Just catching up on the post-Ibrox analysis after a busy weekend. A few observations:
Celtic opened very well but our passing out of defence fell apart after 10 minutes and didn’t get back on track until Scott Sinclair decided he was taking control at halftime. If I wanted to make an excuse, I’d say we were rusty due to the formation only just returning to normal for the first time this season, but this may be over-generous.
Scott demonstrated why he was Player of the Year last season. He has what it takes to swing big games. The game can be divided into two parts: times when Sinclair had the ball inside the Newco box, and all other times. You could sense the terror in blue at the former.
On the Newco penalty claim: I’m not sure. Jozo pulled out of the challenge, which I suspect is why the referee didn’t give it, but I would have claimed if it was the other way around.
It was clear to everyone in the Broomloan Stand that Leigh Griffith was claiming for a penalty in the first half, although none of us knew why. Young Beckenbauer in the Newco defence extended his arms and made his body big as the ball dropped onto his hand.
The rules are clear on this one, allow your arms to leave the confines of your body and you’ve transgressed if the ball strikes a hand or arm. Sky Television viewers were then transported to an alternate universe, where they were told, “Leigh Griffiths is claiming for a corner kick”. There is an intellectual pain experienced when you are part of a group treated to ‘expert’ analysis like this. I was embarrassed as a viewer.
While Scott Sinclair was the custard in your doughnut, the second goal was a product of crisp passing down the right. Callum McGregor was worthy of an honourable mention here. He has the craft to compliment Patrick Roberts’ level of astonishing-ness.
There will be quite a number of people who are walking around Lennoxtown today full of the joys because of the save Craig Gordon made with the score at 0-1. This was not a normal reaction save, it was the result of a planned and practiced manner in which to close-down an opponent who is about to head the ball. Look again at how Craig moves his body.
It was a big moment and speaks of the technical preparation of the goalkeepers.
Scott Brown remains is in the form of his life. He waltzed around Ibrox like he owned the place. Although with the alleged condition of the structure, that honour may be an onerous one.
The knives are out for Brother Pedro, who spent millions but has not noticeably improved his team. This is a little unfair. Newco’s problems run deeper than Pedro, and let’s face it, they would be in a far worse situation if he had not banned green boots.
This guy knows what he’s doing, no way is he an hopeless imposter, no way at all. And, if they ever score an important goal, Pedro’s instructions to congregate to celebration will also prove invaluable.
Let’s not get too carried away with ourselves. Ibrox was the aperitif, as they say in Europe. The main course is in Brussels on Wednesday, and that will prove to be a far greater challenge.
Enjoy the new podcast…
The CQN Podcast: A Celtic State of Mind (EP13) The Quality Street Gang Part 1
This week, ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ pays tribute to The Quality Street Gang.
In the first of a two-part series, Paul John Dykes interviews Billy Murdoch, Bobby Wraith, HughMcKellar and Lou Macari to discuss one of the finest crops of youngsters ever to emerge from Celtic Park.
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Tony Rome
I appreciate the sentiment and I remember the 97/98 season well and how important that was.
It was still relevant when MON named them as a benchmark and then proceeded to by-pass them.
But the relevance died for me in 2012. It can be ressurected but, only by their efforts. We should be prepared to let go of our fondness for rubbing their noses in it until they become a relevant competitor again.
Those straws being clutched, in full:
* We were the better team first half, Timmy. Could’ve been ahead.
* It was only two wee mistakes cost us.
* Brown should’ve been sent off for smashing Morelos’ face.
* Should’ve had a pen and Simonovic should’ve been sent off. Timmy ref again.
* We have the best young defender in Europe, Timmy. (Kieran who?)
* Young team, Timmy. Time to gel.
Something that has been bothering me for a while, it doesn’t really amount to much, but it still bothers me.
When we get a fee kick, the ref normally paces out the ten required steps, but the camera ALWAYS pans away when he gets to 5-6 steps, so we never really know how many steps he takes, when the free is against us the camera usually stays with the ref and he paces out the ten steps, when watching on Celtic TV, the camera doesn’t pan away and the ref never steps out ten paces, paranoid, I sure am.
BAck in the office today …. honestly, it is not nearly as much fun as kicking about Dublin!
