I grew up hearing stories about Bobby Murdoch’s ability to play the game in four dimensions. He could play a pass forward into space, across the field, at the right height, and arriving at the necessary moment, when that area would look completely different than it did when Bobby made his move.
That ball from Ryan Christie for the first goal last night fired a childhood recollection. Ryan took the ball on his chest while looking to his left. He volleyed a pass in the opposite direction into unmanned territory. It ended Alloa’s remarkable resistance. We still haven’t seen enough to know what level of player we have in Ryan, but there are reasons for encouragement.
James Forrest still had a lot to do but his shot was the first accomplished effort from Celtic after (literally) dozens of poorly composed attempts. The Alloa keeper deserved the plaudits, but he didn’t actually make a wonder save all night. He was repeatedly in the right place to do the right thing, we didn’t stretch him.
We dropped points at Inverness due to a truly inspired goalkeeper performance, and a remarkable attraction for the woodwork, but last night’s misfiring was all down to a lack of composure. Kilmarnock may reap a reaction on Saturday.
It’s hard being a keeper. Craig Gordon was caught off his line when Greig Spence got a millisecond of freedom in the first half. Spence fired off a remarkable shot which forced Craig into a diving block. It was as good as save as was made by either keeper all night, but what possessed Craig to go walkabout later, when Kolo Toure was on-hand to shepherd the striker wide is a mystery.
Decision-making like this has nothing to do with core goalkeeping skills. You can drill handling, reactions and starting positions all week, but if there’s a rush of blood on match day, or worse, panic, you’re going to lose a lot of goals.
We’ve seen this movie before. Artur Boruc was, by his own admission, the best goalkeeper in Europe in 2008. By 2010 we did well to get £1m for him, as he made his way to the Fiorentina bench. At 30, Boruc was all over the place. The superstar status had evaporated and few were sorry to see him move on.
Six years later he still has enormous potential for the haphazard, but he’s playing a lot of FA Premier League football on merit. He got his head straight and the rest followed. I’ve no idea what the issues are with Craig Gordon but if Artur can get himself sorted, Craig can too. He’s overcome greater odds already.
The same source of my Bobby Murdoch stories last night referred to Ryan Christie as Tony Christie. It’s a generational thing. Show me the way…..
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Moussa Dembele struggles against packed defences. He is obviously a talented footballer but is only a real goal threat, dead ball situations apart, when he can run with the ball or move into space.
That’s why he bagged a hat-trick against a fairly open Rangers, but struggled against ICT and Alloa.
His goal last night was the result of him picking up a pass and cleverly turning and running into the box following an Alloa attack.
Inside a crowded penaly box and against a packed defence, it has to be Griffiths every time.
The ugliness of their mugs is reason enough to arrest the lot of them !
So the Tim with the tasteless blow up dolls is jailed, detained and named on Scottish media while the sectarian toilet wreckers videod twice demolishing CP Loo’s are completely ignored. Are the polis accepting this behaviour because of who was involved?
Think about it, jailed for blow up dolls. Are they really so keen to jail us?
STAIRHEEDRAMMY
it seems they are, total joke. Police scotland wont arrest their own. If there was to be action it would have happened before now.
we will pick up the bill.
KLV
If the huns are skint, Ww will get them next round. Stick on. needed income.
KLV
FF Munich banned list top right.
Good evening friends.
Fairly competitive opening 15 minutes up at Pitoddrie. Could go either way.
Would happily face either of them in the semi final. Anything to avoid the circus returning to town.
Old haunt of mine in Munich, great dancing and superb cocktails.
The guy with the dolls-on-a-rope has NOT been jailed. He has been bailed to appear at a later date.
My friends in Celtic,
We have discussed in depth the blow up dolls scenario on here. I agree wth THINDIMEBHOY on 22ND SEPTEMBER 2016 7:28 PM
Distasteful maybe,but criminal no. We still do not categorically know the reasoning behind the dolls but if it was the more likely explanation that it signified the death of the old Rangers then it’s hardly a police matter.
The Aberdeen fans posters are just as poignant to mark the first meeting of the clubs on Sunday with the wording “RIP Rangers . Rangers you are with the angels now . The name of Rangers we used to abhor, But joyously, you’re not Rangers anymore.”
