Both Deila and Rodgers got their Celtic careers underway as winners with League Cup triumphs. CBN takes a comparative look at their respective campaigns.
The 2014/15 and 2016/17 campaigns took place wholly in Glasgow for Celtic with 2 games at Paradise and 2 at Hampden. Celts played 3 Premier League teams and 1 lower league team in each; with a Glasgow Derby in each semi final.
Summary
24-Sep-14 | H | Heart of Midlothian | W | 3 | 0 | Guidetti (23), Commons (56 pen), Eckersley (61 o.g.) |
29-Oct-14 | H | Partick Thistle | W | 6 | 0 | Guidetti 3 (31, 52, 56 pen), Izaguirre (48), Griffiths 2 (62, 68) |
01-Feb-15 | N | TRFC | W | 2 | 0 | Griffiths (10), Commons (31) |
15-Mar-15 | N | Dundee United | W | 2 | 0 | Commons (28), Forrest (79) |
10-Aug-16 | H | Motherwell | W | 5 | 0 | Rogic 2 (20, 76), Dembele 2 (pen 34, 64), Sinclair (61) |
21-Sep-16 | H | Alloa Athletic | W | 2 | 0 | Forrest (83), Dembele (90) |
23-Oct-16 | N | TRFC | W | 1 | 0 | Dembele (87) |
27-Nov-16 | N | Aberdeen | W | 3 | 0 | Rogic (16), Forrest (37), Dembele (pen 64) |
P | W | F | A | |
2014/15 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 0 |
2016/17 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 0 |
Pretty similar records but what about performance?
Defending
The 2014/15 team gave up less shots on goal, had a better tackle success rate, effected more clearances, limited the opposition to fewer passes and forced more incomplete passes. They also gave up more defensive errors and before you think it, no they were not all down to Efe but shared out around the team. A possible explanation for this is 1. Van Dijk and Denayer played all 4 games and 2. The stability of the defensive selections:
2014/15 | G | DR | DL | DC | DC |
Heart of Midlothian | Gordon | Ambrose | Izaguirre | Van Dijk | Denayer / O’Connell |
Partick Thistle | Gordon | Lustig | Izaguirre | Van Dijk | Denayer |
TRFC | Gordon | Lustig | Izaguirre | Van Dijk | Denayer |
Dundee United | Gordon | Ambrose | Izaguirre | Van Dijk | Denayer |
Lustig had an injury hit season in 2014/15 appearing in only 16 matches out of 61 being absent with 3 different injuries. Otherwise, despite O’Connell having to come on at half time vs Hearts for the injured Denayer, the selections were stable.
The 2016/17 campaign was marked by noticeable “tinkering” in defensive areas, despite the games being played over a shorter period of time:
2016/17 | G | DR | DL | DC | DC |
Motherwell | Gordon | Janko | Izaguirre | Lustig | O’Connell |
Alloa Athletic | Gordon | Lustig | Tierney | Simunovic | Toure |
Sevco | Gordon | Lustig | Tierney | Simunovic | Sviatchenko |
Aberdeen | Gordon | Lustig | Izaguirre | Simunovic | Sviatchenko |
3 different DC pairings and Lustig being the only defender to play in all 4 games. Also, Simunovic was bedding in the team after extensive injury whilst Izaguirre and Tierney played 2 games each. Remarkably Gordon achieved two winners medals without conceding a goal.
Defensive statistical comparison:
Defending | 2014/15 | 2016/17 | |
Opposition Shots On | 3 | 8 | |
Opposition Shots Off | 19 | 17 | |
Tackles Won | 184 | 167 | |
Tackles Lost | 151 | 176 | |
Clearances | 109 | 97 | |
Interceptions | 135 | 139 | |
Defensive Saves | 10 | 8 | |
Defensive Errors | 12 | 5 | |
Defensive Critical Errors | 2 | 0 | |
Oppo Ave Passes Completed | 191 | 214 | |
Oppo Ave Passes Incompleted | 105 | 93 | |
Oppo Pass % | 65% | 70% | |
Oppo Possession Average | 34% | 33% |
Attacking
Strangely we see the opposite trends when looking at attacking performance. The 2016/17 team:
- Completed more passes per game
- Were more accurate with their passing
- Had hugely more shots (112 to 69)
- Completed many more dribbles/take ons
In contrast to the defensive line up, in 2016/17 Brown, Rogic, Forrest, Dembele started every game across the front 6. In 2014.15 Brown, Johansen and Stokes were constants although Johansen played MC in one game and AMC in 3. The attacking line ups were:
2014/15 | MC | MC | AMR | AML | AMC | SC |
Heart of Midlothian | Johansen | Brown | McGregor | Stokes | Commons | Guidetti |
Partick Thistle | Mulgrew | Brown | Wakaso / McGregor | Stokes | Johansen | Guidetti |
TRFC | Bitton | Brown | Commons | Stokes | Johansen | Griffiths |
Dundee United | Bitton | Brown | Commons | Stokes | Johansen | Griffiths |
2016/17 | MC | MC | AMR | AML | AMC | SC |
Motherwell | McGregor | Brown | Forrest | Sinclair | Rogic | Dembele |
Alloa Athletic | Armstrong | Brown | Roberts / Sinclair | Forrest | Rogic | Dembele |
TRFC | Bitton | Brown | Forrest | Sinclair | Rogic | Dembele |
Aberdeen | Armstrong | Brown | Roberts | Forrest | Rogic | Dembele |
What the attacking performance stats reveal is a team passing the ball quicker and whilst creating more chances, having significantly more shots. The team is undoubtedly a faster team with Forrest, Sinclair, Dembele having genuine pace and Rogic being a strong runner with the ball. In contrast Stokes, Commons, Guidetti, Johansen although able to make half a yard were not particularly quick, hence the greatly increased number of dribbles.
Attacking Stat Comparison:
Attacking | 2014/15 | 2016/17 | |
Shots On | 31 | 45 | |
Shots Off | 38 | 67 | |
All Shot % | 19% | 10% | |
Ave Passes Completed | 496 | 534 | |
Ave Passes Incompleted | 90 | 83 | |
Pass % | 85% | 87% | |
Possession Average | 66% | 67% | |
Chances Created | 24 | 29 | |
Chances Attempted | 34 | 28 | |
Succesful Dribbles | 18 | 33 | |
Unsuccessful Dribbles | 17 | 29 | |
PEI | 75% | 77% |
So two great campaigns with enjoyable goal fests, derby wins and 1 sided finals. Strong defence in 2014/15 and attacking verve in 2016/17. 2014/15 promised so much but performance did not develop which will be the subject of further analysis. Is 2016/17 the start of something beautiful?