Both teams put out strong lienups and it seems a good tight game against top opposition. I'm pleased with then win though it did take us a bit of time to grab hold of the game even though we were at home. Roll on Betis and a couple more signings!
Alan Tate played all the first half at left back did he not? Also, Phil/Mabon... I just spoke to Mick about making these threads articles and he said if it's a sticky it can't appear on both teams boards, and to be honest it should always stay close to the top anyway, although I do appreciate the gesture!
Tate did play at left back and had a terrific ist half, subs were made Caulker went off for Taylor who slotted in and Tatey went into the middle. Got caught with a long ball over the top but got away with it, Celtic had more shots & I believe corners but no real threat. a couple of long range shots with a finger tip save to give away a corner,We looked fairly comfortable dealing with them and in fairness Celtic did vary them Mid field was abit slow and Leon got muscled off the ball a few times. Once we scored we took a grip on the game and only lost that domination when substitutions were brought on which disrupted our game and allowed Celtic for short spell to come back into the game.The second goal finished them and then on there was only going to be one winner
Aunty Betty says the Scottish parliament has passed the Funny Spelling Act 2011. As well as 'bhoys' you can now have 'ghirls' and 'mhen' and 'whomen'. Do you think that's trew?
The Celtic commentators were biased. One shot of note from distance well tipped over by Tremmel who was pretty sound. We had most of the play - Graham was inches off a near post cross from Dyer and should have done better with a header when well placed. Sincs delayed his shot when close in on goal and the keeper saved well at the foot of his post from Dyer who I thought had a great game. Kemy patrolled midfield with good effect although he did spray the odd long ball. He'll definitely improve with games but I thought Joe was patchy and was muscled out of it several times. Leon was busy without stamping any authority and I still believe that he and Joe, as a pair, have much work to do for the Premiership. Ash, Angel and Tatey comfortably coped with what was asked of them and I really liked the look of Caulker. He's a big guy who brings some physicality at the back. Encouraging!! All change on the hour and no one particularly impressed or let the side down. Lita looked hungry and he and Moore combined nicely a couple of times to get behind the Celtic defence - some good touches from both players and Moore showed the odd surprising burst of speed down the flank. Dobbs was Dobbs doing what he does and took his opportunist goal well from outside the box. All in all a decent work out against an under strength Celtic team. But here's the thing. We might have some pacey individuals in the team but we do not play with pace as a team, if you get my drift. Our build up is far too methodical, far too measured and far too slow. Celtic stood off us (friendly) and didn't pressure us too much but Premiership sides will. When Celtic attacked they broke at pace as a team and the man on the ball often had three, four or five runners sprinting forward to get involved. In contrast, all too often Dyer or Sincs will make a decisive break only to look up and see very limited options because we don't push enough bodies forward. This is causing me some concern because, already, Danny Graham must be having some doubts. Watford's style of play was more direct than ours and they got the ball to him quicker, with supporting players in there as well. If Graham is going to be our sole striker he is just going to be gobbled up by Premiership defenders. Our central midfield players are going to have to get in and around the box a lot more than they ever have. They will argue that when the attacks break down they will have a lot of tracking back to do. Fine, that is what they get paid to do and they will have to raise their fitness to levels to allow them to do it. If they can't then we must get people in there who can. Harley is a midfielder who knows where the net is but he is one for the future. Let's hope. I think if we can up the team tempo and get support into the front men, we will have a decent shout this season because we do play good football but our midfield selection is going to be critical.
This isn't a new phenomenon. I've thought for a long time that we don't move with enough urgency when someone has made an incisive run. Maybe they'll work on it, maybe they'll be satisfied that we have, are and may continue to get results from slower build up play. That said, it's a good result and a welcome boost to team confidence.
The Daily Nasty says a lot of things, my default approach is to disbelieve what they say unless proven otherwise.
i reckoned the attendance was about 6000. There were about 500 very noisy Celtic fans in the North Stand - they even let a flare off at one point. I thought I was in the San Siro!
thats what you get for trying to charge £25 for a Wednesday night friendly, less than half the stadium full, well done to those like me who stayed away in protest..
Someone just proved that they were right. I don't see what they'd have to gain by lying about the attendance of a friendly match. Maybe you are a touch paranoid.
