If you caught Leigh Griffiths’ post-match Radio Scotland interview you’ll have noticed the profuse support offered to Brendan Rodgers. We’ll discuss that in more detail tomorrow, but what was clear to Leigh and the rest of us last night, was the Celtic dug out an excellent result from a position which would likely have seen them eliminated a year earlier.
We were well on top early on against Legia, Maribor and Malmo but crumbled when the going got tough. Not anymore.
It’s hard to know what’s gotten into James Forrest, one of six Scots in the starting lineup, but I suspect the arrival of Scott Sinclair has had as big an impact on him than that of Brendan. Wide players are always subject to fluctuations in effectiveness levels, but in James and Scott we’ve a standard which is clearly higher than we’ve had for years.
There was a moment late in the game when James was easily robbed attempting a take-on in the final third, but this was a symptom of having run himself into the ground over the previous 80-odd minutes. He played a big part in the result and left nothing on the field.
One of James’ more important contributions was the dinked cross for Leigh’s header which made it 2-0. The goal was technically difficult, but was eclipsed by Leigh’s second. That free kick was in a perfect position to whip at the far post, allowing players to attack the ball, with the keeper not knowing if he should stay on his line to defend the shot, or come out to block a header.
That was the play we all expected, including the Hapoel keeper. Instead, Leigh played an incredibly difficult free kick into the top near post. Brendan Rodgers must have had no idea the player was capable of work like this when he arrived in June.
Scott Brown has been transformed from the player we watched end last season, quite probably because he’s now fully fit. His goal was a worthy acknowledgement of his best game in a year.
Brendan was right to express concern after the game that we let a halftime winning position slip so easily. There were mistakes throughout the team leading to the first Hapoel goal, but I suspect experience will tighten things up.
Kolo Toure was immense. His rampaging run setup the second goal, but when he was caught ahead of the ball on the 55th minute, the defence behind him didn’t have the organisation to prevent a goal. We’ll not see this happen often from now on.
The second half arrivals of Nir Bitton and Moussa Dembele proved decisive. Nir brought a calmness to central midfield as Callum McGregor tired, while Moussa outjumped defence and keeper to score what was a priceless goal.
Craig Gordon’s been under pressure in recent weeks. There was little he could do about Hapoel’ second, a fabulous shot which nicked between Brown and Toure, but he’ll be annoyed their first nipped in at his near post.
This tie, however, turned the moment he made a point-blank save to stop the score going to 4-3. We’ll be able to look back later this season and say that was the moment we secured our Champions League adventure.
Feeling good about last night, but if only we’d a player like Patrick Roberts, or Erik Sviatchenko to come in and take things up a notch……
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THE GLORIOUS BALANCE SHEET on 19TH AUGUST 2016 12:44 AM
But it makes me laugh when I then read the plc board’s biggest cheerleaders on here take umbrage at the waving of the Palestinian flags and opine that sport and politics shouldn’t mix, I didn’t hear them object to Mr Sarsak’s visit at the time.
======================================================================
I don`t opine that sport and politics shouldn`t mix.
Sport and stupidly selfish divisive demos shouldn`t mix.
Apparently Al Jazeera approved.
The two channel guys who have in the past broadcast beheadings.
Turkey..,
We know your a Hun, you only visit Scotland to support your ibrox club when they play Celtic you’ve already told us that. Tow games and two visits in two years, it tells a story gobbler.
You like to join in and back the cardboard gangsters whose first response to questions is threats of violence to other Celtic supporters. Your brain of Britain intellect has reached the dizzy heights of calling Celtic supporters wingers and a holes and for some reason think this is a fitting description for Celtic supporters who don’t agree with you. Yer a Hun and everything about you screams Hun, the only time you join discussions on here is to have a go at Celtic supporters.
You let slip once you were a spark, they must have let the entrance standards slip, then again a Hun is in without a test, your job is to make sure you don’t get colours mixed up and here you are questioning people’s intelligence ffs. You are as thick as shit in the neck of a bottle and appear to believe there’s more to you than thick shit, the only people I’ve ever encountered that act like that were thick as shit huns and even they understood their limits, you sound like you’ve been made up and think you were always a charge hand that thinks he’s always been an engineer. Yer a halfwit and most likely unemployed and waiting for that charge hands job you were promised 6 months ago. Absolute Hun Fcukwit and there is only one guy on this blog you could possibly team up with, that would make you look good, and here’s too stupid to know better.
