During Celtic’s 3-2 Derby win against The Rangers on Saturday, my main focus when watching was the number of poor passes from Celtic. This was certainly borne out by the overall passing data as Celtic completed 82% of all passes compared to 87% average for all games this season. That is actually the lowest of … [continue reading]
Match Summary
Celtic 2, The Rangers 1, By Numbers
The Scottish League Cup Final is one the “free to air” data providers barely cover. So, here are the team numbers behind Celtic’s triumph on Sunday against The Rangers. Passing & Possession Celtic dominated possession more in the first half and it was impactful. At half time the possession was stacked 63%/37% in Celtic’s favour … [continue reading]
Season Record “Highs” in Thumping Win
Celtic’s thumping 7-0 win over St Johnstone was certainly the catalyst for “giving good numbers”. Oooerr, missus! This was Celtic’s first 7 goal performance since beating the same opponent on the 3rd August, 2019 – the opening day of that season. Christie hattrick was supplemented by goals from Johnston, Ntcham, Edouard and Griffiths, Let’s take … [continue reading]
The Taming of the Blues
The Derby last Sunday unfurled in the manner of the classic three act play. (That is my artifice and I am sticking to it). Act One In which the Evil King exerts a brutal dominance! Gasp! Horror! Celtic’s first 7 minutes were, to use technical football parlance, a bit rubbish. With so much riding on … [continue reading]
Derby Day Data
Here are the match stats from the Derby on Sunday. Highlights Note there are some disparities in xG based on data provider. Statsbomb claim the most sophisticated model. I believe my own overstates The Rangers chances compared to that one due to the pressure being applied and the height of the ball for e.g. Roofe’s … [continue reading]
Another Country
If a week is a long time in football, last August seems lifetimes away. Context to August Derby The first Derby of the season was Postecoglou’s 11th match in charge. This was also the trickiest part of his reign so far. Immediate exit from the Champions League and a first match SPFL loss at Heart … [continue reading]
“Angeball” Stymied by Ghosts of the Past
When Postecoglou was first appointed my main concern was that the “playing football to please my dad” schtick was code for the type of football Tommy Burns’ Celtic played that would ultimately crash against an expensive rock of defensive anti-football. Prior to Celtic’s Derby defeat, I wrote the same in the Celtic Way and expressed … [continue reading]
AZ Find Rest Not The Best Medicine
And rest…… The AZ tie was positioned as Postecoglou’s first big test. That Celtic negotiated the tie and are in the Europa League groups is well ahead of where many of us thought we’d be in June. So, despite a nerve shredding defeat in the second leg that brought back memories of Be’er Sheva, this … [continue reading]
Derby Defeat – Initial Hope Trumped
The good news is Celtic’s performance levels were much improved on the last three derbies. The bad news was a loss and the almost certain surrender of the ten in a row. The points raised here are expanded on the in the latest edition of The Huddle Breakdown. Please subscribe / watch / listen and … [continue reading]
A Roman Tale
Celtic completed a double over Lazio with a second come from behind win, this time in Rome. History abounds. First win in Italy and earliest Group stage progression. And all done in the most dramatic fashion with two last minute winners. Like all good dramas there were three acts and a sting in the tale. … [continue reading]