So what did we learn yesterday? Primarily we learned that you can’t replace 8 players from a team which won 0-4 at Tynecastle while leaving the core element of the team in place. It is justifiable to be critical of the performances of experienced key players who didn’t perform, but Wanyama, Brown, Matthews, Miku didn’t become bad players overnight, nor did Tony Watt, what happened is the essence of our team – the system – was missing.
The effort was there but the focus which makes this Celtic team wasn’t. In many ways this was the perfect setup for a Champions League game against a team too many people are telling me we’ll turn over. Our Christmas Cup Final on Wednesday will require every element that existed against Barcelona last month.
The knives are out for Spartak’s foreign players, who are taking the blame for the clubs disintegration since losing at home to Celtic, both in the press and online fan polls. We may see a more Russian looking Spartak on Wednesday. Which will be no bad thing.
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PAUL67
What wi the red white and blue advert at the bottom of the page?
Paranoid,moi?
Hibs win.
Well done hibs
Excellente another income stream closes. Love them to go bust in 2012 also.
HH
great to see easter road so packed
weeron
17:21 on 2 December, 2012
thomthethim
16:51 on
2 December, 2012
I hope so. I am hearing that he knows that there is lots to fix……..
********
I would bet SFTB’s life savings on it!
Well done Hibs – makes up for Elgin drawing 3-3 earlier! :-)
SFTB
Excellent posts … An enjoyable and agreeable read. Thanks for your efforts.
HH
Can see Mad Vlad pulling the trigger again.
Well done Hibs, GIRUY Hearts.
Awe Naw
I think any Hearts player who could raise some funds will be sold in January
Ten men
Hopefully we will not be daft enough to buy McGowan.
HH
Meanwhile, over on Barca Quick News, El Mineros are puzzling over why their team manages to take 5 off every Spanish club with a 10 man defence but could not do so against Celtic.
The latest theory from El Kojo is that they have a particular problem with ginger-heided managers.
Haud on! Somebody pointed out that they beat Steve McLaren’s teams and would murder St. Johnstone but El Kojo remains adamant (or is thinking like Adam Ant, my Spanish is not quite up to it).
got the hibees at 7/2 in running… o))
“Come Friendly Bombs And Fall On Ru’glen..”
“It Isn’ae Fit For Humans Now…”
Awe Naw
I used to think he would be worth a punt on a free but i watched him closely today and while he shows a lot of heart, ability wise i don’t think he’s good enough
ttt
“I would bet SFTB’s life savings on it!”
Are you sure you want to risk a whole pound?
Another infrequent poster here but felt inclined to make comment on your ideas about the “system”,Paul.
I’ve kind of become a mid-week happy clapper and a weekend mineshafter.
Whether by accident or design the purchase of Ambrose has been the catalyst to us having a solid spine/core to the first team.
As has been repeatedly observed on here,Wilson is now fulfilling the potential Neil saw in him at Forrest.
In the space of two years big Frazer has gone from being a decidedy average keeper to a good keeper to an outstanding keeper.
In big Victor we have a sturdy defensive midfielder who is only going to get better with age.
Add two excellent full backs(perm from the three) and a solid left sided midfielder in Joe Ledley and we now have guys who can do what is expected of proper defenders:win the ball in the air,tackle hard(still waiting to see someone shoulder Wanyama off the ball!),and show a bit of pace for forward drive or recovery.
I think Neil’s problem is this.How to you deploy your best team(especially when we have so many injuries) which is an excellent defensive/breakaway unit,against a bank of five midfielders and four defenders which Kilmarnock,St.Johnstone,ICT and Arbroath all laid out for us to deal with at Parkhead?
With Kayal back from fitness we employed two defensive mids and we looked turgid and inneffective.Kayal was coming in for a lot of criticism in recent weeks for not reproducing previous form but in my opinion this guy is a very good defensive mid only.I despair when I watch him further up the field looking for that killer pass to the forwards.
This is the crux of my argument.Too many players playing out of their natural positions not knowing the roles they have been assigned.
For example.Commons being played on the wing.A great footballer and our most creative player but,eh……….he can’t run and is slightly overweight!
Should always be played in the hole behind the strikers.
Ironically,when I saw yesterdays “second” team trotting out,I was quite excited and result apart,there were many positives to take from the game.Neil has rightly thought,here’s a third division team at home and an opportunity to revert to the traditional Celtic “cavalier” style.A totally different system required for this game,and I would have to say i enjoyed a lot of the tricky ball play that was on show.McGeoch and Ibrahim in particular showed some sublime skills.Unfortunately, we lacked a proper penalty box predator a la Hooper(a fit one!) and despite numerous attempts,couldn’t convert the possession stats.
Now i don’t know if these players were given instructions on where to play and which areas to seek space but the two above and Watt,Miku and Lassad,when he came on,all tried to dribble the ball over the Arbroath goal line.At the beginning of the second half I was expecting four or five only to suffer the usual disapointment at the end.This script is really becoming boring.These players should be coached into looking for the pass and releasing the ball at the right time.Paddy’s infamous for this too!
