Celtic played their best football in months last night. Why? Well, the shape of the team was different. Scott Brown was no longer in the anchor role, leaving that in the capable hands of Eboue Kouassi (20 last month). Eboue joined this time last year, but has spent most of the intervening period getting to grips with life at Celtic, as well as overcoming illness. He did just fine and went some way to justifying the significant fee Celtic paid.
Olivier Ntcham, no stranger to a robust challenge, played the advanced role of the middle three, while Brown had the freedom to forage wherever need was greatest. It worked.
You will also notice a nascent partnership emerging between Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard. Both thrived. We were even treated to the sight of Moussa collecting a clearance from Dorus de Vries before releaseing Odsonne inside the Celtic half. The big striker stretched his legs to speed away from the Hearts defence before scoring the opening goal. This worked too.
Brendan may have considered the effects of both wing partnerships being broken up. Kieran Tierney was without Scott Sinclair and James Forrest didn’t have Mikael Lustig, but both flourished.
Moments after coming on, Charly Musonda created a chance with a delicious back-heel. Moussa should have converted what would have been a fitting herald for the new loan signing.
My big takeaway from this game? Teams have had 18 months to figure out how to combat Celtic’s play. We have stuttered, in part, because teams knew what to expect and prepared accordingly. Teams need a second system as much as they need a second strip. We now have ours.
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540 Comments- Pages:
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GARY67 on 31ST JANUARY 2018 11:54 AM
I did a 1-0 win from a goal by Olly Ntcham from a pretty experimental Celtic Team that huffed and puffed but won easily.
Jack Hendry was if i’m not mistaken responsible for the goal, gave away countless fouls and was pretty bang average.
Unless we are not referring to the same match of course????
He was also Hooked after 70 minutes but then again. Maybe i didn’t watch the game?
Dont SSN just love transfer deadline day.
super blue blood moon tonight, not visible from UK
The woman on SSN jhas just said Arsenals new signing scores a goal every 96 minutes. Sheesh, even I could do that when the other team have fecked off.
Chinese laundry if that one goes through.
The Same SSN that were glorifying SEVCO’s “UNBEATEN START to 2018”
https://twitter.com/AgentScotIand/status/958122317070176261?s=08
You can always rely on the English Championship to remind you that English Football transfers are INSANE
Cardiff City are closing on a deal to sign Gary Madine from Championship rivals Bolton.
The club are hopeful of adding the 27-year-old striker in a deal which could be worth up to £6m.
That’s right you read that correctly £6M FLUFFLING BRITTISH POUNDS?
WOW
WHITEDOGHUNCH
Padova -Courtesy of Mrs S of T –
Tramezzini –
Bar Nazionale – Piazza Delle Erbe
Dalla Zita -Via Gorizia
Osteria –
L’Anfora -Via del Soncino
Seánp1916 on 31st January 2018 12:00 pm
I think it was McGowan he left on his backside before hitting it from 25 yards. If anything it was Meekings who didn’t close him down, which is probably harsh on him as Oli had the shot away before he had a chance. The game at CP was where BR praised Hendry post match.
Rodgers saw enough in the former Partick Thistle and Wigan stopper to see international potential in him.
He said: “The boy Hendry at the back I thought was excellent. He’s quick and strong and is a good size.
“Scotland need centre halves and that looks like a good kid. He’s tall, he can run and he can pass. He looks a talent.
You obviously see things differently.
Seánp1916 on 31st January 2018 12:02 pm
He was substituted on 70 minutes with concussion after a head clash with Gamboa.
Sevco reject £8m for Morelos,
obviously holding out for their £10m valuation
SSN,
new bid for Carson rejected,
feck them go get someone else
gordybhoy64 on 31st January 2018 12:19 pm
Dundee will agree to Scott Allan to Hibs on permanent deal for us, sweetens Hibs to cancel Scott Bain loan deal. Bain will join us, with Hendry, £1m the pair of them. We get back up keeper, Hibs get Allan back, Dundee get much needed cash.
Gary67,
good to see someone has it all worked out ;-))
I obviously do. His own manager clearly didn’t rate his performance that day.
