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.
559 Comments- Pages:
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GREENPINATA on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 1:24 PM
BOB LOBLAW on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 12:46 PM
Is someone new writing the daily blogs? Having read this site since 2006 I think I’ve grown to know Paul67’s “voice,” and something seems different in the last couple of main articles.
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Looking at the terminology used I would agree 100%.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Forensic literary analysis is a rubbish hobby. Why not try something new like supporting Celtic??????
“Clarke gave Eamonn Brophy a cap.”Why not?We are not falling over strikers.Tell you what though,Taylor will get a good few more caps.Somebody also paid £20 million forOllie Mc Burnie.Somebody also paid combined total of £30 million for the other Ollie.A pair of duds,who I would be hard pressed to put in my team before Brophy.
LAZY DYNAMITE,
My opinion is,he wont.No better than the wingers they have signed.The wee Killie Hun,just as effective.
Whit yeez all like.
Clarke did not in his brilliant planning see a place in his precious squad for leigh griffiths however.
‘just back from a lay off, needs time’ said the former kilmarnock maestro.
Shame he then contradicted himself by picking glory boy steven naysmith who at the time had still not played after being out injured long term.
They guy is a fud
I am not going to be fooled into false hope for the scotland team with this idiot.
Give me wee strachan any day of the week for all his faults
I didn’t realize how empty the stands were at the end; lovely sight.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DZJqij-5Ahw
LAZY DYNAMITE,
Have to excuse me,my memory seems realy bad at the moment.Would that be the same Stevie Clarke,who took a shambles of a Killie team to European football?Who was widely supported by many Celtic fans to take over us?Who never lost a league game to the Huns.Who gave us a really hard time last season?
I can see why you dont rate him.
Thems signing Kent for £7M plus wages – they cant be that skint – we should be told the truth.
When the Sevconuts tell you the signing of Ryan Kent is a “game changer” you just nod right along with them and say “yes, you’re right, it is … but not in the way you think you simple minded clowns …”
https://thecelticblog.com/2019/09/blogs/ryan-kent-isnt-an-ibrox-gamble-its-a-leap-into-darkness-without-a-parachute-on/
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JMOtkXURcMA#searching
Unique angle goals
TURKEYBHOY on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 5:24 PM
When it mattered Kilmarnock did heehaw
There is always going to be a flavour of the month manager appearing to be doing well with one of the diddy teams in our league.
Go back 10 years and the roll call of names is vast.
Levein,Tommy wright,steve robinson,..e.t.c
Truth is someone has to finish 3rd or in Derek mcinnes case 2nd for a period.
I have never rated Kilmarnock ,their ex manager , their supporters and their joke of a playing surface.
Steve Clarke will be unemployed and almost unemployable this time next year.
see Owen Coyle
Celtic and Man U talking about a deal for Irish centre half Lee O’Connor. Highly rated but well down pecking order at United. Might be a late one.
“I’VEHADTOCHANGEMYMIND on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 5:22 PM
I didn’t realize how empty the stands were at the end; lovely sight.”
Indeed it is ( a lovely sight). Unfortunately, Celtic Park starts that process with about ten minutes to go in any game where we look like comfortable winners.
JJ
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11788/11800570/ryan-kent-liverpool-winger-set-for-rangers-return
Sorry – H alert but you’ve hlgot to watch it for the footage of king leaving ibrox today.
Having seen quite a few clips, I would say the Sevco fans, although the same people, are a much improved support . Unfortunately, as their sense of entitlement might be diminishing, ours is increasing.
JJ
Well down the pecking order at one of the worst set of CHs in England and being highly rated seems like a massive oxymoron.
LAZYDYNAMITE on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 4:55 PM
If sevco sign Ryan Kent I am not going to be churlish and ridicule his ability like many on here.
He is a good player and clearly would improve their team.
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LD
I think I would have improved their team yesterday, and I’m on the down side of 70.
FRITZSONG on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 5:13 PM
Don’t understand the problem. A few of us observed a differing tone of the articles and we commented on that. No criticism only an observation.
Incidentally if Paul 67 sometimes has assistance in compiling articles, what is the problem. ? The time and effort he puts in is phenomenal and is very much appreciated.
As for your closing shot about supporting Celtic. I don’t pretend to be an uber fan, but today I purchased the Europa package in the knowledge that I can only definitely attend one.
What did you do today to support Celtic ?
Hail Hail.
I think Kent will improve them as he’s much better than what they have. However, I don’t think he’ll improve them enough to win the title and that money would’ve been better spent across the team. As James said, a panic signing.
However, one thing the signing does do is prove that we can take those articles regarding them struggling to pay the bills and get through the season with a pinch of salt.
Being a Scotland manager over the past 5 years has been almost the easiest job possible.
Simply select all the scottish players that have been playing for the elite club in the country which is more than half a team [sometimes more].
