Second gear Celtic

329

Yesterday was the fourth time in four games this season Celtic have won without having to leave second gear.  Kilmarnock and St Mirren were both stretched by European qualification ties, while Hibs have had a humiliating start to the season, even for them.  Still, there could hardly be a starker illustration of the chasm between our domestic and Champions League challenges.

Scotland’s other leading club made it eight wins on the bounce this season, as Aberdeen continue to provide the main competition to the champions.  The first showdown between the clubs does not happen for another seven weeks, a game that could go a long way to determining the title.

Credit to St Mirren for dominating the first 140 seconds of the tie; unfortunately for them, Celtic scored the first time they got forward with the ball.  A trademark Celtic passing move opened space for Callum McGregor 24 yards out, who fired low into the net.  St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson’s plans to get stuck in early became unstuck before many fans had got to their seat.

Reo Hatate doubled the advantage 33 minutes in with the goal of the game.  Alistair Johnston pitched a high ball into the box for Daizen Maeda to run onto.  The Japanese winger headed back and down into space for Reo, who struck the ball on the drop-volley, clipping the inside of the post on the way in.  Johnston removed any doubt about the result with a goal midway through the second half.

Paulo Bernardo showed lots of tidy work in the central midfield role normally occupied by Matt O’Riley, who travelled south for a medical over the weekend and should compete his move to Brighton today.  More on Matt at a later date.

As the deadline looms, players and clubs across the continent have sharpened their options.  Barcelona agreed to a new-contract-and-loan-to-Celtic deal with 20-year-old left back Alex Valle.  The player is expected in Glasgow today for a medical.  At the end of this season, he will have one year remaining on is Barcelona deal, with a buy-out figure which is greatly reduced from where it was a week ago.

Goalkeeper is the only area of the field we are not looking to add to this week.  This is not your first transfer window, so usual caveats, but it should be an interesting few days.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

329 Comments

  1. SFTB

     

     

    So funny

     

     

    I often wanted to ask big Billy that question or similar myself.

     

     

    My dad and mum were good friends of Billy and Liz and they were often over at the house but dad always warned me not to ask too many questions and not to ask anything that might be difficult.

     

     

    Asking about his handball in the 1970 final in Milan was as bad as it got.

  2. I really think if we do get Engels on top of where we are already this will be a very good window.

     

     

    Plus

     

    Maccowan or the USA / Pole (both punts really) and then a CH if the Rocki and Lagerb go.

     

     

    A wide player who can actually kick with either foot would then be icing on the cake.

  3. SFTB

     

    I’m sure Jock lived in Southwold drive , off Menock rd- I used to deliver milk there , but not to Jock

  4. On this site and others Sevco fans are criticized for being entitled and arrogant.

     

     

    I wonder what we think about Celtic Fans abusing Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell yesterday. Who do they think they are? If they don’t like the man then they should show some respect to the Celtic Chairman and his position.

     

     

    Peter is much to clever to allow himself to be provoked by these clowns but, of it was me then I would have not left them off so lightly

     

     

    It’s about time we realize what a difficult job it is with the constant sniping from Celtic bloggers at the same time as dealing with a hostile MSM. None are friends to our club.

  5. Go no idea about Alex Valle as a player….but I’d be surprised if this was a Brendan target, or sanctioned by him. He has continually asked for quality and experience…and this is us taking on a project for another club.

     

     

    H.H.

  6. glendalystonsils on

    JINKYREDSTAR on 26TH AUGUST 2024 5:17 PM

     

     

    No worries , I took it in the tongue in cheek spirit you had intended , and tried to respond in the same way.

  7. glendalystonsils on

    BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 26TH AUGUST 2024 5:21 PM

     

     

    Jeez , you must be nearly as old as me ! Great vocalist is/was SW .

  8. Reading on JohnJames site that for transfer year Feb 2023 – Feb 2024 the FA published fees paid by clubs to agents for the EPL alone was £410 million. Fees decline as you down the divisions but he estimates that for all of GB the total could be around half a billion. In one transfer year. Imagine if you will that someone like Peter Lawwell had spent the last 10-15 years working as a football agent after being CEO of Celtic FC from 2003 with related experience with UEFA and the ECA. He could have made an untold fortune. If I was Stuart Armstrong, with a law degree and an extensive football experience as a player, I would be applying for an agents licence tomorrow. There’s gold in them hills bhoys.

  9. bournesouprecipe on

    GLENDALYS

     

     

    Multi instrumentalist and unique vocalist, my big brother told me all about him when he came home from The Hyde Park gig

     

     

    Valerie CSC

  10. Right- wee quiz question- a few years back Rolling Stone produced a list of the 100 greatest singer songwriters and some of these were writing duos and writing teams like Gamble & Huff and Holland, Dozier, Holland.

     

     

    But try to guess the Top 10 without googling and see who gets most right. One wee hint only – there are 3 writing duos in the top 10 but they occupy 4 spaces because one of the writing duos got an individual credit each.

     

     

    One follow up question for the quiz- nominate the best singer songwriter who did not make the list.

     

     

    I’ll provide the top 10 after 7pm

  11. bigbhoy on @5:43pm

     

    ……………………………..…

     

     

    What do you think PL would say to you if you were sitting on top £130+ million of PL’s money and when PL asked you what you were doing? ….and you replied with…

     

     

    “Just calm down…these things take time…ok.”

     

     

    What do you think PL would say to you?

  12. I couldn’t possibly envisage anyone at Celtic taking on a young guy on Loan with no option to buy, giving him a salary of circa 1.3 Million for the year, unless Brendan specifically wanted him.

     

     

    Of course it still might not happen at all but even with Brendan’s backing, I’d still be amazed if they do it,

  13. SFTB

     

     

    Gilbert and Sullivan, Simon and Garfunkle, Ant and Dec….I claim my prize 😂

     

     

    H.H.

  14. Did you know that an interviewer once suggested to Paul Simon oot ay Simon and Garfunkel that he had committed plagiarism on the song The Boxer.

     

     

    Paul Simon went mental and shouted

     

     

    ‘ THAT’S A LIE!!! lie lie lie lie lie lie lie’

  15. Ordinary Joe

     

     

    I wouldn’t have called him an arsehole like these clowns.

     

     

    What entitled these fans to shout at the Celtic Chairman in the street