A fascinating top of the table encounter, with both teams under-strength, ended predictably as the champions had enough in the tank to again put Newco to the sword. Creating coherent teamwork all over the pitch is an important part of football, and Paulo Bernardo (21) rewarded his manager by opening the scoring for the second game in a run of three consecutive starts.
His thunderous strike from a corner kick on 25 minutes was reward for the control he brought to the match. It was his third attempt at goal the first two narrowly missing the target. A few of us were left wondering why it took so long for Paulo to be given a run in the team.
There was no such stablity of selection in defence, as Liam Scales partnered with this third right-sided central defender in two games. With Cameron Carter-Vickers out with a hamstring injury, Stephen Welsh had to retire on 35 minutes with a shoulder injury. Maik Nawrocki (22) come on to make his first appearance since August and only his fourth in total since arriving in Glasgow in August.
It was a huge ask to expect a new player to perform at this level after such a period out, but after a nervy first touch, Maik grew into the game. He is a player who enjoys a tackle and is comfortable in possession. There’s lots more to come from him.
Newco were criticised when these teams met in September after Callum McGregor was “given space” to control the game. The reaction to that feedback was clear when they pressed Celtic. As Celtic progressed the ball out of defence, they crowded McGregor and the central area, leaving Liam Scales and Welsh/Nawrocki space to step forward. This gave Scales the opportunity he needed to further enhance his reputation.
Despite their plan for McGregor, Celtic controlled the flow of the game and the captain led the charge. He moved into space where a teammate had an angle to find him, then drove forward, often only short distances, but this was enough to open opportunities up for Celtic and get Newco backpedalling.
You can control a game but you still need strikers who can put the ball in the net. Yesterday you and I talked about how Kyogo terrifies Newco. He comes alive against them like few others I have seen against the Rangerses. That’s twice this season he has scored winning goals against them with a shot from outside the box. You will remember that he started the year by scoring late at Ibrox, to secure Celtic a point and a crucial advantage in the league race.
The goal itself was masterful. He dropped off his marker to receive in space, turned onto his (supposedly weaker) left foot and shot early, before the keeper had a chance to set himself.
Daizen Maeda must be a nightmare to defend against. His speciality is winning control of a 50/50 ball. Watch him lower his centre of gravity, knock the ball away from his opponent then nudge himself into an advantageous position.
Throughout his time on the field this attribute secured possession for Celtic in advanced areas, it also forced a thoroughly subjugated Balogun into a professional foul on 71 minutes, which resulted in an inevitable red card.
Thereafter, it was all too easy for Celtic for a period but the game ended with more tension than it should have. Newco were smart enough to play for and win a series of free kicks which enabled them to throw numbers forward. One free kick (seemed harsh) was converted by Tavernier on 88 minutes. There should be an inquest into how we setup on these occasions after conceding the same goal in consecutive home games.
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Did Barnardo get his leg trapped under the ad hoarding when celebrating
Looked it to me but cant find any reliable footage
Clunks – no more than the inquisition that followed AJ’s challenge on Sima?
That looked 50/50 to me.
What is with all the time tavpen is given to set up his freekicks. Unreal
Just when you think that mob can’t come up with anything more hilarious they now cite that
Sky were unhappy when they call for a Var explanation and the VAR audio.
They really are the gift that keeps on giving.
goldson at his usual party trick, try to do the player but go down screaming and thumping the ground to divert the attention from his shocking tackle to him being the player fouled , cheating at its finest.
RC on 30TH DECEMBER 2023 8:36 PM
Never seen a “Rangers” defender ever do anything different.
It must be part of their training regime.
THE LONG WAIT IS OVER on 30TH DECEMBER 2023 8:30 PM
Just when you think that mob can’t come up with anything more hilarious they now cite that
Sky were unhappy when they call for a Var explanation and the VAR audio.
Basically Sky have given lie that they had access to the live feed between var & onfield officials. They say that through this they heard a discussion of a potential penalty & thst there was no mention of an offside.
