Walking out of the ground last night, my oldest son recalled Liam Scales nervy performance against St Johnstone in August. Two months later he was imperious against a World Cup winning striker. This season’s Champions League campaign is like to end in December, but a few Celtic players will surely look back on it with pride.
Luis Palma made his fourth start for the club and gave us a further insight into his talent. Denied a goal by a marginal offside against Lazio, he got his reward when the Atletico net bulged for the second time. Unlike our other wingers, his game is not about pace, he will continue to find space in dangerous areas for him and others to exploit. Reminiscent of John Robertson in his pomp.
There were two world class footballers on the field. Antoine Griezmann’s movement, touch and game-management was sublime; a joy to watch. While sharing the pitch with a player of this standard, we can judge Kyogo. To say he was outstanding is insufficient.
His goal was so simple, passing the ball into the net from 7 yards, who cannot do that? Well, no one who has played for Celtic in the last 50 years, apart from Henrik Larsson and Kenny Dalglish. Daizen Maeda, unplayable for the first half, created the chance. Matt O’Riley twice brought the attention of Atletico off Kyogo, but the goal was all about our Japanese striker.
Late in the second half I complained about yet another no-look pass from him that went astray. The truth is, he was playing on a level no one else in hoops has yet understood. How often did the arms go up in frustration as his run was not matched with an early forward ball?
Shortly before he was subbed, he controlled and moved the ball while under pressure with such skill I am doubting my memory. Just as Henrik and Kenny before him, he is improving the longer he stays at Celtic; current form is his best yet. With such a talent, his teammates should always be looking for him. The rest of us can marvel as his story unfolds.
Having been schooled in the first period, Atletico changed things at halftime and when their second equaliser came it was deserved. Celtic were pinned back and ragged. In response, Brendan Rodgers made the huge decision to change to an unused, three-at-the-back formation.
It looked a gamble at the time, but Brendan knew what he was doing. The extra bodies in midfield rebalanced the match. What a decision! This is why he is Celtic manager, instead of you or me.
We knew energy levels would be an issue, Celtic do not play enough games at this level to be fully prepared. The early injury to Reo Hatate meant that we were out of substitution instances as the game neared its conclusion. As we worried for Celtic, Atletico’s true colours flipped the flow of the game towards the home team.
Rodrigo de Paul is another World Cup winner but got himself booked for persistently harassing the referee while looking for a second penalty kick. Have some self-respect, you may think, but that is not something Argentinians in the red of Atletico are known for around these parts.
I left the game full of praise for Griezmann, but disgusted at de Paul, who picked up a second yellow for an out of control challenge on a tiring Paulo Bernardo. On the way home, my youngest asked, ‘What would you be like if you had that Simeone in your face every day of the week?”
With Griezmann on the ground after a head knock, Simeone stopped the club doctor from giving attention. Medical oversight only arrived because the referee insisted Griezmann leave the field. “That Simeone” is a malign influence and a true son of his father.
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CELTIC40ME @ 5:45pm
“Graeme Souness has confirmed he is close to agreeing a deal to return”
Does he promise?
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 26TH OCTOBER 2023 6:18 PM
He’s never off the radio or out of the papers these days. Since he lost his gig at Sky he can’t shut up so there will be no end of chat for us to enjoy
SKY to Sevco……sounds about right
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 26TH OCTOBER 2023 6:18 PM
The return to the days of is he a left back
Must be big, strong, athletic quick and good in defence and attack and left footed. Able to run from his own by line to theirs and back again.
He must be guaranteed better than Greg Taylor, no exotic South American punts allowed
There must be loads of players like this out there
As for progression in European performance AND outcomes ….
… At risk of being a “jam tomorrow” merchant
… I think it will take another year.
Totally get some fans’ patience is wearing thin.
But the squad is still too big and we had a terrible injury situation at start of the season.
Only now in October is the identity of the team emerging clearly.
For me – Two big markers for future progress.
I don’t remember Celtic having such a healthy financial position ever.
I don’t remember previously such a concerted strategic effort to nail down our core of top players on long term contracts.
They’ll all either be here for the next three years or will be sold for a fortune.
C40me – cheers.
Sounds is clearly a “name” but, in practical terms …. And based purely on hearing done of the guff spoken as a pundit …. I do not see what skills or capabilities he brings to the party at senior management / executive leadership level
Souness
Souness is yesterday’s news…
Maybe if we could get our money back for Bernabei , Kobayashi and Kwon , we would have enough money to buy a left full back who can defend .
