The extent to which style of play versus player attributes influence the data each player generates is a theme I will return to many times over the Age of Ange. Nowhere is this starker than in the striking position. Celtic have been blessed with the abilities of Dembele and Edouard over recent seasons. Griffiths scored … [continue reading]
Edouard
Is Weissman Good Enough?
By James Dailey I think the answer to this question is dependent upon the “what for” which Weissman is expected to be good enough. If the answer is for a 2nd striker to be played with Edouard and/or be a fill in for Edouard in domestic games, then I think that is a reasonable expectation. … [continue reading]
Dynamic Duo
By James Dailey Neil Lennon’s decision to deploy the 3-5-2 formation domestically following the winter break coincided with a large increase in offensive production from whom I believe to be Celtic’s best two players: Odsonne Edouard and Callum McGregor. I advocated for roles for each which manifested in the 3-5-2 here and here. Exceptional Edouard … [continue reading]
Tale of Two Strikers
By James Dailey This is the second installment looking at the post-winter break period. In the prior piece, I reviewed how the common theory that The Rangers fell off a cliff performance-wise following the winter break was not well supported by overall performance statistics. You can review the team-level stats here, but the basic summary … [continue reading]
Edouard Squared
By James Dailey As part of my first piece on Celtic by Numbers, I laid out my case as to why Odsonne Edouard’s talents and playing style would be better utilized with a strike partner – particularly one which plays in a more traditionally advanced and preferably central to centre right role. I was mistaken … [continue reading]
Copenhagen: Dream to Reality
By James Dailey Recency bias is the human tendency to mentally overweight memories from the recent pass more so than those from longer ago. Odsonne Edouard has been absolutely brilliant since the winter break, and I documented how brilliant in the recent piece I wrote with an early look at the effectiveness of the 3-5-2 … [continue reading]
The Road to Gdansk
By James Dailey Odsonne Edouard and Fraser Forster give Celtic a chance to win the Club’s second European trophy. There I said it. But…. I want to start by laying out the case as to why I believe Celtic are legitimately competitive at this level. I’ve gone back through the last three European campaigns and … [continue reading]
Edouard and the “Finishing” Myth
One of the many insights xG gives us is that great goal scorers are defined by two key attributes. They take a lot of shots from good positions. The lack of deviation over time from xG also shows us that the concept of “finishing” is a bit of a myth. Cristiano Ronaldo is the most … [continue reading]
Elite Edouard
As the window hopefully closes without any major outgoings, we should pause and reflect on the progress of Edouard. Scouts shouldn’t read this article. You’ll hate it. Lonesome Eddy For one and a half seasons he has carried the burden of being the Celtic point of attack almost single handed. Last season in January Rodgers … [continue reading]
Celtic Strikes Back
Article by James Dailey The signing of Patryk Klimala has generated the typical frenetic response from Celtic support, as some immediately think he and the Slovakian league are rubbish, some watch his video highlights on Youtube and extol on Twitter that he is the “next Lewandowski,” while still others take a wait and see approach. … [continue reading]