While Celtic totally controlled the first half at Ibrox yesterday, Newco’s defence held firm and largely limited the visitors to shots from the edge of the area. Leigh Griffiths’ effort from that distance was touched onto the post but over the 90 minutes there was not a single chance where an attacker from either team should have scored.
Steven Gerrard made changes at halftime that made marginally reduced Celtic’s advantage, but not so much as to permit his side an attempt on target, even after Celtic were reduced to 10 men.
Nir Bitton played well until his red card. He and the impeccable Kristoffer Ajer brought authority and control to the game as they circulated the ball for Celtic. A momentary lapse that allowed Alfredo Morelos to collect goal-side of him saw Bitton grapple his opponent to the ground. Referee Bobby Madden waved his red card in a flash.
Morelos was in a wide position, Ajer, who had already demonstrated his pace by catching and overtaking Newco’s fastest player, Ryan Kent, was covering in a central position. The Laws of the Game ask referees to make a judgement on whether he thinks the covering defender would be able to make up the ground, Madden decided to show Morelos the advantage.
Madden also showed Morelos the advantage five minutes into the game, when the Columbian stamped on Jeremie Frimpong’s Achilles in an off the ball incident. Madden awarded Celtic a foul, but used his discretion to keep both cards in his pocket when many expected a red card. The referee determined the outcome.
Celtic conceded fewer chances yesterday than in any game in months but the goal came from a familiar failing – corner kicks. A ricochet struck Callum McGregor and flew past Vasilis Barkas, who had little else to do all afternoon.
The game was lost for a few reasons: despite our control of play, Newco’s defence stood firm, we did not get into the box or hit the bye-line often enough. Bobby Madden had two decisions to make and you could bet your mortgage he was not making them in Celtic’s favour. Despite the unfortunate nature of the own goal, we again conceded from a corner.
Had we lost and played in the manner we had in our previous three games against Newco the verdict would be straightforward: the better team won and is firm favourite to take the title. I don’t think that is the case, instead, it has taken us until now to make the correct selection and formation decisions against them.
A must-win game was lost, leaving Celtic 19 points clear with three games in hand. Newco are a club who find it difficult to get trophies over the line. They are defensively solid, but I think their league position flatters them. There is work to do for both teams.
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Only thing this board pays attention to is ST sales. Don’t renew and if you want to go to a game buy a ticket, there will be plenty around. Might even add a bit of interest seating all round the stadium, although questionable whether you want to spend £30 on watching Hamilton😱
CHANNELISLANDCELT- VG
The trip to Dubai has happened the last 3 or 4 years. Today would have been a ‘rest’ day whether we were in Glasgow or Dubai. Pictures of our players ‘relaxing’ round the pool isn’t the worst footage I’ve witnessed this weekend. Don’t get me wrong about how this will be painted in the media. And yes, with hindsight, we should have been more aware of how this would pan out and maybe rethought the Dubai trip. But I’m not joining in on the ‘ooooh look at what those bad boys are doing…’ brigade. I’m pretty sure even in St Brendan’s days that on arrival in Dubai it would have been a couple of beers as opposed to straight to bed. Relax today, but 6 days hard training ahead is how I see it.
Had we won yesterday and we were all thinking ‘win the games in hand and we are 4 points behind’ then I think the Dubai trip (beers and all) would have been viewed differently.
Aff oot….but results will be out shortly after 10…. cqnpoty@gmail.com
JOBO BALDIE on 3RD JANUARY 2021 8:54 PM
Against the restrictions most are suffering because of covid it’s sending all the wrong messages.
You can utter words all day ,but action is better than words .
Ask for a refund on your season tickets then don’t renew .
JOBO BALDIE
Had we won yesterday and we were all thinking ‘win the games in hand and we are 4 points behind’ then I think the Dubai trip (beers and all) would have been viewed differently
——————————————————–
But in fact……………we didny.
And yes, I view it quite differently.
We had better win the league……………………………
Too much Christmas whisky for me tonight so I bid you all a good night.
ERNIE LYNCH on 3RD JANUARY 2021 8:59 PM
Correct 100%
8 wins in 19 games, 22 points behind when we start back……fill your boots Bhoys…….
From a Celtic perspective, is there anything we are doing well at the moment
Scoring goals
Defending
Fitness
Supporter liaison
Protecting the brand
Scouting
Signings
Set pieces
Governance
Marketing
Tactics
Anything? As I look, we are pretty patchy right across the spectrum in which we operate.