Listen seamus I’ve only got 3 and a half quid left of my student loan but I’ve promised that I’ll contribute to any fine that UEFA impose on Celtic for the flag display the other night comrade……what will I do ….just get another two half pints in ya nugget
SAOR In Henriks last League game for us,I wore my Co Tyrone shirt. Spent about an hour pub time explaining to the young ones about the red hand. Pub time wasted :.)
What Canman said. Hun.
aburntoutcase on 19th August 2016 1:26 am
You think you’ve got it bad! They don’t know here what it signifies! Pushing rope up a hill!! :)
SAOR ULADH on 19TH AUGUST 2016 1:20 AM
Anger ?
Specify.
Macjay.
You deflecting???
Tut tut.
Picked this off the comments section on some Celtic blog just now.
I wonder what your equivalent was saying in 1968 when Celtic risked not competing in
the European Cup as a protest over the invasion of Czechoslovakia, under stronger,
more principalled leadership we risked it. it didn’t bring down the iron Curtain, or get the
Russians to withdraw, it was long past when the Soviet Bloc broke up, so no doubt your
equivalent would feel that it had been for nothing. My little brother didn’t even know of it
when he landed up in Prague one summer, busking his way around Europe, he only
found out about it when he wore his Celtic top in a pub where we has doing a turn with
his guitar. An old Czech walked up on his break and put a slivoviz in front of him, Kev
thanked him & the old guy said “your team stood by us, we had Russian tanks on our
streets but we heard that others were taking a stand for us’. Did our gesture achieve
anything? I think so, you probably don’t.
awe right awe right awe right calm doon
I’ll tell yeez :)
Jeez whit ye like…
Scott Brown bought snacks and coffee
Danny Fox argued w/McGeady about buying porn mags
John Clark talked to me for 20 minutes about Tommy Burns, being kit man and ChapelHall
ok ?
That’s enough for one night youtubes.
aye Celtic are holding their breath about the promised contributions to finance the yet unconfirmed UEFA fine. If UEFA don’t impose any sanctions there are going to be a lot of dissatisfied left wing radicals amongst our so called fan groups.
Low scoredraw over there……works for me…..;-))
AuthenticBigDawgsCSC
H.H.
So you want a contribution
well you know we’d all like to pay
But if you go around carrying pictures of chairman Pete
you know you can go shove it up your….
CANAMALAR
One of the funniest ever on here
Brilliant
HH
Saor
I`ve n schoolot got it bad any more,pal. I left the central belt of Scaatlin years ago. Our weans all go to the same school and it feckin works!
Macjay,
Every channel on the planet bar children’s channels broadcast 9/11, every US channel broadcast Vietnam and war atrocities from all over the world, i remember watching a Chinese bloke being crushed to death by a tank in China, which I suspect you think was an acceptable live murder because the political message aligned with yours, why is Al Jazera offensive to you, is it because they put a positive spin on the flag story, of course it is. Yer a slave to the empire and any empire will do. Right now it’s the American empire but if that falls you’ll quickly bare your arse to the next one that becomes dominant. The only freedom you decide is that you can Lord it over someone poorer than you and tell them it’s by gods will. You honestly believe you would make it in any society and I believe you’d be a prostitute in every sense to any society to achieve your God given right to Lord it over people with higher moral standards.
Edifice
Mags…..
U really are bitter……
HalfemptyCSC
H.H.
mickbhoy1888 on 19th August 2016 1:39 am
Have a funny feeling that the only people that will be dissatisfied at that outcome would be the likes of you and your ilk Mick.
How else could you find a release for that pent up rage and frustration, if you didn’t have something to complain about or some ”Radical Lefty’s” to blame.
You should find a hobby, it could work as a release valve for that aggression.
Could i be so bold as to suggest Skydiving?
SAOR ULADH on 19TH AUGUST 2016 1:36 AM
Macjay.
You deflecting???
Tut tut.
========================================
No.
Questioning.
But you ARE deflecting.
Anger ?