Stv Raman on his sports report tonight stated the SFA will be taking no action against Scott Brown for an alleged elbow to the face of Morelos, should the SFA ignore the conduct of the Sevco mamager, every manager in Scottish football can challenge any misconduct charge against them citing the Sevco manager’s behaviour towards our Captain on Saturday when no charges were brought.
TONYROME on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2017 7:49 PM
SFTB
I understand your position and I do think its the right one but for many many fans like myself you just can’t beat the feeling of ramming it down the throats of these so called peepl that they are f***** and like you say there will be no end to their misery in the near future.
As far as european football goes after the PSG game my own beliefs are that if we can keep reaching the group stages of the champions league secure the finance that goes with it we will achieve my main hopes of 10 in a row. That money will also finance an attempt on Europa league glory.
I still vividly remember the feelings I endured during the season we stopped their 10 attempt.
I still cannot put into words the fear I endured in my head that season. I was even considering immigration.
When the final whistle went on that day, I was sitting on the couch in my house with my then 17 year old son facing me on the other couch. It was the first time my son had ever seen me cry. I just could not contain the releif. My son got up from his couch remember he was 17 and crossed the room sat on my knee and put a consoling arm around my shoulders and said” yer awright da yer awright”.
I have pretty much been awright from that day to this so please don’t take it that other fans don’t see your point I know I do but I can never forget they demons from that time.
KEEP THE FAITH
____________________________________
M8, your personal description of ending their 10 in a row dreams is emotive and still vivid to me and I’m sure more than a few others.
It was bar none, the most stressful period I’ve experienced in more than 40 years of following Celtic.
I actually MISSED the league winning day vs St Johnstone because I was on honeymoon………talk about planning…hmmmm!
The guy who got my ticket said it was the “best day of his life”. Bassa!
Now……..? We have our foot at their throats, and we now work to keep it there. Need to be ruthless and offer them nothing.
erskinetim
The only thing huns do better than us is throw ins.
close us down so we dont have an easy option but when they take
them we dont close down.
Bugs me every week not just against huns.
Doc- spot on
When we beat Hamilton 8 1 in2016, we got a free kick about 20 yards out.
As Collum started pacing out the ten yards , the crowd started counting out how any paces he was doing . He got to nine to much hilarity in the crowd
ERSKINETIM
I recall that day vividly.
We were at my brother in laws for a family get together.
I cried too.
My brother in law, a Jambo, didn’t understand.
I don’t know if I want the huns gone now or if I want their faces rubbed in the keech for years to come.
Loving it just now so can’t make my mind up.
JC 2,
”’Twas always thus. Can’t explain it. I remember Bertie Peacock couldn’t find a hooped shirt from a shie if his life depended on it.
Phil’s latest blog ……..
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2017/09/25/transatlantic-observations-and-dressing-room-bliss/
The first time I saw my father cry was at full time in the 1965 final.
The next time was when my mother died.
Anyone notice there were no instructions nor pat on the back for Miller from Pedro when coming on as substitute? Have they had a wee fall out?
PHILBHOY
Agree. The thing is we don’t get to decide their fate. There’s a lot of stuff going on that gets us emotive that we’ve no idea how it will play out.
But…..my (our) passion for Celtic remains undiminished, and while we are still engaged against their past, current or future incarnation, our team deserves our full support. And it deserves our clubs full attention and focus. The most important game is the next one, be it *Rangers or be it Anderlecht!
Erskinetim
EXILEDTIM,The answer to your inquiry,is yes,and I would like to come back on here as TIMBHOY 1,but I don’t know how to change it ,
TET 8.39pm
Back in the day I attended a Celtic v the Huns game, Tommy Boyd got a yellow card as he followed the ref and walked out the 10 steps (meant to yards) he only got to 7…. the ref showed him a yellow …. how does that work …. blatant cheats
Makes our wins even sweeter :-)
All packed and ready for Belgium Tomorrow, meeting up on route with two fine Cqnrs Johann Murdoch and Brendan Mc Cann, hopefully meet a few more over there
JC2, earler today I watched my recordings of the last two episodes of socceram.
In one of them, there was a thing about taking a shy. Jimmy Bullard , not everyone’s favourite, showed footage of how Barca deal with a shy.
