Having removed any remaining shred of doubt that the league title would be heading to Celtic Park for an eighth successive time a week earlier, the most important aspect of the game against Livingston was to prepare the team for this Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against our perennial Hampden opponents, Aberdeen.
Neil gave starts to Filip Benkovic, Tom Rogic and Ryan Christie, each still working towards full fitness, while Kieran Tierney got a further 90 minutes under his belt.
Despite the avalanche of chances, there was plenty not right about Sunday’s performance. Three central defenders did not work (again). Neil benefited from this experiment by Brendan Rodgers at Easter Road in December. Livingston played a straight 7-2-1 formation, leaving Dolly Menga drowning in green and white hoops for most of the game, but a consequence was that Celtic were heavily outnumbered in and around the Livingston box.
I think we need a three at the back option; being too predictable has been the downfall of Celtic teams before, so it is worth pursuing this strategy in certain league games between now and the end of the season.
An additional negative consequence of three at the back was the inefficient functioning of midfield. Scott Brown did not drop into his normal deep-lying role, as he, Callum McGregor, Christie and Rogic struggled to maintain a recognisable shape.
This line-up is the most creative we have fielded in months, and while we forced Livingston keeper Liam Kelly into 11 saves, none were outstanding. Our game plan is to pass and move in order to drag defenders out of position and create space. When this does not work, we would normally look to Rogic to shoot from the edge of the box, but Tom is still leggy and never looked likely.
The other alternative, of course, is to have a Hartson-type target man. John was a player of his time who would not fit into the modern game, but with him on the field, you had a devastating goal threat whenever you could launch a ball into the opposition box.
There is a lot of work to do in the summer, but I would like a proper target man added to the list.
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Twenty five years ago today, in a little Caribbean village called Choroni in Venezuela, I got married. By remembering that simple little fact I got breakfast in bed this morning :)
We’ve lived in Caracas, London, York and now settled in Denia with a 6-year-old son to keep us young at heart.
It’s not a bad life but it goes too fast :)
DENIABHOY,
Happy Anniversary to you both.
You Lucky, lucky Bhoy.
HH
Re Charlie Tully record.
Sorry I dont remember who the Poster was a few days ago, but I have checked my copy of the Single, and you were correct… it DOES say..”OUTLOOK” in Big green Letters on the label.
HH
GREENPINATA @ 10:16 AM,
Many moons ago, I went to see Arsenal at Highbury.
A tall slim youth with a shock of ginger hair was playing up front for the Arsenal.
He was excellent; big, athletic, robust, mobile… think the 19 y.o. BBJ would make an excellent Centre Forward in today’s game.
DENIABHOY @ 10:21 AM,
Congratulations, enjoy your special day with your family.
Hail Hail
“I can’t explain the feeling I had, playing for Celtic
I was like a child, I felt like I was dreaming, especially when we played in the Champions League.
I always knew how lucky I was to be there. “
Didier Agathe
Mind the time we signed a player called Daniel Arzani?
LETS ALL DO THE HUDDLE ? on 8TH APRIL 2019 10:28 PM
now theres a good question to rack our brains
ex-players who were pretty pish
but scored important goals againt the hun
cascarino
byrne
rogan
payton
for starters
**************
How about:
B O’Neill(2-1 ’93)
R Vata (3-0 ’95)
O Archdeacon(3-1 ’87)
T Mowbray (1-1 ’91?)
B El Kaddourri (2011 we lost though)
More Contradictions from the SFA…
it is now “Reported” that Hun Loanee Player Joe Worrell will NOT face a Notice of Compliant after his Foul Mouthed anti Celtic rant last Sunday night.
Apparently the SFA have taken this decision because a while ago Shay Logan of Aberdeen who committed a similar “Offence” against Sevco, wasn’t punished ?
BUT , a Celtic Player at the time ( John Guidetti) in 2012/2013 ? WAS Punished by The SFA, for singing about the Huns going into Liquidation.
Therefore, a Celtic Player gets “Done” for Chanting/Singing about a FACTUAL EVENT, but TWO NON Celtic Players can Chant/Shout what they like ?
Also, Aberdeen FC apparently had a quiet word with Logan at the time and warned him about his behaviour etc.
Make what you will of all that ?
HH
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 9TH APRIL 2019 10:35 AM
“I can’t explain the feeling I had, playing for Celtic
I was like a child, I felt like I was dreaming, especially when we played in the Champions League.
I always knew how lucky I was to be there. “
Didier Agathe
……………………..
I distinctly remember Martin O’Neill describing Didiers DEBUT for Celtic at Celtic Park one Saturday afternoon as being ” The BEST DEBUT, that he had ever seen by ANY Player anywhere”
I cant remember who Celtic played that Day, but the Celtic support, especially yours truly, could not believe the Pace of Agathe , he was Electric !
HH
BIG JIMMY @ 10 28
Charlie Tully record
It was me .
I used to have it .Bought second hand from the Barras in the late 60s .Bought it along with another choon on the same label — A Side was Celtic 4 – Rangers 0 .Can’t remember the name of the singer /group . Think I probably played both once and then consigned them to a shelf . Gave both of them away a few years back -to a guy who collects such things.
Guy who owned that label/studio was a character — jailed by the Brits / shot by Orange nut jobs / had his shop blown up by the Provos ( given my mighty iffy memory, I might have got the last two events the wrong way round !)
BJ
It was St Mirren according to ole wiki. Blessed MON fair rated Didier and signed him again when he was at Aston Villa.
SOUTH OF TUNIS,
Apologises again for Me not remembering who the Poster was.
when I looked out the Tully record again this Morn, I couldnt believe that I hadnt remembered the “OUTLOOK”
printing on the Label, as it’s the Biggest letters on it ?
Sounds like yr mate that owned that Shop had a bit of a time of it ?
HH
………………..
BOURNESOUPRECIPE,
Cheers mate.
MON also had Didier playing like a Wing Half in later Champions League games, and due to his outstanding Pace and ability to help out in defence, he was Superb !
To think he only cost…was it £35,000 or £50,000 from Hibs ?
At the time, some Celtic fans weren’t happy that Didier played a bit deeper, but he was apparently only Playing to MON instructions, and he did a grand job IMHO.
HH
BIG JIMMY –
Google this and you’ll get what seems to be an incomplete -Outlet- discography –
Outlet Label / Releases /Discogs
BIG JIMMY .@11 14
“Sounds like yr mate ”
Not my mate -never met the guy .don’t know his name . – remember a long ago radio thing about music in Belfast which featured a wee bit about him.
Paul McGugan was a hunskelper back in the day….
BIG JIMMY –
Google -45 cat and search -Charlie Tully -.
Seems _Celtic 4- Rangers 0 was by somebody called -Hugh McNeil
CONEYBHOY on 9TH APRIL 2019 10:39 AM
LETS ALL DO THE HUDDLE ? on 8TH APRIL 2019 10:28 PM
………………………………
The Bold Anton Rogan………..Pish ?????
I must disagree 100%
HH
oh oh indeed
SOUTH OF TUNIS on 9TH APRIL 2019 11:23 ,
Apologises again SOT, I didnt intend to assume that the Shop Owner was your Mate ?
As for his “Popularity” within both sides…Maybe he never read the Book…”How to win Friends and Influence People” ?…IF such a Book ever existed ?
LOL
HH
CONEYBHOY on 9TH APRIL 2019 10:39 AM
LETS ALL DO THE HUDDLE ? on 8TH APRIL 2019 10:28 PM
…………………………
Was Joe Craig Pish ?
HH
new article posted.