Makeshift midfield motors

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A makeshift Celtic midfield took no more than 15 minutes to get into its stride at Fir Park yesterday, before overwhelming Motherwell in every department.  That opening period promised a competitive event, with the home side’s Lennon Miller (18) twice hitting the woodwork from outside the box, but soon thereafter, Celtic’s midfield three of Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan and Reo Hatate found their rhythm.

Bernardo played in the deep position, vacated by the injured Callum McGregor, although Celtic pressed the game so far forward, ‘deep’ is not an apt description.  This left Hatate and McCowan free to roam across the front of the Motherwell defensive line, which had dug its trench 20 yards from goal.

Persistence paid off midway through the opening half when Luke McCowan found space among a pool of defenders to craft a shot into the corner of the net.  The Dundee deadline day signing is making the most of his time at Celtic.

Daizen Maeda then timed a run perfectly to get behind the defence, but was barged in the back by Motherwell’s Stephen O’Donnell. The ball struck Maeda’s arm and bizarrely, dribbled into the net.  It looked all day like a penalty and a red card, as O’Donnell made no attempt to play the ball, but VAR chose a different outcome, and awarded a free kick against Daizen for the handball.

The hosts remained in the contest, by proximity of the scoreline only, until 57 minutes, when Celtic’s fullbacks combined.  After a sustained period of passing inside the Motherwell half, Alex Valle pitched a cross towards the back post.  Alistair Johnston was already on his way to that area and met the ball perfectly with his head to double Celtic’s lead.

Substitutes Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah combined on 88 minutes for the latter to complete the scoring.  Motherwell’s Liam Gordon received a deserved red card in stoppage time for a dangerous foul on Idah.

Cameron Carter-Vickers made his first appearance in six weeks midway through the second half.  Greg Taylor was on the bench, his first appearance on the team sheet in four weeks.  Reinforcements are welcome as Celtic compete on three fronts over the next 8 days.

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  1. TIMFORLIFE

     

    Does anyone know if the game is on Celtic tv tomorrow ?

     

     

    Only outside the UK & Ireland to subscribers.

     

     

    Occasionally Celtic announce a game live on CelticTV pay-per-view but SkyTV has Aberdeen v Rangers so no chance of that happening.

  2. Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium has been rated the worst-smelling stadium in the Scottish Premiership after it topped the charts for the highest number of odour-related complaints from visitors on TripAdvisor, more than double Celtic Park in second place. (Edinburgh Evening News)

  3. greenpinata/gene et al

     

     

    Now look the statement I quoted was made by Russell Borthwick CEO of the the Grampian Chamber of Commerce, within the article that I referred to in last Sunday’s Observer. The context of which was the impact of Westminster Tax Policies on the North Sea Oil Industry and on the profits of those companies involved in it. If you disagree with Russell I suggest you, first read the article, see his reference to Celtic FC in that context, and if you believe you and gene know more about the profitability of North Sea Oil companies last year, contact him and put him right. It may well be he knows of which he speaks. Now I do not know where you get your figures but I had a quick look through Harbour Energy’s Annual Report for 2023, to Dec 31 2023, (a company by the way which let 350 people go last year), and, if I read it correctly, albeit quickly, their profit for that FY was £32 million, and for the previous year £8 mill, or in other words less profitable that Celtic Football Club in 2023. Now the report also points out that their effective tax rate is c85%, and it was in relation to this framework that Russell Borthwick was making a comparison to Celtic FC.

  4. glendalystonsils on

    BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 29TH OCTOBER 2024 9:50 AM

     

     

    Rodri or Vinicius Jr ? No contest .

     

     

    I would give it to Vinicius Jr. for that second half display against Dortmund alone .

  5. gene

     

     

    The BBC story you linked to refers to 2022 not last year. It also points out that Shell generates only 5% of its’ revenue from UK North Sea Oil production. Read if you will Shell UK’s Annual Report for 2023 you will not find Billion Dollar profits in fact you will be lucky to find $20 million after tax. I am not going to keep repeating myself, read the article I referred to in the Observer and see Russell Borthwick’s comparison (to Celtic FC) in the context of Westminster tax policies specific to the North Sea Oil industry (not the worldwide oil industry) and the impact of those policies on the profitability of the companies involved in that industry.

  6. funny thread on herrydale …………… pa pah

     

     

    The Famous Sevco thread || Wanted – a Chairman, a CEO, a Director of Football , Bugle Player. Apply within.

  7. SCULLYBHOY @ 7:47

     

    Scottish league cup final.Bobby scored at the Celtic end.In the second half Willie O’Neill cleared off the line from an attempt,almost sure it was McClean ( George) At the game with my cousin Michael ( RIEP) I remember there was a collection made by representatives from both supporters clubs in aid of the Abervan disaster.

  8. The collection for Abervan disaster was on the boat going on the Friday night.Back then Friday nine o’clock sail arrival in Glasgow seven next morning.

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