We should leave Dingwall wiser

285

An away game after a European away game is statistically the most likely time for a team to drop points, so I doubt Brendan Rodgers will tinker with his lineup too much at Ross County on Sunday.  As well as three points there may be valuable information up for grabs again for Celtic.

Watch how County shut down space and try to frustrate Celtic.  They will not pretend they are Brazil 1970; attacks by the home side will be infrequent and will never resemble the Light Brigade.  There will be timewasting, play will be interrupted with fouls when a County player stops in his tracks in front of a running Celtic player.

No one in world football knows these tactics better than Celtic fans.  We get to watch them pretty much every week.  Even the elites do it.  Borussia Dortmund qualified for the Champions League final after a win over PSG achieved with 30% possession and only 20% of the game’s attempts at goal.

If every day is a school day, let’s leave Dingwall on Sunday wiser and with three points.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

285 Comments

  1. Drambowiecelt on 5th October 2024 1:58 am

     

    Catchin Up..Big J…superb results on your returns from the big bad bookie..

     

     

     

     

    Our wee syndicate stuck a Ton on Lyon to win…Yay.

     

    …………..

     

    Cheers mate, and I am glad that your syndicate backed LYON v the Huns.

     

     

    I was feeling quite chuffed when my Lyon to win 4 – 1 v Huns at odds of 40/1 came up…….Its the 1st time ( I think) that Ive had a 40/1 winner on TWO separate bookie lines.

     

     

    I hope that you and wee INDY….and the rest of the family are all well.

     

     

    HH Mate.

  2. Knives continue to come out for BR, he will likely move on or be sacked as some point, that is the nature of football management, seemingly can’t come quick enough for some, never mind Lennon waits in the wings, however that is the first time I have ever heard of him not turning up at the training ground, I’m sure I saw him say in an interview he did about an 11 or 12 hour day.

  3. I DON’T think we will learn too much about anything from Ross County v Celtic Tomorrow….unless Ross County somehow manage to win 7 – 1 ?

     

     

    LOL

     

    HH.

  4. BJ

     

    Just need to win and keep the wins going in the league, at the moment we have a challenge from Aberdeen how much will be seen after they play us in the league and them at Pittodrie.

  5. DARWIN @ 8:48 AM,

     

     

    Yes, the fact remains everything is up in the air and there are many known, unknowns.

     

     

    If a player’s agent can extract their player from a contract, by fair or foul means, to ensure the players next Club don’t pay a transfer fee, then a signing on fee and higher wages await…

     

     

    So yes, absolutely take your point.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  6. “Burnley78 on 5th October 2024 9:31 am

     

    Glass2/3

     

    Clearly you are happy with the record defeats we have suffered under this manager . Some are not.”

     

    As it is quite obvious that NO Celtic supporter would be happy with record defeats, your post was not becoming and out of character for you.

     

    I can only put that down to the hurt we all feel.

  7. BURNLEY78 @ 9:38 AM,

     

     

    Some good points…

     

     

    Not unnaturally my confidence in our UCL home games was rocked a wee bit after Tuesday

     

     

    However it always looked good to have Young Boys at home on January if we needed the points, in an ideal world we would guarantee a top 24 position by then – that could well be overly opTIMistic, going to Villa Park needing a result is desperation time of course.

     

     

    So, as stated in an earlier post, the home games against Brugge and Leipzig are key

     

     

    Not necessarily easy to get a result but four points would be very nice, the Croatians will be no mugs and you will remember we had a relatively easy game coming up against RB Leipzig in Ange’s time, before they sacked their manager and appointed Marco Rose – we faced a very different opposition.

     

     

    Yet undoubtedly four points from Zargreb and Young Boys will be doable and welcome.

     

     

    Agreed on Chris Davies, I remember you saying how highly thought off he was at Lennoxtown, he really is a top class coach, he’s doing great at Birmingham and wish him all the best.

