Tekel Towers » Utd vs Celtic

Tek · 26/1/2023 1:49 am

Starting XI and formation for Sunday?

SuperMario · 26/1/2023 10:18 am

Birighitti
Edwards mulgrew mcmann
Smith levitt sibbald McGrath behich
Fletcher Middleton

BMT · 27/1/2023 3:49 pm

I just hope that whatever team and formation Liam picks they at the very least go some way to make it up to us who sat to the very end the last time. Don't want to see any lazy 60 minute subs ( Craig off , Arnaud On ) either.
A decent performance in both halves and any injury time.

Billy_Hainey · 29/1/2023 10:05 am

Ehm no well enough to be goin to the gehm the day but gonna treh to see it on Skyhigh.

Jist hope the Arabs there dinna feel as seek as Eh am when the final whistle goes.

CCX2 2010 · 29/1/2023 7:32 pm

A good examination of where we currently are.

We lack lots of things but I thought the guys hung in there today and did their best, effort today could not be faulted imo.

fortunately we won’t be playing them again this season and none will be happier than Freeman, I’m not going to put the boot in but the young lad really struggled today up against some quality players.

One thing that seriously needs addressed over the next two days is options from the bench, my word there’s absolutely nothing. Folk have been pointing it out for quite a while now be we seriously can’t be going into the second half of the campaign with the squad in its current state.

The subs offered nothing and when we are getting overrun down our right hand side and through the middle the manager has nothing on the bench the improve.

Keeper could have done much better at the first but done well overall.

Billy_Hainey · 29/1/2023 7:49 pm

1st 10 to 12 mins, we couldna get the ba. Then a couple oe chances. No bad ane fae Fletcher.

3 brah saves fae Birighitti fir the Jota and Kogo efforts.
Var favours us tae for once. Never a dull moment.

What a shitey goal to loss at the start oe the 2nd half and a keech penalty to gee awa. Thir was nae coming back fae that.

We did hae a good wee spell aroond the 65th minute, but lets be honest. you've only got to look at the possession.

As CCX says, thankfully we probly dinna see them again the Season.

Stillliving · 29/1/2023 8:14 pm

After the penalty went in both captains should have just shook hands and gone to the dressing rooms.
Last 30mins were a complete non event

Arabdownsouth · 29/1/2023 8:33 pm

Billy_Hainey wrote:
1st 10 to 12 mins, we couldna get the ba. Then a couple oe chances. No bad ane fae Fletcher.

3 brah saves fae Birighitti fir the Jota and Kogo efforts.
Var favours us tae for once. Never a dull moment.

What a shitey goal to loss at the start oe the 2nd half and a keech penalty to gee awa. Thir was nae coming back fae that.

We did hae a good wee spell aroond the 65th minute, but lets be honest. you've only got to look at the possession.

As CCX says, thankfully we probly dinna see them again the Season.

We'll probably get them in the cup if we get past Killie knowing our luck. Would be delighted if we got to play them again in the league this season though, highly unlikely unfortunately.

BMT · 29/1/2023 9:10 pm

I was watching the Celtic subs at half time warming up and they could have swapped there whole team out for the second half and they would still be too good for us. Just the way it is just now. As others have said some good performances today and some not so good but we all know that these are not the games that will define our season but atleast it's not a big dent in our goal difference.

Tek · 30/1/2023 1:12 am

Just pish again. Lets be honest.

We were just hanging on the whole time, until Celtic got the 2nd, then they took their foot off the gas. Won the game in 2nd gear.

If Fox is honestly happy with this squad then he's either an idiot or a liar.

And i don't think he's an idiot.

Danzaa · 30/1/2023 8:34 am

We have to field a defence that doesn't include Smith and Freeman, overall, their positional and passing errors put the whole team on the back foot.
Do we even have a midfield?

This has been needing fixed for far too long.

Stillliving · 30/1/2023 8:53 am

Only really Sibbald, Fletcher & Birighitti could say they had decent games.
Mcmann, Edwards, Behich were poor.
Levitt, Harkes& Middleton took no part in the game.
Smith had a shocker
And as for Freeman, surely we can find better.

dyed in the wool · 30/1/2023 9:55 am

Few decent moves in the first half and 3-4 'Nearies' around the box. Final balls were very poor, we were being battered down our right hand side to the point that I forgot Behich and McMann were playing at spells.

Midfield, as we all know were absolute powderpuff and were playing too narrow, almost hiding behind each other.

Happy going in at 0-0 as you could tell their fans were getting a bit edgy. I really, really expected McGrath to come out for 2nd half (for Harkes) and that we'd have a right phucking go from the whistle.....i really should have known better though.

