This is part 4 of Justshatered’s look at the state of the nation.
In another strange quirk of football fate he has a look at the strikers who misfired and disappeared yesterday.
The fact that after 82 minutes we were bringing on Sammy to save our season gives the impression that something is up and sums up the lack of quality we have.
Here’s some quality Sunday reading for you.
In my last article I will deal with the forward line at Celtic. This is the business end of the game where it doesn’t matter how bad your defence is (and my god is ours bad) if your midfield and forwards are scoring more than you are conceding then you’re alright …….. well that’s the theory anyway.
For Celtic fans the forward line has always been something that made eyes mist over with bygone images of famous days and nights of glory. Recently we’ve had Larson, Sutton, and Hartson. A few years before we had Van Hooijdonk, Cadete, Di Canio. Going back to the eighties we had McAveney, McGarvey, Jonstone, McGhee, McCluskey, and Nicholas.
The above playes scored some sublime and wonderful goals and it is these names that our current strikers have to emulate or overtake.
According to the clubs website we have five forwards, this does not include Murphy who is on loan. The lucky five are Samaras, Stokes, Bangura, Keatings and Hooper.
Of the five one is relatively unknown to me; Keatings. I know he has done well in the under nineteen league and scored a few goals but other than that I have no knowledge of him.
Of the other four I’ve seen a lot, a little, and in one case, far too much.
Of our current crop I think most people agree that Hooper and Stokes are the best partnership. They link relatively well and can play close passes that sometime unlocks defences or allow other players in. Hooper last season was a revelation.
His close control, quick movement and ability to find space where there was none was a real asset to the team. This season his first touch has been appalling. To try to recover the situation he is ending up in tackles and picking up knocks. I believe that he has not, like a lot of others, started this season well.
Continuous improvement and desire to win should drive players to achieve higher standards year in year out and while I’m writing this in relation to Hooper it might easily apply to others in the team that are seeking to leave. Improve at your current club, get noticed, and move on to a bigger stage with the best wishes of everyone.
Stokes I think has played well from the start of the season. He has scored goals and linked well with his team mates. He still has the tendency to try a fancy little flick when a simple side foot pass would work. However, like Ledley, he always seems to be the first to get the hook.
Both Hooper and Stokes can finish and they could go on to be thought as good as the guys above but I believe that depends on there mental attitude.
Bangura is a bit of an unknown quantity. When I first saw him I didn’t like what I saw. He looked cumbersome and erratic. He was caught off-side three times in the ten minutes he was on the park. I was not impressed. I’ve seen him once since then and I think he looks more comfortable but he must, like our other forwards, be more ruthless in front of goal. Essentially the jury is still out.
Where do I start with Samaras? I should really thank him as it was his performance against Udinese that first prompted me to put down in words my feelings. “The Celtic jersey does not shrink to fit inferior players” is a phrase that is displayed in the tunnel at Celtic park.
In Samaras the jersey has not been shrunk but woven on a thimble. We as fans are too loyal but loyalty should not be confused with blind obedience. Players at Celtic are not booed after five or ten bad games but the high teens. This individual has tried the patience of the fans now virtually since he arrived. He is simply not good enough and to continue to play him in the hope that he will have a good game is no longer good enough.
I would rather see Keatings given a chance over some one who has been given umpteen chances. At least with Keatings you would be able to determine whether he can cut it and has a future or is he going to be ‘another one for the future’ that we never see.
I think there is no strength in depth to this forward line. There is simply not enough threat coming off the bench to trouble teams.
Now on to tactics. There has been a strange tactic this season of playing Stokes in a wide left position. This leaves him too remote from Hooper to link with and, judging from where I sit, it is plain that Stokes is not a winger. I could understand this tactic if it was creating space for a fast breaking midfielder who was getting up to support, or even getting beyond, the forwards but we’ve not had one of them since Robson left or, if you want, Petrov.
As I said in my last post; when I watch the team I’m not convinced that there is sufficient coaching taking place with regards to runs players should make or movement required to create space for team mates to utilise.