When Barca get a shy, depending on which part of the pitch the shy is from, their nearest player takes it quickly, including Messi. The shy taker did not always throw the ball forward but normally back the way as there would always be a Barca player making himself available for the ball so they can keep possession and build another attack.
The ball boys look as though they have been instucted to get the ball to the Barca player taking the shy as quick as possible .
Big jimmy@ 4.23
Would super dooper McCrorie get in the Celtic team?
He wouldn’t get in the team photo!!!
ERSKINETIM
The people in charge of Scottish football can only do so much to prolong the huns life.
Without good management on and off the park and seriously heavy investment they will fall further and further behind us and probably Aberdeen. Perhaps other clubs too.
I am loving every aspect of their pain.
JImBob1943
It was just an observation, the way you post sort of gives you away.
If you click on your user name, it will take you to the guts of the blog, you can change your user name there, you change it to what you want your name displayed as then save it, you can be whomever you want :-)
HH
Dallas
I didn’t know that about Barca, but have noticed that they invariably throw the ball back, maybes out bhoys need a telling.
HH
On the rare occasion when the MIB takes ten steps , they are always of the small variety.
Never mind greeting-I broke a crown (from biting down with stress)when George O’Boyle missed that sitter at 1-0.By the Sunday Morning I had a hangover and a raging toothache.
Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on 25th September 2017 9:08 pm
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Beat me to it – was just going to point out that the Barca method is to take the shy as quickly as possible to ge tthe ball back on the deck and shifting for them.
We looked a bit lackadaisical on Saturday every time we got one, although I’m beginning to think the players just couldn’t have given a f about the irritating wee club they were playing and were more focussed on conserving energy for the Big Show game in Anderlecht.
Is Jonathon Gould on the coaching staff at WBA?
Being critical of Big Hayley.
A lot on here getting a bit too fussy about a fine big buxom wench.
Buick, I truly hope I didn’t offend.
That wasn’t the intention at all.
And I do understand why you would be enthusiastic, in an ideal world we all would be, at last they are honoured! By the governing body.
But it’s two fold, the “at last” part is way too long overdue, way to long.
The second string to this is more current, has there ever been a more corrupt governing body in world sport!
Note the exclamation mark, not a question mark.
HopeivenooffendedagoodghuyCSC
Angelgabriel, unless the team awarded the kick wear light blue and come face Govan!
Giant steps then!
9th May 1998, my greatest afternoon watching Celtic. utter joy washing away a decade of despair with a tsunami of relief. Onto the pitch, among the happiest Tims I’ve ever seen.
9th May nine years later, my daughter is born; that date enshrined forever.
Lou Reed nailed it.
The Exiled Tim and Sandman, it was strange someone of Jimmy Bullard’s standing brought it to our attention.
Delaney’s Dunky has posted a few times about his frustration with our team taking shies.
Hopefully some of our coaching staff have noticed this.
Word of the week in the library…
Anyone think that Pedro was RINTHEROUT on Saturday ?
Turkeybhoy on 25th September 2017 9:24 pm
Being critical of Big Hayley.
A lot on here getting a bit too fussy about a fine big buxom wench.
========================================
Never hear a thing big Hayley’s saying when she’s on.
Almost as if my aural senses are dulled by two big firm, deliciously… comfortable…ear muffs…
Celtic and shies…..
A mystery never to be solved!
HH
Celtic and Milan. Yesterday after the wonderful Mass of installation at the reception in the Archbishop’s residence I was speaking to one of his relatives who spoke very good English. Not sure how but the subject of Celtic arose. He told me he was in the San Siro the last time Celtic played in Milano. He was full of admiration for the Celticsupporters. ‘ They sang and supported the Celtic all night long . Even when they lost the game they sang and showed support of the team. I have never seen supporters like the Celtic supporters. They were wonderful. The even mixed with the Milan supporters at the end and were the best supporters I have ever met.’
Yes, more than a football team. Thank you to all who travel and show the world who and what we are. Eccolo ….we are the Celtic.
Doc.
Spot on.
f em.
HH
Doc . That’s a given ;-))
Interesting about how Barca use a shy . I remember posting my concern about how we were crap at throw-ins a few years ago on here , only to receive more than a couple of responses telling me that even the Lisbon Lions were average in making them have an impact . Just a Celtic thing I suppose !