Spurs vs Celtic (Finland, August 2nd, 2:30pm live on CelticTV)

Ah right. Usual post-match rage, aye?

 

I actually quite like the system. You're right in that we don't have the players (plural) to pull it off, but I think we could really be on to something as I think we have the bear-bones at the very least.

- We have 2 CBs in Efe and VVD who're composed, very good with the ball at their feet and decent passers.
- Our full-backs are all good players.
- We've been playing with 3 forwards - 2 wingers and a striker, and in this system we ideally need at least one of the wide-men to be good finishers. I think Griffiths (good finisher) has done a decent job on the right, and although we're lacking a quality striker we do have several decent options (IMO the challenge is either buying one or picking the right option; my choice - if he could up his game - would be Amido Balde purely on height and potential ability to hold-up the ball and to do the unexpected but at the moment Pukki on his form is my choice). Callum McGregor has also played well on the left.

What we really lack is a quality defensive midfielder in the middle to be the guy that gets the ball from the defenders. The lack of this was blatantly obvious on Wednesday - Mulgrew can't play CDM in Deila's system. I'm not blaming him entirely but his first touch on more than one occasion was abysmal and cost us possession far-far-far too often for a midfield player to get away with. I personally think Biton could do a job being this guy as he's a tidy player but I also think he's a bit lacking in physical presence. I just wish to Christ we had a receipt for Victor Wanyama as for me he'd be this missing linchpin.

 

Personally, I find these threads more interesting than the fitba. If there was a champions league for talking * we would be right up there.

 

Finnish football must be truly dreadful if Pukki is their poster boy.

Exactly man it's infuriating. I remember reading years ago Chris McCart I think saying we had adopted Barca's policy of teaching players the same all the way through from 10/11 right up to first team level.... well what the * happened to that?

Because our youth teams play fast, exciting, attacking 433 with as you said interchanging players, and our seniors play boring, stodgy, slow, 451 which doesn't even work because we have NO good strikers at the club, let alone anyone good enough to perform a lone frontman role.

 

:smiley-laughing002:

 

Kids v Spurs first team, kids get pumped. Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth, get Deila out, Lawwell is lighting his cubans with 50 quid notes instead of spending it on the team, the world is ending, the sky is caving in, Ronny and JC hate each other, Griffiths bought shoes and should be more sensitive to hurting Celtic fans and Ambrose is the worst player to wear the hoops since, well ever.

I'm away to stand on a rickety stool with a leg missing, in a bath full of floating razor blades, while holding a toaster and keep trying to get through to the samaratins.

 

Most sensible fans know that the results in friendlies don't really mean much, especially when you're basically fielding a youth side.

They'll have gained some decent experience from this, but I don't really see how it figures in any assessment whatsoever of Deila's skills as manager or how we'll do for the rest of the season.

What is has proved is that our youth side cannot compete with an EPL side.

 

I know you were talking about Robertson and that was a mistake but they do happen and he was signed by Dundee United from Queens Park so is not the best example of their youth system functioning well.

My point therefore was that we do well at developing players on the most part until they are ready to break into the first team and then seem to * it up. Our players are technically better than DUs at U-20 level but whereas theirs get a chance in the first team (Gauld, Soutar etc.), our better ones don't and stagnate.

 

No just an honest appraisal mate

 

if i used the ignore button on here i have to block about 40 people,some need to seriously consider following another team
mon the wee hoops

 

An honest appraisal of what was basically our youth team playing against a decent EPL side though, right?

 

I've missed this place.

 

No even gonnae read this thread, but I take it we got beat/humped?

No doubt got a few fucknuggest on moanin about our under21 team getting taught a lesson by a team worth probably around £100m?

Up the Ra.

 

Yeah it's a shame because the system we play at youth system is actually really fluid and fast moving! The full-backs attack, the defensive midfielder sits and sprays the passes from deep, the other two in midfield link the play and support the attackers, whilst the wide guys join in with the play to create chances for a central striker...

When we played against Man City in the Next Gen it was great to see McGregor, Watt, Irvine, Fisher and McGeouch play such attractive football against an expensively assembled youth side. Totally outplayed them at that level!

 

Are they. I'm not convinced. Our youth players don't look all that technical to me. They look disciplined and positionally aware, but not technical

 

Did Efe get sent off?

 

He did indeed.

 

At that level yes. In the first team no, but I'm not sure if this is down to what has happened in the interim.

To be fair some are played out of position, like Twardzik who is technically good, Irvine and Fisher are decent for the position they play while McGregor has always been more Commons than Paddy McCourt. McGeouch looks when he plays wide right like he has been coached to improve on the defensive side though, which is important but don't know if its psychological that he seems to consistently curb the flair side of his game. When he is used centrally though his technical is more noticeable. Henderson I always think is neat and tidy.

 

Got any details on it, mate?

 

Rash tackle,didn't see it properly. I was arguing with someone on the internet at the time.