A week ago you and I discussed how Newco fans were more confident ahead of a Celtic game than they had ever been, while we, chastened by a lacklustre Celtic performance against them last month, thought we had a game on our hands at Hampden.
Five days after a very one-sided Scottish Cup semi-final and sentiment in both camps has shifted. Newco were awful on a level that it is hard to do justice on the page. Celtic were imperious in possession and attacked with a swagger.
Don’t let what happened a week ago cloud your judgement. I’ve been going to Ibrox for over 30 years, and many on here have been going twice as long, but no matter how poor old Rangers were in that time, we seldom had it easy. On my first visit there we scored four second half goals against a truly awful outfit, but 45 minutes into the game we were two down and struggling.
If you win at Ibrox, you have played well. Celtic will need to be unscrupulously faithful to their tactical system. Brendan will know how to prepare the players for this. They will need the concentration and energy to deliver the performance.
I have some worries for Pedro (apologies, but I’m not sure if he’s going to be around long enough to make it worthwhile learning how to spell his surname). His 10-second principle is a case in point.
In the interview Chris Davies gave to a few Celtic bloggers, including myself, he explained that when Celtic lose possession, the players are told to spend up to six seconds pressing directly for the ball. If they fail to win possession back in this period, they are to drop back into defensive positions.
They have been trained to do this since preseason. It’s risky, and you will note that they do it every week in domestic football, but the technique was used sparingly in the Champions League group stage. The risk of a Barcelona-type team passing through the press is dangerous, as when players are pressing, they are out of position.
This is how modern football is played, but Pedro should be cautious. You cannot reeducate players overnight. If you attempt to and fail, it’s the manager’s responsibility. In fact, this quote from Pedro is exactly what you should expect when you try to force a new system onto a team midseason:
“When we analysed the game in some moments of the game some players were acting in one direction, which was the right direction and other players were not doing the same thing at the same time.”
This was clearly not the outcome Pedro expected, but his explanation suggests he has a lot to learn about how to tactically change football teams.
What’s worse, instead of shielding his players by taking ownership of the blame, he put the players in the dock. It is no surprise that you can detect grumblings of discontent emanating from loyal Ibrox sources.
Taking about “in the dock”, Sir David Murray is currently in the witness box at Craig Whyte’s trial. Proceedings are enthralling, but we’ll catch up with that later. A point worth reiterating:
It is acceptable to report on what was said at court, but unacceptable to prejudice a witness or defendant with your view on that individual, or on evidence presented. So stick to what was said – that’s fascinating enough.
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Thetimreaper, Griif had mentioned before our game at Ibrox last Hogmanay that he was very keen to play in that game as it was the only or one of the few premier league grounds he had not scored at yet.
I would imagine he will be the one of our most enthusistiac players tomorrow if he starts.
It tells you a lot about our governers when a club that are trading while insolvent get approved for a licence.
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLAS on 28TH APRIL 2017 7:27 PM
Given that the League is already won, it’s great to have a player like Leigh coming into the team with a point to prove. It will give us a wee bit more impotence. My only slight worry with Leigh is that he plays the occasion rather than the match. I’m sure Brendan will ensure he keeps his composure and concentration.
THETIMREAPER
Impotence???
Viagra CSC:)))
Starry
Couldn’t resist throwing that in there….
Dallas 7.27pm
What’s all this “if” the Griff starts, gutted about Moussa getting injured but our best goalsscorer will definitely be starting tomorrow and will be ready to terrorise that defence
Thetimreaper, Leigh loves scoring and we love him scoring . Tomorrow , I don’t care who may score for us but it would be great if Leigh did
On a slightly light hearted note, impotence and Leigh in the one post lol
Gerry, Brendan is the boss e decides who plays. Lol
Personally I’m annoyed although not surprised at thems getting their license. I’m not exactly sure of the exact requirements, audited accounts is one right? Who knows whether they have submitted them or not. Or if this ‘special dispensation’ clause has been invoked. So two questions,
How do we find out how they got the license?
And if they haven’t met the criteria, what can we do about it?
FTSFA
The sevs have tweeted Miller has agreed to a new one year contact .
A bit of ‘good news’ for them as its all been bad for them particularly the last 8 days with our under 17’s , under 20’s beating them as well as thei semi final loss along with Whiskers asking questions they don’t want to hear.
