I know you are as delighted as I am for Callum McGregor. He has matured into a very talented central midfield player. One of our most composed on the ball, his first touch creates space and opens up play.
His 11th minute goal pure gallus, to use the local vernacular. Moussa Dembele did well with his first touch and lay-off into the hole, or to be more precise, the midfield chasm. McGregor sold the Newco defence a ticket to the movies for the afternoon, rolling the ball with the inside of his football, like a carpet bowl, past the cinema contemplating Fotheringham in goal.
Long before this, Celtic imposed their will on the game. As we broke forward, television pictures showed possession stats for the match until that point; Celtic had 85% of the ball. It didn’t stop then, either. Celtic continued to pass and move, dragging hapless shadows in their wake.
I’m going to be flippant about a non-flippant subject, for a moment.
“Right, Leigh, you’re on. Get your trackie off, go to the toilet. We’re out of milk, and you know what Broonie’s like if he doesn’t get his halftime tea, so you better nip to the shop on Aitkenhead Road before you put your top on. And Leigh, bring your lanyard to get back in. Then you can replace Moussa, he’s pulled his hamstring.”
It took Leigh Griffiths 3:17 mins to appear in the technical area after Moussa gave the substitution sign to the bench. I don’t know what was going on, but is an unacceptable delay.
We had possession a few times after Leigh pitched up, but it was a further 3:38 before the ball went out of play, and we were able to compete with 11 men again. Running aimlessly infield with a man waiting to join play offers considerably less utility than knocking it long into touch.
By the time Dembele retired after 26 minutes Newco were punch drunk. Allowing them to play against 10 men for 7:05 mins gave them a breather. They were able to pass the ball for the first time in the match, recharge batteries and get forward. They were unable to do anything with that possession, but Celtic had spent 7 minutes chasing and were not quite as dominant thereafter.
Halliday’s scissor-kick on Patrick Roberts after 3 mins would have resulted in a red card on many other occasions. Scott Brown must consider his suspension appeal stands an excellent chance, if this is the bar.
That wasn’t the end of the treatment dished out to Patrick. Beerman was cautioned for another challenge would could have resulted in more severe action, but the Newco player followed this with a cynical trip on Roberts two minutes later. It should have been a second yellow. Roberts had their number and there was nothing within the rules they could do about it.
The penalty, early in the second half, was a battle between Celtic’s pacey striker, Leigh Griffiths, and Newco’s pacey defender, Tavernier. The latter was schooled by the former. Why Tavernier lunged in so carelessly inside the box will be one of the items on their new manager’s “What’s going on?” list. Griffiths is a huge resource to have on the bench waiting for his chance. He’ll be counting the minutes until Saturday comes.
We were so much on top the temptation to showboat looked irresistible. Lustig, Boyata and Simunovic all ran out of position with the ball when straightforward options were available. As a consequence of this, and similar endeavours, play was more balanced in the final 20 minutes.
When you are so far ahead, there is a temptation to take an extra touch, but that extra touch undermined the system. The Celtic team is not filled with supermen, instead they have a hugely effective system. Stick to the system and we’ll look like supermen, go off piste and it will all get a bit indulgent looking. When we were at our Fabulous Best, we did the simple things very accurately and very quickly until the final third, where we were quicker still, and even more accurate. While we practiced this plan, we were unplayable.
Both teams should improve for the rematch in five days’ time. Newco, surely, cannot be any worse, but Celtic can make more of their dominance.
Raffle for Ibrox Tickets
Do you have a ticket for Ibrox on Saturday? Me neither, but Celtic sponsor, Intelligent Car Leasing, have again given us two tickets to raffle for Mary’s Meals. To win, make a minimum donation of £5 here, then the email confirmation you receive to me, celticquicknews@gmail.com with the word “Pedro” in the subject line. Make sure you enclose sufficient contact details, we don’t have a lot of time to arrange ticket collection.
The competition closes tomorrow at 23:00, so entries will be few. I think we’re going to enjoy Saturday, so get in there.
LIMITED NUMBER OF CQN LISBON THEMED JOCK STEIN T-SHIRTS REMAINING FROM CQNBOOKSTORE.COM – HURRY WHILE STOCKS LAST!
