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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Am no interested in world domination…..only the thawt of it….;-))
;-))csc
H.H.
Saor Uladh on 19th August 2016 2:03 am
Kojo was a perl script.
I have it somewhere.
Do you want it?
I watched the 1 hour highlight programme on BT Sports yesterday and the Israeli team in the bit where they all stand in a line with the officials in the middle were loving playing at Celtic Park and the atmosphere, you could tell.
I wouldn’t worry a thing about Celtic supporters going over to Israel. No issue I reckon. The Hapoel Manager was angry his team didn’t perform but he was fullsome in his Praise for the atmosphere at Celtic Park. It was pretty good I must say. ;))
The LL upper is a rocking place to be, apart from the view (sensible soccer), and apart from my ticket not working correctly (missed the start of 2 games now) but there is indeed a buzz about the place. :)
NEUSTADT-BRAW on 19TH AUGUST 2016 2:11 AM
Yaloonga.
Hambagashli.
Margaret McGill on 19th August 2016 2:13 am
More of a Cobol guy myself!!!
But, thank you.
Saor Uladh on 19th August 2016 2:15 am
YW
Cobol eh?
much of a pension?
Mac….Awfy braw ….the ballads of booze… Poor Hamish …the devil drink…
Prost.
Braw ….
Margaret McGill on 19th August 2016 2:17 am
Making a mint, seeing everyone else can’t figure it out or don’t bother learning it. You’d be very surprised where it is still being used.
Apparently perl is widespread in Germany.
So I hear.
Saor Uladh on 19th August 2016 2:19 am
I believe you! I see it in manufacturing companies everywhere.
Sport and Politics
Whether you like it or not.
They do mix
Celtic, by their very exisence is a political act.
Trying to confine/ccontrol/pigeonhole what our fans say or think about anything going on in our planet will only result in the opposite happening.
Theres that sort of contraryness been about Celtic since day 1.
I enjoyed seeing the palstibnian flags
I enjoyed seeing the star of david
I enjoyed seeing the green white and gold
Most of all I enjoyed seeing the team I support win 5-2 and put us on the brink of the champiobns league
We are a broad church
Relax.
HH
BigORwee-P csc
Come on now …..your all feeling braw …..cos we won big …eh….come on now …give us a wee grin…
Braw
Margaret McGill on 19th August 2016 2:17 am
I kinda figured Perl was of German extraction.
Jesus weeps.
saur…,
Whit yer needing to remember about Macjay is that it is his insistence only that supporters can cause division. The actions and policies of those in power must be obeyed regardless of direction and even hypocricy decreed by those in power must be obeyed without question. Everyone must be a hoor like him, bare their arse to whatever power demands and be thankful they are useful. You will be told what to think and your independent compliance will always be an example of freedom of expression.
Oh and dont waste your time waiting on responses to simple but uncomfortable for him questions, the result of asking questions he knows there is no way his political perspective can be justified is that he disappears for a couple of days and returns as if he developed a handy version of altzheimers, trying to help him remember does not work. Like all fascists when isolated and identified, denial, defelction and dementia set in.
Macjay,
Annagassan.
Reputedly where the Vikings first settled here. If the motive was to raise awareness of the issue the GB or whoever have certainly succeeded. They’ve also won many over in the support by the look of things here. In addition Celtic are getting a very favourable press in many (not all) areas and judging by the comments online Celtic have many more supporters.
Anyway, it’s done now, we’ll just have to wait and see and hope that everything pans out.
Mickbhoy1888,
@ 2.01…Yeah I thought you had a fair bit in common. Thanks for putting up your copy of The Sun yesterday.
Nytol
Antearman…relax is kunjani….wena…
Braw
Smiley thing ..
Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on 19th August 2016 2:24 am
They must not be chastised nor scorned, only pitied.
I would hate to have to go through life kow-towing to others and their whims.
But if you look at it from another perspective, their lives are happy due to the fact that they do not have to think for themselves – if they find themselves in the midst of a moral dilemma they are safe in the knowledge that someone is always their to tell them how to feel and behave.
I suppose it’s good preparation for the care home. Because that is where they are going to end up. Because they will be told, and they will obey, for those my friend………….are the rules. And rules, as they well know must always be obeyed.
To all that think…..
Kungenzeka amasende akho shwabanisa ubukhulu footballs
Braw
CLOGHER CELT on 19TH AUGUST 2016 2:25 AM
Macjay,
Annagassan.
Reputedly where the Vikings first settled here. If the motive was to raise awareness of the issue the GB or whoever have certainly succeeded. They’ve also won many over in the support by the look of things here. In addition Celtic are getting a very favourable press in many (not all) areas and judging by the comments online Celtic have many more supporters.
===============================================================
You may be right.
There may be a positive outcome.
Just can`t see it myself.
Annagassan.
Beautiful name .
If it were in the States , there would be a song about it.
