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Celtic subjugate Ibrox

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

The manager got the big calls right. Moussa Dembele’s form has shaded recently, while Leigh Griffiths has been scoring freely, so the latter was the form horse. Not only did Moussa score the equaliser, Newco found it impossible to deal with him throughout.

His circumference of control with the ball at his feet is considerable. I’m not going to burden him with the ‘new Dalglish’ tag, but that ability to shield the ball in tight areas takes me back to my early days watching Celtic. Kenny did this to great effect, creating space for others as he used his strength and close-control to create havoc.

Kenny Millar’s opening goal had been in the post from the first minute as Newco pressurised Celtic off their game. They were the team forcing mistakes of nervous looking defenders (I’m looking at you, Erik). Celtic just didn’t get going early on as the home team controlled midfield with Barrie McKay in particular causing problems.

The turning point came around the time Scott Brown picked up his yellow card (deservedly). It was a typically-calculated Brown intervention.

Moussa’s goal was quite unbelievable. The corner came from a breakaway chance when Scott Sinclair seemed to lose the opportunity by standing on the ball, but recovered to run at the Newco defence before firing a shot which was deflected onto the inside of the post before being knocked behind by a defender for a corner.

Dembele was standing 8 yards out when a high corner fell to his feet. Unchallenged. The ball bounced head-height but Moussa still had time to wait on it falling before finishing into the top corner.

Danny Wilson was marking him when the corner was taken but for reasons all too evident to those who have followed the player’s recent form, he left Celtic’s striker to challenge players already marked. It was an unfathomable mistake.

From that moment on, there was only going to be one result. Celtic should have gone ahead three times in the opening nine minutes of the second half. Their passing was now crisp and fast. Sinclair and Armstrong’s movement made defenders look statuesque.

One stat I’d like to see is the number of touches we had inside the opposition box. We spent a lot of time in there, pinging tight passes, which opened up the home defence. Dembele, Forrest, Sinclair and Armstrong should all have added to the score but Foderingham made himself big throughout and stopped the result from being as embarrassing as the performance.

Forrest made way for Patrick Roberts, who, at his first involvement, released Armstrong with a reverse pass into the box. Celtic had been in this position many times in the minutes beforehand. Their format was to cut the ball back, which is what we were all expecting Armstrong to do, but he released the ball a fraction of a second early across the face of goal for Sinclair to side-foot into the net at the far post.

Craig Gordon had a few comfortable saves, which he dealt with assuredly. Sviatchenko made up for two early poor touches by making the tackle of the game to deny Forrester. Emilio Izaguirre put in his best 45 minutes of the season in the second half; he looked like the player who arrived six years ago.

Mikael Lustig sprinted 40 yards across field to cut-out a breakaway inside the box. Big Jozo Simunovic must be wondering when kick-off is, he didn’t break sweat.

Off-piste mention to Leigh Griffiths, who was warming up behind the goal when the guy who kept him out the team picked himself up off the turf after a fruitless effort. Leigh stepped forward and patted his team-competitor on the back three times while shouting encouragement.

Great team-mates make great teams.

Have a Happy New Year, everyone.

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  2. ABZMike on

    Happy New Year all. May 2017 bring you all health, happiness and comfort. And here’s hoping for success on and off the field for Celtic FC.

     

     

    Like at least one other here I see getting married this year… eeek!

  3. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    JMCCORMICK on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 10:08 PM

     

     

    Time for me to hit the hay. Been a strange day, Hogmanay has been that way for me for years. Need to be up early as I am on taxi duty then cook the lhad his hangover cure breakfast.

     

     

    Daft as it seems I may even do a 5k before Mass and then cook the steak pie. I am nothing if not a creature of habit.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

    Did you not say that anyone could cook a steak pie? My sis is on yer pastrycase for that,btw. Her piece de resistance,and I’ve missed out on it for 15 years. As for doing a 5k run-stroll,stagger on NYD,have a day off.

     

     

    Get something out the freezer,give the missus instructions on how to work the micro,gaun oot and let yer hair down.

     

     

    Makes sense to me,etc…

  4. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    ACEILERGONOFRUST

     

     

    You not been invited?

     

     

    Well,I’m f…..g shocked at that!

  7. Hrvatski Jim on

    Rumours that the Thai Tims are on the Graham Norton show which has just started on BBC Scotland.

  9. Hamiltontim on

    Connaire

     

     

    Thank you and God Bless.

     

     

    ACGR

     

     

    Hope to get it sorted this week but it’ll be in Glasgow wee man.

