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Ibrox shaken to red brick core

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Within the first minute at Ibrox yesterday, Newco sent a long ball forward that tempted Liam Scales into a challenge he missed.  Seconds later the ball ended in the net, only for the assistant to correctly flag offside.  It looked like a portent of doom to come, however, Liam was undeterred.  He threw himself at every ball into the Celtic final third, clearing danger throughout.  He earned his Man of the Match award.

Gus Lagerbielke was dispossessed when the foot of Dessers clipped his ankle.  The striker advanced into the Celtic box before squaring for Roofe to shoot past Joe Hart into the net.  Even after the first replay, I didn’t see the foul, but it was there.  TV viewers were later treated to bizarre weeping by some on Sky and the BBC highlights programme, where it was explained that while the rules say it was a foul, we just don’t agree with the rules!

This is what being conditioned to getting refereeing decisions your own way looks like.  It is also why Scotland, more than any other country, needs Video Assistant Referees.

Response to this incident determined the outcome of the game.  Our 23-year-old Swedish central defender, on his third outing for the club and still looking for a win, could have been discouraged from holding onto the ball or being open for a pass, but that didn’t happen.  Just as Liam immediately got over this first minute missed header, Gus continued to show, pull opponents towards him and play short passes into space.

Can we agree that Callum McGregor had his best 45 minutes in years?  Much of the credit for Liam and Gus’s fortitude came from the captain making the right angles.  The greatest thing about possession-based football is that it looks easy.  There is always a simple pass on.  Callum made sure this was the case yesterday.

35-years-ago (yes, really), Paul McStay ranged a pass deep into the Rangers half for Chris Morris to run onto.  He squared for Frank McAvennie to score a memorable goal in the Centenary Season.  Just when I was extolling the virtues of Callum’s play, he recreated this move.

The ball took two defenders out of play – then waited for Liel Abada to cross.  What would McAvennie do?  Score, of course, but Kyogo, realising he was at the near post with a keeper ready to block, tried a deft flick to the back post, where he hoped to find Daizen Maeda.  You are not going to remember Callum’s pass 35 years from now, which is a pity, because is was no less deserving than the Maestro’s.

Celtic were now in full control and with the home crowd audibly restless, Kyogo got free again.  This time his second touch let him down and the shot was eventually smothered.  Surely, they could not continue to allow the Japanese striker such freedom without consequence?

For all the great play, when the moment came, it was quite simple.  In the final minute of added time before the break, Joe Hart cleared a goal kick into the Newco half – you don’t want to mess around at the back so close to the break.  Connor Goldson stepped forward from marking Kyogo to head the ball back where it came from.

This is where it gets interesting.  Matt O’Riley, not known for his heading ability, fired his neck muscles to send the ball back, over Goldson and into space for Kyogo to exploit.  Perhaps wary of his second touch after the chance a few minutes earlier, he waited until the ball sat up, then (as they might say in Japan these days), gave it laldy!  It was a strike worthy of winning such a game.

Celtic emerged from the break with a lead to defend and set about doing just that.  Greg Taylor and Alistair Johnston tucked in, O’Riley and David Turnbull sat deeper.  This allowed Newco plenty of the ball, but no space in which to use it to any effect.

Their best chance came when Lammers rounded Hart but as we waited for the net to bulge, he mis-controlled and the ball rolled out of play.  They’re not very good, these new Newco-ers.

Johnston, with only an hour of play under his belt this season going into the game, doubled that time before being replaced by Anthony Ralston.  Then, on 75 minutes, Greg Taylor pulled up.  Celtic were forced to play for 15 minutes, plus 8 in added time, with a back four of Ralston, Lagerbielke Scales and Bernabei.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki, Nat Phillips and Stephen Welsh would all have played, if fit.  It was the most ridiculously under-strength Celtic defence I have ever seen, yet they glided through the game.  Ralston and Alexandro Bernabei had the better of their clearly troubled opponents.

Michael Beale will rue leaving Cantwell and Raskin out of the team, at least, that’s how I remember it.  I am sure his mind wandered to the break-value of his contract, in the hours since.  When Brendan Rodgers was interviewed before kick-off, I thought I sensed hesitation – I was wrong.  His record against Newco is better than any manager in games between Celtic and either of the Rangerses.  He is a talent and yesterday he shook Ibrox to its red brick core.  It was a sight to make your heart sing for a title so wonderous!

My friends in Celtic, enjoy your week.  We’ve still to speak about the transfer window – expect both barrels.

