Credit to Newco and Steven Gerrard. They controlled much of yesterday’s game at Celtic Park, took their chances, which on this occasion did not all fall to the wasteful Morelos, and deserved their win. For Celtic, the nature of the defeat asks many questions.
The visitors dominated the opening 30 minutes, which were a carbon copy of the League Cup Final between these sides earlier this month. Celtic played the ball forward early throughout this period but it never stuck. The front four: James Forrest, Ryan Christie, Mikey Johnston and Odsonne Edouard were practically spectators.
Kristoffer Ajer disrupted this pattern when he carried the ball through midfield for the first time in the game. This inhibited Newco, and, for a few minutes, Celtic held possession in the final third. In quick succession following this, Celtic won a corner, a subsequent penalty when Christopher Jullien was fouled inside the box and Ryan Christie saw his spot kick saved. Before Newco could count their blessings, they took the lead when Ryan Kent was given space to shoot from 14 yards. The opening goal came during Celtic’s best period of the match thus far, but it was deserved.
Scott Brown, who despite the result was imperious throughout, and Callum McGregor began to impose themselves after going behind. A shot from the latter deflected off Odsonne Edouard, wrong-footed Allan McGregor and drew Celtic level.
The second half did not provide any comfort for the 59,000 Celtic fans. Newco continued to dominate the game before scoring from a free header at a corner kick. Celtic could not hold the ball for 10 seconds.
Neil Lennon reacted on 68 minutes by hooking both Forrest and Johnston for Ntcham and Bitton, and going three at the back. Celtic finally matched Newco in midfield and were able to dominate possession. They created good chances in the closing minutes but it was too little, too late.
Steve Gerrard won the tactical battle, as he did at Hampden, where Celtic took the trophy but not the lessons.
We’ll have a State of the Club piece up tomorrow.
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Sid – belated response to your early reply.
(Nipped out to watch Star Wars)
Reading back, your two posts on the Hibs player subject were better expressed than my slightly flippant reply.
Hail hail
As for Afraido Morelos, ignore the racism squirrel.
This is all part of the long goodbye.
When he is sold in January the tearful statement from Ibrokes will be along the following lines ….
“It is with considerable regret that R@ngers (sic) have reluctantly agreed to sell Afraido.
We had every desire to keep him but he felt he was unable to continue in Scottish football having been unfairly hounded by opposition fans and players not to mention over zealous officialdom and the gutter press.
The circumstances of this transfer should concern everyone who cares about Scottish football.
In order to allow Afraido to escape this unacceptable situation, for which the player and the club are totally blameless, we have accepted a fee well below his true value”
“No surrender, WATP, concomitant”
SYDNEYTIM,
I didn’t ask anything or speculate about your private life I was merely making an observation about your relationship with Celtic.
Thanks for your ‘polite’ response but some fuds are bigger fuds than others, so if the cap fits. 😉
I know it has only been a few hours relatively speaking since the game but that was a very sair wan to take.
They are gutter rats with the stuff they come out with in victory, despicable so they are.
We have the power to put them down for Good. Do it Celtic.
After Sunday I happen to think playing away from home for the majority of the matches to the split will indeed be a good thing as the away Support give the team tremendous backing.
There is no doubt about it that we are under pressure now, Sundays game has heaped it on Big Time.
Lenny needs strong willed players that want it big time in the team from here on in.
I hope he has watched that game and fixes things for Ibrox.
I can handle a player having an off game, I just cannae handle players hiding literally in a game. That is not on.
WGS said to be a good team m8 even if things urnae happening for ye. He has never said a truer word.
This season has been largely sensational. Vastly improved entertainment levels and historic European results. December has been the usual slog, except with better results – until yesterday.
Blots have been:
Cluj in the ECL qualifier – cost was monetary rather than sporting, ‘cos let’s face it the ECL would have brought mostly grim defeats.
Hibs/ Livingston – a total brain fart where we managed to blow our advantage from Ibrox.