I once saw a game where play broke down in midfield and like lightning the two forwards started diagonal runs heading towards the corners of the eighteen yard box. The purpose of these runs are simple; at some point they cross, generally about thirty yards out, and the central defenders do no know who to follow.
During that indecision the pass was played. One of the players got a shot in because he got the run on the defender when he was frozen for a split second and despite the keeper making a good save the other forward, who had continued his run, knocked the ball into an empty net. For those of you who don’t remember it I’ve just described a goal scored by Ally McCoist against Celtic in a Scottish cup semi-final in the early nineties.
I have no doubt that this movement was coached and we should be under no illusion that across the city it is being drilled into players now. Just look at Naismith’s improved movement in the last season. This coaching is fundamental if players are to develop an understanding with each other.
I think there is a current lack of movement throughout the team. With the exception of Ki too many players seem to be caught on there heals when passes are played or opponents miss control the ball. When we are in possession players, particularly forwards must be in perpetual motion. This drags defenders out of position or creates space for team mates. The easiest player to mark in football is one standing still.
I don’t understand our current tactic of having no one on the half way line when the opposition has a corner. I believe this displays a lack of confidence in our defence as we pack our eighteen yard box to deny our opponents space. The problem with this is that when the ball is cleared there is no one there to pressurise our opponents which means it’s going to come straight back at us. By having one man on the half way line our opponents have to have at least two players back. This in turn means there are two less players to score in our box.
My previous posts should not be viewed as a knee jerk reaction to our start to the current season but more a considered view that has been formulated over the last year or two. I do believe that if three or four of our players up their game by fifty percent, as I think they can, then I’m sure the other players will respond.
This in turn will feed to the support in the stands which in turn may begin to bring the thunder back. We do have a game in hand and the season is still relatively young. I believe that all is not yet lost. A winning run will improve confidence both on and off the park but the management, players, and support must be ready for the fight.
Let battle commence.
Murphey was a bit of a donkey but worth keeping even if to bring on for the last 15 mins, all we do is panic at that stage anyway. Why was Rasmussen never given a proper chance? our only creative player is Forrest & it’s asking a lot to expect him to win every game. ah for the days of McGeady & Naka. We all know McCourt is a genius but he is only brought on when it’s too late or last season when the games where won. £27 & £29 to see us play Aberdeen & Hibs & the team is mince. 15 mins of the Derry Pele isn’t value for money
Very well said.
I’m glad someone else shares my views on sammy, murphy should be brought back and allowed to play.
Injuries have cost us with hooper and commons I believe they have not came back fully and need more time before getting rushed back in.
If we had another quality striker (not sammy) we would not be rushing hooper back.
We just have to come to terms that we have become the New Nottingham Forrest. The game has moved on without us and we are still in the days of talking ourselves up in the media than actually on the pitch. The first thing we do when somebody signs is to ask them have they heard about us before signing and did you realize how big a club we are! Who are we kidding, it was nice to hear this from great players who signed for us but kris commons, Hooper, Matthews…the list goes on. These lines of questioning now start to make me cringe. We need to get real and start spending. We do have money so lets invest in a quality manager who can attract quality players. Change of gaurd is needed now!!!
Celtic are too slow in their build up play and overdo the passing movements, the way they are playing reminds me of the Tony Mowbrey era and look where that got us.. there is not enough movement to create space players are to static. The slow build up is plain to see this as everyone knows means the opposing defences can pack the penalty area and make it difficult for our forwards to break down. whilst i agree with a passing game i think Celtic overdo it surely the coaching staff can see this. We try to play like Barcelona without having the skills or players to do it
On a completely separate note, and maybe I shouldn’t be plugging another site, I see the guy running the Celtic Hub has closed the site because he is just as scunnered as the rest of us. Can I just say that if you close the site then our current board have won. Remember the old board treated us with equal disdain until we found a voice via Not the View and other publications. The internet is our voice for the 21st century and it is where we all come for real information and discussion. If you give up then the current board will have won. The more sites we can all visit and discuss issues on the greater our voice is. We might not always agree but at least we all have the best interests of Celtic at heart. So if you are out there and read this don’t give up hope. This current shower running our club are quickly becoming as detested as the old crew and they need as much pressure put on them as possible. You are part of that process so bring the site back up and keep up the good fight.