I’m surprised no action is being taken against under performing employees
Pretty shocking really
The Celtic owners and Board are a law unto themselves.
I thought you’d all be used to that by now.
Fuck the lot of them!
PHILBHOY
I’ve heard Lawwell is there but can’t say for certain.
Philbhoy
Have another whisky👍👍
I will say 5 decades of the rosary tonight asking God and the Blessed Virgin Mary to cure the ills of the world.
No football teams will be mentioned in my prayers.
AN DUN
Criminal if any of the board are there.
But they don’t give a monkeys.
And we put up with it.
Not a penny more.
Pope Francis has condemned people who had gone abroad on holiday to escape coronavirus lockdowns, saying they needed to show greater awareness of the suffering of others.
Speaking after his weekly noon blessing, Francis said he had read newspaper reports of people catching flights to flee government curbs and seek fun elsewhere.
“They didn’t think about those who were staying at home, of the economic problems of many people who have been hit hard by the lockdown, of the sick people – only about going on holiday and having fun,” he said.
“This really saddened me,” the pope said in a video address from the library of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/03/pope-francis-condemns-travelling-abroad-to-escape-coronavirus-lockdowns
Good night and may God help our friends in need.
Ernie- I thought you were at the wind up until I seen the link….
ERNIE
The board couldn’t give a monkeys what the Pope says.
Is he even a Celtic supporter?
Get on wi’ it board, enjoy yersels.
What an embarrassment to decent people everywhere, celtic supporters or otherwise.
They couldn’t spell shame.
K
Maybe we could have a competition to see who could come up with the most imaginative way how not to support Celtic in the future
Plenty entrants on here that is for sure
Pray that we get knocked out of the Scottish Cup
Demand a refund
Report Celtic to the Fraud Squad
Refuse to buy a season ticket
Report the Bhoys to the Booze Police in the Middle East
Hang ‘Em High
andthatisjustforstarterscsc
CELTIC MAC
Report Celtic to the Fraud Squad
===================
You’ll huv tae wait til they get hame fae Dubai.
Ah well bang goes Francis’s trip to Baghdad in the Spring!
Well life could be worse like the lad on Beat the Chasers, chasers one second left, boy 20. He loses by that one second for £100k😱
Good evening.
Has been suggested on here that Celtic might even finish 3rd in the league.
Genuine question …..
Who won’t renew their season ticket if that happens?
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
https://twitter.com/CelticResearch/status/1345846102763909121?s=08
Covid stats in UAE….
We were much the better team for an hour yesterday.
Dubai – the official party is not travelling ‘economy’ (apparently and logically). The players also earn more than national average wage. So please stop the outrage. They are elite sportsmen. they were elite sportsmen before COVID and will be same after COVID. If you did not complain last year then don’t complain this year.
I don’t think we will win the league this year (but I would love to be wrong). If we have a suitable high quality candidate as coach then I would give hime/her the job now.
Take care all
*CQN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2020-21*
RESULTS FROM GAME #32 – SEVCO 1 CELTIC 0
For 62 minutes I had absolutely no complaints about the way we had performed and “all” that was lacking was a goal. And then Big Nir, who I thought was, like most players, playing very well gave the referee the chance he had been waiting for. A borderline red for me but what a game changer that turned out to be.
In many ways the game was the mirror image of last season’s league cup final when they battered us 0-1, mostly thanks to Fraser Forster. This time, despite not having a single target on goal, Sevco still managed to take the points thanks to a deflected own goal off the shoulder of Callum McGregor.
Until the red card I was feeling very confident, not just that we would win the game but also the league; I really did feel we were putting down a marker and that the ensuing pressure may see them crumble. But, alas it was not to be.
The bookies seem certain that the league is not over with odds of 9/1 against Celtic recovering the 19 point deficit. Realistically that’s probably now the case although the remaining January fixtures might (I said might) offer the last remaining ray of hope: we play Hibs and Hamilton at home and Livingston home and away whilst Sevco have a home tie against Ross County but 3 away trips to Aberdeen, Motherwell and Hibs. Only if we win all 4 and they only win 2 would I say that the title is still a possibility.
