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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Curtain Twitcher Alert.
The mass psychology of fascism….they think they have the right to trample your rights and everybody else’s as well.
Been tried….never worked.
Hardly surprising
People dont like being ordered about by control freaks.
“A Neo Liberal Analysis of the Radical Curtain Twitcher” by The Green Man…
Read reviews on Amazombie. uk/ books…
:-)
I’m going out now with the dogs, they are so understanding of my humour…Mutts!
“Curtain twitchers” (quoted at least a dozen times on here today), indicative of some sort of obsessive condition.
UtterbolloxCSC
Ah but the truth stings eh
Control what you dont like, suppress it….cover it, make excuses.
It wont wash.
GerryBhoy
You are one of the curtain twitchers i refer to.
Do you worst.
So hijacking a football club to ensure heated driveways is ok ? But not a game ? Rosa Parks is ok not cos she broke the rules. which needed broken … but nobody else was affected !!!!!!!
Celtic football club like no other …. only when it comes to depravity as far as the plc is concerned and their bigoted supporters.
Fukking Scum CSC
Makes me larf TBH
ParkheadcumSalford
‘Everyone around me’ … must think like me… unless I am told otherwise?
How far does this zone extend around you, and is it a bit like zonal marking… anyone who enters the zone, also thinks like you?!
Just had an idea for a new movie….
I’ve been checking youtube clips of last night and the reaction to the Palestine flags has been global and 99.99% positive.Most of the posts are of a thankful nature,talking up Celtic’s fans and creating new ones.Seems to me the flag waving had a positive effect and got the Palestinian situation mentioned,therefore highlighted,which cannot be anything other than helpful to their cause,no matter how small said effect manifests.
And we won 5-2 so all good for me.
Gerrybhoy
Cmon big mouth lets hear your wisdom.
Well that killed the buzz somewhat
TRADITIONALIST88…
The twighlight zone has been done :))
Has Chris Sutton blamed Ronny for the flag display? We haven’t seen any of that for the last two years.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 18TH AUGUST 2016 2:15 PM
GerryBhoy
You are one of the curtain twitchers i refer to.
Do you worst.
I think I get your message, after help with the translation.
You have absolutely no clue, as evidenced by your comments about me. How could you? You have no idea whatsoever. I have no intention of doing anything at all with regard to your comments. They are simply being deservedly ignored.
Oops…twilight.
any assistance with the ponies at York would be greatly appreciated for some bhoys there today
the record online.
the video actually shows 1 man on the ground with a palestine flag, surrounded by a group wearing rangers and orange tops.
—–
Watch as thugs – some wearing Rangers tops and others supporting Palestine – fight in Glasgow city centre
20:44, 17 AUG 2016 UPDATED 22:17, 17 AUG 2016
BY RECORD REPORTER
THE violence came as pro-Palestinian protesters held a demo outside Parkhead as Celtic took on the Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
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SHARES
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0:30
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SHOCKING footage has emerged showing thugs – some wearing Rangers tops and some who are supporters of the Palestinian cause – battling in Glasgow city centre today.
The video shows a man draped in a Palestinian flag in a clash with a number of men outside Central Station.
The video is believed to have been shot just hours before Celtic took on Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva at Parkhead in the Champions League.
Palestinian flags at a protest on the Celtic Way as the away team bus arrives
Tensions were raised in the city ahead of the match – which Celtic won 5-2 – with pro-Palestinian protesters holding a demonstration outside Celtic Park before the game.
Israeli fans heading to the match were greeted by the sight of Palestine flags outside the stadium with people handing out leaflets highlighting their desire for a Palestinian state.
Many Celtic fans are sympathetic to their cause and Palestinian flags are often seen being waved by fans within Parkhead while some Rangers fans often show their support for the State of Israel by waving the Star of David at games.
Daily RecordProtesters on the Celtic Way backing the Palestinian causeProtesters on the Celtic Way backing the Palestinian cause
UEFA take a firm line on supporters making political statements inside stadiums and Celtic have been fined before due to their fans stepping over the line.
A number of supporters waved Palestinian flags inside Parkhead during the match with Hapeol and the club could now once again be sanctioned by UE
sipsini on 18th August 2016 2:22 pm
Plenty new material :)
HH
On the football…again. I thought the Hapoel right-back (is he the one that is off to Gent after the tie) was actually pretty good. He kept Sinclair quiet on the wing, but Sinclair then just caused havoc in their defence by making runs off the ball into the middle, it was very effective in pulling Hapoel out of shape. Clever tactics against a team that probably had ideas of making it a stuffy affair? I think so.
Gerrybhoy
I thought you were ignoring me:)
Ooh sorry for the typo Shakespeare.
And by the way…you dont get to decide who is a Celtic supporter or not.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 18TH AUGUST 2016 2:18 PM
Gerrybhoy
Cmon big mouth lets hear your wisdom.
Unlike your goodself, I will not use CQN or CFC as a platform for political opinion. Personal attacks say it all. I’m interested in the fitba and enjoy the fitba banter on this site. The other stuff can be debated and discussed in an appropriate forum.
ONEMALLOY on 18TH AUGUST
Cheers mhate, having a great day out with the wife currently heading for Arrochar…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
BABASONICOS71 on 18TH AUGUST 2016 2:18 PM
I’ve been checking youtube clips of last night and the reaction to the Palestine flags has been global and 99.99% positive.Most of the posts are of a thankful nature,talking up Celtic’s fans and creating new ones.Seems to me the flag waving had a positive effect and got the Palestinian situation mentioned,therefore highlighted,which cannot be anything other than helpful to their cause,no matter how small said effect manifests.
