Celtic are well behind the position they should be at this stage of the football cycle which started in the summer of 2014. This week’s two defeats are a symptom of that. A year ago, then-new signings Armstrong and Mackay-Stevens contributed to two highly credible performances against Inter Milan, which indicated we were on a positive trajectory, but pretty much every available indication since has pointed south.
Aberdeen were poor in the first half last night, but shortly before their opening goal om 31 minutes I noted that they were defending comfortably, despite our dominance. We had not made a chance which tested them. We often need a lot of possession before the goals flow.
There is a flip side to that ratio. We often lose a lot of goals compared to the possession we allow opponents. All teams take a direct approach to attacking Celtic – get it forward and shoot. Better still, win a corner. Football games are about two things: scoring goals and not conceding goals. Some work is being done on the former but I’m concerned our shape does not accommodate the achievement of the latter.
We’ve kept 4 clean sheets (Kilmarnock, St Johnstone, Partick, Stranraer ) in the 18 games since beating Dundee United 5-0 in October. Only Thistle (1-0), Dundee (6-0) and Dundee United (5-0) have lost at Celtic Park without scoring since…………… Ross County on 1 August.
Records will show that yet again we lost a crucial goal at a corner kick. What will be lost in time is the sheer panic caused by the Aberdeen corners which didn’t result in a goal. I’ve never seen a team defend set pieces so poorly over such an extended period.
There could be many reasons why we’re not in the Champions League knock out stages right now, but I’m sure the reasons we’re not comfortably ahead in the league is that defensively, our shape and organisation is not good enough. We concede too much space in dangerous areas. This is why we’re not miles ahead of a team with vastly weaker resources.
On the way forward:
It’s of the upmost importance we win the league. As it stands, we will achieve this. Colin Kazim-Richards, despite being of journeyman-pro stock, gave us a dimension we’ve not had in 18 months. He, Kris Commons, Ryan Christie, Patrick Roberts and Erik Sviatchenko will all have a positive impact on the remainder of the season.
Ronny has got a lot wrong, but he was right about one thing after the game last night, “The players need the fans’ support”. Those who suggest that anytime is a good time for recriminations probably don’t have a good grasp on the complexities of any given situation. There will be plenty of time for recrimination in June, right now, we need to keep our eye on the prize.
Win the league, then we’ll talk.
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East Kilbride v Celtic
CHAIRBHOY
Good post…but you forgot to say…SACK THE BOARD:)
HH
Nye B…
Ps, don’t know how that ? Sneaked in…I blame the gremlins.
Even the cats in a downer tonight. HH
Evening all.
Another sabbatical coming now. Keyboard bullies and internet assholes win again. Byeeeeeee HH
Greensideup-GBWO on 4th February 2016 7:01 pm
GlassTwoThirdsFull,
Shame on you! Who said you could bring realism, perspective or clarity to the blog ;)
– ——–
Sorry about that. Promise not to do it again:-)
My two youngest boys getting ready for school this morning and school picture day. Says to the one “make sure you clean your glasses for the picture” he tries to hand them to me to clean and I said ” you are thirteen, you are old enough to clean you own glasses”. Five minutes later I ask him while getting my shoes on “can you get my glasses off the coffee table please?”, he says ” you’re 54 years of age surely you can get up and get them yourself”, kids gotta love em. If it was my Dad I said that to he would have belted me,
HH
gsu
Since I’m a real tight wad, does anyone know any free websites to download some celtic wallpaper for my tablet
Some people really need to grow up and act their age…….
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD @ 7:44 PM,
“but you forgot to say…SACK THE BOARD:)
Quite:))))
A definite route and branch review is certainly called for.
Hail Hail
Weefra…
Good evening mate, you need to learn to scroll.
Although, I like reading both sides of the argument when I have the time and digest what both camps say.
