You can only beat the team in front of you, and in that respect, Celtic were scintillating against Nomme Kalju last night. The precision and speed with which they moved the ball was a significant improvement on most of last season, the impact Ryan Christie had on this fact should not be underestimated.
Kalju defended solidly until the opening goal went in. At this, their resistance crumbled. Simultaneously, Boli Bolingoli went off injured, his second injury retirement in three games for Celtic. On this basis, I am not convinced the player is injury-free, which may be inhibiting his performance.
When Mikey Johnston replaced Boli, Kalju were reduced to chasing shadows. When Johnston, Christie, McGregor and Forrest are allowed the dictate tempo to the extent they were last night, they are remarkably effective.
Leigh Griffiths’ goal was cathartic for the player. It was an exceptional free kick, reminiscent of his strike against Hapoel Be’er Shiva three years ago. Last season we succeeded in winning a treble, despite being reduced to one striker for most of the campaign – and to none for some of it. With Leigh back in the squad, Neil Lennon will have options that were not available earlier this year. Including playing two strikers, as he did last night.
With defensive numbers still low. yesterday we signed 28-year-old Israeli Hatem Abd Elhamed. It remains to be seen how Neil Lennon views the player, who made his international debut replacing Nir Bitton last month, and may well replace him as central defensive cover.
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Bhoylo83 you a Hun??? Asking for a friend!!! H H Hebcelt
BHOYLO83
Blue boots
Griff is Scottish – saltire
Eddie is French – les blue
I don’t care if they were union flag boots as long as they score
were = wear
Does anyone know when the closed doors game against Man City under 23s is
Don’t know about you lot however scunnered with this so called BPL heavyweight known as Arsenal.
Hail Hail
Is this hot off the press or old news?
https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/kieran-tierneys-celtic-arsenal-transfer-16644597
St Tams- i read somewhere game is on Saturday….
TURKEYBHOY on 25TH JULY 2019 2:00 PM
I thought they were mince. But it’s ok to disagree. I thought I was quite positive in my assessment. It’s also ok never to be completely satisfied.
TCC
Think it’s a Daily Ranger website
Anyone got a link to the 4th and 5th goals please?
Hopefully someone will know the answer to this question. What strips will sevco wear tonight. Surely they can’t wear Hummel strips after the recent court ruling?
Appointed another first class Celtic man at short notice.
Completed the trinity of trebles.
Claimed eight titles in a row,
Claimed title 14 from 19
Broke our transfer record for a Striker (last season)
Broke our transfer record for a Centre Back (this season)
Broke our transfer record for a Left Back (this season)
Broke our transfer record for a ‘Right Back’ (this season)
Spent £12M of Celtic supporters money, with no sign of spending stopping soon, played three competitive games scored 10 goals.
Perfectly set up for the first Celtic summer festival ever held.
“It’s not always easy being a Celtic fan but it’s always worthwhile”
Sir Fergus CSC
Bhoylo83
Very good! I got the satire!!
Or should that be saltire…….!!
:-)
Short highlights I hope
https://youtu.be/6yASxRwmlGg
Gene.
Ta
Weejoe
Of course they can – court case about damages due to breach of contract with sports direct about replica sales.
Cricket becoming interesting again England 194-5 a lead of 72
And Johnnie bairstow 🦆🦆
Thanks Gene.
WEEJOE
think the court case was about Sport Direct’s ability to match and deliver any offer to provide services by others (in this case Elite).
Who provides the strip is really immaterial as all SD or Elite are doing are using the licence from a kit maker (Hummel or who ever) to manufacture kit and sell it on. Its Elite who manufacture the stuff not Hummel.
So SD dont really have a beef with Hummel. Their beef is that they should be the ones who can churn out the stuff in their east Asian sweat houses and make the profit on all those XXL shirts the bears love to wear.
So the rangers will wear Hummel stuff tonight because that isn’t really the crux of the arguement.
(As an aside. The merchandise for the official rangers team IS provided directly by Hummel. Via their ‘Hummel International’ arm. So they were directly responsible for the wrong Chevrons on some training gear.)
Not so sure Gene. The original contract is with SDI so my take is that an Ashley company should have been manufacturing and selling the strips. Not too sure though, hence the question.
TCC if I remember correctly Ashley owns Adidas so I would think that he had them tied into a manufactute/sell deal using the relevant subsidiary companies. I. E. Adidas makes them and Sports Direct sells them and Ashley wins both ways. I might be wrong.
WEEJOE
what complicates it is that in the judges decision he mentions that SD were quite happy for the Puma deal to be continued with (because SD have a good relationship with Puma).
At the end of the Puma deal you might be right. SD maybe not so happy with a brand they are not so cosy with.
But the main thing to remember that when it comes to the kit company in relation to rangers. The kit company only supply the license. All the manufacturing is done by SD (or Elite).
SD dont own Adidas. They own a few brands like Admiral and Lonsdale. But they dont iwn Adidas.
Gene- i thought Bairstow was trying to damage the pitch in the 1st innings.?