To break down a “parked bus” defence I think you have three options:
1)Dribble through with sublime tiki-taka(spelling!Is this not a polynesian papyrus boat?) passing Barca style.Extremely difficult.
2)Utilise a tall/powerful striker or two to ruffle up the defence and have wingers supply wide balls into the box.
3)Long shots from outside the box.
You would think we would manage it against third division opposition but I think we tried option one to no avail.
So,I reckon we need to decide on a system but also to make sure whoever comes on the park to play it knows their role thoroughly.We certainly managed it against Barca.The most disciplined defensive performance I have ever seen from a Celtic team.
We need to perfect that “plan B” for home games.I don’t subscribe to the theory that the our home crowds are dwindling because THEY are not in the league.I would be happy to see us winning four or five every week if the football on display was entertaining.I was off my seat when little Ibrahim did one of those double lollipop things yesterday.I would be happy to see Paddy go on a mazy run or watch Forrest or McGeogh dribble past two or three defenders IF they are disciplined enough on when to make the pass and let the ball go at the right time………………..to a real predatory centre forward.
I’m a big fan of Brendan Rodgers and what he’s attempting at Liverpool(although a few Pool fans may not agree).I Watched Swansea beat Arsenal from yesterday and whether M.Laudrup has continued his groundwork or if its his own philosophy,the passing and running into space are sublime.I was tearing my hair out at Commons,Sammi and Hooper for doing the exact opposite last week.
Lazy players or lack of coaching?
2)
Hoops interesting MON ?
Soon be transfer window wild speculation time but the one above might not be wide of the mark.
2nd phase CL football should be a big enough incentive to attract a quality striker.
HH
The Tom English article is a fair piece in my opinion and those who attack him for it are not looking at it objectively and are close to sounding like the one eyed patrons of sevco.
His piece is news worthy and could not be ignored by papers both side of the Irish sea. He represents Celtic whilst playing for us and to think that his attendance at this fund raiser would not be publicised is naive in the extreme bordering on stupidity. He gave those that try & cover their tarnished history with amunition to mud sling and try paint us at their level.
Whilst being paid good money to play football and currently still not match fit he should have dodged this event more so.
This isn’t a criticism of any politics but Neil Lennon must be raging because he has gone through some harsh times from those who use this religous/political division to vent their bigoted hatred physically.
You can’t point the finger at goran et al then defend Stokes.
Tenmen
Totally agree
HH
Ah’m Listenin’ Tae Arthur Askey Readin’ Fae His Ain Biography Oan Radio 4 Extra..
Why…I Ask-Ey Masel…?
blantyretim
Had them in a treble with; Udinese & Roma to put me 0.79p ahead for the weekend.
The dastardly butcher & sevconians conspired to screw up a very profitable line of 4somes + an acca. :-)
setting free the bears
17:36 on 2 December, 2012
ttt
“I would bet SFTB’s life savings on it!”
Are you sure you want to risk a whole pound?
****
Call me reckless, but, what the Heck, it’s only money……..yours!
Larrson80
If Tom English article is a fair piece .. why did he not comment on Charles Green meeting paramilitaries in N.I a few months back.
He did not and thats why your post is tripe.
HH
Awe Naw
You will not be surprised to know that the Hooper to Sunderland story is not true
Sunderland are currently in talks with Swansea about Michu
Sorry for the COP out as I have to HEAD out.
Will happily discuss any points later on tonight.
Running late!
I think Sunderland and QPR will be throwing silly money around in January.
Larsson80
The police and the press did not say what was happening to Neil Lennon and Paul Mc Bride until Mc Bride spoke out about it.
That lack of action is worse than what Anthony Stokes did. End of
HH
I saw michu last night …laudrap will never let him go
HH
Now we know why Pat Bonner called the club that’s dead ‘a great institution’
Scottish FA @Scottish_FA
Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner to help conduct fifth round draw tomorrow at 1 pm, live on Sky Sports News #RoadtoHampden
Retweeted by jake the snake
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eric_oithwaite,
Best post of the day. Spot on. If we can really utilise the skills of the likes of Ibrahim, McGeough and Forrest, we might be able to open up these 10 men defences and entertain at the same time.
He might buy Miku by mistake…………a bit like us buying the wrong Bangura.
Woo – Hoo
Had £30 lyin in hills a/c. Stuck the lot on the hi -bees @100/30 on the in -play with 20 min to go .
lasttimehertzplayinscottishcupCSC
2 wins out of 22 league games now for MON at Sunderland
They have Chelsea at home next week, so that run will stop
To all those who take interest in the financial implosion around the corner.
This a link to last weeks great seminar from westminster with Max Keiser & George Galloway. To those who don’t know anything about Max Keiser..be prepared for expert and current explainations of the banking crimes that will in 2013 affect everyone.
http://maxkeiser.com/2012/11/28/max-does-westminster-final-cut/
Michu would be nuts to leave Swansea for Sunderland, but I guess wages will talk as usual.
awe_naw..,
your getting close to a yellow card there