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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Cant see Taylor and Boli in same team too often, so we would be paying a lot of money for one of them to sit on the bench IMO
Has Moritz Bauer’s throw in landed yet?
https://twitter.com/stateaidloon/status/1168298019340640256?s=12
Win Forster’s boots from yesterday
I can assure everyone that the leader article is and always was and will continue to be written by PAUL 67. Martin42
Catch Celtic on BBC iPlayer hereall week 👍
Go Tell 2.28pm
Don’t be on the same wavelength as me, as fools seldom differ, not a chance I have a great mind :-)
Trad88 2.34pm
Even though our Glasgow Derby debutants all played very well they need to wise up … Hatem, Bolingoli both at times left themselves open to be hurt… guys like Hinkel & Kayal have been hurt in these games by not protecting themselves … hopefully that will be instilled in them.. am not wanting our players to stoop to that mobs level (Jordan Jones stuff) but they need to be aware
for me, defensively. the difference from Clij (and the daft penalty v Hearts last week) to yesterdays game was spacing between our lines.
VS Cluj we had all 4 attackers advcanced (and interchanging), both FBs pushed well up field, both CF stuck on our 18 yard box and the 2 CMs near the centre spot.
Loads of great attacking play but when we lost the ball, the CMs were easily run past and the 2 CHs had to go on a suicide mission or back further off hoping for someone wide to get back. Cluj kept a man on the touchline all second half to exploit this.
VS Sevco 1st half, we pressed with 3 out of the 4 attackers (one always stayed in midfield to help CMs). CMs (esp Broony) a bit further forward and in contact with the Sevco CMs. Only one FB went forward at a time. Our CHs pushed up whenever a CMs lost a battle (esp Julienne). Very few gaps and more contact with the enemy. Only 2-3 times did Aribo/Arfield break out but we had good cover.
2nd half, the whole team sat further back leaving no gaps but let then have possession(hence the 60/40 number). Only 1 or 2 pressers (Eddie/Olivier) but it still put Davis and Goldson off
Night and day in terms of tactics and game management – lesson learnt and we move on as a ‘family’ (Kris Julienne)
SFTB 12.41
As always , a terrific balanced post.
Free from my bed wetting concerns.
TT
Bada
im not one for rotating the squad especially in defence but, and im taking this on faith from those that think hes good (i dont), Taylor and Boli could rotate more frequently, depending on the opposition or even from time to time, one plays 60 mins and the other off the bench for 30. We’ve got league cup games and early rounds for the Scottish so we need options, im not averse to Hayes playing too.
Ah ………Ryan Kent to sevco. now i’m really shittin’ myself
Up the Dubs 👍
Thanks for the invite
@ !!BADA BING!! on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 2:37 PM
We need to full backs per position. We have two at right back who should provide good competition for each other. We only have one at left back. We have 60 games this season? If Boli gets injured we are relying on Hayes who is fine as a defensive winger but not good enough to be going into big games at full back.
Just looked at Ryan Kent’s Wiki ;-)
Ryan Kent (born 11 November 1996) is an English professional footballer who is supposed to play as a winger for Liverpool.
A graduate of the Liverpool academy, Kent made his professional debut in 2015, before spending consecutive loan spells with League One side Coventry City and Championship side Barnsley, winning the club’s Young Player of the Season award with the latter. After a loan spell at Bristol City, in 2017, he departed on loan once again, joining German Bundesliga side SC Freiburg. He has also played in Scotland for Rangers. After being abused by his parent club, Liverpool, Kent has been phoning Steven Gerrard every day insisting he has unfinished business with a certain Lego muncher that dwells in a cave in the East end of Glasgow.
He is also a former England youth international, having previously represented his nation at U18 and U20 levels.
MARTIN42 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 2:41 PM
I can assure everyone that the leader article is and always was and will continue to be written by PAUL 67. Martin42
______________________________________
saw those comments earlier……you have to wonder at the age of some of the posters that come on here, probably posting from the playground….
