With Celtic a goal up midway through the second half yesterday, we tried something new. The back four became a back three, with three sitting in front of them. Adam Matthews pushed into right midfield leaving Izaguirre, Denayer and van Dijk across the back. To the left of Matthews was Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew. It was a useful game to experiment tactically as Inverness asked questions throughout.
The most striking feature of this three at the back with three sitters was that Matthews didn’t bomb forward when Celtic were in possession, as he usually does. He kept in line with Brown and Mulgrew. On occasion, they were 25 yards behind their nearest team-mate, which was a bit jarring to see, as it’s so rare.
This was almost certainly a dry-run for Astra on Thursday. Getting it right defensively in Romania is going to be key to the outcome. On their showing at Celtic Park, Astra are a decent passing team who enjoy being on the ball. They were less impressive in attack, as the Celtic defence and Craig Gordon did enjoy to stifle them, apart from one slip, and when we asked questions of their keeper and defence, they looked vulnerable.
I’m not sure Ronny Deila will be overly convinced that his experiments yesterday should be repeated on Thursday. Inverness carved us open several times late in the game, but at least we’ll hopefully not be trying something out there for the first time.
You can get copies of Caesar & the Assassin, Billy McNeill and Davie Hay’s accounts of managing Celtic from Jock Stein’s departure until the appointment of Liam Brady, signed by both Billy and Davie here. I’d a great chat with Billy today, he’s a man who knows how to enjoy his football.
709 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
Bmcd48
This was the sleekit ones reaction at the weekend.
“I’m delighted with the draw and judging by the reaction from the boys in the dressing room they’re happier than me.”
League Cup Draw Live at The Louden
HT/TD67/Gordon
On coming back into town I prefer going thro BridgetonX.it has been noticeable the police presence is not as visible as once was, and the riot van usually parked is no longer there (it may move as 1 of pubs there is getting renovated.)
HH
Geordie Munroe
Agee the sleekit one gave your comments to the sunday papers
Today we have another version
Not to be trusted
And CQN slows to a crawl as the podium chasers jockey for position to put that stunning ‘me?’ on the new article.
In 2011 the MSM played their part in clamouring for an outright ban of OF games. The cost to the tax payer in terms of policing and other emergency services alone was reason enough to have the fixture banned.
After the demise of one half of the OF the MSM now can’t wait for the Sevco v Celtic game to come along and fill the void they so desperately wanted to get rid off only a few years ago.
What a bunch of hypocrites.
By the time this new fixture comes along, the MSM will have whipped up the tension surrounding it into such a frenzy that events of 2011 will seem like a chess game.
Of course, they will then blame everyone else for the nuclear fallout.
I agree with Phil Mac, I would rather see Celtic forfeit the tie than witness the carnage that is likely to take place in the streets of Glasgow.
Sally McCoist and co could work wonders to avoid the violent confrontation surrounding the tie by publicly admitting that this is an entirely new club. But, I have more chance of winning the lotto than such an event coming about, and I haven’t even bought a ticket!
bmcd48
11:54 on
3 November, 2014
My take – Sleekit makes offer to CG’s agent, it’s so derisory agent doesn’t pass it on to CG. Upshot nobody’s lying. Sleekit’s to well versed in media to come away with an out and out lie.
Syd Negakev
12:14 on
3 November, 2014
And CQN slows to a crawl as the podium chasers jockey for position to put that stunning ‘me?’ on the new article.
===================================
I usually go to another site for a wee while as the weans shout Me! look at Me!
Saddos.
weeminger
12:20 on
3 November, 2014
=============================
Did anyone in the media actually ask fat salary what he whispered in Lenny’s ear??
WEEMINGER
Sleekit relies on the media not questioning his statements.
Such as his list of players who gamble on football.
That was patently untrue as they canny afford a cartridge for their printer. That money all goes on shredders.
Would CG even have been interested in Sevco…?
Personnally I won’t be attending the semi or if we make it or the final at Hampden (until there is change both at senior level in the SFA and Refereeing supervisors level.
Celtic need to make no comment about the game, the SFA will be responsible for programmes and other PR work. the fixture is trree months away so no need to discuss it (European, Scottish Cup and league ties aplenty before then).
The ‘sleekit’ one is in overdrive but will he be there come the New Year?
HH
Every time the fat man comes away with any of his guff, I get the picture in my mind of him waving the sheets of paper around with the names of players, and officials who are betting on football games every week, 100 of them no less, and it only took him an hour to get them all, .
A complete and utter arse of a man, he knows lots of people, but has no friends, Ally only loves Ally.
Wonder who Ian Black will have his money on for the League Cup?
BMCUW
He said at the start of the 2012-13 season that he wanted a team capable of going to Tannadice in the cup and winning. After the SC game at Tannadice when they got their backsides kicked he said the season was all about getting promoted!
A dangerous A*%e of a man
Seen on twitter
When McCoist begins a sentence “with all due respect”, you can be assured that what follows is indeed disrespectful.
Absoluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutely
so its celtic v inter (rifc, and a nice wee reminder why they changed their name)
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL
Aye. He should have been a politician the number of lies and backflips he does.
new article posted.
Just seen some pictures of the amount of food and buckets of cash donated and collected by the the Celtic family on Saturday and I echo this comment
“Huge,huge credit to the Green Brigade (many of whom missed most of the game) for having the faith that this would be so massively supported”.
Stunning but not suprising effort by all.
Be proudCSC
Till later all
Phils latest alludes to both the fears expressed for the safety of Celtic fans and the media frenzy
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/reasons-to-be-fearful/
I will NEVER be in Hampden again as long as the SFA are there, it’s a midden anyway.
tom mclaughlin
02:27 on 3 November, 2014
Tricoloured Ribbon said:
Time for Peter Lawwell to nail down the best striker we have had since Larsson.
That’s right Peter. The transfer window is closed for another 8 weeks but “no excuses”. Get him signed now.
……………
You know fine well what I meant.We can be active behind the scenes trying to put together a good deal to secure the lad.
No need to be a smart ass.
I am a Celtic supporter
The Celtic I grew up on set a world football standard.
The Celtic I grew up with taught me to look to ourselves as to how we improve and learn as a team and how we maintain a spirit of winning so we can meet all challenges in front of us.
No team or opposition has ever determined whether or not I go to see Celtic.It was not a deciding factor with the old club, its certainly not with this current sphectre.
Every Celtic fan going to this game or not going for what ever respected reason know rfc liquidated.
I am looking forward more to the Astra game and the aberdeen game to be honest and who we have available.commenting on an identity who define themselves by their hatred of us is something I will pass on…and it is carrying a lot of murrayhurt :-)
Hail hail you Celts, one and all.
HH