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.
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City will win this though Dexter.
Brth, great to meet up again yesterday, hope your lovely wee ghirl has thawed out and you have no lasting effects for your chivalry
Starry
Look at the official website
They run with a story quoting Stokes…minimal comment on the ICT match …then significantly more on the Rangers ( sic) game
Oops double post
david147
14:29 on 2 November, 2014
I must have been watching a different game. Izzy was more like a left winger in the closing stages. Matthews played right back. We completely lost our shape in the final 10 mins or so and looked tired. Our inability to keep possession and take the sting out of the game is a worry.
Looking at the match overall Guidetti is a good focal point for the attack, however the three supporting players were poor. Johansen is not good enough to play in the no10 role. He is a more industrious player and should be in centre midfield. Wakaso was poor and Stokes absolutely dire.
Despite the recent good results the team still has no real shape and identity
——
David
I can confirm that you were indeed watching a different game.
Certainly a different one from me!
HH jamesgang
Who did we draw?
Malorbhoy
Did you receive your usual cheery greeting from the old man?
He said McNamee was in the pic Friday.
Pf, if your driving near Belmont Academy, drop me of some got soup, it is baltic
Eurochamps67
Go for the Sharp Suited Man himself. Even if he acknowledges the truth, the players and coaching staff are going to be really excited about the game and you will hear lots of “agains,” “history” and “O** F***s.”
Mincey
It’ll be like a defeat of they don’t now- both centre backs off now
Bada bing
Agree. Thought lustig off and Mathews and mcgregor on seemed more accident than design.
Or design accident!
HH jamesgang
Hot soup even, mind going numb
Dexter
I agree but I do not like UTD.
….PFayr supports WeeOscar
I saw it PF but maybe like you I learned at an early age that “the gemme” is a lot more important to the fans than it is to the players who share a beer and a laugh afterwards as we go “toe to toe”
We’ve announced the game on the website what would be the context of a further statement that was my question?
“we know you’re a new club GIRFUY”
Would be funny alright!
3 pens!?
BT-how you getting on?
Incidentally, East Kilbride FC lost 3-2 at home yesterday. To Gretna 2008. because that’s what they’re called. ;-)
Malorbhoy
What you doing there ??
BT, yes usual greeting from yer dad,would have been disappointed for any other greeting
3 penalties denied
What will it take for Citeh to get a pen here?
Bit like watching …..
Bets on a Man ure pen?
Pf, through with annan athletics under 15 and under 12 team’s playing against Ayr united
1-0 Citeh
That was coming.
Hun Skelper.
Just as well it wasn’t City you took for a pen.
You would be going crazy.
Stunning finish.
Dexter,
Three good claims for penalties now…takes me back to when we played a team that was always favoured by officials…gladly they passed away.
The best ammo, given to me to clamp the zombies up, has come from one of their own…a head zombie infact…thankyou Donald Findlay.
1-0, should be a lot more. HH
Have a good day Bhoys and Ghirls, duty calls..
Jamesgang-we should have put on Kayal maybe, as they had put on a couple of forwards.Izzy struggled after being clattered and should have been subbed instead of Lustig IMO
The huns ex manager and now ex chairman have called them a new club, why can’t we?
Jimmynotpaul, Tony started in junior management with Cumbernauld then went Lanark. He went to Shotts, one of his former clubs as a player. He was given a year’s suspension when he was trying to break up a heated disagreement between one of his staff and an official, this was reduced to six months.
He went to Pollok when they were on a real downward slope and couldn’t stop them being relegated. Demotion has probably helped him to rebuild the team.
He is someone I have the utmost respect for.
Did you work with him at Bridgeton or Northgate?
Northgate in early 90s. Also played a couple of games with him. Harry Carberry from South Side office used to ask us now and again to play for his team.
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
14:43 on
2 November, 2014
Malorbhoy
Did you receive your usual cheery greeting from the old man?
He said McNamee was in the pic Friday.
……………………………
Mc Namee …now that is a braw braw name ….all my life I heard my wee ma saying what she was told from her wee ma Matilda McNamee……do not forget you are Colonel Mc Namees grand daughter .the finest horse woman in Ireland ….
awfy braw
hail hail
Jobo, a fair and thought out position.
On 3) I waiver between your position, between walking away from what would be a corrupt game(as in football rather than just this game) and not being able to stomach the thought of Celtic taking to the field with any support missing.
Undecided on this point.
ConfusedCSC.
ps .belated Bday wishes …P67 did you proud …wink wink nod nod …hahahahaha
Dexter says PAY THE LIVING WAGE CELTIC PLC
14:47 on
2 November, 2014
3 pens!?
……….who has 3 appendages?……..
braw