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Celtic change front, middle and wings

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  1. Seánp1916 on

    BMCUW

     

     

    Agreed, horrible C*** Warnock is. Always expected he would end up at Ibrox one day.

     

     

    That transfer does put some perspective on the constant drone of noise for Celtic to spend money though. No wonder they are reluctant if £6m gets you Gary Fluffing Madine!!!!!

  4. Seánp1916 on

    Going by the names we have been “linked with” I think that is the plan Barney. You could not imagine Martinez, Carson or Bain coming in and being First choice.

  9. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    !BADABING!

     

     

    Blinkin’ flip,the pies must be good in Dundee!

  11. RobertTressell on

    These Chinese fellas need to get a move in if Morelos is going to make it to his medical in Beijing or wherever it is these made up people will be (not really) jetting him in to following their (non existent) swoop for the ‘starlet’.

     

     

    I see sky now reporting an £8 million bid. There really is no telling how high these made up offers could go. And it’s impossible to say how low journalistic standards may yet sink by the end of the day.

  12. South Of Tunis on

    WHITEDOGHUNCH

     

     

    You are welcome .

     

     

    She says she will give drinking in Padova some thought and offer her opinion

  13. dessybhoy on

    Another thing about the fake move for the sevco player China is 8 hrs ahead of us, when does their window close, not that I’m thinking this is serious at all, they will be in Fraserburgh in the cold snow and sleet, getting their 80k from Sky TV, only thing in their midden will be mice.

  14. Barney67 on

    LEFTCLICKTIC on 31ST JANUARY 2018 12:58 PM

     

    Four years since Leigh Griffiths joined us 96 goals in 175 games.

     

     

    Is it really 4 years? Wow, life really is zooming by. Feels like 2.

  16. South Of Tunis on

    WHITEDOGHUNCH .

     

     

    One more eating in central Padova from Mrs S Of T —

     

     

    Belle Parti -Via Belle Parti ..

     

     

    She says very good — @ 75 euros a head

  18. starry plough on

    DESSYBHOY

     

     

    A quick google shows their window shuts on 28th of February by which time Morelos should be worth a world record 500,000£ Timmy that’s one pound per Sevco fan worldwide © Chazza Green:)))

  19. Jobo Baldie on

    I read somewhere (probably on here!) that the Chinese transfer window remains open until Feb 28th. By which time we’ll be hearing that the bid’s now approaching £30M. Unless, of course, a Championship club were to but about £1.5M today…….

     

    This involves the club that couldn’t afford a £300,000 first instalment for a permanent transfer and is yet refusing millions for one of their players. I mean, really?

  21. Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles on

    Yesterday the team being touted was Guangzhou but today it is Beijing Renhe. Here’s a wee connection:

     

     

    On 15 February 2016, Jelavić transferred to China League One side Beijing Renhe.[45]

     

     

    Guizhou Zhicheng

     

    In February 2017, Jelavić loaned to Guizhou Zhicheng on a one-year loan deal.[46] He made a permanent transfer to Guizhou Zhicheng on 4 December 2017.[47]

  23. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    If Morelos does sign for a Chinese club,or anyone else,the SMSM will report the price as being whatever the hell Traynor tells them.

     

     

    Just watch.

     

     

    Then try to find it in the accounts later.

  25. fan-a-tic on

    Strange that people are so against the possibility that Jack Hendry will be signed.

     

    Is it that he’s Scottish or relatively cheap so reinforces the biscuit tin mentality?

     

    The signing of Compper to me seems to be part of a strategy.

     

    Boyata has 18 months i believe and showing no signs of extending and Jozo is an unanswered question due to fitness and rumoured to be wanting away..

     

    Signing a guy with potential is easier with the experience and guidance Compper can provide.

     

    I noticed Hendry in games against us and thought he was good.

     

    To me the signing makes sense from a financial and strategic viewpoint.

  33. Gary67 on

    Sevco trying to sign Oli McBurney on loan (what else) from Swansea. Striker, so probably will replace Morelos once Hong Kong Phooey Rovers bid the required £10m.

  35. Seánp1916 on

    FAN-A-TIC on 31ST JANUARY 2018 1:39 PM

     

    Strange that people are so against the possibility that Jack Hendry will be signed.

     

     

     

     

    Is it that he’s Scottish or relatively cheap so reinforces the biscuit tin mentality?

     

     

    ——————————-

     

     

    No its because he isn’t very good. He is at best a strong boy who can head the ball in both boxes. He also gives away a SHED of needless rash fouls. A Decent Dundee player maybe. A Celtic player not for me.

     

    I asked the question earlier would anyone bat an eyelid if he turned up at Ibrox before the window closed?

     

     

    Answer – No?

     

     

    Why- See above BANG AVERAGE

  36. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    TIMHORTON

     

     

    True,and it’s not too Forfar out the way to get some good ones.

     

     

    GetmacoatCSC

  38. 50 shades of green on

    I dont know why you lot are awe laughing about Alfredo going to China.

     

     

    I think he would be a big player in the Chinese league. ;-)

     

     

    H.H………

     

     

     

    We signed anyone today yet????

  40. whitedoghunch on

    SOT

     

    cheers and drinking thoughts would be helpful as they are leaving the wee ones at home for this trip.

     

    xie xie

     

    or is it do xie, depends which Province ?

  41. Davidopoulos on

    So the L5 thought process is:

     

     

    say a Chinese club is offering megabucks….say it is one of the Guangzhou teams.

     

     

    Oh, no we’re busted – both those teams already have their quoto of non-Chinese players.

     

     

    Ok, say it’s Beijing Renhe, they only have 3 foreigners on their books.

     

     

     

     

    Hmmmm, the same Beijing Renhe who are in talks to sign Augusto Fernandez from Atletico Madrid, who would then be their 4th non-Chinese player???

  42. Gary67 on

    If Scott Allan goes to Hibs, there must be a chance that we’ll loan Jack Hendry back to Dundee until the end of the season, similar to what we’ve done with Lewis Morgan and St Mirren.

     

    Looking like Jozo and Dedryck will be staying until the summer (Dedryck always was) so we have 4 centre halfs already in the squad.

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