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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Hopefully Brendan’s teamtalk this morning is
“Right lads, for the next hour watch this programme about Tommy Burns, this is Celtic”
51st min fellow Celts (& Killie fans) get clapping
TommyTwistsTommyTurnsTommyBurns
Jobo 10.08am
Even though I detest the “plastic” pitches bhoys like Mikey Johnstone, growing up, have probably played on these “surfaces” more than grass :-)
RedBlaize&BlackAshCSC
***Last Man Standing 11 update- 6 days to kick off☘️⚽⚽⚽?***
We are now 90 strong with a week to go! Additional free entry to be announced tonight for reaching 88. Heading nicely towards the magnificent 100!
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1)Select 1 team that you have not picked before, to win from the list of football fixtures provided.
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The Ryder cup advert… believe in blue!
Wonder how long before the hun monkeys jump on that one.?
I’ll be satisfied with any win today on that horrible pitch. It’s the points that count. Last season, we lost both of our centre backs within the first 30 minutes. I think that Mulumbu must play as he knows the pitch well and is a warrior. I pray that we’ll suffer no injuries. I saw someone mention Speirs last night. I read the article too. Apparently the pendulum has swung ‘back’ in favour of Rangers, ever so slightly. How it can swing back to a new club defeats me.
Speirs cites Rangers ‘terrific’ result against Villareal but dismisses the Spaniards’ ropey form, their many reserves and misses as meagre factors in the outcome of the game. Griff, meanwhile, had to dig Brendan and Celtic out again against Rosenborg.
In the inside pages, Paul Forsyth is on full message. His first 6 paragraphs are full of doom and gloom about Celtic while matters are being made worse by Rangers ‘progress’. No wonder the Huns expectations are raised through the ceiling. There’s no mention that we’re ahead of them in the league, just that we’ve scored fewer goals. They don’t actually point out that a win at home gives you 3 points while a draw in Spain gives you only one and there’s no guarantee they will be able to win at Ibrox.
I love it. Mwahahaha. COYBIG
All I need is the air that I breathe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wACCgCCjRc
SIPSINI
No , Tuesday , early morning Prestwick ?.
Whats been up with you ?
TOSB
Alex Ebt Rae was on SSB last weekend dismissing Villarreal as they were 19th in la liga (after 3 games) funnily enough he didn’t mention the Sevs trailing the mighty Livingstone in our league
It’s the hope that destroys them :-)
Got a feeling we will put in a show today
Leigh Griffiths = Celtic Centurion
BADA BING
Reading back you mentioned Mulumbu having a great game there the last time against us …. there lies the rub , he played in a system thats suited him where he’ll be more isolated in our system (unless there is a change of system )
I hope your right .
You also mentioned the Rangers strip !!??
Dont know if you noticed but there where different style of our socks on view against Rosenborg ( Boyatta ) , maybe i just imagined it .
Mulumbu, Christie , Johnson and Sinclair start
And The Griff of course
So 5 changes from Thursday.
Rogic, McGregor, Forrest and Eduard drop to the bench with N’tcham given the day off.
In come Mulumbo, Christie, Sinclair, Johnston and Griffiths.
Our bench also features Lewis Morgan.
A bit more optimism and excitement now in the Baldie household (actually, just me on ma tod…
CELTIC (4-3-2-1) Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Benkovic, Tierney; Brown, Christie, Mulumbu, Johnston, Sinclair; Griffiths
Subs: Bain, Hendry, Morgan, Rogic, Edouard, Rogic, McGregor, Forrest
Live updates are up bhoys
D. :)
https://twitter.com/CelticFC/status/1043805940041043968?s=08
Wow
Brendan wields the axe
Is CQN back
hope so
we will recover
regroup for Wed
terrible pitch on Sunday
should not be allowed
if Leicester seen that
Playing Area they would be
In their right to cut short
Filip Benkovic’s loan move
If that’s what Scotland has to offer
Health and Safety issue
Stuart Findlay
Given his chance at Kilmarnock
and is now an automatic starter
In the team
Come back Tims
Hail
The
Celts
Are
Here
Glen Daly
Probably fortuitous that CQN went down at 11.30 am yesterday. I had no intention of posting anything yesterday and my thoughts were as clear at 11.30am or 3pm as they are now. Yesterday’s defeat was just another point on the graph.
Whatever the malaise is it needs sorted
Hendry looked as though he was ball watching at the first goal but who lost the ball to allow Killie to attack?
The pitch was terrible but I thought Mulumbu was good and we lost bite when he went off. He did seem isolated with Brown playing sweeper though.
We needed a shot to go in from the edge of the box. Mikey Johnstone has 1 I think but where was the drive? On that note John McGinn scores goal of the season for Villa.
Double treble yip yip but we have ping ponged from one crisis to another since the players returned pre season.
Have the players been told Rodgers is away? Rodgers arms folded and bland at press and on Celtic TV. Can Celtic put a gagging order on him if he is mutual consented? This isn’t Ronny or Lenny they would be buying off.
Managers public pronouncements are getting more negative and morose by the day. Surely he isnt arrogant enough to think he can turn it around after playing that card?
Will be strange seeing Celtic Park full against Aberdeen and Hibs with folk turning up to see us going backwards into the competition.
How do the board turn it around?
A defeat in October in the league makes 8 a serious challenge.
Hi guys, havening a day out in Ayrshire on Thursday, heard of the market Inn, if any cqn’s are in the area, would be pleased to buy you a pint, Ould guy, White hair and glasses, Mrs 101, looks similar,
See you Thursday,
. C’mon the hoops
???