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.
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Marspapa
Just on briefly.
Funnily enough the Haliday tackle on Paddy reminded me of Jinky’s treatment against Athletico. I was very impressed with Paddy’s reaction to their brutality yesterday, he just got up and went at them again and again.
An extremely brave performance.
I also heard the BR interview on Talksport and BR was very complimentary about players playing for Celtic, I think BR has talked Scottish football (& Celtic) up at every opportunity….
As for the coward Halliday’s tackle on Paddy, a total joke, but Paddy being a bit more cleverer than Halliday knew it was coming, if his leg was planted it would have been nasty, thankfully Paddy was riding the tackle before Halliday (the coward) was on his way down….
By the way Halliday got sacked from the old Huns, I love them having players like that, in the words of Hugh Keevins for as long as Brendan is at Celtic park “they” will live in our shadow, canny believe I am quoting Shug Keevins, but for once he has hit the nail right on its heid
Wasn’t it the same linesman who was near the “tackle” on Paddy Roberts, who delayed raising his flag for offside until the sevco player had blootered the ball high wide and not so handsome? I think we should be told……….Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
H/T,
I don’t wish to undermine Paddy Robert’s courage yesterday, but I don’t think it came near the treatment Jinky received at the hands of Atletico. They were as dirty as Racing Club, and that is really saying something.
lg was well up for that game when he came on – the half volley was stunning – tr , at least got more game time
Bada
i have always found it difficult to see Celtic live on TV in Croatia.
if you do Facebook (which I don’t) maybe try this:
https://en-gb.facebook.com/Celtic-Supporters-Club-Croatia-KN-Celtic-Hrvatska-419590708128752/
It seems active as it has summaries of yesterday’s game
At the start of the season I posted that IMO Calum under Brendan would get plenty of game time.
He has everything that BR wants from a player, his plays with his head up, his movement is superb and will only get better as he has already with proper coaching.
Unlike a fair few on here, he would nearly always find a place in my starting eleven.
p.s.
I like the emblem of the Croatia Celtic Supporters Club. Celtic Croatia Against Racism. Very different to attitudes expressed in that part of the world by supporters of many other clubs.
https://www.facebook.com/419590708128752/photos/a.419600584794431.1073741825.419590708128752/907416596012825/?type=1&theater
NATKNOW on 24TH APRIL 2017 4:05 PM
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.
————-
Without the ability to rewind , I thought I had imagined that. Thanks for confirming it really was BLUE.
Whilst looking for a decent sausage my sons kept saying why can’t you just subscribe to Sky – I have VM. I told them Sky was not getting a penny from me due to their treatment of the Scottish game and anti-Celtic bias.
That plus the commentary throughout the game convinced them I was right (again). Especially Walker trying to convince everyone that Simunovic handled the ball deliberately and therefore should have been a penalty. This was during the replay which clearly showed it was not deliberate and it didn’t even hit his hand.
Are you getting tickets for the final? They asked at full time.
Don’t get me started on the SFA, I said. Another shower who will not get a penny from me. At least, not directly where I have a choice.
Parkheadcum…..,
I don’t think anyone, including myself, was equating the volume of abuse Jimmy suffered against AM, with what Patrick endured yesterday.
The comparison is in how he reacted, i.e., bouncing back onto his feet and coming again.
is this wc dishing out a yellow for gbh again?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqpAyyugB58
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 24TH APRIL 2017 5:43 PM
I was at the Atletico game and I agree. Dirtiest, most cynical team I have ever seen, before or since. Nothing compares to that night.
I posted last night that Paddy’s resilience in coming back again and again from assault after assault reminded me of Jinky – and now I’ve watched the game again, having sobered up, I stick by that!
HH
SSB is hilarious…..
I knew that mob would be raging about Pedro cuddling Brendan
Happy days :-)
Good evening, friends.
Hi there , wee story from work today , says to Hun like taking candy from a baby . Hun aye wait till next year, how’s that then, Hun we get rid of the dross and get some decent players , aye a says where do you’s get the money from Hun says someday will gee us it me haaaaahaaaa ! hope it’s all they have
SFTB
Condolences to you & your family on your sad loss.
