Celtic progress with worthy win

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Reo Hatate endured a torrid start to the month but what a return to form he enjoyed last night.  In earlier seasons, Reo’s energy levels dipped late in games, but against Young Boys he covered every blade of grass.  After Daizen Maeda’s dismissal, it was Reo who marshalled the left wing, throwing himself at the ball to squeeze the life out of the Swiss attack.

Space and time on the ball is a premium at this level, but players with elite ability can manufacture both.  Reo’s first touch, combined with intelligent use of his body, allowed him to repeatedly settle Celtic into possession.

He did this deliciously with five minutes remaining, before carving open the Young Boys defence with a pass into the path of Adam Idah for the goal.  The goal itself was a lucky break, but you often make your luck.  Reo made ours last night, without his skill, the Young Boys defence would have not have been stressed.

You will wait 20 years before seeing another hattrick of disallowed goals (I have a vague memory of Tommy Johnson being incorrectly penalised like this against Kilmarnock).  Kyogo’s three goals were all correctly disallowed, but seemed an indication that the opener would soon come.

Greg Taylor’s cardio capacity almost came to the rescue, when he hit the byline inside the box and crossed, while being dragged to the ground by the neck.  Arne Engels’ attempt from the penalty spot was poor.  If you stagger your run as Arne did, you are in trouble if the keeper is not already on his way down.  The resultant shot had no momentum from the run-up, allowing the keeper time to read it.

Keller in the Young Boys goal had an outstanding game, although there was a ‘saveable’ element to each of his seven shots stopped.  His final act of heroism, getting a foot out to stop Adam Idah, became a short pass to the onrushing defender Benito, who could do nothing but bundle the ball into his own net.  The cheers at Celtic Park were loud, matched only by the sound of television channels being changed in unison across large parts of the country.

Unlike the first, the second half lacked chances (we will come onto this in a moment).  Maeda came close early in the period, while Kasper Schmeichel made a tremendous double save to stop Young Boys taking the lead.

The late goal should have seen Celtic close the game out comfortably.  Instead, Maeda’s temperament led him to retaliate.  The red card which followed will cost us one of our truly Champions League-class players in Birmingham next week.

Young Boys halted Celtic’s relentless first half procession at the start of the second period when they figured out they needed to deny Callum McGregor space.  Callum was imperious in the first half.  The key to Celtic’s play is finding angles to make simple forward passed into.  Callum was able to make and (more importantly) receive these passes, which repeatedly triggered an attack.

Modern football increasingly resembles a chess board.  Everyone who can receive a pass is covered, to progress the ball, you need motion and an understanding of how to create an angle where the recipient can move into to receive a pass.

Celtic did this terribly at Ibrox this month and were vastly better last night.  Remember also how often Taylor and Johnston passed the ball along the line into empty space, knowing it would be met by a Celtic jersey.  Our success as a football team is all about how we move the ball forward.  I don’t think we are the finished article, but you can see what the coaches have been working on since 3 January.

Young Boys remain rooted to the bottom of the table and are ninth in the Swiss league but still managed to give us a proper game last night.  This demonstrates the gap between most of our domestic opponents and even the Swiss league.  It is difficult to live week-to-week in one environment and then step up to a vastly higher level.

We will have at least 10 Champions League games this season and five against Newco; each match a genuine test.  Other games are of little developmental value.

An interesting aside: five clubs are currently on 12 points, each of them a past winner: Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus, Celtic.

Congratulations to Celtic on progressing to the next stage.

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  1. bournesouprecipe on

    Amazing what a bit of prudent spending, and tier one management can do, sitting equal with Bayern, Real Madrid, Juventus, Dortmund, Brendan Rodgers has delivered his remit, in spades. Dermot Desmond purrs as Celtic get wealthier season by season in a world that now gets you £2M for a richly deserved Angus. The irony of a Brendan ‘upgrade’ being interviewed on TV by his expert predecessor, takes poignancy to a whole new level.

