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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Evening,all.
Still delighted at the result. Just thought I’d mention it(!)
I said just after the draw was made that we faced potential problems with displays of Palestinian flags. Like most,I’ve no great problem with that per se,but rules is rules and UEFA have theirs on this subject. We either abide by them,or get them changed.
Well,it went ahead anyway. So the club is facing the prospect of disciplinary action.
It’s time then,for the Plc to fight the case that the ruling is absurd. Palestine is recognised by the UN as a non-member observer state,similar to Vatican City. It is entitled to sign treaties and to join UN agencies and committees. Indeed,State of Palestine is its official UN terminology.
Last night was not the equivalent of waving the flag of a terrorist group,or a swastika. Nor even of a political party. It was in support of a nation under threat from a vastly more powerful nation.
Go get ’em.
Poor wee mite
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37116349
HH
THE EXILED TIM
Nae……………………..cant find one online mate
Give you a shout if i come across one.
THE EXILED TIM
Meant to say ive got the podcast from the night before, or have you got that link?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 18th August 2016 5:42 pm……………..
So Napper Tandy wisnae wrang!!!
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
Awe Naw…,
Gentlemens game so it is, so civilised the perfumed shite is the scent of the day.
If you’ve no done anything wrong it ont affect you has been swallowed hook line and sinker.
Imagine them trying to impose the OBA in the 70s and 80s and there’s clowns see it as progressive.
24 hours later and still high as the proverbial…
Match day for the ‘tic has always been the point of contact with the 3 kids… I live far far away.
So match day comes along and the texts start coming in, F book posts now and through the game our ‘conversation’ slides though the aether …’goal, ‘great move’… ‘that was crap’ etc etc.
Then the Ronnie years came along, and the aether dried up… its a fact, win or lose there was less and less to be enthused about… dull was the overwhelming feeling watching the ‘tic and me and mine found less and less to comment on. Sad but true… more and more the auld da here was sat, lonely, with the live stream flickering by…and the occasional ‘how’s it going da?’ coming through.
Well, in a very short space of time the Rodgers revolution has blasted a whole through the lethargy – the texts/ posts are firing- glissando like- back and forth to a degree that I need a break to watch the screen!
I’m a happy tim again, and so are my 3 kids.
Re flag waving. Well, in the nano second of history that we are a part of right now, i’m proud as can be that many Celtic supporters showed support for Palestine (please, no zionist blather response -I am an informed poster).
Its going the way of the S.A Apartheid ending, the more people that see the reality of the situation and it becomes, like the S.A experience, a ‘popular’ protest then the end is indeed – on the horizon. That many celtic supporters are making some contribution (with many many jewish people inc rabbis’)to the inevitable ending of the ‘new apartheid’ is fine by me… and is witnessed, positively, across the globe.
We had the situation not long ago with many politicians thoroughly embarrassed when confronted by their earlier support for S.A apartheid, proof being in photographs of them wearing ‘Hang Mandela’ T shirts… so, as I said, in this nano second of the present – I’m proud as can be that many Celtic fans are showing that we are indeed ‘more than a club’ by these very actions… down the line there, we’ll be seen very much as Celtic supporters, supporters of a great movement to free an oppressed people… we won’t be seen setting fire to any ‘We Love Apartheid’ T’s.
So, a good 24 hours for this timalloy.
BTW ‘Hang Mandela’ t’ shirters and the Enid Blyton reading ‘keep politics out of fitba posters – please – don’t -bother.
Onwards with Brendan’s Bhoys!
Blantyre Tim,
Good point about SFA/SPFL tournaments.
It’s the PLCs bet, I think that we will all accept the WWE soccer fraud in Scotland.
When the convicted criminal David King and his cohorts enjoy their wining and dining at Celtic Park, at our expense-we’ll see how that goes?
You’re right, the game in Scotland is a fraud played to an outdated sectarian tune, which serves only to diminish anyone involved in it.
The PLC use the Celtic brand to generate money. The ‘Auld Firm’ is a key component of that. imo.
I apologis eto the lickspittles.
UEFA says that sevco is rangers and always has been and always will be. Third Lanark, Gretna etc. aint on that list neither is Celtic.
Ah well
HH
Telbhoy67
straightrorward easy on the pocket red onion
the only Italian- La lanterna
more bhoys crowd the griffin
NATKNOW
Smashing wee dogs indeed, a great laugh
Good luck to all the other Scottish teams in Europe tonight.
“In response to your previous email Police Scotland have informed the Club a 25-year-old man has been charged following an incident during the Hearts v Celtic game when an attempt was made to confront a Celtic player. The Club have written to the male concerned and informed him he is banned, with immediate effect, from attending any fixture involving Hearts pending the outcome of any criminal proceedings.”
Phil O’Kane
Security and Safety Manager
As i have mentioned before I didn’t think we’d get to last night. 5-2 more than answered my doubts. Thing is, looking at last night I also think we could survive in the cl and not be roasted alive every match. A remarkable turn around. I can’t wait for br to work on continuity in the spl so we show our quality week in week out
BSR,
He’s lucky he’s no a Celtic supporter, it wouldn’t be pending the outcome of anything.
When Ruud Gullit won a prestigious award he dedicated it to Nelson Mandela.