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Respectfully disagree with MOONBEAMSWD re the substitution. Over 7 minutes to make a substitution is utterly ridiculous, and this dilatory habit has been an issue for several years.
Compare and contrast the David Silva injury situation in the Arsenal game yesterday. Sterling was on the park immediately as Silva hobbled off. The subs should always be ready and warmed up, not sitting on their butts for 90 minutes, scoffing Tommy Tunnock’s caramel wafers. Watch a Mourinho team when a player sustains an injury – warm up suits are doffed instantly, even although they may have to be put back on if the injured player recovers.
It is a tad frustrating to watch Celtic subs preparing to come on, leisurely peeling off numerous layers, lacing their boots, talking to Kennedy or another coach over some piece of paper, then casually putting on a shirt. Why don’t they wear the shirt under the top? Why don’t they react in army speak double quick time? Refusing to put the ball out of play when a player is waiting to come on is unfathomable. Why does Brendan tolerate this? If Griffiths really needed additional warm up time, then was ready and waiting on the sideline, then what on earth use was he to us just standing there idle? If this is a strategy, it’s rationale Just baffles me.
IniquitousIV
DAVIDOPOULOS,
after 10 mins their ‘songbook’ was non-existent.
Maybe Griff was caught short and needed a ‘comfort break’ .
INIQUITOUSIV on 24TH APRIL 2017 3:09 PM
I’m unsure of what there is to disagree with.
It was justly view that Leigh was sent to warm up and it was not a decision he made. I suggested this may be due to his own recent issues with hammy problems and that Brendan was crossing his i’s and t’s to make sure he did not lose another player to a hammy strain during game. As for the time it took to get him on once ready that was just rediculous. Brendan speaks of game management a lot. I don’t see the decisions of our team to play while Leigh stood at side of park as good game management.
a) having warmed up Leigh was then cooling down again for almost 4 mins.
b) why play with 10 when 11 was preferable.
Just get the naw oot the park!
We pretty much agree on this except only point I was making was that it was not Leigh’s choice to have to warm up for over 3 mins.
Personally I’d have all subs sitting on bikes working their legs slowly and keeping the blood flow going while benched.
MWD
RogueLeader
Great to see you posting
BobbyM
Waterfront Restaurant is good for fish/seafood..
MWD
I have no issues with your post, and I definitely agree with your last sentence.
IniquitousIV
Last week’s tip was Broonie MOTM yesterday, this week’s tip is Stuart Armstrong to sign a new deal this week, and captain the team on Saturday , if the appeal fails.
BMCUWP
JamesGang
I hope you two are correct. I’ll be delighted to be proved wrong. I don’t have it in for Dedryk and will be very happy if he turns out to be a star for us. It’s not as if I haven’t been wrong before :-))
You both make the point about how hard Dedryk has worked to improve and how Brendan is helping him to rebuild his confidence and I acknowledge that having also read the reports about it. I’m still nervous about him but if he can improve his distribution and not linger too long on the ball, it will certainly further improve his performances. Here’s hoping!
Hail! Hail!
Celtic were outstanding.
Callum McG’s goal was exquisite. Scott S was rock steady.
Collum must be really quite afraid of RIFC.
We were camped in and about their penalty area for so much of the game but our goals came from a long ball and a breakaway.
Maybe Deydrick and Jozo are in total command but if either gets dispossessed or barged then they’ve opened up a clear route to goal.
oh happy day
TOSB
I hear you brother!
Too many sieves from the past.
Mark Reiper. Now there was a defender!
HH jamesgang
my two tips for Saturday is as follows:
1) Lustig to be captain (as he’s currently vice club captain)
2) Bitton to be sent off for two yellows for persistent fouling much like Beerman should’ve been yesterday in the first half!!
I’m sure others have mentioned this already but the one thing that twisted my mellow before the game was Sky TVs insistence on displaying the teamsheet/formation in blue on a blue pitch graphical background. No-one’s gonna tell me they couldn’t show Celtic in green. Huns.
wonder how many GFSers have jokered Newcastle tonight ?