Yesterday – where Lenny demonstrated a worrying inability to learn a single lesson from our experience at Hampden.
Heading into the second half of the season I fear for our ability to keep winning. We’ll know how much of a psychic blow yesterday was after Rugby Park. If we drop points there I think we’re in real trouble, especially with the run of away games to come.
I make them favourites now.
PeterLatchfordsBelly,
Celtic are still favourites according to the bookies, I’d make us very slight favourites but there are so many variables in play right here and right now.
Both teams making the knockout stages of the Europa League is likely the main wan as I expect both teams to get to the last 16. Everyone knows how a run of games happen against the same team, it happens all the Time – well spooky so it is. I’m expecting 3 games in a week in March against these dignified vermin.
The new Rangers have been Very lucky with injuries this Season but they are a team and are playing as a team.
Celtic have to recruit very well this January. Broonie was excellent on Sunday but we MUST make sure if he isnae available at Ibrox then there are ready replacements ready to take his place and excel in doing so, that also means giving others the game time in perceived lesser games that they can stake and make a claim to be a Leader.
I want a Keano/Lennon type performance at the hate factory. We are gonnae need it. No passengers whatsoever.
El Hamed should make a big difference when he comes back into the side.
Come on Celtic
Ye can dae it.
Kristoffer, IMO, wouldn’t be the best midfielder now.
He is sensational when he moves through the midfield from that defensive position. He needs to stick as a Centre Half and keep working hard on his game – he is a first name on the teamsheet guy for me…. Ideally he wouldn’t be playing the left side but he just gets on with it. There is nae way in the world he’d be allowed to make the Feed the Bear runs if he was in midfield. Everyone is marked so tightly.
He is a Celt that wants this as much as Every supporter. I love the dude and his attitude.
Strachans comments about how ‘the rangers’ set up their team and their tactics was interesting, I too believe Gerrard is copying the Liverpool model on the pitch.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/22/magazine/soccer-data-liverpool.amp.html&ved=2ahUKEwie9tGa1N3mAhVcURUIHbwYDj4QFjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw0wv8bzNRhKG6n-tTKu2VQu&cf=1
Gallagher,
John Hartson kept it low key about the disrespect.
Lenny has ma Full Support.
I Hope JK and Neil are Supported Big Time this January.
Players Neil wants in.
For petes sake move on or loan out the players that have no chance of doing anything @ Celtic. This is a MEGA ISSUE.
Anger is an energy. JL.CSC
Here is my opinion of Sunday’s Match which I’ve entitled it as
A Bad Day On The Pitch/Wrong Tactics & Wrong Team Selection
& Food For Thought
1) The only player I would mark above 50% trying is Broony
the rest of the team played well bellow pass marks
2) As for tactics & team selection the past two matches against
Sevco this month our midfield has been overran by Sevco
& our team shape for these matches has been wrong as well
as our tactics why haven’t we played the same formation &
style against them as we did on August 2019 @ Ibrox were
We got a positive result the writing is on the wall (tactics board)
should have been taken notice of after the League Cup Final
that changes had to be made & referred back to the way we
set up our stall & played @ Ibrox that is a no brainer as for
Team Selection well Boli Bolingoli is useless lets be honest
Here he is a waist of space especially in matches against Sevco
Johnny Hayes & Greg Taylor are better left back covers than
Mr Bolingoli who during said match could not even pick out
A pass to one of his team-mates what a mare & bomb scare
As for the young Jeremie Frimpong I like the young flair
Player however he is too short & Sevco two goals came from
Our right back position I hope our injured right back Hatam
Abd Elhamed is soon back cause he has been out now for quite
Sometime & we certainly miss him from the right back position
It’s a no brainer we definitely need another Striker in asap because
Leigh Griffiths fitness & sharpness level is missing some fellow
Fans are saying he will never get back to the same level as he was
Before (not the same player) which is unfortunate & sad hopefully
That is not the case however if Leigh is serious about wanting to
Make a come-back then he has to get his head straight & work on