Then select the rest of the team from the best available and the odd outstanding player plying their trade down south.
It has not been rocket science.
But they have all failed miserably.
Only Strachan eventually used this tactic and almost immediately Scotland produced their best run of results in about 20 years….unfortunately it was too late to save himself and Scotland.
Now after the nightmare of McLeish we have Stevie Clarke who picked about 3 players from the club who have dominated the domestic scene exclusively these past few years.
Great manager?….I think not.
p.s
I like many have almost given up now anyway…keeps the likes of Mikey Johnson,Craig Gordan and Leigh Grifiths fresh for us.
EMBRAMIKE on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 4:19 PM
Completely agree that we should hunt the pyro eejits down and make them pay the fines they seem all to happy to inflict upon our club.
Note the pyro’s are directly behind the Green Brigade banner, as per usual, any stadium closures it they ever come our way should start with those clowns.
Scottish Transfer Style Guide
(36) In the event that Rainjurz swoop in a normal everyday loan deal, the said loan deal will be referred to as
one of the following a (* sensational * stunning * audacious *ambitious etc). £7M deal with an option
to buy.
At all times the emphasis of this loan deal will have £7M repeated throughout, and the word loan will be used seldomly.
You see £7 million, I see:
The house of the rising hun
https://youtu.be/eb3vEZZQO_I
Celtic and Kilmarnock have agreed a fee for Greg Taylor.
From S McGowan
No other players involved in Kilmarnock and Celtic Taylor deal.
Sluggard’s guide to Celtic transfer news:
1) Log into CQN
2) Press “Ctrl+F”
3) Type “Catman” + Enter
Re : Guyfawkesaforeverhero
I thought I was the only one with concerns in the event Eddy can’t play , whether that be due to injury, or natural fatigue with the upcoming Thursday/Sunday fixtures. Given the focus on other positions ( in our usual race against the clock) I do not anticipate another striker. I only hope Griff, Bayo, MJ, or whoever, can lead the line to the same standard and quality as Eddy. As you say it could be a long 4-months. Yesterday was great but the title isn’t handed out this early.
I trust both Lennon and Lawell are fully satisfied about our ability to cope when Eddy can’t play. He is not a machine and still a relatively young player. He won’t be able to carry the load on his own.
Come on pistol Pete spend the Celtic fans money, and don’t leave another manager hanging in the wind, were a football club not a hotel chain
GEEBEE1978 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 5:45 PM
The opposite is probably true. They won’t pay 7m probably ever and certainly not in one go, probably over several years. And the full amount won’t show up straight away in the accounts thanks to our old friend amortization.
But they would have needed to find some cash from somewhere as things stood and now they’ll need to find the first installment of a transfer fee and his wages for a year.
I’ll bet they’ve structured it in a way that hits their cash flow as softly as possible
Euan Henderson off on loan to Ross County.
sevco blowing all their europa league money on kent.
not unhappy about this.
EUAN Henderson our on loan.
Liverpool should be very very careful on how the 7 million payment is structured.
Very reasonable chance if it is over time they will not get the money.
I would have gerrard [he is loaded]guarantee it and I am not joking.
Have they got more wingers than us yet?
Wish I was a salesman to some of those who suggest we should just give Kilmarnock what they want .
https://twitter.com/mcgowan_stephen/status/1168567202406109185?s=08
Taylor incoming
ROSS COUNTY have snapped up Celtic prospect Ewan Henderson on a season-long loan.
The newly-promoted Premiership club believe the 19-year-old attacking midfielder can fill the gap left by Jamie Lindsay’s departure to Rotherham.
County lost ex-Celt Lindsay to the English League One outfit for a six-figure sum in the summer.
Co-manager Steven Ferguson was thrilled to tie up the Henderson deal.
He said: “It is great to get the deal for Ewan over the line as we’ve been working on it for a few days.
“He’s an attack-minded, high energy midfielder – enthusiastic in how he plays the game and a real goal threat.
“Everything Jamie Lindsay gave us, Ewan can too. He was the type we wanted.
“Neil Lennon speaks extremely highly of him and sees this as the next step in the development of his promising career.”
Henderson, a Scotland youth international at various levels, was a late substitute this season in Celtic’s Champions League qualifying victory over Sarajevo.
In two years since breaking into the first team squad, he has made nine appearances for the Hoops in all.
Out-of-favour winger Davis Keillor-Dunn, meanwhile, reached agreement with County to tear up the remainder of his contract.
The 21-year-old former Chesterfield youth’s departure follows a similar release for ex-Hamilton, Wolves and Raith Rovers winger Daniel Armstrong on Sunday.
Ferguson admitted: “It didn’t quite happen for Danny and Davis. We couldn’t give them the games they wanted, so it best for all parties they move on.”
Great move for Ewan Henderson .
The bhoy needs games and going to a good club too , hope he comes back to us like Christie did .