     

     

    Likewise Adam Sadler, taking a back seat but saw him in the dug out at an away game recently looking over Gavin Strachan’s shoulder giving him pointers on the screen

     

     

    He has made a great impact

     

     

    In my experience all the top people have a very good team around them and identifying that and utilising that (peoples strengths and weaknesses) is a skillset on it’s own.

     

     

    It should not be used to undermine our manager dar from it.

     

     

    So it’s Ross County and then an International break, both couldn’t have come at a better time.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  8. If Berne are out of it by the time we play them, and if we beat them, it will be classed as a dead rubber by the anti Brendan brigade, nothing surer.Look at the reaction to beating Feyenoord last season.

  9. garygillespieshamstring on

    Surely could not be considered a dead rubber if we are still in with a shout at qualification?

     

     

    I was delighted with the victory against Feyenoord. They didn’t play like they didn’t care about the result.

  10. GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL @ 9:17 AM,

     

     

    Yes, Lenny and the Bhoys did great that night against Barcelona, a phenomenal game

     

     

    It is a game of Legend in world football because the result and stats was such an outlier

     

     

    Celtic….Statistics……….Barcelona

     

    2………….Goals……………………..1

     

    1………1st Half Goalls……….0

     

    3……..Shots on Target……..8

     

    1………Shots off Target……10

     

    1…….Blocked Shots…………7

     

    2……..Corners……………………7

     

    11………Fouls……………………….8

     

    4………Offsides……………………1

     

    1……..Yellow Cards…………….2

     

    62……Passing Success………90.9

     

    20………..Tackles……………………12

     

    80……Tackles Success………..91.7

     

    16.4…….Possession…………..83.6

     

    26.5….Territorial Adv………..73.5

     

    166……..Total Passes………..955

     

    12………Total Crosses…………32

     

    13.4…….1st Half Poss…………86.6

     

    16.3…….2nd Half Poss………..83.7

     

     

    Whatever way you look at that, it was not a defensive masterclass engineered by a great tactician

     

     

    It was an outlier and a one in ten result.

     

     

    To me Dortmund BVB’s result was also a one in ten result

     

     

    Hail Hail

  11. GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING @ 11:20 AM,

     

     

    Totally agree…

     

     

    We did great that night against Feyenoord and they certainly didn’t come to make up the numbers

     

     

    This down playing of all our Managers successes and blowing up all the issues up like it’s the end of the world.

     

     

    In reality the points in the Feyenoord game was much more significant that the lack of points in Dortmund.

     

     

    It is very worrisome that some folk with connections to our Boardroom would consistently fly these kites…

     

     

    A house divided and all that…

     

     

    Hail Hail

  12. Again the Celtic 1 -0 Man Utd game was a phenomenal game.

     

     

    Yet that was down to two world class moments

     

     

    A world class save from a penalty by Boruc

     

     

    A world class free kick from Naka

     

     

    We don’t have players capable of that level of performance anymore (of course I’m not detracting from Schmeichel at the height of his powers).

     

     

    We would not be recruiting that level of footballer these days and we would certainly ot be keeping them for five years, as in the case of Boruc and let them run down their four year contract as in the case of Naka

     

     

    Again this is an agenda and doesn’t compare like with like

     

     

    Also seen someone compare Gordon and Neil’s UCL after Christmas with Matin O’Neils UEFA Cup Final achievement as similar

     

     

    Of course if Brendan gets through the new group stage and we get to the play-offs this season that is a given, isn’t it?

     

     

    After the huge investment in the squad

     

     

    Nett minus 10mn wasn’t it:))))

     

     

    Hail Hail

  13. GGH

     

    Correct it was a very competitive game won at the end by Celtic, Feyenoord lost their manager to Liverpool who just happen to be top of the EPL .

  14. DESSYBHOY @ 11:11 AM,

     

     

    Yes exactly….

     

     

    The only folk that saw it as a dead rubber were…

     

     

    The SMSM

     

     

    Ra Berrs

     

     

    And the Celtic Uber-fan

     

     

    Hail Hail

  15. Good afternoon all from a dry,bright but becoming overcast Garngad.

     

     

    I take it when the righteous peeps on here mention “the anti Brendan brigade” they are talking about people/fans outside our club.

