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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CORKCELT
Frimpong source?
IniquitousIV
Two of the best from This Dear Green Place.
……………………………………………………………
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 2:02 PM
67 ECW @ 1.56
Didn’t have you in mind at all, its the ones that slaughter the Blog for being pro Celtic and become downright abusive into the bargain see CQN when Celtic get beaten.
They may well have other reasons for not being here, but courtesy to the host costs nothing.
HH
CORKCELT
O.K. Just found it, thanks.
IniquitousIV
Unless anyone has unearthed anything to the contrary, Defoe is the highest earner in Scottish football by a country mile. They are paying him anywhere between 30-50k of his 90k weekly wage.
Kent’s weekly wages will also probably be higher than anything we are paying.
Where the feck are they getting the money from?
They still have to pay in the region of 7-10 million to big Mike too.
It staggers belief that they can be so wreckless.
Enjoy the car crash. It is coming.
Yerdas Selzavon, is he not related to the Turkish international keeper Yermas Anolbuit?
Unbelievable the sniping on here against people who have expressed doubts about Lennon and the strategy. Some of us are busy working away, others are still celebrating the win.
Frankly I find those who are here just to gloat at fellow Celtic fans pretty damned pathetic.
The amazing thing is, some seem as if that was the main source of their joy yesterday, the anticipation of seeing their fellow fans crawl. Let me tell you, I had more to be happy about. I was getting good and drunk and toasting everyone at the club.
Cause that’s what we do when this team wins a HUGE game like that.
Magnanimous in victory. You remember that emotion right?
Celtic close to confirming Jeremie Frimpong from Man City and Lee O’Connor from Man United.
POG
Cousins to Dom Inopiza.
https://twitter.com/mcgowan_stephen/status/1168628383275728896?s=08
Heard in the Magnum Arbor, Whifflet.
Fenestra clausa est.
With apologies to my multiple Latin teachers.
Frimpong rumor also on Man City fan forum. I would be very pleasantly surprised if we snare him, as he is a superb talent.
IniquitousIV
!!BADA BING!!
Smashing bit of business if we pull off that double
From @SportsPeteO
Celtic have agreed a deal for Manchester City defender Jeremie Frimpong. #CelticFC #MCFC
BSR,
Aye and their other cousin Ifjir Mahidbos
James F 10.07pm
Plenty of posters come on here with plenty to say when Celtic don’t win, the majority never appear when Celtic do win … am glad you are on and still enjoying our win yesterday … do you not think a lot of posters drip feed negative stuff on here ?
By the way it’s only a few league games in but I feel a bit relieved for the simple reason a lot of people were not expecting a Celtic win which would have led to more abuse towards Neil .. for the record Neil mucked up the Cluj game but has done heehaw wrong in the rest of our games … sniping ? Am pretty sure a lot of us are guilty of sniping at times
There’s no truth in the rumour that PL has been admitted to the Royal with carpal tunnel after signing multiple contracts and cheques
.
What time does the window close please?
PHILBHOY on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019 10:15 PM
Midnight.
Midnight
Henrik1967
Plenty of time for another couple of signings
Thanks Ghuys!
Fair chance I’ll be in my scratcher by then!
HH
Philbhoy 10.15pm
Just put your glass of red down, get off your couch and hobble over to the bay window and close it whenever it gets a bit chilly … no time limit just you suit yourself …. and stop giving Neil Lennon a hard time
It doesn’t matter what we do in the final throes of the transfer window it will be eclipsed by sevco signing some Kent from Liverpool.
Long may the SMSM play this game as it will result in sevco ii, sevco iii, sevco iv – a wee bit like their contract with SD, ad infinitum. 😉 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
GFTB
I posted well done Neil just after the game!
Credit where it.s due!
Off the drink during the week!
Needs must!
Hope you are good!
Out of interest, who was the last payer we bought (not loaned) who was already recognised as a top level international player and still able to play at that level (as opposed to a Roy Keane or Ian Wright type who were long past their sell by date)?
I understand our transfer policy, I really do, but just once in a while it would be nice to think we could push the boat out and sign someone who is bona-fide top drawer. The kind of player who every kid wants their name on the back of their jersey and that has everyone excited about getting to see them playing live.
