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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kidpyramid
You asked a question, and I supplied the factual answer. Was my opinion required as well as the answer?
Yes tangible progress is indeed being witnessed at Celtic Park .Brendan Rodgers is now putting a team on the park that is getting more people out of their seats in anticipation than the previous two incumbents combined ever did
mncelt on 18th August 2016 4:10 pm
TRADITIONALIST88 – Yes, Young O’Connell needs to figure out the things he needs to learn from Kolo and ignore the stuff that get’s him into trouble. Not an easy task.
Agree on the progress. I haven’t been blown away yet by the quality of our football, but the discipline and organization is light years from where it has been for several years. Very excited about this season.
============
Agreed, the first time we really gelled was last week vs Motherwell and we continued that at times last night. Passing and movement better all round, with final ball improving – Tierney put a couple of great crosses into the area that will not yield goals if he keeps it up.
Very promising times,
HH
Geordie Munro
Feels weird doesn’t it. Did HBS even have any corners? If they did I bet our marking was awful and we were only saved by their inability to head a ball :)
And the equilibrium has been restored…
Has Lee Wallace phoned UEFA to grass up the flag wavers yet?
Has Ann Budge asked “important questions”?
Has Robbie Neilson blamed Scott Brown?
Fly the flag :)
Well done those who showed their support for Palestine last night.
If you don’t like what happened why don’t you find another team and sport to follow. Celtic was born of a political statement. Too many too stupid to understand that.
^^^
*will yield goals
Hopefully…
HH
I’m sorry Davidopolous I thought we were having a conversation…
My mistake
Headtheball,
Keyboard hard men who appear drunk on cheap cider. Best ignored.
Gordonstrachan csc
CQN fascism rears it’s ugly head again. ‘If you don’t agree with us you’re a Hun.’ or ‘go and find another team
to support’
Much like UEFA, they don’t do irony.
kidpyramid
Since you ask, I posted about the topic of Barcelona displaying the Estelada this morning. I think UEFAs punishments are absurd, bordering on bullying. Trying to stop people expressing their own identity is even worse that stopping people expressing solidarity with others.
Young O’Connell didn’t look too smart for their first goal
However, I remember Wanyama and Denayer making bigger mistakes in their earlier games against poorer opposition.
I’d be happy to see him continue in the first team alongside Kolo.
GEORDIE MUNRO on 18TH AUGUST 2016 4:21 PM
Headtheball,
Keyboard hard men who appear drunk on cheap cider. Best ignored.
Gordonstrachan csc
—————————————————-
Noy me though. I’m actually drunk on Stella Cidre..
I see our resident degenerate is still uttering his disgusting crap unchallenged by Paul67
NatKnow
Does that mean you have a chien de diable instead of a devil dug?
TTR
The FACTS are, the anti flag huns couldn’t wait to get posting, sad, sad, sad, it’s more hun like than huns, they at least don’t know any better.
You talk of Fascism, Dearie Me.
The Beaver Shavers were a much better team than i expected,kept possession well, physically strong, but not much up front,next week 4 5 1, Brown Bitton Henderson maybe in MF ,Sinclair Forrest wide supporting LG or he might go for Dembele to hold the ball up front.
So come on give it to us then a Celtic 11 that would come and fill the jersey for little or no financial compensation. Let’s just restrict it to that and let’s not get into how many auxiliary staff would be willing to turn up week after week and charitibly donate their labour
Shame you Peter Lawell for exploring every avenue stream that is that is required to run a football club
ps Maybe a. wee advert in the local broos within a fifty mile radius of Glasgow would see us employ the required quality needed to progress further in the Champions League
regarding the flag debate, have a look at #thankscelticfans. you cant help but be moved by the tweets
When you argue about flag waving it should always be pronounced “fleg”
CANAMALAR
Beg to differ. Celtic was founded out of necessity – to provide food for hungry children.
Since the vast majority of these children living in appalling conditions, with distraught parents looking any job to feed their family and being mainly of Irish extraction there would be a political dimension to the people who were to support the infant Celtic club.
You know the history as well as I do when some saw an opportunity to make a profit.
Most of us, I am sure, on whatever side of the argument re whether the Palestinian flags should have been flown remain sympathetic to the plight of the poor, the needy and the despised rejects of modern society. We differ as to whether Celtic should be used as the vehicle to forward these aims or would the matter be better progressed in the broader political arena.
As I have said, if we want to reject UEFA rules and all that they stand for what the devil are we doing entering their competitions.
Now leaving the blog free for comments on football. HH
Davidopoulos – entirely agree.
If we are sanctioned by UEFA on this I hope we appeal.
Just because it is easy to say nothing doesn’t make it the right thing to do. That’s not what our club is about.
I was extremely sceptical about any pro-palestinian display. However, seeing the positive affect it has had on oppressed people, thousands of miles away, who have the idea that the rest of the world is indifferent to their suffering reinforced everyday, has changed my mind on the subject.
Was humbled to read the outpouring of sentiment towards our club, had genuine tears welling up.
That is far more important than the any threat from UEFA, who we all know don’t really care about our beautiful game anyway.
DAVIDOPOULOS on 18TH AUGUST 2016 4:29 PM
NatKnow
Does that mean you have a chien de diable instead of a devil dug?
