Fighting back from 3-0 down at Killie, drawing away in France against Rennes, beating Aberdeen and horsing Hibs 4-1. Certainly the defense has more holes in it than a Hollywood blockbuster script but we've been unable to field the same back four two games in a row. We've suffered badly from injuries too in other parts of the team. There were no front players on the bench last night and we've badly missed Scott Brown's drive and bite, in my opinion. Are we finally getting back on track after a poor start to the season? Or are we still ****e?
Once we get back to a full strength squad I expect us to push Rangers all the way. Our injury list would see other teams relegated so 10 pts behind with a game in hand is not unrecoverable. I think we have turned the corner and I fully expect us to give Hibs another doing at the weekend.
We are slowly getting back to the form we showed last season at times when we looked capable of creating and scoring lots of goals However same as last season due to having a poor defence we are too inconsistent, and when we are bad at going forwards we end up losing We need to be in a position where when it simply doesnt happen going forward - as it will at times when the players dont hit top form or opponents park the bus, we dont concede stupid goals and lose games we should never lose That is what lost us the league last season Look at Rangers form last season and even this. ****e on many occasions, even when winning. And whilst the drew some games and scrapped some wins that was down to not conceding stupid goals to keep themselves in position where they could scrape out a last few minutes 1-0 win
We still have the big gaping areshole of a defence waiting to be raped by any team which is capable. I don't think every other club has realised yet that all you need to do is simply hoof a high ball in and sit back and watch the comedy.
I think most have to be honest. I've lost count of the number of goals we've lost due to a big thump up the park. Rather than attacking the ball, our CB's just look at it, wait for it to bounce and then try and clear it. That gives the opposition attacker the chance to get a challenge in and more often than not they win the ball. It's incredibly frustrating.
I agree with Stereo Typist opening post, now playing better but missing Brown big time. I am sorry but I don't see Ledley filling Brown's role in any way, two completely different types of midfield players. Brown very busy putting opp. players under pressure, he has very good influence on other players especially Kayal, who plays in fits and starts. Rangers defence is more watertight not because they have better players but because they have more defenders. Everytime Rangers play they have 5/6 players who could if they are required fill in at centre half. Celtic often have two, sometimes 3. I would like to see Mark Wilson as one of full backs as he can get up well and challenge in the air. I also like to see Wangama in centre midfield and I hope he was just rested last night as he does cover the centre backs. First half against Killie a Killie player ran past Ki and scored when the ball came in. Big improvement last night from Ki as he raced back to try to put some pressure on the Hibs player who broke free. Many have blamed Forster this season, but I must say he did a bit all right last night, he reminded me a bit of the Holy Goalie. Biggest worrry I have for Saturday is Calderwood was very upset that his players did not get stuck in enough. He must have been joking if the referee last night had not performed to the Scottish referee script, I thought another 2 0r 3 would have been sent packing. The tackling was crude and Celtic players were not protected.
I thought some if the Hibs players got away with a lot of nasty and dangerous fouls (deliberate kicks to ankles etc) particularly in the first half - we were lucky not to have had more players on the injury list! Our second half performance was a revelation which I could never have foreseen but, for me, great credit is due to young James Forrest (and to some extent, Anthony Stokes) for starting the turnaround in the second half - he practically, single-handedly showed the much-needed drive which has been lacking in our performances this season. I'm not sure the turnaround would have happened without James Forrest's interventions. Someone else said that Ki Sung-Yeung has been coasting in recent games and I agree with this -he has the potential to be a great player with the skills to influence and control games but for me his input/workrate and drive is nowhere near sufficient yet, given his capabilities. By the way, sh, interestingly, Pat Nevin mentioned the fact that the fans kept singing and never gave up on the team at any time during the poor first half performance which, he added, from a players perspective, lifted the team to do better......has he been reading your posts? LOL!
I admit I am an old one , watched Celtic since the 70's our fans have always been the best as proved by FIFA and uefa 2003 (and no appeance on crime watch !! ) but last year we have turned it up a notch , thanks to the young fans ( green brigade ) a midweek league cup game at Easter Road shouldn't have turned into the occassion as it diid last night the atmosphere in our end was unreal. Heard the BBC missed the backward huddle luckily I am not paranoid !!!
Superhoops Ledley is asked to play left hand side and move inside to form a 3 when required to stop us getting over run in midfield the same role as Brown only from the left rather than right. How the **** can you argue about that?
TTC - Much as I like Joe Ledley and would like to see him in the team every game, I don't think that he has yet shown anywhere near the energy and drive levels to do the same sort of job that Scott Brown has done on the right-hand side. The consequent danger is us getting over-run in midfield. However, here's hoping Joe's fitness levels rise to the occasion in the very near future!
Tom/cat. Exactly as Espania Celt says Joe Ledley does not have the stamina, all go action, running around putting any opponent anywhere near him under pressure when they are on the ball. Scot Brown also drives forward and has sometimes a defence splitting pass, something Joe Ledley doesn't do. Brown of course can also give the ball away cheaply whilst Ledley usually uses the ball rather conservatively ( a big plus for him). It is not only what Brown himself does but also his all action style that makes Brown such a good influence on the team when he plays. Ledley just gets on with his own game and doesn't inspire any colleagues. Two quality players but two very different types.
I said he isn't as well suited to that role but Lennon likes to have a wide player that can tuck in to make a three when needed. that is what has been happening As for he doesn't have the stamina all go action nonsense Browns running around and giving away fouls and losing the ball is as much a problem as an asset.
