Whenever the next History of Celtic is written, yesterday’s 1-2 win at Tynecastle will hardly merit a mention, but right now, it feels like a hugely significant night. You, me and everyone else in the country know that if Celtic can win a game like that in the 93rd minute, they are going to win the league.
A few observations:
Passing the ball along our own 6 yard line was always likely to lead to conceding a goal. It looked like an individual error but it was actually a systemic mistake. Notwithstanding this, we need to stick with the plan. Opponents pack tight against Celtic, anything we can do that will tempt them forward, like passing this deep in our own box, should be done. The answer is to get better at it.
I was worried when I saw Jeremy Toljan substituted for Mikael Lustig, the latter a player Neil Lennon signed for Celtic. The worry is that players will suspect that Neil is favouring one of this own. Jeremy should be back in the starting line up on Saturday.
Just as important as not having favourites, is making sure players who are only here for a few months are kept on their toes. If Mikael can be used to get the best out of Jeremy, use him. We have seen a few defenders arrive from the Bundesliga (Andreas, Edson, Marvin) who never convinced they gave everything they had.
When Neil Lennon’s excitement at getting the job died down, his mood must have dropped at the realisation he would have to play such an unfamiliar central mid combination.
While there was a large period of the game when we had a man advantage but still did not dominate midfield, we saw three good individual performances. Nir Bitton was at his deep lying best, even if he gave possession away twice by shooting from ridiculous distances. Scott Brown’s contribution for the winner was delicious.
Pass of the night came from Ewan Henderson, who took the Hearts midfield out of the game with a 40 yard slide-ruler to Scott Sinclair for the opening goal.
Five minutes before half time I predicted Hearts would get a man sent off before the break (I have witnesses). Craig Levein bemoaned Jamie Brandon’s recklessness after the game, but it was in keeping with the rest of his teammates until that point. Hearts figured their best chance was to batter Celtic players into hiding. Levein should consider his part in the red card. It was a consequence of Hearts’ tactics.
The only concern on the night came elsewhere. Hibs won their fourth game in succession, away and with 10 men. Saturday’s Scottish Cup quarterfinal will be an epic.
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I´m supporting Toljan 100% tonight, after his baptism of fire as a Celtic player . Firstly he had to endure the clogging steel men in Glasgow. Yet he earns one of our four yellow cards. Then he was sent off for two soft yellows in Europe; was the referee a relative of someone from Carluke? Last night again he is booked in Edinburgh and worse is subjected to a neck high challenge from a thug in maroon with a man in black turning his blind eye. Maybe Lenny was trying to protect the player a little. In my eyes Toljan has shown guts and a bit of skill going forward. he linked up well for the chance Burke had, before half time. The shortbread media has its foreign player favourites and Celtic players and ex Celtic players are not usually among them. But we know that our foreign players have entertained us so much these last thirty years or so and brought a lot to our game. We need a good right back, every one has been going on about it here since Tierney came through so give this guy a break. The welcome mat has not been out since the moment the lad landed in Abbotsinch, he needs a bit of backing now.
oh what id do for a mothers pride square loaf, take the outsider and put a skwerr sausage on it heaven.hh,
Story I heard the players got the the tinkerman n puel the boot ? HH
Big packy
Prefer links myself?
MICKBHOY1888 on 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 9:16 PM
All perfectly plausible.
Too neat to be spontaneous.
Further trashes Brendan`s legacy at Celtic , if such was needed.
He deserves to be airbrushed from our consciousness and history.
A charlatan .
Silver City 1888 @ 7.32pm
Thanks, that’s an angle I never considered.
Just saw your post.
HH
According to Winston it’s a flat sausage
prestonpans bhoys ok, but down here in englandshire links is all you can get, I even drive up to annan every now and again as its the nearest place you can get skwerr sausage.hh.
BR was a very good manager for celtic fc, but he made an arse of his exit. The anger will lesson over time, pitty he did not wait a few months to walk away a hero but he left us with an 8 point gap over our closest challengers and i would guess know lenny would step in.
Despite claims about poor squad management, once the loan players go and contracts end, celtic fc will have a good core of players to build on and a healthy group of good youths in and around the first team squad ti develop.