———————————————————————–
I have a mini Schnauzer. More of an imp than an actual devil… :-)
The usual suspects onto offer congratulation to the flag wavers. Well may I offer my my congratulations to the 52,000 other supporters there with me last night whose support got the team on the park over the line in the last ten minutes
I liked they look of Lucielmo Palhano Soares with the red booties
He was their outball and always managed to hold the ball up. He brought other players into the game and was instrumental in the second goal (to be honest the first one was a bit of a blur for me)
If his contract was running down I’d be interested. Could do a Samaras-like job for us in Europe.
I don’t believe I fall into the category of a ‘usual supect’.
I’m dead against a lot of what the Green Brigade do, and was dead against what they did last night beforehand.
But I’m man enough to admit that I got it wrong.
mon the hoops (in the cl)
An attempt to return to the game. Their first goal came from a poor corner from Tom Rogic. Just before he was subbed he did the same again, failing to beat the first man and taking out half our team in one (failed) move. When Griffo took the kick that lead to our fourt, as soon as he hit it I said to my mates “That’s better”. I had no idea we would score, but putting the bsll into that area, at pace, and swerving, really gives a defence a problem to handle. Use your best resources, and let Griffo take the corners on the right!
And Tom Rogic, who I thought has been good, really should do consistently better with a dead ball anyway.
An Teach Solais @ 4.02pm,
Fair play to you for the reply and you made to a poster to your question.
In my view Ernie’s post in relation to An Gorta Mór was cheap and maybe should be deleted but perhaps it’s better to leave it there.
As you know around 1m people died during the Great Hunger and around the same were forced to emigrate.
Somebody mentioned earlier today that they didn’t think there were many parallels between the Irish situation and Palestine. Perhaps an examination of the genocide of the 1847 era might be useful.
Ernie’s contribution has added more legitimacy to the display last night that he will ever realise.
Anyway, I’ll come back to you around the UEFA issue.
kidpyramid
BMCUWP said, more eloquently than I can paraphrase, that if we don’t like the rules we need to do something about it to get them changed. UEFA need to be challenged on their position on flags.
Barcelona have challenged them on the Catalan issue. They have more clout and it would be interesting to see if they can change the UEFA view. Would set a precedent.
A fine is coming our way, we need to accept that. It’s going to happen, nothing we can do. Attention should be focussed on getting the record set straight for the future.
I too was against the display before the match. I have wavered slightly like a flapping flag and I now have mixed feelings. I am pleased about any positive impact that may come but I am concerned about the reaction from UEFA. I don’t particularly mind if people think that makes me shallow.
Lots of soup being passed around here for the past few days, much of it getting spilled today.
Mind you don’t scald yourselves lads. May i be so bold to suggest a bigger ladle?
One must ask the question, are their posters on here using Celtic as an avenue to spout their pro israeli agenda. It would make you wonder!!
Go n-éirí libh. ;)
NatKnow
I too have wan of them German dugs.
“Noy me though. I’m actually drunk on Stella Cidre..”
Natknow,
Oh I kent fine you wouldn’t be on the cheap stuff you ol snob you;)
HH
Celtic Park is now not the place for rebellious thought, anti establishment ideas and clever witty protest, nows there’s a thing I never thought I would live to see…
It used to be the only safe place for us to express our ideas and politics..
Let The People Sing but only if it’s alright with Uefa…
HH
6 of us Bhoys are going to the Celtic Musical in the Pavilion next month. Any venue suggestions for pre-theatre nosh would be appreciated.
BABASONICOS71 on 18TH AUGUST 2016 2:38 PM
QUONNO on 18TH AUGUST 2016 2:32 PM
BABASONICOS71 on 18TH AUGUST 2016 2:18 PM
Bit late getting back on this one.
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?
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Probably none of them as most where from abroad but there’s more valuable things than money.
In this day and age of electronic transfer of money, one could live on the moon and put one’s hand in one’s pocket.
Given that some things are of more value than money, parting with it should be fairly easy.
Thetimreaper,
You’ve obviously no been following this debate, anyone who thought about taking a flag was told they were not Crltic supporters and to find another team and sport, they ignore the fact that Celtic was born of a political statement and are trying to destroy out heritage and freedom.
If you don’t agree with those who regard their rights to freedom of expression then pull on your polis uniform and arrest them.
Civil disobedience is a strategy that works ask Gandhi and it was put into practice last night.
You don’t need to be a goose stepping black shirt to support Celtic but you do to tell Celtic supporters what they can and can’t do. There was only one place in the UK during the 70s and 80s that broke the Provos censorship Celtic Park. And look how that turned out.
AN TEACH SOLAIS on 18TH AUGUST 2016 3:52 PM
Very good post mate. If the extent of someones support for the Palestinians is waving a flag at a Celtic game, then it is a token gesture to a very important cause. If they want to make a meaningful contribution they can donate at somewhere such as http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/gaza
We’ll have to wait and see what the sanctions are. My own view is it wasn’t fair on the Hapoel Beer-Sheva fans, and it isn’t fair on the Celtic fans travelling to Israel next week, whose safety has undoubtedly been put in jeopardy. This is a brutal regime whose police and army have a licence to kill, they would shed no tears about flexing their muscle even without provocation.