On its own, winning 0-3 at Livingston would not move the dial, but the manner of Saturday’s win surely did. Joe Hart’s (correctly awarded) red card sent the flare up, Celtic would have to play on plastic for over an hour with 10 men. This followed a tiring game in Rotterdam, where they finished with 9 men. Aspiring challengers knew this was a chance to claw the champions back into the mix.
Livi’ manager, David Martindale’s post-match comments told the story better than anyone, “We have to give credit to Celtic, they are a very good team”. The visitors had better players in every position and were collectively devastating to their hosts.
Early in the season, though it is, Matt O’Riley has shown clear signs he has stepped up a gear from last term. He is so much more composed on the ball, a benefit of confidence. His run into the box just after the break, was timed to perfection. The Livingston keeper could only claw Daizen Maeda’s bum-shot back into play, where Matt lunged to finish. He is a great example of player development. It is never linear and never guaranteed, but with correct support, talent will rise.
After Matt scored, Livingston never threated Celtic. Alistair Johnston and Greg Taylor played a classic full back role, instead of taking up their normal advanced position. Taylor in particular enjoyed his afternoon.
It should surprise no one that Maeda came alive when Celtic went a man down. He is a player who thrives on space to fill. Instead of being hedged in against the wing, he played in a central role for the last hour of the game and gave the Livi defenders a torrid time. A low centre of gravity is his secret weapon. He can thrust his body between opponent and ball, and remain upright, where others would be brushed aside.
Whatever hope our challengers had that Hart’s red card would crack open an opportunity, was long gone before Daizen finished the scoring with a fine shot from outside the box. This Celtic team can go anywhere in Scotland and win, as performances at Piddodrie, Ibrox and Livi atest.
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I Love Pool but I dislike Darts.
PETEC
Wish he would
HH
“BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023 1:31 PM
Lucky he didn’t break his leg”
I’ve watch that a few times and still can’t tell if Scales kicks the ball first or if he kicks the Livi player’s foot into the ball or if he kicks the foot first then the ball.
Watching it at the time my head (unconscious bias?) told me it was a fair challenge. Perhaps there is a similar reason why Beaton was so sure it was a foul and a yellow. Perhaps this is why refs elsewhere have to declare allegiances so decisions are as fair as possible?
We’re just lucky that being born in Scotland and being a referee means this could never be an issue.
Superhuman.CSC
QB
“PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023 1:56 PM
Catching up on sportscene and both Stewart and McCulloch say it was never a foul!”
I’m surprised it even made the highlights / was discussed, usually such things never make the cut.
QB
Brendan,
Our Bhoys will come good.
I’m trying to be a responsible parent. But Aidans Mum is saying he will go to the Lazio game. I don’t think he should.
HS- Kettlewell knows what side his bread is buttered
Monday so soon.
QUADBHOY on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023 2:02 PM
Now onto the celtic game and a photo still is shown to prove Livy player onside before Hart’s tackle. Only thing wrong is it doesn’t show the Livy player, just a line to Scales shoulder 🤔
“PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023 2:09 PM
Now onto the Celtic game and a photo still is shown to prove Livy player onside before Hart’s tackle. Only thing wrong is it doesn’t show the Livy player, just a line to Scales shoulder 🤔”
I’ll need to watch Sportscene now as I thought he was just onside at the time.
To be fair it sounds like they’ve shown one more line than we saw when “Jota was offside when he received the ball”. Maybe next time we will get both lines :)
How something that costs so much money can be as amateur as our officials make it look astounds my forehead so it does! The fact that manual intervention is required to draw the lines makes this too open for abuse / inconsistency for me.
I’d have the computer apply the lines then do a quick check by VAR ref who could reject if not suitable.
That would speed it up and ensure consistency whenever possible.
The Maeda offside shown the other week (Dundee @ CP) – the picture was soo poor as the pitch was so bright at the north side I wouldn’t know where to draw the line. VAR knew where to draw it though – wherever was needed to show he was offside!
QB
PRESTONPANS BHOYS
Just seen Sunday’s Sportscene on iPlayer – there is a shot @ 43:39 showing both lines – the green line for the Livi player you can barely see for the carpet.
Looks in line to my eye though I do need to get them tested judging by my snooker game atm!
QB
Good afternoon cqn from a sunny but very blustery Garngad.
Back home now after dropping everyone off after anotger fantastic aseptember weekend at Haggerston castle.