And we won 5-2 so all good for me.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 18TH AUGUST 2016 2:18 PM
Talk is cheap.
How many of those reacting positively to last night’s flag display will putting their hands in their pockets to pay Celtic’s almost certain fine?
Whats happening in Palestine-Israel is one of the major injustices in the world. A minority of Israeli zionists – terrorists were given given what had been Palestine only 60 odd years ago. This new state of Israel then proceeded to banish 100 s of 1000s of arabs from their land and in some cases massacre whole villages . Colonialism . That was the start of Israel. Since then the zionist state has just got worse and worse . Theres been 3 bombing campaigns against a trapped civilians of Gaza. Israel testing their latest weaponry on a trapped ghetto and leaving the survivors to live in the rubble. There a whole catalogue of human rights crimes too many to list .If were are not allowed to protest against this kind of evil then we are living in very very sad times.
Reggie 1:40
Well said.
Gerrybhoy
And you are telling me what?
What i can say or discuss?
Forget that Napoleon.
If you want to keep politics out of Celtic…..start with the rabid Tories on the Celtic board.
I dont know if you have picked up on this….but, we dont always agree on CQN.
Live with it.
Been on this blog a long time…..and you aint telling me jack s***,…do you understand?
and the big news of today –
Livinstone v Celtic colts
irn bru cup draw
Macjay
It’s now tedious in the extreme.
If you’re able to come up with a solitary example or even better someone from either organisation who can substantiate your assertion then we’ll discuss it fully.
Until then it simply looks like you have a transparent agenda supported by nout more than a desperate desire to be right.
IMHO. When posters, of whatever point of view, descend to name-calling and personal slights they harm the case which they are trying to make.
All freedoms are limited in the interests of the wider community. I might want to have my TV blaring night after night at top volume. I might want to protest at Orange Walks but would be well advised not to do so in Sandy Row in Belfast, for example, I might want to chain myself to the railings of the Israeli Embassy in protest at the Netanyahu Regime’s treatment of Palestinians but would not be allowed to remain for too long. In each of these scenarios I would be taking individual responsibility for my own actions and would have personally to face the consequences.
Some places, eg in the middle of a funeral service, would be an inappropriate venue for chanting political slogans, for example.
By all means protest, agitate, organise not to leave other people to pick up the pieces or bear the consequences, whatever the cost. Again, all in my humble opinion.
If Celtic qualify for the group stages, what if someone exercises his/her inalienable, God given right, to do whatever he/she wants, whenever, wherever, no matter the costs to anyone else, what then ???? HH
Fine words butter no parsnips.
So there.
I’m looking forward to winter. I like parsnips.
QUONNO on 18TH AUGUST 2016 2:32 PM
BABASONICOS71 on 18TH AUGUST 2016 2:18 PM
I’ve been checking youtube clips of last night and the reaction to the Palestine flags has been global and 99.99% positive.Most of the posts are of a thankful nature,talking up Celtic’s fans and creating new ones.Seems to me the flag waving had a positive effect and got the Palestinian situation mentioned,therefore highlighted,which cannot be anything other than helpful to their cause,no matter how small said effect manifests.
And we won 5-2 so all good for me.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 18TH AUGUST 2016 2:18 PM
Talk is cheap.
How many of those reacting positively to last night’s flag display will putting their hands in their pockets to pay Celtic’s almost certain fine?
===================
Probably none of them as most where from abroad but there’s more valuable things than money.
Bob o’Baldy
How crap Catholic education is??? Based on what?
Speak for yourself ya eejit… many folks on here were educated in Catholic schools including myself who went on higher education and are good professions.
Heard it all now… clown
I hope Paul is right in stating that the ballsup which resulted in their first goal will not be repeated.
I was delighted at the rampaging run Kolo made leading up to our second goal , we haven’t had that in our armoury since VVD left.
I was willing him on to repeat it which he duly did but on the second occasion he left Lustig, McGregor and O’Connell standing admiring his work, instead of preparing for the possibility of the ball coming back at them.
We must accommodate Kolo’s bursts forward by securing the space behind him.
It seems to me that those who are going on and on about the UEFA/FIFA rules and sanctions from an at best morally corrupt organisation would have had a similar reaction had in the days of Apartheid in South Africa?
‘Rules are rules.’
How many FIFA Officials are awaiting trial for corruption? Is it 16?
Where’s Michel Platini?
What was the then Director of UEFA’s Legal Services , Gianni Infantino, role in selling of Offshore TV rights? Where’s Mr Infantino now?
Why did Swiss Police search UEFA’s Headquarters with a Warrant , “motivated by the suspicion of criminal mismanagement” ?
On CL nights Celtic Park is the property of UEFA and all that matters is their rules and their TV product, imo.
I suppose if we agree to take their money, it comes at a cost.
Dignity? Morality?
Babasonico
This is a money v morals debate.
Some here value money more than life. Sad
mickbhoy
…………”you will be the first to castigate those Celtic Supporters travelling to to Israel next week and contributing to the local economy”…………. WTF???
TBM
Delighted by the score and display last night . Unfortunately we did have that wee blip , which has caused a wee concern regards our defence . I understand we have a couple of defenders to return from injury , which will help . But I feel we need a right back . Mikel great servant he is ,hasn,t got the legs anymore ,I felt he was alright in the heart of the defence ,but right back is too much for the lad now .anyone else feel the same ,or just me .
DD
People have short memories.
Those who dont understand compassion and solidarity, i feel sorry for them.
Maybe some posters on CQN should read some books about how their own families were treated by the British state.
HH