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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And it is up to Celtic to Fix the most complex problem in the World?
Some people are so……………………………
David
They have, according to the Villa fans.
Time will tell. I don’t think Griff: Sinclair or Paddy will have many sleepless nights about facing him. Poor mans Kolo:-)
The Green Man says SACK THE Board
Villa are paying up 1 year of the contract. The Sevco deal is allegedly for 2 years. Is G&SL’s plan to not be around come year 2, freeing themselves from such “onerous” contracts?
The Great Ibrox Cash Burn continues apace…
twists n turns on 19th August 2016 8:01 am
David
They have, according to the Villa fans.
Time will tell. I don’t think Griff: Sinclair or Paddy will have many sleepless nights about facing him. Poor mans Kolo:-)
…………………………………………………………..
;)))
DAVID
Joleon Patrick Lescott
Joseph Anthony Barton
These guys will be bullet proof if things go wrong. Right???
Powerful.
David is so powerful. The Name is Powerful.
Always Ultras out in force last night. T
Chief Ultra Macjay must have went through one keechload of Tena for men this last few days with all his panty wetting.
Will Lescott be the new Doug Baillie?
Or Marvin Andrews?
Ephesians.
is in play more than EVER.
ernie read up.
Dan
Davidopoulous
Of course they are still enthralled by their ‘Ancestors’, and how they liked to do things.
Its a simple formula…’Let us cheat or else’
It has worked for the new club so far.
The stench is horrific…..still, Uefa have more important things to deal with, like flags:)
HH
PETEC
As is your name. Peter – a rock of a name ;)
It was Amazing to be amongst a crowd that wanted a Win, best not having a good view.
Davido
Unfortunately, I will huv to tape all the CL games (if the Lord Almighty wants us to progress) to give any sort of proper analysis of the game.
sensible soccer.
Yes
Aston Villa shipped 76 goals last season.
Precisely 2 per game.
Lescott made 30 appearances last season so he would probably only be involved in 60 of them.
On average.
Prestonpans Bhoy, Garner scored more when Preston were in league 1 .
He will find his scoring touch as let’s just say, refs and officials, may give him the benefit of doubt in close offside decisions.
Like many of us , I would love to know where the money is coming from to pay all these players from down the road and not surprised , no questions being asked by the media.
Will McInnes or Nielsen make comment about Sevco signing players as they did with us?
BMCUW
As you are aware I am unable to partake in the golf but the evening session will be enjoyable
A few Cqn bhoys and former players will be in attendance
As usual all for a few good causes
Brendan is being a Dictator.
Brendan is being Ruthless.
‘GG
Aye, but surely that was down to other Villa players not providing enough cover, namely that Scott Sinclair fella that Celtic totally overpaid for with their difficult to recycle revenue ;)
after the way the players treated Ronny and his Revolutionary Style…..it’s the only way that works.
Kieran needs cover so he can bulk up.
Kierans delivery is the finest ever.
He has to be protected.
I think it would be fair to say.
That Lescott will be up against it…..Paddy Roberts, Moussa, Griff, Scotty Sinclair, all fit young bhoys.
Should be fun:)
And of course…..You insult Brendan, watch out.
HH
Petric,
My ticket also failed to work twice last season. One League game and one Euro game.
Had to go to the ticket office where they promptly issued a paper ticket., they also checked the ticket out and posted it back to me. E Mailed JP Taylor and the Celtic ticket office.
Never heard from the ticket office , but JPT quickly E mailed me back . He assured me it would be fixed ( which it seems to be ) he also offered me an upgrade for two.
Still need to take him up on that:-)
HH.
Greenpinata,
I hope I’m not being called a Petric………
Being called a Scab is bad enough. :))
The East Side TO was on it. The dude assured me It would be sorted for the 27th.
;))
Villa supporting mate of mine says Lescott is so bad that they were delighted to pay half of his contract to get rid of him.
CQN’ers,
for those whose football interests extend beyound the SPL, and also like to indulge in the official Fantasy Premier League game :
https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/home
CQN League: 1428711-353623
Cheers,
fleagle1888
Brendan Rocking
Canamalar
“There are more stupid old people than there are young and that is why this world is in such a fcuking mess. I now know you have done your bit to make sure the world is where it is.”
You, no doubt, are going to furnish us with evidential proof of this assertion. You are able to direct us to the sources of your research, aren’t you? Or are you just bumping your gums or are you just bu moving your gums and grandstanding? I mean, that wouldn’t be like you, would it?
PETEC on 19TH AUGUST 2016 7:57 AM was hoping the debate would have moved on Friday night relax and couple of drams so anything I say is bollocks but liked your plain speak here. You got it right mate, a perspective that seems to be lacking. When I was there I witnessed the same Wahhabis sponsors who have directed their money to ISIS destroying any chance of peace. imagine Israel under ISIS. Imagine how real that is for all of the people in Israel not just the Jewish communities. Hopefully the flag waving will have sorted it out. Hail hail amigo.
This World needs the Wisdom more than Ever, certainly not this new breed.
Tattoos and Nudity Everywhere.
Great.
Christianity sidelined also.
The Lord will get the attention soon enough.
It took a while.
Celtic must and I believe will act swiftly on the Wednesday night fiasco.
The Truss and the GB are cancers that at this stage can be cut out using a local anesthetic – if they are allowed to fester and flout whatever they want within CP, endangering the club’s reputation and financial well – being, it will in future take major surgery to destroy them in future.
The Celtic club and support cannot be held to ransom by a couple of hundred loonies who can not be trusted to act in the best interests of the club – that is what supporters are supposed to to – the clue is in the title “support”
Shut them out and refund their STs, then turn the area over to the family section.
Tell the Truss that they cannot use the good name of Celtic for their renegade operation.
The GB have been indulged for too long – NL and Ronny pandered to them, the management gave them their own special area of the stadium and even implemented and invested in the first Safe-Standing in that area – only for them and 52,000 of us to be kicked in the teeth on Wednesday night.
These people will not stop – they will continue to pursue their perverse agenda, regardless of the cost to Celtic and 99%+ of the real supporters.
So Celtic, take steps to GET THEM OUT NOW, or we will on be on tenterhooks at every European game until UEFA shut the stadium.
The New MSM Gospels out there.
That kills it.
Right off the bat.
Doubting Thomas.CSC
Shutdown
Christ Died to take away Every Sin.
Some people are deeper into……
Petec
Others have previously made comment about your fanatically extreme religious posts on here.
At times I have viewed some of these posts as cruel attacks on you.
But for sometime I have also been concerned about the state of your mind.
During the wee small ours of this morning ,you posted 25 times in a relatively short period.
Nobody was responding ,and you continued with these religious comments.
I post this out of kindness and not out of spite.
Please go and seek some professional help.
This is a serious comment and not an attack on you.
There is an imbalance in your posts which is unnerving ,and strikes me as unhealthy.
I don’t know if you are under the influence when you post .i always considered that you were a night shift worker ,with spare time.
Maybe others know you well on here and can tell me my concerns are not warranted ,and not to worry.
Having met you once ,I thought that you were a gentle soul.
I repeat ,I have no axe to grind or wish to be spiteful .
But from the outside looking in ,someone needs to help you a bit.
TT