The headline at halftime had a familiar feel, Celtic’s run of poor results looked like continuing, but despite this, we dared to hope a corner had been turned. The apparent lack of Commitment to the Cause which – seemed to envelop the team (I may be wrong) was not evident. Instead, players looked up for it.
Whatever ailed Kieran Tierney until recently was not evident, this was the KT we remembered. Available and energetic. Sebastian Tounekti looked to be synchronised with his left-sided partner. A word too for Michel-Ange Balikwisha, his late cameo brought energy and a bit of physicality which helped get the game over the line.
Benjamin Nygren was destined for headlines after last night. I counted six headed chances he had. Benji is not a winger, nor is he a target-man striker, but he has a nose for goal and after passing up four headed chances, he connected with a corner to put Celtic ahead. He needed the goal; we all did.
Just three minutes earlier Liam Scales drew Celtic level, a move which also started with a corner, following yet another Nygren chance. The equaliser was not a glorious goal, Colby Donovan’s cross was mis-hit, but Scales shifted his body angle and made the necessary connection.
You are going to think I am ridiculous, but hear me out. There is a Celtic European tradition of sticking a foot out to make contact with a ball and divert it into the net. When Liam’s shot crossed the line, I got the feeling things were going to be OK. Inspired by legends, and all that!
I was calling for Reo Hatate to be hooked for most of the game. That spark he so-often brings was absent. However, he proved important during the last 20 minutes. Despite being a man down, Strum were able to get into the Celtic final third far too often. Reo was the man who slowed the play down and looked to impose structure.
We need to learn to hold the ball better. This involves players moving into space, and not passing to others who do not have more than one option. Reo’s muscle memory for this was evident. Better game management would have kept Sturm out of our box during added time.
The game cost us Kelechi Iheanacho and Alastair Johnston, both likely to be out for a month at least. We win things because we have the biggest budget and strongest squad. It is for others to step up.
Last night’s attendance seemed down on the Braga game three weeks earlier, but those who were there were as committed to the task as the players. The stadium had an energy about it, which perhaps lifted players’ confidence. That quality – confidence – is as important a takeaway as the three points.
223 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Richard Ashcroft – Lucky Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxFhbqvEd2w&list=RDMM&index=27
The Big Push – I Shot the Sheriff/Road to Zion/Hip Hop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSeCuR51rek&list=RDMM&index=27
Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4m5jQy5A2U&list=RDMM&index=27
Evanescence – Bring Me To Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3MKTm-49uI&list=RDMM&index=27
Rocky Horror Picture Show The Time Warp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC1E8yVJIS4
and we are back…..,
view from the Hill
@antearmann1967
https://x.com/antearmann1967/status/1978595222650077559
………
TEN DAYS and this fake news propaganda smear campaign has not a single like or retweet from any of his followers. lol
Your on the wrong side of history mann!
HH
oot.
dammit…..
Welcome to the jangle…..
Guns N’ Roses – Patience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErvgV4P6Fzc&list=RDMM&index=27
Top of the table meeting today
Eastern brethren top of the table, some on here are trerrified of a mathematical algorithm, Derek Mcinnes and wee Nicky in midfield to use a CQN cliche dearie me
Brendans ego worries me, it will be his misfiring 4-3-3 today, the front three will be another gamble again, a midfielder shoehorned into right wing, a C/F plus a left winger who don’t score goals, and don’t contribute too much defensively either, our hopes will rest on our 3 in midfield coming out on top despite being outmaned, and a new back four the make up of it none of us can confidently predict, what we do know it will be put to the test with the SFRA finest giving plenty of set piece opportunity to the league leaders
My outlook would be away to the top of the league, tight pitch, raucous home crowd, win the battle over the first hour, do not concede, even hopefully maybe have your nose in front, then game management to either secure a win or at least get away with a point, is there anyone in the management team who has managed to talk the ego into landing, we will see
The British at the Indian Border in 1608
https://youtu.be/_8SjH9UzGak?si=JqaYOdWH85XUenPe
Johnny Kenny.
Think its safe to say every player will perform better with confidence, but whether there’s any individual position that applies to more than others is up for debate, whether its goalies, full backs, central defenders, midfielders, wingers or strikers.
He’s hardly been involved, yet I thought he did really well after getting an unexpected run out on Thursday.
