Celtic Underground

The UK (and most of Europe) lockdown continues but that never stops the Celtic chat.  This week I am joined by someone who I have met many times at post game Celtic press conferences and someone I have been meaning to get on for some time - John Gallagher.

 

John is a former professional footballer who played and coached at a level below the top flight but far above the standard most of us could only dream of however the main reason I have John on the pod is because John generates the Opta stats at Celtic home games.

 

In this pod John explains exactly how those stats are created and gives an insight into how that makes you see things a little differently.

 

I am joined from Bratislava by @antonymurray25 and we quiz John on his time in the lower leagues and his time at Opta.

 

Enjoy…

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

The UK (and most of Europe) lockdown continues but that never stops the Celtic chat.  This week I am joined by someone who I have met many times at post game Celtic press conferences and someone I have been meaning to get on for some time - John Gallagher.
John is a former professional footballer who played and coached at a level below the top flight but far above the standard most of us could only dream of however the main reason I have John on the pod is because John generates the Opta stats at Celtic home games.
In this pod John explains exactly how those stats are created and gives an insight into how that makes you see things a little differently.
I am joined from Bratislava by @antonymurray25 and we quiz John on his time in the lower leagues and his time at Opta.
Enjoy…

The 9iar Chronicles - Season 1965-66
This current period we are hoping to achieve the magical 10+ in a row and eclipse the 9 in a row done by another Glasgow team through the 1990s.  Biu of course they were not the first club to achieve that level of success.  The first Scottish team to win 9iar were the magical Glasgow Celtic, managed by the incredible Jock Stein and the first season in that run was 1965-66.
Celtic has been in the wilderness of the Scottish game prior to the return of Jock as manager in the spring of 1965 and this season marked his first full season back at the club as manager and the first season which saw major successes finally come Celtic's way.
The clear difference in the performance of Celtic prior to this season and hereafterwards was the role of Jock Stein as manager. He drove the club and the players to new heights. It was not so much that the players were different before and after his arrival (discussed in the previous season review). It was more that the training and direction given by a peerless manager and tactician of great skill inspired better performance and a team sense that meant the difference between losing games and toughing them out; between drawing and getting the odd goal in a win; between fighting back when under the hammer. Stein was a supreme preparer for games and a master tactician with a plan for every game and the ability to read a game and where things needed to be changed. Furthermore he believed that the team should prepare properly. Every player knew what was required of him. Every player knew how to play and every player was aware of the importance of his teammates and where they would be. Practise and fitness were all part and parcel of delivering that performance and as Jock Stein was very much a tracksuit manager, he believed that he AND the trainer trained the team - not just the trainer. Having emphatically enforced that he and he alone picked the team to the Board, he made sure that the team were prepared and that the team that he picked was the right one. Furthermore players were now meant to be practised professionals. Full backs were encouraged to overlap; forward lines were to be seen as fluid and interchangeable; outside forwards were meant to get forward and cross and wing halfs controlled the game's flow.
There is no doubt that Jock Stein's presence turned the club around. Many might argue that it was the players that did this - but of this season's players, only Joe McBride was directly acquired by him. All of the others were already at the club when he arrived. That alone marks the importance of Jock Stein to Celtic. The players were there - all they needed was pulling together and direction to become what would go on next season to become the Lisbon Lions.
The League title was a nip and tuck affair right from the off and was not decided fully till the last game of the League. It saw Celtic taake the flag from Rangers by 2 points only dropping one point at home and losing four games away. But it was not so much the numbers that added up but the performances throughout the season in the League. This was a team that did not take losing lying down - and that was a BIG change. There were still occasions when they could miss the target and have shot after shot sail past the goal, but these were rare and noteable when they occurred. All the commentators from the time said not only how strong the team were but also how fit and keen they were to win.
This season was the first that this team had really and truly played together inspired by a great manager. Next season would be something else!
Thanks to The Celtic Wiki for the preview text - enjoy the podcast.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