     

     

    Careful choice and a top modern strategy is key whilst players are being quietly whittled away BR’s window needs a top up, with two or three better than in January’s, when Timo Weah and Ollie Burke once breezed in and once breezed out. Who knows what deals are being done, but with Celtic now apparently serious about Europe, it’s inconceivable they’d sell a talisman without his replacement isn’t it? come 3rd of February we need to be treble strong, we have the resource let’s grow it.

     

     

    Three points job done, Celtic tired physically, and even more mentally after pure intensity was thwarted by inches. Arne Engels had a good game until his penalty stall, CalMac was in a different league along with Hatate’s subliminal gear clicking ‘take and pass’ in one, that set up the winning goal. A second half that provided fewer than normal chances at the Celtic end nearly faded out, now forget Birmingham, till we’ve properly dealt with Dundee.

  2. Good summary Paul.

     

     

    I’d take this one of your points to task tho;… “Instead, Maeda’s temperament led him to retaliate.”

     

     

    Daizen’s temperament is overwhelmingly impeccable.

     

     

    His temper, however, was understandably frayed from the general rough-housing he’d endured from several Swiss defenders and inexplicably indulged by ref Rohit Saggi (which is Norwegian for ‘Don Robertson’). For the ref to only see Daizen’s flick at the academy award actor belied the provocation he’d endured seconds before.

     

     

    THEREALYOUNGBHOYS CSC

  3. Do we not call for foreign refs after every domestic game ?

     

     

    Maeda is a professional. He let himself, the club and the fans down.

     

    It was stupid, nomatter the provocation. It is not the first time in the European arena he has been stupid.

     

     

    We will undoubtedly miss him in Birmingham.

     

     

    HH.

  4. garygillespieshamstring on

    Does Kieran Tierney’s 15 minute cameo appearance last night mean that he is cup tied for the play off phase in the event of him moving to Celtic in the January window?

  5. Maeda was at fault for his red card, no doubt provoked and certainly not protected by a terrible ref, nonetheless, the team are more important than retaliation. Still love the guy though.

     

    Likewise Kuhn getting a stupid yellow card early in the game.

     

    That said, we were denied a penalty for a push on Maeda, no yellow for pullback on Taylor for the penalty and Young Boys got away with countless fouls throughout the 90 minutes.

     

    To repeat what I said last night, McGregor was outstanding, a great Celt.

  6. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    Young Boys became ever more reliant on the “dark arts” in the second half.

     

     

    Some of their antics were embarrassing.

  7. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    Champions League progression at last! Shows what can be achieved with a bit of ambition. Well done to all.

     

    Now to show some more ambition and build on the success. Badly needed a winger – need one even more now. Get it done!

  8. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    Re. the ref.

     

     

    I’d have him over most who officiate our games in Scotland.

     

     

    He was pish for sure, but that’s preferable to being pish and a cheat.

  9. Good afternoon from a rainy North Staffs.

     

    It’s all about the result- it was definitely squeaky bum time when we scored. So well done to Brendan and bhoys for staying the distance.

     

     

    One of my sons is going to old Trafford tonight for a bit of hospitality. However he has had to join the MU supporters club as there’s additional security.

     

    Apparently there’s 15,000 huns with 3,000 tickets, so ‘there may be trouble ahead.’

  10. garygillespieshamstring on

    Good aspect of the officiating was the explanations of the VAR decisions on the big screen.

     

     

    Interesting that certain Scottish pundits ( or hun dots maybe) were happy to justify the decision to disallow the goal for the foul by Callum in the build up to the goal were the same people who were griping when the hun had a goal disallowed for a foul on lasgerbielke in a similar situation.

  11. garygillespieshamstring on

    I hope there are no issues with any televisions in the Manchester area today.

     

     

    We know how this might provoke a bad reaction from their visitors.