Below is a quote from the live commentary team. Sky are once again caught up in spreading fake news stories regarding Scottish football
John motson “we cannot hear Willie colum, on var, through our headphones. It would have been nice to be confirmed.” Sky sports created their own story of what was going on, from what they could see. Not what they heard
For a professional broadcaster streaming a live feed around the world day in day out, surely someone had to know that colum mcgregor doesn’t take goalkicks
Good summary Paul.
Winners win.
The Brendan post match press conference was terrific.
He looks and sounds as calm, controlled and authoratative as I’ve witnessed since he returned.
Tiny gripe – lavish full praise on our talisman once in a while Brendan?
The wee man has the best football brain I’ve seen in decades.
Chris Sutton has sounded like a soup taker than entire game
As for Sevco and Sly ….
Mwah, mwah, mwah, mwah, m-w-a-a-a-h
Natural synergy.
Both in the business of fleecing stupid Sevco supporters.
Both using the same technique – “Getting closer”
When the facts, information and evidence don’t fit the narrative both your business models depend on?
Invent some fairytales.
And why not? They’ll swallow ANYTHING.
That mob building themselves up into a frenzy about not getting a pen for the AJ handball. Don’t back doon, double doon!
It’s like stepping into Trumpworld. Bams the log of them.
I think their manager has something about him, but my God their players are mince.
RC on 30TH DECEMBER 2023 8:36 PM
goldson at his usual party trick, try to do the player but go down screaming and thumping the ground to divert the attention from his shocking tackle to him being the player fouled , cheating at its finest.
both kevin thompson and elbows, who’s tackle ruined Berm Kayal’s Celtic career, both did the same to save themselves form a 2nd yellow, in fact the former, who scored the winning goal, was seen up dancing at a party that night.
Finished watching the replay.
Apologies to AJ, I said earlier he was appalling for 90 minutes. He was actually OK for the first half hour.
Still stand by my earlier assertion the subs changed the game – from being very comfortable we went to being stretched and ragged as Oh, MJ, Turnbull and an unfit Abada were brought on to join an unfit Nawrawski to see out the game.
Watching in real time I was highly critical of the manager.
On reflection I still am, but Oh, MJ and Turnbull should be nowhere near the Celtic bench.
THE LONG WAIT IS OVER on 30TH DECEMBER 2023 on the previous article
Our two goals were proper footballers goals – Kyogo scores a goal that no one else in Scottish football can score.
NOT EVEN LAWRENCE SHANKLAND, WITH KRIS BOYD’S BOOTS ON, IN A WARM STUDIO, WITH CHRIS SUTTON RIPPING THE PASH!
T
Speaking of subs
Taylor absolutely roasting MJ for not tracking back was clinical
Showed how much Palma put into the defensive side of his game
Taylor comes across as a leader in all his interviews, especially the stuff he does with Celtic TV
In the past few weeks BR has subtly hinted why MJ is not good enough for Celtic.
Today Greg Taylor made it blindly obvious.
So the narrative is huns deserved to win by smsm……. oh man sides.
Where have I heard that before??? Awe aye every new hun manager…🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Take away the pen they are fecked, bang average shoite.
D. :)
Not long in and watching full programme after watching highlights package.
And I’m looooooooving it.
Bella Ciao. Nah nah nah nah
Yaaaaas
D :)
The late substitutions didn’t work.
Huns kicking up a stink about the refereeing/var. Perfect timing for us to highlight the pattern of assistance they have been afforded, the past few years.
Over to you Mr Chairman. Time to ingratiate yourself to the support
RC on 30TH DECEMBER 2023 8:36 PM
Bang on.
Goldson and that other hun who did Taylor.
After they went down to ten men thought we were on for a 3-0 win so a wee bit disappointing to lose our focus in the latter part of the game. Not so with the result and the win though, which I really did predict, exactly what we needed at this point in time. Great end to 2023. Lets start the New Year with a win over the Saints who will have a wee spring in their step after their demolition job up in Aberdeen. Never predicted that one. Got to keep our wee run going, and use the winter break to regroup, and look forward to the second half of the season. All to play for, three in a row to play for.
