I doubt even Leigh Griffiths’ dad thought he had this kind of form in him when he signed for Celtic in January last year. The then 23-year-old had ‘squad filler’ written all over him as he waited in line behind Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes. The arrival of John Guidetti and Stefan Scepovic a year ago could have limited Leigh’s chances further, but neither showed enough form to make the striker position their own.
Prospects looked bleak last season. Two starts before Christmas, Leigh spent time with the youths and looked to be heading out of the club in January, but with the manager’s mind increasingly made up on Guidetti and Scepovic, he got his chance. The transformation has been remarkable. His goals return compares to the best in the modern era, but it’s the type of goals he scores which has caught the attention most.
He’s fast, skilful, can out-jump central defenders and scores goals in big games. Should Celtic choose to play with Carlton Cole as a target man, Leigh will also be able to play to his left.
Whatever Ronny Deila achieves this season, the improvement in Leigh Griffiths will feature high up the list. Leigh’s attitude to self-improvement is also worth noting.
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Just had the General Election in Turkey.Dear God.In the week leading up to the vote,two TV (Big)stations were ransacked,closed down,and everyone arrested.The same with two very large newspapers.Hundreds arrested and jailed.The reason.Well,guess.Any marches or demonstrations against the Dictator now in charge,met with baton charges,tear gas,water cannon.Whole areas cordoned off,(For security reasons)they said,stopping people from getting to the polls.
Yesterday they had the vote.50 million Turks went to the polls.50 million !!!!!!!!!
4 hours later they announced a landslide victory.All counted,sorted and a result given in 4 hours,in a country the size of Turkey.
Next time anyone calls Scotland “A Police State”,stop and think about what this title really means.
Dharma
Wheres yor tutu
Clink/o
up_over_goal on 2nd November 2015 2:18 pm
Precisely. We don’t get to have another Henrik. I don’t recall any of the goals we’ve lost in Europe starting with the ball being lost up front (might be wrong). Even if they were, there’s a whole midfield and defence who’s job it is to prevent the opposition from scoring.
So LG’s problem is that he won’t stop scoring goals. I agree for a striker that’s a bit of an issue ;)
RWE
Brilliant post. I’ve dug various opposition supporters up about that.
I’m well proud of the way you articulated that.
OscarwildeCSC
Gary67
At the moment, Leigh’s European stats (goals/assists per time on the pitch) are on a par with Stokes, and less than Johansen, behind Maloney, Hooper, Hartson, to say nothing of Sammi, Lubo, Commons (forget Henrik, who’s on his own).
The SPL – no argument. But if he is doing less well in Europe than those players, it strongly suggests that the quality we face in Scotland is going down a lot faster than many think.
And yes, I saw Rogic’s and Leigh’s goals v Hearts – great, terrific. Now show some of that in Europe, and help your team win matches by playing well in other respects.
That’s not too much to ask, is it?
anyone got a link to the picture of ronny at easter road yesterday
Ha Im as bad as you.
Yor = your
Fatfingersrus
Can someone (other than David Blaine) please tell me what this “ability to hang in the air” is and how it’s achieved? I’ve always had a wee party trick of performing a levitation which at times (usually after the party-goers have downed a few bevvies) goes down a storm, but it sounds like Leigh has a genuine gravity-defying ability when rising to head a ball. Has he had some form of mini-copter blades inserted during the recent hair transplant?
TOMMIE20
Good spot,mate.
He seemed to have one of those ‘Aw ffs,what do I do now?’ moments.
A more experienced referee would have known the answer,of course. Chalk it off,forget about it.
Hoping we can put further distance between ourseves and nearest challengers,which would take a bit of pressure off RD when selecting teams.Give him a chance to try Cole and Leigh upfront together.Scott Allan should get a good bit of game time.Teirney and Janko also.Another bonus is now that we have two permanent CHs,the rest of the season will give them plenty of time to gel into what I think,could be a great partnership,for the foreseeable future.
here it is
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/60144072588_1/22_Length_Green_White_Chevron_Tutu_Hair.jpg
“anyone got a link to the picture of ronny at easter road yesterday”
St stivs,
You must know what our manager looks like by now?