Here, here.
For those watching (and hoping) I’m sorry to disappoint this site is going no where. 🙂
The service to strikers is crap.
Slow laborious build up followed by hopeful punt to our outmanned strikers.
Inept coaching and unrealistic and purposeless tactics are the real issue.
Pele at his best would struggle to score in this set up.
Saturday was Strachanesq in our build up play.
I have to disagree with a small part of your article bud.
‘With the exception of Ki too many players seem to be caught on there heals when passes are played or opponents miss control the ball.’
Ki has been one of the biggest non performers all season. He just doesnt look interested anymore. He passes the ball, then runs next to the opposition player, instead of peeling off and making space to receive the ball back. He has also been one of the worst for getting caught in possession and losing the ball. Its so frustrating watching the bhoy play these days because I know he is a good player and can do a lot better.
A bunch of things need to change at Celtic at this moment in time. Some people call for the board to step down, the manager to step down, but I personally just want more commit from the players. They should be running their guts out for the whole 90 minutes. The only player who has been doing that consistently for us has been Joe Ledley.
I agree totally with ‘dastardlys’ comment – that the palyers are over working the ball. We have to play more direct and go for the goals straight from the off. When Celtic score in the first 10 minutes, we settle down and play well as a team.
McCourt definitely deserves more starts, as does the bhoy Wanyama who looks strong and confident with the ball at his feet.
Come on Lennon/Mjallby/Thomson… If we can all see the faults… Why cant you?
Ki has looked tired in the last few weeks but was devasting at the beginning of the season. His head has went down like a lot round about him.
What is the answer?who do you get to replace Neil Lennon?You need a Manager who is proven and they cost millions.What average manager would have the passion for the club like NL has none.We have a shambles at Centre back while Darren O Dea is playing well and scoring winning goals playing in a better league for Leeds(bring him back)..Murphy is better than Sammi(simple)..Stokes has improved can score and is putting in a lot of effort.I would have taken Hooper off earlier in a lot of games this season.Ledley Mulgrew Stokes Ki Forrest Mc Court Wilson Kayal Zaluska Matthews Hooper (just) and Izzy,the players on loan Murphy O Dea and Juarez …The rest take a walk move on please…
Darren O’Dea’ ability is a mythical beast I think written by Tolken. He’s not the answer.
O`Dea is decent, not the answer long term but better than Rogne,Maj and Loovens. I remember him having a couple of competent displays in europe for us.
I remember him playing in the last 16 of the big cup at the san siro.
To score goals in modern football YOU HAVE TO GET THE BALL FORWARD QUICKLY !!
Celtic persist in the slow build-up-result the opposition have 10 men back behind the ball and it becomes almost impossible to score; unless you have the supreme technical ability of Barcelona.Look at how Rangers managed to basically stymie Man Utd at Old Trafford with 10 men behind the ball for virtually the whole game-so the answer is obvious.
For the last three years it has been obvious where this is all going.Mowbray’s dismantling of Strahan’s team was too much too soon.Prepare for further disappointment-the necessary players are not around Celtic Park anymore.The fact that Mr Desmond cannot/will not arrange a soft loan of say £20 million for the club is JUST UNACCEPTABLE given the situation over the last three years.Historically and tragically Rangers’ best friends have been the Celtic board.
IT’S BACK TO SAVE OUR CELTS ! WHO’S GOING TO STEP UP AND DO DO DO
WHAT HAS TO BE DONE !
The build up play is stifled by the fact that no one moves to give the player with the ball options. Think back to when we hammered Rangers 3-0 last season the goals came from the movement off the ball. Slick, quick passing and players busting a gut to create space and get the ball. They do not seem interested this season. It all breaks down far too easily with players looking for a ball directly to their feet.
What ever happened to pass and move?
Great point. That has disappeared this season.
Totally agree . When you don’t have the ball, it should be you that is doing the running/moving into space to receive the ball back. The guy with the ball shouldn’t have to do much except pick the pass. Sounds so easy when I type it but Celtic can’t seem to grasp this basic concept this season.