Ange Postecoglou

Can't wait to see the guy play.

 

Have you seen his defensive statistics btw? They stack up higher than it actually should than watching the way he plays, and a lot of that is because the rest of the team defending from the front. He had the best defensive stats against Rangers, Real and Shaktar.

And today he was mostly an 8, outwith a small period.

At this point I’m feeling sorry for Abilgaard, the expectation is through the roof. The expectation is he’s a defensive monster but still providing the same that McGregor does in that role. It’s not going to happen. And that’s no slight on the guy.

 

Its a frustrating one because when that teamsheet was released you knew it was risky. Ange got it wrong unfortunately. By all means rotate but players like Ralston have had virtually no game time prior to yesterday, think you have to phase in the rotation.

Anyway, yesterday was the first time I felt Ange got it really wrong and am sure he will put it right. We all wanted to go the season unbeaten but we all know how hard that is, it was likely we would drop points at some point. Just need to get back to our best and we will undoubtedly go on a long winning run again. Feel very confident we will be comfortable champions this year, this weekend is just a bad day at the office

 

There have definitely been games when we were running away with a win when I have expected Ange to bring Jura off for a rest and bring on Tony to give him some minutes and he hasn't. Resting JJ now and expecting Tony to start cold is an odd one.

 

What was established at St. Mirren was that if you change the recipe, then the result is different. Change the protocol and the routine and it brings about a feeling of discomfort and unease. A horrible choice of kit take's away the team's identity as well.

It even happens at home. Whether you change the usual family seating arrangements at the dinner table or sit in different seats than usual, in the family car going for a drive, the same thing happens. It's strange and it doesn't feel comfortable and it makes you feel uneasy. You are and others are not where you should normally be.

What works for Celtic is pretty clear for us all by now, and needs to be maintained.

Strongest 11 to start each game, without bias. If a player is lacking form in the last few games, then he needs to be replaced. No passengers on the pitch.
We play our usual high tempo passing and pressing game and try to score early and often in the first half, so that by half time we are ahead by one or more goals.
In the second half we continue to press and play in the opponent's half of the field, protecting our lead and defense by doing so, and again trying to score. We play with intensity in this half also, bringing on fresh legs as Ange decides.

This to my mind is the current approach for Celtic success, each week they play.

 

That about sums up my thoughts on yesterday. Ange got it horribly wrong, but I’ve no doubt at all that lessons will be learnt from it.

 

Let's say hypothetically Abildgaard gets his opportunity after the International break and out performs CalMac in the 6 role, what then?

 

Given we just lost our first league game in a year he would have to make a * of a cameo sub apperance to out perform arguably our most important player in a year long winning streak. 6 is not a problem position for us I'm pretty sure Cal isn't getting benched anytime soon.

 

The big man * it.

 

Well he did and he didn't. No one is a bigger supporter of Ange than me, but he definitely
picked the wrong team, that much is self evident, but the caveaat is his hands were tied with both Starfelt and
CCV injured, which no one could have envisaged. We all wanted Mooy to start, but it ddin't quite work out
because Turnbull and McGregor was not a good mix. I think we are all a bit * after working so hard to
build up a five point lead, including scudding Rangers 4-0, to dribble three points away to St.Mirren.

 

Aye picked the wrong team mate, Jota, O'Reily and Hatate should have all started, maybe Abada too.

 

I thought some of those players let the manager down tbh.

And I also thought St. Mirren played a blinder and their manager got the game plan spot on for what they were facing.

I’m not convinced at all that this was Ange’s fault. There was more than enough footballing ability on that pitch to beat St.Mirren, but none of them turned up on the day.

 

All of them yes, especially O'Riley to unpick the St.Mirren defence with the passes in behind.
But I would have played Giakoumakis too from the start, especially up against that big Declan Gallagher.

 

Agreed.

 

Still can't understand it.

Game before a two week break, decent lead at the top of the table. Then he puts out a b-side wearing the same strip as the opposition.

Literally none of it makes sense. This has basically undone the win v the huns.

 

It's a sickener, but I am getting over it a bit now, we have too. I get pretty upset and emotional when
we lose like that, but it comes with the territory.
We are still top of the league with a two point lead and far superior goal difference.Maybe Hearts will take points off them after the break ?.
I do think we have to look into the strip clash, who authorised it for the St.Mirren game, because it did make identification of our players very difficult, especially when you are travelling at speed.

I'm not sure it was exactly a B team, but there are some players in that team I don't want to see again in a hurry, who let us down big time.

 

St Mirren result still * me off even though I'm convinced it's a one-off and not something more systemic. I trust Ange to make sure lessons are learned, but it always seems to be that when we start a season well we can never shoot into the distance. Instead end up allowing them back to within a game because of a random * performance like Sunday.

Scotland games can * off anawl. Nothing worse after losing a game than watching that baldy * Clarke make your eyes bleed.

 

It’s just one of those games that eventually happens given the run we were on. We don’t need to look any further into it - it’s just law of averages.

The comparator would be under Rodgers - our first domestic defeat under him came out of nowhere and it happened to be an absolute shocker against the Diet Huns - one of the worst domestic games I’ve ever seen from us tbh.

In the end up, that game meant absolutely nothing in the context of the season as we went on and won a treble and qualified for last 32 of the EL.

 

Like all players, Calmac needs time to rest and recover from time to time. Also players with injuries must not continue playing on the day and exacerbate them. We all remember how the team suffered with his absence last season when he was injured.

Must say that it is clear that Ralston needs to get regular game time otherwise his confidence and form drops off. We can not afford to lose that grit and determination he brings to the side. He was magnificent for us last year and leaves his blood on the pitch for the team.