Analysis Corner: How Celtic dominated the midfield
By Dougie Wright (@dougie_wright)
On Sunday, Celtic’s 5-0 execution of Rangers took them to a 7th consecutive championship in a row. Rodgers’ side were largely dominant throughout, yet it was 4 goals in a 12 minute spell that put the game, and the title, beyond all doubt.
Twelve minutes is not much time in the grand scheme of things.
You can go for a short jog, cook a small meal or even go halfway round the Glasgow Subway if the thought took your fancy.
However, in twelve minutes of football, Celtic were able to turn a good result into a great one, as Rangers watched their entire season crumble before their eyes.
From Graham Dorrans losing possession in the 40th minute to Callum McGregor stroking the ball into the net in the 52nd, quite a few things happened.
- When Dorrans lost possession deep into the Celtic half, the hosts ran up the pitch and scored within 9 seconds.
- Rangers kicked off, and completed 3 backwards passes. The next Rangers player to touch the ball would be Jak Alnwick picking the ball out of the net.
- The second half started slightly better for the away side as they were allowed to complete 8 passes before losing possession and a fourth goal.
- 5 minutes and 12 Rangers passes later, Celtic scored a fifth. Some would say the horse had bolted by this stage.
Fight for the centre
The truth is that Rangers’ midfield were never really in this game. By the time Celtic had scored their first of the afternoon after fourteen minutes, Rangers’ midfield duo of Holt and Dorrans had completed just 4 passes between them.
Looking at Celtic’s midfield, you have the best passer in Scotland in Ntcham, the most intelligent footballer in Scotland in McGregor and the best controlling midfielder in Scotland in Scott Brown. And that’s without mentioning Tom Rogic.
Leaving just two midfielders to deal with them is borderline negligent, especially when Dorrans and Holt have only played a combined 754 minutes since January.
The truism across football is that if you win the centre, you win the game. With Ntcham, McGregor, Brown and Rogic all able to combine quickly and effectively, Celtic were able to march up the pitch very quickly when Rangers lost the ball.
Take this example, approximately five seconds before Celtic’s second. With even the likes of James Forrest tucking in, it was clear that Celtic were wise to the fact that their opponents would leave huge swathes of space in the middle of the pitch between their defence and midfield:
As much as you have to credit Celtic for a skilful execution of a well-researched plan, the above indicates just how accommodating Rangers were to play against.
Snuffing out Rangers’ attack
Jason Cummings is a decent enough striker. However, Dedryck Boyata trumps the Edinburgh born striker in every physical sense. He’s stronger, he’s quicker and he can jump higher. Expecting Cummings to be able to hold up the ball against the Belgian behemoth was never a tactic that was going to end well, especially without players nearby who he could immediately lay off to.
On ten occasions Rangers threw a high ball up at their striker, and just once was he able to win it for them.
When Rangers did manage to get on the ball, there was no incision, no intent. In these situations where you are not expecting to have much possession, you have to understand how to attack quickly on the counter.
If you win the ball high up the park, your opponents tend to be unorganised and there’s space to be exploited.
Back in March, despite emerging with victory, Celtic were guilty of gifting Rangers possession in their own half 16 times. On Sunday, they did so just twice (both times to put the ball out for a throw in).
When rock bottom gets lowered
What happens when you can’t defend, you can’t counter, and you can’t even hold onto the ball to relieve pressure?
Last year, Celtic emerged from Ibrox with a 5-1 victory. It was seemingly rock bottom for Rangers, but this season they have somehow slipped even further into the abyss.
Rangers now face a Hibs side undefeated in eleven and a Kilmarnock side with only one defeat all year. Even Aberdeen might fancy getting something off the beleaguered Ibrox side. Who knows where they could end up?
For Celtic, this was the perfect way to wrap up the title. With Odsonne Edouard proving once again that Celtic have three strikers who would walk into any side in the league, it seems difficult to see where the expiry date on this dynasty lies. This is an unprecedented era of domestic dominance at Parkhead, and their supporters will be hoping the end is far from nigh.
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