Celtic get passing rhythm right

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Hearts manager Neil Critchley had clearly watched Celtic’s home defeat two weeks earlier.  The visitors pressed Celtic from kick-off, unsettling the champions.  There was even a repeat of an early corner kick drama.  Again the Celtic defence failed to attack the ball and a chance fell to Lewis Neilson.  If anything, the Hearts player was too close to goal, as Viljami Sinisalo’s frame on the line blocked his route to goal.

Celtic got off the hook on that occasion but the game was soon to turn their way.  Jeffrey Schlupp took a pass from Maik Nawrocki and moved the ball on with his first touch to Callum McGregor, who was already on the move.  McGregor controlled the ball before playing a delicious pass around the Hearts defence and into the path of Daizen Maeda, who slid his shot past Craig Gordon in the Hearts goal.

Whatever intentions Hearts arrived in Glasgow with were then undermined.  Having split them open once, Celtic were able to again.  Midway through the opening half, Nicolas Kuhn cut inside and chipped for Maeda, whose timed run caught the Hearts defence stationary.  Jota finishing the rebound off the post was another example of moving attackers meeting stationary defenders.

The first two goals came from the wings but the third, through the middle, was a text book example of crisp and fast passing.  Nawrocki took out four Hearts players with his forward pass to Arne Engels, who nudged the ball into the path of Reo Hatate.  When Reo poked the ball on to Kuhn the entire stadium knew the third goal was on the way.

With their gameplan in ruins, Hearts retreated to a defensive block for the second period.  They needed to take that early chance from a corner kick. The champions are not flawless, but if you pass up chances, you are likely to leave with a defeat.

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  1. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    Good to be back to winning ways, clean sheet and some pretty impressive attacking moves.

     

    Great to see the captain back, even if – according to some – we didn’t miss him in the previous game.

  2. bournesouprecipe on

    Great to see the captain back, even if – according to some – we didn’t miss him in the previous game.

     

     

    ——————————

     

     

    Yip, read that nonsense on here.

  3. The BBC on Maeda:

     

     

    “Other clubs will undoubtedly be taking note. The question has to be, what sort of offers might Celtic get for their star man come the summer?”

     

     

    That was their comment on DM in their Team of the Week selection.

     

    ie He`s good, he plays for Celtic; let`s start the `He`s off ` stories.

  4. Daizen Maeda is having an excellent season but, just as Broonie always was in the past, Calmac is our player of the year AGAIN.

  5. Maeda will reach peak value this summer. The ‘model’ will see him go if our valuation is met. I hope we keep him.

  6. The best chance Hearts had was from a Wilson header who had wandered into space just beyond the back post and found acres of space, he should have scored.

  7. Hopefully the offer we make to Daizen keeps him here for the next 4 years, two players in one he is, vital to how we play and has incredible cardio pulmonary output.

  8. garygillespieshamstring on

    BRRB

     

     

    If they are ever coming, you will smell them before you see them.

  9. Our attacking front trio…

     

    Jota – Maeda – Kuhn

     

    All players developed elsewhere, ie outwith the environs of Celtic Park

     

    Strange but true……

  10. I thought that Celtic defenders and goalkeeper deserve credit for keeping for keeping a clean sheet particularly the first 15 mins.

     

     

    We then hit them on the break and 3-0 at half time was a fair reflection.

     

     

    I thought Hearts defended in depth in the 2nd half but also we coasted with a 3 goal cushion. CCV particularly slowed play up and with McGregor controlled the tempo. Hearts also took their time with delayed goal kicks and throw ins. Running the clock down at 3-0 behind

     

     

    We could have scored more but with a gubbed Hearts team there was no need. The substitution of 5 players for once didnt give the team a lift. It was good to see Forrest and Bernardo back playing.

     

     

    I hope we can get this won before the split as due to early start of 25/26 Champions League play of 19/20 August, we need to be up to full speed. SPFL starts 2/3 August. Cork pre season game is 8th July. With this seasons Cup final 24th May, I reckon we will need to start pre season end of June. Only 4 weeks maximum for some with Internationals in early June. We need to get some players on leave before Cup Final

  11. We need to get some players on leave before Cup Final

     

     

    no, no no.

     

     

    we need to win handsomely between now and then breaking league scoring and goal difference records, and getting to the cup final with our best team, no slacking off.

  12. 29 March 2025 Celtic 3–0 Heart of Midlothian Glasgow

     

    15:00 GMT Maeda 17′, 41′

     

    Jota 24′ Report Stadium: Celtic Park

     

    Attendance: 59,062

     

     

     

    ——————

     

     

    59,062, but how many thousands of empty seats were there really ?

     

     

    At 3-0 halftime how many more left to go to the pub ?

     

     

    Did a fire alarm go off at 75 minutes ? why the mass exodus ?

     

     

    The ground was less than half full as we went into the injury time.

     

     

    Maybe people need to leave early to get home in time to watch it on sportscene.