     

    Not our supporters who have an opinion on how the team should try and play better.

     

     

    Some people just think they are uber fans when in fact they are the ones who are the anti Celtic brigade.

     

     

    3 – 1 to the Tic maniana.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    D. :)

  16. Tuesday’s loss in Dortmund is only our second loss since a mid December 2023 home defeat to Hearts last season, so Brendan has got and is getting something right. Borussia are by far the best team we have played since then. Was listening to an interesting podcast early doors, Simon Jordan discussion with Davie Moyes, the latter one of the best analysts at the Euros, (along with Wayne Rooney and Rachel Corsie). Confirmed that he had spoken to Dermot Desmond before Brendan got the job, missed out going back to Everton,ended up at Sunderland who ended up being relegated. One criticism of him came from the Manchester United players after Moyes accepted the poison chalice of following Alex Ferguson, which was that he spent too much time worrying about the opposition when heretofore under Fergie it was the opposition’s job to worry about playing ‘United’, a proposition which Moyesie agreed with. That is how SPL teams feel about playing Celtic, but is it not fair to state that facing a team of Borussia’s pedigree, we should maybe focus our attention on them, and realise that our own best tactic would be Maeda on the break chasing the right ball, in this case the long ball, from say Liam or Kasper both of whom are capable of delivering it. Some on here say tactics dont matter and while that may be true in over 50s six a sides, (otherwise known as walkin fitba) in the real world of the CL they most certainly do.

  17. bournesouprecipe on

    Dortmund to Dingwall.

     

     

    You’d swear they’re still smarting at Brendan for being so influential at Celtic digging out stats to punt their agendas. Brendan might get ‘emptied’ one day by the all powerful, if he does he has that in common with Jock Stein and plenty of other managers. Tactics, can compensate for quality but to argue that you’ve a better ‘learned plan’ and BR doesn’t, is a pure waste of time. Digging in for a 0-3 ( his words ) might make you feel better, ultimately it’s nil points.

     

     

    Brendan Rodgers is as good as it will ever get at Celtic in charge in current times, and when the dust settles whenever that is, there will be jungle cynics still harking back to European results. He not only knows his 4-3-3 better than you, he knows Dortmund and the gap between his Celtic players, and theirs spare a thought for Bratislava.

     

     

    Paul67 with his pantomime it’s behind you Telfer McManus O’Dea Naylor days will have made, Brendan Rodgers smile as he makes his way to the training ground at Lennoxtown to begin his day again, without a Blog.

     

     

    As ever CSC

  18. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Champions League dead rubbers for sale …

     

     

    … for €2.1m a win.

  19. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Usual noise around this latest court ruling.

     

     

    Similar to Bosman.

     

     

    “This will mean the end of big transfer fees” was the common cry back then.

     

     

    How did that work out?

     

     

    Clubs will hire more lawyers.

     

     

    Player contracts will be tightened or have new clauses added.

     

     

    Things will settle down for a bit.

     

     

    Then an edge case involving a single player getting screwed (by human behaviours not contracts) will emerge.

     

     

    And the whole circus will start up again.

  20. Now is not the right time to discuss Brendan that’s like him scampering away mid season it’s wrong

     

     

    Now is time to circle the wagons and fight together.

     

     

    County tomorrow are a different type of opposition and shouldn’t trouble us if we dictate the game. A good performance and result can send us into the break with confidence.

     

     

    The International break will give Brendan the free time to analyse the Dortmund game and our mistakes and take it forward to our 6 remaining games. This group stage style means we need to look at 8 teams instead of 3. A significant factor

     

     

    Of course, that means selection and tactics for dealing with each team differently. I am sure he will have learned from Dortmund as will the players and coaches.

  21. Think it might have been Burnley78 that pointed out that had we lost 3-0 instead of 7-1 we would presently be 17th in the CL league, just behind Barcelona and just in front of Real Madrid (who they?) on GD, and not 20th.

