Scott Bain had little chance with either Newco goal yesterday, but made several flawless interventions in in the game: diving out from his goal to hold a cross in the first half, saving when the hopeless Morelos was clean through on him, grasping a free kick just under his crossbar and punching the ball out of play.
His game will most be remembered for the added time save from Windass before he collected the ball off the post when Morelos showed all the composure of Ibrox strikers before him, like Sebo and van Vossen.
Jozo Simunovic scarcely broke sweat before his 57th minute red card. There could have been an earlier red for a two footed lunge on Tom Rogic, and I don’t believe there was intent behind Jozo’s action, but it was a red card.
‘What happened to Dedryck?’ remains an open question. The Belgian international picked himself up from a bomb scare first season to become an integral part of the Invincibles, but after gifting possession for the opening Newco goal, and being turned by Morelos at the second, he will have been the most relieved man in Glasgow at full time yesterday.
Tom Rogic’s goal was incredible, not only the quality of the 27-yard strike, but the way he created the opening for himself. No one else in the Scottish game could have scored that goal. Some players hide when they are a goal down in a hostile environment, Tom stepped up when we needed it.
Moussa Dembele scored one, got an assist and led the line well. His goal exposed some inept defending. A Scott Bain pass to Scott Brown allowed the captain to launch a long ball with his first touch, Moussa controlled with his head before lobbing the keeper.
This goal came after a period of intense Celtic pressure on the Newco goal, which forced eight corners but didn’t create the breakthrough. When Newco pressed forward they lost concentration.
Like Rogic, Moussa is a player who comes alive on big stage.
With 25% of the game remaining, the scores level and being a man down, Brendan Rodgers swapped a midfielder for a striker. Without a right back on the park, I didn’t expect Forrest to be sacrificed, but it was a ballsy, match winning, play.
Odsonne Eduard didn’t hang around. 100 seconds after taking to the field, he scored what proved to be the winner. Think back for a moment to the occasions Brendan played Odsonne with Moussa and Leigh Griffiths on the bench. It was clear Odsonne was still learning his craft, but without those development opportunities he would not have been yesterday’s match winner.
The final drama was provided by Windass’ shot, Bain’s save and that miss from Morelos. The ball sat perfectly for the striker four yards out, but as we so often see from one footed players, what was an easy tap-in with his left foot, bounced off the outside of his right boot in the wrong direction.
All he needed to do was hold his left foot against the ball to equalise. How do players get to that level so reluctant to use their weaker foot?
Twice coming from behind, then scoring a winner with 10 men, is a memorable way to win any game. At Ibrox, it was delicious. Newco collapsed like a pack of cards, at home, with a man advantage. They continue to find innovative ways to traumatise themselves.
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Dedryck????
A conundrum.
His determination to improve his game, fitness and concentration was rewarded last season by gaining the confidence of BR and justifying that confidence on the park by becoming our most consistently good CB. Indeed he was the mainstay while others were (due to injury or suspension or loss of form) rotated around him.
Sadly one seasons form does not a summer make and his reversion to an error prone poor decision maker cannot be ignored. It is this standard which has had dominance since he signed in 2015.
He is 27 but has not a huge amount of senior football game time. This is part of the conundrum…do we persist on the basis that he is ‘young’ in terms of game time? The other part of the conundrum is the standard he attained last season…is that the exception? Is that the best he can be and is even that good enough ( on the European stage)?
Sunday was a horrible performance, even allowing for his lengthy layy-off) although strangely much more effective with the changed formation following the sending off.
At the end of last season I was sure a Dedryck/Jozo combo would be a great foundation going forward. On both counts my judgement now seems to have mighty flaws.
It’s a pity that the likely outcome will be to acquire two new CBs. It is up to the players themselves to prove otherwise but I suspect with less than a quarter of the season left they have probably already blown it. I wish it were otherwise.
HH
If, John McGinn was in the midfield, instead of the invisible McGregor, the ball wouldn’t have made it through the space, vacated by the invisible McGregor, and, DB wouldn’t have been so exposed, so early in the game, imho. Its the age old savvy Stein heid move, stiffen the midfield, and the defence and gk don’t get exposed.
But don’t let me stop the witch hunters from throwing DB under the bus, if it wizny DB, it would sumdy else.
Its no a very nice site when the exaggerated street parties come to an end, is it.
WEEBAWBABBITY HH amigo.
……..oot.
KEVJUNGLE on 13th March 2018 10:39 am
Clueless but then we already knew that.
Funny how folk see things. I thought CMcG had a very fine game!
