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.
678 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- ...
- 18
- »
That animal Garner should have been red carded there, hun fud Elbows thought it was funny
BBC alba 9 o’clock
Gene- I think I will watch the TB programme when the hoose is empty…HH
‘Dearth of available people’.
Like much of public life in this country, Scottish football is a cesspit of parochialism.
Remember when the likes of Bobby Williamson, Jim Leishaman, Jimmy Calderwood would fail at one club and just move to another.
The Hundits go from the Record, to the Herald, to Sportsound…….to Celtic TV!!
I’m truly staggered why folks are willing to vote SNP, Brexit, Trump, Corbyn (is that how you spell this jokers name?) as a two fingered salute to ‘the establishment’, yet are being ripped off in front of their noses.
Mass stupidity.
Bada
Film just finished – Mrs Gene going upstairs to do a bit of sewing – invincible G&T – God Bless Tommy – night all
The Young ones have only ever known Celtic being Champions, it is never ever that easy when it comes to supporting Celtic.
The Establishment new Klub are going to go all out to do what they can to stop Celtic getting 10 in a row, they are a cheater club – Established in the highest court in the Land. Make no mistake, it is going to be very hard to get 8 in a row never mind 9 or 10.
It is mindboggling that Celtic have not strengthened the weak parts of the team in the Summer. That is the Big…. OMG… the symbolism. :((
;))
Feck Triangles, especially Celtic wans and get the team on the pitch the Support deserve.
RON BACARDI-why?
Tommy Burns Time
LOL at all the empties. :))
Brilliant memories ???
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627838533959934/permalink/1838446699565782/
Back on terra forma in Glasgow, truly shattered after getting up at 5am, 2 x 7.5 hour flights plus the 7 hour time difference! But, very happy to have 1-0 v Rosenborg. Onwards to Sunday. HH
TONTINE TIM on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2018 4:34 PM
And yet after such a controlled and professional there are some on this site castigating not just the players and manager but mr heated driveways as well (© antipodean quim who now is having a go at James Forrest), some but not all are hunterlopers including big g runt.
======================================================================
One flew under the moderator radar.
:-)
” Haw, you know me, but ah don’t exist, an’ neither does my pet Falcon who thinks he’s a frogman who lives in a dookit above Janefield st, just roon that coarnir”
ImaginaryBack’n’Forth’n’at RSC ( Royal Shakespeare Club )
Goooood Evening CQN – ???????
Was it just me ? I thought Rosenberg, were a much better team than that which we played July/Aug, plus what a size up front.
Like may though, I think we really need to be changing our shape
The 4, 2, 3, 1 is not working
Had a half hour with one of my heroes Paul McStay there,what a lovely guy,him and Willie &family in for mothers purvey
Up front, I would be playing the 3 of
Sinclair, Edouard & Griffiths
Bada, what a lucky Bhoy you are ?
Good evening all from the Laurieston bar. Damn fine Guinness Garry. Cheers!
Norrie- an old saying is don’t meet your heroes, what a great guy, True Celt,last time I was this starstruck was meeting Bobby Murdoch in The Vogue.And I have met Mick Jagger…..Had to throw that in for Voguepunter…seriously about unassuming Superstar as was Bobby. HH
In his Statement, Chairman Ian Bankier said…
‘In my last annual report I referred to our vulnerability to the growing financial power of a number of key constituencies within the European Game. These circumstances are unchanged and we remain watchful of events that unfold. Through Peter Lawwell’s continued involvement in the Board of the European Club Association, the Club Competitions Committee at UEFA and the Professional Football Strategy Council of UEFA, the Club and the game in Scotland are well represented in this very important arena.’
Maybe it’s just me but i think he has over done the recognition for PL. Of course he is on his remuneration committee but i just wonder if he is marking the cards of those who think that PL needs to go, with the above statement.
Come on the Celtic.
Lets beat the Killie on Sunday.
Tommy Twists
Tommy Turns
Tommy Burns
I see “rangers” have finally been made to change their name after being liquidated to Stevie Gerrard’s Rangers
David17,
The Raves lights were not on for the Europa League game.
That is a Warning.
Just had a Mega hug with my Dad. As he goes he says, A Great Person Tommy Burns.
I told him just after the start of the programme that the programme was on. I mistimed things.
Everyone makes mistakes.
!!BADA BING!! on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2018 10:16 PM
Beat you to it mhate,have an ole photie (somewhere) Maestro n me at vogue c.s.c dance ( ye asking?)
Lovely ghuy and still in my top 3 Celts.hh
Petec
J McCormick got me my Killie ticket. Are you going to Kilmarnock on Sunday?