Hendry matched Sincy for pace in the Parkhead game – not seen too many defenders do that up here? Lee Westwood ? Not for me – leave him to focus on the golf.
Seánp1916 on 31st January 2018 12:28 pm
I obviously do. His own manager clearly didn’t rate his performance that day.
Why didn’t his manager rate his performance? Did he say that?
whitedoghunch on 31st January 2018 12:03 pm
Watching it right now in SE Texas. Impressive!!
HH
TC45
Ok
Need help
Having problems picking my best team
I am not interested in Goalkeeper or defence …that can look after itself
I cant agree with myself ( hmm…) on the front 6/7
Musonda…..Brown Ntcham Koussai…..Sinclair
Moussa ( and Edouard If 3 at the back)
or
Roberts …Armstrong McGregor Rogic…Forrest
Griffiths ( and Moussa if 3 at the back)
or any 6/7 from the above 13.
My head would explode.
Unless of course he was hooked for concussion…..
There’s more credence in the existence of Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy than sevco knocking back an £8m bid for Morelos.
Apparently if you stand in front of a mirror and chant Chinaman 5 times he will appear behind you and offer you at least £8million.
Sky Sports run by the hun mafia.
Seánp1916 on 31st January 2018 12:30 pm
Unless of course he was hooked for concussion…..
He was. McCann was moaning post match (no change there) that they should have got a penalty for a clash of heads, he said Gamboa meant it.
HEN1RIK 11.02
a link would have done the job ! you missed out the appeal lol
HH
What is the Stars on 31st January 2018 12:30 pm
I think, fitness allowing, the starting elevenlast night, with the possible exception of Musonda for Edouard, will start v Zenit.
They’re spending the Morelos yen already…………
(from BBC)
Middleton joins Rangers
News for Rangers fans – a new arrival, but not a major one. The Ibrox club has signed Norwich City Under-23s winger Glenn Middleton, with an additional sell-on clause related to his future development.
The 18-year-old will link up once again with Graeme Murty at the Scottish Premiership side, with Murty having coached the youngster at Under-18s level during his time with the Canaries.Middleton didn’t make a senior appearance while with City, but was named among the substitutes for the Emirates FA Cup third round replay at Southampton during the 2016-17 campaign.
I have my doubts, looked like a bang to the mouth to me but I will accept he was hooked following that incident and have no way of proving it was convenient timing.
If Jack Hendry turned up at Ibrox in 6 hours would you bat an eyelid?
We only need a goalie on loan as backup for Dorus so if I were Brendan I wouldn’t be splashing much cash. Pity big John Fallon is away to Philly he would fit the bill nicely ;-)
We need a CH this window if we are going to lose one in the near future.
What happened to the VVD money?
AN TEARMANN on 31ST JANUARY 2018 12:34 PM
HEN1RIK 11.02
a link would have done the job ! you missed out the appeal lol
HH
—————————————————————
Aye, just as well HEN1RIK didn’t send it to the printer – we’re running out of forests ;-)
AT, how are you big mhan? Keeping well I hope.
I was at the Celtic – Dundee match and thought Hendry was excellent. Maybe he’s right back material….
Brendan likes him and that’s good enough for me.
And anyway when we play that middle – front from last night and add Roberts, Armstrong, Rogic and Griff to the mix, who needs defenders :)
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/1700936/celtic-dundee-olivier-ntcham-scottish-premiership/
1:19s into highlights im pretty sure thats number 22 (Jack Hendry) standing like a d!ldo as Olly raps the shot in
SSN continuing the Chinese fakeaway rumour, sad and desperate springs to mind.
SEANP1916
Scores about ten a season if he’s lucky. £6m should just about cover his legal fees for all the serious offences over the last few years.
A thug. Will suit Warnock to a T.
BARNEY67
Aye,but we could end up wi Egg Foo Yong on our face if it’s true.
Barney67 on 31st January 2018 12:48 pm
Sad and desperate is an accurate description of SSN transfer deadline day coverage. They make stories up, report them as news, talk about them all day, then announce the deal’s not going to happen. But then continue to report as news for the next day or so. Talksport are the radio equivelant.
Bobby if its true I’ll show my a…you know the rest ;-)