Instant gratification is no good for people, it gives our brains the wrong signals, but still, when it comes………. Within 4 minutes of making his Celtic debut Daizen Maeda opened the scoring against Hibernian. It was his first chance, his first proper involvement in play and pivoted the game away from Hibs, who should have already been ahead after Joe Hart and Josip Juranovic pondered in their six-yard box.
Such was the anticipation ahead of last night’s game that for some of us it brought back memories of Jorge Cadete’s debut against Aberdeen (delayed by maleficence at the SFA), or Paulo Di Canio’s against Kilmarnock the same year. Maeda’s impact was every bit as clinical. His 90 minutes was reminiscent of Kyogo; constant movement, gyroscopic balance, few touches and an outcome-determining performance.
If Maeda had a dream debut, Reo Hatate’s reached fantasy levels. When we first heard of Reo he was operating as a left back, with the cursed title of a utility player. The transformation he brought to Celtic’s play had to be seen to be believed. His role was to create and then utilise space, the former achieved by perpetual movement, the latter by ranging passes that switched play and swiftly pushed Celtic forward.
As a consequence, it all looked too easy for Celtic. They had options everywhere, a teammate in space, a forward pass tempting them into attack. Hatate’s movement impacted what happened everywhere on the field. It was a kind of omnipresence, even when he was 40 yards away (the limit of his distance from play), he was still consequential.
With so many playing their first game in over a month, the relenting pace of the first half could not continue. Celtic reduced their pressing after the break and saw the game out. With five substitutes available, it was curious that Ange Postecoglou waited until 74 minutes before brining on Yosuke Ideguchi, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Mikey Johnston.
Our third and final debutant of the night had a lot to live up to. Yosuke adopted the No. 6 role at the back of the midfield, with Callum McGregor moving one place ahead for the remainder of the game. He did enough to show comfort and competence on the ball, as Celtic subverted Hibernian hopes.
As I said above, instant gratification misleads our brains. My brain has already extrapolated last night’s performance across the remainder of the season. Let’s agree that at the very least, Celtic have embarked on an exciting road.
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In London I used to work beside a very posh female senior manager. She was a season ticket holder at Burnley FC and would fly up first-class for every home game.
One Friday she asked me who Celtic were playing at the weekend. In turn I asked her who Burnley were playing.
“The scum,” was her reply, which kinda knocked me for six. Of course I had to ask and was advised that the scum were Blackburn Rovers.
As SFTB says, it’s a bitter rivalry, but where is the sectarianism?
After Baba O’Riley, I’m wondering Who’s Next?
For the Bonus and salaries that Lawell and others picked up over the years ,a good part of the main stand could and should have been upgraded,now to my knowledge there are plenty well helled Celtic Supporters sit in the main stand so maybe it’s time they got together and put there hands in there pockets,Paul should do a survey and ask the fans if they would like to see the main stand redeveloped,and if the majority say yes then hand the findings on to Michael Nicholson,my own view is Fergus McCann should have redeveloped the whole stadium,seemingly he put in £9 million ,I thing the fans were the ones who put in the biggest amount of money ,he walked away with £45 million?
Watched highlights frim last night. Andy Walker..yer a souptaker.
GTF
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 19TH JANUARY 2022 7:36 PM
On the subject of increasing the stadium size to handle more supporters , i think the biggest problem would be the dispersal of fans after the games especially night games . Traffic is bad enough now without adding another x amount of thousands to the flow. it would be great to modernise though .
OK Green & White, if the top 6 remain the same, the Huns will have played all the other 5 at home twice.
So 2 teams obviously not Celtic will have to go to Ibrox 3 times.
You are correct they got a huge rub of the Green with the fixtures.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 19TH JANUARY 2022 7:40 PM
Just finished reading:
THE YOUNG TEAM
by
Graeme Armstrong
About the teenage gangs of Airdrie during the 90s & 2000s
————–
bumped into a group of them in a pub in Amsterdam in 2009 prior to a Scotland game.
Nasty wee neds. Deliberately shouting or singing sectarian slurs to get a reaction and a fight
Might read it though. i love Irvine Welsh and also read all the John King Headhunters books (Chelsea fans)
Apparently Brendan tried to sign Matt O’Riley for Celtic 2.5 years ago.
If Matt O’Reilly signs, I hope his old mother gets to a couple of games at Celtic park.
(One for the teenagers:) )
Thanks CorkCelt,
I’m surprised this hasn’t been flagged earlier as It represents a huge advantage to Sevco in the run-in.
Rub of the green my ass, these bits of fortune seem to regularly come their way. Also means they would get two extra home games over the season. Which of course helps their cash starved situation.
A disgrace if it happens.
If Celtic could upscale the capacity of the Holy Ground it would be Excellent. It will be expensive howevaaaah. The Main Stand is the only real place this could happen. In the Long run it WILL pay out maximum dividends.
There are so many mair girls & ladies @ the fitba now.
