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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A squad full of Scots, Irish and French.
A unionist nightmare.
Celtic sign the Ireland U 19s captain from Man United and a Dutch U 19s international from Man City
WhoScoutedThemThencsc
The SFA probably disconnected the fax machine hours ago. Well, the one they told Celtic to use anyway
Well that was close.
Why have the hunnites not announced that kent?
SFTB
The biggest problem is getting them game time,as you say.It is some array of highly thought of talent.A quality St gang.Has the developement league been scrappedWe are going to have to do something to keep them playing.
Awenoanotherwananawnoo.
H.H Mick
Neil Lennon signings
Jullien
Connell
Bolingoli Mbombo
Elhamed
Afoliabi
Forster
Bauer
Elyounoussi
Taylor
Frimpong
O’Connor
Full Team CSC
corkcelt on 2nd September 2019 11:16 pm
Scullybhoy, Don’t forget Oko-Flex, Raised in Dublin, Played underage for Ireland.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
True – I am glad to see the Club getting back to it’s roots. Cannot wait to see some, if not all, of these bhoys in the green of Ireland.
” See me, see r’at Pee Ell seeee……”
How’s Lenny going to remember all these names?
H.H Mick
Pleased with our window tonight , pity we were priced out of a move for that Nigerian striker Kaniya Fordham.
Nite all.
Wur gonna need a biggur tap Tier…………
:)
Jeez…see this continuity planning…it’ll never catch on ;-))…well done Celtic
Unique Angle celebrations from yesterday
https://youtu.be/DZJqij-5Ahw
Big question: have come out stronger?
Only time will tell but at least we seem to have addressed the defence issues.
Credit where it’s due. Better than I thought we’d do.
Big question: have WE come out stronger?
Ah well,been sitting here all night with my Jim White yellow tie on.Window closed,tie aff.Had Mrs TB sitting across from me with a laptop,looking like my assistant.She fell asleep at 10.Pissed.
“Some window,eh Charlie”.
Midnight! Sleep well y’all.
Nae Kent signed for the Scum? Lol
The ghost of the Willow Flood Window has been exorcised.
Good window in terms of securing future talent.
No guarantees but positive indicators.
Celtic now need to ensure the football structure for our 17-20 year olds is truly world class.
Too many fail to make the grade currently.
Hail hail
‘GG
That’s ridiculous. Glibby stopped us having a party at Aye Broke. Didn’t he?
Well played to the Board. No complaints.
Kent announced. Sky saying £6m upfront with the rest in add-ons
Vale Bhoy
According to an SA judge the “mendacious King is a <b
GLIB AND SHAMELESS LIAR
Thank God we have a fortnight off to remember the new recruits’ names.
6 million upfront from a club that have to borrow from Close Brothers to pay to keep the lights on.
Something stinks. Dirty money is awash at Ibrox.
BTBGHF…if the pish stained source at ETims is accurate…there is gonna be new seating at Barrowfield circa 2000….hoping this means that player development takes on a new importance…could b pish tho ;-))
‘GG
Feck!
I forgot about that.
How remiss of me.
It’s almost as though he was just talking crap to appease the hellish hordes.
Who’d a thunk it?
Ho hum.
Time to call it a night.
HH
GB78…I smell level 5 shite
Deniabhoy…
Or maybe they’re not as skinny as some are reporting them to be. Something doesn’t add up but if Phil’s blogs are correct (and I have serious doubts) then this really is their last throw of the dice.
What is the current set up for youth/reserve teams? Is there an u21 league? U18? Or just invitational tournaments etc?
Recall reading a lot of teams were pulling out of a reserve league, can’t remember why.
*skint
Scotsman has kent figure at £7.5m.
hunbelievable.
Glad the window is closing. The speculation and sniping can end and we can concentrate on winning games.
GEEBEE – I gave up on Phil a long time ago but their unaudited accounts have them running at a considerable loss and they have big Mike looking for major compensation.
While running at a major loss they have continued to ramp up their monthly bill with a multitude of signings without managing to flog a single player for any kind of a big fee to help offset it.
Kent has been available all summer and probably for that price. Rangers act now. Hard not to think it’s a knee-jerk after Sunday.
CELTIC have signed Republic of Ireland Under-21 defender, Lee O’Connor, on a four-year deal from Manchester United.
The 19-year-old defender was given permission to leave the Ireland squad today to head over to Paradise and sign for Celtic, and he will head back to Dublin tomorrow to resume training with his international team-mates, including fellow Celt, Jonathan Afolabi, who joined the Hoops from Southampton last month.
And having made the move from Old Trafford to Celtic Park, Lee is looking forward to getting started with his new team.
Speaking exclusively to the official Celtic website, Lee O’Connor said: “It feels surreal at the moment but I’m just looking forward to getting the international break over with and then starting with Celtic.
“I found out last weekend about Celtic’s interest, and it went from there. Today was a bit hectic but I’m just glad to get it through before the window shuts.
“The Irish squad met up this morning and I spoke to the manager, Stephen Kenny, and he was fine about me coming here today. I’ll meet up them again tomorrow for training.
“I’m a versatile player. I can play anywhere across the back four or midfield if needed. I’d say that I’m a wholehearted defender. I love defending and tackling, but I like to get forward as well. First and foremost, though, I am a defender.”
As well as being friends with Jonathan Afolabi, Celtic’s latest signing is also a good friend of midfielder, Barry Coffey, who has been playing with the Hoops Reserves this season. And when he first became aware of the prospect of moving to Paradise, Lee was on the phone to his international team-mate.
“I spoke to Johnny and he told me how everyone made him feel welcome, how well he’s settled in and how much he likes it, so that really helped me too,” he said. “I’m good friends with Johnny and Barry, so it’ll definitely help me settle in.
“I just want to get started, work hard and give it my all, and hopefully the manager and all the staff will see why they’ve brought me here and I can make an impact.”
Lee also revealed that he’s no stranger to Paradise, having come on the stadium tour with his family when he was a youngster. Now he’s back as a Celtic player, and even before signing his deal today, he was cheering on the team in Sunday’s Glasgow derby.
“It was a great result, so it’s a good start to the season for the team, and it was good to see a fellow Irishman getting a goal too,” he said.
“Walking through the Celtic Park tunnel, even in an empty stadium, I just want to run out on to the pitch, but I’ll just have wait and see what happens. It’s been a surreal week, but I’m really happy to be here and really proud as well.”