     

    And Borussia Dortmund would not have their best result in Europe since 1965-66.

     

    Counting goals? Who’ da thunk it?

  22. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Watched bits of Crystal Palace vs Liverpool.

     

     

    Virgil still got it at 33 years old.

     

     

    Superb footballer.

  23. BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 12:51 PM,

     

     

    Exactly….

     

     

    Who would win a fight between a fantasist and a dreamer!?

     

     

    CELTIC MAC @ 1:20 PM,

     

     

    Brendan Rodgers intimated in his presser that getting the performance right and picking up points is more important than goal difference.

     

     

    I’m with BR on this one…

     

     

    Hail Hail

  24. BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL @ 2:31 PM,

     

     

    Yes, POTM

     

     

    Arne Slot wins a dead rubber to go top of the league;)

     

     

    Hail Hail

  25. garygillespieshamstring on

    After Aberdeen on the 19th, there is no Saturday home league match until Ross County come calling on the 30th of November.

     

     

    Ridiculous scheduling.

  26. lets all do the huddle on

    After Aberdeen on the 19th, there is no Saturday home league match until Ross County come calling on the 30th of November.

     

     

    Ridiculous scheduling.

     

     

     

    agreed,

     

     

    terrible to schedule the Aberdeen game for 3pm on a Saturday, it should be 5.30pm for a game of that importance 😁

  27. Prestonpans bhoys on

    YogiHughes on 5th October 2024 3:28 pm

     

    Dortmund 2-0 down at HT

     

     

    2:1 Berlin have 35% possession and playing 3-4-3

  28. Dortmund gubbed 2-1.No Adeyemi or Gittens.Boy did it show.All the ball second half,done nothing with it,not the width they had on Tuesday.

  29. Big Jimmy on @10:47am.

     

    Maybe LUKE MCCOWAN will play from the start tomorrow v Ross County ?

     

     Ive got high hopes for this Kid…..in time.

     

     HH

     

    ____________

     

     

    It would be interesting to see who is keeping McCowan oot of the team.

     

     

    It surely can’t be the £11 million invisible man project?

     

     

    Or Callum the former invisible man until Brendan1 arrived?

     

     

    Or Hatate and his 20 yards over the bar attempts at goal?

     

     

    PS, Did you see Celtic captain Callum standing with his sly hand over his mouth sniggering and joking with a Dortmund player whilst we were being pummelled? Maybe they were laughing at the Celtic fans acting like the tartan army empty heads. Yet another thing that Paul 67 was correct about and was attacked by the woke whining krankie rebels on here for merely commenting on what everybody with a pair of honest eyes can see.

  30. This is the most comprehensive article I have found ont eh internet about the Diarra case

     

     

    https://www.walkermorris.co.uk/comment-opinion/diarra-v-fifa-a-changing-transfer-market/

     

     

    Its pretty inconclusive, as you might expect from a lawyer:

     

     

    “The ruling reflects the general trend we are seeing towards increased player rights. Players may become more emboldened when taking decisions following disputes with their club, although the general contractual principles applicable to a breach of contract are still likely to be a suitable deterrent to most players.”

  31. TURKEYBHOY on 5TH OCTOBER 2024 4:38 PM

     

    Dortmund gubbed 2-1.No Adeyemi or Gittens.Boy did it show.All the ball second half,done nothing with it,not the width they had on Tuesday.

     

     

    I think Bynoe-Gittins did start. I only watched the last half hour when it was backs to the wall stuff but it looked like he way Union were set up in a 3-4-3 stopped Dortmund from playing to their strengths.

     

     

    Maybe if we had CCV fit on Tuesday we might have seen 3 at the back. It worked against Atletico last season when the intoduction of Philips stiffened things up at the back so maybe that was in Brendans thinking before the game. Atalanta might offer a different tactical challenge to Dortmund, though. Different formations, for sure

  32. So good to see St Pauli back up and competing in B1 despite losing their young coach.

     

     

    Amazing to think their fans used to have such a bond with ours back in our wilderness years in the 90s.