I remember an old debate about what was more important: players or tactics? Current consensus is that tactics rule, but that’s because we live in an era of tactical innovation. In the decades when tactics never deviated from 4-4-2, success in the game was about players.
There’s another element: partnerships. Good players can be tactically right for a side, but still underachieve because their team-mates don’t move that fraction of a second before a defender reacts to the danger (or an opposing striker steals a yard).
You may be able to identify our strongest starting 11, but with so many changes to the line-up this season, you will struggle to name partnerships that have impressed you. Until Saturday. As Nicolas Kuhn cut inside and looked into the St Johnstone box, Kyogo did a 360° spin, creating space at the moment required to meet the subsequent cross, which our Japanese hero converted.
The opening moments of the second half saw a mirror image of this, resulting in the second goal. Kyogo’s first touch took him wider, but Kuhn understood what would happen next, and made a run into the box. The goal, against a packed defence, looked easy.
Over the years, you and I have seen what happens when players successfully feed off each other. In possession, they look out for the other, the target player takes a cue to move when his partner is on the ball. Confidence builds and soon everything works better. With so many injuries and new faces to integrate, a lack of effective partnerships has been one of our major drags this season.
We learned on Saturday that Nicolas arrived at Celtic in January around 7kg (over a stone in old money) underweight; around 10% of his bodyweight. He would have been weak, but there was no hiding. Now fully fit, his trajectory is impressive. Add him to the lengthy list of ‘written off too soon’ targets, season 2023-24.
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TOSB
How sad must your life be that you keep a list of posters who disagree with your view. Did you confront them individually at the time of their posts which would be the correct thing to do instead of publishing a list when he narrative swings in favour of your your own view? Sheesh.
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I have a very content life thanks, being newly retired I have some time on my hands, not to rant and rave at blog comments , but just to scratch my head in wonder as to how a player could be so set upon so early in their celtic career, ie 2 mis firing games.
i dont actually have a list, i mean what is the bhoy was really shite and cost us the league title by a mistake i would look foolish. i do however have access to the in match comments of the blog at the time, i can publish in the future, but then again i might now.
I didnt respond on line at the time because I wasnt on, i just read back later, i seldom respond online/in game time because it is an absolute waste of time.
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i turned to the guy next to me at easter road, and said dearie me, that guy larsson, he wont make it and jansen should go with him.
SO,
SHEESHT yirself.
Now fully fit, his trajectory is impressive. Add him to the lengthy list of ‘written off too soon’ targets, season 2023-24.
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This is Kuhn BTW.
“his trajectory is impressive” – technically correct.
He’s gone from not playing well in a handful of games to playing very well … in one game.
I have hopes for Nicolas, and have no intention of writing him off even if he doesn’t do much else this season.
But, respectfully Pablo, body of evidence needs to be more substantial.
Can whoever is responsible for it update the league table and put us at the top.
as a ps,
i dont know yet if kuhn will be a great celtic player, only time will tell.
but to become a great you need to have consistency of performance, and contribution.
i can make some predictions though –
his next poor game will be “supported” with comments from cqn regulars of “see we told you he is shite”
what about Matt O’Riley, now that he is not playing so well, should we have sold him at his high point ?
Ah…the lost Tapes….TYNECASTLE GATE….The Plot thickens..
IF they are ” LOST”…Does that Weaken the SFA Case against Brendan ?
HH
“Partnerships, tactics and players”
Hugely important in any era of the game, arguably even more so now.
Our up front movement in the last five games (Tynecastle excepted), has been awesome, allowing the play to look more fluid and incisive.
Good players flourish in this type of environment and Kuhn’s improvement and Kyogo’s mojo returning is not at all unexpected.
Form is temporary….
Have a grand day Celts…
Hail Hail
SAINT STIVS on 18TH MARCH 2024 12:43 PM
a crock of shit. what strides forward have they made ?
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Well, we have had plenty of ridiculous VAR decisions go against us.
I am sure there are plenty within the SFA who regard those as strides forward.
as an aside to an aside,
the 2nd rangers manager, has talked up his frustration , that on the morning of the game there was no communication from anyone to them that the pitch needed an inspection.
kenny miller on shortbread however said that the team had stayed in perthshire overnight saturday (did first rangers not owe gleneagles money ?) and would be aware of the weather, various reports saying it had been torrential all night.
and it was only that the rangers kitman was already at the ground 9am that he heard of an inspection.
in a very simplistic conversation form a hundred bus convenors before setting off ………..
whits thew weather like in dundee ?
well its been pishin doon all night, and they already had 3 games postponed there dure to watterlogges penalty spots ……..
aye, it might be off.
they could have called poor philip who doesnt yet understand scottish weather.
