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.
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Paul 67
Bit of an over reaction to a whole bunch of complacency being ably demonstrated by our guys yesterday.
The tactical issue we need to address against better sides is when they man mark Calum , for me the midfield is too spread out and Calum becomes hemmed in and we start to cough up possession. Brendan’s only real worries are to fix the left side of the defence , we need to thank Greg for his service and wish him well in his transfer to the States , hopefully Kieran returns , and we need a ball playing centre half who can step into the midfield without the support wetting ourselves.
My only other thought from yesterday was our wingers stayed high and wide , fair enough , but it was the sort of game they were being very tightly marked , seemed to me ball to feet and take the hit was the more prudent approach allied to getting your retaliation in first.
Suspect the Huns will draw at Easter Road at the weekend!
HH
A hurting hun team 14 points behind beat a blasé celtic team who probably think they are better than they are !…..still thonk these games are won and lost in midfield and ours was poor …we made Hagi look like Zidane …no one to dig in when silky stuff doesn’t work….I actually think we desperately need PACE in the middle!
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Published
1 hour ago
134 Comments
Celtic have held talks to re-sign their former defender Kieran Tierney on a pre-contract deal from Arsenal.
The 27-year-old left Celtic in 2019 for a reported £25m fee but Arsenal are ready to let him leave at the end of his contract, with his career in English football having been blighted by injuries.
Amid interest from Celtic and a host of other clubs in Europe, it remains unclear whether Arsenal will let Tierney leave on loan in January before making any move permanent in the summer.
But there is a lot of goodwill towards Tierney in north London, with the Scotland international considered a model professional.
Tierney has made 125 appearances for Arsenal over the course of his five-year contract, which included a loan spell at Real Sociedad, with his last appearance coming in the Carabao Cup quarter-final victory against Crystal Palace in December.
However, he has also suffered 10 injuries, including shoulder and knee injuries which required surgery to fix, and a serious hamstring injury in June.
Hearing Motherwell only giving us the top tier behind the goals from now on
GFTB @ 3.39
The public comments fill up at the first reversal every season, whoever the manager since Paul67 started his blog “ in the slow lane “ after Seville.
They’re all in here it’s like the train station in The Great Escape. Fine so long as you don’t take yourself too seriously, therefore the team verse St.Mirren is of course ,
Celtic v St Mirren
Schmeichel
AJ
CCV
Trusty
Taylor
Engels
McGregor
Bernardo
Kuhn
Idah
Maeda
👍
Hmm.
I suppose reactions were inevitable after yesterday and this article ticks the box.
I’m generally supportive of our manager but I’ve never led a cheer for him.
Like most managers he is likely stubborn and possessed of certain blind spots.
I say “likely” because I’ve never met the man
Personally or professionally.
Therefore I suspect his solution to Plan A failing (yesterday) will be to get better at implementing Plan A.
I disagree with point 2 of 2, Pablo.
“We find it difficult to progress the ball to the front line against almost everyone”
I’ve watched Celtic often this season. I don’t believe this is the case.
We keep the ball alot, sure.
We quite often recycle when us fans (myself included) would prefer to get it forward.
Occasionally, we pass backwards maddeningly having clearly broken the lines.
Feels like overcoaching to me but what do I know.
All high risk granted, but also tiring to defend against.
!!Bada Bing!! on 3rd January 2025 4:44 pm
Hearing Motherwell only giving us the top tier behind the goals from now on
Any idea why?
This is madness from these teams who cut our allocation while boarding on being insolvent always puzzles me 🤷♂️
The result is now in the history book, we have to deal with it, and we will.
However, what I want CELTIC F C to do is kick up a massive stink about the “objects ” being thrown at Arne and Brendan, and I mean a proper stink. They should INSIST that unless the team can be guaranteed to be safe, we will not play there again, and mean it.
Better still, if the players themselves told the club the will not play there, imagine the ramifications of that in the football world.
That scum have form for all that, we all remember the Joe Hart business, been going on now for decades.
The powers that be should make a huge example of the club, fining them heavily, make all their home games behind closed doors and ban their scum support from away games would be a statement for sure.
We must not and cannot allow this nonsense to happen again.
My good wife said can you imagine if this was the uSA, some twat would actually shoot our players, I mean, FFS get it sorted Celtic.
I have written to Lawlwell as above, but our board are scared of them, pathetic
KINGLuBO
PB- info from a Motherwell fan
A peek at the Champions League table shows that the bottom 3 (with no points) are Leipzig, Slovan Bratislave, and Young Boys. We have already beaten 2 of these teams, and we should be strong enough for Young Boys. Nevertheless, we have had a favourable CL draw, and our wins have been against clubs struggling in the CL. Generally we are improving, but we still have some way to go, and we need to be able to vary our play according to the opposition tactics (whichwe did against Atalanta, but a non “park the bus” variation would be interesting). Our season will now be defined by the YB game.