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  1. DeniaBhoy on

    From Tam Cellic Son on Twitter:

     

     

    There’s only three thing’s certain in life

     

     

    1. Death

     

    2. Taxes

     

    3. And James Tavernier saying he’s bitterly disappointed

  2. hairlikespaghetti on

    Apologies for a non Celtic post…quick question for any golf fans on here. Am I right in thinking that neither team selection ahead of the Ryder Cup include any LIV golfers? Has this been agreed by both captains? I thought that the Saudi ‘buy-out’ had nullified the PGA/LIV rift, or am I wrong?

  3. Hot Smoked on

    HAIRLIKESPAGHETTI on 4TH SEPTEMBER 2023 5:05 PM

     

     

     

    I THINK the US team can pick LIV golfers but Europe have decided to ban them.

     

    Not sure if the US have actually piked any, though.

  4. EKBhoy on

    Huns have asked the SFA for clarification on the disallowed goal for the weekend,

     

     

    Desparate stuff to keep their hordes onside which is more than can be said for Desserts who is offside more often than Morelos.

     

     

    Theyaregoingdowntheplughole

  7. GFTB on

    A couple of most enjoyable pints with BRRB while discussing the champions victory in the derby yesterday …. Just a pity not all us are retired and can wander about Glasgow in this lovely weather while quenching their thirst

  8. bigrailroadblues on

    Good evening from the Laurieston Bar via the Horseshoe. A cavalcade of torn faced huns pouring tears on their biro tattoos. Childish fun, I know but I can’t help masel. 😉

  9. hairlikespaghetti on

    Just saw Koepka has been picked for US, not sure if they picked any others…looking forward to seeing how Aberg performs…only turned pro in June, captains pick by September…must be some prospect!

  12. Hot Smoked on

    “EKBHOY on 4TH SEPTEMBER 2023 5:20 PM

     

    Huns have asked the SFA for clarification on the disallowed goal for the weekend,”

     

     

    Should we ask for clarification of why we were not awarded a penalty/ indirect free-kick ( do they still exist?) for the blatant push on Kyogo?

  22. jackiemac on

    scullybhoy – scales is a nice guy too. As the game went on, it was clear he could something the wangers defenders couldn’t – kill the ball, control it, pass it on calmly.

  24. An Tearmann on

    67 ECW

     

     

    Passion…my…

     

     

    Undiluted girnin and wanton entitlement

     

    From the greetin faced.not seen many of them on today funny that.

     

    ========================

     

    CLOUD 9

     

     

    Are you a hun? Only seen you on this last week.

     

    :-)

     

    You sit where?

     

     

    Tis so easy changin changin monikers

     

     

    HH

  25. balornock bhoy on

    HAIRLIKESPAGHETTI on 4TH SEPTEMBER 2023 5:28 PM

     

    Just saw Koepka has been picked for US, not sure if they picked any others…looking forward to seeing how Aberg performs…only turned pro in June, captains pick by September…must be some prospect!

     

     

    Koepka only Liv Golfer to be playing i believe.

     

     

    Aberg outstanding this week and a great prospect.

  27. bournesouprecipe on

    John Clark

     

     

    AKA The Brush

     

     

    John Clark is a member of the glorious Lisbon Lions who won the European Cup back in 1967 and has one of the longest records of anyone with first team involvement with Celtic in playing and coaching.

     

     

    Raised in Chapelhall and Holytown (both in Lanarkshire), he grew up in a tough working-class environment in a large family which likely engrained in him a strong work ethic and a drive to succeed.

     

     

    His young life was struck down by the premature death of his father in a railway accident, an event everyone else can only imagine the impact it will have had on him in his youth.

     

     

    At seventeen, John Clark was approached by Celtic to sign him as a player: “I was fortunate enough that Celtic approached me to sign for the club. I was seventeen at the time and I felt as though I had won the pools!”. It was to become even greater than that.

     

     

    He is perhaps the most unheralded player among the Lisbon Lions team by observers, but his subtle sweeping up in the half-back position beside Billy McNeill was integral to their success. Many people say that it was John Clark who made Billy McNeill the great player he was on the pitch, although fairer to say that they both complimented each other to bring out the best in themselves. Billy was king in the air, and John Clark was the main man on the ground for the defence.

     

     

    John Clark played for Larkhall Thistle before moving to Parkhead in 1958. The early years of Clark’s playing career as a wing-half showed few signs of his later glory. He first attracted attention after scoring the only goal on his debut in a Cup tie replay against Hibernian in 1961 where he deputised for the injured Celtic Captain Bertie Peacock. Sadly the injury took it’s toll and Bertie didn’t play for Celtic again. John’s performance won him a place in the Cup Final but the task of taking over from the great Bertie Peacock was a hard one for any player, and it wasn’t at all easy for John, especially as Celtic were mostly underwhelming for much of his early years at Celtic. 1960-61 was the season that John made his mark in the first team and towards the end of the season he took over as the regular left half.