YNWA
Don’t know if James Forrest is carrying an injury or suffering from ‘new contractitis’ but he seems to have stopped doing what he does best , using his pace, taking on and committing defenders ,getting to the byline.
Instead he seems intent on either joining the ‘stop and play the ball back ‘ brigade , or turning inside into the traffic. Maybe Lewis Morgan will help give Jamesie a shake.
Garry the Excellent Boss in my work said he’d let me know by the Time of the game against the Borg, there was a chance of a ticket. No Word so its a no. No worries. It wouldnae have felt right not going to a game without Aidan. Aye Right – I’d be going tonto – No Worries!!!!
Good news Friday, Arnold Clark didnae stiff me on the 2nd year of the autocare plan specifically the MOT – See you Next Year – Never again.
Sorry not gullible.
CELTIC
That’s 3 or 4 great ‘Celtic’ films that have been commissioned by BBC Alba in recent years. Very enjoyable Friday night viewing.
First night that we’ve had our (currently) only grandchild sleeping over so as it may be an early rise for Ole Papa Jobo it’s goodnight from me!
ps meant to say, I’m still in that online queue that I joined at 7.58pm……. ;-)
Garry,
I remember a few tickets being waved in the air up in Dundee. I’d hazard a guess a lot less in Kilmarnock?
Just need 1.
The Celtic Team have Won So Much Together…. They are Sticking Together.
Unfortunately – The Celtic Support is in the Middle – The Money/Board.
As Soon as the Goal went in the Brendan 10 in a Row chant went up.
The Support, despite the Board treating them as Customers, Know what has happened this Summer.
PETEC on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2018 10:23 PM
David17,
The Raves lights were not on for the Europa League game.
———–
The raves were for the UCL. I think the Club are scared to use them after Chris Sutton’s disco lights comment.
Brendan is Ambitious and Realistic.
The Shop has been Closed for a long Time.
Rave Lights – early 1990s.
It is not what the Celtic Support want to see, least of all me.
So annoyed.
RAM yer Pagan Triquetra where the Sun don’t shine.
If you ever have dark moments when you are sleeping. Call on the Name Jesus/Yeshua and a Peaceful sleep you will have.
A wee memory of Tommy’s goodbye written on the evening of the 15th May 2008
For Tam
Many many times in my years stretching out the seconds minutes hours and days as I wander across God’s sod, I have tasted the joyful sweet tears of victory, the bitter acid tears of defeat and the determined cold-steel tears of defiance.
In only a few cases have I ever experienced the kaleidoscope of sadness, laughter, admiration, regret and inspiration that comes with the passing of Tommy.
Celtic Park this morning (Thursday) was like one of those time lapse photographs speeded up even more than normal, as scarf after scarf, bouquet after bouquet, banner after banner, and tribute after tribute gradually consumed the railings and pavings surrounding Brother Walfrid culminating in a massive white standard laid out across the small car park outside East Main Stand, bearing a Celtic-green inlaid image of Tommy and the simple but revealed truth – ‘Tommy Burns Celtic legend’.
As this huge emotional jigsaw of respect, farewell and love flowered in front of my eyes, the sadness was palpable! As I walked past the tributes and thought of Tommy running to the crowd, I smiled and laughed. As I looked at the pictures of him as a boy growing to a man but always a bhoy, I grasped again the admiration. And as I read the words written by a thousand hands on Celtic, Rangers, Kilmarnock, and St Mirren colours and remembered in turn his own words, I breathed deeply as I sensed again the inspiration that he provided to so many youngsters that have passed through the doors of Celtic Park, of Barrowfield, and now of Lennoxtown.
And then as the cameras and radio mikes behind me swung into action and the victims for ‘just a few words’ were summoned and asked ‘what are your memories of Tommy’, all those emotions and memories of my own became no more than a blur as I tried to think just what I would say if anyone was daft enough to ask me (they weren’t!).
I was stuck for words! ME!
I just couldn’t come up with a coherent view of Tommy as a player, a manager, a coach or even as a man, without seeing him in the context of the club whose founder and home towered above and in front of me. And it was as I stared at Brother Walfrid that I suddenly knew just what I remembered of Tommy.
For 120 years football has been played by those sporting the colours of Celtic Football Club at the current ground and the previous one just over the back where the ginger factory now stands. During that 120 years, sometimes glorious, sometimes desperate, sometimes victorious and sometimes vanquished, an occasional man or woman of substance has arrived on the scene like a shaft of sunlight on the dullest of days to illuminate and remind us of exactly why any of us are bothered about this club, why it ever mattered in the first place and why it should matter in the future.