Birighitti clangered for the goal...although credit to Jota as technically it was a fantastic header. And it was just a matter of time before VAR called for the hand ball. Total non-event really after that.

Things I've taken from the game...which seem to be the same things every week.

Freeman and Smith couldn't find a pass in a phucking phone box.
Edwards is not a captain.
We need a battler in center mid.
We will not score goals if we cant get the ball in the box.
I phucking hate 4pm Sunday Kick Offs
I hate drums even more

Finn Seemann · 30/1/2023 11:41 am

Stillliving wrote:
Only really Sibbald, Fletcher & Birighitti could say they had decent games.
Mcmann, Edwards, Behich were poor.
Levitt, Harkes& Middleton took no part in the game.
Smith had a shocker
And as for Freeman, surely we can find better.

Not far off my view. For me the keeper blotted his copybook with the first. Aye it was windy, but the wind would have blown it out not kept it in - him to blame, although Freeman dropping Jota also unforgivable.

I thought McMann and Edwards were OK. Not at fault for either goal and otherwise defended well enough. Edwards still no leader though.

I also thought Middleton was OK. Harkes similarly not that bad on the defending side of things. What have we done to Levitt though? He was totally posted missing. Looks about a 10th of the player we first got.

Smith and Freeman are not good enough. Freeman can't defend and Smith can't pass the ball. I think Smith had more passes to Celtic players than to his own team. He'd be better just booting it out.

As for the subbies...McGrath looks half the player he was at St Mirren. The laddie McLeod got some more good experience but looks more like £40K than £4M. Djoum remains off the pace and finally Pawlett looks like a pub team player now.

Mr Asghar, instead of trying to find gems in East Africa can we just concentrate on getting Fox some half decent defenders, the obvious CDM and something for his bench. Craig Sibbald is no world beater, but we could be doing with 3 or 4 more honest pros like him. They won't even cost you that much and they do exist.

Rick Dagless · 30/1/2023 5:55 pm

I agree with you Canadian, we had no intention of having a go yesterday. Was damage limitation from the start much like the rangers game as soon as they scored we just sat back and held on to keep the score as low as possible.

Like you say they are shit in Europe because teams aren't in awe of them or afraid to take the game to them. Look at least season, They were beaten home away by Bodo/Glimt, not a team assembled at the cost of millions, just a team with belief that they can beat anyone on their day. A belief our squad lacks.

We need to get rid of this losers mentality when it comes to the old firm, particularly Celtic. We seem to just accept that we won't beat them every single time we play them, league games, cup games, finals before a ball is kicked. It's pathetic.

Also. Get Edwards binned as a Captain, he's not a leader.

Shedtastic · 30/1/2023 6:14 pm

Fox definitely set us up not to get another pasting and to some extent he succeeded, but is that what supporters want to see?
Not for me, sorry.

Finn Seemann · 30/1/2023 6:47 pm

I'm going to go slightly against the grain here. If having a go risks losing 9-0 then I'd rather protect the goal difference. We had no players on the park that would get in that Celtic team - none! I'd say Fox got the tactics right, not that it was a pleasant watch, but Asghar and Co have made us such a poor outfit compared to them that a 2-0 reverse is considered - job done...

I don't think Cudjoe would have made any difference. He maybe has something against teams our level, but I can't see him getting any change out of players like Carter-Vickers or McGregor - he'd just be brushed aside.

Asghar needs to realise that there are very few hidden gems out there and his chance of finding them are slim in the extreme. We are quick becoming old guy/misfit United.

Also, if anyone thought they were going to get any different yesterday they are unfortunately deluded - that's why there were so many spaces in our end. Fox didn't need to let the fans know. We knew.

Last edited by Finn Seemann (30/1/2023 6:49 pm)

Tek · 30/1/2023 8:12 pm

Canadian Arab wrote:
I thought that was like watching paint dry.

I'd rather have a right good go and lose 5-0 than turn up hoping for 0-0 at best, barely mount one serious attack, and lose 2-0.

We committed 5 fouls in a game where the opposition had 75% of the possession. We didn't get close to them. We didn't lay a glove on them. Part of the reason we didn't get close is because they move the ball quickly and we were always outnumbered, unless the ball was in our box. And even then the one touch play of their forwards could keep it away from us. Our formation maybe "kept it to 2-0" but it never gave us a chance of enjoying some possession in our attacking third and creating some decent chances.

No other team in Scotland seems as impotent against Celtic as we are. I can't recall a time, ever, when we have looked more toothless against Celtic than we have in the last 2 games at Tannadice. Yes, they're good, but Stirling University could have looked decent if we had stood off them and let them play.