Let me set a difficult question…….Gies an update on the progress of yer baby ressy 12 progress or is it still all hush hush wink wink and we’ll let you know when something happens stage
Rhythm Brothers
Wee Jamesie was Excellent on Wednesday. It has been very hard to be a side player @ CEltic over the last few Seasons.
Delighted for the Bhoy, I’m Hoping Efe can turn things around, Brendan knows he can drop Efe and he will Still Give Everything he has for Celtic.
I know I can count on you
There’s a thought maybe some of the Celtic support are descended from Vikings and Scottish Catholics pre Reformatio……….nahhh we have got all to have Irish routes before we are qualified to call ourselves true Tims
And BTW, their full backs were rapid.
Might be worth keeping tabs on them.
Just popped in to see if anyone had a good word to say about our great win.
Nope, egomaniacs still ranting, popping out again.
Ram it.
Macjay,
Annagassan (Áth na gCasán),
The main pub is O’Neills, the shop is O’Neills, the bakery is O’Neills.
There’s quite a few O’Neills in Annagassan!
It’s also thought there were 4-5000 Vikings settled there at one time.
OK Mac…
Kungenzeka amasende akho shwabanisa ubukhulu footballs
May your testicles shrink to the size of footballs…
Live here on CQN…
That’s braw …
Canamalar ….your chopper was supposedly flying low oors and oors ago…
Smiley thing…
Am a wee bit tipsy noo …so dinar be typing bad things…
Sagabona kunjani zena……
Cool down ……relax …take it easy …
Braw
Barney fantastic win but apprehensive about the 2nd leg but with Brendan Rodgers in charge I think we will scrape it…..Still there was some on here wishing to congratulate a bloody flag display before they were wishing to congratulate the team
macjay1,
The wee guy has sorted his ticket for the game against the Zombies. I think £30 for an under 16 is very steep but we signed up to the Cheating so he is looking forward to a mock Old Firm game. It’s all the youngsters have now.
ffs showing all that old footage and they dinnae want some of that. LOL
I am really not fussed :))
But he is a Young guy who wants to go to a Huns game for the first Time.
I think the Hun have been exposed for what they are in front of the whole of Scotland itself.
Bring on their bile.
The ball in the net Celtic. 7 Times is Perfection.
Pleased to see that my antennae haven`t let me down .
:-)
Saor…,
Aye well, Structure is what they strive for I suppose :)
Now mickbhoy18888, be very careful of that one, poor pisser that will google your blog name to try and find out everything he can and make a point of publishing links to it to cover up his police work.
Identified as a bent cop on here, in the employ of some gangster or other pretends there was alters or motive for exposing him.
Undercover taxi driver that only appears to ripoff Irish Celtic supporters by playing Rebs and going the long way round.
The rest you’ll work out, oh and Tony Donnelly might challenge you to a square go in his boozer if you use words with more than two syllables, tell him to come to yours and don’t turn your back on him, he’s a back stabber, thinks taking advantage of people makes him a hard man he’s nothing more than a bully. Hence he don’t travel out of his comfort or hauners zone.
Trampstamp……what was that……..gtf …
You will never be a Celt…
Unusual for me to be outing …..Mackay and canamalar and just about abidy on this blog…ja
Saga bona kunjani zena …
Braw
PETEC on 19TH AUGUST 2016 2:52 AM
Like most , I was hopeful that Rangers were going be a thing of the past.
As time went on and their situation became more and more amusing , I began to start to enjoy it.
Not very Christian , I know.
Now I expect to be going with my son and his mates to Cheers bar in Sydney for the game.
But , you know , I`ll be quite happy to see them wallowing around the lower reaches of the S.P.L. for years to come.
mickbhoy1888
I’m so pissed off how the whole fleg issue has overshadowed the result. Now the intellectuals and ll say it’s a bigger, more important issue than just a play off result in the Champions (sic) league, even though there was 2 Champions playing one another.
I find myself asking the question, would they be waving the Palestinian Fleg if it was red, white an blue? Just a thought. Hmmm.
Res 12,
Write to Auldheid or BRTH I’m sure they’ll waste their time squeezing yer bag ya pish stained alchy.
67 posts to 1888…
Pause…
Canmalar …
Let’s talk of braw things ….the flies are stinking….
Do you think we will buy Roberts??
That would be braw now…
Braw
Barney67,
If you go back and read, you’ll find the fly the flag supporters have not made a big deal of it, it’s the clowns that want Celtic punished because they don’t agree with it that are making it a big deal, the bigger the punishment the more justified and enabled to find blame. It’s their whole purpose of keeping it alive, they won’t drop it until the punishment is imposed its the most important thing in the world to them right now. Being right is bigger than Celtic especially if hypocrisy and immorality back you up. It’s being right at every cost that’s important and every cost will be sacrificed to justify their mock outrage.
Anyroadup I’m done here, will only be back when it’s gets so rediculous again, three weeks of anti fleg propaganda failed because the Celtic support is good at heart, consequences are never as important as the cause if it’s just.
Hail hail fly the flag