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.
925 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- ...
- 25
- »
Coneybhoy – sorry, regarding the score – hope you’re right – have them on a very nice 13/1 accumulator.
So, 5 Celtic players and 3 former players start the game tonight. COYBIG ;-)
So, 5 too many Celtic players represent the SFA tonight.
I just hope there are no injuries to our players.
Moravcik – not quite correct, my friend ;-)
I don’t pay much attention to internationals but what is this game tonight about? What’s the difference with some play off game next month for Euro 21
PM
So, 5 Celtic players and 3 former players start the game tonight. COYBIG ;-)
And the shortbread headline ? Jack starts …..
Jack will be exposed
Prestonpans Bhoys – 2 different competitions.
Tonight it’s the Europa League. There are 4 divisions with 16 teams in each division. Scotland are now in Division 2. Rather than playing all other 15 teams home and away, the division is split into 4 groups of 4. SCotland’s group is Scotland, Israel, Czech republic and somebody else!. Home and away ties (so 6 games) to see who wins that mini-league. The 4 winners of the mini-leagues get ‘promoted’ to the top division next time, the bottom teams get ‘relegated’. Pretty simples when you get your head around it.
In addition, some of the winners of all of the mini groups get and extra chance at qualifying for the more well known competition, The Euros (unless they’ve already qualified through the ‘normal’ Euro qualification. That’s where Scotland are from the last Europa league – they have a play off for Euros in a few weeks time. It’s just coincidence that that game is also against israel.
And breathe….
Our game against Ross County and St Mirren (is this the rearranged game) are not on TV??
Need to know – pay £9.99 to watch Sconny Borland tonight or £33 to get at least Borland and 2 Celtic games.
Most important tonight is that Celtic players come through the game without injury – after that a Scotland win.
Come on the less than 10.5 corners. Couldn’t be arsed who wins but hope all Celts get through unscathed.
The Blogger – Ross County game is on sky sports and St mirren VST
D :)
Jobo, It was you who stated 5 Celtic players start.
Jobo
Whit a man! Thanks for that, well explained got a carry oot in expectation of euro qualification😱 still drink the carry oot🍺🍺🍺🍺
Biggest crowd for the last few years……….
Jobo
These Celtic players, and ex-Celts, will all be happy to play for their country – so they should be.
What they shouldn’t be happy about is the racist trash who have disgusted all of us with the graffiti around Hampden Park.
We all know who is behind this – we’ve seen it & heard it before, closer to home.
We have a devolved government who thrive on differentiation, racism & hatred of our neighbour – a neighbour without whom we would be a bankrupt mess. Is it any wonder these cretins choose a Scotland game? – they are merely copying the bile that is regularly spewed-out by their political masters.
I hope Scotland win for the sake of Celtic players, and I have them in a juicy accumulator with PP – apart from that I totally disassociate myself from the surrounding political crap spread by the sediment of our society.
Eddy just scored a 92 min pen for France U21s after coming on for last 20 mins
Embramike – hope he is fit for next Saturday
D :)
I see our resident political bore is in full flight again tonight, despite the footie being on the box.
Look, we get it, you dont like the SNP, you like unionism and your views sit a fair bit to the right of Rees Mogg…but heres the thing, none of the rest of us give two flying f*#*s what you think. We clocked you the first time, now pipe down and stick to football, ya roaster!
And for the rest of you…whens the next league game, i hate international breaks?
Is that Provan commentating, and did he say that Christie always puts in excellent corners :O)
misses last 2 games but ok to travel and come on as a sub , strange
Commentator seems disappointed that Ryan Jack only on his 5th cap – of course Jimmy Mcgrory had 7 scoring 6 – one of the biggest scandals in Scottish football.
DAVID66 on 4TH SEPTEMBER 2020 7:47 PM
The Blogger – Ross County game is on sky sports and St mirren VST
Unfortunately neither game is available on Sky or VST
Brighton bomber ffs
Anyone else think Messi has just tarnished his whole career at Barca ?
Not a fan of this latest Scotland strip….its like a bad Dundee FC cast off.
Now this was a strip…https://images.app.goo.gl/YoGkZ9yQgizYfG3r5
Looks like we are playing 3-5,5-1.5 McGinn half and half
McTominay in the back 3 was a surprise
A wee bit congested in midfield but it has promise
New Scotland top is looking good on me, Adidas all the way!
DD
I ordered that Scotland’s GAA top, its a belter
Paul Elliot got booked how many times n a row ?
Shane will run that close me thinks 🤷♀️
ExSlaemuirBhoy on 4th September 2020 8:07 pm
Anyone else think Messi has just tarnished his whole career at Barca ?
——–
It was a strange statement but the fans love him, and to be fair he’s always gave 100% and delivered loads of trophies. So can’t see the fans turning against him.
Just turned on Scotland game. Anyone know why their strip has a red and white bands on sleeves.
Was in the camp nou before lockdown and that place is completely immersed in messi .Its all about messi.If you think changing to adidas is big
Evnin all
This would get football banned
When you manage Kilmarnock your ambition is to get a point – shining clearly that nothing has changed for Mr Clarke tonight
St Tams – apparently the red is from the lion rampant – don’t know where the yellow has gone 🤔
Guy in Celtic strip just won 800 metres at british athletics meeting. Get him signed!
The Huddle,
All very political in Spain, I never thought Messi would leave however he was sincere in wanting to leave. Fans on phone Ins not happy with him
Andy Robertson’s had a few poor touches
Messi is a great footballer and a greedy bastard.
Most of the big names are.
And who can blame them?
St Tams – back in the 60’s the Scotland strip was almost a replica Rankers strip (the more things change the more they stay the same)