Ryan Christie’s pitched cross for Scott Sinclair to open the scoring with a volley was a thing of beauty. It was 30 minutes into the game and Motherwell were withstanding everything Celtic could muster; it was going to take something special to open them up. Sinclair’s finish was accomplished.
Ewan Henderson, on his first start in senior football, created space on the right wing to send a ball onto the forehead of Odsonne Eduard for the French striker to score his first of the day. His second, which arrived on 88 minutes, but was just as crucial, was a thundering free kick from 26 yards, which clipped the underside of the bar on its way in.
You wait weeks for a great goal then you get four in one afternoon. James Forrest darted into the box before sliding the ball into the path of Oliver Burke, who finished in the top corner.
So good for Celtic, but the story of this game runs a little deeper. As though our central mid problems were not significant enough, Ryan Christie collapsed injured, prompting Kris Ajer to knock the ball out of play. But, also making his first start in senior football was Motherwell’s 18-year-old striker, James Scott.
Scott collected the subsequent uncontested throw-in, which convention dictated would be returned to Celtic, but the teenager ran into the empty Celtic half and fired a shot at Scott Bain. The Celtic keeper saved, but Scott had an accomplice in the form of 24-year-old Gboly Ariyibi, who scored with the rebound.
At this point, the game needed someone of character to make the right decision. Unfortunately, this proverbial football fell at the feet of Motherwell manager, Steve Robinson. He just “didn’t know what to do”. Motherwell accepted the advantage their break with acceptable standards provided them with, without recourse.
I get teenagers make worse mistakes than this, although we should be clear, he has played the game all his life and will be more familiar with this scenario than you or I. I could also understand that Robinson was caught like a rabbit in the disco lights, but then the Motherwell manager tried to throw Celtic fans under the bus in a clear case of whataboutery in his post-match interview, by accusing them of celebrating the departure of injured Carl McHugh. Robinson has already told the radio audience McHugh has been knocked unconscious for the fourth time in his career.
This context was unavailable to Celtic fans during the game. The context of Robinson’s comments were crystal clear. It was shoddy, calculated and therefore worse than James Scott’s earlier transgression.
If you like football of the blood and snotters variety, the remaining 39 minutes, plus 9 minutes added-time, were right up your street. The goal upset Celtic’s hold on the game and until Edouard’s late strike, Motherwell controlled the game. But, the champions had enough and finished the visitors off in distinguished fashion.
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@ THE NO.13 SHORTS on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 10:40 AM
Agreed. Similar to his last interim appointment, he will be appointed permanently if he gets good results during his interim appointment.
I couldn’t give a thruppeny bit about relationships between BR and PL just now. The timing is absolutely shocking and no real Celtic man or woman would have done it. They’d see out the season and then go, reputation with support in tact,
Two things I hope happen now. We get Clarke in ASAP
Leicester get relegated.
I though BR would give us three years at most. But walking out in February? Regardless of the signing let downs, that for me has destroyed his legacy. A good manager no doubt. But he’s walked out on Celtic Football Club at a crucial time and that, for me is beyond the pale.
I’d assumed it would be Chelski, but Leicester………?
I can hardly spell it or find it on a map………..
Crazy stuff.
If true, who next? Please GOD no’ Moysie……..and hopefully Neil is safely out of the way as well.
Astounded of foreheid.
Glasgow is a toxic culture. Any new manager would have to be cognisant of that or a t least understand it. Many just haven’t been able to cope . I want a man who “gets” Celtic. Who understands the meaning of the rivalry with any club that plays out of Ibrox.. Am I being too optimistic in thinking BR may not take the Leicester job and use the issue as a means to mark PL’s card ??
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 10:32 AM
As I said previously, regardless of the issues he may have had with our custodians, he claims to be a lifelong Celtic supporter, to be in his dream job and with a few weeks until the end of a season where we are fighting to win an unprecedented treble treble and then quits for Leicester?
He has thrown his players and the supporters under the bus, he will never be forgiven for that.
