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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TTR
Thanks pal, didnae know that bout Snoddy’s contract at Hull.
Would love to see him in the Hoops wi Stuart and Broonie.
Wouldn’t thank you for Rhodes,he’s a championship player for a reason:-)
I thought the minute’s silence was well observed” Maybe one clown out of 8,000 was disrespectful.
Well done the Celtic fans, very well done. When John PaulIi died every ground in Britain held one minute’s silence apart from Motherwell v Rangers. The powers that be felt it ill advised. Wonder how the Neanderthals would have reacted had the silence been enforced ?!
Who do you think you are?
Did you time how long the silence lasted ?
How long did it last ?
60 secs and someone shouted Bobby Sands, is that the story?
The people condemning freedom of expression is the society that murdered both sets of victims and we should help promote their values, hypocracy ? fraud ? murder ? aye very good. Stay quite until we tell you, you can speak. Naw
You might want to come from a subservient society
In fact you are encouraging submissive behaviour
Let’s no forget the truth and what is being ignored. The Ibrox disaster was an avoidable tragedy, in fact by today’s standards it was corporate manslaughter, though, I think homicide is a more apt charge to bring if there are any still alive. The previous ibrox corporate manslaughter identified it was not a matter of if but when, with recommendations.
So a new entity have now adopted the tragedy without the blame and all because it happened on site, the fact that the previous site owners unbroken history makes the original board, guilty of corporate homicide, it’s somehow Celtic supporters fault.
That’s the story that is being spread by the sick to the ignorant and Celtic supporters families will (as previously experienced) suffer the consequences. The meeja and you are promoting this version of reality.
For the People who have already sold their soul to an establishment that allowed another ibrox disaster, a demand for compliance with the establishments rules is expected, well except when it’s an immediate threat to the people’s own and by that time, their individuality is invertebrate anyway.
Yesterday was a spectacle for encouraging hatred and division, that was the promoted attraction. All to ensure division remains, loosing close ones in any culture is a powerful emotional resource. It’s rarely used for anything else by manipulators’.
Is it because I is black
Canamalar-so what’s the reason for it :-)
Coppers always cause confrontation…
One or two aside. But not this taxi driving one.
Wouldn’t surprise me if it was he who shouted the most. :@-)))
MWD
MOONBEAMSWD- what did that mean:-)
A very Happy, Peaceful and prosperous New Year to Every CQNer.
Got a nice text just after the Bells…. I lost Every contact when the old phone I had, it died.
Not sure if it was from here. I hope you have a Wonderful New Year as well – I really appreciate the text. Christ is the King – Taking away Every Sin. Magical.
I’ve said this before but because it’s New Year allow me to say it again.
I want them to be allowed to sing Billy Boys and I want them to be allowed to sing Famine Song. It defines who they are, it allows the worldwide audience to hear and ask “did they really say that”?
Freedom of speech is everything in a civilised modern democracy, so let the people sing but also allow The People to sing their putrid bile.
PHYLLIS- couldn’t agree more, give them more rope.bed time :-))
Phyllis Dietrichson,
aha the Ever decreasing circles.
Dragged into a pile of piss.
The Celtic House Dance is the way forward.
And I was never into House Music…. Getting older I can feel the rhythm.
This gets the place ROCKING
Especially the way the GB do it.
CELTIC CELTIC also has all the wee wans upstanding and clapping Ready for it. The young ones absolutely Love it.
Fair hill..,
Like I said, “division”
415 have so many new young crew in there and they are Brilliant in their Support of the Celts. All the young dudes are singing songs in Support of CELTIC, even when no others are singing. It is Superb. Not heard one Youngster criticise this Outstanding CELTIC team… Still heard too many Older wans who SHOULD know better, criticise harshly, vocally, when we are only winning by 1 goal deep into the 2nd half.
NUTS
Phyllis
Agreed, to an extent. Most of their bigotry was worthy of criminal intent long before the OBaF Act. It could and should have been dealt with.
The football and government authorities should have raised their heads and criticised it, they didn’t because this is Scotland and to focus on one (them) is not what Scotland does.
Yesterday, the Celtic supporters were exemplary in their behaviour.
They struggle to handle that
Night all and Hail Hail.
PHYLLIS DIETRICHSON on 2ND JANUARY 2017 1:05 AM
Couldn`t agree more.
That`s precisely why their friends want their bile proscribed.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38424741
Kris.
Gone but not forgotten.
Love Lenny`s comments about him.
PHYLLIS DIETRICHSON on 2ND JANUARY 2017 1:05 AM
I fully understand your point but can’t agree with it. Where do we draw the line…Race? religion? sexuality? Disability?
Refined and sophisticated society requires decency
macjay1
KC was Brilliant for Celtic.
I Believe Ronny D has also been Excellent for Celtic.
Neil Built his team around Kris……. after the 125 Win…. Ronny had a really tough job.
HH
300k – what an acquisition.
Cults
The Tims in the Broomloan boxed clever yesterday. Not once did they react to the sectarian bile fae 40000 monkeys.
The Tims ran the show, on and off the pitch.
HH
I wonder if Ronny was being paid £300K a year – Anyone know?
DD – God Almighty take care of your Mum.
Our future capitano Stuart Armstrong will go down in history as one of Celtic’s best ever signings. World Class fitba player.
HH
Stuart is World Class potential.
Pete
My mam’s faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ is very strong.
Her heart at 80 is as strong as mine.
She has great faith.
Broonie was always all over the place……
Stuart is Learning so much from Broonie.
Wow.
Great Stuff.
Genuine World Class —–incoming— obviously you need the Right Manager. Looks like the Fittest EVER player the way he is going.
Deelighted.
Delaneys Dunky on 2nd January 2017 1:55 am
Pete
My mam’s faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ is very strong.
Her heart at 80 is as strong as mine.
She has great faith.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
I am Nothing G-Thang. Don’t you ever forget that.
Celtic are so Good.
Glasgow Celtic are just so Good.
PETEC on 2ND JANUARY 2017 1:45 AM
macjay1
KC was Brilliant for Celtic.
==============================================
Exactly the way I feel , Pete.
His goals against the undesirables will be how I will always remember him.
I think Snodgrass is a fine footballer but he is not what we need
The two areas where we need to strengthen to be ready for Europe next season is a central midfield holding player and an additional striker.
We need modern athletic experienced footballers in these areas to supplement our young squad.
If Boyata is not rated then we need another central defender.
macjay1,
I’d rather you quote the whole text, even if.
I am annoyed when people Cherry Pick a Comment.
Macjay
Remember getting into Hampden late wi my son on Kris Commons Celtic debut v the dandy dons. My first sight of Kris was firing a 40 yarder into the net.
My kinda Celtic player. :)
Decency starts with censorship, endorsing a culture that nurtures and promotes hypocracy, fraud and corporate murder is not a particularly aspirational goal of mine, define decency HA. Let alone validate the audacity of a new entities assumption of importance that It’s demands are met by the meeja. Aye we should always leave it to you and them to dictate decency.
Decency yesterday would have been leaving the politics out of the tragedy both sets of supporters should be on, why it was allowed to happen. Oh wait, remind me about decency
Canamalar,
What are you saying?
I Love your thinking.
Everyone is a Sinner.
PETEC on 2ND JANUARY 2017 2:16 AM
macjay1,
I’d rather you quote the whole text, even if.
I am annoyed when people Cherry Pick a Comment.
==========================================
Sorry.
That was the point I wished to respond to.