The Offical Glasgow Celtic thread

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

I don't disagree that MON side played very direct football at times. They did however, when he got over the hoodoo of his first SPL title start to play a lot of entertaining football too.

It annoys me though that WGS has everyone believing him when he trots out the aul patter about his Celtic side playing good passing football. The majority of Celtics play involves the MF passing square /back/ wide (heaven forbid they actually go forward) to the fullbacks or "beckenbaur" Caldwell to hump the ball up to JVoH (a 6'5" forward who can't win headers).

The tempo, as many here have pointed out, is so slow that by the time Celtic have passed the halfway line they are facing 2 rows of 4. The difference now is that Petrov at least could run at people from central MF.

Certainly we don't have Stan P anymore, but Brown and Donati now cover that role of attacking from the midfield, passing to Aidan and Naka on the wings (under MON we had Lubo and Agathe), under WGS we have JVOH to knock the ball into, under MON we had BBJ (Hartson), so have things really changed that much?

[lynchbhoy]

I don't disagree that MON side played very direct football at times. They did however, when he got over the hoodoo of his first SPL title start to play a lot of entertaining football too.

It annoys me though that WGS has everyone believing him when he trots out the aul patter about his Celtic side playing good passing football. The majority of Celtics play involves the MF passing square /back/ wide (heaven forbid they actually go forward) to the fullbacks or "beckenbaur" Caldwell to hump the ball up to JVoH (a 6'5" forward who can't win headers).

The tempo, as many here have pointed out, is so slow that by the time Celtic have passed the halfway line they are facing 2 rows of 4. The difference now is that Petrov at least could run at people from central MF.

Certainly we don't have Stan P anymore, but Brown and Donati now cover that role of attacking from the midfield, passing to Aidan and Naka on the wings (under MON we had Lubo and Agathe), under WGS we have JVOH to knock the ball into, under MON we had BBJ (Hartson), so have things really changed that much?

imo yes
JVOH is not a traditional 'british style' centre forward.
He is a footballer. He happens to be tall.
Niall quinn was tall but shite in the air. JVOH is decent in the air, but not with his back to goal (Like quinn).
Brown is a runner in mf. The midfield is faster at covering these dys, but the problem is they play the ball about at a pace way too slow that allows the opposition get back into position.
McGeady has finally matured and is delivering on his promise.
Donati could be brilliant if he stopped giving the ball away with slack passes every second ball.
Unlik eMONs teams that were fantastic in the back four, GS has an attacking RB, whole hearted but guile-less cb's with  LB that is lovable but breaks your heart with rash tackling and bad positioning.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Lynchbhoy, while I'd agree with your defensive comparisons between MON and WGS, I believe that this is the big difference between these teams, MON had a good solid defense, while most of the players WGS has bought (defenders and all) seem to have an attacking element to their game. Now while this could be seen as good, it will only work with a solid CB and a Lennonesque CM, neither of which we have at the minute. Also if you want to have an attacking team, you need them to be able to PASS the fecking ball!! 

[tyroneman]

Brown and Donati now cover that role of attacking from the midfield

How many goals from MF have Donati, Brown, Hartley and Sno got between them this year from Midfield? Feel free to add Jiri's contrbution to the total also...............

under MON we had Lubo and Agathe

Lubo wasn't a winger...............yr thinking of Thompson

Donati could be brilliant if he stopped giving the ball away with slack passes every second ball

If my auntie had b*lls..................................she'd be...................

Unlik eMONs teams that were fantastic in the back four, GS has an attacking RB

And what............ Jackie Mac wasn't an attacking RB? FFS man.

Anyway - MON typically played 3-5-2 as well, negating the traditional Full Back Role so comparisons with WHS fullbacks are a bit pointless

[lynchbhoy]

Lynchbhoy, while I'd agree with your defensive comparisons between MON and WGS, I believe that this is the big difference between these teams, MON had a good solid defense, while most of the players WGS has bought (defenders and all) seem to have an attacking element to their game. Now while this could be seen as good, it will only work with a solid CB and a Lennonesque CM, neither of which we have at the minute. Also if you want to have an attacking team, you need them to be able to PASS the fecking ball!! 

would agree, but Celtic need a defense first.
I think the midfield could be good, but having to hand hold and babysit the defense all the time means they are on the back foot and cant help out going forward more quickly as is required.

