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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Jim Payne 7.41
Ronny = 4 & 5
And if it wasn’t for Ronny we wouldn’t have Brendan :-)
All the very best for 2017
Good Evening.
Well I enjoyed today’s result! Here are my thoughts on a lively year and an awesome first half of the season. Happy New Year!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2016/12/31/party-like-its-19-points-clear/
I watched the game on TV
I have to say Stuart Armstrong appeared to my eye to be everywhere on the park…making goal saving tackles and at the other end invaluable assist. I’m pleased for the lad as he seems a very decent young fella. His pal GMS actually impressed me more when they were at DUFC. I’d love Brendan to work his magic on that young guy too. He’s an entertainer and the crowd could lap that up that in the games that lie ahead…I’d imagine without any real pressure in the league GMS could really turn it on.
Lastly a question for any Bhoys at today’s game..Are they still playing Simply the Best? If so it must hVe a deeply ironic sound even to a Hun ear? Time to get Mike and the mechanics in in to replace Tina Turner…”All I need is a miracle”.. Would surely sound more appropriate…?
CULTSBHOY – BELIEVES IN BRENDAN on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 7:50 PM
Yip, still playing Tina.
Garner has been treated with a wire brush and Dettol.
Doc will see him after dinner.
Went to the Scottish Sun site
Listened to the sounds of silence video.
It sounded more like
“Av goat a pie”
Couldn’t have been a Tim.
Even some of the denizens of Sevco media are corroborating what HT and Gary67 are reporting re the silence. One claimed that there was a loud FTP from someone near him in the main stand, some response and then the shhh and shut ups from both sides. Some idiot clearly shouted ‘Bobby sands’ – heard on tv. ‘I hope you die’ also clearly heard on tv and from orcs.
Pathetic the whole thing. I remember a minutes silence at CP in the late 90’s when the orcs end was still being built (25th anniversary of the disaster maybe? 1996??) very similar- guy near me shouts DOB and gets shouted down for it. Cue orcs giving it DFB’s etc
0-0 Phil O’Donnell hit the post as I recall. Goram kept them in it. Gaza was playing. Random memory
Cold night for Sevco fans.
19 below.
I heard garner has repetitive strain injury from feigning, erm, injury……
The Crumbledome really is a wreck. I was shocked today at how poorly conditioned and dirty it is. Horrible place. They are also still using ticket stubs with an operative at the turnstile needed to let you in.
I notice joe swash wannabe’s team mates weren’t exactly rushing to his aid when he was laying on the ground injured. Two things – he’s not liked and they just assumed he was ‘at it’ because that’s what he does all the time. But even when he was getting carried off they weren’t really giving a feck.
Mags – do they sell goat pie? I thought after what they do with the goats they wouldn’t be allowed to sell them on as food ;)
Mags 7.53
Who was your man of the match the day ?
I think Armstrong played well, Dembelle & Sinclair very good but after a pretty poor first half (like many in the hoops) for me Broony was everywhere and there when needed (even on a yellow)
Tim reaper – how was their wifi connection??? :-)
Surely Izzy was in the running for MOM?
Goood evening CQN
Will not be about later, so to Paul 67 and all on CQN,
all the very best for 2017
To Celtic, please keep up with this slump :-)
Now, where is the sky box at that hole ? The shouting at minutes silence was clearly under or very close to the box it was crystal clear, and there was another shout from exact same are just prior to the ” hope you die” comment.
Without being critical of Celtic and Brendan now – I was a bit dissapointed young Ryan Christie wasn’t in squad today ( he did very well on Wed night) – I firmly believe he could/would be a far more influential and productive player in the Celtic team given an extended run, than what we get out of Calum McGregor
I thought McGregor did get better in 2nd half, but as pointed out, after Brendan made the switch to allow Stuart Armstrong to dictate play
Anyway back to +19 for early Jan 17, and build on this, to please all Celtic fans :-)
Hail Hail
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 7:59 PM
Mags 7.53
Who was your man of the match the day ?
I only saw the 2nd half over here but for me it was Dembele. Whenever he got the ball you could see them panic and as for mucking around with them on their own goal line in the last 5 mins simply superb
ROBERTTRESSELL on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 7:59 PM
They marry Nate them
It’s horrible!
Mags 8.06
I was boring my company by going on about I wanted Griff on the park, but your not wrong with Dembelle, his hold up play in the 2nd half was pretty dam good (his goal was perfect)
All the best for 2017
Dembele aint Kenny Dal………yet….. but what a day…..year……
They are s**te..
Barry McKay…..thats it.
Happy NY & YNWA
GFTB
You too!
Best wishes for you and your family in 2017.