His fitness level that is for sure & as for Mikey Johnston he is not
Physical enough too Easley shoved off the ball for these types of
Matches especially against Sevco & as for Odsonne Edouard well
His strength is holding up the ball he needs someone to back him
Up in attack not playing on his own & how-come Ryan Christie
Takes every corner kick surely the rest of the team should learn
& be able to put in decent corner kicks because Ryan Christie’s
Corner kicks/service is either crosses that are too short or too long
& as for his Penalty taking has he ever heard about giving the
Goal Keeper the eyes like shape up to go one way then place the
Ball in the opposite direction all players should be able to take
Decent spot-kicks not just one this matter should be addressed
@ their Training Sessions they should be able to convert eight
or even nine spot-kicks out of ten that should be their target
cause if for example a Cup tie or European match came down
to a penalty shoot out then we would not be well prepared for
said scenario so these matters corner-kicks & spot kicks along
with throw-in’s now throw-in’s the players stand off throw-in’s
which is useless the best throw-in player we have in our squad
is the loan player Moritz Bauer who can also make long throw’s
the rest of the players should be learning from Moritz how to
Take decent throw-in’s & corner-kicks/spot-kicks/& penalty’s
should all be worked out on the Training Ground no excuses
As for Team Selection/Team Tactics/& Team Shape is Down
To Neil Lennon that’s his responsibility okay so he may have
Made some mistakes in the past for example the CL home
Qualifier match against the Romanian Railway Club (Cluig)
& the two matches in December against Sevco & the domestic
away match against Physical Livingston however he has only
been in the hot seat for ten months & in that period of time he
has won the League/The Scottish Cup/& The League Cup so
lets cut him some slack some ridiculous post’s that I’ve read
on here like he is not up for the job is nonsense Neil Lennon
is Celtic through & through so these so called posters should
take a reality check yeah so who would you appoint then?
Considering that footy nowadays is a result industry & is also
Very capricious as well use the noggin & please don’t make
Rash decisions that is a waist of time & also money box clever
As for Referee Kevin Clancy & the fourth official Kevin Clancy
Is a cheat he denied us a stone-wall penalty @ Easter Road a
Couple of months back & Sevco’s second goal came from a
Blatant wrong decision in-fact Sevco go two quick fire corners
Which should not have been awarded to them their second corner
Was the one the got their second goal from
Also @ half-time Steven Gerard was in my opinion encroaching
Kevin Clancy & moaning @ him so a bit of skull drudgery was
Going down my Seat @ CP is right near the Hoops Dug-Out so
I could see what was going down & also during the first half right
In front of the 4th official on two occasions that wee cheat & liar
Morelus (El Buffalo) aye right (El Cheating Fanny) not once but
Twice stamped on Christopher Jullien foot & also tried to stick the
Head (backwards) into said player’s face as mentioned that was
In the first-half so El Cheating Fanny should have seen red well
Before he was eventually sent off for “Simulation” which he was
Doing all through the match El Cheating Fanny always throws
His self into opposing players & looks to con free kicks & penalty’s
He is a wee cheat as for Sevco we all knew they would become
More of a threat as regards to winning the League however we
Have a bigger squad than them so if some of our squad players are
Not prepared to stand up & be counted then these guys should be
Shown the Exit Door it’s simple as that we have to cut our cloth
Accordingly & take stock & make acquisitions that are beneficial
To our Club no more duds & fuds please after all us Supporters
Are paying good money (£600 +) for our Season Cards per Season
To be entertained & not to be short changed & stitched up there is
No room for complacency after all this can be a memorable Season
This Season is a chance for us to equal Jock Steins Record of Nine-In-A-Row
Let’s not blow this opportunity History is in the making COYBIG
Everyone & Slangy
Good morning, friends and Happy Hogmanay from a dry but cold and frosty East Kilbride. My last walk to work of this decade awaits. This evening I’ll pull together the votes from Sunday’s game and hopefully the results will be out no later than 7pm. Apologies for the delay and enjoy yourr day.
