For all of our dominance yesterday, you have to think there is room for considerable improvement. Passing in the first half was frequently poor, shooting throughout the game was invariably off target, and when we managed to keep it down and between the sticks, the keeper was able to read the shot. Gilks played well, but the truth is we flattered him.
Moussa Dembele grabbed all the headlines with his back-heel-flick-nutmeg-winning-goal, but I spent much of the game debating whether it was time he was rested. Against Newco last month, he held the ball up and linked play, while finding and exploiting space. Yesterday his linking was poor and he seldom found space.
The incisiveness we enjoyed watching as recently as the outing against Manchester City, was missing against Gladback on Wednesday and at Hampden yesterday.
There were also enormous positives. Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko were absolutely critical on Celtic’s grip on the game. Their positioning – when we were in possession – kept the ball flowing. They both gave us playmaker performances, and they didn’t miss a beat defensively either.
Again, just as on Wednesday, it didn’t work for Nir Bitton. When we play out from central defence like this the deep-lying playmaker role is crucial. He need to create space for us to move the ball forward, while he becomes an auxiliary defender as our full backs are so high up the field.
Stuart Armstrong came on and played higher up-field than Bitton and managed to put the squeeze on Newco.
The game reminded me of the League Cup semi-final two years ago, when Celtic subjugated an impotent Newco without scoring the volume of goals their superiority deserved. There was a chasm between the teams, which makes my belief that Celtic can play a lot better all the more interesting. Conversely I suspect that was a high water mark for Mark Warburton’s team.
The portents are good that he believes that game was a sign of progress.
As for Craig Thomson, that was self-evidently not good enough.
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Hi Bhoys
Just like to throw this one into the ring.
How about playing LG as a silky passing number 10 who can throw in more than a few goals.
His ability to pick the right pass in forward areas looks pretty good to me if we can sign another Broony to lock up the middle of the park we could just let LG float in the number 10 area.
I know Brendan likes Moussa as his number 9 and really don’t want LG to get fed up sitting on the bench and run the risk of losing him.
KEEP THE FAITH
GFTB
And he is still spouting that glibby will spend :-)
HH
TONYROME
I thot he took over TR’s position when he came on yesterday, and did a fine job :-)
HH
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY & TOMTHETIM –
I am pretty sure Kenny Miller was snarling at one of his own players for not putting the pass where he wanted it, rather than bad-mouthing Erik.
Watch it again. He was definitely giving one of his own players (out of camera shot) a real mouthful.
Yip. . play Griff anywhere. Just get him in the starting eleven.
Pressure on King and he will deflect this straight to Warbiola. I suspect they will look now to go for the hammer throwers and start hoofing it. ….. Cue manger exit in January 2017.
We still need more work on supporting the man with the ball , and shifting it out the middle quicker
HH
In the 10-second interludes between knocking back Tiger Woods adverts, I want to join in the praise of Broonie.
He was majestic, imperious yesterday, and he has been all season.
I know he was carrying an injury last season but even so, I feared that we might have seen the best of him.
But he has IMO been playing the best football of his career this past 4 months.
What has sparked this – Brendan, being injury-free at last, calling time on his Scotland career – I have no idea.
But long may it continue!
Paul67, I thought your leader was a bit harsh.
The season is, what, two months in – or three for us because of the CL qualifiers.
We’ve already played more games, in far-flung parts of the world, for high stakes, in 2 to 3 months than any of our opponents will play in the entire season. Maybe more than all of them combined.
Yesterday was our third game in 8 days IIRC, the middle one being of course the vital Gladbach match. No wonder some of the players look like they have lost a little bit of edge.
Put that together with the fact that Brendan has been here only about three months and is working with what is basically Ronny’s squad, not his own, and I think we have performed miracles, or rather, Brendan has.
When we were horsed 7-0 in Barcelona, I really feared that there might be a reaction – a beating like that can set young players back years.
Not a bit. Dropped points in Inverness, but we do that every season, avoided the Alloa banana-skin in the League Cup, hammered Kilmarnock then put on a real show against Citeh.
Huge disappointment last week v Gladbach but then we come out and wipe the floor with The Apartheid Spivs.
