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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Aye and a journalist asked him about the Leicester job on sunday and he walked away Mmmmm as some would say.
Is Sam still in the jungle ?
Every manager goes , the only thing is the timing and reasons ,some go of their own choice ,some are pushed or persuaded.
If i had the expertise and experience as a manager ,i couldn’t take the bull crap that goes with being our manager.
You need rhino hide as skin , Stevie g anyone ?
If Neil Lennon resigned from Celtic on points of principle. Why would he want to come back ?
Of course he is currently not working.
HH. On this sad day for Celtic football club.
Leicester!!! Had a freak season then the players got the manager sacked,he will have no European football and will probably be managing a middle of the league team whose best hopes will be a good cup run.Even Blackburn won the premier league,look where they are now.If he had stayed until the end of the season only three months away then he would have left with good grace.Leaving Celtic with a league and a cup to be won is disgraceful.
Not a surprise. Had expected it would be NFL until the end of the season. A few trophies will make it easier for him to get another gig in the summer. So, in that respect, I’m Pleased for him.
Of more importance, Big Packie seems to be absent. Someone said he was pretty down of late. BP, if you are lurking, check in and say hello.
BREXIT:
Had to get in.
Taxi for Rodgers….driver????
Maybe Brendan is happy with the prospect of no European football as he didn’t exactly excel at it.
Still angry – must calm down.
Well sure McInnes was meant to be off to Sevco announed and all
Maybe he wont sign?
Wishfulthinkingcsc
Surely we should be setting our sights higher than Neil Lennon or Steve Clarke?
Surely even this board must have a bit more imagination and ambition than that!
HEADTHEBALL on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:18 AM
Maybe Brendan is happy with the prospect of no European football as he didn’t exactly excel at it.
Still angry – must calm down.
———
Gave me a much-needed (though grim!) chuckle!
HH jg
@ GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:26 AM
Don’t bet on it! I suspect we will slash the wage bill in the summer and downsize. Etims are hinting as much.
RT @ 10.53
This has been a slow moving soap opera for 8/9 months now.
There was a proxy war between PL and BR over the summer with transfers targets lost and games being played over the CL qualifying campaign. Consequently no shock that we are where we are.
It all makes sense if you align all the moons.
TLWIO @ 10.59
You are having a laugh — KPI’s …
Made up by his best pal and so anodyne that they are impossible to miss.
What would be the KPI’s?
What would generate a bonus?
What would get him the sack?
Look at the various failures over the pat 16 years and he is still with us.
Consequently what would PL have to do to get the sack?
Stevie Clarke please!
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:32 AM
@ GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:26 AM
Don’t bet on it! I suspect we will slash the wage bill in the summer and downsize. Etims are hinting as much.
=========
Phew, Etims… wage bill increase on the way then! ;)
JordanRhodesCSC
THC … @ 11.32
Why would we be taking a hatchet to the wage bill?
What should the wage bill be for a £100mill T/O potential club?
What will be our T/O this season — £80/85mill?
We are flabby and could do with some fiscal exercise.
However the best place to start would be CEO wages and bonus.
Bhoylo @11:22 starting a rumour that McInness turned down Sevco … was waiting for BR to leave so he could replace him at Celtic?!
????
@ MADMITCH on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:42 AM
The wage bill is too large. Partly on account of stock piling players.
However, it does not need to be reduced to Ronny levels. That makes no sense.
The quisling who sold out the patriot game.
Jane Field Street at 11.47, tough words but an opinion that will be shared by many this morning
Where’s that PL lovin’ WITS? He’s got some ‘splainin to do!
?
New article Paul?
Cant even get my head around this one.
Cmon Paul67 – give us some inside intel !!
IGrewUpACelticFanCSC
Now then, are none of you thinking that DD might want to offer Roy Keane the job?
Our summer window got a whole lot more interesting.
I would be happy to take title now and be done with season. I can live without cup.
Compensation £7.5m
Wage reductions per annum £5m?
Potential to sell Edouard, Sinclair, Tierney, McGregor and Rogic to Rodgers.
Wages to turnover ratio – ✅
Cash at bank – ✅
Further income potential – tick ✅
Lennon wouldn’t be my choice. Steve Clarke all day long but wouldn’t surprise me if the usual Desmond and Lawell curve balls came through
It simply comes down to a matter of trust and respect .. Brendan learned in the summer that he couldn’t trust Peter, and as a result his respect for Dermot clearly changed also .. Brendan therefore was likely to take the first serious job opportunity he got offered, and leave behind those who he couldn’t trust or respect ..
The Hands
Hope not. We are a big club and in a better position than when Brendan took over.
Marco Rose would be a decent shout. Eddie Howe? Simone Inzaghi?
There are clubs in Europe that are over-performing – Young Boys, Lille, Atalanta. Must be some good managers out there.
Show some ambition, please!
MadMitch on 26th February 2019 11:39 am
KPI’s ? How would I know what they are ?
You seem to acknowledge that they exist ” made by his best pal” so they are there – you do accept that?
Do you know what they are?
Who is his best pal btw?
Beyond angry at the timing of this, if it comes to pass of course.
The problem with an interm manager until the summer is then no preparation for CL Qualifiers.
A raft of loan players gone and many out of contract players leaving.
Our qualifiers are so early in the summer that nothing could be done.
DD’s press conference
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LAf0QnLFS7Q
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:55 AM
There are clubs in Europe that are over-performing – Young Boys, Lille, Atalanta. Must be some good managers out there.
=====
Correct. Who was manager last time we overperformed in Europe?
(Cue the smart a*ses saying Jock Stein etc)
LennonCSC
And now all ‘ the told you so’s’ will fill their boots
The only players BR would buy from our squad are KT and maybe CMcG.
I’d be gutted to see either go but the rest we can sleep easy over
Ach weel, least we’ve got 40 million in the bank hey? :-)
I think I am in shock. I normally spend an hour on Tuesday’s in the local Wetherspoons, drinking coffee and reading undisturbed. Couldn’t today. Had to keep looking at CQN.
Whatever his relationship (or lack of) with our CEO or biggest shareholder, I couldn’t imagine a real Celtic supporter leaving with the chance of the Treble Treble being won.
A sad sad day for all who have Celtic in their hearts, imo.
Season ticket renewals normally out in March / April.
@ GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 26TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:55 AM
We are indeed in a better place now post-BR (almost) than we were pre-BR.
However, can people say that we showed ambition while BR was here? If yes, it is a tepid yes. There was clearly friction between BR and those in the background over our transfers.
If we took that approach with BR while he was here there is a very low probability that we will show ambition now he is gone.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Ollie Burke at Leicester next season as a squad player. We won’t be buying him out of his contract that is for sure.