Just met another uber Sev when picking wee blade up from school, his words
“Gerry we were lucky to get away with 2-0, at least at 1-0 we had a bit of hope”
Yet again, I just smiled
Great summary, Paul. Callum is becoming as undroppable as Armstrong. He is now worthy of being called a regular. He was unfairly slaughtered for missing a “sitter” ( it was nothing of the kind) against a, er,German team and many won’t forgive him.Good to see BR single him out recently for praise and possible International recognition.
The substitution delay was farcical and at the time gave Sevco practically their first period of possession in the match.Gordon had 2 or 3 opportunities to hoof the ball into the stand. I was getting as frustrated as Griff.
There is no doubt the mood of the team and the support including yours truly was in a totally different frame of mind to the unusual lowkey atmosphere that permeated Celtic Park in the recent drawn match. Celtic had just been crowned champions and that derby game did not really seem to matter it appeared.
Yesterday was a different matter entirely, the needle was back big time and Celtic meant business. The team played some great football for seventy minutes and should have been further ahead before a few wobbles late in the second half. Scott Brown was at his Roy Keane best with his menacing shaven head. Did somebody say Leigh Griffiths lacked a bit of pace? that was a terrific burst of speed when he broke down the park to win that all-important penalty. Outstanding performances by young Roberts and Callum, another player who has blossomed under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers. A great team performance overall.
Paddy Roberts quoted in Glasgow Rag today,
Celtic winger Patrick Roberts admits he is relieved he did not sustain serious damage after Andy Halliday’s wild lunge.
The on-loan Manchester City player was lucky to escape uninjured after Rangers midfielder Halliday launched himself at his opponent just three minutes into Sunday’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Referee Willie Collum showed Halliday mercy by only producing a yellow card but he could have had no complaints had it been red.
And Roberts confessed he was just glad he was able to walk away from the horror challenge.
Paddy was also asked ” Should Halliday been shown a red card” ?
Paddy replies ” Scott Brown got a red last week against Ross County”.
TONYDONNELLY67 on 24TH APRIL 2017 12:34 PM
About yesterday’s game, well not really about that, but how the f… did that mob beat Aberdeen 3-0 ?
*it’s called derek kai johansen mcinnes macaroni. they needed the points tae retain 3rd.
TGJ- i know Lustig is vice captain, but i think he might make SA el capitano for Saturday.HH
Saw some highlights of the game last night. Three things stood out for me
As someone who said that Brown’s tackle last week was a red, that assault on Roberts merited not only a red, but a lengthy suspension. Absolutely shocking. No attempt to play the ball…. that was just an attempt to curry favour with the hordes, by trying to be a hardman . PR was very fortunate that he was not seriously injured. No place for that in the game.
Last season, I didn’t think that CMcG was consistent enough, and didnt think he merited a starting spot. I haven’t seen him enough this season, but, if that goal is typical of his game this year, then he will make it very hard to leave him out. I keep advocating for more and quicker movement (of the players and the ball), and that goal was exactly what I have been hoping for …
.. a great quick ball, controlled exquisitely by Dembele, whose pass was perfectly weighted… but CMcG’s contribution was the cherry on the cake …. he saw the space, and timed his run perfectly, and the speed of thought to get his foot around the ball, and bend it into the corner without breaking stride was Messi-esque!
BR, and the whole team, seemed much more confident that even the last game against the zombies. The turn around under BR this season has been remarkable.
As I have said before, a team can only beat the teams in front of it. And, very few teams (even great ones) have managed to go through a season undefeated… if they can manage that, I think it would be Celtic’s greatest achievement since Lisbon.
Anywhere in Split, Croatia to watch game on Saturday? Ta
VFR800,
Cheers mate for reposting my earlier post.
DAVIDOPOULOS,
Belated Hoopy birthday mate !
HH
Wee coffee break there, decided to watch the highlights again on BBC website where I caught site of Kris Boyd’s player ratings.
What I do know is that Boyd’s agent has been specifically instructed to get him any media gig he can. The BBC are obliging as they always do for liquidatees. He is a moron, but that doesn’t seem to matter.
Anyway, this made me laugh.
Scott Brown (centre midfield) 8
Led by example and could have had a nine. Strolled through the game. He’s so influential and so important.