Grand kids love it and the 4 other kids that were in our party had a ball with all the actovities.
Memories have been made.
Managed to see last 20 mins of Sevco game yesterday and they were very, very lucky.
The big Rangers fan who was with us said that most fans want Beale gone as his football is as boring as F#£k.
Got to see oir game and we could have scored another couple but anywin and no injuries on that surface is a bonua and vreat result.
D :)
Ffs I.left my glasses in car.
I need to go get them
D :)
Mr Magoo fae the Garngad. 🙄
Haw You.
D :)
Back on the other green for a moment, and not discounting just how difficult it is to predict a result (you know how hard it can be) why do we have a situation as in the Solheim Cup where one team is celebrating a draw? Now it has happened in cricket, but another Test would take five days, happens in football, though not in finals, and can happen in boxing, but not in darts or snooker, but should never really happen in golf, though I think a tournament was shared somewhere earlier this year. No, even the biggest Majors in golf will go to a play off, best of five holes or whatever, so why not in the Solheim Cup, or the Ryder Cup for that matter which has had a tie or two? Think about it, two players going head to head until such time as one team triumphs. Now that is what I would call tension. Even bada bing could not predict that result!
And a very good afternoon to you all from the Imperial Bar. Love this wee pub, plenty Tims drink in here despite the name.
Park Road et al: Re possible libation with BRRB, BMCUWP, late of these pages, is meeting up with said BRRB and other CQNrs in the Market Bar Ayr on Thursday of this week
The Glaswegian contingent are leaving the city on the 11am train
All welcome of course from whichever pairts of the Celtic blogosphere or not
Cosy Corner Bhoy
See you there Pat.👍
QUADBHOY on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023 2:38 PM
Think you are looking at Saturdays showing, the Sunday showing @43 minutes is the hun game but I’ll take your word for it 👍
Petec
Big CL night under the disco lights he’ll remember for life
HH
“PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023 3:32 PM
Think you are looking at Saturdays showing, the Sunday showing @43 minutes is the hun game but I’ll take your word for it 👍”
I might need more than my eyes testing then! B^)
Programme started with Aberdeen game then Sevco game so thought it was from 24th – https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001qzyz/sportscene-premiership-highlights-202324-24092023
QB
QB
Interesting I’ve downloaded from Sky catchup and the view only shows the Livy players foot. No idea why you get a wider angle on iplayer 🤷♂️🤷♀️🤷
Good stuff Pablo – Excellent all round from the Bhoys on Saturday. This was a real team performance, especially when we went down to 10. There was a period where it got a bit ragged before half-time, but Brendan worked his magic in the dressing room. I agree on the improvements we are seeing in Matt’s game. He has stepped up a gear and is showing some real leadership qualities now in midfield. I think Brendan will also improve Daizen’s game. This guy was an amazing signing by Ange. Brendan said after the game that it’s not such a problem going to 10 men when you have Daizen in the team. He covers enough ground for 2 men. If Brendan can improve his play inside the box, he will become our most valuable asset.
I’m still on the fence on the penalty. The challenge looked worse than it was, and Joe can be seen telling the ref that he went for the ball. It was not a reckless challenge. If it was a penalty because the player was denied a goal scoring opportunity, then that is questionable. Scales was covering and the guy had a lot of work to do to get the ball under control and find the net. I think if a booking had been given, then it would have been widely accepted as ok. Scales and Johnston were both booked for non-fouls. The ref didn’t do us any favours.
Beaton didn’t give a foul when Liam got the ball and the Livi player went through him. After the Livi guy had treatment the game resumed with Joe having the ball.
Sky thought Callum had been booked for dissent – only confirmed it was Liam much later in the half.
MNCELT on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023 4:03 PM
The ref is simply a cheat. I recall talking to a Wolves fan in Liverpool watching the celtic game against RC. Pointed out that Walsh trains the huns youth academy during the week, also spoke about Beaton reffing our game against the huns and was seen drinking in a hun pub afterwards.
He thought I was making it up because it was too outrageous to be true !!
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66910315
Soothe. There, there, there
Time for the Laurieston Bar. I’ll check the quality of the Guinness.
Tinytim 8.27
From previous blog. You asked me if I knew Estadio. I think his initials are MS. If it’s the same fellow he’s a pal of BMCUWP. Why did you ask me?
