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 Andy
Of all the Celtic players you never got the chance to play with who would he be?
MWD
THE EXILED TIM
How’s the weather over there?
The best player I played with, I need to name two because I can’t miss one out. Kenny Dalglish and Jimmy Johnstone. I played for quite a while with Kenny but not so long with Jimmy. Dalgliesh had the ability to create from nothing, a perfect player really. Jimmy Johnstone for those who never saw him live like Timreaper, he was as magical as Lionel Messi. No he more magical than that!
The best game was on a Monday night in May 1979. Can’t remember the score, can you?
We had a great night after it. We were in an Italian restaurant in Sauchiehall Street which was owned by a great Celtic supporter. When we came in to the restaurant he ushered out the remaining customers without charging them for their meal. He shut the door and we proceeded to have a fabulous meal and drank all night until the next morning.
We opened the door just after 8am in the morning and there was a paper vendor across the road. One of the players – I think it was Davie Provan – went and got us all papers and said ‘I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”
It was a glorious night, glorious celebrations – just perfect
Good Evening Andy Lynch
Nice to see you on CQN. Hopefully you are not plagued by the company of that roaster The Winning Captain.
I think I last saw you at the opening of “The Riverside” many years ago when I came along with my dad Jim McGinley.
So here are my questions:
1. What was your favourite European game with Celtic?
and
2. Who was your most difficult opponent whether playing for Celtic or anyone else.
Best of luck with the book and best regards to you and your family.
BRTH (JMcG)
Sandman 7.48pm
Big DJ’s calendar consists of the Motherwell born billionaire, Dave King, Charlie Green, Mike Ashley, Paul Murray, Walter, McCoist, Dodgy Dave, the Cowdenbeath chairman, Warburton, Davie Weir, and for July the wee gay guy on the white horse :-)
Hello Andy
I read that you where part of a consortium that tried to buy Liverpool FC
HH
Hello Andy.
Did you not score another double in a Scottish cup game at well also ?
Hello Andy
Hope you are well. I stayed in Darnley Crescent when you stayed in Stirling Drive in the Briggs. A long time ago!
What was the better personal memory. The
77 Cup Final or the 4-2 game?
Jimbo67
Welcome to CQN Andy,
Thank you for giving up your time.
which player from Scotland would you have liked our club to sign when you were playing.
Andy
What pops are you seeing ?
MIKE IN TORONTO
Am I a Hun? If you have to ask that question you’ve not been to enough games!
I’m not incidentally!
Henrik or Kenny Dalglish? In our lifetimes, the best two players outside the Lisbon Lions in Scottish football, not just at Celtic and Jim Baxter was a good friend of mine and many Celtic players. He’d make the top five. The rest would be Celts.
Toasted Cheese all day long.
BROGAN ROGAN TREVINO AND HOGAN SUPPORTS OSCAR KNOX, MACKENZIE FURNISS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO FIGHTS NEUROBLASTOMA on 24TH OCTOBER 2016 7:51 PM
When I did it we scored 5 and it cost me a pony! These recent feckers got away wi’ a deep sea! It’s no’ fair!
KTF
Andy Lynch – Hi and, Hail Hail
Andy thank you for everything that you did for our club.
Mr Stein’s last ‘double’ in a magical 76/77 season.
I even had your team pic on my schoolbag in those days ;-)
Andy, one last thing…..the most gutted / robbed that I have felt as a Celtic supporter came on, the 7 – 01 – 1978 at ibrox stadium when, we were robbed / mibberied by JRP Gordon and, it was so bad that at one point during that game, the Celtic players walked over to the half way line in front of the dug out and, indicated that they wanted to come off the pitch before being told by Mr Stein to get on with it. I’m sure that you played that day ?
If you did, what was the feeling among the players and Mr stein about that day ?
P.S. You sir, gave the Jungle many a great day – thank you.
Hail Hail
Andy, no question: just abiding great memories of that day at Easter Rd. Wouldn’t have had it without your brilliant intervention against Motherwell, so thanks for that!
KTF
Although we are in a good place at the moment , work on our midfield is very much required . Hate to think of us without Broony .
Good evening Andy , welcome to CQN . Regarding penalties , did you practice them and did you vary your technique ?
Like Sandman I’ve also played fitba with your brother Tommy. Often have a pint with him in the best boozer in Ayr. Looking forward to reading your book. HH
PHILBHOY
Referees eh?
Unfortunately in my era I experienced close up the biased refereeing. It was hotly debated in the 1970s. There was game at Ibrox which i am sure some will remember. I think it was Tom McAdam was about to head the ball into the goal from a yard or to out and Colin Jackson not with the one hand but with the two, pushed him away from the ball in the most blatant penalty you could hope to see.
Everyone expected a penalty kick to be awarded and in a moment as we waited to take the penalty that we thought had been awarded, John Greig grabbed the ball an took a quick goal kick. To our amazement a few Rangers players ran up the park unopposed and amazingly a goal was given.
We couldn’t believe it. The team wanted to walk off the park but Jock Stein told us to get back out and get on with the game. Jock was a clever man and never waned us to go to their level. He made a song and dance about it afterwards.
All we wanted was a fair crack of the whip from referees but we seldom got it.
When I played against Celtic it was never evident for me that they were getting any favours.