‘Could have had a nine’ That just oozes pain. Anyone want to offer a reason it wasn’t a 9 from Kris? :-)
BMCUW: Thanks to you and Almore for the attempted assistance with the game in Malaga. In the end we thought it was a bit too long to be away on her birthday so we sausaged it instead. Only dropped twice and was easily recoverable. Best one was Sky with no commentary! Feeling a bit tender today but thanks again. In Tavira, Algarve next week. Know there’s a Celtic bar there!
Mike In Toronto………….The bravery of a young lad like Paddy Roberts has to be greatly admired to continue playing with such confidence after a seasoned pro like Halliday tries to maim him and with no protection from the officials.
I was surprised to read somewhere last week the amount of first team games that Callum has played this year. I believe yesterday was his 40th appearance this season.
For a lad that up to this year was at best rated a squad Player that to me is sensational.
Brendan obviously rates him and that is good enough for me.
Like others here I am still annoyed at the Haliday tackle, rotten f**ker, could have maimed Paddy.
Brooney will be a huge loss at the Bigot Dome, what will Brendan do, probably Bitton, I know it would be a huge risk but I would prefer the physical presence of Ebouie.
BMCUW
Isle Of Erisksa
Walker saying that the support of sevco will be angry and are justified in feeling that way, think Celtic may need body armour going there and I’m not joking.Free reign to boot us all over the park and the media will use that they are competitive, interesting how Celtic deal with this.
Joe Cundy,
I was in Tavira a couple of weeks ago. I never saw a Celtic bar, but there is the Black Anchor, an Irish Bar, ( has live GAA matches), which will probably show Celtic.
HH
Hankray …. agree 100% …. i didn’t see the whole game, but it has to be hard to keep coming back when you have to worry about possibly career ending challenges going (largely, if not entirely) unpunished.
Thanks Yogi, it has a listing on celtic bars.com
BMCUW
here are the menus tricky to find
http://www.eriska-hotel.co.uk/restaurant-0/accreditations
Couldn’t understand why it took so long to get the griff on yesterday , all the subs should have been ready to enter the field straight away . Celtic not booting the ball out when we had the chance to let griff on was also strange . But yesterday was as comfortable as I can remember , although saying that I wish the defence wouldn’t fool about as much , we will get caught out yet with that nonsense . This so far has been a top season , but we still have positions I feel can be improved upon . European qualification is the aim , build for Europe ,and football up here will take care of itself , we must continue to improve the side . We have a grand manager I just hope PL makes sure the guy gets the players in he wants , if he does that ,there will be many many more days like yesterday . With regards to Scott brown , I hope the beaks at the SFA compare what went unpunished yesterday , to the minor offence that saw broony sent off .
The substitution yesterday …..
My take on it was BR taking the piss out of Rangers ….we train with 10 men before the Rangers games so no need to rush :)
Not a fan of SB , but thought he was imperious yesterday.
SS, KT and SA not as influential going forward making sure not to get caught wrong side (BR obviously knows they break at pace ) ,hopefully we keep up the intensity at the weekend and punish them big time .
The guys out on loan have all won MOTM awards Saidy janko , Efe , and big O’connell although i think he saw red at the weekend .
I had high hopes for Saidy , maybe BR can bring him on .
also why do we end up panicking in the last 10/15 minutes of games ?
Ps ….fantastic backing from the bhoys in the stands once again .
BR , would he consider putting KT into Broonies place with armstrong and mcgregor and Izzy at left back
For me KT could play anywhere behind the front 2 or 3 .
Ps….The treatment of PR reminded me of wee Jinky against Athleticos thugs .Both lucky not to recieve career ending tackles ! no scrap that assaults! would be a better description .
Pps…. THEBARCAMOLE , are you fed up yet ,lounging about the pool suppin yir ciders in 70 + degree heat with a dusky maiden at your beck and call …some guys have all the luck eh !! ;))
Take care pal .
apols
http://www.eriska-hotel.co.uk/restaurant-0
I heard Brendan Rodgers interview with Alan Brazil this morning.
To be honest, Ray Parlour seemed far more complimentary to Celtic than Mr Brazil. In fact, Big Al couldn’t help but talk about Celtic players being sold. He then was asking Rodgers about VVD, obviously unaware that VVD is not a player Brendan has coached.
Utter rubbish.