So what went right? Tom Rogic was back to his imposing best, using his frame to hold-off opponents, while delicately pinging balls into the box to create clear goal-scoring chances. When he faded, Celtic faded. There will be games ahead when we need Scott Brown (Murrayfield, Ibrox), but he was not missed yesterday. Using the skipper more sparingly is something we should be prepared to contemplate. He is 33-years-old and has enjoyed good fitness for two years, but we cannot take this for granted.
James Forrest needs space to fully utilise his talents and he found acres of it at McDiarmid Park. On this form, in this space, he is unstoppable. Danny Swanson’s lunge at James’ ankles was payback for earlier punishment. There were no legal ways to stop the Celtic winger. It is early, but there are signs Odsonne Eduard has recovered confidence. I noticed an uplift after he struck the bar with a shot against Aberdeen a week ago, the opener in Salzburg and yesterday’s second indicates the player is back on form.
Those saying St Johnstone were poor are correct, but you can only beat the team in front of you and Celtic managed this in near historic quantities, despite kicking off only 67 hours after leaving the field in Austria. This could be the last time for some months we see a Scottish team be bold enough to create two attempts on target in the opening minutes of a game.
The six goal thrashing aside, the return to action of Filip Benkovic and Jozo Simunovic was a major boost. Jozo has had his moments, but both are comfortable on the ball and will be needed in the months ahead. We have been relatively solid defensively this season, but getting it right at the back contributes to more than just goals against.
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Good afternoon all from the Victoria bar. Curer time. ?
Leigh Griffiths wants to “focus” on his fitness after pulling out of the Scotland squad for the matches with Israel and Portugal.
The striker played in Celtic’s Sunday win at St Johnstone but was replaced by Scott Sinclair on 61 minutes.
Griffiths, 28, started last month’s friendly defeat against Belgium and came on as a substitute in the Nations League win over Albania.
Israel in Haifa on Thursday is Scotland’s next Nations League match.
And Portugal visit Hampden on Sunday in a friendly.
Griffiths said in a statement: “I feel that I need to focus on my fitness over this international period and get back into the best possible shape.
“I had a good discussion with the manager to explain my decision.
“It’s not one that I’ve made lightly. It means a lot to me to play for Scotland and I hope to be part of Alex’s plans again in future, if selected.
“My aim is to be back to my best and be available for section for club and country.”
Leftclicktic – Positive thoughts sent and a prayer said for young Daniel and the family.
HH
When you approach Aberdeen for a 29 yr old Johnny Hayes. Probably on 2k a week.
Give him 3 year deal, and 8k a week.
You are generally screwing yourself over.
Guy is 31 nearly 32 now. On a high wage… no use to man nor beast
The McGeady Spin
For MadMitch CSC
G67- sounds positive re LG from our point of view, stop/start for about 18 months with injuries, 2 weeks full on at Lennoxtown will hopefully get him into good shape for rest of the season.
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths has withdrawn from the Scotland squad
oops see above
BSR
You should be up at the Victoria bar with BRRB, I think :-)
I thought a big factor in a fantastic performance,apart from the obvious,was that Eddy had seemed to shake of his doziness.His hold up,touch,passing,were all on a different planet to Thursday night.zWhen he is in this mood,he is a handful.Griff also done a lot more running ,pulling defenders everywhere they did not want to be.
Benkovic and Simunovic will be a good partnership at Murrayfield.
Watched Leipzig run riot also at the weekend.I hope Brendan was watching,as big Mik should be nowhere near eithe.r of the two games.The left winger is a flying machine,Timo Whatever,and they use his pace all the time.Gamboa,for that reason,has to start.Turkeybhoy,the master tactician,has spoken.
Hopefully a positive fallout of summer transfergate is that we get ourselves a decent Moussa replacement in January.
That gives Leigh a couple of months to get himself undroppable as I think otherwise he’d drop down to 3rd choice again.
I like Leigh by the way and glad he dropped out of the Scoddish team.
Well done Griff.Very big games for Celtic coming up.
Back in Scotland for the Hibs game.Cant wait.
So what went right?
Well I’m not superstitious but I think we may have seen the last of that black and yellow strip for a start. ??
A wee candle lit for young Daniel this morning.
Yesterday’s team selection? Well I did post I thought it strange that our best player on Thursday, Mulumbu, was benched whilst other ‘non-triers‘ walked into the team. Just goes to show why BR is the team coach and nobody on here is. Though ? did make a fist of it. In my defence I have been harping on about lack of connectivity between our defence and attack via a dynamic midfield – that changed yesterday.
David 17, totally agree regarding Hibs, we will have to ‘tool up’ in midfield in 2 weeks. Broony back or Mulumbu. Hopefully no mishaps in training or internationally should see a fit central defensive patrnership v Hibees. This will either be a classic or a disappointing 0-0 draw. Hopefully, the former.
Aiden Mcgeady?…..Let me tell you what I thought and still think
Written on 14th December 2008
For approaching half a century, I have been watching and playing football in places as diverse as Brighton and Boston, San Francisco and Swansea, Coatbridge and Canberra and Riyadh and Rutherglen.