  12. bigrailroadblues on

    Gene

     

    As usual Blackpool is infested with rancid hun. Their racism and stupidity is even more obvious here. Bus loads setting off early this morning, pished and fighting with each other. Police will remember them well.

  13. Still on cloud 9 after a brilliant result and a special mention to the supporters who helped us win last night.

     

     

     

    On hearing and now reading of the news regarding a potential very possible departure of Kyogo.

     

     

    If true and Jota was to return we could be the real winner in this deal I feel.

     

     

     

    Hail Hall

  14. Bhoy From The Boyne on

    Gutted for my young lad that his hero Kyogo is supposibly leaving and for myself too tbh.

     

     

    Henrik vibes….

  15. Maeda was fouled twice in the incident where he was sent off, not given as many fouls weren’t by the referee who had a poor game, the standside linesman also failed to see an offside in one of their attempts which led to a corner conceded by Al Johnson, he had no such issues with our offsides, delighted to qualify for the playoff round, an Atalanta style performance in Birmingham, or lets just go for it? The pitch at Villa Park is fantastic unlike ours.

  16. !!Bada Bing!! on 23rd January 2025 1:32 pm

     

    Embdae know Ryanair policy on a cancelled flight due to bad weather

     

    ——-

     

     

    Yes you have to pay £50 surcharge for your flight being cancelled

  17. I thought the ref was poor… he seemed to do nothing about the YB players wasting time. He let players get away with multiple fouls without any warning. Just a poor ref rather than biased.

  18. I’ll be sad to see wee Kyogo go but the prospect of his departure reminded me of this video which was doing the rounds a few years back –

     

    https://youtu.be/dGo_1iwizPA?feature=shared

     

    It shows a few of Daezen’s Yokohama goals , mainly from central areas , as a result if good crosses from wide areas .

  19. Quadrophenian at 11.23 am

     

    Simile of the season –

     

    “As cute as a basket of puppies” 🤪

  20. yorkbhoy- VG,due to fly from Edinburgh tomorrow, looking doubtful, website written by lawyers with HR degrees

  21. If KYOGO is away, then I am very saddened Today ?

     

     

    The wee man was/is a supreme Hunskelper and I shall certainly miss him playing for The Hoops.

     

     

    Thanks for the memories KYOGO FURAHASHI.

     

     

    HH.

  22. boondock saint on

    What a brilliant result last night. Great job Players, coaches and the fans. Bhoys played some wonderful stuff that first half, was always going to be very difficult to keep that up for the majority of the game. If true, and Kyogo is going, then what a way for the wee mhan to leave. he has been brilliant from the getgo. His passion, runs off the ball. determination, has been the best I have seen since Henrik. We did not know what we were getting that first season, but wow have we been fortunate to watch a player like that. Thanks Kyogo.

     

    special mention for CalMac. He was excellent last night. read many a negative about our Captain over the last few weeks but form is temporary, class is permanent. That guy is going to be difficult to replace in the future, not just for his performances, but the way he represents our club on and off the field.

     

    Hail Hail my friends.

     

    Sean

  23. Well done to everyone; Brendan the team, the club and the support. We stumbled over the line a bit last night against a poor team but over 8 games results are what matter.

     

     

    I thought the midfield was excellent, Arne’s passing in the first half showed what a good footballer he is, Calmac and Reo superb.

  24. borgo67 on 23rd January 2025 2:03 pm

     

    SFA have had a bid rejected for the stand side linesman.

     

     

    Any idea how much the bid was worth?

  25. !!Bada Bing!! on 23rd January 2025 1:32 pm

     

     

     

     

    Embdae know Ryanair policy on a cancelled flight due to bad weather

     

     

     

     

    ——-

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Yes you have to pay £50 surcharge for your flight being cancelled

     

     

    —————————

     

     

    NO REFUNDS, rYANAIR WILL PUT ON A REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE/

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