Paul 67
Good to see I wasn’t the only thinking Dembele was saved from criticism by his goal. I hope BR is also taking note. OK if we did not have an able sub to step in but I think LG is always capable of changing a game.
Craig Thomson has turned in too many performances like yesterday when refereeing Celtic to wonder why he gets it so critically wrong so often. I hope words are dropping in the right ears.
High time we made SFA sit up and pay proper attention.
vfr800a8 on 24th October 2016 8:05 pm
Go on yersel VFR — shame the feckers lol — shame them into matching your contribution by taking the Aberdeen or Barca challenge when they come up.
You will get your reward in Heaven.
BRTH
Warburton will need to watch himself on the underground – might fall under a train.
Not very good at seeing gaps that clearly exist…
Andy, the first time I remember seeing you playing for us was in a friendly at Kilbowie against the Bankies. You scored four of our 5 goals. It ended 5 4 to us. It was a very enjoyable game.
Regarding our two main signings in the 76/77 season, Pat Stanton and Alfie Conn. Were you and your team mates surprised that we signed seeing as Pat was such a Hibs legend and Alfie for the obvious reason?
Hi Andy, so, are you a Hun?
Everybody get’s asked when they first post, it would be rude not to.
I was at both the Motherwell(OG) game, and the game that followed, Hibs 0-1 with Joe Craig scoring a peach, thanks for that, being carried on shoulders, I was 10, coming up Leith Walk was one of my greatest childhood memories.
When Jock Stein was, ehm, moved upstairs, what did the players think?
Hi Bhoys. Two of us heading over from Ireland for the cup final versus Aberdeen on November 27. We were originally booked to go to the St Johnstone game but that has now been postponed due to the cup final. Would any of u Bhoys know where i’d get my hands on two tickets? All help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Kev J. Andy Lynch.
8.07.
That saves me asking, my first game without my Dad at Ibrox.
Unbelievable cheating. It wasn’t live on TV. You had to be there or even better/worse, play in it to realise how bad it was. I was screaming for the players to go off.
Andy did you ever play in a game or watch a game live where the referring was as obvious as in that game.
VFR, yesterday felt more like 5-0, so I donated £15, and a fiver for reaching the bonus of a clean sheet:-)
BRTH, good luck with the next round.
Andy
Weather is good thanks :-)
I had a feeling you would say two players and you would choose those two, they were magic, for me Jinky is the best I ever saw.
The score….let me think on that one :-)
Many thanks
HH
I see Sourness reckons ‘Rangers’ are 5 years behind Celtic.
I take it he means 5 light years.
Doc
Cheers for that.
Off Oot — I have a date with those two fine full backs Mr Innes and Mr Gunn
All we have ever asked for from the cheats with the whistles is a level playing field, no more, no less.
Timereaper, what other issues, regarding Celtic Park Stadium. In my opinion that old front main stand,is needing some serious upgrading.
Ghuys.
Lynchiebhoy.
Posted the other night and Corkcelt came on, of his self imposed exile, to vouch for him. Saying he’s,a good,Celtic man from Ireland.
I know it will be extremely difficult, especially with Aberdeen wanting a 50/50 share but if anyone has a spare ticket or two can you keep Lynchiebhoy in mind.
Thanks.
!!BADA BING!!
Best player I played against, or the one who gave me the most trouble was Bobby Houston of Patrick Thistle. Bobby is a Celtic supporter and Jock Stein was interested in bringing him to Parched – which would have been nice for me! He was a big strong winger, gutsy, skilful, not as big as Yogi Hughes but over 6 feet. He could take it and dish it out. If I kicked him he’d kick me back harder and not many did that.
I played with Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff and Carlos Alberto who was captain of Brazil – a great experience playing against these players.
The most unrated player at Celtic, players who didn’t get enough credit – Tom McAdam. Tommy Callaghan was a good team player but took stick from the fans. Stevie Murray was a superb player, but went out of the game with a toe injury or would have been a legend.
I don’t like seeing any Celtic player getting abuse. I got it for a couple of months in my second last season when we had a terrible team. Kenny had left and we had a lot of terrible players in that Celtic team. I thought why was I getting it!
I like Leigh Griffiths, he’s a confident wee so and so. Great player. He’ll not get any stick. If Nir Bitton missed that chance that Tom Rogic had the fans would have been on his case. The big guy is struggling just now because he feels the pressure. Is there a song for him we can sing?
I probably posted this yesterday, but I was as drunk as a monkey, so……….
The Honest Mistake, time for a comeback.
And thanks to Wimbledon CSC for the hospitality, grand Bhoys.
Timbhoy3….
What would you define as serious upgrading?
Genuinely interested in your views.
HH
Andy,
I’ve asked you a few questions over the last two years…
My question for you tonight is:
Now that your book is complete (and you love you travel) where are we going to take it?
GDT
They are assuming that the five years is a fixed thing, like if we do nothing for the five years and they over-invest they may well catch up with us.
Good luck with that then :-)
HH
Andy Lynch: Where is the best place for a fans’ café in the environs of Celtic Park?
JNP
Hope you enjoyed Costas the day, hitting ma kip, being off on a Monday is far too tiring, good night fellow Celts and Andy Lynch get posting more :-)
Genuine question. .
If you actually sit in the main stand. And its so terrible. Why not move seats ?