Brendan Fraudgers!

I read his book whilst on holiday and though it was an interesting read, It never really inspired me. When you read his views on football it's how we played last season, pure and clinical which was a joy to watch. A total contradiction from this year where at times he looked devoid of ideas and one paced especially at home where we have had to watch some dreary games. Ok injuries etc have an impact but, still they way he talks about the game on he seemed to be lost and stuck in his own opinions at times.

Saying that * bless him and keep him safe. I came home on Monday morning and watched the game. He was at his best had his subs were sublime..... Still not the finished article for me. But, glad to have him here to develop into the manager and icon we all know he can be.

 

Saint Brendan "The Messiah"... knows players and how to improve them your talking about a guy who turned Coutino,Sterling and Suarez into world class talents.

 

There was a suggestion in some quarters this week in the aftermath of Celtic’s win at Ibrox that it is better to be lucky than good.

Former Ibrox captain Barry Ferguson used his column in a tabloid newspaper to pour cold water on the result and on the decision to go for the win even when reduced to ten men but Hoops boss Brendan Rodgerswas having none of it.

Rodgers was reluctant to play up his own part in the 3-2 win but he was effusive in his praise of his own players insisting that he had “10 soldiers in the game” after Jozo Simunovic’s red-card.

“In any game of football there is always an element of luck,” shrugged the Hoops boss. “I would think even Rangers supporters wouldn’t say that [we were lucky] if you look at how we played and what we had to go through in the game.

“That’s the third time in the 20 months I have been up here when we’ve gone down to ten men. They were all away, at Pittodrie, Hamilton and Ibrox. In those matches, over the course of the time we were down to ten men, it has been 94 minutes; so virtually a game and extra-time we’ve played with ten men.

“And in those games, when we were down a man, we scored four goals and conceded none. I don’t think that’s luck.

“It was a great game, we had to show fighting qualities, we were up against it through our own mistakes. If you look at their two goals, the first one was a mistake from us, and the second wasn’t the best defending when a cross comes in but then, really, there was nothing.

“All they had was the Alfredo Morelos opportunity which he should score.

“Listen, Barry Ferguson is someone I don’t know. I’ve never met him so I can’t comment on him. I only know him as a player and I had great respect for him as a player. He clearly is very much Rangers, which I respect, and the win can hurt very much.

“But I think most supporters would admire our team and how we won, and I mean both sides, would not say we were lucky.”

The dismissal of Simunovic appeared to galvanise Celtic who then changed their shape and put on Odsonne Edouard who went on to score the winning goal within two minutes of his arrival onto the pitch.

It would be nonsensical to suggest that a numerical disadvantage is anything other than that – a disadvantage – and Rodgers explained that what carried Celtic through to the three points was the desire of his players and the ability to revert to a system they account for in their daily training methods.

And while Rodgers also felt that the dismissal of Simunovic was justified he was nevertheless scathing about the role that linesman Douglas Ross played in it. The assistant could be seen on camera to shout ‘red card! red card! as soon as he spotted the infringement, something that irked the Celtic manager.

“I think the linesman couldn’t wait to give it and that’s not his job,” he said. “His job is to assist in the decision, not to make, and I think it was pretty clear he made the decision. But however it come, deserved or not, you have to be ready as a team.

“And I think my team showed they were absolutely ready for it. They had elven players, but we had ten soldiers in the game who were ready to fight, and we had the quality to see it through.

“It’s not as easy thing to do. Rangers went down to ten men and lost 5-1 to us. So it’s not easy. It is part of the game you have to prepare for. It’s a pressure situation and they have to be able to anticipate it and stay calm. I’m not trying to be clever, this is how we work from when I first came in.

“I like my team to be disciplined. We want to win and win in the most sporting way we can.

“We’ve had three cards, two of them are from Willie Collum. Callum McGregor at Hamilton was never a sending off. Mikael had two yellows at Pittodrie so I can see that. There is an argument around at Ibrox but I would say it was because his arm was bent.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers has also confirmed that Simunovic will not continue his international affiliation with Bosnia.

The defender switched allegiances last season after representing Croatia at every youth stage but not at senior level. However, this week he declined an invitation to partake in Bosnia’s friendlies against Bulgaria and Sweden with Rodgers revealing that an honest chat had revealed that the defender felt his heart was not in it.

It is not expected that he will make himself available for selection for Bosnia again.

“He spoke to me in the week,” said Rodgers. “It’s simple, really

“He had a respect for the coach of Bosnia, who is a highly regarded former Croatian player.

“I think he felt he could go there and maybe have a better chance of playing.

“But he has been really honest and brave in his decision. When he went there, it didn’t feel right. Croatia is in his heart.