  13. Celtic Mac on 31st March 2025 1:03 pm

     

    Our attacking front trio…

     

     

    Jota – Maeda – Kuhn

     

     

    All players developed elsewhere, ie outwith the environs of Celtic Park

     

    Strange but true……

     

     

    ≈==============

     

    But all IMPROVED within the environs of Celtic Park thanks to the management TEAM

  14. bournesouprecipe on 31st March 2025 12:40 pm

     

    Real Madrid won’t give up with £30M Igamane bid.

     

    Daily Rainjur

     

     

    _____________________________________________________

     

     

    I assume that’s 30m Turkish lira?

  15. fess19

     

     

    True, but all meet my criteria when signing players….

     

    Does it look like they might have played the game before?

     

    Or as wee Bertie might have put it; “Aye but can they play?”

     

    Sadly too many of Paul67’s “development” players have failed to provide a positive response to that question.

     

    And so it goes….

  16. SS

     

    We don’t live in North Korea – it may be disappointing but people are free to attend or not and to stay or not.

  17. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Public transport around Celtic Park is non existent, a cycle lane the length of London Rd,Dalmarnock Train station about half a mile away,will be a factor in folk leaving early

  18. a booking fee for a digital ticket. hampden itself doesnt add a booking fee, greedy greedy plc. what actual costs are incurred by celtin when the process is online ?

     

     

    —————————————

     

     

    Scottish Cup semi-final tickets on sale now to STH

     

    Tickets

     

     

    By Celtic Football Club

     

     

    Share

     

     

    28 Mar 2025, 10:05 am

     

    Tickets for the Scottish Cup semi-final are on sale now, exclusively to Season Ticket holders on the Home Cup Ticket Scheme.

     

     

    The Hoops will take on St Johnstone at Hampden on Sunday, April 20, kicking off at 3pm. Brendan and the Bhoys are looking to secure their place in the final and retain the trophy once again, so make sure you’re there to cheer them on to the finish line!

     

     

    The deadline to purchase tickets is 2pm on Wednesday, April 2.

     

     

    TICKET PRICES*

     

    North/South stands – £40 for adults/£20 for concessions

     

    East/West stands – £30 for adults/£15 for concessions

     

    Concession tickets are available for under 16s and over 65s. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

     

     

    *Booking fee of £1.50 per ticket applies.

     

     

    BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW

     

     

    Don’t miss the chance to be there and back the team at Hampden – secure a seat online today!

     

     

    FURTHER INFORMATION

     

    All tickets for this match will be digital. No paper tickets will be available. Tickets will be distributed via the Hampden Park App.

     

     

    Season Ticket holders will receive instructions via email on how to download the Hampden app and access your ticket(s) closer to the match.

     

     

    Instructions will be sent to each individual Season Ticket holder via the email address registered with the Ticket Office.

     

     

    BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW

     

     

    Tickets will appear in the Hampden Park App approximately seven days prior to the match and QR codes will appear in the app on the morning of the match.

     

     

    All Season Ticket holders must have an email address registered against their season ticket to attend this match.

     

     

    Season Ticket holders who have not yet registered an email address with the Ticket Office must do so online.

     

     

    If you are new to buying tickets online, you can use this handy guide:

     

     

    ONLINE TICKETING GUIDE

     

     

    Season Ticket holders should download the Hampden Park app using the email address registered with the Ticket Office.

     

     

    Please be aware that all tickets for the Scottish Cup Semi-Final match against St Johnstone on 20 April 2025 will be in digital format. To provide you with digital match tickets for this match, we are required to share your personal data with the Scottish Football Association (SFA). Your personal data will only be shared to allow the digital tickets to be issued. We take supporters’ privacy seriously and you can find full details on how we will use your details within our Privacy Policy. Please see the SFA’s Privacy Policy for full details on how they will use your details.

  19. Saint Stivs

     

    Why wouldn’t the fans leave early ,the players switched off in the second half ,obviously they also thought the game was finished HH

  20. Gene on 31st March 2025 2:07 pm

     

    SS

     

     

     

     

    We don’t live in North Korea – it may be disappointing but people are free to attend or not and to stay or not.

     

     

    ———————-

     

     

    the day will come when mansatory attendance will be a term for purchasing a ticket.

     

     

    the empty stands before the end of a match is enbarrasing.

  21. fanadpatriot on 31st March 2025 2:14 pm

     

    Saint Stivs

     

     

     

     

    Why wouldn’t the fans leave early ,the players switched off in the second half ,obviously they also thought the game was finished HH

     

     

    —————–

     

     

    or the players switched off brcause when the looked up at the stands peoplewere allready leaving.

     

     

    must be disheartening.

     

     

    celtic supporters what are they like eh.

  22. SS

     

    If it becomes mandatory then fans will be able to decide whether to purchase a ticket or not – until then ………

  23. Killie game , easter sunday, 12:30 kick off. probably , hoprfully the day we win the league.

     

     

    SOLD OUT

     

     

    apart from illness what possible reasons would a season card holder have for not attending that fixture ?

  24. SS

     

    Easter Sunday is a special day for some families to get together- it certainly is in mine

  25. spikeysauldman on

    st stivs

     

     

    the game on easter sunday is at hampden

     

    season tickets wont get you in :)

     

     

    the kilmarnock game is the week before

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