Managers are keen to use record transfer players

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Football is all about the creation and utilisation of space.  The first thing Leigh Griffiths did to create the goal last night was leave space in the box for him to exploit.  If Leigh occupied the traditional centre forward position, there would have been no space for him to leave his marker and the goal would not have happened.  This is a striking example of football intelligence.

Until that moment, Celtic were disarmingly impotent.  Too often this season we have been dependent on opponents making a defensive mistake, and, if like St Mirren they don’t, we look laboured.

It was difficult to assess Filip Benkovic against St Mirren on Friday, he was never pressed and was skinned once, but you could see what all the fuss was about last night.  The Croat looks the real deal: fast, good in the air and comfortable on the ball.  He will take more responsibility in the weeks to come.

Celtic improved when Brendan Rodgers abandoned his initial plan on 57 mins, replacing Tom Rogic and Forrest with Scott Sinclair and Mikey Johnston.  Almost immediately, Callum McGregor burst into newly available space (my word of the day) in the box.  From then on Rosenborg were under pressure.  The entire stadium knew the game was there to be won, we just needed our chief goal-scorer on the field.

When managers break transfer records for a player they are keen to play him, but leaving Odsonne alone inside the box isn’t working.  We have options for Rugby Park on Sunday, but our treble goes on the line at the League Cup quarter-final at McDiarmid on Wednesday.  We need to be ready for it.

I’m nine days from the Great Scottish Run half marathon, which I’m totally unprepared for.  The ‘Why did I say I’d do this?’ thought has occurred, but you know why.  If you and I cannot do our best for the Celtic FC Foundation, we are missing a whole lot of what it means to be Celtic.

The Foundation means we can connect right back to that hall in Calton in November 1887, when Bro Walfrid said, “Let’s form a football team to help feed the poor.”  This is where we came from and, if you and I have any say in the matter, it remains a central part of where we are going.

If you can help sponsor me for the Foundation, please do so here.

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678 Comments

  1. Dilligafbhoy on 22nd September 2018 5:53 pm

     

     

    Kayal comes on for Brighton. Remember him, didn’t know he was still there.

     

     

     

    …………………………………………………..

     

     

    Elbows was on Sky Sports last night (whodathunkit) giving the benefit of the doubt for a bad tackle.

     

     

    Canamalar is Bang on when he says use the HSE.

     

     

    The referees First Commandment is to ……..

  2. a wee chuckle……

     

     

    ‘I left my wife, telling her I wished to sleep with other women. I am shocked and surprised that she has rebuffed my plan to live in the same house, sleep with her on Thursdays and pay none of the bills. She has offered no coherent explanation or credible alternatives’

     

     

    smiley do you think Major Johnnie was nipping Theresa and the Curried Egg? thing

     

     

    would explain a fair bit ….

     

     

    Braw

  3. As much as we messed about with J McGinn he had the chance to come to us on the last day and chose not to. so moveonCSC

  4. Dilligafbhoy,

     

     

    It finished his Celtic career. He was such a cracking player before that assault, there was much debate about it on CQN @ the time. To me he done the guy, Neil made a wrong call there IMO.

  5. Just back from the big Cheshire / Staffs derby – deserved win for the Vale – bit of crowd trouble and a few arrests.

     

    I should get bail :))

  6. Dilligafbhoy,

     

     

    We are so incredibly lucky to have Brendan @ the helm.

     

     

    He explained why he wasn’t allowed to go to Celtic Park.

     

     

    The Union Jack Shorts guy could easily be identified…. All the way back to Celtic Park.

     

     

    Thanks be to God that Brendan is taking Time to Look after Everyone he can.

  7. NB

     

    I am also surprised because 15 of the lovers stay in the house and get paid for doing so

     

     

    – now how do you get into that room of the house

  8. Paul67 et al

     

     

    Looking back to Thursday night, I note that of the starting line-up eight players were there when Brendan arrived (though not as good as those who were there when Martin arrived) a mix from the Gordon, Neil and Ronnie days. The others, two young talented French Bhoys plus one defender on loan. Not exactly a revolution in football terms, when you think about it. Stuart and Patrick were already there too, though they are gone now. Boyota, Ronnies man, would be gone too if it was down to Peter Lawwell, though McGinn would have been in had it been down to Brendan. And of course Mousse is gone, to make up the EL shortfall. The jury is out on Hendry, who I like, but it is in on Komppner, who will always have the memory of playing against er Morton. Think it is fair to say Brendan got a lot out the players he inherited, as did Martin, but it is also fair to say Brendan has not been supported despite the success he has brought to Celtic Park, in that the squad despite the numbers has not noticeably improved since Ronnie’s days, even if the performances, for the most part, have. Stability is one thing, improve when you are winning and leave your rivals behind, Again!

  9. Celtic Mac that is a good comment.

     

     

    Celtic should be letting guys go for free if need be.

     

     

    Although to be fair I don’t think it is that easy.

     

     

    weeminger is missed by me.

     

     

    T&B

  10. Celtic mac

     

     

    ….been down to Brendan.

     

     

    Unfortunately it wasnt down to Brendan

     

     

    ..

     

     

    The boy wanted to go to AV.

     

     

    Good luck to him..

     

     

    We move on..

  11. petec

     

     

    Christ you know it aint easy

     

    You know how hard it can be

     

    The way things are going

     

    They’re going to crucify me

     

     

    And you

  12. Adi Dassler

     

     

    Aston Villa was never even on the horizon! Steve Bruce, in an interview just after he signed John McGinn, stated that “up until two weeks ago I would not have been able to afford to buy John”. Any time before that, ie for a couple of months, we were the only show in town, pity it didn’t stay that way, but it didn’t.

  13. i’vehadtochangemymind on 22nd September 2018 6:46 pm

     

     

    2 hours of strictly! fugg!

     

     

     

    ………………………………………………..

     

     

    Every Sunday I have to listen to the nonsense about Strictly Wim Jansen by my 3 Big sisters…. No Wonder my Dad stays in the Kitchen and my Wee Bro went to Switzerland. Me and Aidan stick with it.

     

     

     

    (The Table isnae big enough so Mum and Dad sit in the kitchen).

     

     

    I am so very very Lucky.

     

     

    TB’s Family are a real credit to the Man

  14. tontinetim if your about, the celtic v leeds game 1970, which I was at as a 17 year old, there was a few tims in the leeds team, thinking of billy bremner and eddie gray anyone else.hh.

  15. The cat from Red Dwarf is my favourite for Strictly.

     

     

    As for the Bhoys… Any victory tomorrow for me. Was at Celtic Park today. Just love the place. The Celtic Way. Magic.

  16. Celtic Mac

     

     

    Boyata is here due to Brendan as Brendan has the final say. He will now leave for free. Dembele left because Brendan was upset with his attitude at training and changed his mind. Brendan still has the Budget. The club don’t need to budget for Champions League and it never does.