Celtic progressed to the lofty height of fourth following today’s 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Celtic Park. The match played in appalling wind and rain was evenly balanced until Killie’s Pascali was red carded ten minutes before the end of the first half after a silly challenge on Scepovic who was bearing down on goal.
The biggest surprise pre-match, pleasant from this supporters perspective, was Ronny Deila deciding to play Guidetti and Scepovic in a two man strike force. This is the first time he’s started with two central strikers all season and hopefully the penny has dropped he can do this in the SPFL.
The opening fifteen minutes saw Killie playing the better football. They passed the ball around well and while not having a direct threat on Gordon’s goal their pressure led to a number of corners thanks to some good football. Celtic finally woke up and had a great chance when a lovely cross from McGregor was inch perfect for Wakaso but he could only aim his powerful header straight at Brennan.
Scepovic then showed clever number 9 play when he cushioned the ball from his chest straight into the path of McGregor who dawdled on the ball rather than pull the trigger. The ball broke back to the Serbian striker and his effort was cleared off the line. The attack wasn’t over and Guidetti struck a ferocious shot that was well saved again by Brennan.
Killie regrouped and once more were passing the ball well but their game plan came unstuck following Pascali’s sending off. Celtic won the ball in their own half with McGregor breaking forward through the middle. The benefit of having two strikers became clear as Killie’s central defence was stretched. Guidetti went left and Scepovic right leaving McGregor good options before playing a delightful pass to the inside right channel for Scepovic. With the striker clean through on the edge of the penalty area Pascali stupidly brought him down and Collum was left with no choice but send the player off. This was just as well as on another day would done something silly to add to his silliness list like having afternoon tea on the pitch with the Killie defender.
From the resultant free kick Guidetti stepped up and fired a beautiful striker over the wall and into the far corner.
A super strike from the super Swede. I’ve been dying to say super Swede for years. God bless you Henrik. Thank you John Guidetti!
The second half was a canter as ten man Killie struggled to make an impact as Celtic retained possession and looked to stretch the game at every opportunity to drag their opponents across the pitch. Chances were made with Scepovic and Johansen efforts both being saved by Brennan and then the keeper thankful for the post keeping Guidetti’s shot out.
The second goal would arrive on the 65th minute and a fine goal it was too.
Wakaso did really well down the left wing and sent over a beautiful cross. Scepovic peeled off to the far post and sent a lovely right footed volley into the far corner leaving Brennan wrong footed.
Having watched Scepovic closely the last two games my view is he just needs more match time and then we’ll see the best of him. He looks rusty and having arrived at a new environment just needs time to settle. The positives are he never stops showing for the ball even after making mistakes, a great sign of character but more importantly is always in and around the penalty box looking to score. When his sharpness improves as well as his understanding with his team-mates he’ll score plenty of goals for Celtic. He’s not the type to have great footwork and beat players with a lovely show of skill like Guidetti. He’s a hold the ball up, bring team-mates into play then get into the penalty box striker, the type who will dovetail well with Guidetti.
Regarding Guidetti, he is a quality player but there was a moment during today’s match when he showed me the character of the man. As Scepovic got subbed Guidetti went over to his team-match and hugged him before applauding his fellow striker in a public sign of support to the rest of those inside the stadium. Not many do that but it’s a sign of leadership and a player who recognises the challenges new players face when perhaps confidence isn’t high and wants people to see he’s fully supportive of his strike partner.
A real touch of class from Guidetti.
Celtic controlled the rest of the game with late run outs given to Griffiths, Mulgrew and Tonev before the referee blew his whistle for full time with no change to the score.
So three wins on the bounce and things are looking rosier. I won’t pull the wool over anyone’s eyes and say we are now brilliant to watch…we aren’t. We struggled early on today but I was pleased to see Deila finally realise in the SPFL with our massive resource advantage over the opposition we can go with two strikers. I get it in Europe but even then quality strikers can rotate with one dropping to the top of midfield and giving the five when required. This is not a concern with Guidetti ineligible but if we stay in Christmas beyond Europe then it’s something to consider.
Thistle up next at Celtic Park midweek in the League Cup before Inverness arrive on league duty on Saturday. A 3pm kick off no less…hurrah!
Rome wasn’t built in a day but victories breed confidence and it’s hoped the team push on with this with Deila retaining the twin strike force in domestic games.
Full Time Celtic 2 (Guidetti 35, Scepovic 64) Kilmarnock 0.
POTM. Scepovic was involved in both goals but Guidetti really is a class apart. We are watching a terrific player here. If we can retain him on a permanent signing the support may have its new attacking hero fit to wear the number 7 jersey.
Guidetti would cost far too much for scrooge to endanger his bonus,but we can hope.
In January we can sign him on a pre-contract so would be free next summer after his loan expires. However if you’re referring to his wages I honestly don’t know what he’s on at City or how much of it we’re paying for the loan.
But if you sign a £2m player and give hime £15k a week for four years the package comes to £5m (ish). So we could give Giudetti £25k a week for four years and the package is still £5m so what’s the difference; break the structure a little bit, I guess there could be a signing on fee though.
Well done today Celtic, not always easy winning after a midweek European match.
Hope Ronny keeps playing 2 up front, Celtic have always had a partnership.
Guidetti and Scepovic every domestic game! HH!
as guidetti is out of contract at man city then celtic can sign him on a precontract in january
Good article,Hector.
