The first in the series analysing the Official Celtic Player of the Year candidates focusses on Callum McGregor. Appearances Only Hart has more minutes’ contribution this season than McGregor. His 3858 minutes equates to over 42 matches over 46 appearances. The 4 games he lost to injury in September coincided with Celtic’s worst form. A … [continue reading]
Why Celtic Should Win The Title
A regular reference point for performance discussion on The Huddle Breakdown (subscribe and never miss an episode) is xG difference. That is: the difference between Expected Goals For and Expected Goals Against. The higher the difference in your favour, the more likely your performance will be sufficient to win the game. Football is low scoring … [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]
Honest Mistakes – Derby Special – Willie Takes A Stand
The Virtual VAR series featuring the Yorkshire Whistler casts their eye over the Glasgow Derby, The Rangers 1, Celtic 2. Willie Collum was chosen for this one. BACKGROUND – I outlined a framework to assess the impact of Honest Mistakes in the SPFL. 03/04/22 The Rangers vs Celtic Incident 1 Referee Willie Collum Game Minute … [continue reading]
Tommy Gun
The Derby win was built upon improving cohesion (well, after the 3rd minute!) and a disciplined defensive team performance. The first half was for craft. The second for graft. Pivotal to the come back was Celtic’s Australian play maker Rogic. This provides an interesting comparison opportunity as the much-heralded Ramsey was thrown into their team. … [continue reading]
The Ice Cool Fridge
The victory at Ibrox was really more about team resolve and many players doing their jobs, within a system that flexed to the game state. However, convention dictates their has to be a Bhoy of the Match as I cringingly call my own virtual bottle of Bells (other substandard blended drinks are available). The American … [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]
Derby Form – Tale of the Tape
A cliché often applied to Derby matches is “form goes out the window”. Except of course it doesn’t (in my head that comes out like Abbey Clancy to Peter Crouch in the Paddy Power advert – other bookmakers are available). Form is crucial in these matches. See Celtic’s numerous hammerings in the Rodgers era, and … [continue reading]
Impact of Missing Morelos
The Rangers manager has confirmed Morelos’s absence from Sunday’s Derby. Undoubtedly a loss for the home side – he is their top scorer with 18 goals in 42 appearances. Is this a big positive for Celtic? In 18 matches versus Celtic in the 5 seasons he has been in Scottish football, here are Morelos’s goal … [continue reading]