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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I would prefer Morgan to play right side on Sunday as Johnstone still looks lightweight to me.Leave out Rogic, play Mulumbu instead of Ntcham and CMcG in Rogic role to see if he can be more creative than Rogic. Probably wont play Morgan due to the synthetic surface.
We really need 3 points Sunday
GENE @5:56
I agree. The constant moaners should get together, then book a telephone box for their AGM.
Shortbread an absolute hoot. Edouard won’t score 20 goals a season. Brendan Rodgers is an idiot for not playing Griffiths every game. Oh, but he isn’t good enough for Scotland!
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX
I though we did ok last night, we are making chances albeit not taking them, turgid fare a lot of the time.
Never mentioned the transfer window, though I do think the team needs-needed a few fresh faces.
Not sure what you mean, Peter Lawwell seems to be immune from critisism from the majority on here, post anything that is not sucking up to him is seen as attacking the club, yet Brendan and the players are fair game, that seems hunnish to me.
DD
Benkovic looked like the player we all hoped Jozo would become. As well as winning everything that came near him, his passing was excellent as well.
Used to be called ‘A Promotional fish’ in my day but bhoy they were good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f8JI9R5Suo
Celtic never win their opening group game.
Celtic never score from a corner.
Celtic never score a late goal.
Celtic can’t keep a clean sheet.
One of the above may still be true.
G67
Benkovic and Boyata and Broonie are all on each others wavelength. A B thang. Great to see last night. Loved Broonie’s Paul McStay type ball for our goal.
YNWA
Who would win in fight between a bore and BSR(happy clapper)
Father Jack
“Not sure what you mean, Peter Lawwell seems to be immune from critisism from the majority on here, post anything that is not sucking up to him is seen as attacking the club, yet Brendan and the players are fair game, that seems hunnish to me.”
I think you are mistaking a balanced approach between criticism of recruitment and tactical matters for a failure to criticise PL for his recruitment failures.
As for whether it is a majority or not, we’ll never know. Ireland is in the top 10 for beer drinking but it also has almost 20% of its adult population as tee totallers, a high percentage outside of Islamic countries. On CQN it is difficult to discern whether the Lawwell critics outnumber or are lesser than the number of “Pro-Lawellites” or those who are insufficiently willing to balme him for everything. Do you ever count the number of critical comments and tally them against the number who have ever uttered a word in the man’s favour. I think the numbers might surprise you. Mind you there are a number of prolific Lawwell critics that might distort the figures.
I don’t know what the majority on here think as there are a sizeable group of lurkers who do not state their opinions openly, and I have never seen a poll result on opinions on here. Maybe we should start one?
What I do find is that the mineshafter mentality can often be astonished when someone thinks differently from them. Why do you think that is?
MON had Sutton or Hartson beside Henke for the knock downs.
We need a similar tag team up front Ed and Griff could be that.
FB
Who would win in a fight between a mixer and a stirrer?
Peace and Love Pogues CSC
For some reason the BBC breakfast had to tell us that ‘Rangers’ have only been beaten once this season. Failed to mention that was against us. Also failed to say how many of their games were a draw.
Does Scotland’s co-efficient get three points for Sevco’s 2-2 win last night?
For 800 years
We have fought them without fear.
https://youtu.be/n-y2ox2HPnc
Nick Powell playing for Wigan tonight.
DD- I would take my chances
Fitness and perseverance were what got us over the line last night.
Rosenborg were out on their feet in the last fifteen minutes and the inclusion of our subs gave the team fresh impetus.
The goal came as a result of their fatigue.
Brown had all the time in the world to look up and pick his pass, without an opponent coming near him. The nearest one just stopped in his tracks.
Likewise, Griffiths had a free run into the box, un-tracked. No Celtic player had that much space all night.
I have been saying for a few weeks that Rogic and Mc.Gregor in midfield is not working. Particularly with an unfit Tom.
Last night took a monkey off our back, in winning an opening group match in Europe for the first time in fifteen attempts.
Hopefully we can take confidence in that and move forward.
Apologies if any or all of that has been covered already. Haven’t read back.