Brendan promised a rollercoaster, and he wasn’t exaggerating. Our programme of games takes a toll on the players, but we are still on track. And I think the experience gained this season will be absolutely precious.
GERRYFRAETHEBRIG
I agree we will really miss him but hopefully he has a few years yet.
Now i hope we sign a good yin to play alongside him in january.
We have an abundance of midfielders and i thought Armstrong has shown a lot recently.
We just need to be better balanced in the central midfield area.
Bfdj says investors in the city already put in £10 million.
Hahahahaha.
He is mental
Am I logged in yet?
If so BURGAS HOOPS, here goes.
It was a Wednesday night, we were going through to Motherwell and there was an outside possibility that if he won and Rangers lost then we could possibly have won the Championship that night. However things didn’t work out well for us on the night, I was “credited” with two OGs!
The first OG came about when Motherwell had a free kick 25 yards out. I was part of the wall, former Celt Vic Davidson was playing for Motherwell. He took the free kick, it wasn’t even a good one and it wasn’t on target – it hit my knee and unfortunately ended up in the net behind our keeper Roy Baines who I think was making his Celtic debut.
The second OG came from a long cross into the penalty box. I was running back with a Motherwell awaiting for Roy Baines to come and collect but as there was no shout, which is critical incidentally, I played the ball back to where I thought he’d be, which was the middle of the goals but to my absolute horror when I turned Roy was standing right behind me!
I was distraught at the final whistle and in the dressing room the manager Jock Stein asked Roy if he gave me a shout. Roy to his credit put his hands up and said he didn’t call for it and took the blame. Then Big Jock turned to me and said “Kipper, I thought for a minute you were going to score a hat-trick there.”
I don’t think Roy Baines played again for the first team.
There was no Champagne brought to Motherwell that night. Jock believed we’d win it on the Saturday at Easter Road and as usual he was right!
I played in that game which as you would expect was a complete sell out. The Celtic fans were on in an hour before kick off so we were surprised when we went out to warm up to see them all there so early. They really lifted my spirits from the Wednesday by chanting my name very loudly. It was really appreciated.
I gave the ball to Dalglish who set up Joe Craig fro the only goal. I headed one off the line too so that made up for Motherwell.
Hello Andy
Welcome to CQN!
tonyrome
my thoughts also
He wants it gives it sees it and can deliver it.
Andy
Hold on a minute
2 OG’s …and you think clearing one off the line cancels that out
No …not good enough
Oh all right then throw in the 77 cup final and we will call it quits
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 24TH OCTOBER 2016 4:27 PM
When I watched the game for the second time last night, I noted more clearly the incident when Erik the Viking shepherded the ball out of play over the byleline frustrating an enraged Kenny Miller in the process. The frustrated Miller snarled and moaned and for a brief moment when the camera caught him, he looked exactly like one of the vampires that you used to see on Buffy the Vampire Slayer – without the make-up
*reminds me of the footage of the incident when that mad man bile causes a near riot at the end of the game at Fir Park, wee burnt face can be seen standing at the back, ala mcsleekit at Easter Road, with an angry face and his fist clenched, unlike chauncey he never ventured any further.
Evening Andy,
Sorry i don’t have a question for you, you retired long after i was born :))
Regards
Mr Lynch
What do you make of our wee Kieran Tierney ?
TET
It’s priceless pinning their hopes on a self confesssed tax evader
Before, rather.
Welcome Andy Who was the best player you played with, and who was the best you played against, what game did you enjoy playing in the most ?
HH
Andy,
I’ll get straight to the important questions…..
1. Henrik or King Kenny?
2. roasted, toasted or grilled?
ps….. the normal first question for any new poster is ‘are you a hun?’ (CQN initiation), but I think we can probably skip that, as you are probably okay on that front :)
How did Reagan and Doncaster find the time to set out the Sevco display yesterday .
Welcome Andy!
Most Celtic supporters I know believe refs allow the opposition to foul us sometimes with impunity.
Or yellows instead of reds.
Did you experience this either playing for us or against us?
Thanks.
Fan-a-Tic
Am with you re Broony
WHAT IS THE STARS
Well I had better luck with goalkeepers that day!
