There is a decent possibility that Celtic’s apparent malaise over the six games since the win at Fir Park has something to do with opposition teams closing space our midfielders used to so much effect against Newco at the start of February.
That game was such a platform for our midfield to demonstrate their ability to find and exploit space. Sure, form slips, but opponents watch and learn. Consequentially, Celtic must continue to change the script.
Through this period, Callum McGregor has continued to dominate his area as teams fall deeper, but the two more advanced midfielders, paired from Matt O’Riley, Tom Rogic and Reo Hatate, have been denied the acres available to them against Newco and Motherwell.
We cycled through Rogic-Hatate, O’Riley-Hatate and O’Riley-Rogic combinations during this period, to little effect. The latter combo looked the least effective, but that was against Bodo/Glimt, by far the better opponents.
Meanwhile, Yosuke Ideguchi waits in the dugout. We don’t know enough about Yosuke to make a proper judgement. He made his debut as a late substitute against Hibs in January before being injured at Alloa on his next outing. His only subsequent game time was again as a late sub against Raith.
When played, Yosuke has filled the deep-lying role. Nir Bitton can play here too. I cannot offer any great recommendation for either player, but I would like to see Callum McGregor higher up the field against St Mirren tomorrow, with Yosuke or Nir behind him.
For all the disappointments in Norway last week, Celtic improved when Callum came on to play in front of Bitton. When he steps into the final third, he brings a presence no one else in the squad has. I’m not going to tell you this should be a regular gig for him, but we need to change this area of the park for tomorrow and Sunday. We have options, let’s use them.
356 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- »
If Ange does indeed play another in the six and move CalMac up to get round the low block, then I’d be asking why he didn’t do that on Sunday ? Obviously something has to change but I’m not sure why those changes weren’t forthcoming last Sunday.
WISHAW TIM was last seen hanging out Japanese flags on a certain pub in WISHY ….im positive he’s well .
Saint Stivs
Whit aboot Serenity Jim.
Although I couldn’t write a poem like he could.
MARSPAPA on 1ST MARCH 2022 3:57 PM
———————
there is a Japanese Street food place in Paisley, it is straight across the street from the Ex-Service mens club.
no fuss, no comment no problems.
and yet someone in Wishaw found time to complain about “japanese imperial war flags” being flow in honour of celtic players.
i blame their schools.
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6228553
AN DÚN on 1ST MARCH 2022 3:56 PM
We scored 4 at fir park with a midfield 3 of Hatate, Macgregor and Rogic, 3 against Dundee with Hatate, Calmac and O’Riley
It’s worked for us in the past
PARK THE BUS 442
I thought it was a fair enough question since you champion everything he does ….i used to love listening to him , unfortunately after his big brother shenanigans i lost respect for him …..each to their own .
SANT STIVS
Anytime there can be a negative slant put on a Celtic story or event you can rest assured the manky mob and their friends in the press will not hold back …….it has always been thus .
They never stop to think …
SAINT …apols……i never stop to read back.😊
3 against Aberdeen and them with Hatate, calmac and O’Riley
Not against a low block but that’s 4 games in the last month we’ve scored 3 or more with calmac and two from Hatate, Rogic & O’Riley
https://youtu.be/c3ZqxM52ZeE
TEARS for FEARS latest hit …..some of the lyrics .
There was an auld blogger called Jim
Who always kids on he’s a Tim
But it’s all jackanory
He’s a Hun and a Tory
And he seems to assume we’re all dim
https://twitter.com/PodTims/status/1498685101437341716?t=yrfkQhkPZcRf-5zBLv7zTw&s=19
AP today
Seems King was denied entry to the Directors Box at Poundland on Sunday,………trying to sell up before any more share dilutions…?
I would like to see Bitton playing, allowing Calmac to play further forward. Imo, he is better there. Start with Hatate or O’Riley, and bring on Rogic for the last 30 minutes.
By the old bye, I hope the deid team aren’t invited to Australia. They may have gone to their eternal rest before that, of course, hopefully.
St, Mirren have lost only 4 of their 13 away ties in the SPFL this season.They have drawn at Hibs, Motherwell, St. Johnstone, and won at Ross Co, United and Livingston. Only two teams have given them a real doing Celtic won 6:0 (Saints went down to 10 men in the first half) and Aberdeen beat them 4:1
I expect us to beat them. Dropped points are always a possibility but dropping them in two consecutive games is not league run-in form.
