Newco won 3-0, hit the woodwork twice, had an incredible 24 shots on goal and 9 on target. Their stand-in goalkeeper’s only job of the day was the parry a shot from Reo Hatate that was hit into the ground.
Before we get into what went wrong, let’s put some boundaries on it. Cameron Carter-Vickers was outstanding. Kasper Schmeichel was faultless throughout. None of the forwards contributed anything to the game against a defence who scarcely knew each other, but Celtic so seldom got the ball into advanced areas, we need to conclude the substantive issue lies elsewhere.
Just as in the League Cup Final, and in the Champions League against Brugge and Dinamo Zagreb, Celtic were allowed plenty of the ball. In the 12 games since beating Leipzig, we have had at least 60% possession, which is both remarkable and informative, considering the battering we took yesterday.
We have been figured out. Allow Celtic possession in their own half, man-mark in the middle of the park and press when they approach halfway. Get the ball forward early and if Carter-Vickers cannot shut you down, you are in with a chance.
Brugge, Zagreb, Newco (twice), Dundee United clearly understood this. The 0-2 win at Kilmarnock and the 3-0 over Hibs were bizarre results against weaker teams who played the same tactics as Newco. Comfortable home wins over Ross County, Motherwell and St Johnstone flattered Celtic. The wins over Hearts (1-4) and Aberdeen (0-1) I’ll leave open to interpretation.
Newco’s first goal yesterday came from the same source as their second at Hampden (intercepting a Liam Scales pass). Their second yesterday and third at Hampden came from corners – the only two goals Newco have scored from corners in over 200 attempts. Their third goal yesterday was a copy of their opener at Hampden – anticipate a pass, break quickly and score with the second ball. They can successfully replicate plays against us.
It is all about the system.
Man-for-man, yesterday’s full strength Celtic are significantly stronger than Newco’s makeshift lineup. The system is making good players look bad. Watch great teams. 99% of what they do looks easy, because it is easy. It is easy because their system ensures that players in possession have a low risk/reward ratio when choosing a pass. We have substantial evidence that Celtic players’ risk/reward ratio is high. In possession, teammates offer few safe options.
This has two consequences:
1. We face a high volume of dangerous turnovers against better teams.
2. We find it difficult to progress the ball to the front line against almost everyone.
“Individual errors”, “lack of composure”, “poor passing” can happen in any game. When these things are persistent, as they now are at Celtic, and does not reflect players recent ability, the issue is systemic. “It is all about the system.”
On Tuesday I wrote that Brendan is a “master tactician” as he got the job done on tight occasions last year. His system has been exposed repeatedly over the last two months and needs urgent revision. Best of luck to those who want to have a chat to him about it.
368 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- »
CELTIC MAC @ 1:46 PM,
Great post….
The 4-4-3 line up…
The LRA would never allow us;)
Hail Hail
Guardiola isnt blamed for systemic failure because his systems have changed a lot over many years.
The failure seems to be his dependence on one player who’s now injured and an ageing team who cant run anymore
Guardiola knows you must evolve in the EPL or you get found out quickly. Theres less pressure in the SPL, especially with a poor Huns team, so system failure can creep up you.
It was telling that BR chose not to play Scottish football’s greatest asset from the start. Seeing what happened to him when he did come on vindicated that decision. Lament or rather Clement went for bust axing his captain and goalkeeper in the lead up to the game , with the usual injury excuses, in order to play the team he wanted. We can’t win every game and it hurts cos it’s them but we should remember today all the great games we have played at Ibrox recently with few or no fans there.
Jonnyhayescsc
It is obvious that we have a significant problem against the press and man for man pressure in midfield. That much has been worked out.
On one level we would love an immediate chance to “bounce back” but the weather may see some postponements this weekend. For our part I don’t think that would be such a bad thing because the problems we have require more than a tweak over the next day or two.
For my part I think the most obvious thing is to get the ball to Kyogo earlier. He is so much more
chairbhoy
Maybe wishful thinking on my part, could have done with that line-up yesterday!
Cant remember the poster who questioned the 4-3-3 line-up after the game.
With our midfield completely overpowered, the front three were redundant for virtually the whole game, not easy to win a game with eight players.
… than a one touch finisher.
Use the pace of our wingers to test much quicker attacks.
Secondly, there are some players who seem to be getting starts despite form recently- Hatate being the most obvious. The performance of Scales at Castle Greyskull surely has to have immediate consequences.
An extra player or 2 (most urgently in midfield and left back) would also help.
CELTIC MAC @ 2:11 PM,
It is definitely interesting…
BR inherited the 4-3-3 from Ange and Ibthought once he has the personel in he’d often be playing 4-2-3-1 again.