     

     

    He was out of the first team for much of the 1962/63 season after missing a penalty v Valencia in the Inter-Fairs Cup (2-2 draw, 4-6 loss in aggregate). He was back in as a regular in season 1963/64, but Celtic were still underachieving, and much had to change in an era marked by poor management at both board & team level.

     

     

    Jock Stein Era

     

     

    It was the arrival of Jock Stein at Celtic Park that marked a transformation in fortunes for John’s career. Stein employed him as sweeper behind Billy McNeill and he never looked back. Clark was a quiet, down-to-earth character and his cool head was one of his best attributes. He used to read the game very well. A defender through and through, some even joked that he needed a map any time he crossed the half-way line.

     

     

    His role as Celtic’s sweeper earned him the nickname ‘The Brush‘! Also known sometimes as ‘Luggy’, a name that John didn’t really like and came about after he ended up with a cauliflower ear after an accidental collision with Billy McNeill in training.

     

     

    If ever anyone wanted evidence of his commitment to the first team and his desire to see the club turnaround, then they only need look to the glorious Scottish Cup final v Dunfermline in 1965. This match saw the club win some silverware for the first time since 1957, but it was the performances and effort that showed a marked change in the players’ outlook. John Clark received a nasty facial knock after 50 minutes that would undoubtedly have forced him off the park in today’s football, he soldiered on. Celebration pictures from the day show his jersey saturated in blood. He literally bled for the cause you could say.

     

     

    From there on in, it was onwards and upwards for John. The quadruple in 1967 was the high-mark for John, but he also played an important role in the European Cup final, a day not to forget for anyone. Not an easy task to play Inter Milan at that point, and it was likely a lesson on defence from the masters in the opposition for Clark as much as anything else. Celtic won and he got to get his hands on the trophy. He may be overshadowed by the other greats in the side, but John Clark was about the last man who the manager would have replaced in that side. John Clark was integral to the set up of the side, and was a very underestimated player who was a lynchpin of the Lions’ defence.

     

     

    He was a constant in the side, and played a total of 140 consecutive matches between April 1965 and September 1967. So he was ever present in all the matches throughout the high-mark season of 1966-67. Only Tommy Gemmell was ever-present in that glorious season too.

     

     

    He scored only a few goals but treasured those he did. For example, he’ll tell you that he scored one of the strikes of the century: “I always say that I scored the best goal ever,” he said in a Celtic View interview. “It was in a Scottish Cup replay at Easter Road against Hibs [15th March 1961] and I beat a defender at the byline, cut in and poked the ball through [future Celtic keeper] Ronnie Simpson’s legs and said to him: ‘You couldn’t get any better than that could you!’”. It was a vital goal in a 1-0 victory, although sadly Celtic lost in the final to Dunfermline that season.

     

     

    Funnily despite correctly having the persona of a good gentleman, possibly one of his most celebrated moments was from the despicable World Club Championship match play-off against Racing Club. After sending-offs and complete commotions, with the referee totally out of his depth to control the match, one of the Racing Club players decided to try to take John Clark on, and in retaliation John Clark raised his dukes to the guy who simply scarpered off quick time. Admittedly he got a bit fed up of it being brought up by so many in conversation with him as it’s not his usual character, but due to the events of that day, Celtic supporters’ all still privately admire him for that moment and love him even more for it.

     

     

    John Clark had it particularly difficult to keep his place with young whipper snappers from the ‘Quality Street Gang‘ behind him. A cartilage injury in 1968 began the decline, and he was thereafter in & out of the first team picture.

     

     

    He was to lose his regular place to Jim Brogan (the first of the Lisbon Lions to do so) and with the other competition following behind, John Clark was pushed down in the pecking order but was still a valued, respected and regularly called-upon member of the first team squad until his departure in 1971.

     

     

    @ CelticWiki

  30. Sionnaigh on

    BLACKSOX on 4TH SEPTEMBER 2023 3:47 PM

     

     

    Turbull put in a great shift yesterday creating lots of space for McGregor in the first half and defended the lead well in the second.

  33. bournesouprecipe on

    Jimmy Johnstone

     

     

     

    Jock Stein had the greatest influence on Jimmy Johnstone’s career – and on his life. Without Stein it is extremely unlikely that Jinky would have reached the heights that he did. Indeed, Stein claimed that his greatest single achievement had been in extending Jinky’s career five years longer than it would have lasted left to the player’s devices.