Watching the Sparta game. I don’t see any kind of plan from the rangers. They are defending resolutely but not a good strategy. There’s an obvious gulf in class.between the EL and the CL
don’t know who scouted thems goalie but he is their best player.
CELTIC40ME
Two footed, much more than a sweet left peg, must be tall enough to guard the back post with headers off the line.
A real specialist left back, not good enough if he’s a penny less than five million sterling.
Mncelt
The orcs aren’t happy on FF.
” the shortest new manager bounce in history ”
Made me smile
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 26TH OCTOBER 2023 6:32 PM
He’s a sop to the fans. A proper rangers man who they bring in to help with the search for a new boos and then ignore when it comes to the real decision making.
It’s aw a big ruse to keep the loyal, he’s ‘wan of us mob’ on board . They’ll be spinning the oh my darling clemy needs time ( he needs a mackerel ) he can’t get a tune out of the moles dross 😜. Sourpuss has connections to great players , will be the mantra , and they will get a couple of loanees in January who worth mullions I tell ye 😜😂
Boss not boos :)
I know Simeone is a nasty bit of works for sure, but he’s not there to be loved by anyone, just manage a team, and he does that well.
Really chuffed at our very obvious progress
KINGLubO
Leftclicktik- to be fair, he doesn’t have a lot to work with
RC
Nice to see you praising a player, pity it’s not one of ours. 🤭
RC
They always have a good goalie. About the only thing they get right
How can Bohemians FC in Dublin bring out and play in a Palestine themed away kit, bilboa and sociedad sport the Basque flag on their armbands and jerseys, Barca use the Catakan colours?
Sure even our city rivals bring out kits allegedly in honour of a foreign country who happen to play in Orange and, dare I say it we had a ‘heritage’ kutbout recently and previous tricolour lined tops in our match day range.
Asking for tebs of thousands of friends
I’m watching Sevco’s game cos I am at a very loose end. Compared to last night it’s like Falkirk versus Airdrie.
Zombies are getting a 0-0 battering
From BBC reporter
An English colleague, who doesn’t normally cover Scottish football, came for a chat with me at half time and he had a very simple question about Philippe Clement’s side: “Is it always this bad?”.
Of course he didn’t reply
SAINT STIVS
Last night as I walked up the Celtic way I noticed new barriers to my left, just after the pools office, and I remembered my recent post on CQN about seeing “worknen’s huts” being erected during an afternoon visit to the superstore. I decided to take a closer look.
There are a few temporary huts, surrounded by barriers and security personnel guarding the entrance. There is a notice on the main hut — UEFA OFFICE — linked to two smaller offices.
That was obviously the building works I referred to in my previous post. We’ll have to wait a bit longer for the Hotel & Museum.
On paul67’s kyogo comments-
I’m not saying samaras and kyogo are the same type of players or the same standard but there was a stage when the team did not get sammi (I shamefully gave him pelters against killie one game). When the team got him, he changed games.
BR is the man to waken the team up to the speed kyogo can change the picture.
Is this pragmatic approach being adopted by Sevco tonight the one that some posters want Celtic to use in CL games?
Evening all.
Interesting headline and content from BBC Scotland online news.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-67226820
nil nil huns game , into injury time
HOT SMOKED on 26TH OCTOBER 2023 7:27 PM
Is this pragmatic approach being adopted by Sevco tonight the one that some posters want Celtic to use in CL games?
You’re comparing fiat & ferrari
Nil Nil Glorious euro performance continues the Clement revolution
AURORABOREALIS79 on 26TH OCTOBER 2023 7:38 PM
Indeed, But, of course, that would not be the case if we adopted their `pragmatic approach`.
Final reminder for this one – please vote before 10pm SENCELPOTY@GMAIL.COM . Thank You
Votes in, Jobo :-))
…..and with that, it`s a
Cheerio from me.
We’re Not Half Of Anything.
“Graeme Souness has confirmed he is close to agreeing a deal to return to Rangers, with the club looking to appoint the club legend in a consultative role.”
“Although Souness’ new position will not have an official title, it is understood he will have a say in decisions being made in the football department of the club.”
———-
return to rangers ?
wait till he finds out they are deid.
Tom,
ta for that, I had well forgotten abput the amount of temporary structures set up for the UEFA CL corporate guzzlers, they are a site to behold wandering around on a match day.
oh and the tv set up, wich is huge.