No Green & White, They don’t get extra Home Games, all teams play 19 at home & 19 away,
However what could happen is 2 teams like Hibs & Hearts might have to travel to Ibrox 3 times, they will have gone to places like Dundee St Johnstone etc twice & those teams would only have gone to Ibrox once,
Yes about the Ghirls and Women Celtic Supporters attending football games ,in my view there should be a few women introduced into the medical team and let the women see them on match days.
Timbhoy, I know I’m going to be sorry for asking this but why would female Supporters want to see women working on Medical Teams.
CELTIC DAWN on 19TH JANUARY 2022 8:14 PM
Evening all.
https://youtu.be/sJtP7MQCZUM
Brian
Ronny Deila had a woman on his medical team. She used to help treat injured players on the pitch.
BELMONTBRIAN on 19TH JANUARY 2022 8:44 PM
Classic,
Hope she doesn’t do that with his new Celtic gear :)
“Big Peter’s Park”??????
Naw?
Too early…..?
Too faur?
Tom McL,
I have been assured by a friend of mine in the know at CP that Sevco have been allocated zero (0) tickets for 2nd Feb. If untrue, I have an ex-friend.
Tom, I have no problem with the gender of the Medical Team, their competence is all that counts.
Timbhoy was advocating that we specifically recruit females to our Medical Team to let the women in the stands see them on match days.
Celtic40ME,
The way Brentford play,Tony mainly plays of scraps.They don’t play with wingers,midfield have no real playmakers,2 up front.Figures are not everything.Watching their games,he must have laid on 6 or 7 sitters,all missed.Same tonight.His assists are good.He works defences on his own,and his defensive headers are terrific.
MPSHANKS
That’s what I thought. Someone asked me and I said they didn’t get an allocation, then I started doubting myself.
Cheers mate.
Man U very very fortunate to be level at HT.Brentford miss two one on one’s.
Coneybhoy- i wouldn’t risk the pitch for a concert…..it’s the best it’s been now for a couple of years……ok maybe for The Stones then….😁
Didn’t Ange tell the meeja he doesnt lie and there were no other offers for/interest in other players…? Unless something changed in the squad. Wonder what that catalyst would be to justify interest in Master O’Reilly?
Patently bad news for midfield wannabes like Shaw, McCarthy, Soro and big Niro Bitton – maybe some have been given a Leigh Griffiths-like chat. Does Davey Turnbull have the pace to play the Ange way long term?
Clearly we’re getting bloated and need to get cute on shipping out. What price, tho’, a Bitton, a Boli, a Karamoko, McCarthy, a Mikey J – everyone loves to speak to Michael Nicholson cos he can buy. Do they take his calls as quick when he’s in sales mode ?
And what of our Afolabis, Coffeys, Connels, OConnors and Robertsons – are they gunna do a CalMac and claim a place in a chocka-block midfield roster?
Meanwhile over in Govan the stiff upper lips are quavering.
Why we love the football : the last two minutes off added time Leicester v Spurs.
Some end to the Leicester/Spurs game. Once Manu scored an undeserved second, switched over to that game running into 5 minutes extra time. Spurs down 2:1 and win the game 2:3 in the last 3 minutes😱
McTominay been brilliant for Man Ure
CELTIC DAWN on 19TH JANUARY 2022 8:55 PM
Thanks for your reply ( big thumbs up thing)
last post.
For me the best comedy duo ever.
https://youtu.be/6_I3NuEa9PQ
Brian
https://twitter.com/pmjawn/status/1483575293424160769?s=24
Who says the huns don’t get ted cards…
Red 😁😁😁
Watched the orcs last night and just watched sportscene. The number of times they hoofed the ball from the back was unusual for a team who usually dominate possession. Their press on Aberdeen was half hearted and there was little effort from Kamara to recover when he lost the ball.
If you are into the whole body language thing they look disinterested. I include their manager in that. Bizarre under reaction from them about ‘winning a point’ after being bossed by Aberdeen. The only ‘reaction’ from them was losing the head over scott brown.
We are winning this league.
RT- I thought they looked lacklustre for most of the game, and Aberdeen weren’t too good either,i thought their managers views were lacking in the usual angst and anger, maybe that’s his style, but i have had the thought this season, very similar to us last season, guys want to move on and the huns have probably reneged on some transfers…..
Celtic must be one of the few teams that don’t have a women in there medical squad ,that should be looked plenty of young females and Ghirls and women watch and travel to many of our games ,also they should be encouraged to get a seat on the board,and as someone pointed out about the girders at each end of the front Stand they need to go ,it restricts the view of the game to me Celtic have been losing money over the years with the restricted views,also the old press box could be moved to allow a little bit of the main stand to be upgraded,personally executive boxes could be built there with the best views on the football pitch ,but I doubt if any off them on the board have the same ambitions of the Celtic Fan.
Speaking of concerts on pitches…..eldest pup wants a Harry Styles ticket for her birthday……..its at IBROX ffs……June 11th ….queens jubilee day as well……no wonder I growl !!
McTominay is a good young player ,I’m sure we tried to get him on loan from Man U a few years ago .
Ave Ave Irish Descendants!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCnGD6xv5ik&ab_channel=Notasthinkasudrunkim
I see West Brom are attempting to do a Middlesbrough regarding…O Riley…….get it done celtic