I predict that later today I am going to feel really ill.
Went to fridge and found door had been ajar since yesterday (when is a door not a door…when it’s ajar..
boom boom – Beano 1962).
Last two eggs cracked and smelling a bit rank, bacon and last square sliced hard as ma sister. Cooked them anyway and gave them to the Slabbery Wumman….I had a can of lager.
Hail Hail
Matt
SFTB.
I’ve watched the video that Sevco have mentioned.
As he goes up the tunnel, he is called a Hun B and an Orange B.
From the comments below the video, their fans appear to be suggesting that it’s Orange that’s racist, in the same way that Fenian is deemed racist.
There is no doubt, in my mind, they are involved in Dark Arts here to blackened our name.
Their statement yesterday, also said that 3 Celtic players were offside, at our goal, in the cup final, that’s simply false, yet went unchallenged.
AKBW1888,
What you say about Morelos is 100% correct I witnessed all of what you observed plus earlier, before the stamping incident, he tried to grab Jullien’s meat and 2 veg. Clancy, the linesmen and the fourth official let him get away with this the entire match.
I have watched a few hun games this season and there is not a player in the SPFL who fouls and simulates as much as that horrible individual Morelos without being cautioned.
I’m willing to wager had the game been at 1-1 at the Morelos simulation and sending off he would have stayed on the park and the penalty would have been given and passed of as ‘another honest mistake.’
JIMMYNOTPAUL,
Since when was being Orange a race unless they are referring to the Oompa Loompas?
Dark hun arts indeed.
POG.
I agree.
Not good news about Ryan Christie
Celtic’s weekend of woe continued with news that Ryan Christie was rushed to hospital after Sunday’s Glasgow derby.
The midfielder played for 81 minutes of Sunday’s defeat but looked short of his usual dynamic style of play.
The Daily Mail reports:
Ryan Christie was rushed to hospital to undergo urgent groin surgery just hours after Sunday’s Old Firm defeat to Rangers. The Celtic midfielder endured a day of misery after missing a first half penalty in the 2-1 defeat at Parkhead.
Caught up in a tussle with Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos, the 24-year-old played through the pain before he was finally replaced by Leigh Griffiths with ten minutes to play. Post match examinations showed up the need for an immediate surgical procedure.
Celtic’s next match is the Scottish Cup tie away to Partick Thistle on January 18 followed four days later by a trip to the plastic of Rugby Park on SPFL duty.
Christie has been Celtic’s outstanding player of the season to date with key goals domestically and in Europe taking his tally for the season to 18.
During Celtic’s extensive December schedule of matches, which included a re-arranged match away to Hearts Christie was left out of the matches away to Cluj and at home to Hibs.
AKBW1888 on 31ST DECEMBER 2019 6:22 AM
I have been critical of Lennon’s tactics against sevco, he cost the game not the players. We all seen what happened in the cup final. To do the same thing again was stupid. I love lennon but the truth is if he blows the league he does not deserve to be manager because man for man we have the best team in the league. It’s not rocket science.
HH
Good morning CQN from a still frustrated as feck Garngad
-2 here this morning and 18 of us are off to Log Cabbins for a couple of days, not lodges as my innocent wife keeps saying to the distant brethren side of the family (Huns to you and I). 😂
Still a meeja blackout in our household and truth be told at the game on Sunday I did not even watch the last 8-9 minutes so I never seen all the crap at the end.
I hope the book gets thrown at anyone making gun gestures throat cut gestures etc. some of us will remember the young Celtic fan who got his throat cut at BRidgeton cross years ago in fact a charity was set up after this. How has the smsm not picked up on this, then again I wouldn’t know if they did.
Shocking anyway, that shows me the morals of a certain club to not come out and condemn it.