Again the dolls display may not have been the wisest, but to automatically assume the most sinister context speaks volumes for our law enforcement. This individual should be deemed innocent until proven guilty. The OB act is a disgrace. The charge of likely to incite public disorder by fashioning the inflatable figures in a threatening and offensive manner is pathetic and an insult to our intelligence.
HH.
AULD TAM @ 7:49 PM,
Of course you are right, but I think it’s the Celtic team that struggles against the packed defense.
MD is a great one up front Attacker but you can’t expect him to unlock packed defences… the team still doesn’t know how to play this game.
If you notice the movement and creativity that comes between Dembele and Sinclair (who does know how to play this game) it affords them both chances and ultimately goals.
I love it when they are both on the pitch and we are breaking forward.
Sinclair’s great goal sgainst ICT would not have been scored without Moussa’s movement.
Top Class Me Thinks;)
Hail Hail
The 3 commentators on B T Sports, Derek Rae, Stephen Craig an and Michael Stewart ,a breath of fresh air,they are a lot better than Crocker McCannTanner and Walker all sevco stoogies
Auld Tam, the news said he appeared from custody. So he was lifted over couple of rubber dolls. Yes?
Compare the laws reaction to the dolls with the weekly sectarian sing song by the sevco support and the filmed wrecking of parts of our stadium. Look at where their priorities lie.
So what charge does the law have for hanging 2 inflatable dolls? Must be a precedent, no?
Dollycide?
I do not expect anyone to be arrested and charged for the damage to our stadium, I do not expect Sevco will pay up and I do not expect our board to pursue either payment or ban them from attending in the future.
Great day out at Lennoxtown today with the first team and Manager, also Tully57 and Centenary Bhoy, anyone who knows me can see my pictures on Facebook, also a big thanks to Tom Boyd for his personal tour of Celtic Park in the afternoon
DESSYBHOY
Why not?
Update to my 8.05pm post. The game’s rotten. So bad, I’m ditching it at half time in favour of Mrs Baldie’s favourite, DCI Banks!
If someone hangs 2 inflatable sheep against Aberdeen will they be taken into custody too?
Joe Gormley St Johnstones on loan striker from Peterborough is a mad Tim. Scores goals for fun. Question marks about his fitness at minute due to long term injury shortly after he had went into full time football.
An all round good guy.
HH
Dollycide. ;)))))
You won’t see many worse games than this…
Stephen Craigan a commentator…..”opens his legs and shows his quality”Craigan???? Every day is def a school day.
Was wondering if absence of Sutton had anything to do with Thompshun refereeing.
HH
Re the blow up dolls…
With the SNP running the country, the police have a free hand to pretty much charge this guy with whatever they want. Precedent is irrelevant. The police will have a free hand to deem this criminal if they want to. Its kind of what what happens when nationalist parties take power.
Watching Harry Potter now.
Brilliant!
Ann Summers has a lot to answer for.
Good evening; many have been discussing the outrageous arrest of another Celtic fan under the OBAF Act. If you haven’t completed the consultation survey on the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act please click this link and complete it now. If you are unsure about what to write, this crib sheet will help. Remember you are agreeing that the act should be repealed. Also remember to click Complete Survey at the end or your views won’t be included!
FAC the Act!
KTF
Oooopppps
And Chris appears….karma
Ps
Did the game start on time?
The first minister looks like a blow up doll.
Why all the fuss?
Does anyone remember a goal for the Mortal Coil Shufflers in a European game by Scott Nizbit,can’t recall against whom?
Well even the deflection involved there is nothing compared to dollygate.
Stringer, the law is independent of both Government and the police. Having said that it is still an ass.
How many people have actually been convicted under the OBAF act? How much does this cost the tax payer?
Philbhoy
Because it is not the first time it has happened , this time immediately after the game the Police say it will be handled internally FFS over 100k worth of damage and the Police think it appropriate to say it will be handled internally, that tells me they are not inclined to get involved, now we hear about an appeal for footage, without this there will be no one arrested or charged, maybe there might just have been a chance of some forensic evidence if the Police treated this as a crime at the time and gathered evidence from a crime scene.
Regarding inflatable cloned sheep they are Dollys as well. So watch this space.
He shouldn’t have done it but i hope he gets off with it just for the banter.
Got myself a crying talking rubber doll
Cliff Richards CSC