O’Neill’s Celtic’s GOAT claim and persisting core attributes

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If Shane Duffy wanted to whet the appetite of supporters after securing his loan move to Celtic, scoring a 93rd minute equaliser for Ireland in their Nations Cup game in Bulgaria last night was the way to achieve it.  Those who know the player told us he was a commanding presence and the manner in which he powered home his header from a corner kick backed this up.

When you watch how teams defend set-pieces against Celtic, you will note their key defensive resources concentrate on Christopher Jullien.  He also appears to be the man other Celtic players try to provide space for, by stopping opponents getting a block on him.

Jullien is a better set-piece target than we have had in many years, but this makes us predictable to defend against.  Duffy will make Celtic significantly less easy to stop on these occasions.

If there was a Greatest Set-Piece Team of All Time table, Martin O’Neill’s Celtic would sit top.  Bobo Balde, Chris Sutton, Joos Valgaeren, Johan Mjallby and John Hartson were five absolute mountains.  Defenders seldom knew who to cover.  As a consequence, Henrik Larsson did as much damage in the air as any of them.

Football has changed greatly in the years since that team rose to prominence, it was a thing of its time, but defending and attacking at set-pieces requires the same core attributes.

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  1. hens teeth trying to find a celtic player that scored for Irleand.

     

     

    Patsy never done it, neither did Stokes,

     

     

    Sean Fallon scored 2, but I cant find who against.

  2. Ron Bacardi

     

    I am in Dalmuir West beside the tram terminus.

     

    It is known as Little Ramelton for a reason. 😊👍

  3. Republic of Ireland v France, 16 November 1952

     

     

    Score 1-1

     

    Referee Albert Alsteen

     

    Competition International Friendly

     

    Venue Dalymount Park, Dublin

     

    Attendance 40,000

     

     

    Republic of Ireland 1 1 France

     

     

    Goals:

     

    Sean Fallon 24 G

     

     

    Goals:

     

    Roger Piantoni 67 G

     

     

    Starting lineup:

     

    Goalkeeper James O’Neill

     

    Full back Tommy Aherne

     

    Full back Johnny Carey (captain)

     

    Full back Seamus Dunne

     

    Wing half Peter Farrell

     

    Outside Left Tommy Eglington

     

    Outside right Johnny Gavin

     

    Inside forward Arthur Fitzsimons

     

    Inside forward Reg Ryan

     

    Sean Cusack

     

    Sean Fallon

  4. West Germany v Republic of Ireland, 28 May 1955

     

     

    Score 2-1 to West Germany

     

     

    Referee Karel van der Meer

     

    Competition International Friendly

     

    Venue Volksparkstadion, Hamburg

     

    Attendance 50,000

     

     

    West Germany 2 1 Republic of Ireland

     

     

    Goals:

     

    Erwin Waldner 13 G

     

    Karl Mai 62 G

     

     

    Goals:

     

    Sean Fallon 67 G

  5. FAVOURITE UNCLE @ 1:51

     

    If it’s neither of these, let me know the title, and I’ll see if I can find it.

  6. Inquitousiv

     

    That Tony Abbot piece could be Nicola describing JHB or Ernie Lynch from here. 😂

  7. Ron Bacardi

     

    I am across Dumbarton Road from Canberra, next house to the old terminus.

     

    90% Tims in our wee scheme. 🍀👍

  8. Go tell the Spartim on

    Melbourne Mick

     

     

    A big bruiser as backup is fine with me, I’d always thought an Argentinian or Croatian would be good, tough as hell but can pay a bit. Our Croatian was made of biscuits

  9. DUNKY

     

     

    Is Mountblow Rec/Park still going?

     

     

    I played there against St Stephens boys guild team in early 60’s

  10. Went tae school with St Stephen’s FPs, lots of crackin wee lassies fae Dalmuir walked up Cardross Road tae Notre Dame and as a young 16;year old worked on the Dalmuir flats. Really like the place.

  11. Well you never know what the day might bring.

     

     

    I was out in East Kilbride having a coffee with my wife when I glanced a Lisbon Lion out of the corner of my eye. He caught me looking at him and approached the table. He spent 5 minutes standing talking to me as if he knew me and talked to my wife, whose from Aberdeen, and launched into a story about Swalex just so he could deliver a practised punchline.

     

     

    Having made my day he approached the next 5 tables uninvited and engaged them in chat. He quickly worked out if they wanted football talk or general and he gave them what they wanted.

     

    He would have toured every table in the place if his “minders “ had not returned, shaking their heads and saying “Typical!”

     

     

    Yes I’ve just been Bertied

  12. bigrailroadblues on

    I fly into Derry City often on my way to Donegal and Fermanagh. Drink in a few pubs in town centre, the pedestrianised part. Always loads of Celtic shirts to be seen. And they’re all mad.😂

  13. INIQUITOUSIV on 4TH SEPTEMBER 2020 2:27 PM

     

     

    Thanks for that, very funny. I know her daughter (vaguely) and she’s incredibly talented too.

  14. DELANEYS

     

     

    LOL. Our wee scheme.

     

    My bhoy still going on at me, ” Da it’s no a scheme it’s an estate ”

     

    Don’t suppose they’ll ever huv tae put waxcloth into thur shoes to

     

    keep the water oot.

     

    H.H Mick

  15. MELBOURNE MICK on 4TH SEPTEMBER 2020 2:52 PM

     

     

     

    Pretty much an everyday encounter with the guy, he’s irrepressible, so nothing strange about it at all.

  16. To get on to politics.

     

     

    In the 50’s and 60’s elections there would be an Independent Ratepayer candidate. I asked my dad what that meant. They don’ t live in a council house, they live in a ‘bought’ house, he said. But did not expand.

  17. McGeady scored 5 goals for the Republic. Tommy Coyne scored 6.

     

     

    Paul talks about set pieces. This team is probably the worst ever at converting corners. Julien has improved it but there were stats on here that we only scored about 1% of corners

  18. RON BACARDI on 4TH SEPTEMBER 2020 3:11 PM

     

     

     

    Tories by another name.

     

     

    Which Lisbon Lion was a councillor for them?

  19. – GOOD NEWS ALERT –

     

     

    Mikey Johnston is back on the grass.

     

     

    Repeat.

     

     

    Mikey Johnston is back on the grass.

     

     

    -THERE ENDS GOOD NEWS ALERT-

  20. Ron Bacardi

     

    Yes. The Mountblow Reccy across the road from me is still going strong. Saint Stephen’s School have their own pitch in Second Avenue in the new build school.

     

    Dalmuir is Green and White!

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