Ange Postecoglou is always truthful, so when he said he did not rest anyone last night and that those absent were injured or otherwise unavailable, he is correct. It is the context that is a concern. Footballers always have an ailment. If not a class-one injury like a hamstring, there will be bruises, abrasions, strains and fatigue. When a player tells you he is 100% fit, he is almost always departing from the truth.
Would Kyogo Furuhashi and Joe Hart (whose absence was not material) have been fit enough for a place on the bench last night, had the context been a cup final? That is a different question to whether or not they were ‘fit’. Ange has a small and depleted squad. He gambled against Real Betis, lost Kyogo but did not drop a point or the cup until the Japanese was back playing. He gambled again by starting Tom Rogic on the bench against Ross County, which paid off very late in the game.
Starting Kyogo in the cup final was another gamble; once more, it worked. I suspect Kyogo would have played had St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin not ‘played’ Celtic by magnificently underselling their preparedness. Spend too long at the table and you eventually lose, that’s the Punters’ Rule.
I doubt I was the only one worried when I saw the team sheet and lack of forward options on the bench. Win the points first, then rest players with niggles, is always the wisest plan. When a manager holds players back, he sends a signal – ‘this one will not take too much effort’.
Players are not machines. After a big game, there is a natural lull. Managers know they need to work to get them motivated for the next battle, especially if the next battle looks more like a skirmish. All the signals were wrong going into the game.
A 6-point lead at the hallway stage of the season is as much as any fan could ask for. We were that miraculous Anthony Ralston goal last week away from the gap being 8 points. The immediate consequence is that Boxing Day’s visit to Perth takes on a heavier importance.
We’ll talk about the SPFL vote and its ramifications later.
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We’ve came from 15 points behind at the New Year, so this is far from insurmountable, far from it, por cierto
Ernie, 😂
our only objective this season imo is to be 1 point ahead of thems and win back the title, playing like last night and it will not happen, ange has to learn quickly as his coaching staff certainly haven’t how to break down 2 banks of 5 all this tippy tappy and one two’s around their box if you don’t have the quality of player to carry it out doesn’t work , why not try sometimes to drive directly into box and force a rash tackle , we are far to predictable in our play and the opposition know it. , we could have swapped our defence for our attack and probably had more success,
Nicholson appointed Chief Executive
Michael Nicholson confirmed as ceo
https://twitter.com/CelticFC/status/1474003929209966593?t=47owY07XbudeeADWAaP9NQ&s=19
HH
Nicholson another yes sir
Celtic Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Nicholson as Chief Executive with immediate effect.
Our best 11 v the huns’ best 11, we are better. I think they have more depth and hopefully this transfer window will help address that. The huns also have far more physical/taller players, which helps in the Scottish game, in some instances. Being six behind at this stage is hardly insurmountable. Hopefully the board gives the manager the support he deserves and we do likewise with the team and Ange.
new article posted.
ERNIE LYNCH on 23RD DECEMBER 2021 12:40 PM
You can be a spiky beggar at times but you do also have the occasional flash of comic genius .
… and of that note of support, will Michael the mute ever say something?
Our chairman:
“Michael is an absolute team player and he will lead an experienced and talented team of executives and colleagues at Celtic.”
Makes you wonder why we ever went for an outsider when we had the perfect candidate already on our books.
HH.
Paul67
Well we were told in summer there was Ange’s game or no game, and at least four of the six points gap are highly questionable so we’re actually doing better than some think. We were also told a one window fix was never happening after ‘the state Lawwell and Lennon’ left us in’. If we didn’t see dropped points against another parked bus, we weren’t paying attention we’re nothing near Ange’s attacking philosophy best, without his two star signings.
The ball is still firmly in Celtic’s court, with the only winnable trophy won, three Sevco games and their forever on the horizon implosion to come.
We are currently a team under construction. Most people here agreed months ago Ange needed 2 Seasons & 3 Transfer Windows before he is judged.
When there is no Football, its easy here to have rational conversation but before & after games reason goes out the window and it’s either over the top elation or bitter recrimination.
All genuine Supporters are deeply disappointed at last nights performance, We can point to December’s punishing schedule, to our injury list and to a Cup Final Hangover & none of these should be dismissed but deep down we all know we should have won last night, we had plenty of chances but we were wasteful & threw 2 pts away.
I believe Ange when he said he didn’t rest anybody, Kyogo was carrying an injury and if Sunday was not a Cup Final he wouldn’t have played, it is indeed very likely that he had a reaction to that game,
It wasn’t a game where you’d expect Kyogo to be that effective anyway & Harts absence didn’t affect the result.
We need 4 or 5 in and we need to get a few injured lads back,
Abada & Moffat may or may not be good players in time but right now they are not good enough to play first team Football for Celtic.
My only criticism of Ange last night was the delay in making substitutions, Juranovic should have been on after 30 minutes, don’t understand Taylor for Scales in the dying minutes, maybe if Scales was thrown up front for last 10 minutes might have upset their defense.
However we have all seen the same film over & over again, 10 men behind the ball & Celtic passing the ball ad infinitum and nobody trying anything different.
I’m not advocating cheating but I guarantee you the Huns would have guys bursting into the box at pace & waiting for mistimed tackle to go flying through the air,
Summer signings.
Hart, Juranuvic, Kyogo all good signings
CCV and Jota are loans.
Mccarthy has contributed nothing.
Jury is still out on Starfelt, Scales and Abada
We lost 3 midfield players and brought in 1 ,vwho we don’t play.
So no . I don’t think it was a good enough window.
There is no way this squad will win the league.
I would take our place over Sevco anytime.
2 away games for them and 1 for us.
2 homes v teams who will come and play for us.
Then we see where we are after playing each team twice.
My bet is 3 points or less of a gap.
Momentum and a trophy already with us.
And some new signings.