Winkwink csc
DB
Ha
You would need to wrap up warm going to Celtic Park this winter
up_over_goal on 2nd November 2015 2:26 pm
Griffiths gets very little opportunities in European games as we create very little. As a team we are currently poor in Europe and whilst our midfield cannot keep possession, let alone create decent, regular chances, then Griffiths will not get the opportunities.
He may not be good enough to score more regularly in Europe, but it would be good to see him get the chance to.
Leigh Griffiths is about the same age as James Forrest. When he signed for us-notwithstanding those who didnae want him near the club-instant success was demanded.
Despite JF ‘needing time to grow’
He has a career record of a goal every two games. Slightly better than that with us,in fact.
LG is the type of striker that teams worry about,discuss beforehand. How are we gonna stop him.
With his daft boayishness behind him,he can genuinely become a legend. We haven’t had one for a wee while.
My friends in Celtic,
Leigh Griffiths,s goal scoring form is what we have been crying out for. A striker that can score goals.
Even if he does nothing else than score goals what a bonus.
Gerd Muller is remembered as a great player for the amount of goals he scored, nothing else.
I know times have changed but scoring goals still wins games and that is why goal scoring strikers are in such high demand and difficult to find.
LG has improved of that there is no doubt, but continual improvement will be the deciding factor if he can become one of our greats.
HH.
Ps : continual improvement will bring predictors.
RWE
Gold star for that post
From my kid sis,
‘Great spot byTOMMIE20. The ref was genuinely spooked for a split second. You could almost see him thinking ‘oh mammy daddy’ as visions of last go on the goat flashed before his eyes!’
She has a fine turn of phrase,that lass!!!
Gary67
Of course we get fewer chances in Europe – that doesn’t mean the players don’t create opportunities for Griffiths.
Google the last game v Molde and search for Griffiths. You’ll find the phrases “caught offside”, “high and wide” “shot blocked” with the same degree of frequency.
He needs to improve – I hope he does.
Europe is the acid test.
The Johnatron
Has he had some form of mini-copter blades inserted during the recent hair transplant?
Have you seen his hair?
If Leigh’s hair and ‘copter blades have ever met, it would not have been a happy encounter.
THE JOHNATRON
Leigh’s improvement in his arial ability is partly down to work on the training ground, but primarily attributable to a change in footwear. If you look closely during the next game you will see that he now sports a pair of these:
http://youtu.be/HDZaddrClUw
⚽️ Hail Hail
A wee bit heavy with that last post so here’s a laugh for those who have the time.
HamiltonTim and any others from the profession – this is for you guys especially.
Teachers Uncovered – courtesy of Gerry Dee who is Tony’s Uncle
http://wp.me/p6DYht-o4
No One Walks Alone – even Teachers
DB
One more for you
Koop with the Molde girl on vocals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W3MpOU3OUU
Offski . Somebody is looking for me to do some work.
Up Over Goal
I haven’t seen Leigh’s hair that close.so don’t know about the mini copter blades.
What I do know is that with his new hairline, washing his face shouldn’t take so long.
HH.
Paedophilia (or however it’s spelled) has been in the supporters’ chants for a couple of decades now, and previously used by us and scotland fans. probably many other teams also.
Richard Gough child molester was one such chant, as was ‘with his bag of sweets and his cheeky smile, Ronaldo is a f****** paedophile at France 98.
It isn’t only celtic who have been affected by sexual predators. rangers youth coach John Chalmers allegedly was a paedophile preying on the rangers youth team who hung himself before the outcome of an enquiry into his behaviour (sorry lurking huns).
in my opinion, I dont think its sectarian at all, just a way to wind up opposition supporters and to denigrate the achievements of important figures, ie Stein, Gough, Ronaldo.
I think people from any background who indulge in this sort of chanting, for whatever reason, are mentally unstable. Same with the Eva Carniero ‘Do you take it up the **** chanting. Some things are not for chanting. Where do these people go from here? What is the next chant seeking to offend even more?
I look at anyone posting or chanting about paedophilia and it’s helpful. You know immediately the person is either a poorly educated nutter, or just a scary nutter.
There are victims in all of this. The disregard for them is surely the result of a lack of empathy and a bad upbringing.