ST STIVS
In your post at 1:00pm you informed the blog that you had a list ready to publish when Kuhn becomes a Hun Skelper only to tell us in your post at 2:11pm that you don’t actually have a list. So the list has disappeared?
Before you retired were you in charge of VAR recordings at the SFA?
I posted Kuhn was very poor at Easter Rd,given what we know about his health issues, could be argued that he shouldn’t have been played
Out of the loop a bit here.
What’s the story – with any links please – about the VAR tapes from the Hearts game going missing ?
Is Crawford Allan’s decision to go linked to that , if true, or the wider case with BR?
HH
As with Watergate, it isn’t the lie that gets you but the cover up, if these audio recordings have been deleted, then Celtic need to gut that place, Allan is being made the scapegoat, perhaps willingly, but Robertson and Beaton need to swing for their apparent cheating, bring on their strike they’re a bunch of crooks anyway.
Your concern over the list, it is inside the match day blog, all i have to do is cut and paste it, when i can be bothered, wouldnt take me long.
someone recently did some statistical analysis about one blog, and positive comments about the celtic were hard to find.
Celtic stand to lose out on Direct entry to the Champions League and the subsequent loss of prestige and earnings from that, that won’t or shouldn’t be lost on Mr Desmond.
About Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association (also known as the Scottish FA) is the governing body of football in Scotland. Members of the Scottish FA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national and local a
ssociations. It was formed in 1873, making it the second oldest national football association in the world.
Our vision is to harness the power of football to inspire the nation, transform lives and build a united and successful game. Through our Strategy our commitment is to build on the successes of our men’s and women’s national teams, our manifesto to encourage future generations to play freely and safely, whilst showcasing the many ways in which football can improve everyday health, education and wellbeing in Scotland.
!!BADA BING!! on 18TH MARCH 2024 2:43 PM
I posted Kuhn was very poor at Easter Rd,given what we know about his health issues, could be argued that he shouldn’t have been played
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aye that part puzzles me, esp when forrest is available.
Forrest docked four points….
Not Jamesie
The other one
CELTIC MAC on 18TH MARCH 2024 2:53 PM
Forrest docked four points….
Not Jamesie
The other one
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Phew! I’m glad you made that clear. 🤣
Wee Jamesie could be very valuable during the run in,looking fit and sharp
!!BADA BING!! on 18TH MARCH 2024 2:59 PM
Wee Jamesie could be very valuable during the run in,looking fit and sharp
* a bit like the buzz bomb when he returned fae Houston for the season 10 men won the League
to be fair im not that fussed if we dont get direct entry to the champions league group stages.
i think i would rather have a play off round to see if we are serious about even trying to compete in terms of making signings before i fork out 200 quid on the group stage tickets.
if wr get papped out of a qualifier because we are under-prepared then think what would have happened to us in the group stages that we would have forked out for 4 home games if we had direct entry
Partnerships between players are of course very important but as we have virtually changed our playing staff every season since 2001 our players are still getting to know each other!! These partnerships all over the park are crucial……it’s not for nothing that it’s called ‘association’ football
LADH
Seriously, if refereeing and VAR costs us direct entry you aren’t fussed?
My humble opinion is that “natural talent” is being stifled by tactics to be honest.
Did Jinky play to tactics, no, don’t think so, and Messi, Iniesta and the like ?
KINGLuBO
Did Jinky play to tactics, no, don’t think so, and Messi, Iniesta and the like ?
they all did.
allthough Jock was mis quoted on the “just give the ball to Jinky” thing.
the fascinating old clip of jock and the tactic board, the lions all listening intently, when bertie chips in with some obsevation,
BadaBing
What’s Shoo Dallas doing these days you ask.
Plotting the downfall of CELTIC I’d imagine
KINGLuBO
So, rumours the VAR from Hearts went missing.
Shurely not !
Brilliant rumour about the lost “VAR tapes”.
Would be even better if it were true.
Great rumour re VAR tapes.
Levels of enormous incompetence required for this to be true.
Surely just a case of getting the backup from the cloud ! What could possibly go wrong
HH
login
Seriously, if refereeing and VAR costs us direct entry you aren’t fussed?
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thats not what i meant
i dont want refs and var to even cost us a corner.
but if the scottish coefficient criteria determine that the league winners need to play in a play off round then it is what it is
That’s clearer
If the tapes have disappeared, it’s not incompetence…..
Bada
Correct
` rumour re VAR tapes.`
where does that come from?
Tactics or players? Who knows. What I do know is we are a better team when CCV plays than when he’s injured.