Celtic are shite in Europe because they play against teams who don't try and put 11 men behind the ball. They'll play to put pressure on shite like Starfelt and force turnovers. But those teams also have defenders who have pace, who can tackle, who don't get out-muscled every single time there's a tussle for the ball and who can find a team mate with a pass. We were absolutely grim in those areas yesterday.

McLeod is no doubt a good wee player, but he's not the sort to lead your line against that lot. Get Cudjoe on after it goes to 2-0. The lad is brimming with self-confidence and if nothing else will draw fouls around their penalty area. Try something different, FFS!

Maybe Fox could let us know ahead of time when we're turning up hoping for a 0-0, so people can save their money and their time. I was bored senseless for most of the second half. As soon as they scored it was over.

Sorry - don't normally rant after games but "better than 9-0" is not a good enough target to set, IMO.

With everyone fit and available, that squad has enough to stay up, by beating some of the shite around us. But if that's the limit of our ambition for this season, it's not good enough. Record season ticket sales to watch that?

Very good post CA.

Tek · 30/1/2023 8:15 pm

Finn Seemann wrote:
I'm going to go slightly against the grain here. If having a go risks losing 9-0 then I'd rather protect the goal difference.

Finn, c'mon now.

You know as well as i do that we only lost 9-0 against them the last time because the players 'chucked it', most of all our 'Captain'.

It was nothing to do with 'having a go'.

Finn Seemann · 30/1/2023 8:36 pm

Tek wrote:
Finn Seemann wrote:
I'm going to go slightly against the grain here. If having a go risks losing 9-0 then I'd rather protect the goal difference.

Finn, c'mon now.

You know as well as i do that we only lost 9-0 against them the last time because the players 'chucked it', most of all our 'Captain'.

It was nothing to do with 'having a go'.

I'd rather not have to remind myself of the 9-0 debacle, but seeing as you mention it again, you are right they did chuck it and they didn't have a go as they were in the middle of assisting the emptying of the then manager. To be fair they did have a go at Parkhead when Celtic were off the boil, but that wasn't happening yesterday.

Truth be told there wasn't one passage of play where we were competent enough to string three passes together where I thought that might lead to 'having a go'. We held the ball in midfield a couple of times before finding the touchline with our final 'pass'. What I am saying is that whilst the tactics were 'damage limitation', sadly I don't think we could have laid a glove on them even if we had tried to. On that basis 'percentage' football meant don't kill the goal difference and with the tools Fox has at his disposal, that was unfortunately the right decision. I can think of only one of a about three dozen long balls that went where they were intended and there was a danger of a knock on and run likely to cause them a problem. The distribution out of defence from the keeper and the three centre backs was horrible (and I won't mention Freeman). With that 'talent' how do you propose Fox has a go against Celtic and doesn't risk a career ending hiding?

Stillliving · 30/1/2023 8:55 pm

I'm in the middle of the above.
Yes we had to sit back to try and avoid another hiding. The gap between the two sides is massive. Their 2nd 11 would be capable of giving us a doing.

However there was a complete lack of aggression in our play, hardly a tackle went In. We are sadly lacking in niggly players who enjoy leaving the foot in, off the ball blocks a sneaky elbow, questioning your opponents sexuality. In short we are good losers.

Shakey Isles Arab · 31/1/2023 12:46 am

Sad sad reflection of where we're at.
It is however the reality.
On the plus side only 2 down goal diff is good under the circumstances but how utterly woeful is that.
I don't see it changing while Fat Tony is there .... oh no, forgot, he'll sign another Ugandan from a mate of a mate and that'll turn the club around.

I'm actually a fan of Freeman's he's got pace - or maybe former fan I should say. But is it his fault he's floundering against Celts - Fox has no subbie to bring on to fit and disnae appear to be able to have a switch round, surely he can shoehorn somebody in - maybe Charlie needs a wee word in his shell like. .... it's no like it's a problem that's arisen overnight. Celtic knew it, we know it and he knows it, which must hurt ... only one that doesn't - guess who.
... Oh and while I'm moaning about the laddie, one thing gets my goat is he's so long at taking throw ins. I'd be interested in how much possesion we lose as a consequence of his ponderous throw ins. He'd be better just quick and long up the line, no the most cultured but about 70% of the time in our league you get the ba back.

.. We need so many players in it's no funny - and we're no going to get them.
Let's hope we can be the best of the dross by May.

Last edited by Shakey Isles Arab (31/1/2023 1:05 am)