They are laughing at Celtic and couldn’t care less about objects being thrown, as you say been going on for years, the PFA need to get involved as it is a Health and Safety knowingly putting your members into a hazardous environment without proper protection is punishable in Law. I hope we bring a case to court over these assaults it isn’t before time, and GCC who issued safety certificates need to rescind them or themselves be liable for prosecution.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 3RD JANUARY 2025 3:06 PM
The benchmark for reasons to knock the manager is noticeably low, for two losses in a Calendar year.
—/
I agree. The reaction from some fans old enough to know that losing at Ibrox isn’t a disaster is unbelievable.
Should Liverpool lose to Man Utd on Sunday will Liverpool quick news speak of systemic failure ?
I think not.
something troubled me last week.
brandan started talking about the stats, and the records, and the run.
and at celtic park when motherwell took the lead and through the first half, the dreaded “ten i a row songs” started.
captain hindsight here, but our lennox town training day really did look like the players coulldnt be bothered,
has complacency or maybe even fear crepped in about going to ibrox with no support ?
is the fixture more bother than its worth.
brendna says 14 point ahead shouldnt play on your minds but maybe it did, because the players aint robots.
a belfast celtic event is going to happen there sometime.
their songs of hate were off the scale.
oh no – paul67 is suggesting BR’s struggling to see/admit what the rest of us can.
this is far worse than a 3 nil drubbing to a struggling team who’ve had a couple of years to figure us out.
It won’t take much to sort out if we put our minds to it.
I’m still in media black out. Ghod bless those who had to see the fans of the champions elect today.
Anyone got a clue why we were so bad yesterday? I don’t.If Brendan knows the answer to my question then things will be put right….isn’t that how it works? A magnificent run brought to an end.Time to start on another similar run…..that should keep some folk happy…..it will do for me.
Imo, those who are attacking Paul67 and defending our manager to the hilt need to ask if yesterday was a one off. Again imo, it wasn’t. Every other team have sussed us. The better teams know how to deal with it, including the deid team. Others like Hibs and St Johnstone can’t.
Maybe our players have been reading the blogs prior to the game.
They were convinced they were playing a sh@te team with numerous players out thus making them more sh@te.
HH.
We were awful and it looked like a May loss with league won. It was all about the 14 points for me.
We will bounce back and the system is fine, the players just didn’t play it.
On another topic, we do have to start thinking about a succession plan for McGregor. It was obvious he would take over from Brown. Was never fast or a tackler but he has been very slow in the last year since he started to pick up injuries.
I’m sure there is a plan but I can’t see it being anyone currently at the club.
Paul 67 has never accepted the appointment of BR whether that is his view or the view of his pal on the board we dont know, might be both.
However changes to our starting 11 must be made I hope BR sees it that way you cannot spend 26 million on players and give them 20 minutes, some no minutes, that’s on him and the coaches.
Fully accept the possibility we’ve been sussed.
I’m equally receptive to the possibility our intensity has dropped and the machine is less efficient / prone to breaking.
I also wouldn’t discount the bug theory.
The group looked not just “off it” but lethargic.
Notable that our two best performers were the two guys who least rely on running to execute their game.
Notable also that it was reported prematch that Engels felt unwell in the morning.
Maybe he was hungover.
Maybe he trained alone in an oxygen tent this week and didn’t pass on any illness.
Why wouldn’t Brendan say if this was the case?
Maybe he wants to keep a lid on it because three points in the future (St Mirren) have more tangible value than public laments of three points already lost.
“Maybe” doing some heavy lifting above.
… but it’s only a blog.
BREAKING: Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic FC FINALISEDcomment image
All parties are satisfied with the deal on a table and the move will be completed in days rather than weeks
Three-year-deal on the table with just the finer points to be ironed out
Hope he is fit for the majority of games.
SAINT STIVS on 3RD JANUARY 2025 5:55 PM
BREAKING: Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic FC FINALISEDcomment image
…..
? Good news if confirmed
HH
On the “jaded” bit …
… I’ve said it before and here it comes again.
Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic teams often look jaded this time of year.
Leipzig was a biggie.
Our guys pushed it to the limit to get that victory.
Callum in particular was incredible that night and hasn’t been the same since.
I’m drawing some parallels with Newcastle United who competed very strongly in the CL last year in a tough group …
… and were pretty much broke for the rest of the season.
Only just in the last month or so, a year later, are they getting it back together physically.