However, for reasons he knows best he hasn’t done that.
Joe Hart was very interesting and as articulate as ever when he was talked about the transition from Ange to Brendan – and how BR gradually implemented his signature on the team – with great effect it has to be said in the second half of last season.
Brendan’s teams often played five at the back, but have only seen him doing that once with us – at the latter stages of the Athletico Madrid game at Celtic Park
So is he committed to drilling in 4-3-3 to the players as “playing football the Glasgow Celtic way” or does he not think he has the players capable of changing – my thoughts he wants a dynamic team but doesn’t have the personel to fulfil that.
If you look at how he utilises Engels, you will see he plays him in a number of roles – he also liked and developed Matt O’Riley, James Maddison in that respect.
I think that’s the midfielder he likes but in Calmac, Hatate, Bernardo we seem to have horses for courses
Hail Hail
CELTIC40ME @ 1:59 PM,
“Guardiola knows you must evolve in the EPL or you get found out quickly…”
Yes
Very true, Guardiola knows how to evolve – I think this season’s failures are due more to FSR and Litigation than his ability to adapt.
Of course after a great start to his Man City career it was an SPL manager who found him out in 2016.
Do you remember that!?
Hail Hail
https://youtu.be/bU0XWiFyKhU?si=KF9opQVkroYTBQLc
The Overlap with Martin O’Neill
Can see why Spiers doesn’t get a gig with Radio Scotland anymore
is LS just doing what he is instructed to do ie pass the ball to our captain even when he is surrounded by the opposition other than thinking for himself and looking further upfield for the easier pass.
think I read prior to Ange arrival that his preferred team formation was 3-4-2-1
RC @ 2:42 PM,
No, no he’s not…
Hooe that cleared that up for you…
Hail Hail
Brandon Rodgers can see the issues we see. I don’t want Rodgers to change his style of play to accommodate for personnal deficiencies in the team. I want us to go get the players that can execute the game plan. I reckon the system failure is the result of our personnal not being able to do what is expected of them i.e., centreback being able to move the ball up the pitch quickly and accurately to midfielders and/ or hit the forwards if midfielders are closed down.
The biggest area of concern was again the leftside of our back 4. That area is easily curtailed, offers no width, is very predictible and there is no outball on that side. Scales takes an age to pass the ball out and has limited pace to recover when out of position when it is lost. Taylor can’t take the ball and go beyond a man on the outside so turns back to scales or into middle of a congested pitch, which is for the most part pointless. That then places a lot of responsibility on the rightback and wide player to be the go to side again making us predictable.
If trusty deserved drop after last celtic vs sevco game then scales is also deserving of same treatment. No matter the system that performance was scandalous by the guy.
I hope KT rumours are true and he is on his way home. I have watch him lots in the epl and he is a quality player capable of top performances. He would be a massive upgrade and would successfully and frequently drive us up the pitch which in turn would stop the all to frequent recycling of the ball along the backline which allows teams to set traps due to predictable patterns.
R2ngers fans have been saying for the past three seasons that they were far too passive when playing us and needed to press higher and man mark Calmac. In their eyes, they showed us far too much respect. They were also prone to losing goals due to unforced errors of the type that now seems to be afflicting us.
Yesterday they did to us what we have so often done to them. Hunt in packs, chase the ball down and force our players to misplace passes. The remarkable thing is they done it so effectively that Kuhn and Maeda were an irrelevance for almost the entire game. When they did get the ball, the makeshift defence coped with them comfortably. Something that cannot be said of our own back four that were caught shorthanded time and time again. Cerny had the freedom of the park and Yilmaz and Hagi found space whenever they needed to. There were acres of it.
I don’t think any of us saw a defeat like that coming. I thought we might lose by the odd goal because their jobs were on the line but a meek surrender? Just awful.
At Hampden BR took off Trusty at HT as he thought Scales was a better option for bringing the ball out of defence. I doubt he will be holding that same opinion today. Anytime he tried it he gave the ball away or put it out the park. Reo was just as guilty, the guy has talent for sure but he is more miss than hit these days.
On the flip side, there is probably a very good chance that Hibs take at least a point from them this weekend and the gap goes back up to 12 or 14 points. They have always maintained that Aberdeen only raised their game against them. Maybe R2ngers can only raise their game against us.
The benchmark for reasons to knock the manager is noticeably low, for two losses in a Calendar year.
Lets break down what seems to be the pivotal moment for setting the tone of the game.
Scales, under minimal pressure, plays a careless pass in the midfield area. The pass gets intercepted, and starts a counterattack.
