problems start,
Good evening all from a snowy ML10. How are you all tonight?
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
Jonny the Tim
It means that if CPLC is indebted to Co-Op bank and canny pay said debt then the said bank can take the land assets instead. It’s called a charge, a bit like wot craigy bought from the bank of scotland re Ibrox.
HH
Ajax are also able to live with much larger ultra section who as we have witnessed have a nasty hooligan element while the peaceful GB who create a special atmosphere have been banished. Would a noisy GB backing the team have kept us in the cup-tie?
Celticrollercoaster supports the Dambhoys
I’ve been at this for 3 day’s and night’s….. I need more time!!!
While Peter Lawwell is dishing out the numbers- commendably regards the financial situation, how about he also furnishes us with the actual number of GB lads arrested after the Mudrerwell ‘riots’ where seventeen million innocent seats were exterminated under the jackboot heels of our sinister faction?
I’ve a feeling the number will be equivalent to our bank debt, but not one he wants too much publicity for. After all, SOMEONE WILL DIE…
Get the atmosphere back.
Why would you take off your 2 top scorers when you are chasing a goal,both weren’t playing that well (who was?).We should have IMO taken Matthews off and went 3 at the back at some point,with Biton on at HT.
Right Bhoys
Tonights donation to the bookies is Southampton , Villa , Chelsea and Forest . Good luck to anyone else who is having a go .
HH
bamboo
19:07 on
11 February, 2014
Ajax are also able to live with much larger ultra section who as we have witnessed have a nasty hooligan element while the peaceful GB who create a special atmosphere have been banished. Would a noisy GB backing the team have kept us in the cup-tie?
=============
Indeed but would the Tiller Girls have distracted Aberdeen? :)
Need some help
Turned my Laptop on it is running Windows 7
Tried to login and got message
The User Profile Service daed the login
User profile cannot be loaded
Cannot login????
Any ideas?
Valentinesday
Plenty of time to go. Watch out for the stats over the coming days/weeks.
So for goalie is it Big Rab or Mark Brown? :-)
HH
CRC
BSR,
He could argue all day if he wished, but wingers is what they were.
Jock ‘s Golden Rule was not to ask a player to do what he was incapable of doing – and asking JF, Sammi and you must include KC and AS in that bracket, to do defensive duties is like asking me to dance the lead role in Swan Lake!
Changes should have been made at half time at the latest, or even after Adam took the kick in the ribs.
I hate to and rarely criticise Celtic players or staff, but it wasn’t the defeat on Saturday that annoyed me, as I could find consolation in the bigger picture; but it was the causes of that defeat that rankles.
Daed = failed
tony watt tony tony watt
thomthethim for oscar ok
19:15 on 11 February, 2014
BSR,
He could argue all day if he wished, but wingers is what they were.
Jock ‘s Golden Rule was not to ask a player to do what he was incapable of doing – and asking JF, Sammi and you must include KC and AS in that bracket, to do defensive duties is like asking me to dance the lead role in Swan Lake!
——
With the greatest of respect to Sammi and wee James – If Messi and Xavi can close down like mad without the ball, so can they !!
Celticrollercoaster supports the Dambhoys
19:15 on
11 February, 2014
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Oh deary me
KoJo
I hear what you are saying so eloquently but I feel you are missing a trick. The trick is not to have too many “destroyers” in midfield but we are absolutely crying out for a classy , creative midfielder, aye, crying out.
Looka t the supposed best teams in the EPL and you will see, Silva , Mata, Oscar etc and llok at the success therein. I rest my case me’lud. We need my name sake, LOOO BO
KINGLuBO
I’m not afraid of downsizing if we can still play the celtic way
Looks like it is down to general fitness again, we said after cl matches that our team looked less fit than our opponents..
I don’t mean returning g after injury I mean general fitness like the Italian footballers for example
celticrollercoaster supports the dambhoys
18:52 on 11 February, 2014
*****CQteN Dream Team******
14 teams already submitted to date as the early bhirds get their votes in.
——————————————–
CRC, who gets the early bhird podium for dream team submission? I fully expect to be in the top 10 ;-)
PMTYH
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.