See the note that SB is possibly out for Thursday … got me thinking of possible line ups… I would like to see us play 2 up front (LG and … yes … Ciftci….I think there is a footballer, and he has a good touch for abig guys… which we need for Europe) … but I know that wont be popular here, and there is little chance that RD will change from his usual 4231…. so …
At the Back, Tierney, Jozo, Boyata and Lustig …. I think that, given a few games, Jozo and boayata will develop into rock of the team, like JD and VVD did last season ….Izzy, Janko and Effie as subs…
Biton and the Grif are frst names on the team sheet for me, If it were up to me, I would play Armstrong beside Nir (I think SA has a good footballing brain, and could get forward), but I expect that RD will use SJ in that slot if SB cant play ….so SA is probably on the bench
but, after that it gets tricky …. not sure we have the proper squad for RD’s system …. we have too few true midfielders (I would say only NB and SB), while the rest are sort of the modern attack /mids, and are all competing for the 3 spots in this system… this includes Stuart Armstrong, Scott Allen (when fit…. although I haven’t seen enough of him), KC, GMS, JF and Rogic.
so, it gets tricky …. LG is the 1 …. but the 3 is tricky …. for me, Rogic is on form, and should start in the middle of the 3 …. KC brings goals, but not much else and too often (i) play breaks down when it gets to him, and (ii) he can be selfish…. and he is not as strong when played out wide …. that leaves the two wider positions … if the teams playes like it did on the weekend, there may be some space to break into, so this could be a game for Forrest to make his mark ….and I keep hoping that GMS will light it up, but (i) he has been a bit off form, and I think we are a bit lightweight if both he and JF play ….
so, maybe this manager’s gig isn’t quite as easy as it seems sometimes ..
Leigh Griffith’s secret weapon is his eyebrows – I thought everyone knew that.
He just jumps and as he gets to the top of his leap he raises his eyebrows as far as they can go…
…and keeps them there.
His raised eyebrows convince the rest of Leigh that he is airborne for as long as his eyebrows remain raised.
Leigh has nothing more to do than keep his eyes open and wait for the ball to arrive.
Raised eyebrows and eyes open
Try it for yourself.
He learned this from this guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag_r-_lPvJ8
Some players with ability arrive at a club with the stature, professionalism & superior coaching/expectations, such as what exists at Celtic, can flourish, improve & grow up.
Leigh has been one of them.
Some players with ability arrive at a club with the stature, professionalism, superior coaching/expectations, such as what exists at Celtic, will flourish, improve & grow up.
Leigh has been one of them.
Tunnocks tea cakes give you levitation powers ……………….. allegedly.
otherbiscuitsareavailable csc
I thought it a wee bit funny Leigh going for his hat trick on Saturday instead of giving the obvious chance to Stuart Armstrong. (Although I wouldn’t have been laughing if we needed the goal to win the game).
But it reminded me of how Henrik Larsson was the most selfless strikers I have ever seen. The amount of times he could have scored himself but gave other players the glory was legend. Goodness knows what his goal tally might have been.
Just another of his many attributes.
Agent Green,
Tunnocks tea cakes give you levitation powers ……………….. allegedly
Otherbiscuitsareavailablecsc
————————————————————-
So does Springerle Cookies.
Hail Hail.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being ‘just a goal scorer’ -after all, scoring goals is the point of the whole exercise.
I think the Griffalo offers more than that; his work ethic in Saturday’s game was pretty faultless, which won’t have escaped the notice of his manager.
I was never fortunate enough to see Jimmy Mcgrory at his peak but I think if in the 20s and 30s you called him ‘just a goal scorer’ you would have got chased down the ole London Rd.
RWE
Brilliant, now if only the courses I attended were so entertaining!
I remember when Gary Lineker was asked about how the likes of Michael Owen could score with headers and beat larger players.
He said that a good leap is important but it’s mostly to do with timing and positioning. If you are in the right place and time your jump, even a wee guy is hard to beat.
Tim Cahill and Henke are other good examples
COOLMORE MAFIA
Surely any inquiry into Chalmers still continued after his death?
The most important goal in a game is the first goal,LG is getting very good at that too
Bada
surely the most important goal in the game is the winning goal