He walked away and a cheque for £6 million was forwarded to celtic. I guess another couple of million was agreed to release the first team coaches too. I know its not about the money but, its the money that allows us to keep ahead of the game.
We move on with lenny and co.
Anyone know how far away rogic, christie, mcgregor, ntcham are due back?
HH
Big packy
On another gastric note, got someone from Stornoway bringing local pudding on Wednesday?
Black pudding that is
dinner at Prestonpans on Wednesday!
:)
prestonpans bhoys, you lucky devil ???hh
Mickbhoy1888
I had a similar discussion with my son this afternoon.
We didn’t go as far as Puel’s sacking being arranged, but I do think there is some sense to the notion that our ex manager left 5 days after we exited from Europe. As long as his team were in Europe his profile was guaranteed a showing.
Celtic played Valencia on Feb 21.
Leicester lose 4-1 at home to Crystal Palace on Feb 23
Puel is sacked on Feb 24.
Celtic defeat M’well on Feb 24 & BR is being asked about the LCFC job.
By Feb 25, Monday night – Catman on here has heard the bad news
Feb 26, BR signs for LCFC & NFL ‘s people are at Lennoxtown talking to PL.
Feb 27, NFL is introduced as Celtic manager & we beat Hertz in last minute.
A convergence of coincidences or a machiavelian plot.
HH
Ranieri just sacked by Fulham.
Winning the EPL with Leicester seems so long ago now.
ok on another gastric note im from Lanarkshire we called the top of the bread the outsider my late brother in law was a fifer and I think he called it the heel .hh.
MickyBhoy1888
The song was offensive and topical for sure, but the report using this as an example was unbalanced as per the norm, because it only showed Celtic fans. A bit like when STV show Sevco scoring against Celtic every time they can, except no as funny.
We could all change channels but we’d still have to buy a BBC licence, which funds those steering
the main thrust of the pre weighted debate on sectarianism whilst missing the real culprits, for previous decades.
PRESTONPANS BHOYS.
If it coming from Stornaway via Hebcelt it’s the best black pudding you’ll get.
SID on 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 6:42 PM
Fanatic
-One thing I do have is a fantastic memory, i recall you specifically saying the major reason for our slow play was Nir Bitton, he then went out the team and it continued to happen. You’ve spun the other points well.-
Surely you realize there is a big difference in saying he was the sole reason and a major reason
You earlier claimed i said he was thesole reason.
Never compared an Academy player to Bitton.My suggestion was Ajer in that position to give the team more forward momentum.
Since you asked Brown gave one foul away in a dangerous area compared to Bitton 4.Not sure why it’s relevant?
_
You’ve made your point please get behind the player, not spoil the blog by repeating yourself._
Are you really that arrogant to think you can decide the content of someone else’s blog?
Hello again all you young rebels.
G,day everyone of our big wonderful Celtic family.
Phew , feel as though i’ve been put through one of they big mangles
they had in the washhouses eons ago this last couple of days.
Lots of stuff coming out now about Br ‘s intention to leave for China
with Dembele etc, is it true? don’t suppose we’ll ever know, but video
of last nights game shows big powerful Peter with a huge grin and a
fist pump justifying his recent actions.
Maybe i’m wrong ( entirely possible ) but just maybe thats why the
moonlighter left like a thief in the night, couldn’t wait a few weeks, no
cheerio to the faithful, just a feck you i’m off, and to me anyway the
GB banner summed it all up perfectly.
Anyway Lenny’s back, it’s Friday, Paddy’s day coming up, i’m over it.
” oh no your not ”
” oh yes i am ”
H.H Mick
My friends in Celtic,
Sections of our away support are not helping us, but I fear we are going to get hammered by draconian actions by the Scottish government. We are an easy target and I feel the stigmatisation is already in full swing.
This will be seen as a popular move by a very large section of society.
As the backlash gathers momentum over the unpopular ” poll tax on wheels” and the
Unbelievable decision to ask the UK DWP to continue looking after 11 social security benifits we will be the expendable cannon fodder.