[lynchbhoy]

Brown and Donati now cover that role of attacking from the midfield

How many goals from MF have Donati, Brown, Hartley and Sno got between them this year from Midfield? Feel free to add Jiri's contrbution to the total also...............

under MON we had Lubo and Agathe

Lubo wasn't a winger...............yr thinking of Thompson

Donati could be brilliant if he stopped giving the ball away with slack passes every second ball

If my auntie had b*lls..................................she'd be...................

Unlik eMONs teams that were fantastic in the back four, GS has an attacking RB

And what............ Jackie Mac wasn't an attacking RB? FFS man.
Anyway - MON typically played 3-5-2 as well, negating the traditional Full Back Role so comparisons with WHS fullbacks are a bit pointless

Mon played a 442 when it suited , and did so for more or lest his last two years as manager. Jackie mac was past it for the last couple of years and a liability imo (but not of most others I accept).Neither a great defender or a decent attacking full back - he couldnt cross the ball. He was originally a decent midfielder - where he preferred to play.
Lubo did a lot of good work as a wide midfielder (if not a 'winger').
Donati will hopefully cut out his mistakes and utilise his pace and athleticism.
How many goals has Brown setup this season if not scored. Hartley too. Bit harsh on them.
Celtic are sroring loads via McDonald and JVOH. Dont need anyone else scoring although we know there are plenty of others who can score (when they are not hitting the woodowrk - 6 times in last two games!)

[tyroneman]

Dont need anyone else scoring

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttt?

[lynchbhoy]

Dont need anyone else scoring

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttt?

do you not think mcDonald , JVOH, Samaras and McGeady are scoring enough ?

usually I would like to see a greater spread of goals, but as there is normally only a certain amount of goals scored in a game, would you prefer if the defenders and midfielders all scored the goals and the strikers didnt ?

[Main Street]

Regardless of personal opinion of whether Strachan is up to it or not,
do you think he will be there come next August?

[the green man]

Regardless of personal opinion of whether Strachan is up to it or not,
do you think he will be there come next August?

Why not? His record of success is up there with the best managers the club has had. Celtic are scoring quite freely in the league, it's the two centre halfs, who in my opinion are under performing, that is causing the bother. As stated Caldwell is at best a utility player, and should be used as such. I'll get crucified for this, but McManus isn't up to scratch. Could become a dominant centre half, but isn't the deal yet. Should never have been made captain of the team. Possibly that is were Strachan has made his biggest mistake.

[lynchbhoy]

Regardless of personal opinion of whether Strachan is up to it or not,
do you think he will be there come next August?

Why not? His record of success is up there with the best managers the club has had. Celtic are scoring quite freely in the league, it's the two centre halfs, who in my opinion are under performing, that is causing the bother. As stated Caldwell is at best a utility player, and should be used as such. I'll get crucified for this, but McManus isn't up to scratch. Could become a dominant centre half, but isn't the deal yet. Should never have been made captain of the team. Possibly that is were Strachan has made his biggest mistake.

no - I agree with you.
GS has made many many tactical and formation mistakes as well as personnel selection and who he bought etc as well.

a 'utility' room in some parts of america is actually a toilet !

[Main Street]

I like Strachan and have a respect for him and his coaching ideas.
But I just don't see that the team is playing any better now than his first season, in fact they look worse for wear.

I am just wondering what are the chances of him still being in charge next season, say in the likely event of Rangers winning the league by a comfortable 6+ points and then rubbing it in with winning the Cup.

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

I know its not Celtic but this is the closest thing to a Scottish football thread on here and I thought it was worth commenting on Dundee United's performance in the CIS Cup final today. They really outplayed Rangers and were very unlucky to be beaten. Crazy back pass unfortunately by Kerr in the 85th minute which let Rangers get the equaliser than after United going ahead again in extra time they conceded another somewhat soft goal. Always feared Rangers would do it on penalties. Poor call by the ref to deny United a certain penalty at 1-0 but so often those calls go against the wee team. You have to feel for Eddie Thomson who is seriously ill, his team gave him their all and deserved to win the cup for him.

If only Celtic had left Robson there till the end of the season!

[ExiledGael]

That's not good. Beat 1-0 by Aberdeen. Even McGeady looks like he's lost that spark now.
Christ Alan Maybury looked like an outstanding defender there tonight.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Just makes winning the league even more important now, although for the first time this season, I'm having my doubts as to weither we can do it! Starting to run out of excuses for WGS as well. 

hail hail