Do anything nice last night? The consequences of what took place at Celtic Park are profound, but there will be plenty of time to discuss them later. For now, let’s concentrate on the small matter of how this result was achieved.
The record books will show 5-0, but there was more to this game than the thumping it turned into. For the first 30 minutes, Astana pressed Celtic high, unsettling our natural game, while forcing the occasional error. We didn’t have the luxury of time and space normally afforded us in domestic football.
This was a worrying period, although there were promising glimpses. Scott Sinclair latched into a loose ball seven yards from goal 3 minutes into the game, but could not find the target. Moments later James Forrest pitched a perfect cross for Leigh Griffiths. Celtic Park stood ready to celebrate, but again, the target was missed.
Those moments aside, the early flow of a game was not going to plan, but Celtic continued to pass the ball with precision, switching play , looking for space. Tom Rogic’s trademark surging run provided the breakthrough. His cross-cum-shot would have gone narrowly wide, but for the intervention of a disorientated defender, who turned the ball into his net.
This goal encapsulated the real chasm between the teams. Astana were good in possession and looked fitter in the opening period, but Celtic had no real weaknesses. A poorly marked corner one minute after the opening goal was the only genuine chance the visitors had all evening. Whereas Celtic probed for, and found, many vulnerabilities in their opponents.
Forrest foraged on the right, Sinclair was scintillating on the left. Ntcham’s neat passing swung the pendulum Celtic’s way, as Griffiths grew into the game through the middle, while Brown bossed proceedings in the no. 6 role.
Olivier Ntcham is still finding his feet in Glasgow, but he will be difficult to dislodge as Scott Brown’s central-mid partner. He’s a different player than Victor Wanyama, but Victor wasn’t as effective, this early, in his Celtic career.
Remember, Olivier has played very little senior football, only 37 games before his summer transfer. Practically everything he does right now is new. Wait until he realises he’s good enough to own the pitch.
Last night’s highlights…
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Weebobby
I was married late May 75 – it was a scorcher – friends were getting married a week later – snow in june
I wouldn’t be surprised if Armstrong sold before the end of the transfer window, he clearly wants to go.
In the article ‘Armstrong here for another two years’ it talks about our ‘invisible’ season.
‘Invincible’ it certainly was, but invisible? I saw most of it myself.
Maybe somebody can correct the clanger?
Blamethekafflikschoolscfc
RobinBhoy on 18th August 2017 12:06 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if Armstrong sold before the end of the transfer window, he clearly wants to go.
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Yeah even though hes signed a new deal, he still has his price, which given the extra year has probably been boosted, by how much is debatable.
In the crazy transfer market in England it’d be no surprise if someone put in a late bid and if Sigurdsson is worth 50m the chances of an acceptable bid for SA are still pretty high.
HH
HÒOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPY Birthday to
LENNYBHOY
My fellow CQNrs my pal Johnny Macdonald will be laid to rest in his home village of Bragar in Lewis this afternoon. Iwould lke to thank all those wholit candles,said a prayeror sentvtheir condolences for Johnny and his family, sincee thanks. I will be pasing on all messagesto his family, who I know will take great comfort from them. Thank you all once again. CQN a blog like no other. Hail Hail Hebcelt
R I P, Johnny.
YWNA
STARRY PLOUGH .
Thanks for that choon . Brought back memories of a woman who worked the bar at a shebeen in Willesden . . She used to bung the original 12 ” on the turntable , max up the volume and dance behind the bar . The rude boys and the dreads would click their teeth in disapproval and get a ” you macho men know nothing about women ” in reply .
new article posted.
Blinkin flip,I knew I would do that one of these days.
Apologies,Hebcelt.
YNWA
Glad to see Stuart Armstrong has signed a new contract (which must mean he is getting paid more so has to be new) and that increase probably reflects the value to Celtic of having him in the squad for CL/SPFL games and that decision will be Brendan Roger’s and so far he has not put a football foot wrong.