Specify.
Justify your description.
Macjay,
You mix sport and divisive politics on here on a daily basis:))
Isn’t it a wee bit rich to question a peaceful protest at a sporting event in relation to what many believe to be war crimes being committed on a frequent basis in Palestine by the Israeli Defence Forces?
Bye the way you broke Godwin’s Law about an hour ago and thereby forfeit the debate:))
Mickbhoy1888,
You just missed your mate Turkeybhoy:))
TheLurkinTim on 19th August 2016 1:46 am
why do you think that?
I’m the sweetest Celtic supporter you will ever meet.
Ask embdy
Saor
Did we no do it in 1954 when they tried to tell us to remove the Tricolour?
I will be more that happy to reply to your query once you have the common decency to respond to my initial set of questions.
Etiquette.
aburntoutcase on 19th August 2016 1:49 am
Sure did and it was Rangers FC 1872 that voted to keep the tricolour flying, along with Robert Kelly who was absolutely livid at the time. Think it was Hibs that instigated it if my memory serves me.
If at first you dont succeed. Skydivings not for you.
Mags…..
Celtic is a Distraction……
On my way….
To World Domination
;-))
H.H.
Slumber time for this bhoy.
G’nite fholks.
http://youtu.be/NuuZ-1Nb-fI
FOREVERANDEVER!!!
TheLurkinTim on 19th August 2016 1:55 am
when you fulfill your dream can you like ping me on linkedln or something?
Geez a joab…world domination… I can do that :)
SAOR
Aye the Embra Hibernians. The Dundee wans I still like. Won a fortune when they humped Barca
Oh the seventh craw dinae want a bar mitzvah…. Didnae want a bar mitzvahahah
The seventh craw didnae want a bar mitzvah ….
On a cold and frosty morphing…..
Braw .
Let the people dae anything that’s braw….
Easy peasy…
Braw.
And before you ask…
Braw folk …
Braw
aburntoutcase on 19th August 2016 1:59 am
It was around that time that the Masons took over Hibs and destroyed them
CLOGHER CELT on 19TH AUGUST 2016 1:48 AM
Macjay,
You mix sport and divisive politics on here on a daily basis:))
=======================================================================
Sport and politics are parts of everyday life.
Of course they mix.
I have never said they don`t or shouldn`t.
Harmful to Celtic.
That`s the only issue
And the division is amongst the support .
There will always be harmless division in the C.Q.N. steamie.
Hope you found a decent pint of Guinness in that wee toon you were heading to.
:-)
Clogher Celt
Never met the chap,don’t even know wether like me he is a season ticket holder or not but he does make some valid points that doesn’t fit in with the rhetoric or political stance with some posters that are only at Celtic Park once in a blue moon
I like the way Brendan is going about his business, he is ruthlessly showing that he is the Boss.
After an outstanding first half showing by Every Celt, lapses in concentration put in jeopardy Celtic accessing the CL.
No favourites whatsoever with the guy. That is the way it should be.
I must say Scott Brown has been immense lately, I thought he was struggling and that he would struggle to stay in the team but he has the perfect Manager now to adapt his game and let him realise he can’t or shouldn’t have to do everything himself.
I’m sure Brendan will bring in a reinforcement in this area that is quality.
I must say, after the brutal nature of the Astana team and their methods of winning, it was a pleasure to play such a sporting and fair team. Well Done Hapoel Beer Sheva for making it an incredible night on Wednesday. I’m hoping for a game that is as boring as they come in Israel but This is Celtic, so it is not over yet. Confident though. ;))
The last time i was on here, many moons ago i had to leave because of a poster calling itself Kojo.
Is he still alive?
He’d put a glass eye to sleep that fella.
Seems he’s still resonating in here at times though…..
NEUSTADT-BRAW on 19TH AUGUST 2016 2:01 AM
Craws are done.
Time for BULL.
Horny ones.
Just like yersel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIYKo8lLV3M
Petec
Aye. Agree with all of that. HH
But at least he took the time to find oot aboot …cooling doon …relaxing …and taking it easy….in Zulu..
Sagabona kunjani wena…
…
Brrrrrrr bouffff …
Mac knows when he has to laugh…..
That is a smart move …
Braw .