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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Aye right yar, frambo11, get yourself sorted mate, yer arse is oot the windea ya nugget, who ties yer laces, ya fannypad.
If some dafty puts serious money intae sevco you can bet your bottom dollar that clarence will take his 20m and run,
VOGUEPUNTER on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 11:16 PM
Of course you can Mhate, your no bad yourself either, pass on my best to your big mucker…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
TONYDONNELLY67 on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 11:18 PM
You thought of your New Year’s resolutions yet…I can think of one for you…I’ll be a bit more subtle with my poss…:)
Happy New Year to you and yours.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
tonydonnelly
Quite the charmer.
Thanks for your considered opinion. I’m not on the blog that often but I remember you now I’m sure.
poss = posts
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Highlights on Sky Sports 1 now.
Grace sung by Frances & Mary Black’s children:
https://youtu.be/uUgt3xC40WU
TD67
Hope 2017 is good to you and all of yours, I had a wee lurk this morning and I loved your bets
Am sure you had a good day, betting Celtic is a side show and a mugs game (that’s me)
Hail Hail
The team definitely looked drilled at a two touch game in the first half highlights. Once they got in their stride, it became very effective. Armstrong especially.
Frambo11,
The point is nobody is going to invest £50M in Scottish football ; neither Celtic or Sevco or Alloa.
Celtics budget is driven by the football business — there is no sugar daddy.
The current soft loans to the Ibrox Club will not continue beyond the summer as none of the present crew have deep enough pockets.
If anything next season will be even worse for Sevco.
Hail Hail
Actually Frambo
I heard it was 145 million that will be invested in January with the same again in the Summer
Am seriously worried,in fact my night is ruined,
Lawwell should resign and Celtic should throw in the towel
Feck Drink Girls
Happy New Year to all on CQN from here in Eas Mhor, may the year ahead bring you good Health, Happiness and all you would wish for yourself
Including a Treble :))
HH
Almore 11.38pm
Lovely version……. Grace has been my wee tune for the last couple of decades Clogher Celt posted a great wee video on her that was magic, every different version adds its own wee part of a beautiful song
Hope you and the family have a great 2017, my 2017 resolution might not be Coias but hopefully at some point I might make the corner with MissGFTB and my aim is to bump into you and WITS if over at the same time
OneMalloy 11.54pm
Looking forward to having a beer or two in 2017 with you
All the very best
A Happy New Year to Paul 67 and all who post and lurk…
Happy new year CQN
Happy New Year
Hoopy 2017…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Happy New Year Troops!
Hoopy New Year to all at CQN … !!!!
Happy New Year to everyone in our Celtic family all around the world.
We shall not be moved.
GFTB: Cheers, and you are welcome.
Hoopy New Year everyone. Raining here in Dublin and dog howling because of the fireworks.
Oíche mhaith.
Pyro in Edinburgh. UEFA aware?
Happy New Year Everyone.
Wow I’m getting married this year!!!
Our best wishes to all good Tims out there I pray all your hopes, dreams and wishes come to fruition.
Ps
TD67 your post just before midnight sums you up entirely.
To P67 and all cqners…
Happy new year….lang mae yer lums reek,we ither folks coal !!!
I wish you and yours a braw 2017….
Braw
Happy New Year to all the bhoys and ghirls of CQN.
Paul67 Happy New Year to you and your family,and thanks for the blog
Happy New Year to the worldwide “Celtic” Family
Hope you have a great 2017
HH
Hamiltontim,
hope its during the close season ;-))
Happy New Year to everybody on CQN & Hoops fans everywhere !
HT
Never mind you getting married what about Minx1888 ????
No a bad year to pick, 50yr anniversary of Lisbon……. Whether you like it or not you are my idea of a Celtic fan
Hope you and the Minx have decades of happiness together :-)
Happy New Year CQN’rs from the USA . Still 5 hours to go here.
Can I suggest that we all try as best we can to use our frontal lobes more in 2017.
Just a thought.
HAMILTONTIM on 1ST JANUARY 2017 12:07 AM
Wow I’m getting married this year!!!
================================================
Very best wishes to you and the bride to be.
Thanks to all the Tims who make Celtic Quick News such a stimulating outlet for the global Tim nation .
A win today really was too much to ask for.
I`ll take it with glee nevertheless.
Guid New Year tae yin an` a`.
Gordy
Of course mate! :-)
Gerry
Many thanks pal. Hail Hail
Maggie
I thought thinking had been banned in the USA or was I mistaken in my thinking
Happy New Year
Macjay
Thanks J, God Bless and Hail Hail.
HT/Minx
I hope this year brings you every happiness