I hope we get the chance to put our own house in order, forget tit for tat with the huns, however i fear the worst.
Watch this space.
HH.
Mickbhoy1888
Nice theory. Only one problem
There is no Celtic board
Only peter lawell
Ps. Watched the Celtic reserves v Kilmarnock on YouTube last night
Wow Dembélé. What a player. What a shot
1st team soon
bournesouprecipe
BBCs Panorama Pride and Prejudice on Youtube is an interesting watch particularly the comments made by the Moderator of the COS in the presence of Bishop Devine
anyway do you think that the lead article in tonight’s reporting scotland was slanted by them trying to get the BBC,s feedback over the threshold at Ipox. Having personal contact with some of them,they are more interested in their debenture seats at Murrayfield and Scotstoun
As for the tabloid journalists you are more likely to see players managers and directors sharing a drink or two with them than you are seeing them stand their supporters a round.
I am informed that there. was in excess of 50 journalists press and tv who joined Celtic on their break to Dubai
The question is who’s first team
SYDNEYTIM
I posted the highlights earlier and i thought Dembele was sensational
He may not be the biggest but he looked strong.
McInroy’s pass for Oko-Flex’s goal was ssublime.
The young guys played some great football.
MIKE IN TORONTO on 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 8:03 PM
Tomthetim
So, does this mean that our Board are also freemasons, which would explain why they have said/done nothing about the cheating?
Several of our players must also be freemasons as well …. would explain all the “square” passing across the back
****
Could be.
However, I think that Celtic know it is the only game in town and any matters that they have tried to raise, without falling foul of the SFA rule book, get swatted and ignored.
Without media backing, we are a voice in the wilderness.
INTERVAL TO WATCH DEATH IN PARADISE (not happening) and Still Game.
For anyone who has ever been daft enough to read my posts going back years, will know that I have always believed that the only way for Celtic not to be complicit was for them either to resign and join another league, like Derry City OR turn the key in the door. like Belfast Celtic.
DC or BC.
Greenpinta
We are building up a reputation which is now following us around Europe I have the bruises from Valencia to prove it No further comment on that matter
Thanks for the headsup , Syd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GW7xMjNcZY
Interesting.
Neil makes a reference to the Celtic Killie game.
Two weeks before he returned to Celtic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QjttdYQh7c
Dear oh Dear in these days of the internet you can have your skwerr stornoway and tottie scones delivered by a scottish butcher anywhere on mainland UK you might even want to chance having them pack a square loaf as well
https://www.scollinsandson.co.uk/
MIKE IN TORONTO on 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 8:03 PM
Tomthetim So, does this mean that our Board are also freemasons, which would explain why they have said/done nothing about the cheating?
*I was led tae believe many years ago that a huge percentage of Scottish players are in the craft, its supposedly part and parcel of signing for certain clubs.
Any tackling of sectarianism should begin with police facilitating anti Catholic bigots marching down every Main Street in the summer.
AN DUN on 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 10:47 PM
Any tackling of sectarianism should begin with police facilitating anti Catholic bigots marching down every Main Street in the summer.
=========================================================================
Never a truer word.
Arrested ( occasionally ) at Ibrox.
Protected on Glasgow`s streets .
They still ARE the people .
Wish there was an all night Celtic radio channel. Music, chat, phone ins, interviews and no Hugh Keevins!
AN DUN on 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 10:47 PM
Any tackling of sectarianism should begin with police facilitating anti Catholic bigots marching down every Main Street in the summer.
—————–
Marches all year now, but apart from that you are 100% correct.
As soon as Steve Clarke opened his mouth about sectarianism, the MSSM went into overdrive to bring us into the equation. I, and I suspect many others on here just knew that the focus would eventually shine on us.
We need to be shrewd and not gift them own goals.
HH.
Wow , how good does young Dembele look, ability wise already looks ready for the first team, potential superstar.
Shame this boys not tied down longer than 2021.
Word of warning to anyone wanting young boys thrown into the first team, Aitchison who is scoring and showing up well can’t break into Alloa’s 1st team.
On sectarianism guy spits on priest gets 10 month jail sentence will be out in 5 months oh aye that really is severe ?HH