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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Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Frank McGarvey at The Penalty Spot in Glasgow.
Frank discusses his time at Liverpool, signing for Celtic, his admiration for Jock Stein, his partnership with Charlie Nicholas, the 1985 Scottish Cup final, why this was his final appearance in the hoops, and Love Street 1986.
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Hiv the Broch scored yit?
Dont be upsetting Big Packy
Has he not suffered enough
I love seeing mouriniho’s face tripping him.
So…….as dry January comes to an end, you’ll find me taking 2 or 3 bottles of your finest Corona from the fridge at 11.55pm in readiness of kicking off wet February at 12.00 midnight on the button………hoorah
All together now…….Kristofer Ajer….ra ta ta ta ta
:)))))))))
Hibs 2 up
BARNEY67 ,no but im fed up with sevco talk if im the only one on here i apologise.hh.
31003
https://youtu.be/ARfARi-gpWc
Big Packy,
there are a hundred and one things talked about on this blog,
one of them being sevco,
scroll by the posts you dont like and comment on things you want to,
would be a mighty boring blog if we only spoke about Celtic
WHAT IS THE STARS, hope your not getting me mixed up with another packy.
BP…………..am behind you 100% buddy
You cin call buddy……….. call me …..////
What’s the latest with Dundee centre half it went a bit quite
Big Packy
No.
Not mixing you up with any one
How are the westies (Frankie and Johnny)
GORDYBHOY64 take your point but how many times has the rainjurs/sevco been mentioned on here ffs they hate us.hh.
” Jones own goal was a bad technical decision ”
Glen Hoddle
WHAT IS THE STARS, how are you pal, the westies frankie and benny are fine thanks for asking.hh.
Wits
Cheers for that…..haven’t heard it for years……some voice that lassie….mm..mm..mm
BIG PACKY
No worries mate, I agree, they are a new team but different shit same flies. I’d rather talk about us anytime. HH
31003
It brings me back to my mis spent youth.
DENNYTIM on 31ST JANUARY 2018 8:54 PM
What’s the latest with Dundee centre half it went a bit quite.
DennyTim.
PaultheTim has just tweeted saying deal is done will be confirmed in next hour.
Hail Hail
BARNEY67, great minds think alike hh.
Has anyone ever seen big packy an big Jimmy n the same room. ;-)
Big Packy
Sorry Frankie and Benny
My little westie (Angel) sitting beside me on the couch.
Lovely dogs the Westie
Jimmynotpaul, another relation, Conor Shields, of a Northgate employee has joined Sunderland from Albion Rovers.
Another Celtic fan to keep young Mr Connelly company.
What is the stars
Wee visit to Ayr today……..only a couple of hundred peeps there. [9 bookies]
But we had a wee touch on Ian Jardine’s horse which made the day
A trainer worth the watchin.
Mea Culpa
The Delray Munky
Won easily. Believe it or not just watching the replay now on racing uk
Dallas.
Excellent stuff.
I wish him well.
Hail Hail
WHAT IS THE STARS, hope angel is fine cant beat a westie.hh.
Jimmynotpaul
Cheers for information
Hope scunner McCann didn’t get all the money he wanted . I wouldn,t have went back with another offer . Having seen the boy on a few occasions , what we offered at first for him ,seemed fair to me . Not a stick out of a player for me . But just my opinion
Yip
The malt was flowing………and the animal loved the heavy going.
Makes up for all the disappointments of lameness and bouts of colic.
Slainte.
‘Hendry in Parkers’
Paul the Tim in the Car Park
Mea Culpa
Good man
Lovely price also
ARSENAL……….MANAGER WANTED………………………………
CHELSEA……….MANAGER WANTED…………………………………..
will BRE be linked to both.or will Ally get one and WARBS the other.
What is the stars
We were also told to punt one of Joseph O’ B’s at Chelmsford…….bummer!
Mind you ……..it did not spoil my day……..love tonkin the books!
” If we accept a bid from a Chinese club it must be 100% up front as these clubs have
previous for not paying up ”
Louden the Bear
Pogba subbed.
£92,000,000 well spent.
Celtic transfer business can never be relied on until confirmed by Paul The Yim.