Excathedra44 10.37
This is down to BR wanting to “explore” or stroke his ego
====
PL revisionist bullshit all ready making an appearance. Perhaps if the board would have backed Brendan as he expected none of this may have occurred. Remember the we spent almost as much on a CEO bonus than we did buying ‘prospect’ players in January. Aye and it’s Brendan’s ego that’s the problem.
EXCATHEDRA44 on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 10:37 AM
————————
You are probably correct, however the team has been thriving lately, even in spite of all the injuries.
None of this makes any sense to me.
Both of them have damaged the club.
Forgoat about Clarke!
All the recent Guff has me worrying about him tho’.
Jesus Wept.
Regarding a replacement — NL for the short term only.
It is not fair to put him in the spotlight again.
We and he need to move on.
We shouldn’t offer it to him long term.
He won’t be able to turn it down — moth to the flame.
Lenny till end of season then Marco Rose for me.
Neither one of PL and BR are going to come out of this unscathed more likely tarnished. We often dont like being compared to currant buns, but even the ETims article seems very hunnish in its rhetoric.
Im even more concerned that John Kennedy is in charge for tomorrow’s game. I can already hear Levein sniping about the grass being shorter in the English Premiership.
@ ROBINBHOY on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 10:44 AM
BR throwing supporters under the bus and PL throwing BR under the bus in the summer are not mutually exclusive.
BR is almost gone. PL should go in the summer. 16 years as CEO is an extraordinary length of time and a new man is required.
Steve Clarke? Um, Kilmarnock’s last win was on 23 January. Very poor since then. Anyway, after his recent comments, surely there’s no way he would jump into this particular cauldron? But then… football managers? unpredictable lot of double talkers!
Maybe Kevjungle had a point with his ‘chocolate man’ quips.
If BR DOES take the Leicester job. Will he sell us Benkovic cheaply ?? Nah . Don’t think so.
Put Scotty B and Lenny (if he will come back) in as interim 1st team coaches. John Kennedy!!!!! gawd help us
This has been a slow motion train wreck for 8 months.
Everything has been in plain sight if you wanted to look for it.
The efforts over the past 2 transfer windows have been nothing less than shameful.
Somebody has been at it with our squad management — loan, project, loan, punt, loan …
The £2.3mill long term bonus to PL is an affront to everybody who cares for the club.
Heated driveway — he will need an electrified fence and watchtowers.
GTTS @ 10.45
E-tims with RM to the fore are just another chapter in the PL interweb campaign.
They have been at the BR digs and sniping for some time now.
MadMitch, At last you said something that made me smile.
Penny just dropping re Neil Lennon. Did he get tipped the wink a few months ago that this was on the cards?
Then again what’s the point in speculating?
It’ll be what it will be.
Winning the league will be all the sweeter now. I hope the players get that. And we now need characters to step up and maybe even be brought in to galvanise them. Broonie and KT, Mika and Cal Mac Over to you guys.
Big big big night tomorrow and a big big big message needs sent to the orcs that their hopes will be short lived. Hearts will smell blood. We need to make sure it’s their own and not ours that they get a taste of (metaphorically speaking of course)
Michael O’Neill might be a runner….not for me
CELTIC Football Club today confirmed that it has been approached by Leicester City FC to speak to Brendan Rodgers with regards to their current managerial vacancy.
Brendan has indicated to the Club that this is an opportunity he wishes to investigate further and therefore, very reluctantly, the Club has granted him permission to speak to Leicester City.
===
I heard on a radio show yesterday that a £6 mil sum would be required to buy out Brendan’s contract if he wanted to go to the galacticos of Leicester . Thought it was B/S at the time but looks as if it may well be true.
D17
After seeing what Marco Rose has done at Salzburg without spending a lot of money he would be ideal, would tick a lot of Pedro’s boxes and has a superb scouting system in place, he is the obvious choice but that means there is no chance.
I honestly don’t think it will phase Neil Lennon.
We need the fire now.
Scott Brown is vital as well – Lenny and our captain are thick as thieves.
We can win this Treble Treble.
HH. ?
