You get to know those sitting near you at Celtic Park, even if only on nodding terms, but yesterday at Murrayfield, we were mostly sitting among new faces, but despite no previous camaraderie, we found a common bond when we considered Craig Levein’s likely response to his teams heavy defeat.
Hearts were poor, very poor. While Celtic were well below par for half the game, Hearts failed to lay a glove on the champions. Then when Celtic took the lead, the league leaders (for now) could neither muster an attack nor hold a defensive line. Any self-respecting manager would hold his hands up and admit as much, but not our Craig.
“A penalty that never was and we had a good goal chopped off”, was the consensus of how Levein would react, which, turned out to be only partially accurate. How that team are top of the league defies explanation. They were only good at getting in the way of Celtic players and occasionally assaulting them off the ball (pun intended).
Celtic’s indifferent start to the season, and potential for a third consecutive treble, were both on display at Murrayfield. The first half was notable only for its lack of penetrative play. Scott Sinclair, who replaced injured Eboue Kouassi on 26 minutes, produced the only serious attempt at goal during that period. Celtic had lots of the ball but were inhibited going forward.
When Callum McGregor (not best in a wide role) moved to the deep lying playmaker position he is most effective at, in the departure of Eboue Kouassi, Celtic improved. But the real improvement came when Ryan Christie replaced Olivier Ntcham at halftime.
Celtic then had a midfield anchored by McGregor, with Christie, Tom Rogic, James Forrest and Sinclair ahead. Lots of tidy ball-players but without an enforcer. It was a risk, but it worked superbly. We have looked ponderous so often this season. Not every game will be suitable for such an attacking formation, but Celtic were a joy to watch.
Despite playing only 45 minutes, Christie was clear Man of the Match. His dart inside the box 8 minutes after the break won the penalty, then his shot was fumbled by Hearts ‘keeper, Zlamal, to allow James Forrest to make sure, but the third goal, a side foot shot to the top left corner of the goal from 22 yards by Christie, was the highlight of the game.
Celtic could easily have had a penalty in the opening period, when Kieran Tierney was scythed down inside the box after crossing, then Hearts tactic of throwing everything in the way of the ball should have seen another spot kick, when one defender blocked with both arms, but these details were irrelevant as Celtic cut Hearts open at will late in the game. This, despite Craig Levein detecting heavy legs in his opponents.
Well, Craig, we can only wonder what a well-rested Celtic team would do to you.
And it’s Aberdeen in the final again. This is the fifth season they have been the last team to make a contest of leagues and cups against Celtic. They have lost their way this year and the league is weaker as a consequence, but we can take nothing for granted.
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CBB- Laugh loudly at him
BB, pretty close, I smiled and whistled the Celtic Song, his odious twisted little face was a joy to watch!
Madmitch and Chairbhoy ( ages ago )
My opinion FWIW,
Its about players and the quality therein, we have a top coach, his assistants and facilities are as good and better than any of the Red Bull type clubs BR can match any formation, but only with the quality of player, to play whatever system he comes up against.
Someone posted the other night Leipzig have spent in excess of £200M?
Even if we added the all ‘Kenny Dalglish monies’ together we’d never be able to compete properly in these days of ‘hyper inflation’ but we are still and always will be the Scottish Red Bulls, a position hard won and carefully developed with good management since 1994
Spending money is what we’ve done every time since Fergus McCann jousted with his first pick manager on how much we could spend. “ Ask the money man “ © Blessed Burns
All Celtic managers are afforded spend, all are reigned in, at various junctures and analysed after buying all their shopping Brendan Rodgers is no different even if some reckon his pedigree deserves a bigger say .
In Brendan’s case I hope we see January add quality from the market only Celtic can be a Scottish Bundeliga club, because as has been posted I’m sure we’ll have a better insight into his longer term intentions.
Our Murrayfield day trip put two fingers firmly to the Scottish malaise of ‘anybody but Celtic.’ and proved Rodgers and his club still has a mojo that a Red Bull will never have.
30,000 Huddlers CSC
CBB squeeze his haw maws with all your might, apparently it’s just a laugh.
D. :)
CCB.