Big Stewart Kennedy was in goals for them. It seemed like forever before I got the ball to take the penalty kick. As the referee tried to clear the protesting Rangers players out of the box, Stewart Kennedy had the ball in his hands. I approached him and he shrugged his shoulders and through me the ball. I looked at him and knew that I had him, his actions were defeatist and game me bags of confidence. I knew than that I would score.
The rest as they say is history!
Welcome Andy, who were the best players you played with and against? And who was the most underated player at Celtic when you played there?
TET- great minds and all that…..
THETIMREAPER
I will age you on Thursday night at the CQN Fives. I am making my debut but hope to avoid scoring any own goals. What colour of bib will you have on? Card is marked!
Andy Lynch, scorer of the pristine penalty in the first cup final I was allowed to watch in 77. Then we learned a song in your honour.at school on the Monday courtesty of an itinerant gymn teacher who was still recovering from a celebratory bender. Great days.
Used to play fives regularly with your brother Tommy about 20 years back – think he still claimed to be the better player :)) Saw him a few months back and still looked fit as a fiddle.
My question: that penalty in 77, Andy – did you have your mind made up prior to the kick where it was going (your regular side?) or was it a spur of the moment decision based on feeling?
Welcome Andy, watched you many many times from the Jungle over the years.
What was your favourite position – winger or left back?
Starry Plough
Big DJ later informed the listeners it’s October, he knows his months of the year if nothing else
Hi Andy….
Great to have you on CQN
I’m greedy enough to ask two questions!
1. Your outstanding memory of Jock Stein (excluding signing you lol)
2. Your thoughts on the football as played today in comparison to your time.
HH
Hi Andy
I’m the same as this guy:
THETIMREAPER on 24TH OCTOBER 2016 7:28 PM
Evening Andy,
Sorry i don’t have a question for you, you retired long after i was born :))
=================
Honest.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
Kieran is a hugely popular player with the Celtic support who love one of our coming through the ranks. He has passed every hurdle with flying colours and will go right to the top in the game. Sometimes with young players you will get a dip, he is still learning the game and in the Champions League he is playing against the very best. That experience will help Kieran become the complete player that he promises to be.
Let’s take our time in making comparisons to Danny McGrain. Kieran is a wonderful talent and will get to that level but let’s all enjoy the journey with him while he is doing it.
At some point he could benefit from a wee spell out of the team. He is a young boy who is still developing as a footballer and as a man and we must remember that.
Ok Andy, I have a question my older brother wants to ask you, if that’s ok ?
What makes you laugh the loudest ? When you hear BFSDJ greeting he never handled the ball for your penalty winner in 1977 or when he claims they are still the same club ?
Gerryfaethebrig on 24th October 2016 7:41 pm
Starry Plough
Big DJ later informed the listeners it’s October, he knows his months of the year if nothing else
=======================================================
Only because he could see the Page 3 calendar on the studio wall.
Evening All,
Can I just say a big thankyou to all who took the Sevco challenge and have paid into the charity sleepout fund.
You are truly special people.
Thanks Very Much.
There will no doubt be another challenge somewhere around the corner.
BRTH
Andy, thank you for your reply, I agree with all you said, if I can ask another question (I know you will have many others picking your brains)
What do you think of Scott Brown “looking after” Kieran ?
Again, thanks for your reply I have been a bit apprenhensive asking Celtic legends questions, hope you enjoy your wee night on Cqn
A single goal from us in the 87th minute was the perfect result yesterday. (Heart palpitations aside over the idea of another penalty shootout.)
Can you imagine the uglies up in the stands, desperately hanging on, hoping for some miracle that they can actually get a shot on goal? No emptying of the stands from the “no surrender” rabble. Just perfect orchestration and timing to maximize the agony.
Only for Griff and Moussa to dash their faint hopes, as their asbestos riddled world collapses around them.
Priceless.
Andy Lynch
I’m sure u won’t remember but back in the day , 35 years ago or so u paid a visit along with your lovely wife to a young Celtic daft kids house , en route to a Player of the year dance in Winchburgh.
I was that kid!!!!
Still got the photos.
My Dad’s boss Conn Tolland arranged for u to pop in.
Many thanks for that.
HH