This stream of consciousness style of match reporting is a wee bit different from the usual write up you’ll see. Uralius made some notes during the game….and it reflects what a lot of us would have been thinking while watching.
Initial thoughts on Celtic’s line up
Kazim – Richards as a wide target man? Are you sure Ronny he does not have the touch of Samaras.
Although if he plays with his back to goal he will be passing out crossing with his stronger foot.
Celtic started brightly with the attacking trio of Commons, Griffiths and Kazim-Richards moving fluidly in the final third with MacGregor in support sitting in the hole, slightly too advanced for my liking, but still causing problems. The right and left midfielders of the “three” are covering the wide areas while the full backs are further up the field.
Then halfway through the third minute Killie show their game plan with a counter down our right side by Higginbotham being tracked by Scott Brown and forced inside, but Higginbotham gets time to flight a diagonal ball to their striker (I forget his name although it’s on his shirt and the commentators just said it).
In the 5th minute I notice that Kris Commons spending more time in the middle than Leigh Griffiths.
Some nice lively play between the middle three and a deflected shot goes just side from Bitton.
Followed by another counter, thank goodness for Kieran.
Richards drifting inside is causing much difficulty for the opposition defense it is leaving the left side of the field open for Tierney to go get ’em.
More Celtic attacks, more counter attacks more corners and almost a goal from Sviachenko.
Although Richards drifting inside is causing problems it is forcing tons of their players into the box and we have seen on many occasions this season that quite often if you put 8 wheelie bins in the box we can’t score. In the last 2 games playing with GMS we have stretched defenses across the park making room for other attacking players.
25th minute Tierney is writhing around. Young Celtic defender called up to Scotland squad…..
Phew he is back on his feet. Looking a tad uncomfortable, get him off and get some ice on it. GET HIM OFF! 34 mins. 36 min Griff flicks the ball first time through to Commons, but Commons shot leaves a lot to be desired not troubling the keeper. After 15 minutes of Celtic playing with 10 ¼ men we make the change that sees Boyata come on for Tierney with Mulgrew pushing wide left. Mulgrew so far has opted to play in an inverted full back role (cutting in a lot more than you would expect from a traditional full back). This would normally require a more traditional winger ahead of him, so I am interested to see how this transpires.
As its half time I will tell you what I would do if I was incharge (although Celtic TV have made it clear my inputs no matter how positive are UNWANTED).
Due to Mulgrew preferring to cut in, I would put Kazim-Richards through the middle, Griff on the right with instructions to cut in and ask Kris Commons very nicely to play out wide left (literally pull the defense out left). This would allow Kris to cross with his stronger foot into the box. It would give Mulgrew more passing options when he cuts in and would allow Kris to sniff about for space between the CB and FB.
I guess Kris told the manager to F-off. Wee Callum out wide left now good call Ronnie, Griff given more freedom of movement. 47 min close call after a shot goes wide, although Gordon probably had it covered.
Roberts looking slippery and lively, MacGregor busting ‘s gut down the left.
Away fans for sure deserved their “twenties plenty” tickets.
Still not convinced with Bitton playing inbetween our 2 CBs.
56th minute Roberts tries to cut in, but runs into 2 defenders. Go to the byline and put it in!
Killie have switched to a more defensive stance playing a 4-5-1.
It’s going to be a header, a counter attack or a moment of individual brilliance that wins this one. Callum Mac is doing a great job protecting Mulgrew from being overwhelmed. 65th minute Roberts cuts in compacting the opposition defense rather than STRETCHING it by going wide to the byline. 66 mins Roberts goes to the byline abs there were only 4 defenders in their box this time, but no Celtic players.
70th minute Celtic players seem to be tiring a tad. Killie have gotten lucky a couple of things in the middle of the park, but thankfully it has come to nothing. 75th minute Kazim-Richards should have been awarded a penalty. 80th minute is that Billy something I hear? 85th min I haven’t seen enough of Griff this half (hopefully he will pop up, score and prove me wrong. Griff puts the ball just wide a minute later . 89 mins Killie have 8 players in the box and we are still trying to fit in to shoot! What a magnificent strike from Tom Rogic. Holy Screaming Eagle Sh! t
Great account of a game I watched from behind a sofa, between my fingers! I couldn’t believe the winning goal, but then, if you know our history…Excellent Ralph. hail, hail
Not me, it was Uralius. A different way of summarising the game we can all identify with.
I watched the game yesterday with so many mixed emotions.
Pain, my eyes were bleeding at what i was watching.
Anger, at the custodians of our great club,should allow us to watch what we are watching,by miles the biggest club in Scotland.
Embarressment,cringing at the R.Roar.
Joy at Tom Rogics wnderful goal, not seen one like it since the level 5 spokesman Murdo Mcleod.
Pride, at a wonderful, wonderful support.
Hope,that the Board wake up and and address the many issues that we face, including bringing in players that the support deserve.
Interesting that Moyes took in the Motherwell game yesterday,lets see if he takes in todays Bonnie Dundee derby.
Just posted the above on yesterdays diary and then he goes and puts this one up,get a grip min,ma finger can only go so far.
