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Lurgan Lion, the loyal thugs

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  3. Saint Stivs on

    I just caught up with NFL having a go at the pundits.

     

     

    he could have just said “roon yeese”

     

     

    lest they forget, The records experts.

     

     

    ————————————–

     

     

     

    Who will win Rangers vs Celtic? Our writers make their predictions

     

     

    Here, Record Sport ‘s writers make their predictions.

     

     

     

    MICHAEL GANNON

     

    Strap on the seatbelts, this could be a cracker. Celtic’s injury hit back like will be stretched to the limit by Rangers’ on form attack.

     

    But the Parkhead side’s firepower means the game could be a classic.

     

     

    Rangers 3 Celtic 2

     

     

    GAVIN BERRY

     

    Home advantage has proved crucial since away ticket allocations have been slashed and with little between the sides that can be enough to see Rangers edge it.

     

     

    Rangers 2 Celtic 1

     

     

    GARY RALSTON

     

    Rangers will take advantage of Ibrox and the feel good factor around the team following qualification for the group stage of the Europa League.

     

     

    Rangers 2 Celtic 1

     

     

     

    CRAIG SWAN

     

    This could be an absolute corker. Both sides have goals in them and a high scoring thriller is very possible.

     

     

    Rangers 2-2 Celtic

     

     

     

    It’s going to be nip and tuck but Neil Lennon’s side have the more potent attacking threats and it could come down to which side are more clinical. The likes of Odsonne Edouard and James Forrest will give the Hoops the edge by the odd goal.

     

     

    Rangers 1 Celtic 2

     

     

    DAVID McCARTHY

     

    Rangers have the bit between their teeth, are strong defensively and will have the backing of all but 800 Celtic fans.

     

     

    They can put down a marker by winning the game.

     

     

    Rangers 2 Celtic 0

     

     

     

    EUAN McLEAN

     

    Rangers have momentum and home advantage but it would be folly for their fans to underestimate a Celtic side accustomed to winning this derby. It’ll be tight but Gers might just edge it.

     

     

    Rangers 2 Celtic 1

     

     

     

    TONY HAGGERTY

     

    No quarter will be asked for or given and neither side will want to concede ground in the Premiership title race.

     

     

    It could all come down to whose middle to front functions better although the Hoops still look suspect at the back but I reckon we are in for a four goal thriller with honours even.

     

     

    Rangers 2 Celtic 2

     

     

     

    (Image: SNS)

     

    LIAM BRYCE

     

    Much has been made of Rangers being favourites but this is a Celtic side who have always responded strongly to any tough questions asked of them domestically.

     

     

    It’ll be tight but they might just edge it.

     

     

    Rangers 1 Celtic 2

     

     

    MARK McDOUGALL

     

    When Rangers are in full flow at Ibrox very few teams can deal with them and that’s going to be how Steven Gerrard’s side are on Sunday.

     

     

     

    With Celtic’s defence in a bit of a makeshift state, Alfredo Morelos should have a field day.

     

     

    As much as Celtic are good going forward, Rangers built on a more solid defence and that will be the big difference. Comfortable Rangers win.

     

     

     

    Rangers 4 Celtic 0

  4. DeniaBhoy on

    If Jones thought he would be lauded for trying to cripple a player then he picked the wrong target. Hurting Brown would get him on a few coffee mugs and T-shirts but Bauer? not been here long enough for the knuckle dragggers to even know who he is.

     

    A coward of the highest order.

  5. the long wait is over on

    Mark mcdougall’s prediction is out by a laughable six goals.

     

     

    That’s some going.

  9. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    1st Sept @ 1:50 pm, Full time 0-2.

     

     

    2nd Sept @ 1:00 pm, 1st Kent post here.

     

     

    Just 23 hours to exclusively enjoy the win before the agenda resetting begins.

     

     

    The debt junkies will never learn.

     

     

    Hope some of our fans do.

  11. Coneybhoy on

    The long wait is over

     

     

    Totally agree on the second goal. A classic

     

    My daughter plays camogie but she said ‘in any team sport, you have to love that’

  14. Celtic Mac on

    Paul67 et al

     

     

    There is a great team spirit developing amongst Neil’s Celtic team. It will take us far.

     

    Take a picture of the League Table, you will not need to take another one this season, you know why, because unlike that of Dorian Gray, it is not going to change…

  15. henrik1967 on

    Canny see anymore coming in for us tbh our midfield is packing especially with Rogic coming back.

