![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/pbs.twimg.com\/media\/FBYyd81WEAAxOpT?format=jpg&name=small\")
<\/p>\nSometimes, to try and work out the solution to a problem, one has to approach a subject from a different angle. With Celtic conceding another three goals and almost three points last night in Dundee, there is clearly a problem with what once seemed an impenetrable back line.<\/p>\n
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One way of looking at the issue is to adopt the mindset of an opposing manager and find a way to if not beat Celtic, then certainly make things difficult for them.<\/p>\n
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It’s been obvious for a while now that Celtic don’t like to play against an enrgetic press, and although I don’t have the stats to hand, I’d guarantee that somewhere around two thirds of all passes are between the back five. Manager Rodgers calls it “looking for another path to goal “.<\/p>\n
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Although he didn’t say which goal.<\/p>\n
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Whilst it’s important to retain possession, it’s also important not to be predictable, and to do things at a pace that doesn’t put pressure on the players involved. Most of the time, Celtic players look for the closest green and white shirt and play that pass, which is predictable if an opponent remains alert, and leads to mistakes.<\/p>\n
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Which lead to goals. Put simply, if Celtic’s defenders are not allowed to play the ball to each other, then sooner or later one of them will make an arse of it.<\/p>\n
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A forward coming back to help often sees him running back to goal with nowhere to turn, which…often leads to mistakes.<\/p>\n
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Complacency at best and predictability at worst has crept in.<\/p>\n
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If we look at individuals, then criticism must be tapered with the realisation that players are human, and it’s been a tough period where games are concerned. Young boys of Berne roll into town next week, and since their last Champions League game they will have played only two competitive matches, filling the time with friendlies, whereas Celtic will have played ten.<\/p>\n
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Squad rotation has been important as injuries and illness take their toll, and little breathing space between games doesn’t allow for coaches to go over fundamental errors and correct them.<\/p>\n
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had bought a house in Linlithgow With Greg Taylor fairly certain not to hang around after he heard Keiran Teirney had bought a house in Linlithgow, which is just a little too far outside the M25 for him to commute to Arsenal, his mind has begun to drift. He still gives his all, but I can;t have been the only one to notice he tackles opponents much less frequently.<\/p>\n
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Alastair Johnston has been consistent, and will probably get back to form when Nicolas Kuhn returns, but again, when the ball is on that flank it’s fairly obvious Kuhn will cut inside and play the overlap with the Canadian.<\/p>\n
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As for central defence…we saw another Carter Vickers masterclass last night, but no one seems to criticise him, as he’s the best defender we’ve had since virgil van Dijk in some minds.<\/p>\n
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So, how come the list of failed defensive partners is longer than a week in jail ?<\/p>\n
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Watch last nights goals again.<\/p>\n
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Celtic have a corner, Carter Vickers heads clear and Dundee run up the park and score.<\/p>\n
The American then diverts one past his own keeper, his second own goal of the season, and the third ?<\/p>\n
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I’ve watched it a couple of times, and I’ve no idea what he is trying to do. More worryingly, I suspect he hasn’t either.<\/p>\n
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Auston Trusty, Liam Scales and quite a few others may well be taking the rap for a player who many say plays in his smoking jacket. Well, maybe he should try it in a football shirt.<\/p>\n
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Trusty seemed a little too concerned with Aaron Donnelly standing on his toe last night , which allowed Donnelly to focus on scoring. Maybe Trusty did, as the manager says, go down too easily, and maybe he does need to toughen up a bit, but you can’t blame him, to an extent, when his pal plays in a smoking jacket…<\/p>\n
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It’s very difficult to move effort up a notch when the opponents are not giving you time or space to think.<\/p>\n
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Of course, the midfield should be covering and protecting defenders, but with Calum MacGregor in semi retirement and the other two , whoever they may be, often crowded out, Celtic are forced to go wode, which allows opponents to regroup and simply stifle the forwards.<\/p>\n
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Except for Maeda, who is that little bit dofferent in that he can’t be stifled. Which is probably why we are a\u00a0 dofferent prospect when he plays.<\/p>\n
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Not only does he create, but he stops opponents from creating, both in the middle and in defence.<\/p>\n
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The recall of Johnny Kenny and Dane Murray suggests that there won;t be much spending this window, after Rodgers broke records last summer, though at some point we need to realise that buying players who can’t get a game for their club isn’t the way forward.<\/p>\n
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Adam Idah, who couldn’t get a game even for Celtic last season, somehow ended up joining us for an incredible \u00a39m. a tag that seems to weigh heavier with each game. Idah is more than capable of playing for Celtic, but I think maybe someone should tell him that, and tell him to relax and take his time. He’s trying too hard and he doesn’t need to. If one chance is missed, there will be another along shortly.<\/p>\n
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Forwards at least have that luxury.<\/p>\n
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Of course, it could just all be a blip…good teams don;t become bad teams overnight, but other teams learn how to play them.<\/p>\n
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So maybe it’s time for a reset, or at the very least, a rethink.<\/p>\n
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Or, to put it in coaching terms, a boot up the arse.<\/p>\n
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Last time out, we had this…<\/p>\n
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Caption: Furore in Foyers as Nessie is convinced she saw Napoleon on loch shore.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/pbs.twimg.com\/media\/E_5yskkVEAEnRwx?format=jpg&name=small\")
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Today<\/p>\n
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