Before we get into some proper reflections on yesterday’s game, can we pay a moment’s respect to the passing of the careers of Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe, who respectively spent 15 and 20 years in professional football. I know we will all wish them the very best on their lives after football – starting today.
Without a word of a lie, when I sat down to write this, I had to go back and confirm that Glen Kamara started the game. Scott Brown has seen them come and go in his 12 years at Celtic. When any of them win against the champions, he’s often the man opponents delight at getting the better off. Kamara did just that on social media in May after the Ibrox club’s win over Celtic. You could set your watch for Scott dominating the former Dundee player. Yesterday, Kamara looked like what he is, a £50k signing who cannot cast a shadow on the Celtic captain.
On Friday we talked about the bedwetters who were worried about the challenge from Newco this season. They added a load of duds, mostly free transfers, to a squad that won nothing and they had people, who should have known better, worried about the Treble Treble winners facing them. Newco signed 10 players this summer, 10 PLAYERS!! Nine of them were not good enough to get into that pathetic starting line up. Gerrard has not signed playing assets, he’s added financial liabilities!
I don’t remember the last time we saw such a makeshift Celtic defence start a big game. Jozo Simunovic and Kris Ajer both failed late fitness tests. Hatem Elhamed missed the previous three games through injury, and had only made five appearances for Celtic, but he was patched up and played at right back. His fellow Israeli, Nir Bitton (new contract please), was asked to fill in at central defence alongside Christopher Jullien. The latter is beginning to look like a £7m euro bargain.
Newco fans thought they would rip Boli Bolingoli apart (perhaps they had CQN comments pages). Boli absolutely bossed the left flank. On several occasions, he took an extra touch under pressure, showing the kind of composure you get from someone who turns up ‘ready’, as Oldco were fond of saying. He and Christopher Jullien are yet to experience defeat at Celtic.
Defending well will get you a point, but if you want to win a game, you need to put the ball in the net. With 32 minutes gone, Celtic were well on top, but the game needed a chance. Fortunately, Newco defender Connor Goldson (soon to be found playing golf at the weekend with Davis and Defoe) was in possession to play an immaculate pass onto the toe of Mikey Johnston. Mikey took the ball from the halfway line before releasing Odsonne Edouard. From that moment, the whole of Ibrox knew the outcome. The French striker closed in on goal before slipping the ball below the keeper. We have so many match winners just waiting for an opening.
You, me and just about everyone else criticised Neil Lennon for his tactics against Cluj, but what a masterclass from the Lurgan Lion yesterday. He sent players into a hostile environment with a coolness not seen in Glasgow, since Barry White last crooned into the microphone around these parts. We dominated the game, could easily have scored more, and did not concede a chance worthy of the name.
The front four: Odsonne Edouard, James Forrest, Ryan Christie and Mikey Johnston were scintillating. Olivier Ntcham was at his incisive best when he replaced James. He linked with Odsonne and Johnny Hayes to create the clinching second goal. I have been critical of Olivier, but when he turns up, he is unplayable.
All that was left was for Jordan Jones, Ryan Jack and Alfredo Morelos to demonstrate that Steven Gerrard’s talk about improving discipline is a mirage. It is disingenuous of Gerrard to criticise Jones, but overlook Morelos stamping on Jullien, and elbowing and kicking Scott Brown, and Jack’s studs-to-the-knee lunge at Bolingoli. Referee Bobby Madden did not see Morelos’ attacks, so you would assume the SFA Compliance Officer will be involved. Surely? The tifo display, showing a Celtic fan on the ground with a figure holding a bloodied sword over him is more sinister than I can remember at any football game. Is this acceptable to Newco, never mind the SFA?
They remain loyal thugs, but now they know the reality. This is the 9-in-a-row season and there’s nothing they can do about it.
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Whit a windae … experience & youth delighted 😀
Big Fraze chillin’
Welcome to Celtic Frimpong, O’Conner & Taylor!
SB- canny forget Jonny Hayes
Still grinning after Sunday…HH
Happy as I am to hear of all the new signings, did we not go a bit over the top like a impulse shopper at the Black Friday sales…? So we now have 2 proper RBs, 2 LBs and what…25wingers of various sorts;)
The two Manc defensive acquisitions will now add to our string of ‘bright prospects’ like Hendry, Miller, Ralston, Perez, Gutman, Benyu, Kouassi, Arzani, Henderson….I thought Lenny said the squad needed trimming?
Mibby we need to give Nicky H another wee contract, this time focussing on outbounds for the Jan windae?
Bit alarming that we couldnt shift Hendry, Miller et all off the books as clearly not fancied no more.
!!Bada Bing!! on 2nd September 2019 11:01 pm
SB- canny forget Jonny Hayes
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sorry lhad! I suppose I was thinking in terms of new arrivals.
Huns spendin’ funny money…………..?
On some wee Kent……………………………..
Thats what we should be angry…….ANGRY!!!!!!!!!…………aboot.
The huns are skint.
Fix Fitba’ Empty Hampden.