Hope the weather calms down and make things a bit easier for you. HH
East Kilbride v Celtic
Hello lads
Been on a bit of a self-imposed CQN exile recently …needed a break, but have been lurking a bit. Was great to see some of the old poster back on … I always liked Estadio’s posts, so was really pleased to see he had returned.
Thought I would dip my toe back in ….
Some thoughts ….
McInness has got his players playing as a team, and is getting the most out of his group of players … whereas Ronny is getting as little as possible out of his guys, who look like they have never met before …. so, not good…
but….
in spite of them being at their best, and us being at our worst …. we’re still ahead of them, and we will likely only stay the same or improve, while they will an only stay the same or get worse …. so, maybe not so bad…
Mike in Toronto
Welcome back bud.
Always good to see your posts.
HH
We the splinter groups of CFC demand CFC pay the minimum wage, and the living wage, we stand for any working man doing his job and demand they be looked after fairly and treated with the respect that they deserve, and pressure should not be put upon them at any time in the workplace, the CFC should know this and act responsibly with all they’r staff, we as supporters are 100% behind any of the Staff who work at CFC , and will make it our place to back them at every opportunity as supporters of CFC .
The CFC Board: what about the coach?
The Splinter Groups: feck him he’s a diddy, sack um.
Tony Donnelly: Mans inhumanity to man , ….I’ll leave it at that.
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 3RD FEBRUARY 2016 10:40 PM
– join me, VIRUAL CELTS FOR CHANGE
SACK THE BOARD
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/aberdeen-v-celtic-live-updates-2/comment-page-23/#comments
Sips
On CQN the whiniest of trumpet doesn’t support Celtic.
Hail Hail
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 4TH FEBRUARY 2016 8:10 PM
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 3RD FEBRUARY 2016 10:07 PM
A port-mortom
is when you know you left the hibs hall at the bottom of the clune brae last night,
but wake up soemwhere in greenock the next day
mike in toronto
Ahh…………………………….
Good guys 2 – Bad guys 1
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 3RD FEBRUARY 2016 10:27 PM
Brendan,
your a good greenock pal to have in that cap-park.
keep it lit
(your phone torch that is)
VIRTUAL CELTS FOR CHANGE
SUPPORT THE TEAM – SACK THE BOARD
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/aberdeen-v-celtic-live-updates-2/comment-page-22/#comments
The team selection was all wrong last night ….substitutions ineffective and the input from the touch line non existent
Our squad is week , soft and gutless in the main …there are precious few CFC men and only a few who play with any kind of application
We need a new man to blow flames up our overpaid flat track bullies
Our skill level is way in excess of any spl team …we are capable of do much better
East Kilbride v Celtic
Ronny Deila’s got it wrong? Completely agree, but here is the real reason we’re in the mire. The garbage “strategy” that brings in a completely unheralded, unqualified manager and puts in him in charge of our team. Add to that a constant turnover of your best players for commercial reasons and constant rebuilding of your team. If you continually sell your best defenders and take cheap punts on their replacements, guess what happens? Deila has been completely set up to fail by Lawwell. It’s negligent that we’re in this position.
And don’t tell me you can’t build a team in modern football because of economics. Just look at what McInnes has done at Aberdeen.
I thought if Sevco survived long enough to get to the SPFL we would be light years ahead of them, uncatchable (iPad suggests this should read unwatchable, which is closer to the truth). Instead, we’ve got “the strategy”, which gives us a buffoon manager, a new team every year and and no Champions League cushion. They’re one year behind us at most, which is utterly scandalous, but probably what Lawwell and that disinterested absentee landlord with the handlebar moustache want.
And for the Board and Deila apologists, don’t take my word for how rubbish we are, listen to BBJ’s selfie video from today. Oh don’t tell me, he’s just another turncoat soup taker. Self defeating garbage.
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 3RD FEBRUARY 2016 10:01 PM
please join me.
SACK THE BOARD.
Ronnie is a patsy. a guy who was coming to coach is given the keys to the kingdom. not ready, unprepared.