Ziggy I am with you amigo.
But our board are spineless, rat, hun, tory bar stewards.
D. :)
Have to post a comment to flip to the next page .
Why ?
TT
What about 16 year old at darts…omg go on son
D. :)
TINYTIM
Use the brave browser, its fast becoming my go to brower as it kills ads and maintains speed
I use it specifically for CQN on my iphone and laptop
Clunks 👍
Tinytim
https://brave.com/download/
https://twitter.com/TimMaloy15/status/1741121517126066504?t=jcr4v_f3MwhxGp5yYA6P7A&s=19
So Ballahun spat on Celtic fans when sent off, surely that’s about a 5 or 6 game ban, the jail for assault, shot, hung, drawn and quartered.
D. :)
Thought we bossed the midfield, even without Hatate our 3 in there were too good for them. Scales was brilliant too. Palma and Maeda put in tremendous work to help the team. Since Maeda has came back into the team its helped us perform better as a unit, the downside is he is terrible on the right wing in terms of end product. His work rate and pressing however is phenomenal. Its going to be a dilemma for Brendan going forward. Horses for courses maybe.
Brendan touched on it but the team dropped down levels when we brought the subs on. Mikey let Tavernier off the leash and it made it uncomfortable for us. For me Turnbull needs to be braver and doesn’t have the physical attributes of others. Abada lacked sharpness.
Brendan has real authority about him when it comes to this fixture. Deep down he knows we need to improve massively but he had the team ready for today and we were worthy winners.
Goodnight Timland big day for me the morra, hogmananny down our local, spot the hun (none really) in pub and sing every karaoke song that would wind up said hun if there is one.
😉😉😉
D. :)
So good today.
So much was really good.
So much could be better.
Every player needs to treat every one of our games from now until May like they did today. Every one is a must win cup final.
Great to see summer dud signings playing their part ….. stand up Bernardo and Narowki. I will be so so happy if we upgrade on these 2 in the window as most on here think we should. Even more so with CCV and Hatate due back fit in January.
Personally thinking a right wing player (it’s not Maedas natural role and Leil can’t bare all the burden) and a right back option (AJ needs a rest imo) alongside a goalkeeper would be my top 3 inbound priorities. Posssibly also cover for Greg who was great again today (never even noticed the wee guy he was up against).
I would settle for really good upgrades this window.
A really good JJ type progressive right back who can invert better and also better top GK as my 2 priorities though.
Let the Liverpool lad go back, maybe Holm could do an Ajer type loan for a season, maybe same for Bernebei and Lagerbelt.
Funny some of the most prolific posters on here this week posted missing tonight. I wonder why ?
I thought our subs were going to bring fresh legs and put the Huns under more pressure … it made us worse and gave them a sniff … Walsh is a cheat … one team was referreed (sic) differently … Callum outstanding, O’Riley & Bernardo worked their socks off, Paulo had to be subbed after getting a yellow for scoring a goal
Scales excellent, Hart some important saves and Greg Taylor puts a shift in
Let the Huns deflect deflect deflect … it’s what they do
Brendan … yet again knows how to win these games, 3pts on Tuesday then in a few weeks time Hatate & CCV back with one or two January signings …
Good times … 🍀
Gftb
There was no need for those substitutions too late anyway nearly cost us a result
Funny some of the most prolific posters on here this week posted missing tonight. I wonder why ?
—
that is, and always has been, such shite patter on here.
give it up.
folk can come and go as they please.
PPB 10.47pm
I think Bernardo needed to go off and I thought at the time the substitutions were excellent (shows what I know) but I think it disrupted us as a unit … but then big Oh got a few free kicks late on and Abada could have slipped O’Riley in …
We won … so Brendan’s subs were magic :-)
Hope you had a great day