Superbru Update
Week 6 in the Superbru House and some of the inmates are beginning to find their forecasting feet while those at the bottom have both feet in a cast.
This week, 4 Yellow Caps were awarded for a healthy score of 12 points each to:-
Clinko, Billy Bhoy, Jobo Baldie and OneMalloy. In a high scoring week, a few pickers managed to skilfully avoid the certainties and plump for unlikely outcomes. In descending order of ineptitude, we have:- Wee BGFC, Ayrshire Tim, Hot Smoked & Melvin Udall, all with 3 points, but out on his own with Beale-like credibility, we have Friesdorfer on 1 and a half points.
Our overall table has:-
1. BC Milan- 43 pts- establishing a healthy lead
2. Leggy 40.5pts-
3. 18 yard man- 40 pts
staying just ahead of Billy Bhoy, Scaniel & Tirconnell who are prominent in the chasing pack.
As we head through the damn average and journeymen- the Prediction Passable, we enter the sphere of early back-runners- the Reduced Rump.
Leading the way up several dead ends are:-
Futile Friesdorfer- 14.5 pts
Deadloss Disco Deek- 16 pts
Weary Wee McCaff- 16.5 pts
Losing Lurkin Tim- 17.5 pts
& Wasteful Wee BGFC- also 17.5 pts
Our next opportunity to display our mastery and mystery of this game will be on Saturday 30th September when the mighty Celts kick off in Lanarkshire at 12.30 p.m. against Kettlewells Klan.
Tx for your support.
As you know , I’m a bit of an old fart.
Was talking to an old pal about the demise of Scottish football.
Celtic stars aside, remember when players like Laurie Reilly, Willie Bauld Alan Gilzean and dare I say, Jimmy Baxter.
Why are we not producing these guys now I ask
KINGLubO
Afeast of sport on Saturday with Celtic and Livi the starter and later that night the main course in Paris with Ireland and the massive South Africans in the World Cup. There was no sign of a hangover after the Feynoord fiasco with Celtic looking sharp and comfortable despite the hatrick of red cards in a week. Difficult to pick a MOM, a great team performance and three welcome points to banish those Tuesday night blues.
Later in the evening the tension and drama of the rugby with 60,000 Irish decending on Paris from all corners of the globe, a great finish to the day with another victory and shattered nerves and beer.
As you know , I’m a bit of an old fart.
Was talking to an old pal about the demise of Scottish football.
Celtic stars aside, remember when players like Laurie Reilly, Willie Bauld Alan Gilzean and dare I say, Jimmy Baxter.
Why are we not producing these guys now I ask
KINGLubO
==========
Football has grown up since then
At that point most of the european leaguesd were in their infancy or just starting to rise up
Tv and the media controls the £££ in terms of advertising sponsorship
Scotland in a country of 5 million people does not have enough eyes on the sport to warrant investment that the big 5 leagues do
And you better believe that trickles down to youth football
As far as a national team we are doing not too bad as a good number play at a high level in the spl or epl
Up until minty poured his (lets be honest the bank of scotlands not his) money into scottish football we competed
The only team that has kept up is Celtic
And we have no overtook them by a country mile
And that is by the foresight of Fergus
As a footballing nation
It’s only gona get worse
Surely this is sending the wrong signal
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66916168
MNCELT
I’m still on the fence on the penalty. The challenge looked worse than it was, and Joe can be seen telling the ref that he went for the ball. It was not a reckless challenge. If it was a penalty because the player was denied a goal scoring opportunity, then that is questionable. Scales was covering and the guy had a lot of work to do to get the ball under control and find the net.
What penalty?
Penalty for sevco!
“KINGLUBO on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023 6:45 PM
Was talking to an old pal about the demise of Scottish football.
Celtic stars aside, remember when players like Laurie Reilly, Willie Bauld Alan Gilzean and dare I say, Jimmy Baxter.
Why are we not producing these guys now I ask”
I would say for at ;east two reasons:
1) The more time passes, the better players become in our memories;
2) Football has changed dramatically in terms of fitness AND skill but, because of that massively increased fitness, there is not the time to show these skills as there once was.
GENE on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023 7:31 PM
Surely this is sending the wrong signal
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66916168
_____
Absolutely. Though I think the game will resume from 56 minutes, with Feyenoord 3-0. Ajax fans are murder. Tall Teutonic arseholes.
gene
Wrong smoke signal surely? No