I echo Paul’s point about frying Callum from DM duties but that means trusting one from 4 as the defensive support- Hatate, Bitton, McCarthy or Ideguchi- all have different risks but I would go for either Bitton or McCarthy as they are experienced and less likely to get overwhelmed by nerves if we go behind.
We will probably face another match without Kyogo or Giakoumakkis and many are not impressed, so far with Maeda’s goal threat. I would persevere with the current front three mostly because Abada and Jota are most effective in their current slots and don’t deserve to be shifted. We have had little success with false centre forwards such as Johnston, Forrest or Abada. At least with Maeda you have speed and harrying. If he needs subbed, I’d have young Dawson on the bench. Let’s face it- we won’t be using him if Kyogo and Giakoumakkis come back so we might as well use his full allowance of games as a Team registered player when we need to.
My team would be
Hart
Juranovic CCV Starfelt Taylor
Bitton McGregor O’Riley
Abada Maeda Jota
I would not be upset if Ralston , scales, Welsh or McCathy/Ideguchi got a start but I would not want any more than 2 changes to that suggested 11.
We won’t beat them 6:0 tomorrow night – a couple of firsts half goals and an avoidance of a Sevco like 2nd half collapse will do me
Goodwillie returns to Clyde.
Raith have done the right thing but why not so much outrage from Clyde fans as Raith?
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 1ST MARCH 2022 4:37 PM
By the old bye, I hope the deid team aren’t invited to Australia. They may have gone to their eternal rest before that, of course, hopefully.
———————————-
RANGERS have similarities to Tardigrades ( water BEARS )…Some say they would survive the apocalypse , unfortunately Rangers seem to have the same characteristic ……its the hope that kills us (me anyway)
Anybody in FS2 Row 6 tomorrow?
TIM MALONE WILL TELL on 1ST MARCH 2022 4:27 PM
There was an auld blogger called Jim
Who always kids on he’s a Tim
But it’s all jackanory
He’s a Hun and a Tory
And he seems to assume we’re all dim
——————————–
🍻👍VG.
On the Friday night after we beat Rangers 3-0 .
My wife and I took a Glasgow cab from Tge Radisson Red hotel to the Crescent bar in Finnieston.
The taxi driver asked why we were in Glasgow ?
We told him that we had been there since the football on Wednesday.
I thought about posting what the driver told us , back then .
But the topic made me uncomfortable and it was a tale from a Taxi driver .
The Taxi drivers name was Dave Gordon .
He said he was abused as a Celtic boys club player .
He said he blamed Jock Stein , as he hushed it up .
At his hearing he said Billy McNeill admitted that the abuse was known and discussed in Celtic circles .
He said that it was an international paedophile ring .
That boys had been abused when the competed in Kearney , New Jersey , USA.
That boys stayed with individuals who were paedophiles .
He said that the case in the USA would go nowhere , but the case in Scotland would be approved this year .
He predicted that it would cost Celtic £10m .
In Dave Gordon’s opinion, it was peanuts to Celtic .
He said that he couldn’t wait to have his day in court and tell his story .
Dave Gordon said he was no longer of Celtic football club , but he was a supporter of the Celtic fans.
My wife was affected by how angry and damaged he sounded.
I myself was conflicted .
I didn’t want to hear it , and I was gutted that he identified Jock Stein , and singled him out .
Please don’t shoot the messenger.
I do feel guilt at not posting this at the time .
Dave Gordon said that he wouldn’t settle out of court .
He wanted it all to come out .
TT
SAINT STIVS on 1ST MARCH 2022 3:42 PM
JIMMY AIPPLE SEED, that celtic suporter that planted trees across merica
——————————–
Appreciate my new nom de blog.
Yours faithfully.
JIMMY AIPPLE SEED
https://youtu.be/Q6AxkvYYsPM
AP full presser
TIM MALONE WILL TELL on 1ST MARCH 2022 4:27 PM
Well played!
We have discussed the horrific Boy’s Club situation many times on CQN and a settled and informed picture has emerged which is not affected one iota by today’s court ruling (no matter how much JHB would like it to- he does enjoy his “worried” about Celtic outlook).