Freeze Frame: Hagi, is surrounded by four Celtic players,.Barnardo is is closing in to make a tackle and recover the ball. It seems like Celtic has the numbers to stop this attack.What Happens Next tho, despite Bernardo being in position to make a solid tackle, he is easily brushed aside by the attacking player, which shows either a lack of physicality or poor timing in his challenge. This allows the counterattack to continue.
At this moment, Reo, is completely out of sync with the situation. He’s unable or unwilling to track the run of Hagi, leaving the attacking player with space to advance freely.
Several key players failed to contribute properly in the defensive phase. Scales lack of composure, the lack of physicality from Berhando and the poor tracking back from Reo allowed the opposition to take advantage .This might be an example of the team’s attitude or awareness . it’s very little to do with a “system”
We need better players.
I am as gutted as any other Celtic fan, but 11pts (12 including goal difference) league cup in the trophy room and sitting 3pts away from CL knockout stages
The Huns have played well in the last two games against us, it’s sport, sometimes the underdog wins … we done it against the tax evaders in the 90s
We are in a terrific position thanks to Brendan & the players, a couple of new faces (even an old face) would be good to freshen things up
KT CSC 🍀🍀
Paul really doesn’t like Brendan , I do.We were rotten yesterday but would anyone swap places with Sevco.First trophy in the bag,11 points clear in the SPL and in a great position to progress in the Champions League,that will do for me.
A new first for Daizen Maeda blocking his own header with his foot.
Sorry GFTB , just repeated what you said.
THOG 3.24pm
That can’t be good if you think like me :-)
Yesterday was garbage … we move on, let big flip flop add the 2nd January trophy to his Moral Victory cup he acquired in the 3-3 draw
I don’t think we will totally appreciate Brendan until he leaves. As someone previously mentioned our management search has not been great if you exclude Brendan & Ange. Also remember that the people who hired Neil & Ronnie are still in the building.
DENIABHOY on 3RD JANUARY 2025 3:05 PM
Your last sentence is absolutely correct . Having watched their games v St, Mirren and Motherwell on telly , their performance yesterday bore no resemblance to the previous two games .
It’s no surprise when a team makes an extra effort against their closest and most dangerous rivals . Just a pity we didn’t bother to do9 the same .
BSR 3.06pm
Some who like to pick faults will say Brendan hasn’t won a game since last year … and big flip flop has not been beaten since last year :-)
Roll on Sunday …. And get KT back in the hoops
Paul67 has overplayed his hand and went ott with this attack on the manger — with a smirking Lawwell in the background.
Some points have been made:
– system needs to be evolved
– team needs strengthened 33% not up to it. We have needed a LB since KT left.
– Scales sorry ….we need Trusty back and up to speed asap.
We have done great in the CL and a treble is on. The malcontents, bedwetters need to put the team before their narrow self interests and give the manager and team their full support.
It’s incredible that some are revelling in what happened on Sunday.
LC
I’m getting my days mixed up too it was Thursday
Bada
You hearing anything about ins and outs?
The whole team were below par including mcgregor. He was no better than hatate or barnardo but for some reason not a word. He allowed himself to be marked out the game refused to go forward with the ball and blamed everyone else when he lost the ball or got tackled. I dont care how much credit he has in the bank, he deserves as much criticism as the rest of them.
Scales was awful the whole game. Lost count of the number of times he passed ball out of the pitch and dwelled on the ball. Johnston and khun struggled to link up at any point. Meade was isolated with no support from the leftback who did not bother playing in leftback again. Kyogo got no service the whole game.
If rodger’s deserves any criticism it is that he is asking players to do thinks they struggle to do. Celtic need to go out and get players who can do what is asked of them.
Messianic praise is a flaw with football fans. BR has shown himself to be a good manager and the first half of the season has shown many positives including a league cup win and an 11 point lead.
Yes, there are issues that should not be ignored and yes, I do think the defeat was coming. However, it’s a bold statement to say it’s systemic.
We had £26m worth of players on the bench yesterday, and in Trusty especially we would expect him to be playing.
Rangers did get their tactics right and their man marking (again) bore fruit. Mcgregor was expected to run the game by his team mates but when he was in trouble they didn’t help him out. Reo is relying on games gone bye. He needs dropped as do one or two others as they’ve not performance even though we have been winning.
It needs freshened up but BR will surely know and see that. You’d hope so.
I’m surprised Paul is being so strong in his criticism of BR but you see it as you see it.
The lack of comment amongst Celtic supporters about the vile anti Catholic songs of hate doesn’t show many of our fans up in a good light at all. If they’d been singing songs against selective other groups I’m sure the reaction would have been far greater and quite rightly one of disgust. Celtic fc, the ibrox club, the First minister, the Police and the media are all guilty of allowing this hatred to continue in Scottish society. Call it out!