Parkheadcomesalford.
Re sobering thoughts: can you e mail me via Paul?
On the game itself I was delighted with NLs reading of the game when Mbombo went off. From Twitter.
” Have I missed any comment about NL replacing Mbombo with Johnston? It was obvious the opposition were no attacking threat on left but we weren’t quite taking advantage going forward.I expected Hayes to come on but delighted to see Johnston who helped total 2nd half domination.”
It asks questions of Mbombo who is strong, fast but not gifted with an easy first touch.
I think/hope that can be coached, I developed mine on the tight black ash pitches of Glasgow Green (what a mis nomer) after the 7-1 years and it was a fickle gift, deserting me when I chose the married life, but returned after I dutifully obeyed that calling. So there is hope but the lad is a tad too anxious to impress, but who wouldn’t be with either having to replace KT or compete for same position?
Relax son, when you receive the ball caress it as you would any good lady in your life,then cross it as well and as quickly as you can in the same spirit of keeping a good relationship going. :)
I think he was just trying to be aggressive and putting the bowlers off with their length – lots of batsmen dance down the pitch (beyond the 5foot) when playing spin.
Found the warnings a bit strange.
OK…. Let me stick my neck out and say it…
Lewis Morgan will be a sensational player for us for years to come.
HH
Auldheid
“when you recieve the ball caress”
I think you missed an (important) comma after ball ….
just about spat out my drink as I was reading that …
:)
Gene- thanks, i wonder what VP’s take on it is?🏏
Boli…..
Plays like Camara at the moment but I’m sure there is more to the package.
Let the young man settle, get to know his team mates and discover what it is we are and what we do.
HH
Morning Paul & all
In the 2nd half last night we looked excellent as the Nomme lads conceded two thirds of the pitch to us.
We were always in control of the game but they seemed to tire or just run out if resistance.
No failures on the night & some took the opportunity to show what they can do if given the chance.
Boli looks a good player but is still adjusting to the way NFL wants the team to operate. If the 2 injuries in three games involved the same injuryt then perhaps…but otherwise…West of Scotland food does require morre adjustment for some than others.
Our dead ball practice is clearly paying off I think…
Goal #1, header from a freekick, but why did the defence put one man on Griff & Kris?
Goal #2, dead cert penalty & dead ball execution by Ryan.
Goal #3, dead ball freekick into corner from Griff.
Johnson has improved since his various cameos last season – he used to try to dribble through every defence and try to score. This season he seems more relaxed, more willing to lay it off and to draw defenders in. He was impressive as soon as he came on last night.
Morgan was effective but in a different way: his role seems to be to get crosses in rather than try to weave his way past opponents. He put in several crosses last night, mostly with his right and it seemed to me that those in the middle were surprised that the ball was delivered in so early on the deck. He has matured during his spell at Sunderland and NFL has him playing to his strengths. I don’t imagine that many SPFL fullbacks will relish playing against him.
We had leaders on the field last night – the senior players stepped up & showed the young guns how to play for Celtic. Strange how I consider Ajer to be a leader yet he is still a young gun. I’m very pleased for Neil Lennon, because his positive influence was there for all to see. He was a good manager in his first stint, but he’s improved since then.
If we can reduce the number & extent of injuries to key players then we may well have the kind of season that we deserve. We have a squad with very good morale and it was telling how all the outfield players went into the corner to embrace Leigh Griffiths after he scored. There seemed to be something special in those moments but maybe I’m an old softie.
Great too to see Hatem talk on Celtic TV this morning of his friendship with Nir Bitton & Beram Kayal. The latter gave him glowing reports on Celtic and the former is helping him settle in.
We will face sterner opposition but how often have we looked unconvincing in these qualifiers? Nomme were further into their season then we were and seemed to be 0-0 draw specialists – usually excuses that we’ve relied on when we scape 1-0 wins against temas like them.
Great Celtic TV pictures last night too – so kudos to them also.
HH
https://youtu.be/MzDj0j15SYo
Shane v Rory….😆
Neveralone agree about Morgan, though he seems to have his critics among our support. got a good feeling about this group of players. H H Hebcelt
THE COMFORTABLE COLLECTIVE on 25TH JULY 2019 4:03 PM
WEEJOE
FFS
Ye cant get 50000 attending slimming world & dropping three sizes before the season starts :))))))))
On the rare occasions when i take the car and park it halfway to work i pass by Snake Mountain, imagine my surprise to be stuck behind the Sports Direct Truck as it made its way into the car park at the back of the Broomloan Road stand, i afforded myself a wry smile
They tried to make me go to rehab
GENE on 25TH JULY 2019 3:52 PM
Short highlights I hope
https://youtu.be/6yASxRwmlG
………………………
Gene, thanks for those highlights.
Some talk last night that their keeper got a hand to the free kick. From the view in front of the goal it looked a bit like it, but it’s clear that that was just an illusion. Keeper got no hand to it.
H
Good luck to Aberdeen tonight