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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50 SHADES OF GREEN on 22ND SEPTEMBER 2016 9:52 PM
___________________________
Colours tae the mast! Ah’m gaun!
FAC the Act
KTF
So what happened to all Morton v Huns forecasts?.When the draw is in front of your eyes and Chris Sutton involved,some still think its rigged.Delusional.
Just realised that I’ll miss the semi final because I’ll be away. I never want to miss a Celtic game but I’m genuinely not bothered about being away for this tie.
I. take it will be at Hampden
Ooft! Now THAT is something that never happened in the 80s!
So, there WILL be 4 Glasgow derbies this season!
‘Great chance for Rangerrrrrrrz to show the Fenian B’s that 5-1 was a fluke and that they are ra peepul’….Stephen Craigan.
Didn’t quite put it in those words but that’s what was written on his face.
Moonbeams. Don’t think there is any home or away in the semis. Both semis in Hampden.
Of course they need the money. Morton or Aberdeen would eliminate them. The corruption continues unabated but then in the glorious balance sheet race the Celtic PLC are happy with that.
If the match is at Hundump I’d love a ticket.
Another Sunday semi-final……
Won’t be there.
Annual Leave is more important than DOB’s, there ye go.
Looking forward to Greenock Morton in the Final!
No doubt Morton and Aberdeen will get the chance to plough up the field the day before we play the dead.
We play Borussia at Celtic Park on Wed19Oct, no travelling issues. We’ll lose a Saturday home league match, Hamilton, which is on the list for Sat22Oct.
Corky
Just pointing out that they are drawn as the home team again. What’s that – 19 in a row since liquidation/rerearanging. They really should put on a lotto.
MWD
Margaret I imagine 4 semi finalists will get the same with both games at Hampden but I could be wrong.
Turkeybhoy on 22nd September 2016 9:55 pm
maybe Sutton likes warm balls. :)
We’ve choked our lines in Hampden quite a bit recently so BR has a bit of work to do in making sure we’re right mentally for this game.
I see looking at the match commentators the Duran Duran look is back, feck knows what ACGR and DD will turn up on Wednesday wearing;)))
I think big Sutty should get a Nobel Peace Prize – he’s such a diplomat!
Financially playing us is the worst game for them. The money for the semi finals is pooled so us v them, 50k, Aberdeen v Morton, 20k only gives 70k total. Had we been kept apart then the total attendance could have been more, maybe 80-90k.
Our Hampden record under Lennon and Deila was terrible, hopefully BR changes that.
Looks like the Govan galacticos need the cash – very predictable.
Media will go back to full hype mode over this then cry foul if there is any misbehaviour.
We’ll be on the receiving end of some very annoying headlines l about it being different this time, Celtic lose regularly at Hampden – bla bla bla.
Don’t you just love it?
One bright thing –
In MON’s first season Celtic played Actual Rangers in the league cup semi-final on the way to a treble.
If people are looking for omen’s there you go.
Apart from that we get a month of sustained pished to listen to and look at.
Joy.
Hoping it’s on Sunday cause I’m in the Lake District on holiday on the Saturday:-(
Being a Greenock bhoy who lives a bye-kick from Cappielow,I feel sorry for Morton getting one of the two difficult teams in the draw.
Lads, the Green Brigade’s fourth annual food bank collection will take place this year before the Inverness game at Parkhead on Saturday 5th November.
This really is Celtic supporters promoting Walfrid’s ethos. Start packing :-)
So we can look forward to humping them again this time at Hampden. Revenge will be sweet
HAMILTONTIM on 22ND SEPTEMBER 2016 10:09 PM
Lads, the Green Brigade’s fourth annual food bank collection will take place this year before the Inverness game at Parkhead on Saturday 5th November.
This really is Celtic supporters promoting Walfrid’s ethos. Start packing :-)
I will tell all the bhoys on the boat Saturday
HH
SNAKE PLISSKEN on 22ND SEPTEMBER 2016 10:08 PM
Apart from that we get a month of sustained pished to listen to and look at.
Joy.
= = = = = =
;)))
Dena29: Great to see you posting. Hope all is well. See you at the corner on Saturday.
ALMORE on 22ND SEPTEMBER 2016 10:14 PM
Dena29: Great to see you posting. Hope all is well. See you at the corner on Saturday.
I hope to get to the corner , giving a hand with the Kano collection so will be a quick hello :-))
HH
DENA’s back!!!!!!!!!
Howdy,doll. Hope yeeezuraw smashing over there.
HH
we are at home to BMG on the Wednesday before semi final weekend and away to Ross County the Wed after.
Nothing to stop it being on the Sunday, so I guess that’s when it will be.
Dena29: Doing the Kano collection too. Hopefully see you Saturday.
It will be Sunday the 23rd 1200 kick off. Certainty.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 22ND SEPTEMBER 2016 10:20 PM
:-))))
Weeurawww fine
I’m getting to the game Saturday and bringing mini me to Man City game so have to work up the brownie points before that
missing all the hootenany shenanigans but confident you’ll have a ball
HH
ALMORE on 22ND SEPTEMBER 2016 10:23 PM
Dena29: Doing the Kano collection too. Hopefully see you Saturday.
See you then
HH
Dena…
Nice to see you posting again, don’t know if you will be over for the manc game but meeting up in the town.Hail Hail
Huns again.
Hopefully another good rogering.
HH