     

     

    That Stein struck terror into the heart of the player who gave him more sleepless nights than any other is not in doubt. An imposing figure, he towered over Jinky, and he was never slow to use his size to intimidate those who dared to cross him.

     

    Threats of ‘I think I’ll have a word with your priest’ were not uncommon whenever Jinky stepped out of line. Neither was the sight of Big Jock in hot pursuit of his number seven when he had been the butt of a cheeky retort.

     

     

    The announcement that Stein would be replacing Jimmy McGrory as manager was made at the end of January 1965. But Stein’s and Jinky’s paths had already crossed. Their first encounter took place in a toilet at half-time in a reserve match against Hibs at Celtic Park shortly before Stein took charge. Stein was still manager of Hibs, and the scoreline was blank.

     

    Jinky was in the process of relieving himself when the giant shadow of Stein appeared over him. ‘What are you doing out there, wee man?’ enquired Big Jock. ‘You’re too good for reserve-team football. You should be in the first team.’

     

    Jinky’s career as a club and international player was in a trough at the time. Disillusioned by Jimmy McGrory’s refusal to give him his head and by the team’s indifferent results, Jinky worried that the manager was having reservations about him and his form suffered accordingly.

     

     

    Cyril Horne, of the Glasgow Herald, wrote later that: ‘Jimmy Johnstone was at such a low ebb early in 1965 that it was probable that he would revert to junior football again -and sink without a trace.’

     

     

    But the encounter in the Celtic Park toilet was Jinky’s first experience of Stein the master motivator. He was lifted at once by the comment, and promptly raised his game, scoring a hat-trick in the second half.

     

     

    For all that Jinky amd Stein did not always see eye-to-eye, Jimmy had the utmost respect for his manager, claiming: ‘I would have amounted to nothing but for him. I would have had no sense of direction in my career.

     

    ‘Jock Stein never wasted words with you, but whatever he said was always the soundest advice you were ever likely to be given.’

     

    According to Sean Fallon, Stein’s assistant, the manager had a love-hate relationship with Jinky: ‘We used to look upon him as a kind of little boy lost,’ said Fallon. ‘Off the record, I’d have a word with wee Jimmy, or the Big Man would speak to him quietly, but all his brains were in his feet. The wee bugger would come in for training and you would know he had been misbehaving yet he would train as if he had been in bed at nine o’clock the night before. Then, when you were getting on at him he would look at you with those big eyes of his and you would feel sorry for him.

     

    ‘But whatever problems Jimmy provided were usually forgiven because he had such marvellous natural ability.’

     

     

    It was said that Jock Stein had spies everywhere, only too willing to report on the misdeeds of his players. Stein certainly had some watchers in place at strategic points such as the Noggin, Jinky’s local in Uddingston, the area of his birth, and where he spent most of his life, apart from his brief spell in America and the two seasons he spent with Sheffield United.

     

     

    Legend has it that Stein received a telephone call from a Celtic fan whose home overlooked the pub informing him that Jinky and Bobby Murdoch had been spotted entering the premises in their tracksuits during a lunchtime break in a pre-season double training session.

     

     

    Adopting a posh accent, Stein phoned the pub to enquire if there was a Mr Jimmy Johnstone at the bar. When Jinky was summoned to the phone all pretences were dropped and a menacing voice boomed: ‘Get your arses back here, pronto!’

     

    Billy McNeill [the former Celtic captain] said: ‘No player gave Jock more headaches than Jimmy Johnstone. Jinky was the bane of Jock’s life at times and the wee man fell foul of the manager on countless occasions.

     

     

    ‘Jock was fond of Jimmy, though, and did everything in his power to protect Jinky from himself, often placing a protective arm round his shoulder and assuming the role of father figure. One example was the time Jinky was suspended and sent home for a breach of club discipline. In those days, when a player was suspended by his club, his wages immediately stopped.

     

     

    ‘A couple of days later Jock approached me and revealed that Jinky had telephoned him several times, begging to be allowed to return. “What are you going to do?” I asked. “I’ve already sent him his wages,” said Jock. “Fine, can I be suspended, too?” I retorted, tongue in cheek, but that incident demonstrated that there was a softer side to Jock that not a lot of people were aware of.’

     

     

    Stein’s was an almost parental influence, and it was a mark of just how successful he was in curbing Jinky’s worst excesses that the player experienced most problems when he was outside his manager’s control and sphere of influence at Celtic Park.

     

     

    Copyright © 2007 Jinky: The Biography of Jimmy Johnstone by Jim Black

     

  42. glendalystonsils on

    BSR

     

     

    Thanks for posting . Getting old can be a pain , but if I wasn’t in my seventies I wouldn’t have watched these guys play , so I wouldn’t want to have been around at any other time!

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