Btw get on to my pal Monty and tell him to get back pronto.
bring back monti
wewant wadi we want monti back now
wan touch and bang tams goal reminded me of nakas v the zombies
hope united beat dundee today and help relegate ayrshires mini sevconians
I watched the match in Ireland from the comfort of my tv , had no cans mind you and was disgusted with our managers line up and his tactics, which reflected our teams performance. Surely RD would have known the tactics Killie would employ, we needed two wide men to service Griffith’s. We persist in playing players who are clearly well past the sell by date, Brown was awful yesterday, add Commons, Lustic, Mulgrew and Kisam-Richards to that list. Thats 5 players who should not be playing on current form. Ronny doesn’t need yes men beside him, Collin’s and Kennedy need to grow a pair.
Not one mention of Broony. I don’t know whats up with him, seems to be just going ‘through the motions’ and never put a tackle in until the 82 minute. A captain is meant to galvanize the team, but he’s just not doing it. HH for the ‘CHAMPIONS’.
“being tracked by Scott Brown and forced inside, but Higginbotham gets time to flight a diagonal ball to their striker”
I thought Brown played well in the first half he did a great job traking back down the right flank. Sure his reflexes have suffered, but I don’t think he can be Sure of going through the motions.
*accused
are you kidding he Broonie was/is anonymous can,t pass/can,t shoot/can,t tackle other than from the side/back,typical Celtic legend ffs.
He made a number of important challenges that would have resulted in chances for Killie. I agree there were a few poor passes and he missed an interception, but to say he was anonymous is completely wrong. He put in a good shift in the first half and was doing his job very well. Not everything is going to come off and he was being asked to play a very defensive covering role. I thought Griff was MIA far more in the second half than Broonie.
Brown was mince in the first half nearly cost us 2 goals with his lack of passing ability and lack of awareness around him.
Lustig the same making that run inside going through the middle gets caught so many times and leaves us wide open to the counter on the wing.
Which Broonie covered as he had been asked to do. I honestly do not blame a single player for that performance. If I asked Ralf to bring up every comment made by me using my email as a search filter the same thing would keep coming up. STOP PLAYING WITH 2 INVERTED WINGERS / INSIDE FORWARDS. It compacts the box with 8-9 opposition players and makes it hard to shoot without the air being blocked. The last 2 games we did well with 1 traditional Wideman and 1 inverted. Blame that not individual players. Pointing fingers at players does nobody any good.
charlie broonie is off form lustig is done imo bring back monti
I know he’s not had decent form all season.
Same with Lustig ,Johansen and Armstrong.
This is why we have struggled all Season to find any consistency it has absolutely he haw to do with a system that almost secured a treble last season and broke a 96 year League defensive record.
Injuries and loss of form to several key men have had a dramatic affect on overall performance.
charlie s i agree wae ye mate i also thnk they stole a cup aff us last year ansd another wan this year thhe cheating bastards
charlie s me and you probably argue wae monti more than most on here but hees a good tim and a good laugh are you joining the bring back monti campaign
Charlie Saiz,
Last season Armstrong played Right and GMS played left ie. not inverted.
Incidentally playing Griffihts up as lone striker is far more effective than trying to shoe horn the new Bangura in ALONGSIDE him in a pairing.
That’s 4 games now it’s been tried and rendered Griffiths next to useless as a result.
Agreed
If you want wingers to hit the bye line they have to be on their favoured side. Ronnie deploys them to cut inside.
Much better if we would have deployed a proper 442 the team is simply unbalanced in the 4231.
Lustig Forrest on the right. Tierney Roberts on the left. Brown Johansen in the middle Griffiths commons up front.
He does this to make room for both Wingbacks to operate down the sides.
This way it causes the defence more issues because they can’t be in two places at once.
The issue has been with the speed this transition happens and the quality of delivery when it does.
Yesterday our delivery was rank.
Hence why Common was hooked.
We are not unbalanced we just have key men under performing.
They don’t have to be in 2 places at once they just have to mob the box…. You have lost it Charlie Saiz the theory is nice, but it is flawed.
It is flawed because if a team intends to put 9 men behind the ball then you get your big lads at CB to mark the striker and everyone else plays very narrow blocking shots, only the opposition WM, Winger etc. needs to worry about the overlapping Wing back.
Notice how the fact that it was Callum McGregor cutting inside and supplying the pass to Rogic for the goal escaped your notice.
Did you also notice there was not one defender in the box when it hit the net just a flat back 4 behind another flat 4.
Which kinda backs my theory up it’s to easy to counter and far to easy to play in between when playing a 4-2-3-1 against it.
Just a matter of the right ball being played at the right time as McGregor did yesterday.
Not really Charlie as it was hit from 30 out. Keep trying Charlie Saiz.
What utter tripe Charlie Saiz, just keep telling yourself nonsense like that and continue to live in your little dream world.
😉 xxx
While I agree with your statement about playing a winger on his stronger foot. I really fail to see what a 4-4-2 would have brought to the table Griff has become a lone predator and if we could just play with at least 1 wide man on their stronger foot we would score 3 – 4 goals a game.
Richards won the ball most times Charlie’s Saiz probably right, support was brilliant, ban the boo boys get behind this team and ensure we get over the line.
Aye ok…. If you will notice the original text didn’t Slagle aff Broony.
Brown has been fantastic but has struggled since his injurybalsontends to a lot without it being noticed in covering spaces, notice him most of all ( and miss him) when he is not on the field.
Couldn’t agree more BJF he was covering the middle and right flank fairly well all things considered. It’s difficult to see that stuff on TV though. You have to recognize the positioning of other players to know where he is sometimes.