In all that time I can count on the fingers of a six-fingered hand, the number of players who have got me on the edge of my seat, not by their ability to go by the opposition, not by their sudden burst of pace and definitely not by their muscle-bound bodies that can run and run for forty eight hours a day, but instead by those few players who have the ability to do the totally unexpected, to surprise even the most cynical of observers, and to totally clam up the mouth of the arsehole who sits in front of me in block 103,
Charlie Tully, Jimmy Johnstone, George Connelly, Henrik Larrson, Shunsuke Nakamuira, and without any shadow of doubt – Aiden McGeady!!
In the last match against Villa Real, Naka had a smashing game as he brought the ball under control in an instant and distributed it across the filed for other players to do their thing, but VR were ready for that and simply closed down the space that the Celtic Players were trying to move in to.
But when Aiden got the ball, you could see the looks of concern, you could sense the apprehension and you could smell the confusion as he ran directly at them, twisting and turning, winning fouls, picking out unseen passes, and generally ensuring that firstly Villa Real did not get a look in and secondly generating in the crowd an atmosphere that perhaps a ‘dead rubber’ didn’t warrant.
Aiden is the best player to come through the ranks at CP since George and Jinky.
If he stayed, he would have become a legend and there would have been another pedestal required outside the front entrance.
I will always be a season ticket holder, but Aiden like those others mentioned enabled me to hand over my cash with a smile, and like Charlie, George and Jinky he is even more special because he’s one of us.
Hail Hail
Matt
Turkeybhoy
Can we no draft Didier Agathe in for one more gig
Eboue Kouassi on loan to Hibs,Aberdeen,in January would not be a bad move.Boy needs game time.Sure he would get it .
Turkeybhoy
No problem with Lustig, if he is the captain then we’ll score 6 – we always do.
Not sure about Simunovic and Benkovic though, there’s something just too similar about them :-)
!!BADA BING!! on 8TH OCTOBER 2018 1:23 PM
LG withdraws from Scotland squad for both games..
————————————————————————-
Has Fanny, sorry I mean Faddy not been on berating the traitorous little git yet?
Well done Leigh from a guy who went to two World Cup finals to support Scotland. Yes I am that old ??
RUGGYMAN,
Yep,he would do.Seriously,this boy is a handful.Blistering pace,and they use it.He was the same in the last Germany game. Caused havoc on the left wing.Also,a very good player,along with a few others.
Leftie
A wee prayer and a candle lit for young Daniel in St. Boniface, Toronto yesterday.
He’ll be fine.
HH
Hearing visions that Brendan has known he was off to Villa for months and that’s why McGinn went to Molineux.
The Daily Record might have a bit more on this developing story.
T A L,
I love big Mik,but pace is not one of his big traits nowadays.In saying that,I have thought Gamboa very decent when he has played.No idea the problem Brendan has with him.Seems a dedicated proffessional wee guy.
BSR @ 1.34
How long did he have to practice that before it worked?
Show pony stuff that comes from attitude not talent.
Next you will be telling me that the mental bike stunt bloke on YouTube will win the Tour / Giro.
Na’h — that dog don’t hunt — you are talking entertainment over performance / delivery.
Harlem Globetrotters vs Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
JF is the man — just a case he doesn’t know it yet.
Some work still needs to be done — Boot up the erse / his ma’ cuts his sweety money.
He starts to put his laces through his shots rather his current slipper mode.
Plus works on a Dennis Rodman type attitude.
BCW,
How can you hear visions.
I’ve heard a version
I’ve seen a vision
I’ve been to Villa Park
I’ve never seen Wolves play at Molineux
But I believe an elephant can fly ?
Good ole Daily Rangers
That’s young Daniel “on the ward” and getting ready for his operation tomorrow.
Thank you for all the prayers & kind wishes .
MS @ 1.49
AMcG booster club.
You gave the game away — dead rubber.
First time Griffiths has ever pulled out ?
The Rainjurs ur back,as they storm up the table from 7th,to 6th.
How many rumours are we going to give credence to, all level 5 shite?
Last week Brendan was off to China and had planned to take Moussa Dembelé with him.
This week he knew that Steve Bruce was going to be sacked by Villa so told McGinn to go to Villa and he would be joining him there.
Please do not give these people credence by helping to disseminate their bilious shite.
Jozo?
That guy has been regenerated so many times I was surprised when they didn’t make him the new Dr Who!
MM
Your perception and analysis is right up there with my liking for alcohol free beer.
Hail Hail
Matt
BADA,
Very good.No mentions please of”Dead rubbers”.
On the big Jozo thing.He has had more partners than Griff.
!!BADA BING!! on 8TH OCTOBER 2018 2:09 PM
First time Griffiths has ever pulled out ?
—————————————————
??????? ????????***
* watch this space ?
I see Celtic h.ding a fans forum on 29th Oct.
Fill in an application / questionnaire to be selected
Maybe just me, but I fully expect deflection prior to the AGM, and having to tackle
FtSPFL decisions, FtSFA and their incompetence and favouritism, avoid dealing with a new club answer and avoid Res12
Maybe just me ? But that’s what I expect it to cover, or avoid more likely
Note – a tactic well used in business before anyone else asks the question
Delighted Griff has decided to pull out of Scotland squad,save him from the sleekit digs by EBT McCleish and yon Mc FUDyin
Oooops
Hope the Griff is followed by several other players in withdrawing from meaningless internationals
Time to focus on playing for Celtic, with a big few months ahead of us