After his release Nelson thanked him for remembering him long before it was fashionable to do so.
I have qualms about anything that would cost Celyic any kind of penalty.
But I also know many Palestinians feel a wee bit less forgotten today.
And I saw that also a true – but critical – friend of the Israeli people.
Politics and sport. Inextricably linked.
HH jamesgang
Davidopoulos…
Good luck to all German dugs, especially Scottish wans…
Canam
You could well be right there.
Anecdotally, having studied the footage more than once I personally reckon there is little chance
of prosecution of the Hearts fan who ‘confronted’ the Celtic player, which is obviously a
diet code of saying ‘attempted assault’
If Celtic get to the CL this year then I think we can win a few games at home, and, with the ability to score away then 3rd place is a real possibilty, a wee run run in the EL post Christmas would boost our co-efficient.
I hope BR gets all the players he thinks he needs, I believe he is the real deal in terms of how we play are coached and recruit.
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS
Sadly my wee German dug is a Mancunian residing in Suffolk…he’s still a Tim though…
Nat Know @ 3.06pm
“SFTB – you convinced yet that someone might fly a flag??”
Always was convinced that Celtic Park would see some Palestinian flags. Never was convinced here would be widespread difficulty and there was’nt. All the alarmist nonsense about wee daft boys not knowing what the Palestine Dispute was all about. All that nonsense about UEFA closing stadiums because of Palestinian flags. All that nonsense about Celtic fans letting us down- That’s what I was contradicting. (and I guarantee you it will blow up again in November over the Poppy issue too- anything to divert from how well Celtic are doing)
Last night the Celtic support was, as usual, great.
And some of them flew a few more Palestinian flags than usual. That’s all that happened. I will not look down on the Celtic support- neither the flag wavers nor the undemonstrative. There are too many people on either side calling themselves brave and the other side as cowards. They can’t both be right.
Trying to stay out the fleg debates
I just find it surprising how many people argue that football and politics should be kept separate. Don’t we accept that Celtic are “more than a club”? Aren’t we intrinsically linked to a community and an ideal?
THEBARCAMOLE
Napper Tandy?
My knowledge of him is limited to his role in The United Irishmen,his attempt to seize power in 1798,and his release into Napoleonic France.
I think he sued the British government too,but not sure.
So go on,I’m intrigued. He got some right,some wrong. Which are you referring to?
PS-I’ll track down a book on him ASAP.
EuroChamps67
A very, very Hoopy Special Birthday to my ole mucker, and fine
Celtic man .
I hope you have a great day, you don’t look a day over 50.
Right guys, there have been a lot of accusations banded about and some really heated debate today. It’s getting out of hand and it has to stop. HOWEVER, if it does transpire than someone has been licking Skittles then something needs to be done about it. That is not the appropriate way to eat Skittles…
Btw also had to smile – sardonically – at the guy getting refused entry into the old stand with a Palestinian fleg smaller than an A4 sheet of paper …. And then ….
HH jamesgang
WWW @ 5.43…
I saw that earlier today…unfortunately, bbc’s main headline is still about the Junkie Games…
https://twitter.com/CelticResearch/status/766258307355074564
Philbhoy
If you are still about.
Spot on.
Jacques Roux.
Manifesto of the Enrages.
HH
POGUES1967
that was an excellent post of the day, cut throught the crap, and a great comparison of times gone by.
some day the Palestinians will have their own , and safe homelands.
AULD TAM on 18TH AUGUST 2016 10:37 AM
I was against the flying of the Palestinian flag because of the harm it could do to Celtic, but when I saw the demo last night, my heart swelled with pride.
If that makes sense.
—///—////—///
It makes sense to me buddy!
I was dead against it – only because of risk to the club ( fines or closure or even expulsion)
However, when I saw it the sense of solidarty was tangible.
I reserve to change my mind again if sanctions move beyond fines (£30 m pot we can afford it) and we get closed sections or papped out!
The focus should now move to having more clubs support us and have the stupid ruling or whatever Uefa are hiding behind, amended!
Well done to all concerned!
2 more players on way in.
where is catman ?
Saint Stivs
Fringe Groups….Herman’s Hermits.
Shhhhh
HH
HAPPY HOOOOOOPY BIRTHDAY to
EUROCHAMPS67!!!!!!
You and LENNYBHOY can share a cake. Save on the candles.
Freedumb midweek again
Fly the flag
Fly the flag
Burgas
Have the podcasts, thanks, no quite the same a day late :-)
HH
Me, I’d have no problem with UEFA closing the main stand for the next euro game.
JG,
They found someone going into the main stand with an A4 size and probably didn’t bother too much about anywhere else as they need handwringing fodder. Scum floats to the top.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 18th August 2016 5:42 pm……………..
Maybe you want to read back M…………….
‘The wearing of the Green’
Seems that you have changed your outlook M re flying flags and consequences……..
‘Rules is Rules’………….. your words and caution……….
Really disappointed, in that you (now) appear to have adopted the (recent, TWITTER) populist view re the PLO flag issue, whereas prior to such, you were for the ‘don’t do this bhoys, it’s UEFA’s rules’……………..
C’mon Mick, what/whose side are you on???
BTW……….For the avoidance of doubt………….’FLY THE FLAG’……………
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM