Less ball circulating, Christie, McGregor, and Boli mixture

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Despite the win there were signs of July rustiness in Celtic against Sarajevo last night.  Early passing was unproductive and play was less structured than we are used to.  I got the feeling Lewis Morgan and James Forrest were told to take players on, instead of circulating the ball, which our wide players would have done previously, although it could be no more than Morgan playing his natural game, unfettered by team instructions.

This is a perfectly valid tactic but attacks we will inevitably break down more often.

Boli Bolingoli lost possession twice in the first seven minutes but then steadied.  Seconds after I noted how solid a performance he subsequently put in, he again lost possession, leading to the Sarajevo goal.

Very little can be interpreted from this so early in his Celtic career, but the player knows a similar error later in the competition could be costly.  That aside, he crossed well, made runs infield to create space on the wing and turned up in the No. 9 position when Odsonne Edouard dropped deep.

Oh how we missed Ryan Christie.  The opening goal was Celtic’s best play all night.  Edouard beat two players and got inside the box.  The ball broke to Christie, in a position few of his team-mates would be able to conjure a goal from, but that’s exactly what Ryan did.  It was a superb finish.

I made my mind up early last season that Callum McGregor was my PoTY, but the burden of carrying so much central midfield responsibility eventually told on him.  His winner last night was a goal from nothing – space outside the box that looked safe until he unleashed a shot.  This is what he can do – if he’s not run into the ground.

These games are all about getting the job done, hopefully without incurring the cost of injury or suspension, so Neil Lennon will be very satisfied.  It is clear we have a long way to do.  Christopher Jullien should help, so should the signing of a good right back.

Bring on the Nomme Kalju

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  1. I’ll tell you what “speaks volumes” about the Simpson case.

     

     

    The eight minute 999 call. The fact police arrived and found him with his hands around her neck, with her cowering in the corner. All the “I forgive him” after the fact stuff is VERY common in “domestic” cases. The judge believed he heard enough to “pass the custody threshold.”

     

     

    All the rest is bollocks.

     

     

    All that “let he without sin cast the first stone” is just people looking for justifications for us signing this trash on a cheap deal so we can solve – for a year – a pressing issue at right back. And for the record, I don’t care whether he’d be a good signing or not, it’s not the damned point.

     

     

    This guy beat the shit out the mother of his kids and then moaned about the sentence. Reading her own expressions of remorse I could help but think “where was his?”

     

     

    It was nowhere.

     

     

    And people are still making excuses for him.

  2. i'vehadtochangemymind on

    I am very worried about the changes Rangers have made this close season and the progress they’ve made since their on the up manager admitted he needed to improve.

  3. Thanks James, not only our fiscal compass but now our moral compass too.

     

     

    We’d be lost without your interventions here.

     

     

    I guess the media-led story gives you something to blog about and sure that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.

  4. Well done Corkie…….saying that ,you will be strutting aboot Corkland like Cork o the South ya

     

    Machiavellian bassa :O)

  5. mullet and co 2 on

    David17, the Urguyan was the outstanding defender at last year’s world cup.

  6. McPhail Bhoy on

    TINYTIM

     

    I know Phil and while he doesn’t get everything right he is not as portrayed by John James. What is this he’s had ‘an Irish language and culture epiphany’, what’s that supposed to mean? Plastic Paddy?! John James is nothing more than a chancer with half baked ‘exclusives’ always looking for money.

     

    As I said I know Phil and his family so what if he uses his original Irish surname spelling instead of the English imposed transliteration?

     

    Please disagree or dismiss Phil all you like, as I said I often disagree with him, but don’t use John James as some sort of bastion of truth and insight he’s not.

  7. Mike in Toronto on

    James Forrest

     

     

    I dont know much about that particular case, so can’t wont comment on it. However, I have had enough experience to know that what you describe happens all too frequently.

     

     

    It is very common for police to be called (often by a concerned neighbour), only for the abused spouse to deny anything occurred (even if there are obvious and fresh injuries, and there are only two people in the premises).

     

     

    As a result, the law was changed in Canada to allow police to lay charges when they have reasonable and probable cause to believe that the abuse occurred, even if the victim doesn’t press charges. The idea behind this is, as you suggest, many times the victims are too afraid to be the one who initiates the charges, and it often leads to the abuser being removed from the premises to protect the victim (and often the children).

     

     

    I am not saying the system is perfect, (it can visit financial hardship on the victims if the breadwinner is incarcerated, and, on the other hand, there have been cases where false charges of abuse have been laid), but, in the main, it has gone a long way to reducing abuse and protecting victims of domestic abuse.

     

     

    But, as I said, I dont know enough (anything) about this particular case to comment, including whether or not his crime (Im not going to say alleged, as I believe he was convicted) warrants a decision not to sign him. However, based on what you have posted, I would certainly want it looked into before he was signed.

  8. mullet and co 2 on

    I tend to believe in the rehabilitation of offenders. Does anyone know the number of folk who carry a conviction. Look it up. Might surprise you.

     

    I remember domestic violence was prevalent in society. Weans were skelped up and down high streets. Teachers whipped folk. There was an accepted violence and undertone of physical threat at any moment. If someone is brought up in such an environment they aren’t likely to learn hope and hugs and demonstrate unconditional love are they.

     

    Leave folk with their business and get in with ours…especially when it’s something like domestic violence , the courts, kids suffering etc. Leave it alone regardless

  9. McPhail Bhoy.

     

     

    Thank’s for the response.

     

     

    I was hoping someone could attest to the credibility of both Phil and John James.

     

     

    I don’t know what to believe.

     

     

    TT

  10. Amazing that you can miss two games in your domestic league for a red card in a friendly match in a completely different country in game that is about gettin fitness levels up and nothing more

     

     

    Really really stupid rule

  11. On the Jozo 2 game ban.I know this happened,but not sure if it was last pre -season,but I think it was.The Huns had a closed door friendly,I think against some Welsh minnows,1-1,I am sure.Ryan Jack was red carded.No punishment .I know it sounds all a bit unsure,but he was definitely sent off.Some with better memory than me will remember it.

  12. Tiny Tim

     

     

    I cannot attest anything to Phil’s credibility other than that he will attend events in public and answer questions from an audience.

     

     

    John James lost all of his rapidly diminishing credibility with me when he published the tale about Ibrox tapping into the water supply of a nearby Catholic Church. Once someones prepared to put out a big Trump of a lie and then never refer to it again is right up there with Dave King in my books.

  13. McPhail Bhoy on

    TinyTim

     

    No bother they both are looking for originality and ‘exclusives ‘ particularly on Sevco so both feel a bit peeved about the other ‘stealing ‘ their work. Phil is a published author and playwright as well as a blogger. He’s actually a Social Worker by profession, John James I have no idea.

     

    Hail, hail!

  14. It’s not very often I say anything against the Celts ..team or board (i.e never) but £23 for next qualifier

     

    is ripping the pish .

     

    Hopefully we do get into Champs league proper by that time I will have to tap up Oldtim.hh

  15. SFTB

     

     

    I think the originator of that water tap story was Tam McGlaughlin of this parish.

     

     

    TT

  16. Tinytim, johnjamessite was originally a pro …g.rs blog. Some of his remarks back then were very anti Irish/Celtic. He boasted on his blog that he would not allow posts from anyone with a “timmy” blog handle; eg “bhoy” or 1967. The liquidation of the Huns and the 5 Way Agreement were too much for him. Also, he found out that the blogosphere demographic is not the same as Patna or Cowdenbeath. He’s an opportunist who has posted stuff as original that I remember reading on TSFM 4/5 years ago. Ask Auldheid. His exclusives are behind a paywall. He’s always pleading poverty.

  17. SFTB & McPhail bhoy.

     

     

    Phil’s recent stuff on Sevco has been very poor.

     

     

    One week they can’t buy with out selling.

     

    The next day they spend circa £3m on an international CH.

     

     

    TT

  18. Tiny Tim

     

     

    I haven’t seen Tam McGlaughlin’s name on here for a long time but he may be using another log-in name.

     

     

    Whether he peddled that story or not, JJ ran with it and it is a compete wet dream fantasy – too good to be true – and it obviously wasn’t.

     

     

    Getting stuff wrong is, in my eyes, a much lesser offence than knowingly telling lies.

     

     

    The finances at Ibrox do not make sense but then the finances at all football clubs, including our own, are too opaque.

     

     

    Makes them ideal for money laundering and attracts the type of owners who want to do a bit of that.

  19. Anyone else think we might sign Turnbull before the transfer window closes?

     

     

    B-)

  20. Has Almore’ s Cafe been renamed Corkcelt’ s Cafe yet?

     

     

    What do mean there’s STILL not an Almore’ s Cafe yet!!!

  21. glendalystonsils on

    BHOYLO83

     

     

    It wouldn’t be a complete surprise although I think January is more likely.

  22. Tom McLaughlin is a true tic man. He got that on goid authority. The same as everyone else. Sone work, sone dont.

     

     

    Ye chose yer story.

  23. Adi-Dassler

     

     

    I can confirm thatTam is not only a good Celtic man ,he is a great one.

     

     

    TT

  24. Hunderbirds are Gone on

    Just when Scotland were gonna pick up eight out of eight co-efficient points, Kilmarnock screw it up. Probably practicing to put up nae defence against Sevco in their league opener 😩

     

    🍀⚽️

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