I agree,there was a Europa hangover first 20 mins.Result not in question after red card.However,this shouldn’t detract from good forward play.Big Scep needs games for fitness and sharpness.But there is no denying he will score plenty for us.
Yes,against EVERY spfl team,we should always play 2 in partnership,up front.
Guidetti is gallus,fearless and has a touch of class about him.
He has the right temperament,to be a success at Celtic.Unlike Pukki and Balde.Everything should be done to sign Super Guidetti long-term in January.
These Bhoys Can Be A Lethal Combination 🙂
Let’s Hope Ronnie Sticks With Them & keeps With
& Keeps With Today’s Back Four
Hail Hail
Being saying it since his arrival, Guidetti is the real deal. Find the cash Lawell make him an offer.
It will be possible to top the league on Saturday.
Highly unlikely, Dundee Utd. should stuff Motherwell on Friday.
Van Gaal- 4-2-3-1
Morinho – 4-2-3-1
Pochettino-4-2-3-1
Martinez-4-2-3-1
4 Very good Tactically minded Managers who have very good Forwards at their disposal yet they choose to set up their sides in this way.
Perhaps they know fuck all about Football eh?
Yes Charlie you are correct, but, you have to have the quality of player that allows you to play this way.
By the way, Pochettino is making an arse of it at Spurs, he’s going the same way as AVB.
I agree Andy but Spurs have been a basket case for 20 years pal regardless of who is in charge they spend plenty and achieve next to fuck all.
Btw Pardew played 4-2-3-1 yesterday as well.
Though obviously I’m not proclaiming him as a tactical genius hehe.
He’s a fanny who flatters to deceive IMO.
The point is across Europe there are many good sides lining up with a lone striker as most games are won and lost in the Midfield it makes sense to beef up that area of the Pitch.
Playing 3 Attack minded Midfielders effectively gives you 4 players in attack who can all score goals.
In the SPFL I would prefer to see us revert to 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 as we spend alot of times in games with 2 at the back whilst the rest push up.
The holding midfielder of course hangs back just incase.
Their teams don’t play in the spfl.
Yes,Charlie,in Europe,by all means use that system.
But,come on,we can play ANYBODY in Scotland,with 2 strikers !
I agree but what I don’t get is the criticism Deila has received from many about playing the same system as the above mentioned Managers?
He’s not a bad Manager it’s the players individual performances that have affected out results not Deilas tactics.
There is no need for Ronny to play the 4-2-3-1 system in our
league.Yes,players have let him down.Stokes is no striker.And he is now finding out,what players he can trust.
I disagree Holy he had to play that system due to the injuries and players underperforming,our Defence has been the weak area since the start of the Season he knew they needed more protection so opted to go with one up top.
He now has the players coming backin to revert to whatever system suits the opposition for that game.
I actually think we have the players (when all fit)to have a fluid setup that can alter during games depending on how it’s panning out.
I also felt the same under Lenny and that was purely down to his selection of players when building his sides.
By playing Mulgrew for example as a DM you can effectively switch from a flat back 4 to a flat 3 by pushing both FB’s up and dropping him deep.
Good teams have that ability they are not fixed on rigid systems and so have a capacity to change shape fairly quickly.
I am with you on Stokes to me he’s the complete support player behind a frontman.
Good feet,decent crossing and passing ability and as proven recently can be highly effective from range when required.
He too can move up to create the extra man in attack whilst drooping deeper to bulk out the Midfiled when they need it.
The more players you have that can move around the better really so long as they can cope in both areas it does not affect the rest.
If the plc board have any ambition left then they MUST bust a gut to get Guidetti on board on a permenant basis. If he can sign a pre contract in January then the board should be working now to make it happen. The early signs look good ie he looks a player and he plays the game in a manner which gives the impression thats he’s commited to the cause (some team mates should follow his example) and is a player the fans can identify with. C’mon Celtic make it happen.”it is up to us, to everyone at Celtic park, to build up our own legends. We don’t want to live with history, to be compared with legends of the past. We must make new legends” Big Jock.
I agree Goose he looks a player and a very confident one at that.
Good to see Scepovic playing with a smile on his face now which bodes well for the rest of the Season I think.
He’s looked a threat the last 3 games and has been making some great runs off the ball.
Took his goal well yesterday in the right spot and took it on the full which is always good to see from a forward.
‘a player the fans can identify with’
Theres your marketing returns right there Mr Lawwell….make it so!
Rappan and Herrera were maybe as succesful, or more so, than those you listed. These defensive systems, developed to help amatuer players compete against professionals by using athleticism and counter attacking to make up for lack of skill, might find success but are murder to watch, like the last world cup, and I hope that teams using these systems get beat as a matter of princple.
Not so we operate with wingbacks whilst our setup may mirror those we utilise the Fullbacks as wingers more often than not and not just as a solid bank of Defenders.
Everton are playing some right entertaining football atm it’s high energy and fast moving…oh and a joy to watch when it comes off.
Burgnich and Fachetti used to bomb forward for Inter and Italy until they faced a four man forward line against Celtic and Brazil which made them sit as a flat defence.
“This ugly, vulgar, hard, hermetic, hardly eye-catching, hardly football style” Johan Cruyff on the 4-2-3-1 or “anti-football” as he calls it.
Lustig, Ambrose, Van Dijk, Izzy
Brown, Commons
Griffiths, Guidetti, Scepovic, Stokes
Would it hurt to try an attacking formation, even for a half?