Few lights have shone brighter than Tommy, and none have lit up so many dark corners for so long as he has done in is all-too-brief 51 years; none came with the smile, the laugh, the raised hand and the unbowed shoulders that said to us all, ‘this matters you know, this club means something, how we represent this club means as much, and how we represent ourselves is the foundation upon which everything else is built’!
But there was more.
Tommy Burns as a player was also Tommy Burns the supporter.
Tommy was no badge kisser or chest thumper; he never needed to be.
Tommy was devoid of platitudes; he never needed to spout them.
Think now of Celtic Park and European nights in particular. Think of the support – that legendary twelfth man.
Think how, as backs to the wall, the passion, desire, and urging of the whole ground in full song inject adrenalin into those who may not fully understand this club, and how they suddenly produce that extra step, that extra leap, that extra sprint to pull the rabbit of victory from the dark deep depths of defeat!
Tommy never needed that support from the terraces and stands!!
Tommy had his own Celtic support system raging like a furnace inside him and even in the lowest silent moments of our despair that burning desire lit up his team-mates and lit up the crowd and the fire would spread on a breeze of confidence, pride and perseverance.
Victory or defeat? It didn’t matter. We knew who Tommy was and he knew who we were.
We were the same! It was just that he was better at being the same than we could ever manage!
And for those who say that Tommy’s passing demonstrates just how unimportant football really is, could I just say that somehow I’m not sure that Tommy would have totally agreed!
The power of football, the dream that is Celtic and the smiddies of poverty in which they were forged, enthralled, captured and inspired in Tommy Burns the desire, determination, and imagination to become the man that we all grew to cherish.
At the core of his soul was his Catholic faith, but a faith that was not exclusive or blinkered; a faith whose true founding principles of faith, hope and love guided just about every step of his waking life, and a faith that nurtured the seeds of respect that he had for colleagues, opponents, and peers from every walk of that life.
I know that undoubtedly Tommy would have been the same man even without football! But without football, I doubt if he would have been known by so many for the man that he was. More importantly I doubt he would have influenced so many to become the people that they now are, and left a legacy that enriches so many people worldwide.
To me Tommy Burns did not just epitomise Celtic, Tommy was someone through whom you could view the essence of Celtic and in Celtic you could see the reflection of Tommy! After all how many can say that they supported, played for, managed, coached and represented this club. All of those who did were and are giants and Tommy was and always will be a giant among even them, for he did all that and even more.
And so as I close my eyes to think again of what my memories of Tommy Burns are and just how I would answer such a question, I can see my own minds-eye appearing as a you-tube video!
There’s a brash young smiling red-haired Glaswegian running towards me across the Celtic Park turf, hand raised in triumph, his stride shortening as he looks around at the cheering and rapturous crowd; the colours on his top begin to fade and his garments are gradually replaced by club suit and tie; his hair fades from that brilliant red to a distinguished grey, and a hundred different players hug him and he hugs them as he takes another step towards me standing at first in the jungle and then out of my seat beneath a towering north stand; a change again to a track suit and as Dalglish becomes Aitken and then Stubbs and then De Canio and finally McDonald, McGeady, Boruc and Caldwell, with one almighty leap, as Celtic get to the Champions’ League again, he flies through the air to land on the pyramid of celebrations!
Is it a bird?
Is It a Plane?
Is it Superman?
“Naw – It’s Tommy Twists, Tommy Turns, Tommy Burns!”
Thanks for the smile Tommy! Thanks for the memory! But most of all just thanks!
I’ll be seein you wan day!
p.s.
As we stood there just talking amongst ourselves, a couple of buses pulled up at the bottom of the street by the London Road School. Out of the doors streamed about a hundred or so Rangers’ supporters just returning from Manchester and their UEFA cup defeat.
How gutted must they have been. But such was the appeal and esteem within which Tommy was held, that on their return journey they had stopped and bought a flower tribute which they laid and then for a few minutes they stood in silent respect.
As they eventually turned to leave, applause rang out across the car parks, pavements and roads.
They were good people and Tommy even in his passing had shown us something special.
Hail Hail
Matt
david17,
I fear, because I do fear.
I fear Paul67s arrogant comments are coming home to roost. Absolutely ridiculous comments to make.
I’d hate to hear them getting all ALive again, it disnae matter if they are Dead or Alive they will be like Nothing on Earth if they stop us getting 10.
PETEC on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2018 11:12 PM
The article on McGinn was arrogant, and our approach was arrogant. We were handed our backside in the end.
I sincerely hope the ‘winning the league forever’ article doesn’t end in a similar vein. We are in a dogfight this season.
Goodnight.