I hate Sky for making that kind of dream more improbable than ever before.
Night all!
Quite happy with this windy!
C’MON THE CELTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*** CQN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2019-20 ***
RESULTS FROM GAME #2 – SEVCO 0 CELTIC 4 (EDOUARD, HAYES)
After the 179 votes that were made for the AIK game, the Ibrox match has attracted even more, with 204 votes coming in from 68 different CQNrs. And I can announce that the total votes cast for each player are as follows –
Forster: 0
Elhamed: 29
Jullien: 58
Bitton: 26
Bolingoli-Mbombo: 31
Brown: 22
McGregor: 1
Forrest: 0
Christie: 1
Johnston: 2
Edouard: 31
Bauer: 0
Ntcham: 1
Hayes: 2
Unused subs – Gordon, Morgan, Bayo, Griffiths.
Our back 4 received roughly 70% of all votes cast.
So the players receiving points are –
Jullien – 5 points
Edouard – 4 points
Bolingoli-Mbombo – 4 points
Elhamed – 2 points
Bitton – 1 point
And the aggregate totals are now
Edouard – 8 points
Jullien – 6 points
Forrest – 5 pts
Bolingoli-Mbombo – 4 points
Bitton – 3 points
Christie – 3 pts
Elhamed – 2 points
A wee break before our next game!
Hail Hail!
Peter Lawwell admitted to Rosshall suffering from Haematidrosis😉
I think Bauer will be a very good signing. A cult hero in the Mikel Lustig mold. A very sensible shrewd signing
That boy Kent for 7mill?
Fcuk me it’s insane
The two boys from
Manchester would be excellent signings development squad or not. Young O’Connors been in Man Utd European squads some think he’s first team ready
Pog
We’ve rented a suite at Rosshall so he’ll get a good rate, that’ll put a smile on his face
Philbhoy 10.25pm
I stay away fae the live updates and to tell you the truth it was that Art of War that told me to pull you up about Neil Lennon posts :-)
All good here mate hope you are on the mend .. a broken kneecap sounds sore … but I did laugh when I read you waited until you came home from Crete to get it seem to …. you must have been more crabbit than usual :-)
Welcome to Celtic Jeremie Frimpong
CELTIC are delighted to have signed Jeremie Frimpong on a four-year contract from Manchester City. And the talented young defender is looking forward to meeting up with his new team-mates this week and starting to train with the Scottish champions.
Speaking exclusively to the official Celtic website, Jeremie said: “It feels amazing to have joined Celtic. What a massive club to be part of. I’m just lucky to have been picked and I’m grateful for everything. I’m just happy to be here and I just want to get on the pitch and show the fans everything that I’ve got.
“I’m looking forward to start training with my new team-mates and getting to know them. They’ve got more experience than me, so I’m hoping they’ll be able to help me as a player.”
The 18-year-old is a speedy and energetic right-back, and will wear the No.30 jersey for the Treble Treble winners. And he explained that he found out about Celtic’s interest in signing him after a Manchester City game against the Hoops.
“We played Celtic’s Under-23s and it wasn’t long after that I found out Celtic were interested in signing me,” he explained. “That was incredible, and as soon as I heard, I was excited and I wanted to take this opportunity.
“I started going on YouTube to watch Celtic, and when they were on TV, I watched the games. I watched Sunday’s match against Rangers. What a game! Celtic were brilliant and deserved to win.
“Now I can’t wait to play at Celtic Park in front of the fans. Hopefully when I get on the pitch and do something good, I’ll hear the noise for me.”
And Jeremie explained that he’s already spoken to Celtic boss, Neil Lennon.
“The manager phoned me today and told me that he believes in me and he thinks that what I can do will be good for the team,” he said. “That’s really good to hear, and I’m going to try my best to get in the squad and help them to win things.
“My target is to get as many games as I can, to win everything for the team and I’ll give it my all.”
Does Nick Hammond get the credit for these signings? His contract ends today unless I am mistaken.
Frimpong on a four year deal
https://twitter.com/ItsOlu9696/status/1168602496895467522?s=08
Man Ure fans not happy if O’Connor comes..
Lee O’Connor, Luca Connell and Jonathan Afolabi nice wee Irish contingent!