     

     

    I tried Carnoustie but they could only offer a fish tea, a dram and the stripper was a flat chested mermaid from Montrose! :-)

  10. johnbay on

    Wow would have thought it. Singing Grace in Govan. and 3 hours later singing Gloria in Exchelisis in St Giles in Edinburgh, Scotland is now Green and White

  11. Hamiltontim on

    Night all.

     

     

    Today we went to their hovel and humped them. We listened to their vile abuse and songs but we came away victorious and with our decency, humility, honesty and history intact. A truly special thing is this thing we call the Celtic.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  13. Gerryfaethebrig on

    ACGR

     

     

    You attended the worst stag doo at CQN11 !!!!!

     

     

    I am glad there was no strippers :-)

  14. Hrvatski Jim on

    Hi Johnbay

     

     

    How are you?

     

     

    I do love to listen to your lovely daughter. How is she doing? Do let me know when she next plays in Scotland. I would love to hear her live.

     

     

    My friend Khanyiso Gwenxane is now singing in Dresden . Does she know him?

     

     

    I am moving house this week. Just up the road to a smaller house as our family house of 25 years is too big for us now and the large “mature” garden is too much work.

     

    My collection of Celtic memorabilia has been carefully packed up for safe transportation. Nothing shall be lost.

     

     

    Thai Tims still not appeared.

  15. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    MACJAY. 1246

     

     

    There is only one team for someone as beautiful as your daughter.

  16. Hrvatski Jim on

    Thai Tims have appeared doing a tribute to Gary and Paul O’Donovan, two Irish Olympic medal rowers.

     

     

    All resplendent in the Hoops.

  19. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Watching the game again just now. Big Mooooooosa’s goal it a thing of beauty. What a first touch!!!

     

     

    BobM, I couldny care for an invite, I’ll be there regardless. I’m also gonnay be minx’s paige bhoy. I’ve got a wee sailor suit looked out specially for the occasion.

     

     

    GFTB, I enjoyed your stag doo. A great night oot in a great Celtic environment.

     

     

    HT, aye, Montrose aint the best.

     

     

    Back to the gem.

     

     

    Their peado and beast chants are an embarrassment to them, not Celtic.

  20. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    GFTB

     

     

    Eh?

     

     

    Did you miss the strippers?

     

     

    Nae luck,pal. Best part of the night.

  21. Gerryfaethebrig on

    ACGR

     

     

    A serial lurker was in attendance that night (my Celtic pools agent) he said he is posting in 2017, we shall see…….you were great company that night pretty shocking 1 whiskey drinker between 2 tables…… Although a few of the others probably preferred a double buck

  22. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Bobby

     

     

    It was the most refined stag doo ever…… 3 course meal and a few tunes in the background

     

     

    Happy days

  25. clunks on

    Merry New year to all that are still awake.

     

     

    Promise to not do anything to anyone that replies that gets us moderated!!!!!

     

     

    Happy new year bmcuwp!

  26. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    Right,even I’ve had enough for the night.

     

     

    I’ll wish you all well with your hangovers-I don’t get them,hahahahaha!-and seeyeezaw later.

  30. roy croppie on

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfKhVV-7lxI

     

     

    U2

     

    One Tree Hill

     

     

    For some reason this makes me think of St. Joseph’s cemetery in Airdrie: My great Grandfather is buried in an immaculately kept war grave; 4 grandparents; my father;three aunts and and three uncles and numerous Celts from Airdrie and Coatbridge. God bless them all and each and everyone has moulded me in some way.

     

     

    Doc,

     

    my mind drifted to you all day. All the best mhate.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    YNWA

  32. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    josh windass replaced by dodoh. WTF.

     

     

    They are the people. this is funny watching the game again knowing it ends very badly for the hun.

     

     

     

    Wee jamesy off

  34. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Roy

     

     

    I was posting to Doc the other night about daft Celtic stuff and sad stuff St Josephs is where my parents are so close to my heart….

  37. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Roy

     

     

    Great minds ?

     

     

    Or fools seldom differ ?

     

     

    I will be happy in any of them, just read back and it is quite freaky but in a good way :-)

  40. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 1ST JANUARY 2017 2:00 AM

     

    MACJAY. 1246

     

     

     

    There is only one team for someone as beautiful as your daughter.

     

     

    ========================================================

     

     

    Lovely compliment.

     

    Thanks , Bobby.

     

     

    I think she is now on board .

     

    She absolutely loved the company last night.

     

    And the free grog.

     

    :-)

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