We played a back 3 yesterday with Izzy and the Cha basically being employed as wing backs, do you think this was a practice with Rangers in mind? Although Motherwell never really did what I expected (hump long balls up to Higdon) the back 3 of Chuck, Victor and Rogne were fairly solid I thought. I think we all know what tactics Rangers will employ, they will be hitting long diagonal balls towards elbows for him to knock down to whoever is in support. He had a fair bit of success in the last OF game using this rather blunt approach, so has Lenny decided to counter the threat of McCulloch by playing Big Vic in direct opposition to him or will we revert to a straight back 4 again and if we do who will be at the back? Looks like Chuck is a certainty (unless he's deployed to LB again) so who will play beside him this time? I for one would love to see Victor mano et mano with Elbows, I have a sneaking suspicion that Victor would ragdoll him.
The tactics yesterday didn't look like an out-and-out 3-5-2 in the O'Neill stylee although, having played in that system, I can see how Lennon would use it when a team have a big striker to knock the ball up to and get us some extra width. It seemed to me that, during the first half, the team fell into a 4-4-2 sometimes - Izaguirre had to come back and cover his wing whilst Wanyama seemed to slot into more of a RB than a CB position at times and Cha didn't need to cover - this may also have just been because both wide CBs (Wanyama and Mulgrew) were told to cover wide positions at times and Cha needed more covering than Izzaguirre (neither of whom were any good yesterday). This might just have been Cha being a puddin' and Wanyama covering for him but it looked deliberately flexible to me. To be honest, I'm not a fan of flexible formations unless you have absolutely outstanding ball-players and the system has been practised to death. As for the threat from McCulloch on Sunday, one thing has become clear in the past few weeks, the big threat from him is ridiculous free kicks that he wins by swallow diving after locking up the defender's arms - the **** does this constantly and it seems to almost always work.
I think we shouldn't pay too much attention to a Celtic "fan" who reckons a Celtic player is a puddin' I think Sunday's line up was trying out a new system. I think Neil will try different formations especially in these end of season meaningless games with a view to make it more difficult for opponents to prepare to play Celtic as the opposition will have to cover different formations. I thought yesterday's went fine with Victor's ability showing that he is equally comfortable in any defensive/midfield role. A true star.
If you call a puddin' a puddin', you're not a Celtic fan? Cha is ****e - he can deliver a good cross and that's it. Does this method of assessment of yours fit all Celtic players past and present, Super? How do you feel about Mo Johnstone? Can't criticize him, remember, or you're not a real fan.
Do you not get it ... You are never ever ever EVER allowed to critisize a Celtic player, manager, member of backroom staff, office staff, employees of the Celtic shop etc No matter what anyone employed by Celtic does you must always be positive about them! Call yourself a fan!
4-0 to young hoops in the cup final at h/t , one of Czech twins carried off on a stretcher . tTalking off injuries I've heard the polish centre half we signed has received a serious injury
He was tweeting last night saying he hoped it wasn't serious. Goes to show his fingers and thumbs are ok.
Fer fuxxake. **** that. Go with the Bhoy Fraser. Too much of an outlay on those lads. Wan of the twins got stretchered off tonight. Finished 8-0. Without young Watt. Hat trick for McGregor. McGeough tore them apart. I can't wait to see the highlights. Bring on the baby monkeys on saturday at Lennoxtown.