The 9iar Chronicles - Season 1965-66
This current period we are hoping to achieve the magical 10+ in a row and eclipse the 9 in a row done by another Glasgow team through the 1990s.  Biu of course they were not the first club to achieve that level of success.  The first Scottish team to win 9iar were the magical Glasgow Celtic, managed by the incredible Jock Stein and the first season in that run was 1965-66.
Celtic has been in the wilderness of the Scottish game prior to the return of Jock as manager in the spring of 1965 and this season marked his first full season back at the club as manager and the first season which saw major successes finally come Celtic's way.
The clear difference in the performance of Celtic prior to this season and hereafterwards was the role of Jock Stein as manager. He drove the club and the players to new heights. It was not so much that the players were different before and after his arrival (discussed in the previous season review). It was more that the training and direction given by a peerless manager and tactician of great skill inspired better performance and a team sense that meant the difference between losing games and toughing them out; between drawing and getting the odd goal in a win; between fighting back when under the hammer. Stein was a supreme preparer for games and a master tactician with a plan for every game and the ability to read a game and where things needed to be changed. Furthermore he believed that the team should prepare properly. Every player knew what was required of him. Every player knew how to play and every player was aware of the importance of his teammates and where they would be. Practise and fitness were all part and parcel of delivering that performance and as Jock Stein was very much a tracksuit manager, he believed that he AND the trainer trained the team - not just the trainer. Having emphatically enforced that he and he alone picked the team to the Board, he made sure that the team were prepared and that the team that he picked was the right one. Furthermore players were now meant to be practised professionals. Full backs were encouraged to overlap; forward lines were to be seen as fluid and interchangeable; outside forwards were meant to get forward and cross and wing halfs controlled the game's flow.
There is no doubt that Jock Stein's presence turned the club around. Many might argue that it was the players that did this - but of this season's players, only Joe McBride was directly acquired by him. All of the others were already at the club when he arrived. That alone marks the importance of Jock Stein to Celtic. The players were there - all they needed was pulling together and direction to become what would go on next season to become the Lisbon Lions.
The League title was a nip and tuck affair right from the off and was not decided fully till the last game of the League. It saw Celtic taake the flag from Rangers by 2 points only dropping one point at home and losing four games away. But it was not so much the numbers that added up but the performances throughout the season in the League. This was a team that did not take losing lying down - and that was a BIG change. There were still occasions when they could miss the target and have shot after shot sail past the goal, but these were rare and noteable when they occurred. All the commentators from the time said not only how strong the team were but also how fit and keen they were to win.
This season was the first that this team had really and truly played together inspired by a great manager. Next season would be something else!
Thanks to The Celtic Wiki for the preview text - enjoy the podcast.

We are in unprecedented times and that requires an unprecedented quality of guest and so this week we have an actual brain surgeon on the podcast!
Originally @pablo567 was going to be on to discuss heading of the football and dementia however with the current crisis we thought it would be better to have him on to discuss how the SPFL wrap up the season.  We discuss at length when and why Celtic will be crowned Champions.
In addition to the football we also manage to squeeze in why having a free at the point if use health service is such a wonderful thing to cherish and we mention briefly Covid-19, why you should switch off the news and how were are going to get through this (and wash your hands)
Enjoy…

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

We are in unprecedented times and that requires an unprecedented quality of guest and so this week we have an actual brain surgeon on the podcast!
Originally @pablo567 was going to be on to discuss heading of the football and dementia however with the current crisis we thought it would be better to have him on to discuss how the SPFL wrap up the season.  We discuss at length when and why Celtic will be crowned Champions.
In addition to the football we also manage to squeeze in why having a free at the point if use health service is such a wonderful thing to cherish and we mention briefly Covid-19, why you should switch off the news and how were are going to get through this (and wash your hands)
Enjoy…

On Thursday night Celtic played Copenhagen and during the game we decided to give them a little thank you for being such good hosts the previous week.  So we took 3 goals, tied them up in a parcel, put on a lovely bow a gift wrapped the best present we could…

 

Yes we are so generous that we gifted them safe passage to the last 16 of the Europa League by making an absolute pigs ear of the home leg following the 1-1 draw in Denmark.

 

In this podcast we pick over the bones of Thursday night’s game and discuss team selection and the system we played.  I provide my descriptions of the goals after being at the game and refusing to watch any highlights and Antony (who braved that job) gives me his review of my description.

 

Enjoy…(if you can)

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

On Thursday night Celtic played Copenhagen and during the game we decided to give them a little thank you for being such good hosts the previous week.  So we took 3 goals, tied them up in a parcel, put on a lovely bow a gift wrapped the best present we could…
Yes we are so generous that we gifted them safe passage to the last 16 of the Europa League by making an absolute pigs ear of the home leg following the 1-1 draw in Denmark.
In this podcast we pick over the bones of Thursday night’s game and discuss team selection and the system we played.  I provide my descriptions of the goals after being at the game and refusing to watch any highlights and Antony (who braved that job) gives me his review of my description.
Enjoy…(if you can)

Podcast Xtra - Celtic 5 Hearts 0

 

Tonight Celtic thumped Hearts by 5 goals at Celtic Park with the atmosphere greatly enhanced with some late goals just down the M77 at Kilmarnock meaning that the lead at the top of the table is now 10 points.

 

After the game Neil Lennon, Jozo, the Hearts manager and a Hearts player spoke with the press.  The Hearts manager rambled and I’m not sure he’ll be their answer.  It was a great night.

 

Enjoy…

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Podcast Xtra - Celtic 5 Hearts 0
TonightCeltic thumped Hearts by 5 goals at Celtic Park with the atmosphere greatly enhanced with some late goals just down the M77 at Kilmarnock meanning that the lead at the top of the table is now 10 points.
After the game Neil Lennon, Jozo, the Hearts manager and a Hearts plauer spoke with the press.  The Hearts manager rambled and I’m not sure he’ll be their answer.  It was a great night. 
Enjoy…