A veritable numbers feast.

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But here they are, anyway!

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Whatever was said at the team meeting Liam Scales alluded to in the press, the result seemed to be a return to Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers adjacent football, with some quirks.

Motherwell were overwhelmed and a strong bench hinted at potential as yet unrealised for the champions.

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In which the further seeds of frustration amongst the management team presumably grew apropos Celtic’s play out from the back style of play.

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There are hints, however, as to how the management team arrived at such an incoherent set up in the most recent match.

No one sets up to fail, of course, and none of this was intended to be incoherent.

We’ll reach the sweet childhood stage shortly, but for now….

A reminder that this is the only place for comprehensive match data from Celtic domestic cup matches.

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Can you guess which match the following is from?

• “just sloppy all over giving the ball away then being easy to break against due to spacing and full backs bombing on – look a really sloppy disorganised side”;

• “long pass easily takes out whole midfield – too large a gap”;

• “start quite well then gradually disintegrate after the initial enthusiasm surge”;

• “No settled system to work to and spacing all wrong”;

• “(opposition have) 51 recoveries midway through half”;

• “(central midfielder) cannot cover the centre on his own and in general it is not a mobile or defensive enough midfield”

• “(opposition are) stunningly average but Celtic losing by all key metrics”;

• “from losing it in their box and 1 pass exposes the whole team”;

• “Utterly abysmal – surely time for change”.

Answer below.

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This edition considers the league derby defeat.

It is very difficult for individual players to shine when the system and approach they have been ordered to adopt is as incoherent as this one,

When “knows the league” and “gets it” players like Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney, Liam Scales, Luke McCowan and Auston Trusty have such ineffective personal performances in a derby, you know there are larger forces at play.

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Find out the detail behind Haissem Hassan’s eye catching data.

How did Liam Scales fare upon being restored ahead of Auston Trusty?

What impact did Callum Osmand make from the bench?

And how did Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replace Callum McGregor?

If you are not a paying subscriber you can access this, and one other article, a month until November.

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Note if you are a free subscriber, you can currently access two premium content pieces per month for the next three months. Simply visit the site.

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Shrewd LASK manager Dietmar Kuhbauer lamented the lack of reward for his teams endeavours, and with some justification.

This post contains the full match stats from a memorable night, and an unsurprising Bhoy of the Match. Please subscribe for full access.

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This article contains the full and comprehensive stat pack from the Dundee United League Cup tie. Subscribers get full team, player, and opponent data plus a nominated Bhoy of the Match.

Note that player and match data beyond the very superficial is not available from ANY public data supplier for the Scottish League Cup and Scottish FA Cup. This is the ONLY place for comprehensive match data for ALL Celtic domestic Cup matches.

Please subscribe for full access to this and much more.

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That isn’t to say this all a “the opposition were crap” diluting of Celtic’s performance.

For subscribers, there is the full statistical pack with consistent and comprehensive match data, with some eye watering numbers.

And who was Bhoy of the Match, as there were some stellar candidates beyond the obvious?

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That said, a further trend was followed in that a win was eked out regardless of performance, which, based purely on xG difference, was merited.

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On brand with this Celtic side, with no meaningful shot for 37 minutes between second and third goals, they made strangely hard work of it after a dominant opening.

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Irrespective of wage bill, it is remarkable Celtic won this match given the quality of performance against an extremely well coached side.

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The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark

And watching over lucky clover, isn’t that bizarre?

And every little thing the reflex does

Leaves you answered with a question mark”

A dramatic and tumultuous Scottish season climaxed at Celtic park with on brand late drama. A goal in the 87th minute from the irrepressible Daizen Maeda effectively clinched the title. No one entered the park.

As Hearts launched long ball after free kick after throw in towards the Celtic box, and their keeper joined the furore, Celtic sealed it with a jail break open net finish for the returning Callum Osmand. Thirty seconds remained on the clock.

Dozens of Celtic fans cavorted onto the park, reflecting celebratory scenes at football grounds up and down the kingdom as titles, promotions, play off spots, relegations are settled. It should not happen, the pitch is for the players and officials only. Some Hearts players were clearly being goaded. That should not happen and those individuals should be ashamed. I am sure video evidence will be being poured over to establish whether there were any actual physical assaults. Any perpetrators should be dealt with by club and police accordingly.

The referee ended it, as is his prerogative.

But once again, it isn’t the thing, it’s the reaction to the thing.

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A characteristic tempo change then followed, the Celtic rallentando, as no shots followed Daizen Maeda’s wonder goal for the ages.

And it was tempo management and sheer work rate that was the differentiator.

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That allowed overwhelming control and possession over Hibernian who were content to sit in banks of five and three across their box.

Producing high quality chances was at a premium and it took rare moments of quality to produce the two goals. Benjamin Nygren and the returning Alistair Johnston (what a difference he could make) injected pace and precision to provide Daizen Maeda the chance to finish like it’s 2022.

And Kelechi Iheanacho, who may become a cult hero, and provided the sort of calmness under pressure needed to secure a winner.

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Having Neil Lennon’s Championship Dunfermline Athletic waiting in the final, since they’ve dispatched three SPFL Premier teams, heightens the anticipation.

And pretty much anything could happen!

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