I thought Dembele was tremendous today. He’s clearly a big game player. On Wednesday night he looked as if he’d never seen a football before and today he puts in the kind of performance that has earned him such high plaudits.
Magic Celtic. Brendan Rodgers thank you. Proactive rather than reactive.
A well deserved 3 week break for the players and staff.
Moussa and Scott Sinclair brilliant in my eyes.
2 guys we are lucky to have, appreciate them while we can.
P.S.
I thought Gardner thing was a wind up, it appears not.
HT 8.14
Dembelle ?
Wait until he grows up, whit a player that bhoy will be
(The Griff still a better goalscorer for me :-)
The huns are heading to Leipzig for their Winter break. Says it all really.
Happy New Year, Paul, your family, everyone!
Re the Zombie in the waiting room-
I doubt if Ross Hall mans an A and E at Hogmany (if at all) – private sector very keen on quick throuput, high margin procedures planned well in advance.
Happy New year everybody
Been a great year.
Had the pleasure of meeting a good few of you this year.
Football has been great since Brendan arrived.
Hope to be at the hearts game in January. See you then
Paul67: Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit.
Happy New Year also to all Tims.
Hundreds of Tims in Kennedy’s today and minute’s silence was observed impeccably.
Soft Loans Co got off to a very good start and competed very well until we equalised. On the rare occasion I watch them they are usually diabolical. McKay was their best player and their goalie is decent too.
I wasn’t concerned when we went a goal down – once we got going we were relentless and a winning margin of one goal flattered them.
Moment of the day for me was when Dr Marc enquired when will WE be going to the next Celtic game.
Enjoy your night.
Thanks for the responses on the silence.
Dignity right enough and the usual level 5 rubbish.
No surprise.
Over 40,000 neanderthals chanting vile, bigoted filth for an entire 100 minutes and they have the audacity to cry foul because one Celtic supporter allegedly ruined a minute’s silence?
Ya couldn’t mark their monkey necks with a blow-torch.
The deluded buffoons.
HH.
H.T.
I have been told!! to ask you, did or is D.G. going to mass with his mum?
That’s Paddy Bhoy no longer a virgin as he finally saw Celtic win at Ibrox. Having not managed to see it against Oldco.
Hopefully you enjoyed it as much as he did. :-))))))
Cheer up Derek – oh wait
Izzy was superb today. Real commanding performance and provided a real threat going forward. Strange to think he may not feature again this season after the winter break, barring the odd cameo role, when Tierney returns. We have a great squad right now and will add to it in January. Woosh!
Craig Gordon did very well today also with some good saves and good footwork. He managed one of those inexplicable charges off his line without being caught out today, which was nice!
One depressing aspect for me………The Huns fixation with peadophillia, which is horrible. There is a self righteous zeal about them which makes me very uncomfortable. Ultimately, they are glorifying in abuse and suffering and singing about it to taunt rival football fans. That is just wrong.
These are great times for us and there is likely to be more to come.
Happy new year everyone!
STRINGER BELL on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 8:39 PM
Izzy was superb today. Real commanding performance and provided a real threat going forward. Strange to think he may not feature again this season after the winter break, barring the odd cameo role, when Tierney returns. We have a great squad right now and will add to it in January. Woosh!
One depressing aspect for me………The Huns fixation with peadophillia, which is horrible. There is a self righteous zeal about them which makes me very uncomfortable. Ultimately, they are glorifying in abuse and suffering and singing about it to taunt rival football fans. That is just wrong.
——
I thought Izzy was shaky early, there were occasions when he should have put his foot on the ball rather than boot it anywhere. He got done by a simple one-two for their goal, i think KT would have stopped the cross coming in. He settled after the goal and was outstanding in the 2nd half.
As for their songbook. Pure desperation. It’s all they’ve got and they will try and drag us down and discredit us at every juncture as they simply cannot match us on the pitch. It says everything about their mentality that they do that rather than back their own team.
If the scum media stated they didn’t know where the shouting came from at the game today, you can safely say it didn’t come from the Celtic support, it really disny take a rocket scientist to work that one out.
Watched the garner injury a few times, can’t for the life of me see what happened to him other than him going down very softly and no getting up, Oh well, couldn’t have happened to a scummier hun.
16roads / Stringer Bell
Not that I expect our media to recognise or even comment on that mob, but Sky, why do they never question their songbook….. the “paedo” stuff is so wrong, how any mother or father can try and point score over such a thing over a game of football…… They are footballs shame !
And as you say, try and deflect to some noise (if any) at a minutes silence, which I think was pretty impeccably observed (and so it should be)
TET
He collided with a bag of spanners in Erik , stumbled, started to lose balance, took a few steps reached out to try to break his fall and appears to have dislocated his shoulder or elbow or both. No blame for the celtic defender.