We as a club should make a stance, but we have been here before and our custodians will do nothing.
We need to just win this league and get it right feckin up everyone of the cheating Scottish footballing authorities and that includes other clubs who by their silence are backing a corrupt league/set up.
Hail Hail
D. :)
By the way Matt @ 6.59 am opening a can of lager for brekkie. 😂😂🍺
Unfortunately I will not be getting a Hogmananny drink until about 6pm after I do my driving duty’s today.😢😢😢
D. :)
So Morelos was verbally abused going down the tunnel. What came first? The chicken or the egg?
Poor wee Fredo threatens to slit Celtic supporters throats and doesn’t like it when he is called a DOB.
Before the KO on Sunday I made an observation about the huns not being able to help themselves as they had their entire team out doing doing prematch training wearing orange training tops – to a man.
Is Stephen McGowan implying Morelos was responsible for Christie needing an emergency operation on his groin hours after the game? Looks like it to me – implying something happened on the pitch. There are loads of rumours from Tims online but most of it looks like hysteria tbh.
CONSPIRACY
Yes that right “a conspiracy” Everybody involved with Celtic has been blamed for the defeat by the Orcs. Paul 67 has been called Pedro’s puppet telling us all is well at Celtic Park week in week out. Now (remember it’s just a romour) that Paul67 pulled a few strings to get his CQN blog back in the forefront of online blogs & by God it worked. Maybe someone nearer to Celtic than me could check this out and and report back. According to what i’ve read on here some poster have direct lines line to PL NFL and His Holiness the Pope ;-)))
FtSFA offices which also contain FtSPFL office open yet ? It’s 9am
So have Sevco been cited yet for the following behaviours
Kent – pointing imaginary gun towards Veltic fans whilst pointing to his head
Moraelos – slitting throats gesture towards Celtic fans on several occasions
Sevco coach – threatening behaviour towards a Celtic coach
Gerrard, assaulting a cameraman, by slapping away said camera
Just curious
Police Scotland taken any action for the first 2 above ???
Remember that “league” table? Them points denied?
Easy to forget. Especially as the pain of a loss to that horrible mob sinks in and is rubbed in by our gloating enemies in the media.
If this was just about the fitba’ I’d feel a tad easier……..It’s not.
I don’t.
“The Journey” always needed an incredible finish line: one draped in the oranj and bloo of hun triumphalism.
We played The Rangers, not Liverpool…….We may have koppeda sore one, but that game could easily have resulted in a draw.
…The same Guff merchants who sleekitly deride what we’ve achieved honestly now sleekitly big-up, the grand master plan of the former skouse kolts koach.
Aye.
The winter break does thems few favours, ( the momentum they have now should dilute) whereas
God-willing we can recover a little. I always prefer us to be slight underdogs anyway.
I’m sure we’ll hear from those strangely clear-headed realists who swear….*cough*….they are Tims while reading from a skript.
HHH.
If Bayern Munich or Juve were second in the table, a point behind the leaders at the half way stage, I’d fancy them.
A run of away games which we simply have to win should not be worrying Neil Lennon – not with his squad. If our attitude at these away grounds, plastic pitches etc is right then we’ll clock up the wins.
There’s a fear now that wasn’t there on Saturday – we need to refocus and fight for this title.
I’ve no doubt that Sevco will go on a good run themselves so we need to stay the pace and make sure we’re within strike range come March 15th.
Norrie………….”The Story” is ooooot there awready.
The horrible gesturin’ hun is apparently the victim here….( job done bhoy!)
There’s no mention of that wee Kent an’ his sharp-shootin’ either.
Job done!
