The lesson from Arbroath

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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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760 Comments

  1. Larsson80 re the Tom English piece:

     

     

    The chap died on Sep 3rd. Three months ago. How do you figure this is newsworthy now ?

  2. good to see hibs beat heart,

     

     

     

    good to see that clubs like hearts are having to get their house in order and their playing squad will reflect their income

     

     

    chicken coming home to roast

  3. 50 shades of green

     

     

    I was at that game and remember several irate Aberdeen fans complaining bitterly about having had hot bovril spilled over them during the match.

     

     

    HH!!

  4. I think the biggest problem we have is taking too many touches on the ball,and not moving it quicker,we give the opposition time to get men behind the ball.

  5. SFTB

     

     

    “We have lost to Kenny Sheils Killie a couple of times now. He fields a football playing outfit who are attack minded.”

     

     

    Not in the games I saw where Kilmarnock were completely set out in the opposite.

  6. Bhoys,Mrs Bing and I are going to Letterkenny this weekend,any good bars,restaurants,places to avoid and somewhere to watch the Killie game on Saturday,thanks.

  7. Seems to be plenty chat about who may be leaving us in Jan/summer , any rumours on who may be coming in?

     

     

    Would love to see McCarthy sign from Wigan…. Big money I know but we have it so why not?

     

     

    Scandalous decision by BTM not to sign him from Accies

  8. !!bada bing!!

     

     

    Spot on,too much pittty patty passing and no precise forward motion.

     

    We need to be more direct and stop giving teams time to regroup.

     

    Its reminiscent of wee Gordons era.HH

  9. Delighted that Hibs have knocked Hearts out of the Cup, after suffering a real barren spell against their Edinburgh rivals.

     

     

    Continually having to be a ‘selling club’ whilst managing to pay they’re bills, salaries, and taxes scores a victory today.

  10. !!Bada Bing!!

     

    18:43 on 2 December, 2012

     

     

    I think the biggest problem we have is taking too many touches on the ball,and not moving it quicker,we give the opposition time to get men behind the ball.

     

    ____________

     

     

    Agree!

     

     

    Been an avid follower of the olde Serie A since its original airing on CH4 some 25+ years ago. Its defensive mantra has rarely changed.

     

     

    Watch Napoli (big fan of Cavani) – constant passing/ breaking at pace – never less than a 2/3 man attacking option comprising; one wide player and 2 through the centre – Cavani the spearhead – Hamsik just in behind (capable of going ahead or taking a wide position for the betterment of the team) – backed up by one or other full-back.

     

     

    Watch their passing – always an angle/ always into space – even when going backwards – never more than 2 touches.

     

     

    Square passes – unlikely you will see them employ their use more than half-a-dozen times in a game – no matter the opposition.

     

     

    That’s the kind of template I would utilise at CP!

     

     

    GetmeatracksuitCSC!

  11. Burgh Bhoy

     

    Re McCarthy

     

    Where would you play him ?

     

    I think he is a great player, but the only way I could see him coming is if we sold Big Vic and got him as a replacement ?

  12. thomthethim

     

     

    18:54 on 2 December, 2012

     

    _______________________

     

     

    Cracking photograph.

     

     

    The Glenties man will make the difference.

  13. Burghbhoy

     

     

    18:59 on 2 December, 2012

     

     

    Seems to be plenty chat about who may be leaving us in Jan/summer , any rumours on who may be coming in?

     

     

    Would love to see McCarthy sign from Wigan…. Big money I know but we have it so why not?

     

     

    Scandalous decision by BTM not to sign him from Accies

     

    ——————-

     

    What I heard at the time was that he was on £500 a week at Hamilton, Celtic offered £2k a week but also didn’t think he would start every week in our midfield. Wigan offered him £10k a week and he felt he couldn’t turn that down.

  14. praecepta-I think this could be what we are needing,a No 10 type player to see a quick through ball is all we are lacking player wise.HH

  15. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    No point in playing a quick through ball to a stationary or slow forward or one who is still in the mf

     

     

    If I have a choice between Vic and James … I take Vic every time

     

     

    HH

  16. Think Big Vic will be offski not in January but in the summer so McCarthy ideal replacement, I heard BTM thought it was a lot if money to pay for someone who wasn’t the finished article!!!! Think a blind man could see that laddie even at 16 was going to be a great player!

  17. praecepta

     

     

    Big fan of Walter Mazzari!

     

     

    Napoli in with a shout of winning Serie A this season imo.

     

     

    Cavani – fantastic player!

     

     

    Uruguay are very lucky to have a strike-force of Cavani and Suarez!

     

     

    HH!!

  18. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    I think todays trolls calmed down after the second goal went in.

     

     

    HH

  19. Evening bhoys from a very cold hun free mountain.

     

     

    A bit of discussion about how to break down a packed defence, some saying be more direct etc.

     

     

    In general we play against packed defences most weeks, it’s no been to bad so far :>)

     

     

    We had 20 shots on target yesterday, we made the chances, just didn’t take them.

     

     

    That imo is breaking down a packed defence.

  20. bsr

     

     

    “Not in the games I saw where Kilmarnock were completely set out in the opposite.”

     

     

    Stats for the recent Killie match

     

     

    Celtic Killie

     

     

    Shots on Target 7 7

     

    Shots Off Target 2 3

     

    Corners 3 3

     

     

    For last year’s LC final defeat the figures were Celtic (12, 9, 7) and Killie (8,5,5).

     

     

    In the 3:3 game it was (14,8,2) for Celtic and (11,7, 3) for Killie.

     

     

    That’s pretty good going for a defensive team.

     

     

    Of course, Celtic put them on the back foot at times but Kenny Sheils is no Craig Levein or Craig Brown.

  21. Burgh Bhoy

     

    Think a blind man could see that laddie even at 16 was going to be a great player!

     

     

    Does that explain why we let him go from our youth ranks .-:)

  22. Kilbowie Kelt

     

     

    19:03 on 2 December, 2012

     

     

    thomthethim

     

     

    18:54 on 2 December, 2012

     

    _______________________

     

     

    Cracking photograph.

     

     

    The Glenties man will make the difference.

     

     

    *******

     

    I hope you can access the site over there.

     

     

    At about 3.50mins. Jim is on and it is inspiring just to listen to the man.

  23. Clashcitybhoy

     

     

    Exactly….. Bit like Luigi letting Given go and bringing in the immortalised Muggleton as a replacement

  24. Bada Bing/ Tallybhoy

     

     

    It’s not just about a No.10 – can’t say Napoli utilise an out-and-out one – it’s more about how they keep the ball moving.

     

     

    Their CB’s are comfortable bring the ball out of defence and making a pass to man available in midfield (with his back to goal in the opponent’s half) – the ball gets laid off first-time at an angle (back/ forward).

     

     

    It’s like a game of TIG – they switch the ball around looking for the opponent to step-out to try and intercept. As soon as he does – the ball gets switched diagonally and they look to get in behind. Their cut-backs are lethal (3 goals today from that type of move).

     

     

    Nobody dwells on the ball – few take it for a wander – the ball is always moving.

     

     

    I would pay money to watch them and they seem to have a fairly healthy/ noisy crowd at home games that back them enthusiastically!

  25. Philbhoy - It's just the beginning! on

    Maybe we are not as good as we think we are!!!

     

     

    Some pish results against some poor poor teams!

     

     

    Think about it!!!

  26. Sunni camlachie,

     

     

    Your comment lacks analysis, factual critique, comprehension & intelligence.

     

     

    Ironically the traits of the group you whilfully accuse me of being part of.

     

     

    Great contribution :)