TURKEYBHOY on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2018 7:38 PM
I was at Wigan game in midweek, Powell looked like a player playing way below his level. Too good for those around him, they couldn’t read his passes, flicks and tricks, and they couldn’t find him a lot of times when he found great space in the final third. Good in the air and a goal threat. Played off the striker ahead of the midfield.
Setting Free The Bears
“I think you are mistaking a balanced approach between criticism of recruitment and tactical matters for a failure to criticise PL for his recruitment failures.”
No mistaking here, I can read.
I get there are a few, lets call them loud anti board posters, they are far outweighed by the attack dogs in the Lawwell camp, Neganon is a perfect example, the pack just can’t wait to attack him, if they had any brains they would ignore him, all they are doing is giving him the oxygen they want to deprive him of, a half wit wouldn’t do that.
My idol was a drinker, I never saw the attraction myself, I am part of the 20%.
setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox @722 hi pal would you be in the mineshafter or happy clapper camp,. asking for a friend.hh.
The oddest girfuy yo’ll ever see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbRFapxCgFs
Fupp the lot of them bhoys, 10iar is coming. I believe in Brendan
BP1-thought you where chucking CQN for something better ???
FB
GoForIt
SLF CFC
DD-go for what?
fairhill bhoy, I aint leaving you pa,l luv ya to bits, hope your sis is allright.hh.
Thums dinnae like it up thums.
Which is very good.
HH.
It seems Sevco had a fantastic 2 – 2 victory over Villareal last night while we had a humiliating 1 – 0 scoreline with Rosenborg. Where did it all go wrong?
My team for Sunday,
Gordon
Gamboa Boyata Ajer Izzy
Johnston Mulumbu Brown KT
Edouard
Griffiths
Go For It is an album by Belfast’s Stiff Little Fingers. Surprised anybody widnae know that.
SLF CSC
Delaneys, with just yerself interested seems maybe another week. Hope all is,well partner. Take care of yourself. I have a craving for trifle and will go ingredient shopping soon. Hail Hail
Packy ,my sis is doing well
Kate Thomsòn
2 years ago
my Des’s funeral today has been stranglers lover all his days worked in barrowlands small bar we had always the sun and golden brown as songs in church and crematorium god bless x
GENE
###
Or, maybe i’ve already got the best method, which i’ve been deploying since MO’N walked, keep my season ticket money away from the complicit PLC board’s hand’s, keep it in my pocket, and comfort myself in the knowledge that, at least the complicit PLC board urny shafting me!
Or, I could be like you, pay up, shut up, sit at the back of the bus, and suck it up.
HH
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Oh my.
I was poking around on Celtic TV and clicked on what I thought was BR’s post match interview from last night.
It was actually his post match interview from the Sevco game.
Of course the SMSM chose to ignore the result from a game they hyped up and didn’t go their way and focussed on Dembele, transfer window, Boyata etc.
‘The transfer window should have been straightforward’.
Ouch, a kick in the haw maws for Peter Lawell who seems to be be paid 2 million plus to make excuses for not doing his job.
I then watched the highlights from last nights game where the commentators were Gerry McCullough and Murdo McLeod……..SMSM soup takers.
Like much of Scottish football it seems like jobs for the boys with everyone making a pretty penny and not wanting to rock the boat.
Time for change.
Kev
Being a PLC gives anyone the opportunity to buy shares and gain control of the club – so instead of just coming on here and insulting supporters with your gullible tag – go and form a movement e.g. ‘Celts for Change’ – start buying share – if you really want the board out then’ that’s the way to do it’
punchandjudyCSC
Finally got round to watching last nights game.
Was pretty much as per usual with lots of purposeless possession and a team without shape.
Rogic and McGregor together does not work and forever what reason both seem unsure of their role.
Spacing again a huge issue though Bhoyata and Benkovic coped well when they came forward to easily.
KT looked good when he reverted to his squash buckling self yet at other times was cautious.
Craig’s kick outs are mince.And JF has resorted to hiding in no mans land.
Is the coach failing to deliver a potent system or do the players just not believe?
Thank heavens for Broonie.
KEV , agree till you start getting personal ?