Ange Postecoglou took Martin Dowden to task ahead of Celtic’s 2-2 draw at home to St Mirren.
Last week the champions lost their second SPFL match of the season when they went down to a 3-0 defeat at Ibrox with the hoops defence heavily criticised.
Postecogku made two changes to his defence for today’s match with Greg Taylor coming in for Alexandro Bernabei at left-back while Tomoki Iwata replaced Yuki Kobayashi in central defence.
It was a natural conclusion that Kobayashi had been dropped because of a poor performance but it is always best when you have access to a manager to get their reasoning rather than jump to conclusions.
All of Iwata’s Celtic appearances have been in midfielder with Dowden getting ahead of himself trying to second guess the Celtic team.
Covering the pre-match exchange, The Sun reports:
Iwata is usually deployed in central midfield and this change of position prompted BBC reporter Martin Dowden to jokingly ask the Celtic boss if Reo Hatate was being played at right back.
Postecoglou responded: “It’s a poor guess, mate, but at least you did have a guess. It’s good to know.
“These three games this week are a chance to get as many guys ready for a pretty big game the following week, the cup final.
“It’s about getting as many people game time between now and then and making sure the team is well tuned leading into that big game.
“It will be Tomoki Iwata at centre back, he has played there before with his old club and I’ve used him there. Yuki played last week and we’ve got another game in midweek.”
Hatate did play a couple of games towards the end of last year at right-back but the arrival of Alastair Johnston brought that experiment to an end.
I said last week that “Ange was pish” with his team selection and stated that it would give therangers confidence and could damage ours. Well look at us this week, can’t even beat 6th at home. We looked lost, could pass to a team mate 10 feet away. Only one man to blame!
Also Ange’s signings before the last week were praised, well I think we can all agree that Kobayashi, Bernabei and Iwata are not up to the job. Ideguchi is another. Ange needs better signings this summer as more like the above mentioned will not do.
A BBC Reporter showing his ignorance yet again!
Guy takes a hit for asking question some one wrote hes just a puppet and angi knows lets him of easy iwata abd ralston just didnt gel McGregir is getting marked iut of first 60 mins until marker tires maybe but him forward give stmirren credit celtic have down tools need to watch hard to pick them up again missing ccv defence getting bullied taylor taylor us to easy shoved aside i know we dint want to give corners away but have to stop crosses coming in to easy uf ball is a forner you can set up for that srarfelt has to do mire in tge scoring department no use going up winnig balls to head wayward teams sliw game down holding onto ball after infringement or when ball is out of play not nice but celtic look loss the rythmn they get soaced in final half hour when there passing and holdung ball moving it from side to side why reans waisr as much time ref allows and thats a lot rell goalkeeper from the start if you walk about collecting ball you will be booked ungentle conduct which still in rules refs
Could you repeat that?
In English preferably ?
I think he was holding his breathe while writing …
nice one jack you have got three stoogies working for you there
As Dowden’s BBC colleague David Currie once enquired during Sportscene results … Martin , are you there ?
Congratulations to Arsenal on winning The EPL Bragging Rights trophy yesterday….
Man City fans will be RAGIN today…..
Oh eye, the hard work in the league was completed weeks ago, no interest what happens between now and the chance of a world record treble winning cup final….
HH