The Hands- the guy were supposed to be getting from Man C,Fringpong can play LB and RB seemingly
Just buy Taylor.. If they wanted him they should have bought i2 months ago. Now with a few hours to go they are faffing about.. should just have bought him and had Hendry/Millar deals apart. We need LB.. Sorry to see AR go…hopefully will do a RC. He is a player juts needing a little confidence boost and help at training.. KT did’t improve just by himself.. get the world’s best right back to train 1:1 Danny wasn’t a bad LB either!
@ !!BADA BING!! on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 3:03 PM
He’s 18- one for the future, I’d assume.
let’s hope no one gets injured on international duty and TR gets a run out
Assuming they somehow manage to pawn the family silver to buy Kent, he will improve their options versus Jordan Jones or Ojo.
We still have better options wide left and in general all over the pitch. Hopefully a couple of moves in and out today to finalise the squad.
Once our new Bhoys gel and we get everyone fit, we’ll take some stopping.
Doesn’t erase the hurt of losing to Cluj which was a disaster, but at least it looks like Lenny has learned lessons from that debacle.
PS how did they find £7m? future EL money? How will they pay Ashley? PS he looked a average player most games shoeweda bit of skill and drive occasionally.. if they are going to spend £7m on him that’s great they bcould use it better
Hopefully Callum pulls out of the international nonsense….
Of course transfers involving three players one of them on loan, are always bound to be complex, agents fees wages and other terms all to be sorted, good business by Celtic offloading unwanted players, and spending wisely in the deal.
With the Scottish window open till midnight expect we’ll get this one ‘over the line’ tonight.
Celtic and Kilmarnock currently debating which is a better offer…
£2m
or £2m plus Jack Hendry
HH
Why can’t we just pay what Kilmasonic want??
If we get him great, if not we obviously have to go with what we have and yesterday’s performance and the manner in which that victory was achieved gives me confidence that I did not have after the Clujy game. Although that was more to do with team selection and tactics on the night. I still thought we had the players to achieve 9IAR, only needed some squad additions. But hey what do I know
D. :)
Good article Paul i thought JF was poor yesterday HH
“Disciplinary proceedings have been opened following the UEFA Europa League play-off second-leg match between AIK and Celtic FC (1-4), played on 29 August in Sweden.
“Charges against AIK: – Stairways blocked – Art. 38 of the UEFA Safety and Security Regulations
“Charges against Celtic FC: – Setting off of fireworks – Art. 16 (2) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) – Throwing of objects – Art. 16 (2) DR
“The aforementioned cases will be dealt with by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on 19 September.”
HRVATSKI JIM
Wee bhoy lets off a firework?
Might be a firework but it’s not legal in the stadium so we will receive a punishment
Not a fan of assumptions but would have to assume that if we don’t buy Taylor from Kilmarnock its because we didn’t want to buy him, because clearly, we can afford him.
Kent to sevco – the £7M punch – thats why they are desperate to get him – because he punched SB.
we needed a LB years ago as cover for KT.. Izzy doid OK for a while but should have ahad someone pushing for place in team and also learning from him
Kent is pish
D. :)
King obviously needs some good PR after that tanking yesterday. So they’ll mortgage themselves again to bring in a guy that scored 6 goals last season.
Go for it, Dave.
Celtic v Kilmarnock
22 Sept
Kick off now 1pm
3 million for Taylor sounds a bit too high
Just rewatched the goals courtesy of Celtic TV. Noticed how chuffed everyone was for Jonny H. Must be a very popular figure in the camp.
TIMALOY29 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 3:45 PM
3 million for Taylor sounds a bit too high
====
In the scheme of things it does sound a lot, but thats what many thought about McGinn last year.
You’re paying for current ability, potential and experience (and hes an international, which bumps him up a category in the sellers eyes…and why not).
I can see some sort of compromise being reached – £2m+ is big money to Killie.
HH
Clink 3.51pm
I think us fans actually forget at times how bad a leg break that Jonny had, maybe his teammates who work with him everyday appreciate him scoring in a big game … delighted for him