!!Bada Bling!! There is also Barry Coffey
Just to clarify – they haven’t actually signed Kent yet, correct?
Greg Taylor’s first interview
O’Connor pictured at CP
50mins to the windae slams shut
Bedtime for me … far too much excitement for one day … surely that’s our business done … Peter Lawell should get a bigger bonus he’s worked hard the day … or at least a new biro
Fellow Celts we’ve got a couple of weeks to listen to how bad our signings are … relish it … Neil is choking for the 9 …
Afterthought CSC
Scullybhoy, Don’t forget Oko-Flex, Raised in Dublin, Played underage for Ireland.
Twitter saying Newco are trying to lowball Liverpool – either 2M up front and 2 years on the rest at transfer time. Also talk of getting him on loan with a commitment to buy.
So not a done deal
U
Ricky Sacks 🎙
@RickSpur
BREAKING | Victor Wanyama and Serge Aurier will now also be remaining at Tottenham Hotspur after failing to secure deadline-day transfers away from the club this summer.
https://youtu.be/yivRuslF7QQ
ULYSSES MCGHEE – A DEMOGRAPHIC OF ONE
It would seem personal terms aren’t yet agreed. Quite a bit to do to get it over the line…
So it would seem that Bauer was brought in on a year loan while young Frimpong gets up to speed – either on loan or development. If Bauer does go back to Stoke next summer, we’ll have a young full-back to step in with two young full-backs on the other flank.
Forward planning? Will this catch on?
After the Turnbull deal collapsed it doesn’t seem that we have looked at alternatives – maybe he’s the one Lennon really wants and is willing to wait until January to get his man.
United are actually selling Lee O’Connor to Celtic. Jesus christ, who is making these decisions? How are you letting one of our best prospects go for next to nothing.
MU fan on Twitter
UEFA proceedings against Celtic feature heavily on BBC website.
Interestingly, the same national “neutral” broadcaster didn’t mention any proceedings against Sevco when UEFA announced these on 22 July.
Strange. A freelancer?
Mullet – reasonable point about the Ibrox banner compared to hanging effigies.
The difference is, the MSM, including the BBC (merrily led by Roddy ForsythAtIbrox), dragged out the effigy story for MONTHS.
The silence this time round is deafening.
For that reason, Pablo quite right to call it out.
Hail hail
Transfer windows like this will give the club a good name.
Past dispensed with, present looked after and future preparations made.
Good.
JAMES FORREST @ 10:07 PM
“Unbelievable the sniping on here against people who have expressed doubts about Lennon and the strategy. Some of us are busy working away, others are still celebrating the win.
Frankly I find those who are here just to gloat at fellow Celtic fans pretty damned pathetic.
The amazing thing is, some seem as if that was the main source of their joy yesterday, the anticipation of seeing their fellow fans crawl. Let me tell you, I had more to be happy about. I was getting good and drunk and toasting everyone at the club.”
James – just how many posts did you see or count where people dug up posters for having been doomsayers? Were there more of them than there have been occasions where you have come on here to dig up fellow Celt, Paul 67, for having a different take than yourself?
Cause that’s what we do when this team wins a HUGE game like that.
Magnanimous in victory. You remember that emotion right?
I well remember it.
The question should be- did you, yourself, do that and did you, yourself, remember that emotion in the immediate aftermath of our HUGE game win at the Scottish Cup final in May?
Neil Lennon has not done as badly as you predicted. One major mess up vs Cluj, agreed, but, otherwise, he has produced much better than could have been expected from the coaching ability you credited him with.
Hello again all you young rebels.
Celtic need to get rid of an over bloated squad
He..he he he he
H.H Mick
Fancy our chances in the Youth Cup this year.
It’s like trying to drink from a fire hydrant.
Everyone forgetting we signed the young Irish goalkeeper as well.Rated as brilliant ,by staff.We have fairly stocked up well for the future.Fantastic window.Best I can remember.
I really think we can do an invincible season again.Really.
With a full 18 minutes left, Celtic have only signed 5 full backs.
Can you imagine how good Jonny Hayes feels?
It’s Good To Be A Tim.
HH
I have no idea if this is a successful window or not.
I will wait and see how the players we recruited actually perform before I know if it has been good or not.
We need growth room in our squad for all these good young players to get game time.
If we have 3 or more good senior pros for every position, then when do we get to blood Karamoko, Okoflex, Connell, Afolabi, Frimpong, and O’Connor (if he comes)
Does anyone have a spreadsheet with the signings this window?
We are going to need a bigger team bus.
As the door is on a spring straining to slam shut on our summer windae…
Thank fek
An oxygen tent has been delivered to Celtic Park to ensure Peter gets through to midnight.
O’Connor pictured inside Celtic Park but not signed yet.
Awfy close to deadline.
THE LURKIN TIM
Lol, huge revolving door, going like the clappers 8-)))))
H.H Mick
Welcome Lee OConner
Celtic Football Club@CelticFC 31s
🇮🇪 Lee O’Connor joins the Champions!
The young Irish defender signs from
@ManUtd on a four-year contract 📝
O’Connor signs 4 year deal