(Having the gambler back helps of course)
BSR 4.49pm
I dip in and out the blog … can be weekly, daily or even monthly… I enjoy Celtic far too much to read constant guff :-) some “fans” are not happy when unhappy but if that’s what makes them happy being unhappy we will never change that state of mind …
My daughter was pure ragin yesterday so I was actually happy at her being so unhappy …
Am now confused if am happy or unhappy :-)
Good call made earlier on highlighting the violence we face at ibrox.
Here’s my tuppence.
Make a return of R2ngers fans to Celtic Park in spring 2025 contingent on arrests and formal charges for the following
1. Glass towards Joe Hart’s goal
2. Coin striking our physio
3. Coin striking Arne
If R2ngers get their finger out and ALL the above happen?
They can have tickets.
Otherwise – zilch.
was thir objexts thrown at Brendan yesterday?
Noticed when the ref gave the coin over, the other chap had a coin already in his hand
2. Coin striking our physio
Assuming this was a few years ago … thought this was a bottle and the Hun responsible got 2 years
HH
As annoyed and upset as I was yesterday, and I was Feckin pissed. I am not going to do a hatchet job on our players and coaches. Yrs we played shite yesterday and I think our Bhoys will be hurting as well and I know that our coaches prides are stung as well. They have led us to an amazing year and for the most part played very well. Yes V I would like to see a wee bit more fig in our midfield and perhaps every now and again play the ball over the top. We are hurting and angrier more today because it was Thems and a weakened version of Thems. We have had their number recently but we all know that in those games it can change in a heartbeat. Remember where we stand at the minute in terms of league position. Those same players and coaches got us in front and will work their damnedest to keep us there.
Call me a Brenda’n apologist, a Feckin bedwetter, what ever, but call me a Celtic fan first.
Hail hail
Sean
Also, great news re KT
Wonder if this is why Greg isnt re-signing
APRICALE @ 5:15 PM,
The Young Boys game will be difficult, there is a lot of pride, coefficient points and cash at stake during each UCL game.
By their own standards YB are having a poor season, so they’ll be aiming to fix that.
We will need to be at our best and even if we strengthen this window, we go with the squad we registered with UEFA last year.
In fact, some players may wish to move on.
As you say, we should be strong enough yet our performance levels need to improve before we meet YB, AV.
BR was tasked to take us up a level in Europe and even if we fail to win another game, he has already achieved that.
RB Leipzig were too strong for Ange’s Celtic team and you’d really expect us to be in the bottom twelve on our UCL form.
The draw was fortunate, yet we have been matched with Clubs spread throughout the UCL table.
Leipzig are top four in Germany, thay are at the bottom of the UCL table due to the exceptionally difficult ties they’ve had to play.
Celtic were the easiest of the teams they’ve so far played and they would have been desperate for points from Celtic Park.
However, fortress Celtic Park has returned and we are unbeaten at home – we have won two and drawn one.
Slovan Bratislava have been poor by UCL standards yet we trounced them 5-1.
What more can we do.
We still have to get the UCL away win monkey off our back and arguably that’s the next level, however two draws and a loss is no poor return at that level.
Any away win this season would be a huge, and unexpected bonus, so that might be an objective for next season.
Although we may have won in Zargreb, I took a lot of comfort from the way we played and the respect Dynamo gave us.
They are just the sort of team we will need to beat in the play-off stages to get to the UC League stages next season.
We need to start planning that now and we need the manager supported in that quest.
Hail Hail
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/scottish
tierney on the bbc website
Great article from Alex Gordon. Nails it.
Hatate has run his race for us. Sell.
Scales better be dropped for Sunday. He has the heart but not the ability.
Friday night quickquiz –
name one of our two current KIT CONTROLLERs !
If KT signs, can he play in remaining CL games?
Warm welcome from me if he comes.
Paul67 will not be pleased though. He will be gloom and doom at BR for breaking the trading model in the most blatant way possible.
I think you have it spot on Paul. Blessed Brendan cannot be above reproach. The buns have sussed out our weakness and used aggression to build momentum against us. The fact that a centre half and goalkeeper were our best players in a 3-0 drubb8ng is something we need to take seriously. Brendan’s record in the transfer market is scratchy but hopefully he can bring in some new talent to shore up the team and provide some solidity in the midfield. Hatate is a luxury and Calmac needs to be rested at times. A good result against St Mirren will steady us. We haven’t become a bad team overnight after ne defeat but it was a sore one and there are lessons to be learned. Hail Hail.
GFTB @ 5.04
You’re wise – Brendan Rodgers lost only 2 games in the whole of 2024 and won 3 domestic trophies, but he read on CQN that his tactics are ‘a systemic failure’.
I’m sure he only dips in and out of the blog, as well.👍
I’m not sure of the answer meself actually