Back to yesterday’s game and difficult to pick 3 players with quite a number of fine performers. Thank you to the 50 who voted. The votes cast for each player (with my own choices asterisked) are as follows –
Barkas: 0
Frimpong*: 27
Bitton: 1
Ajer*: 54
Laxalt: 7
Soro: 39
McGregor*: 15
Christie: 0
Turnbull: 15
Griffiths: 7
Edouard: 3
Duffy: 0
Elyounoussi: 0
Brown: 0
Elhamed: 0
Rogic: 0
So, the players receiving points for the Sevco game are –
Ajer – 5 points
Soro – 4 points
Frimpong – 3 points
McGregor – 2 points
Turnbull – 2 points
And, after a 10 game occupancy of the top spot by Diego Laxalt we now have a new leader of the overall table –
1st – Ajer – 50 points
2nd – Laxalt and McGregor – 49 points
4th – Christie – 44 points
5th – Frimpong – 43 points
6th – Brown – 29 points
7th – Turnbull – 26 points
8th – Soro – 24 points
9th – Elyounoussi – 23 points
10th – Rogic – 19 points
11th – Edouard – 18 points
12th – Duffy – 17 points
13th – Ntcham – 16 points
14th – Griffiths – 14 points
15th – Bitton– 12 points
16th – Taylor – 11 points
17th – Barkas – 9 points
18th – Ajeti – 8 points
19th – Elhamed – 7 points
20th – Forrest, Jullien and Klimala – 5 points
23rd – Bain and Welsh – 4 points
25th – Hazard – 3 points
26th – Bolingoli, Dembele, Henderson and Johnston – 0 points
We now have a bit of a wait for our next game which is on Monday 11th January when we entertaining Hibs, kick off 7.45pm.
Hail Hail!
Nick,
This year is nothing like last year.
Absolutely no comparison.
Mick- go look at the league table, and go switch on the news,not necessarily in that order.
Nick,sorry ☝️
Manager looks as if he’s having a lovely time.
Must be missing Tennents Bar.
Someone at the wind up voting for Bitton
NICK on 3RD JANUARY 2021 10:11 PM
Think the photies from Dubai will help shift season books?
Nick
If you did not complain last year then don’t complain this year.
Sorry bhoy but covid was not well known this time last year
Hello again all you young rebels.
I’ve heard that red biddy is good for you, in moderation granted.
So I’ve convinced myself I just might live to see another go at the ten.
Anythings possible with Celtic, magical things do happen there.
OpTIMisticCSC.
H.H. Mick
P.S. Still nae ugly huns aboot.
Our previous trips to Dubai have been during a midwinter football season break – a 4 week break in the league, so a midwinter training camp to recharge batteries for the resumption of the season
There is no league break to the league this season
Granted Our next game is 8 days away ( playing on Mon 11th)
Total lack of professionalism being shown on this trip
Anyone surprised by that ???
LUCKY CODY on 3RD JANUARY 2021 7:46 PM
Turkeybhoy,
It’s reality whether you like it or not. Across the entire Celtic spectrum It is a common view that Lawwell has failed and is responsible for the last 18 months.
÷÷÷ how does that assertion,be it true or not,transfer into the board room? ÷÷÷÷÷÷
In any other business he would have been sacked for one of his many previous failures —- he has clung on as it was the path of least resistance for Dermot Desmond.
÷÷÷÷÷he is not in any other business.he is in the football business.now am sure if i was head hunting PL i could track his success as it is our clubs success.i could also track and analyze his decision making in corporate terms thro 20 years of financial accounts and the decisions made and why.it would fit.it would not be a fit in fan terms tho as res12 then 11 proved.
I would also say he has not “clung to path of least resistance for Dermot Desmond” this is incorrect and just wrong.Everything PL does is within the parameters set by our panamapapered 40odd% shareholder Dermot.÷÷÷÷÷÷÷
I can’t see him escaping again —- this is all on him and he knows it.
÷÷÷÷÷No it is not.it is up to a point.i recall Dermot in 2012 complimenting the vermins support,their great history et al so if you are wondering why we floundered this year look at him.÷÷÷÷÷
Happy new year to you
The scene in Dubai really does say it all- particularly the manager pinting away- doesn’t look too worried about his immediate future.
We’ve been taken for fools for years by the board.
After the biggest footballing failure since helicopter Sunday, we have the manager and captain appearing to care a lot less than we do. In fact, when I think about it, why the f**k should WE care?