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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DELANEYS DUNKY on 2ND JANUARY 2017 2:16 AM
So pleased that Kris is reunited with Lenny.
Like Brendan and Scott Sinclair.
GFTB says all the Family are Good.
Logical Progression Celtic will be Top Frogs in Scotland.
It is Trivial when so many people make so much out of so LITTLE… sevco.
CELTIC – Celtic…..
I am hoping for a Right back and an attacking Centre Mid.
Lustig is GONE, well before the Tribute act game.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 2nd January 2017 2:25 am
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.
???????????????????????????????????????????????
Celtic
Glasgow Celtic
Macjay
Wim and Henrik. Was my favourite. :)
Who Knows ANYTHING?
CELTIC
Thankfully the Bee Oh is out of that Important position. Selfies..
Self Centred.
Israel.CSC
I’ll always Support Israel despite their Rabbis being Anti Christian.
Beer Sheva.CSC
CELTIC
144000?
Nae way.
CELTIC… BEER SHEVA. CELTIC…..
Kojo. Celtic.CRC. JOBO.
Philvisreturns.CSC
CELTIC
PETEC on 2ND JANUARY 2017 3:04 AM
The choice of the lesser of two evils in that region.
From the BBC…http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-38480103
“Celtic eventually came from behind to beat Rangers 2-1 in the derby.
The win was the first for the team at Ibrox in almost six years.”
Dear oh dear.
Superb
Bravest Men
What about making Peace?
Islam disnae Distinguish. “his position was dire when his gun Didn’t Fire”
Never forget that Christianity is Fundamentally about Love.
Destroy the Belief in God and Bring in a NEW Reality……
No Wonder I am Angry.
The New Age jibber jabber is in full effect.
The Theosophists think Their Truth is above Religion. Their flagshit…. from day 1.
KevJ.CSC
So many being Deceived.
RODGERS
An inspirational name.
Brendan’s namesake Aaron is working his magic against the Detroit Lions.
He has thrown 4 TDs tonight to destroy the team in blue.
And there’s still 2:50 left in this game.
‘GG,
The very best of New Years to you and All yer Family.
God Bless all, and yer wee wans (grandweans) especially because they are being exposed to so much now.
Marywhitehouse.CSC
The door was opened a long time ago. :((
Petec
Keep the Faith strong and the light burning bright.
I’m expecting a new Celtic supporting grand son in a couple of weeks.
And with my youngest one taking religious lessons I’m expecting a First Communion in the Spring shortly after my 70th birthday.
Lots to be thankful for.
‘GG
There is so much to be Thankful for, by yer EVERY post on CQN.
Yer in-game commentary is selfless beyond belief.
Heroic Celt.
Massive Attack
Stuart Armstrong looks to be an Incredible Celtic player.
There is so much more as well to come from him…… That Engine, That Intelligence, that Game awareness…… and it is on its way….. that Gallusness.
An Intelligent Gallus Dude. WTF is going on.
God Bless the excellent Ronny Deila.
Risingson
Paddy was Superb when he came on. He really impacted the game. Jamesie deserved his starting berth for sure (noone will be more delighted than Brendan;))).
Brendan Rodgers
Was looking at the number of competitive games we have played this season.
36. 39 if you include that International cup competition.
I looked at Huns. 28. That includes their league cup qualifying.
That’s 11 games more we have played, and when you look at it, games v Barca, Man City and Borussia are somewhat tougher than league cup qualifiers v Motherwell, Annan , East Stirling and Stranraer!
Actually, up to the split, ( not including SC ties for either of us) they will play 40 games.
We on the other hand will have played that amount after our next game.
The rest will be much welcomed for our players!!
twists n turns on 2nd January 2017 5:35 am
Was looking at the number of competitive games we have played this season.
36. 39 if you include that International cup competition.
I looked at Huns. 28. That includes their league cup qualifying.
That’s 11 games more we have played, and when you look at it, games v Barca, Man City and Borussia are somewhat tougher than league cup qualifiers v Motherwell, Annan , East Stirling and Stranraer!
Actually, up to the split, ( not including SC ties for either of us) they will play 40 games.
We on the other hand will have played that amount after our next game.
The rest will be much welcomed for our players!!
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
That was their Big Shot.
I think we will Win Every game now relatively easily.
You are so right when you say the Bhoys deserve a rest.
An incredible effort by ALL the Celtic players.
I’m hoping for a really top class signing this window, a signing that makes everyone say WOW.
CELTIC is the place to be.
Pete
Not sure if we will get the “WOW” type signing you refer to, but more likely 2 x functional types.
Mind you, I thought Moussa was a good signing, and he would now be considered a ‘ WOW’ man!
I’m totally at peace with Celtic life. Brendan just inspires belief and confidence by his very presence.
I said to the kids at HT on Saturday ” Brendan will sort it out now”
Didn’t he just. The man is class. For him to console Barry McKay on Sat at time up and tell him ” you were brilliant, keep your head up” says it all.
Compare and contrast with behaviour of his opposite number.
Class will out.
Happy new year Pete.
twists n turns,
I didn’t know that, Brendan is a fitba Man obviously. He wants the game played properly. Barry had an excellent game and he troubled Celtic.
I want the hatred gone pronto. GFTB commented about no hatred in mixed company families, or something along those lines.
It is those Administrators who are controlling things that need to be dealt with. All Well Paid No Doubt
And HNY T&T
BS time – I really need it. NN
Good morning CQN from a cold and dry East Devon.
YNWA
A very happy belated New Year to all on CQN, been busy with family for a few days and now playing catch up.