Scoddland’s just Hogmanay Happy wi’ the result…………
Stephbhoy 67
there is still 17 matches to go after the so called split we have three home games
this Season I’m sure Neil Lennon had a wake up call on Sunday the only way we
will lose the League is if we are too complacent we will see how things pan out
have faith in NL
Laird of Smiles You Are Right those cheats Kevin Clancy the 4th official & some of the Linesmen
as well are @ their cheating to try & stop us from doing nine-in-a-row that’s Scottish Football for you
sad but true Hail – Hail
AKBW1888,
What you say about Morelos is 100% correct I witnessed all of what you observed plus earlier, before the stamping incident, he tried to grab Jullien’s meat and 2 veg. Clancy, the linesmen and the fourth official let him get away with this the entire match.
I have watched a few hun games this season and there is not a player in the SPFL who fouls and simulates as much as that horrible individual Morelos without being cautioned.
I’m willing to wager had the game been at 1-1 at the Morelos simulation and sending off he would have stayed on the park and the penalty would have been given and passed of as ‘another honest mistake.’
Every outlet says rangers claim “bla bla bla!!!!” So not one media outlet willing to or have evidence of racism. However if fans from Celtic fc were racist then they should be outed.
That particular issue has nothing to do with a wee ned on the pitch being accountable for his awful. There is no excuse for his behaviour, there are children in the stand where he felt it necessary to act in a threatening manner and like a thug.
it’s not ok for supporters to act like thugs and it’s not ok for players to act like thugs, actually it is worse because children look up to these players. I thought we were trying to promote the game. The sooner he has left scotland the better.
HH
According to the League Table we have 18 League Matches to Go.
That’s 54 total points tally up for grabs lets see how we do with
the remaining fixtures go-on-the-Bhoys & YNWA
I think big Kris (fantastic player) is not a centre half. He cannot win headers. Can he not be employed as a defensive mid as he was meant to be originally? Buy a dominant left sided centre half to play alongside Big Chris. Only the opinions of an ex school teacher.
Before these sort of games we need to dial down the rhetoric – ‘We’re a better team, it’ll be 2-0 to the good ghuys etc.’
Sometimes, it’s not the players that are complacent but the crowd.
On Sunday, the fans were quiet as they realised it wouldn’t be a stroll in the park, then they got angry at misplaced passes (of which there were an awful lot).
Sort of a vicious circle.
In rugby, Wales were not expected to beat England in the 6 Nations this year.
They were just about keeping it together before they got a a couple of penalties and edged it in front around the 55th minute.
After that, as maybe the spectators’ expectations weren’t that high beforehand, the noise went ballistic and there was no way Wales weren’t getting the win.
Re the Title race it’s wide open, Either side might blow it by dropping silly points or else it will come to the 2 final Derby games.
As things stand right now we would e looking for 4 points from those games but the reality is that both ourselves & the Huns are highly likely to drop points outside of those 2 games.
Our job is to ensure we drop less than them & carry the advantage into the Derby games,
If they do get the better of us, it will no doubt be an extremely sore one. We like setting records & ten in a row has a nice ring to it.
However having endured the years when we were winning feck all, I will still hugely appreciate where the Club is now. As I said last night the World won’t end if the Huns win this League, I have absolutely no doubt that we will be here the following year, probably with a different Manager but highly Competitive in both Scotland & Europe.
Shit happens, I never bought into Paul’s leaders that we would be winning Titles for a generation, we will lose a Title, hopefully not this year but we will lose one and when we do, we’ll just have to suck it up and come back stronger the following year.
Magic.
The new attitude on the blog.
Negativity and back biting replaced by defiance and determination .
SCULLYBHOY on 31ST DECEMBER 2019 10:04 AM
I think big Kris (fantastic player) is not a centre half. He cannot win headers. Can he not be employed as a defensive mid as he was meant to be originally? Buy a dominant left sided centre half to play alongside Big Chris. Only the opinions of an ex school teacher.
I totally agree with your opinion Scully-Bhoy we have been shouting out for a left sided
centre half for quite some time now
The Leeds United documentary series on Amazon is well worth a watch
So Cork Celt who would you suggest to be Celtic’s next Manager?