  16. AuroraBorealis79 on

    Here’s a question: how many of Tesco’s squad would be willing to choose the tupe option, in the event of an emergency over at £7 million of somebody else’s money land? Does anyone even know where it comes from now.

  18. GFTB on

    GG 7.07pm

     

     

    The Big Tree is outer Coatbrig :-)

     

     

    As for buying BigShuggy a pint it would be in the Georgian, and after all the goals and games I won for him it should be him at the bar

  19. lazydynamite on

    I am hearing that Ryan Kent has signed a ‘lifetime contract’ at Rangers.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    That is lifetime for Rangers not Ryan Kent…….about 18 months should cover it.

     

     

    lol

  20. Hot Smoked on

    Someone posted, two Celtic selections on here earlier from our current squad . They also posted a strong bench. When I looked at the two selections, I was left `astounded of forehead` ( WHere is Z these days??) at those who keep asking for more signings.

     

     

    JJ

  21. Maradominic on

    Sorry to see Henderson go on loan…..could do a job in team to give Valance a rest….Aitchison is a good player. Hope he works on fitness while in Loan. Come back sharp. Ralston….I like bur for some reason lost a bit of confidence..hope he does well ..would rather they were given a chance

  22. Hot Smoked on

    Incidentally, I think Reporting Scotland blamed us for AIK`s alleged midemeanour as well as our own.

     

    Cheerio for now.

     

     

    JJ

  26. timhorton on

    ryan kent.

     

     

    for a player that supposedly lit up the spl i’m surpised that none of the english teams came in for him.

  27. ‘GG on

    Liverpool must really want to help Gerrard when they have the confidence to take an installment plan on one of their assets.

     

    Klop must be chortling at the fee.

  29. RobertTressell on

    I called the orcish panic buy/squirrel transfer yesterday.

     

     

    They canny help themselves.

     

     

    But on Kent? Good grief! Why not go and get a couple of better players instead of the overhyped Kent?

     

     

    But from a cash point of viewKind of makes sense.

     

     

    They’ll be paying in instalments which buying two or three players wouldn’t allow for, one wage instead of another two or three.

     

     

    And the gullibillies are fooled again…..

  31. RobertTressell on

    SEAN THORNTON on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 8:12 PM

     

    Ryan kent signs!.

     

     

    The bedwetting starts again.

     

     

     

    Who would you drop in oor team to fit him in?.

     

     

     

    Nae one.

     

     

    ————————————-

     

    To be fair we could drop big Fraser and play Kent in goals when we play the orcs.

  32. Elston Ghunn on

    Remember the excitement of Paddy Roberts coming back for a second season?

     

     

    It’s being replicated right now at the Huns.

     

     

    There are no guarantees in fitba and a fee of that nature, for a club of that stature is, quite frankly, absurd. It could be the move that finishes them.

     

     

    Desperation is a terrible mistress.

  36. Bateen Bhoy on

    Evening Ladies and Gents,

     

     

    A quick reminder that LMS13 launches following the International break, and we are accepting entries for the return of the competition.

     

    If you want to play, simply drop an e-mail to cqnpredictor@gmail.com, and we’ll send you all the details. Opening fixtures are on Saturday 14th September, and will be here before you know it.

     

     

    Thanks to all who have already entered. Magnificent support is a phrase which trips easily off the tongue when talking about Celtic Men and Women. 👍🍀

  38. Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles on

    Think on this, for all of the stupid money that is being spent on nobodies in the English leagues not one team was prepared to part with a “paltry” £7 million for Kent down South. This perhaps should tell even the most gullible of gullibillies that he is in fact a poor man’s Jordan Jones. Never mind, a punch at Broony and a wee WATP tweet or similar makes him World Class, well it does in their world.

  41. embramike on

    Let’s get this straight about Kent …

     

    This is the same Kent who played for them last season as we won our 8th league title by 9 points

     

    This is the same Kent who played for them last season as we completed the treble treble ?

     

    This is the same Kent who was red carded and suspended for punching Broony at CP ?

     

    This is the same Kent who will make them shell out £7m (???) for the ‘same again’ privilege ?

     

    This is the same Kent who won’t make any real difference this season once again !!!

     

    I’ll sleep easy about this – remember it’s the hope that kills them !

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