Lawell up is the problem. Retire you greedy greedy man, paid more than the players and the manager. wrong wrong wrong.
Desmond , sell up and feck off, you imposter. Money is your god.Celtic are not your darling.
Only when the new standing section is belting out SACK THE BOARD will we have a voice.
———–
We will still win the league, but its an inglorious existence.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/aberdeen-v-celtic-live-updates-2/comment-page-20/#comments
imagine you are PL to DD. We have a league which is arguably weaker for the next 3-4 years while rangers are not there. Its the best opportunity in the world to focus more on development than to spend extravagant amounts of money on signings which may mean we win the league by 20 points rather than 6. Pointless.
Their strategy is obvious – bring in the new upcoming coach , bring in younger players, develop them and farm them out for experience. By the time rangers come up we should have experienced manager and developed players.
More importantly, we will have the money to spend on established players and perhaps a new management team when its most needed.
don’t be fooled by the mandatory champs league tripe peddled by the media.
IMO DD and PL are playing the strategic game to ensure we go on an win more titles when thems come back.
Right uncle Toms, I’v had enough, enjoy yer soup.
Lurking Huns GIRFUYs
Stebhoy
How is that strategy working out do you think
Tony
What’s up
TD67
If Peter Lawwell was replaced by Peter Sutcliffe you’d still support the Board…..
Donnelly ….playing the man not the ball as usual
Stebhoy
Who told you all that…Peter Lawell.
I dont think your analysis holds up.
I would contend that DD and PL…are both clueless.
what is the stars – we’ve won every title since they have gone, top of the league now. sold 40k + season tickets every year and bought players cheap and sold for millions. From their point of view, they’d say its working.
Short term sacrifice and risk – for long term gain
Steboy
We got humiliated in Europe …dumped out of two cups in succession and are only marginally ahead in what is supposed to be a one horse race
Whatever the plan is …it’s not working
Stebhoy
You are having a laugh.
What long term gain is there in selling all your best players?
Id say that was the height of stupidity.
HH
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 3RD FEBRUARY 2016 10:19 PM
cmon, torches ready (the light up wans on your phones)
join me in the virtual car park.
if you want change, then start with your name add SACK THE BOARD to your monikker.
its easy, click on your name , and change your posting name,
cmon its lonely over here,
i feel like the sandwich board guy in 1993
SACK THE BOARD
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/aberdeen-v-celtic-live-updates-2/comment-page-21/#comments
STEBHOY on 4TH FEBRUARY 2016 8:36 PM
what is the stars – we’ve won every title since they have gone, top of the league now. sold 40k + season tickets every year and bought players cheap and sold for millions. From their point of view, they’d say its working.
Short term sacrifice and risk – for long term gain
===============================================================
Would it be safe to say………….
The punters are not happy.
Why is it Offensive Behaviour for a supporter of a team to sing about the Easter Rising but apparently it is not Offensive Behaviour to sing a song relating to a serial child abuser?
Stebhoy
Fair enough, but I think they would have expected champions league qualification . We had 2 really good chances and blew both. The money, the prestige and for the fans the thrill and enjoyment of those European nights all went by the wayside because the strategy included hiring an incompetent manager because he was cheap, and telling the suckers or fans if you prefer that this man was the nordic Guardiola.
What an insult that was from lawwell
i don’t think they would have gambled like this if rangers were up challenging. We could so we did. Nesbitt is coming through, Tierney is looking great, McGregor has had invaluable first team experience. i like the 2 new central defenders (on contracts not loans). Griff has improved.
there has been mistakes – not a manager on the planet doesn’t make mistakes.
Its whether RD learns or not – i will judge him when he has a settled squad and if he buys a combative midfielder in the summer to strengthen the team. PS who would have thought SJ would have such an ineffective season after player of the year?
brown out, simonovic out, boyar out, mulgrew out, commons out , etc.. add on the refereeing shambles and he has my sympathy.
too soon to judge but i understand the frustrations.