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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DD
He thought about it didnt he? :)
Loved the way he bossed the drop ball situations.
Thought it helped settle the rest of the team and got them honed in on the job in hand instead of all the stuff that was going on outwith the actual game.
Just a quick visit to wish all on CQN a Happy New Year when it comes.
Good result today against the New Club , pity the same bigot’s follow this mob as followed the last club to play at Ipox.
Hail Hail
THUNDER ROAD on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 10:18 PM
Clunks
Was it just me or do you think it crossed his mind to do the broony while perched there?
===================
Someone tweeted that they were sure he was about to do a moony!!!
That would have been priceless
Frambo11,
yeah but heard where,in a taxi,in the pub,from a woman on the checkout,
surely to have this taken in any way seriously you have to come up with better than its what i heard
Fantastic to put the Newco firmly in its loathsome , bigoted place.
Early Happy New Year to all CQNers.
HH
Gordybhoy64 Don’t wet your pants. I trust my source, Wanted to get the blog’s ear on it.
Night night bhoys – a good end to 2016 lng may the winning run continue.
doc, I hope today somehow helped.
RIP those who met that awful death in Ibrox, January 1971.
Frambo11
Tomorrow is 1 January not April.
FRAMBO11
So are they just going to invest £15m each in the current operation.
Who is the third invested, Dermott Desmond?
MWD
FRAMBO11 on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 10:08 PM
I repeat from last night’s thread. The huns have £45m coming in 2017.
———————–
No a bad start for 3rd rankers.
Don’t see it happening with King in place
Frambo11,
wet my pants very droll,
go on tell us where you got it from,
anyone can come on with made up pish that they had just heard
TR
My Ryan is so proud that he was born in the Kingdom like oor capitano Broonie the Boss.
I know it sounds far fetched, that’s why I’m asking the blog.
Calm your jets boys, time will tell.
Clunks
Nor the last!
BROOOONNNNEEEE!!!!!!
Gordybhoy – you’re not getting my source.
I ask the blog for corroboration.
MOONBEAMSWD:
Your earlier post deleted, at your request.
DimSam, CowieBhoy, good to see you both today, thanks.
Gerry, the result certainly helped today, it felt like they did it for Big Doc.
FourGreenFields
Hope we have a magners or two in 2017…. Hope the next year is a good one for you and all your mob
Delaneys Dunky great stuff with your sister, no a bad way to end 2016
Frambo still looking for a wee tune….. The first Huns were based on not paying their bills, the new mob are much much the same, but at least they will have a wee walk or two to look forward to, on a football park they are the busted flush they should always have been……
Dodgy Dave was Craig Whyte without the timternet :-)
I’vehadtochangemyname, it certainly did.
A fantastic 2017 to those who are already there and to those who will be bringing it in in the next few hours.
It’s been a tough year for some but hopefully everyone has come through 2016 in not too bad shape!
A great year to be a Celtic fan!
Frambo11,
fair enough,forgive me if i treat it as made up pish,
not from you but from your source
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
Your tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqfDpNymGSE
Now give me one
Doc 10.46
He might be gone but he will never leave you
God bless …..
the game of football matters not, but a wee smile at the result because you know that’s exactly what he would be doing :-)
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
Hopefully share a few drinks with you at some point soon .
HH
Mod2
Hahaha.
Should I change my nome de blog back to it’s original then.
Brilliant that. Cheers you just ended my 2016 on a right giggle.
Moonbeams Wet Dream
Frambo
I was expecting a bit of Abba
“Money money money”
Obviously other people’s £45m
Gerry, the game of football matters, when Celtic play it means everything, at least it did today.
Thank you Celtic.
Wishing you all you wish for.
Frambo11
Gonny stop it you’ll have Tiny Tim really keekin his breeks :@-)))
MWD
David Murray 15 million, that takes the shortbread on Hogmany that does:)))
MOONBEAMSWD
Me personally, I would change it back…:)
Frambo,
£50M would be loose change.
Last time they had
£80M debt to MIM parent
£40M Joe Lewis investment
£40M NTL
£20M investment Dave King
£80M tax man
£260M Total. financial doping and tax avoidance and not including CL money they should not have had. Add to that cheating referees for them and against us.
They need a new team, manager and circa £30M to stop the debt dome falling apart.
I cannot believe Park is burning his money on this lost cause. If somebody else wants to burn £50M I would suggest they put it in a slop , pour petrol on it and watch it turn to ashes. At least they will see where there only has went
Looking forward to 2017 with Brendan at the helm and best wishes to all. Hail Hail.
Lucky Cody – I didn’t ask for a debtors list.
You should the see the amount of hilarious youtube videos on offer if you type in stupid c**t
howb nuch,
ir wiz a bet 2/1 Doublex d down 5:1
As 2016 enters the last hour please remember those that will not see 2017. They have gone on to God willing a better place.
Let us also remember those that need our Prayers.
I have met some fantastic friends during the last 12 or so years through CQN. I wish them and theirs a peaceful and prosperous 2017. At the turn of the year I will raise my Glass to my friends here and elsewhere.
A happy, peaceful and prosperous 2017 CQN.
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
LENNYBHOY
Yir not a bad Lhad ,I’ll ditto that if you don’t mind? :O) hh bhud
A very Happy New Year to one and all, the fireworks are popping here already in the Green Green Valley…health, happiness and hunskelping for 2017
SP
Happy New Year from Slovakia.
So many fireworks.
Here is hoping for a better year and I wish all on CQN a healthy and happy time.
I enjoyed today.
Celtic were magnificient.