HH
My tuppence on the Boyata conversation. I don’t think he is a bad player but I also don’t believe he can be relied upon in a crunch situation. An upgrade on Effy but very much in the same mould. 100% a confidence player if ever I’ve seen one. When he signed I was never convinced. I remember watching him in the friendlies at St. Mirren Park and he looked like Oliver Tebilly reincarnated. He made some errors early on his career and never recovered from that until Brendan spent last winter getting into his head and giving him confidence.
When he broke into the team last January he was excellent right up until the Bayern Munich game this autumn that error for that goal + the injuries seem to have effective him massively.
I’d keep him as a squad option before Jozo (who I think is awful) but I’d totally agree with Trad88 and other who say next season we need an upgrade as a starter. That could be Compper hopefully but only time will tell on that one. Young Kris however looks the real deal but we know he will error on occasions what young centre back doesn’t.
Next season I’d like to see:
Ajer + 1
Boyata and Hendry as squad options
Jozo thanks for your efforts but some guys are not made to play for Celtic
Hendry and Ajer will be our CH pairing for the coimng seasons- pretty certain of that. However, for this season it wil continue to be a mix of Compper/Hendry/Ajer/ Boyata/Jozo.
Thirds63 on 13th March 2018 10:47 am
He did, only an idiot would think otherwise
Cigalsporfavour
Welcome to the PAPA club.
This is your annual reminder that Sevco are in breach of the Financial Fair Play break-even requirement as defined at Article 63(3) of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations (Edition 2015).
When do those UEFA license applications get sent in to the SFA again???
KEVJUNGLE on 13th March 2018 10:39 am
Witch hunt? Aren’t we allowed to discuss deficincies or because Dembele, Rogic etc were excellent, then everyone gets pass marks?! And we think the MSM are naive(at best)?!
When your 19 and 20 year old guys in Tierney and Ajer are providing more leadership than your jittery CB whos 8 years older theres a clear issue.
Still buzzing since Sunday. I know it wasn’t a perfect display but Brendan & his team know that as well. It’s their job to put it right not ours. The fact that we are in party mood doesn’t mean it’s our fault if the team mess up next time out,
SEANP1916
NO-O-O-O-O
Not Tebily,ffs,I’ll never again sleep again at night thanks to the nightmares of pish players past you have reminded me of.
Mibbe joost as well,since I work nights but you get my drift.
Oh,Jesus. Just thinking about him. Under pressure,he was excellent. Wi plenty of time,time to think,I just closed my eyes.
We will need at least 4 CBs going into the qualifiers in early July. Last season’s pairing of Jozo and Dedrick was considered good with scope to improve. Injuries to both put paid to that. How many games on the trot have we had the same defensive line up? Without checking, I’d guess 4 at the most. THAT’S why our defence has been so rocky. Confidence took a dunt after the maulings in CL too. It’s not simply a matter of acquiring the right players; it’s trusting to luck that they won’t get injured in our beloved SPFHELL with its quaint interpretation of the rules and the odd plastic pitch.
Consistency cannot be achieved chopping and changing. If Brendan rates a player, who are we to question his judgement? If anybody could do the job better, he/she would not be posting on here.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 13TH MARCH 2018 11:09 AM
Remember the rasper of an overhead he scored away at Cwmbran Town :-)
La Bella Italia –
Live on tele -after Inter 0 -Napoli 0 .
Manager of Napoli responding to a journo’s question re it being a result which means bye bye to Napoli’s Serie A title hopes — ” You are an attractive woman and therefore I won’t tell you to -#### ###
https://youtu.be/C9fNkB6UuBg
I think Brendan will always be looking to improve the team and that means replacing certain players I’m sure he’ll have no qualms about doing that when the right player is available.
Celtic central defence is an unforgiving place, ask Efe and a host of others, we’ve been blessed over the years with some great players in there but the list of daddies who played in there is a long one:))
I don’t think DB is a diddy but Sunday’s mistakes have thrown him into the limelight for all the wrong reasons.
Let’s see what Brendan thinks!
Talking about defenders thought young Hendry acquitted himself well when he came on. Think both him & Ajer have a good future but they need an experienced head to guide them.
Think Jozo is out for 2 games now so we should see a bit more of Marvin, hopefully he will step up to the plate.
Mothers likely to be very physical so we need to fight fire with fire, Kouassi to join Olli & Brooney in midfield.
Dembele & Eddie up front.
Hope Bain holds his place, he deserves it.
corkcelt on 13th March 2018 11:25 am
Hendry played well, not surprising as he is a good defender. Saw him several times when he was younger at Thistle and he, and Lindsay, looked good solid defenders with Hendry a bit more comfortable bringing the ball out from the back.
