Physically light Celtic

217

Celtic responded to consecutive league defeats last month in decisive fashion, with authoritative wins against Livingston, Dundee, Newco, St Mirren and Buckie Thistle.  The record books will show another win on Saturday against Ross County, but the champions lacked even modest authority.

After their capitulation at home to Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup a week earlier, I assumed Ross County had “chucked it” and would bring minimum resistance to Celtic Park.  There’s a reason I don’t bet.  Refreshingly, County pressed Celtic throughout and were denied a point by the width of the crossbar and an added time save by Joe Hart.

After taking the lead in the opening minute through a fortuitous Alistair Johnston deflection, the champions should have finished the game off in some style, but by halftime it was clear a spark was missing.  By then, County keeper George Wickens had a few of us reading his bio (on loan from Fulham).  He had not only saved a Luis Palma penalty, he did so twice, after an encroaching defender cleared the first rebound before Luis could latch onto it.

Palma and Alexandro Bernabei were involved in the move which led to the goal, but as the opening half closed, both looked short of confidence; Alexandro has surely been pondering his place at the club in recent weeks, Palma with penalties on his mind.

The midfield pairing of Matt O’Riley and Paulo Bernardo, which has been so important in Celtic’s winning run, failed to cope with the game.  Maybe Matt’s week, full of distraction, didn’t help, maybe the Celtic Park pitch, which has was in its worst condition in years, interrupted their quick passing game.  It was certainly a day for an industrial, as opposed to cultural, midfield.

Palma and Liel Abada were replaced during the second half by Nicolas Kuhn and Mikey Johnston.  I worried for the debutant, it is always easier to introduce players to a team that is playing well, instead of hoping a new face will turn the tide.  As it was, the changes made little difference.

As we left the ground it struck me how physically light we were.  There was not a bruiser in any midfield or forward position.  In defence, Cameron Carter-Vickers has width, but Alexandro Bernabei is almost adolescent-looking.  On a wintery pitch, these things are noticeable.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

217 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6

  1. Obviously there is no Mod and Paul doesn’t read his own Blog but the Post at 7,24 last night is just off the scale in terms of racism.

     

    It shouldn’t be deleted it should be reported to the Authorities.

  2. Check the transfer market across GB and see how few clubs have concluded deals and note how many of those are loan deals.

  3. corkcelt on 30th January 2024 9:22 am

     

     

    Obviously there is no Mod and Paul doesn’t read his own Blog but the Post at 7,24 last night is just off the scale in terms of racism.

     

     

    It shouldn’t be deleted it should be reported to the Authorities.

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Totally agree. It is pathetic, but dangerous at the same time.

  4. Aye but they don’t have seventy squillions to squander on top class players, who will command top class wages,and after a few games and a few misdirected passes, we can say “what a load of shit” (Catherine Tate style ) them bloody lawwells what a waste of money….😁

  5. “SCULLYBHOY on 30TH JANUARY 2024 9:21 AM

     

    The stupidity of some posts are dumbfounding.”

     

     

    `IS` dumfounding :-)))

     

     

    50 lines for you, young man.

  6. SCULLYBHOY

     

    1965: John Hughes hits five goals as Celtic thump Aberdeen 8-0 in a league clash at Parkhead

     

     

    I remember that game. Big Yogi ran riot.

  7. Loving the SMSM attempts to ramp up the Huns transfers.Players “Jetting in”,all wonder kids,or Stars.

     

    “Clemence now has the team he wants”.Replace with,” Beale ,VB,for previous windows.Remember,how Lammers,Dessers,Matondo ,Cifuente,were going to blow us away.All would be worth 20 mullion soon.(FF),Dujon Sterling,Soutar,Davies,Yilmaz,all top class defenders,we were told.Every wi dow we get this,and every window,so many Celtic fans fall for it.

     

    “Fool me once”.Finish the rest yourselves.

  8. I see the Treble-Numbered One is causing angst again. Agree with CORKCELT, the post verges on being dangerously racist, but have said before best to ignore it (the Hun) and eventually its oxygen will run out. Then, it will reinvent itself as another poster and we can see through it immediately and start to ignore it in turn.

     

     

    Until the administration of the blog allows for some form of initial vetting, or early intervention and blocking of rabid posters, the only recourse open to us, in my own humble, is to ignore it.

     

     

    Ave Ave

  9. Hot Smoked on 30th January 2024 9:52 am

     

     

    “SCULLYBHOY on 30TH JANUARY 2024 9:21 AM

     

     

    The stupidity of some posts are dumbfounding.”

     

     

    `IS` dumfounding :-)))

     

     

    50 lines for you, young man.

     

     

    …………………………………………………………

     

     

    ‘Stupidity’ is a singular noun X 50 completed.

     

     

    Doooh.

     

     

    😞😔😟

  10. glendalystonsils on

    PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 30TH JANUARY 2024 10:58 AM

     

    That game that Yogi ran riot, was that the game he played in sannies.

     

     

    Before the days of undersoi heating , we had bales of straw over the pitch . The frost had been so severe that the straw didn’t do much so the pitch was like a skating rink and yogi (in his sannies) was the only one who could keep his feet !

  11. BOURNESOUPRECIPE

     

    Yogi borrowed the sannies from Big Billy

     

     

    Why, did he forget his piece that day?

  12. GDTs

     

    Using straw to keep the frost of the park.

     

     

    I think it was John Greig who tells the story:

     

    I was told to hammer wee Jimmy straight away so hit him with a few hefty tackles but Jimmy kept coming back!!

     

    Right, I then hit him right oot the park into the straw at the side of the park.

     

     

    Jimmy get out of the straw looking like Wurzill Gummage,

     

    Strolls onto the park and says “we going for a drink sfter the game”

     

    The WEE JJ MAN

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6