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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325 Comments

  1. KINGLUBO on 23rd January 2025 7:22 pm

     

    Jackiemac

     

     

    I mean, apart from decent music just what has the US given the world exactly

     

     

    …………….

     

     

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?

  2. Jota for Kyogo is good business.

     

     

    Getting £50 million worth of talent in KT and Jota is to be welcomed, both still at a good age with years ahead of them.

  3. KINGLUBO on 23rd January 2025 7:22 pm

     

     

     

     

    Jackiemac

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I mean, apart from decent music just what has the US given the world exactly

     

     

    Freedom fries?

  4. Very interesting from Burnley and ONIL re Maeda through the middle

     

    Hadn’t thought of that

     

    Could be a stroke of genius

     

    Are managers plans flexible enough to accommodate?

  5. Belgian referee with a team with a Belgian coach dodgy, just chalked off a goal for hell knows.

  6. Consider: if Celtic wanted rid of Kyogo, would he have been first choice right up to last night?

     

     

    The guy probably wanted to taste somewhere else other than Scotland in Europe before returning eventually to Japan. He’s thirty and has only one career – all Celtic fans wish him well.’

     

     

    If all other ‘gossip’ on transfers is correct, then we must say that Celtic are looking very nimble in the market. Bernabei money and CL qualification bonus could buy us a new striker. Lots to be opTimistic about HH

  7. Jimtim.

     

    No it is not but still should be good enough to beat that shower. United seconds are mince also.

  8. Mibby Kyogo feels he’s achieved all he can in his Celtic project?

     

    But IMO it’s more likely to be a case of follow the money.

     

    Players typically get a ‘cut’ of every big transfer fee I heard, and his new agent will be gagging to cash in on their commission for selling a player. A 10% cut makes him an instant millionaire as he ages in fitba terms.

     

    So; giving up Champs League thrills for a Ligue Un dogfight isn’t for everyone.

     

    But Rennes – with its Brittany charm and River Vilaine – looks like a cute toon too.

     

     

    Not sure I think Jota is currently worth 10mill out tho; I was hoping for a fee around 5m.

  9. World Cup 2026 his last chance, maybe he hopes that if he impresses in a top 5 league he has a better chance of being called up.

  10. Rangers always seem to get decisions in Europe that we would NEVER get. They are playing the B team of the worst united team in history :)

     

     

    On Kyogo, I love the wee man but at 30 , 10m is great value and return. I also think we can improve on that position. Too many times Kyogo loses the ball at his feet and gets frantic when in possession with time to think. Brilliant movement and finishing in the box – we can buy a player who can do all of that hopefully.

     

     

    Jota and Tierney love celtic and add class talent and leadership

  11. glendalystonsils on

    Butland punches corner into his own goal very like the one he conceded v Hibs . No Scottish referee to bail him out this time though

  12. Ooh my aching sides!

     

     

    Share

     

    goal

     

    GOAL Manchester United 1-0 Rangers

     

    published at 52 mins

     

    52 mins

     

    Jack Butland O.G

     

    A shocker for the Rangers goalkeeper as he punches a corner straight into his own net.

     

     

    😳

     

    😂😂😂😂😂