“But also I think he felt he would be taking the place of a Bosnian player who really wants to play for Bosnia. If there was any doubt with him, he didn’t want to be in the position of blocking someone else.

“What was also brave is that he was going to ring the coach and tell him. I know sometimes the player gives you the story and then asks you to ring the coach.”

And Rodgers also explained that the defender had apologised for his red card at the weekend.

“He was apologetic, but we can’t dwell on it,” he said. “He takes his two match ban. He has to be ready to be available after the international break.”

 

Another game that this set up completely fails to impress me. Vulnerable down the wings, CB's positionally poor, lack of threat out wide - Not a great watch.

Seriously lacking flair and creativity out wide, the sooner the likes of Roberts/Musonda are playing and firing on all cylinders, the better.

 

Will be a masterstroke come the end of the game.

Motherwell always line up tight against us, and are pretty much a team of cluggers.

The more physical bhoys have started to see how they fair up against their aggression, creative guys would have came on nearer the end to stretch the game, but that big clown got sent off so you might see wee Paddy on sooner.

0-5 Celtic.

 

The 3 at the back thing is always billed as this attacking formation, we only play 3 defenders rather than 4, frees up an attacking slot etc, but for me it does the complete opposite.

A traditional 4-2-3-1 is far more fluid and attacking IMO. When you have a gun like KT at LB, a like minded RB, an on form Sinclair and Roberts on the wings, we are a far, far harder team to play against.

Feel as if our shape, in this current formation, is like this:

CB - CB - CB
RWB - CDM - CDM - LWB

​

You have Brown and Ntcham sitting deep, and our wingers/wing backs become very conscious of the space behind them, it becomes quite defensive IMO.

In the 4-2-3-1 of last season, especially, it's like this:

CB ----- CB
RWB ------ CDM ------- LWB
CM
RW ----- AM ----- LW
​

Last season it was a solid 2, with Brown dropping between them when needed. Armstrong played instead of Ntcham and got forward a lot more. We had full backs overlapping red hot wingers, now we have Forrest down the right and Tierney down the left - SPL full backs must be delighted.

 

The fact we only have one LB and limited option at RB(even more now Ralston has gone on loan) expect to see 3-4-2-1 a lot..

This would work quite well I feel... plenty of press..

Bain
Hendry Ajer Compper
Forrest Brown Ntcham KT
Roberts Rogic
Dembele ​

 

1 up top against 10 men didn't work them enough after Edouard went off. Edouard was poor anyhow but on the left moreso I'd say..

McGregor staying on who was poor for me and taking off Forrest for Roberts was a strange sub..

Keeping Boyata on was a bad move..

 

dont know if its been asked in here

but what the * is it with the slow side to side passing especially away from home ?

 

I like the look of that side, Roberts in more central role would see us creating alot more chances.

 

This hard on for working a chipped cross into 1 attacker vs 4 defenders in box as well. Worked in last minute and we got a corner.

 

It's brutal..

 

Goes toe-to-toe with PSG but plays that kind of formation & team against Motherwell. Mental.

 

i take it the away pitches not being at a good enough standard has something to do with us not playing the ball quicker, but surely we could miss a player or 2 out and get the ball wider quicker ? not all the time of course because the opposition would just adjust to it but if we did something unexpected now and again, that is more likely going to upset a parked bus and get us goal scoring chances

like being a bit more direct at times or chipping the ball into the full back positions and tell the wingers to go after it, just basic *

we are too rigid and stale at times

 

Celtic Football Club‏Verified account @CelticFC




BR: "And nowadays, you’re at an advantage, I hear, when you have 10 men...So we did really well in that moment." #MOTCEL

:brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy::brendy:

 

BR: "I thought it was pretty even in the first period of the game. Scotty had to make a couple of good saves and we had some moments of danger around their box."

BR: "The guy gets sent off so it changes the dynamic of the game. I was pleased how we worked the ball and our positioning – we stayed really calm, didn’t force it and we just needed to wait for the moments to arrive in good positions."

BR: "I thought we did that but we just lacked that bit of incisive play to score. We obviously couldn’t get the goal and that was the only disappointment really."

BR on sending off for home side: "He has went to lash out and caught Broony a little bit but not what people would expect for him to be sent off, but Craig (Thomson) must have been looking at the intent."

BR: "That changes the game. They got to 4-4-1 and they stay solid and do well, defend. We had a couple of moments - hit the bar, Scott was in a one-v-one -but it just wouldn’t fall for us and that’s just sometimes the way it goes."

BR: "And nowadays, you’re at an advantage, I hear, when you have 10 men...So we did really well in that moment."

BR on @kierantierney1: "He had a slight issue with his calf from end of last week it & wasn’t quite right. He needed to come out today & we'll see how he is for the Ross County game."