When Hibs went out of the Scottish cup that opened up a Europa League spot for fourth place in the SPFL.
If our club won’t even consider backing resolution 12, where we were directly financially disadvantaged, there is no chance they’ll say anything now.
It will be left to whichever team finishes in fifth place in the league to point out the unfairness of a team being given a license whilst not adhering to the rules of financial fair play.
And they’ll be shouted down by the mob ’cause that’s how it works in Scotland.
THETIMREAPER
I can just imagine wee Leigh sticking a couple in a teacake:))
Dallas
The potent Leigh Griff will be starting the morra :-)
Wee Leigh might be facing a stiff test?
Who is the governing body for spelling licensing. Do they have the authority to issue a licence? Or a license?……
…… in fact, do they have the license to award a licence?
;)
Does anyone else feel the blog needs more adverts?
It just doesn’t feel disruptive enough at times …
The SFA needs a strong *Rangers*.
*Licence
:-)
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLAS on 28TH APRIL 2017 7:46 PM
The sevs have tweeted Miller has agreed to a new one year contact .
——
Fair play, he’ll be 64 when it ends.
Thetimreaper at 7.55 ,
That made me chuckle .
When it was announced we were going to sign him in 2006 , he said it would be a great honour to play for us . He might have a David Murray I have no recollection of that if he is ever asked about it.
Bourne at 7.49 , very good
CATHEDRAL VIEW.
The word “schedule”. Should that be pronounced as SKEDULE or SHEDULE?
I thought as much .
To be expected i suppose .
Rangers licensed while insolvent??
Something should be done about it.
I have an idea.
Let’s ask Celtic PLC to support an inquiry at the next AGM.
Who would win in a fight between Alex Schalk and Myles Hippolyte?
O’Brien booked
Plus Ca Change csc
The exiled tim, if sevco have a uefa licence for next season, we should find out which club’s will protest to the SFA .
I was speaking to my wife’s St Mirren supporting nephew lagst weekk, he is not a Chic Young style St Mirren fan, he mentioned o@@ f@@@ and I told him it no longer exists. He told me ‘dont give me that crap’ . I left it at that.
If other clubs’ fans still recognise sevco as what was Rangers, the cheating ways of the Ibrox clubs will not be dealt with.
Trust you to come up with a solution Mags……
Dallas
Former Celt captains Ross County for the first time tonight. Family up there for the match are very pwoud. :)
It should be SHEDule in Britain. SKEDule is American…
… but there are two SHOOLS of thought on that.
Hat, coat…
MAGS
Good one, but I am sure I heard that idea before somewhere.
;)
DD
None of them will, not a single one will say feck all.
As has been said earlier, the mob will shout them down, the msm will do for them.
People are still forgetting it’s scotland and the huns are still in control, the trial that is ongoing should give everyone a clue, the wrong man-men is-are in the dock.
HH
Delaney’s , terrific , Marcus and his family must be delighted .
I wish County and but not all of their players to stay .
Posts earlier today about Aiden McIlduff being freed .
Two of Marcus’ current team mates , Scott Fox and Jim O’Brien played in our 2006 youth cup win against Hearts . Two other members of that team, Darren O’Dea and Paul McGowan , are at Dundee.
Its not good to see young players bein released but many of our former youth players over the last 12 years are still playing in our top league as well as lwer tiers here and in Engand.
The exiled tim, we all know the script .
Some clubs’ directors will be beelin if sevco do get or have got a Uefa licence but will be unwilling to take action. Turnbull Hutton’s (god rest him) courage and anger at the SFA and league 5 years ago will not be repeated.
If the Huns are allowed to compete in Europe it looks a stick on that the Minis would be the team to miss out and therefore suffer the most this year. Would Budge just allow that?
Could lead to more Hun on Hun action, and bin Regan at the same time.
In the early 70`s, down in Cornwall for a summer , we used to guzzle a cheap, white German wine but for the life of me , I cannot remember the name. Not Black Tower, Blue Nun or Liebfraumilch . Might have begun with an `H`. Any idea anyone ?
JJ
Dallas
I think our youth boss should look closer to home when he decides who has a career at Celtic
Uefa license?
Wonder if Budge will budge?
HH!!