My friends in Celtic,
A wake up call. If we heed it then no harm done. The near future will provide ample opportunity to redeem ourselves.
However, what we can do today is tell all and sundry that there will be no hun hooligans in Paradise for the foreseeable future.
Given recent and repeated events who cpuld argue that our players, coaching staff and supporters safety is paramount
Just do it Celtic.
HH.
FAVOURITE UNCLE on 3RD JANUARY 2025 1:22 PM
fanadpatriot on 3rd January 2025 1:15 pm
Does Paul speak for himself or his pal.Just asking for a friend HH Forked tongue .When BR goes there will be much rejoicing and praise of PETE THE LIAR .Then we will get another YES MAN or even worse KENNEDY.
———————————–
I know that everyone is upset with the Ibrox result and the manner in which it played out, however I must say I find your comment hard to understand.
I like Paul 67 and most times support what he writes, however he seems to have a personal agenda against the manager, in fact he always refers to him in formal terms, i.e. Brendan Rodgers and never Brendan in a friendly way, like the majority of the support. The defeat yesterday is hard to swallow but is only the second domestic setback in more than a year. We can easily criticise on the field and off the field strategy and performance, but surely it must take into account context and perspective.
The club is run impeccably – every indicator shows that. Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson and the Board of Directors, have built the most financially successful entity in Scottish sporting history. This has allowed various Celtic managers to lead the club to unprecedented domestic success since the turn of the century.
We are in a position at this moment in time that most would not have thought possible at the start of the season – Eleven points ahead at the halfway stage in the league, the League Cup in the cabinet, the prospect of another treble and, a good showing in the CL with a realistic chance of qualification to the knock-out stages. We now, after a setback, have to reset and ‘mop-up’ the rest of the season – I have no doubt we will do so.
You berate PL(PETE THE LIAR) and belittle JK(YES MAN). These two people have been integral in the success of the club over the last twenty odd years. I have already covered PL’s part, but are you aware that John Kennedy has served under multiple managers, each of whom retained him – each of whom valued him? John has twenty-three winner’s medals since 2014 and if we win the double again this season will equal Bobby Lennox’s total of twenty-five and only be behind James Forrest. I should also add that Gavin Strachan, another that some like to scapegoat, has eight winner’s medals under different managers, and could move on to ten this year.
Sport is unpredictable – yesterday’s result/performance was not predicted – can’t we just leave it at that in the context of a great season and keep things in perspective?
The teams who have taken points off them have what we don’t have ,big bruisers who get stuck into them . We have the nice wee football players ,but those nice wee players don’t like it when up against teams who leave the boot in . It happened yesterday again . They hunted in packs whenever we had the ball , never gave us a moment to showcase our skills , it’s time Brendan was sanctioning our scouts to find a couple of enforcers , we have Bernardo , calmac , hatati , maeda kyogo Kuhn not one of them fit for combat like yesterday . Clemont tried playing football against us , was out there depth there. But it finally came to him to indulge the rough stuff and it payed dividends . . We the fans have no input to press the hierarchy , it is up to them to get our needs met if they were watching yesterday .
Paul 67 ,having had the pleasure of your company on a few occasions and listening to you and your love for our club , I find it surprising your stance on our manager , something has either happened between you and BR , or your getting worked from the back . Definitely not coming from the Paul I know . Whatever the hang up pal try and clear the air your too much a Celtic man to hold this dislike for our manager , HH
wonder who p67/pl liked being in charge, would prefer to be in charge as opposed to BR ?
ronnie ? handed a first euro home game at murrayfield to cater for the British Empire Games (tho at least the heid honcho was no too keen on the OrangeWalk)
nfl2 ? handed the job in the shower.
ange ? who got on the ship cos eddie howe wouldnt and then jumped at the first opportunity. (just like BR right enough !)
a.n.other who would sit nice and take some of the good and bad transfers handed to them without question ?
paying customers know better than seasoned proffesional emploees.
the system works, just get better at it.
The system is more workable with the correct personnel. The elephant in the room being Rio Hatate. He has been a man down for most of this season, contributes next to nothing and looks as though he is runing through treacle when attemptung to track back. Ridiculously careless in possession, passing is chronic and simply cant protect the ball when.passed to him. He is getting the same favoured treatment Neil Lennon puzzlingly gave to olivier ncham.
Rogic wasnt dissimilar, in the sense he was a bit maverick without being a terrific worker, but Tom came up with moments of brilliance in every other game, the Hatate of 2 seasons ago is long gone.
With mcgregor man-marked in every single game we play, he has simply got to give more.
I rarely criticise so here goes. Why my only problem with Brendan is, why does he keep picking Reo who very rarely passes to a teammate and is constantly turned over?