I’ve just read the etims article. Quote below:
“Peter Lawwell will be blamed, but the truth is there is little he could have done to stop him going. Bear in mind the reluctance of the CEO to allow Rodgers free use of the clubs cheque book, and the fact that the wage bill has rocketed to new levels.
We may yet have to tighten our belts as we did when O’Neill left.”
And so the downsizing begins.
Has anyone ever suggested that our wage bill was too low under Deila? That maybe we were under investing?
The focus is all on the wage bill- the only negative that can be aimed at Brendan and even then, our wage bill to revenue has been lower under BR’s tenure than any time under Ronny’s.
Laughable.
Does anyone honestly think that PL runs or would be allowed to run a
PLC solely for his own benefit?
If he is allowed to then the rest of the Board from the Chairman down are culpable.
If he isn’t making his KPI’s – which will not be set by him – then he won’t get his bonus.
if he’s getting his bonus without hitting his KPI’s then the rest of the Board from the Chairman down are culpable or paying him from his own money.
I’m no apologist for PL but it’s ridiculous to suggest that he runs the place for his sole benefit would be allowed to do so,
Scott Brown may have just become the most important man at our club. His leadership will drive us to a treble treble, I am sure. Whatever happens?
Wonder how many will turn up at the king power stadium for the BR unveiling?
Ah well….Here’s hoping.Sleazy Gee will be staying for 10 in a row.
Nothing sectarian or racist in that wee ditty.
New article posted…..yet!
Mon the hoops!!!!!!
THE EXILED TIM
I think you’ll see MR back in the Bundesliga soon, he could well be a Red Bull employee!
Still in shock from todays news, the timing could not be worse..
his own money= their own money
Beyond sick at Brendan leaving Celtic at this point of the season. However, it is crucial to focus on the main task in hand. We must beat Hearts at Tynecastle tomorrow night. I would not trust Celtic to have a Plan B in hand. However, Peter Lawell now needs to demonstrate to everyone that he is worthy of the £2.3 million bonus he received in January. He must have an able manager in charge of the team tomorrow night. People are talking about Neil Lennon. I think that would be acceptable to most fans, at least until the end of the season. I would prefer us to go for Steve Clarke, a proven top coach who worked with the top managers in the EPL and who has done really well with Killie. However, we may have to wait until the end of the season. I also worry that Steve might not want the job after recent events involving sectarianism and his views on the West of Scotland.
NOTE TO DERMOTT DESMOND: DO NOT APPOINT DAVID MOYES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.
As my mate texted me, can you imagine the craic if Lenny was in charge at Tynecastle tomorrow night.
My plans to get a few jobs done this fine morning have been thrown into disarray.
New plan pop out to Local Diner for a coffee & read the papers then back to pick up on what’s happening in Celtic land.
Starry
I know, but a man can but dream.
Am gutted by this, something seriously wrong in the background for this to happen, I said earlier that if it was down to money he would have left for China when offered.
SSN saying Lennon was due to go to Dubai this morning, he didn’t make the flight…
Corky
Like you my work has taken a hammering this morning, am three hours behind ffs
Phone started at about 9.00 with rumours and accusations….here is a brief excerpt
[10:00, 2/26/2019] “Totally screwed up my day as well. I had planned to do all my hoovering and ironing! Now? It looks like pub, drink and Steak and Guinness pie with mash and peas.??”
[10:01, 2/26/2019] TM: Having a shower and gonnae try and tape or stuff ma ball up!
[10:03, 2/26/2019] Matt: That is probably the first ever message that I can’t think of a smart answer to….???
[10:04, 2/26/2019] Matt: Mind you just when you think things cannae get worse….1. Bad enough Rodgers going…exacerbated with 2. the vision of you showering and taping your ball up….but the coup De Grace?….3. JOH just called to tell me that he was standing in his trunks to go for a swim when he got a phone call. ??? I really don’t think I can take anymore! And people wonder why we drink!
Hail Hail
Matt
Marco Rose would be an ambitious choice, but could we offer him enough to make it seem anything more a sideways move?