Celtic’s scoring prowess reduced this season. Celtic scored 126 goals over 61 matches (2.07 per game) compared to 150 over 59 last season (2.54 per game). Edouard scored 11 from 14 starts. Impressive? Yes! But that’s a lazy stat and here’s why. The Glossary buries lack of clarity from any distance into the bottom corner, … [continue reading]
SInclair
Striking Consistency
The forward line has been disrupted by injury we know. How has this impacted the consistency of the strikers? There are many measures for the forward players. The one linked most explicitly to productivity is Expected Scoring Contribution (xSC). Scoring Contribution is the sum of goals and assists and is a simple measure of productivity … [continue reading]
Slumper Sinclair?
Both broadcast and print media suggest Sinclair is off form and is failing to reach the heights of last season. In 2016/17 he won three trophies with Celtic and the following personal awards: Celtic FC Supporters’ Player of the Year: 2016–17 Celtic FC Players’ Player of the Year: 2016–17 PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the … [continue reading]
Finding Light in Dark Places
As sobering an experience as a 0-5 home defeat is, in the modern vernacular we must “take the positives”. Having captured all the data, believe me, I’ve looked damned hard! There are three performances to draw attention to. Tierney On the defensive side, Tierney was very much stationed at left back, wary of the fast … [continue reading]
Pitch Perfect Celtic Prepare For Paris
A fine away win at an in-form Hamilton Academical boosted Celtic confidence for what will be a very different match in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain. The Dangers of Confidence Hamilton Academical had made a sparkling start to the season. Early relegation favourites, 7 points and 8 goals in their last three league matches, … [continue reading]
Striker Light
Griffiths has trained today and is on the ‘plane for Rosenborg away in the crucial Champions League Qualifier, second leg, in Trondheim. He played no part in the 5-0 Dafabet Cup match away to Sunderland at the weekend. Is he 100% fit, or a lesser percentage? Can he start? Or be used as an impact … [continue reading]
Right Side, Wrong Balance?
As Celtic prepare for Rosenborg, the Linfield games highlighted the extent to which the attacking connections were left side dominant. Here is the Pack Pass Map for the 1st leg. Note that this is not a map of ALL passes. It is a map of all passes where at least one opponent was taken out … [continue reading]
Goodnight, Sweet Prince
In the sixth article in the 2016/17 season review series, I consider the work of the wingers. Arguably the strongest section of the team, last season was the story of three excellent players. Celtic play with either three attacking midfielders behind a striker, or three forwards of which two are wide. Sinclair has made the … [continue reading]
Give Me More Wings
Last night on Twitter, Tiago Estêvão@TiagoEstv posted a fascinating analysis of performance data for the 4 most productive wingers (goals and assists) from the 6 leading leagues in Europe (England, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain – he is Portugese!). Wingers With End Product I reproduce the output here – again with thanks to Tiago … [continue reading]
Running To Stand Still
The Science of Fitness There is no doubt conditioning a modern athlete to play football is a complex business. Sports science continues to evolve, and Celtic as a club embrace the most modern thinking and facilities. That is not to say what Celtic do is always right. There are as many opinions as sports scientists. … [continue reading]