Most Celtic fans want justice and compensation for those abused as children.
Most Celtic fans and, I believe the club itself, would like to settle via negotiation.
Most Celtic fans have learned that Celtic cannot and will not be allowed to admit guilt or overstate the links between the Club and the boys Clubs because their lawyers and insurers would not allow it. The Class Action lawyer knows this and is grandstanding on it.
Unfortunately, this will have to play out in the courts, with all the attendant bad publicity, but, if it ends with a just and legal settlement, then we will just have to thole it.
My biggest worry is that the victims lose their case because the legal separation argument is legally, a strong one (there have been many Boys team with Celtic in their name, playing in Celtic strips, without any formal ties to the club) because then we are into deciding how much payment Celtic should make when their legal case has been vindicated.
It is a dreadful sad situation. We can piously call for a resolution and negotiation but the tactics employed by adversarial lawyers will not allow for this.
I am afraid, that, despite this morning’s ruling, this has years to run. Such is the nature of the Law in this area.
BRRB
“Anybody in FS2 Row 6 tomorrow?”
———————————-
I’ll be half a dozen rows behind you
MARSPAPA on 1ST MARCH 2022 3:22 PM
The game in AUSTRALIA will give the much maligned SYDNEYTIM a chance to vent his frustrations at wee Jamsie close up .😊☘️🟩
—-
🤣🤣👍🏼
Team for tomorrow.
HART
JURANUVIC, CCV, STARFELT, TAYLOR
O’RILEY, GUCHI/ MCCARTHY, MCGREGOR
ABADA, MAEDA, JOTA
Jimmy Redstar
My Sunday name – cheers St Stivs
Celticmac,
I’m those games you mentioned- Aberdeen, Dundee, Motherwell- the midfields you posted were Calmac, Hatate and another.
The lack of energy and cover for the defence when O’Riley and Rogic played with Calmac v Bodo/Glimt was frightening
Superbru update
A low scoring week this weekend with joint leaders Belmont Brian and Billy Boy, leading on 7 points from Park Road67, Bhoy from the Village and kelvinbhoy – all a point behind.
10 posters either failed to predict or got them all wrong and ended on 0 points but Superbru has randomly awarded Bada Bing the wooden spoon.
Congrats to the 3 posters who got the Sevco vs Well result spot on- Cosy Corner Bhoy, BRTH and Auldheid. A further 15 were brave enough to predict a draw but did not specify 2:2.
The overall Leaderboard sees Call Me Gerry on 179.5 points, Hopeful Hoops on 170 and Magnificentseven on 164.5. The foot of the table is being won by irregular participants with Gscbhoy being even more irregular than wee BGFC.
We have a full programme of 6 matches starting again tomorrow night – get your predictions in before 7.45 pm or earlier if you are heading to the game
G Mak possibly a sub tomorrow- AP
😡
I’ve read James Forrest’s blog on the BC case and I’m a bit confused. I know James doesn’t post here anymore but if someone else can help me out, I’d be grateful.
So James has said that Celtic’s separate entity legal defence has collapsed today, in effect the court has adjudged Celtic FC and Celtic BC to be the one and same legal entity.
I don’t see how that’s the case based on what I’ve read. Indeed the QC for the victims didn’t even argue this case, merely that there was close links between the two.
So what is James talking about ?
Can I buy a ticket for tomorrow at the office? Tried online and getting pissed off. 😡
Just read through the posts and catch up and there it is BADA has a football post, again! That’s enough for me folks, loved my time on here but enough is enough, bye! Jimmy Por Cierto…
Sorry non football post.
Just watched Oliver Stone’s 2017 documentary “Ukraine On Fire”
I would really recommend this for some insight in to what is happening now
5.6 on IMDB
46% 10/10
32% 01/10
Make of that as you will
.
https://youtu.be/pKcmNGvaDUs
MAJESTIC HARTSON on 1ST MARCH 2022 5:20 PM
I agree, I hope we never see a midfield of those three against a team like BG again
Against a team that sits back I think it’s fine, the more technical players who can play incisive passes the better. There’s no need to get up and down the pitch
I definitely don’t see the need for a more defensive minded player.