Let’s get one thing straight, the pathetic actions of the Motherwell players yesterday had no major impact on the result of the game. Celtic were under par and didn’t do enough to warrant a victory.
So this is not an excuse for Celtic dropping two points yesterday, instead it is just my opinion on the state of Scottish football. It wasn’t just the diabolical time wasting but the actual kick and rush tactics that the steelmen deployed, one that we’ve witnessed from many a side on a regular basis this season.
There’s always a debate on how Scottish football is of a poor standard and how can we improve blah blah blah, it’s repetitive and played out like a broken record.
The answer is literally staring them in the face. Yesterday’s display by Motherwell is a prime example. Time waste, and when they do have the ball, kick it up the park and regroup, eat sleep repeat. Long throw-ins and set pieces into the box hoping for the best. No real skill or technical ability. That’s your problem right there.
Every side who visit Celtic park domestically are the same, set up and hit on the break or hope for the best from set pieces or throw-ins. Even our closest challengers theRangers deployed similar tactics on their visit a fortnight ago.
Motherwell scored a fine goal on the break through Kevin Van Veen, why didn’t they try to replicate that again instead of sitting back booting the ball up the park hoping for a draw?
They even had a corner late on but took their time, Daizen Maeda embarrassingly had to place the ball on the corner spot urging them to take it. It was 1-1 for heaven’s sake, a chance for them to win the game.
Liam Kelly every time Celtic went near the Motherwell goal yesterday. pic.twitter.com/zchutKAaQK
— Boyle (@Boyle_67) April 23, 2023
Obviously teams have to set up a game plan that suits them and that’s their prerogative, but at least try to play the game the right way? Retain possession by keeping the ball? Work on the technical side of the game? It’s not all about finances, that excuse doesn’t wash anymore.
Look at smaller countries than Scotland with the same budgets ie Croatia, Norway, Denmark and Slovakia. They all produce good technical footballers. Their club and national sides compete by playing productive football while developing world class players. It’s more than achievable. No excuses.
It’s down to one thing and one thing only, coaching and development of players. Proper education. Play football the right way, it develops better footballers and makes it a better spectacle for the paying customer, while improving the quality of players, and naturally the domestic game and international side reap the benefits.
You don’t need to be an expert to diagnose the illness in Scottish football. it’s glaringly obvious what is wrong, but more importantly it can be easily cured. It’s time those in charge took the appropriate steps and take responsibility to get the football in this country up to the levels required. If not it won’t get any better.
JustAnOrdinaryBhoy – follow on Twitter @ordinarybhoy
I made exactly this point in the comments of The Scotsman sports column yesterday, also suggesting that “The Steelmen” be renamed “The Steal men”. They certainly deserved nothing from the game yesterday.
Kettlewell has more or less admitted that part of his tactics against Celtic was to slow the game down. This was achieved by players rolling around the ground feigning agonising pain every 2 minutes. He doesn’t believe it to be cheating, but that’s precisely what it is and it brings Scottish football into disrepute.
The Scottish premier league should be free of teams like this because they disgrace the game and offer nothing to neutral fans, who go to games to be entertained. If they wanted what Motherwell players have to offer then they’d go to the theatre instead. I was really disgusted by the antics of the Motherwell players yeasterday and it reinforced my belief that Celtic and Rangers really need to think about moving away from the SPL.
I agree 💯 % m8, I couldn’t believe the goalie for one he acted as if his leg was shot with a bazooka, even the player who went down in the box & there wasn’t a Celtic player within 5 feet of him & Beaton done nothing, this crap needs to be stamped out of football & quickly ffs they are paid good money & are SUPPOSED to be PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS 🙈
I agree with everything you say but in Scotland they receive plaudits for stopping Celtic.
When Mwell goalie went down the didn’t send the No2 goalie out to warm up. They knew exactly what they were doing.
What a bunch of crap. One celtic player prob earns more than the whole 1st 11 of motherwell put together.you reap what you sow
As shown in the photo they also treated the goalie by pouring water on his knee! Amazing! A new medical advance. Of course they knew what they were doing. It is blatant cheating, because they were feigning injury and wasting time. It is also stealing, as fans have paid good money to be entertained.
The Motherwell coaches are obviously not doing their job properly as they are not improving players for the long term. They are just using cheating tactics to waste time, slow the game and deceive the referee. This says much about the management there. This will not improve the clubs situation or their players.
Contrast this with St Mirren and with Aberdeen under Mr Robson, who have coached their teams properly to improve the team and thus the clubs long term. I live within a stones throw of Fir Park and could easily go and see a game from time to time when I don’t have a home game at Paradise. However, I have no wish to be bored out my skull watching what they serve up. Our league is in a mess because of Motherwell and clubs that think like them. Bravo St Mirren and Aberdeen for the improvements you are trying to make for your clubs, Shame on you clubs who do not look at improvement and instead try to destroy games with shameful time wasting and cheating tactics.
I’m a Hibs fan in Edinburgh and I’ve got to say the ten clubs outside the Old Firm in the Premiership are of a poor standard. There’s currently a 26 points gap between Rangers in 2nd and the rest. Quite simply, The Old Firm are in a league of its own and there is no competition for them. I’ve often watched Hibs win but at the same time be underwhelmed with the quality of the play and entertainment. I’ve often questioned the level of coaching we have here in Scotland. Why not just play 38 league Old Firm matches per season? Some would say that would be rather dull playing the same team every week but it’s pretty dull now watching Celtic and Rangers against the other ten clubs! Since the World Cup, Rangers and Celtic won every league match other than playing each other so well done to Motherwell and Aberdeen for their upsets this weekend. If one of the ten clubs outside the Old Firm is going to be successful, then they need to win a lot of friends with their style of play. It’s 38 years since a team outside The Old Firm won the league. So nobody playing today has any belief that they can beat the big two regularly in today’s world.
I disagree. They can play however they wish and it’s up to Celtic to defeat them. Unfortunately we weren’t able to do that but no amount of moaning about how another team plays at Celtic Park will make any difference to them. The budget disparity is enormous and, realistically, they have little chance against the quality of player we have in our squad. As for mentioning the poor entertainment value for “neutral fans” as part of the argument – is that really what we are talking about here? Motherwell were awful. They stole a goal that was poorly defended on our part. We move on, and so do Motherwell. Champions soon!
Steven Thomson
‘Michael, Motherwell were excellent today weren’t they ?’
Stewart, ‘ Yes ‘
Dearie me !