Must have been quite a surprise to suddenly get thrown into the game.
Was he just a little too eager with some of those chances?
Would he have buried a few of them if he knew he was The Man?
Having that confidence to take that wee moment to get his body right and be prepared to go for a nonchalant finish instead of just trying to get the shot away?
He’s probably got a few opportunities now to show what he can do.
Can he take a bit of extra confidence from that and go out there knowing he is now The Man(for a few games at least) and hopefully settle enough to stick some of those chances away?
It’s a huge opportunity for him.
Hope he takes it!
We are the lowest goal scorers in the SPL top six
Hope whatever 11 wear that strip at noon it shouldn’t shrink, lets hope it stays in full shape
If its Johnny Kenny who morphs into Henrik today brilliant or if Johnny shins it and in ends up in the net for the winner I will be very happy for him, we do know he is an honest trier and will give his best, he needs to lift his level that fact is undeniable
Today is the day when champions are made. We are depleted without Maeda Jota CCV and Johnston.
We are 5 points adrift which will almost certainly run to 11 by next Sunday or more in the next week if we lose today as we have the league cup next weekend.
We are going to the most vile environment full of pent up anti catholic sentiment which only gets released at the football. It’s one of my most disliked grounds as a supporter. Yet I always feel compelled to go.
It’s been a scene for some horrible games and some great ones. The 3-2 New Year (McManus) one springs to mind in the latter category. The Yang send off in the former, in recent times.
The bookies weirdly have us favourites and the media (and the rest of Scotland) are salivating over our impending defeat…….the Huns don’t know what they want…..maybe a draw.
We have €50m of talent out injured and a further chunk of our squad who could replace them have had virtually zero game time. We have a manager in a strange place who has done us best to talk those we have’s confidence down. They are buzzing. Brimful of confidence.
Even without those injured or lacking game time she still have a £60 value pool to chose from compared to their £18m. We have a squad good enough to go and get a result. Our manager still has a very good record at this ground.
Hopefully all the support we do have there will be that. A support.
We stepped up v Aberdeen a year ago at Hampden. Time to do it again. No excuses. We have the resource and the experience and many who have been over the course and distance.
Thursdays will hopefully be much more than 3 points in Europa for those who grew into their Celtic jerseys.
Kevin Jungle 5.08
If you want to make more accurate accusations against the Celtic support and blogs, have a look at this narrative supported by facts that was published on Social Media in 2018.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LgNu5ECIDhTzbJcHzlBJNpLnBt7_2CY8/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=107947982974245186134&rtpof=true&sd=true
It is a long detailed read which shows that all SPL clubs did not want to lose the income they received if Rangers were lost to the game.
Some were in poor financial state themselves and it was they who outnumbered Celtic that not only did not appeal the LNS Decision but accepted the 5WA agreement.
It was all done with the knowledge of SPL clubs including Celtic out of fear of the consequences of Rangers being lost to the game.
The consequences for sporting integrity took second place to the need to preserve the financial integrity of Scottish football.
Green had SPL/SFA over a barrel as the only saviour in town who would walk away if his continuity myth and title retention demands were not met.
Celtic’s did not protest the 5WA because in his covering letter to Celtic and other clubs Doncaster said the need to accept was urgent in order to instigate the LNS Commission.
Did Celtic and other clubs know LNS would be a sham?
Possibly but the fact ebt usage was going to be investigated gives them an argument they accepted the 5WA on the basis football justice would be served by LNS.
Celtic in fact in 2017 after The Supreme Court ruling that Rangers used ebts in an unlawful manner asked that LNS Decision be reviewed but SFA refused.
The support by and large were and still are unaware of the degree of skullduggery at play.
They just want to watch football and enjoy the social contact with family and friends going to games brings.
Feels this morning like a Rangers game on today – haven’t felt like this for a non Rangers league game in a long time.
Let’s not forget how much Hearts truly hate us – and not just for 1986.
Some wee reminders here :-
https://www.hmfckickback.co.uk/uploads/monthly_2021_02/58a13a51896a33ff51ade1e9427b5258.jpg.24b7577be829845e930f23f84c97acad.jpg
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/6928347/spl-condemn-lennon-attack
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/46052997
(Of course ,Neil “brought it in himself”…)
Hopefully the players will have been told of the vitriol they’ll face.
