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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* Tim even :-))
Jimmynotpaul, his uncle who works at Northgate is a great guy and big Celtic fan.
Do you think they will ask Graeme Numpty why a player with an £8mil bid in ,is on the bench v Fraserburgh?
Hearing there should be some confirmation from Celtic on business concluded around 22:00.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Big packie, what is the stars, you both have fine taste in dugs, just over 5 years since we lost ours, a magic wee girl!
Very good transfer window in my humble blogpinion.
Feels like the squad has been transformed or at least new options are in
Also watching Chinatown for the first time – brilliant.
Spurs have been really a joy to watch tonight.
Wee Jose stuck on Fellaine(sp) in an effort to get back into the game. 4 minutes later he subbed him, apparently for not carrying out the manager’s instructions!
Still 2 nil for Tottenham.
Paul the Tim has tweeted the Hendry signing will be announced in aboyt an hour
Glasgowbhoy
Would you not consider getting another Westie
Chinatown. Truly fabulous film.
The horrible Paul Paton has just been mutually consented from St J.
Hail Hail
Throughout the month of January the word from Celtic – Brendan and Chris – was that any transfers were with a view to improving the team rather than just inflating the squad with fillers; and therefore blocking the route of any promising youngsters.
Therefore I always believed that it’d just be 1 or 2 significant signings. I regard Compper and Musonda as meeting that criteria. Not forgetting the fact that we haven’t lost a single player from our usual first-pick-squad of 16 or so players.
So a good, if not too busy window.
Wits, I would love to but my work situation has changed making it difficult, I used to pop home and walk her at lunch but that’s not an option with my new job location. One day though, they really are magic fun, we still miss her to this day. Love your westie !
Jimmynotpaul, will sevco go for that nae use nuthin fae naewhere , Paton, that’s the question ? He is their type of player
Is that them coming too then?
Naw, didnae think so.
GLASGOWBHOY I can feel your pain. I’ve lost 5 Westies over the years and a tiny Yorkie. It’s a traumatic time but you never forget them. They are always in your heart . HH.
Just on, not read back. Any word on new faces
noo then, spell check kills many a decent gag.
Coat on and away.
After tonight’s games the standings and points are –
1. Celtic 60
2. Aberdeen 49
3. Rangers* 46
4. Hibs 41
Weekend games: Kilmarnock (7th) v Celtic, Aberdeen v Hamilton (10th) and Rangers* v Hibs.
Don’t discount Hibs for 2nd place!
Big packy, aye you’re so right, they really get to you! Still, that’s what makes it all worthwhile, they are such great fun.
Btw, on the odd occasion I post about fitba, no one notices, if I post about westies on the other hand!
Glasgowbhoy
You have to say something controversial to get noticed.
Like Ronny Out or sell dembele or Rodgers hasn’t a clue.
Don’t mention the heated driveway though
Hello again all you young rebels.
Just watched the Hearts game again, really love the options Brendan
has in team selection and tactics now and when we get our injured
players back his main job will be keeping them all happy.
Celtic were scintillating and i thought Christophe Berra put in a great
shift for them to help keep the score down.
He’s not a player i previously rated as very good but maybe i was
influenced by the fact he turned and clapped all ends of the ground
as the teams lined up at the start, unusual for an opposing player.
Anybody else notice this?
H.H Mick
Chris McLaughlin
BBC Sport Scotland
Paperwork done for [goalkeeper] Scott Bain to Celtic. There seems to be an issue with the Jack Hendry deal though. It was very close earlier but Dundee stalling.
GLASGOWBHOY, keep posting pal, westies are us.ktf.
Gary
Ah……………. the obligatory ” Celtic dither ” ***h
JOBO
Have you let SKY know?
Dallas.
It wouldn’t surprise me.
They appear to be back to a policy of signing Sevconians only.
Gary.
McLaughlin is a clown.
Listen to Lennybhoy and Paul The Tim, they know.
Night all Enjoy.
Hail Hail
Wits, lol! Wits out!
Only kidding, bedtime for bozo though, what happened to the Seville money btw? Shocking!
Till later…
Big packy, cheers mate.
Chris McLaughlin now tweeting
Jack Hendry on his way to #Celtic Park now.
The Chris McLaughlin comment was tweeted/posted on the BBC at 21.02.
We’ve heard differently from Paul the Tim since then.
Who do we believe? A correspondent of many years standing with proper sources and a proven track record, or Chris McLaughlin?
If they’re stalling tell them to GTF. Is he better than what we have???
Fraserburgh v Rainjurz
Match lock-out over ‘counterfeit tickets’ investigated
the banter years CSC
FIELDOF
Good ;-)
https://twitter.com/Dmc1872/status/958790377930182656
Some swerry words but huns used fake tickets tonight and some of the wee lambs were locked oot…:))
Jack Hendry deal appears to be in the balance Dundee appear to be the stumbling block it could go one way or the other. H.H.
Who would win in a fight between 63′ mins Fellaini subbed on and 70′ Fellaini subbed off?
We have signed two players who will be first team picks, so we are stronger, a huge + for me, Scott Bain is a very decent keeper imo and the fact he fell out with the nyaff McAnn is a bonus, another giuh McAnn is taking Hendry from him, who will replace either Boyatta or Jozo, cos both will prob leave in the summer, Jozo def will imo, so getting him in early is good biz.