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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. david17 on

    Yesterday was a good day and a fantastic result based on a number of factors. It’s clear that we have a united group and we are improving. Lenny has recruited some good players, good footballers but also big strong units. Yesterday was a solid performance of the variety that we probably couldn’t have fashioned under Brendan Rodgers. I am optimistic about the future, I get the feeling we will be relentless in the League. Lenny has always been good in the League. Once the defence settles down we will be very hard to beat and we have a strong squad with lots of options. We have lots of players who can play in multiple positions which is really handy. So definitely looking good for 9.

     

     

    That said I think the reaction to yesterday has been slightly over the top. At the end of the day it’s only one win against a team who have never done anything. Nobody is more delighted than me about yesterday but only a few short weeks ago we were bemoaning a business plan that doesn’t look beyond a team playing out of Ibrox. So as Lenny says, not too up when we win and not too down when we don’t.

  5. ulysses mcghee - a demographic of one on

    Also – with all the pre-match favourites tag – do you think Newco were thinking they’d win at home and then announce a 7m signing the next day – peak Jabba.

     

     

    Except they’re mince.

     

     

    U

  11. DeniaBhoy on

    Normally someone tells us around about now that that’s it for this window. And they are normally correct.Been a decent window if we are honest. A lot of deadwood off the books and a few good signings in – and only the loss of one real gem.

     

    I think we can sleep easy if that is it until January. Would then hope to see Turnbull deal completed. Ntcham and Simunovic will go sooner than later.

     

    My next bed wetting episode will be when the 25-30+ million bids start being mentioned for OE. He is next year’s KT. To have had him and Dembele has been amazing for us.

     

     

    Something else which has been pleasing is the complete lack of spotlight on our other Dembele. Been allowed to drop back out of the spotlight to continue his development, Kudos to Lenny.

  15. GFTB on

    If the Turnbull deal hadn’t fell through (sincerely hope it’s back on in January) I think this has been a terrific window with players still to be seen … especially after settling in … Neil has been given the players I think he wanted … so good times ahead … yesterday was only 3pts … but a massive 3pts for me :-)

     

     

    I don’t like international breaks but for the new bhoys they are joining a terrific environment with players and (most) fans in a very good place :-)

  20. DeniaBhoy on

    To whoever our French scout is, sit back and enjoy a cigar and a brandy. What a fantastic source of talent the country has become for us these past three years or so.

  21. RobinBhoy on

    Welcome to Celtic Greg Taylor! Might even watch a wee bit of the Scotland games if he’s playing to see what he’s like.

  22. corkcelt on

    Unfortunately ,We have to accept that our top young players like KT & French Eddie will not be with us long term. It is a pity but that is where we are in the Football food chain.

     

    Our young stars can treble their wages & play in top Leagues, you can’t blame them wanting to go.

     

    As long as the money is reinvested wisely into the playing squad then we just need to accept it & keep going.

     

    This window has been good, Julien, Elhamed, Boli, Taylor first team picks purchased, top projects like Luca & Afolabi also purchased. Bauer on loan with option to buy. Forster & Elyounoussi in on loan.

     

    KT sold for 25, reckon about 14 spent plus loan costs, I don’t know enough about misc costs like VAT Agents Fees, Signing on fees etc to figure out what surplus goes into the general coffers but I reckon overall we have not done too bad.

  24. Doc on

    So we signed a right back, and another, a left back, and another, a commanding CB, see yesterday if you don’t believe that, a winger, another winger, a big striker begins to show his ability, Bayo.

     

    Then we re-sign Fraser Forster!!!!! I said this elsewhere, the most important signing of the window!!!

     

    Shved, Luca, and another couple for the future.

     

     

    So another shite Transfer window overall.

     

    And I know I have missed another signing!!

     

    I am a lazy journalist after all, any vacancies at the Daily’s?

     

     

    That’ll do pig, that’ll do.

     

     

    Well done Celtic, NFL, PL, the Bhoys in green,

     

     

    HappyasaTimCSC

  26. Doc on

    PS, Paul, best article for some time. Bang on.

     

    At least since Friday’s. The Live updates Wishaw bad either mind:-)

  35. nally81 on

    Kent is sometimes an 8 out of ten ( in Scottish football) sometimes a 7 but usually a 6.

     

    In other words he wouldn’t get on our bench.

     

    No way are they paying any more than £80k a month in wages with a ( probably) meaningless and worthless ‘option to buy’.

     

     

    All Sevco are doing is loading up their monthly wage bill and getting level5 to spin their nonsense.

     

     

    They will still be paying Caxhinas signings, Lafferty, Dorrans etc the shortfall in whatever they are gettingvat their new clubs…. Their wage bill is getting near ours and they still have no real quality players…. We’ve got about 15.

     

     

    That Aribo is an absolute luxuryand will be at Fleetwood in 3 years

     

     

    Morelos looked like a guy that had won a competition to get a game.

     

     

    Their record signing is pure pish ang Sevco have been done like a kipper in the deal…. Honestly, wait to you see him.

     

     

    Gllen Kamara? Jack Ryan?

     

     

     

     

    Anyway, still think we should have bought a striker but good signings all round.

     

     

    Here we go….

  42. GFTB on

    What’s that Peter Lawell all about, you’d think it was his money he’s spending :-)

     

     

    In all seriousness a full defence with cover, a bit more added to the midfield and Edouard, Griffiths & Bayo for the striking role

     

     

    Loved Leigh celebrating with Neil and he was the first one over to the 800 when game finished … I think we are in a good place football wise

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