Play to our best and the confidence from Thursdays result, even allowing for the horrendous injuries , should see us put them back in their bitter wee boxes.
Should be a good game today and a big test, although for Hearts more than us. Don’t see us losing – maybe a 2-1 win or a 2-2.
Not really seeing it as any kind of ‘big game’ though with 87 points still to play for even after today.
Time for Auston Trusty / Dane Murray to step up to the plate over the next two months or get a new CH in January.
Well we still have two players available for each full back position all with current and recent game time. Brendan’s man Trusty is likely to start, with Murray on the bench, and on loan centre back Pusey-Simpson nowhere to be seen presumably because Brendan was not involved in bringing him in.
Midfield well there are no shortage of players there either, CalMc and Engels did well Thursday and Hatate looked more like himself in the second half. McCowan knows all about these type of games and will surely feature, not sure where Bernardo is at. Nygren is not a left winger even if Brendan keeps playing him there, he is an old fashioned inside forward capable of getting a goal. Forrest, Tounetki, Yang, (who might just remember Tynecastle) Balikwisha and Kenny all offer something and Shin Yamada surely merits a squad place. All things told no shortage of options and as for the “speed” our manager keeps going on about I’ve never seen a player who could outrun the ball, apart from Bobby Lennox that is.
No low block today, which means opportunities for Scales, KT and indeed Schmeichel to hit longer and more varied forward passes, into space (not literally I hope) or even directly to teammates on the move.
Mobility and movement are what counts, we showed some of that against Sturm, lets see some more of it, and if we do we will leave with three points,
Morning, all.
Just win today, please, Celtic.
Yes, I suppose the silver lining is some of the “fringe” players will get a run of games and we’ll find out if they’re any good.
Meant £60m squad. Obv.
Glass2/3 full. Exactly as your moniker. I hope you are right. I see it differently but hope we are all happy at 2pm.
I’m unclear as to why anyone would be surprised at our issues with scoring. Have a serious look at the squad management during the last windows it’s very obvious why we aren’t scoring. You can’t lose 60 goals and fail to replace them without consequences.
I’m also slightly confused why some think the jambos will be expansive against us today. The way to get a result against us is with a low block and look to counter on the break, McInnes will go down that route.
Good afternoon from Turkiye not posted in a long while…looking for some info please.
Does anyone know if you are ordinary uk subscriber of Celtic TV if this allows to watch the match live if you are abroad? Or do you have to always be an overseas subscriber to allow the live watch? Any answers appreciated
HH 🍀
My feeling is we may well be surprised today. If we play as we did on Thursday, a bit more on the front foot we have a chance, a good one
3 – 1 the good guys
kingLUBO
Unfortunately I think you have to be an overseas subscriber.
Maybe a VPN could solve the problem.
Greenpinata
Fascism as well as racism are not underused
It is posted openly on these pages
You choose to ignore it.
And be soft in your response by avoiding calling it out
Your own friends of Genocide,new new labour,overseen the surveillance of every Israeli sorte in the ongoing genocide.Thats helping a genocidal cult in zionism contradicting their stated aim of a 2 state solution.
They join the schizophrenia of war supporting arming and weaponizing a genocide because many of their cabinet are whored to the death cult of zionism- they take money,all this while apparently seeking pish i mean peace.
Don’t be calling folk to account for commenting on fascism or racism when you choose to ignore our government’s backing for fascist,racist apartheid zionist state.not read one letter of dissent to that fascism or racism.
HH
CELTIC: Schmeichel, Donovan, Murray, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Hatate, Engels, Nygren, Kenny, Tounekti.
Subs: Sinisalo, Trusty, Balikwisha, McCowan, Yamada, Bernardo, Saracchi, Forrest, Ralston
Thanks the blogger! Thought that might be the case hh
ANTEARMANN
vERY SUCCUNCT ANDWELL PUT
100 % correct
Sorry, didnt mean to shout
kingLUBO
I would play Bally left wing, Seb right wing
They call it a great atmosphere…….more like horrendous vile bigots spewing their hatred.
Remember Lustig getting the ball thrown at him right in the nuts when he tried to retrieve it for a throw in a few years ago.
Lets give them a doing.
live updates up