Doc…….condolences to you and the family.
Delaney’s…….best wishes to yer mom.
Awrabest to ML4 Tims
BMCUW….y’all doing well mate?
ACGR….mental as usual. Dramsuruz!!
NB…..just feckin’ Braw! Angus loons are Braw!
Good night from a freezing Portland Oregon!! Cannae wait to get back to a more temperate Texas!!
Lurkin Huns, you know the drill!!
HH
TC45
The Spirit Of The Jungle – Thanks, just thanks….magical.
Barry McKay would be like Ralph Milne under Brendan’s watch – only saying.
Rangers FC urny rubbish, the rest of the SPFL outside of Brendan’s Cellic are, fish in a barrel.
Thing is, Rangers FC, urny as bad as a lot of green & white blinkered folk would have us believe.
A lot of these same folk wanted us(who knew better) to believe that, we’d never play Rangers FC again.
A lot of these same folk still believe that, Celtic and the rest of Scottish clubs who where cheated by Rangers FC will see some sort of justice being meted out this summer…..I hope they’re correct. We’ll see.
Anyway,….I said last season after we had been put out of the SC by Rangers FC that, Cellic had a lot of guid players already at the club who only needed managed and, that we wouldn’t need to spend a lot on the 1st team. Well,…Brendan has come in and, is doing a magical job.
But,…..but, but, but…..thee most important thing is, the Cellic supporters now have a manager who has, managed the players and recruited ‘cutely’ to put a product onto the pitch that is requisite of the quality Cellic team’s that were put on the pitch by managers from our illustrious past who – managed the club, not just the team on the pitch. Brendan’s comments the other day were he said that ‘he’ would decide the value of any player who might leave here….that, was telling….Lawwell, the end.
I know that by bringing in a manager of stock like Brendan, has in some way deflected from the disgraceful collusion of Cellic PLC since they washed they’re hands off Neil Lennon after the shame-game when they stood back and let Neil take the blame, they’re ‘surprise’ at the LNS whitewash of trophy stripping, the invisible Dr John Reid ‘dossier’….they’re, looking the other way at they’re supporters being ‘kettled’ in the Gallowgate….and, on and on and on…..there was a caller on SSB on Saturday who I think was another one of those who thinks that he should be in line for the ‘Celtic’s Greatest Ever Supporter Award’….he used to post on here, many, many years ago…Sean from Prestwick….anyway, among his gushing list of Celtic View type comments that he made…there was one that caught me…..Sean said – “We have to praise the Celtic PLC board for having the vision and, ambition to bring in Brendan Rodgers!”
Sean, if yer reading……there would have been ‘no’ Brendan at Cellic Park had it not been for the threat of 30,000 empty seats – remaining empty!
There was no ambition!
There was no vision!
There was only – apathy!
The 30,000 empty seats came about through, sickening, scunnering, apathy!
The thing is,…had the 30,000 seats not been emptied by apathy – there would be no Brendan at Cellic Park.
Furthermore,….if, the huns somehow go out the league again….apathy will return and, so will the 30,000 empty seats. Do ye think for 1 minute that, Cellic PLC will sit back and watch that happening ? No, not the PLC….they’ll be digging tunnels as we speak to ensure that the huns don’t go out of the league again.
Just enjoy Brendan whilst he’s here, and be glad that he is.
Jungle Squirrels – CSC
PETEC – God Bless.
DOC – Stay strong big fella – YNWA.
…..off-oot-zzzz….
Morning all.
Kev J.
I hope you are well and a Happy and Healthy New year wish for you.
Your post at 7.38 is, in my opinion, accurate.
The PLC do not have the vision to see past Old Firm, they see that as the milk cow. Their dream, again in my opinion, is a strong Sevco, who will finish second, whilst we lift the trophies, obtain Champions League football and sell 53,000 season tickets.
Hail Hail.
Big Sutty saying Celtic must now finish Rangers for ever. He calling for the board to be ruthless and hand Brendan a budget that makes it impossible for the Ibrox club to catch Celtic.
This is the time Celtic should finish Rangers now.
Sutty knows the script. Hun media will be in meltdown with him. He He.
Sutton may be calling for the Board to hand our manager a budget that make sit impossible for the Ibrox club to catch us but that doesn’t mean the players our manager would want to bring in (whatever the budget) will come to the backwater of the SPFL.
Parkheadcumsalford. 8.17.
Agreed.
I have already posted we are lucky to have Moussa and Scott Sinclair who are both too good for the poor fare the SPFL offers, we should enjoy them while we can. However the PLC should still be trying their best to support Brendan in his choice of players. If someone doesn’t want to come, fair enough, but, at least, let’s ask them the question.
JIMMYNOTPAUL
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
We already have the players to blow them out of the water. Hence that small gap at the head of the table.
That’s not to say that the job is done. BR will doubtless have his eyes on one or two he believes will improve us further. I expect the board to look at this season’s CL income and back him to repeat it next year. And repeat.
If,as many of us believe,the board are money-oriented,let’s use it to our advantage.
PS- you were right. Sounds of the Sixties was excellent when I listened to the repeat earlier!
My friends in Celtic,
CQN may collectively be a font of knowledge, however maybe we should do our homework on how to spell our own gang,s names.
Peter Lawell should be Peter Lawwell
Ronnie Delia should be Ronny Delia
Chris Commons should be Kris Commons.
But the greatest faux pas, Brenden Rogers should of course be Brendan Rodgers.
No doubt there will be many more, I shall observe over the next few days :-))))))))))
HH.