Its unfortunate he’s cup tied as this will probably limit his appearances over next four league games as BR looks for a reliable partner for Ajer before semi final.
CORKCELT
You are a legend,sir. A few others on here lived-with respect and I apologise for the term-through the famine years.
Did it put you off? Naw.
Did it change your mind about which team you support? Naw.
Are you reaping the rewards and lapping it up? Aye. Oh,aye
I was spoiled. My first game was Oct 1967. I’m pretty sure my first defeat was THAT 4-1 game.
I soon learned. But you guys learned the hard way,total respect
PS-it explains why my Dad is a happyclapper,so I’ll let him off.
CORKCELT on 13TH MARCH 2018 11:25 AM
I would tend to agree with you (as per usual) but Brendan’s team selections can be hard to predict. Who would have seen Kouassi in against Zenit or CalMac playing out on the left on Sunday for example?
If I was to have a guess I’d imagine that the team for Motherwell will be the same as Ibrox minus Jozo of course due to the red card, I’d expect Compper to come in. The home match against Ross County on the 31st however is anyone’s guess????? Paddy, Charly, Eboue and Eddy all might start that one.
Cigalsporfavor may I add my congratulations to you and your family,
Corkcelt got a video from my pal of Bhoys doing the huddle on the street outside the Ferry Arms in Cork on Sunday looked brilliant.HH
HAPPY HOOOOOOPY BIRTHDAY to
the brush,John Clark!!!!!
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY
At the risk of being deleted for telling it like it is,because he’s an attention-seeking wee nyaff.
I changed the last word to test the moderators(!)
Morning all.
On the way home from the hospital yesterday, the police pulled me over and told me my wife had fallen out the passenger door three miles back. I said thank god for that, I thought I had gone deaf! :-))
So the celebratory mood on CQN has been successfully put on the back burner. Sunday was a great day for all of us. Enjoy it for a wee while, or at least let the rest of us enjoy it.
By the way, I would always have Kouassi in the team but he is likely to be red carded more often than not, given the way the mibs “ref” us. Still, I would start him against the likes of Motherwell. Kicking us off the park is their modus operandi.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
I with you Kouassi starting against Murderwell, and that he has to learn like others before him not to be impetuous and give the refs an excuse:))
Btw following on from my last comment I just want to make a random observation that the SFA Licensing Committee consists of 5 “independent members” and 4 other members who are directors of Alloa (always cheatin’), Arbroath, Queen of the South and Spartans.
Now if that isn’t a strong, professional team of experts then I don’t know what is…
lol
Parkheadcumsalford on 13th March 2018 11:49 am
So the celebratory mood on CQN has been successfully put on the back burner.
=====
Not really – we scored three excellent goals, and we have identified a weakness or two which if corrected will allow us to become even stronger.
I’m sure you too remember the days we had so many weaknesses we didn’t know where to start (or even what our strengths were!). Now…its staring us in the face. Talking about it is healthy.
I think the least our forward players deserve is knowing there is a secure defence behind them. And certainly guys like KT and Ajer, who have done remarkably without much defensive leadership, to the point where they have assumed that mantle themselves!
Incredible.
Imagine what we’d be capable of if we cut out the unforced errors and retained the ball a bit better.
HH
new article posted.
TRADITIONALIST88,
Don’t you think any weakness you have detected wouldn’t have been detected by our managerial team? I do. The smsm tried its damndest to put us under pressure all last week. Collum and his crew did his level best to make their dreams come true. We won. My thanks to the manager and every one who donned that jersey.
I’m one of those who grew up in the late 50s and early 60s seeing our team win nothing. As has been said on here often enough, we live in great Celtic times. Enjoy them (or at least let the rest of us enjoy them).
Lunchtime -sunny day -way down south
https://youtu.be/V6yo5rT4FJQ
https://youtu.be/S32tHwqtruI
murdochauldandhay – interesting that on the celticblog – contrast it with Eddie Jones’ assault ( 2 guys going wahaaaaayyy) and the reporting of it.
JOBO BALDIE on 13TH MARCH 2018 7:48 AM
Dharma Bam,
But aren’t club and company one and the same? Just like last time?
Yes, until one of them is liquidated ;-)
Which is why im wondering why the article just refers to Newco and not Newclub. Everyone knows by now, even me, that an incorporated club is am indivisible legal entity. Which is why it makes more sense to me that we should refer to the newclub and not the the newco.
They’re a new club and we should take every opportunity to remind them of that truth. :-D