Ask when the rangers are coming, that annoys the f’k oot them in my local.
Bus trip cancelled again
Colour Blind Bhoy
Ask him If he had a nice weekend?
HH jg
Colour Blind Bhoy on 29th October 2018 5:44 pm
Just wondering if anyone can help … what’s the proper etiquette when you are in M&S at the Fort and you bump into Jimmy Bell :-)
—————————————–
Ask him how his team got on yesterday
KEEP THE FAITH
CBB
Have they not suffered enough??
WITS never?
D. :)
Sorry I messed up my silly joke earlier. It should be, If CockRobin is the answer, what is the question??
What’s that up my bum, Batman.?
KINGLuBO
It’ll be fascinating watching stevie g’s rangers turn into renagers then the smsm turning on him
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 29TH OCTOBER 2018 3:46 PM
AULDHEID,
Read your response to my comment in the previous article.
Karma is indeed just the job.
Can we expect Res 12 be given an airing at the AGM shortly?
============================
I would expect so. Although not on the 2018 AGM papers it has not been since 2014 but an update was provided each AGM.
The SFA have not acted on information supplied by Res12 lawyer in June.
The new Compliance Officer has not come to grips with the issue yet but she has been reminded by Celtic that as a PLC Celtic are accountable to shareholders and the matter will not go away and must be addressed.
For more on what that June letter contained listen to http://etims.net/?p=13509
TONTINE TIM
Was it no the same reason they got rid of Bobby Russell???
HH
Goodbye Stevie g
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a gangsta in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the draws set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Morelos was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Aberdeen created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that stevie was found to be shite
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a…
awenawlivescsc
Will reporting Scotland mention the semi-finals
Just that mclean could face a two match ban, hurting huns?
Starry Plough: Breithlá sona duit.
Thanks for responses to my question re my chance meeting with the horrible man, have been driving and just logged back in, some excellent suggestions.
My whistling really irritated him which in turn just made me whistle louder and louder.
He is even more hun looking close up, I hope I never get that close again.
Bada Bing
If you’re lurking big JR doing the weather ??
Almore – I got a gaeilge question ! WITS answered it for me but i dinnae unnerstan still
from The Gloaming : Samhradh Samhradh
‘Thugamar féin an samhradh linn’ —- we brought the summer
why does it need ‘féin’ ? Doesn’t ‘linn’ cover the ‘with us’ it ?
merci if you have a minute or two spare
Celtic TV is better
Almore
Go raibh maith agat ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
HH
FB- Missed her…….
#pureragin
I really enjoyed my Edinburgh away day yesterday. However I really don’t like our songbook recently. burning people in bonfires. Chants of Orange whatevers and song after song referencing the IRA. We are increasingly reverting to one cheek of the old firm arse!!
QF, you wearing your poppy?
QF :A new generation discovers nationalism – it’s a current you can’t swim against – we still don’t have 32 condae.
btW QF – I don’t sing political songs at CP
CBB
Tell him hes an orange B. That bit is true.
HH
Bada Bing
https://twitter.com/JudithRalston/status/1054715931736322050?s=19
See hi the morra BB :-))
HH
See yi the morra meant
HH
MULLET AND CO 2 on 29TH OCTOBER 2018 1:25 PM
I was most pleased with Scott Bains performance.
I agree .
Said yesterday we are a more complete team with Scott.
If we insist on playing out from the back his distribution is excellent.
He played some excellent balls yesterday .
There was no panic from defenders and he had his head up and chose his targets perfectly.
Good to hear : Andrew Considine: Aberdeen defender out of hospital after neck injury
Danso. You might not have noticed but the songs are divisive among our own support. The number singing the beautiful sunday song is less since the revised words introduced. The most disgusting line in any football song has people up to their knees in blood. burning people in bonfires isn’t much better!! Spoils my enjoyment. And I choose against wearing a poppy!!
STARRY PLOUGH-happy birthday pal,have a good yin ??????
AT- Top man HH
Ivehadto: the ‘féin’ is emphasising the “-amar’/we and ‘linn’/us.
Starry plough
Happy birthday mate.hope life’s good and treating you good
HH