It also reflects the value SA places on himself now and as Celt in the next two years, as much as the value other clubs with a less constrained budget are able to offer him.
He will be getting paid more because BR thinks not only is he worth it, but that BR cannot guarantee that any replacement will fit seamlessly into his plans for this season. Never underestimate the effect of churn on sustainable success.
The days of playing for the jersey are all but gone (if it had not been for KT I would have said gone). The fact is supporters via their clubs hire employees to satisfy supporters needs to watch attractive/winning football.
Clubs act as a buffer against supporter fickleness where any player is only as good as up to about 5 of his last games. eg.
Broonie could have 5 stinkers and not be put on the get rid of him list. He has built up that credit to draw on.
Lustig probably 3 stinkers.
McGregor 2 stinkers
Forrest 45 minutes
You get my drift. So how can we blame players for wanting contracts that shelter them from the fickle fans and clubs that recognise their buffer role and try to achieve a balance between the football and financial realities?
It is a balancing act that change according to circumstances. Petrov was in a position to create a win win situation and credit to him that he did.
McGeady as a young guy went to Russia and the £9m he brought in helped offset the loss or European revenue that season and I’ll always be grateful he played his part in not letting standards drop further than they might have without that £9m, even although the money he would have been on would be good.
So different folks, different strokes.
Its too early to say if NtCham will be first choice and then there are injuries to cover, so keeping SA makes lots of sense from a footballing perspective.
I don’t want footballers to commit to two or three year contracts, I want them to commit to doing their level best ever 90 minutes or less they are on the park.
They are not supporters, they are guys we supporters hire to please us from one game to the next and I’m quite happy to watch SA, a guy whom I think is a great footballer, turn out for Celtic for as long as suits the player and the club.
on the way oot –
wee radio item re last night’s fitba – AC Milan 6-Shkendija 0 .
Words from the truly great Gianni Rivera –” strange to say but what pleased me the most was watching Agim Ibrahimi playing for the Macedonian side . He is a fabulous player , it amazes me he never played for a big team ” .
My memory says he played v Celtic – Maribor / Astana . Possibly both . Anybody know ?
Afternoon all.
It looks to me as if SA is being fair to Celtic and himself. If he progresses as much this season as he did last season, we should get a good fee for him next summer and he can earn enough to set himself up for life. I wonder if he will get much game time, although our manager is a master of the old”horses for courses” mantra beloved by Mr Stein.
I hope too that we sign Patrick Roberts again, if only because he can play the CF role, if need be, which, of course, might occur if LG breaks down or needs a rest. MD seems to be prone to hamstring trouble; so, he might not be back so soon.
Whatever happened to the possiblity of Steven Caulker coming? CH seems to be our problematic area above all.
That £30M windfall we’ll get if we finish off Astana in the 2nd leg, is the result of each and everyone of us studying, working and then spending on Celtic to help make us as competitive as possible on the Euro stage. That’s where we have always wanted the plaudits from and comparisons to be made with, and some parochial anti Celtic media types more comfy in the company of golf and bowls committee members have never understood that.
That £30M is payback for fans, team , and board maintaining our club as an entertaining phenomenon through their various efforts as individuals and this Celtic Family collective by putting their hard earned cash into Celtic. Success and recognition for Celtic is sought after and appreciated worldwide putting a spring in the step of thousands possibly millions in their daily toils.
It will make it harder for our Scots competitors because of the sporting advantage gained, that we will not deny but we are there to be knocked of our perch and know that everyone will be out to do so. £350k for each of our fellow SPFL clubs is not to be sneezed at as a windfall, and with further success there is possibly more were that came from, not 100% sure.
To those SMSM folk carping about Celtic gaining financial advantages through honest efforts, I suggest they go after those like Rangers and the SFA/SPFL who have been proven to get such an advantage over 10 years without Ewan Murray or the like voicing similar umbrage, and concerns for the rest of Scots football.
These folk would be best sticking to chaining up the kids swings in the swing parks on a Sunday.