YNWA
Jobo 6.16pm
I know a few like you and IanBhoys weather posts in the morning but I need to admit your “good evening friends” is one of my favourite posts, especially on a Monday evening as I am usually in Queen Street station around 6.17pm and I have a wee smile to mylself
Big game tonight in the English Championship, Newcastle at home to Preston. Newcastle are 7 points behind Brighton and have 3 games left, but have a slightly better goal difference. If Newcastle lose, Beram Kayal’s Brighton are champions. But 33 Goals-For_Shayers expect The Magpies to score a barrowload, with 1 playing a joker.
Anyway, it’s on Sky so not a game I can watch ;-)
STV Question to Danny Wilson – “How do you close the gap on Celtic?” Answer “We just have to close it”
Another insight into how completely deluded both their fans and players are. Long may it continue….
GFTB – thank you for that. It rarely gets a response but that’s not the reason for me saying it anyway. It’s just one of my many routinely worded posts that include ‘must run…’, ‘doors to automatic…’ .
NoImaginationWhatsoeverCSC
Don’t know if it has been mentioned before, but did anyone notice that both teams lined up around the centre circle yesterday?
They were obviously anticipation a minutes silence or applause for Ugo Ehiogue, which didn’t materialise.
ONENIGHTINLISBON on 24TH APRIL 2017 6:27 PM
STV Question to Danny Wilson – “How do you close the gap on Celtic?” Answer “We just have to close it”
Another insight into how completely deluded both their fans and players are. Long may it continue….
_____________–
You missed the end of that answer where he says “my daa’s a plasterer, he can skim over it”
I read on the twitter feeds from the High Court, that the wee tax bill was known to RFC 1872-2012 in January 2011, so they had outstanding social taxes and a license granted to play in Europe when this was overdue and unpaid.
Im sure Celtic and the RES 12 leaders are aware of this and will act accordingly
BFDJ isnt half a 5 carder
Jobo 6.31pm
I try and stay off the blog dduring the week (for my own sanity and not too annoy any fellow Celtic fans) but a wee Monday off so my working week starts the morra….
Again, in all honesty that is one of my favourite posts and always has been, apologies for highlighting it :-)
Derek Johnstone is comedy gold tonight…..am so glad DJ follows the team from the dark side, I think at times Gerry McCullough toys with his stupidity
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
For me theres never been a braver player than Jinky .
I thought he may have seen sense playing against the likes of Racing Club and Athletico knowing he would be targeted , but no nae shin pads and socks roon ees ankles …never gave an inch the wee mhan .
Then you have the likes of “Shalk” and his ilk, cowards and cheats .
GFTB
SSB has been brilliant tonight, the huns that have been on have all mentioned the embrace at the end of the game, hurting fud monkeys one and all, their pain is my pleasure :-)
Evening All.
I see some talk of Talk Sport.
At one point I used to listen to Alan Brazil because I liked him as a player, liked that he was a Celtic fan and talked up the Celtic and created interest in Celtic in the midst of the English media, and, initially at least, I quite liked the banter between Brazil and Mike Parry especially when they took their show out on the road to places like The Lismore Bar in Glasgow.
However, as time went on it became clear that the show was going down the pan. Dumbed down radio, less and less researched analysis, more and more the station relied on outright controversy to attract viewers and to be honest it just became offensive — whether the subject matter was Celtic related or not.
As a result, I have not listened to Talk Sport at all for years.
I have also not listened to Radio Clyde for years because BFDJ and Hugh Keevins talk complete and utter nonsense and to be honest if I want to listen to nonsense I can talk to myself.
I sometimes don’t agree with what is said on Radio Scotland in relation to this or that, but their football coverage and discussion is head and shoulders above anything else on offer.
Of course, when it comes to the detail of issues surrounding the likes of Res 12 they don’t do enough (or any) forensic analysis of what happened when, but I don’t expect any part of the Scottish media to do any great talking about that until after the outcome of the big tax case and some wheels begin to turn and comment is made about the conclusions which will be inevitable.
In the interim, This is what it feels to be Celtic, Champions again you know ………….
DESSYBHOY
I might have misheard, but, i’m sure on the radio on the way home the accountant dealing with Craig Whyte told him , the board had talked about closing the club down in 2006 !!
Maybe wishful thinking on my part but i thought thats what was said .
Dessybhoy
We are getting regular updates and are fully aware. There will be real detail to come out. Watch very, VERY, closely and see the detail and compare to the WRITTEN and recorded statements given by others in the past.
Does anyone know if Celtic Youths v Hitler ( Sorry Sevco Youths) is on ANY TV Channel thiS Wednesday ?
I’ve looked at STV Glasgow and ALBA for that night…no sign of it.
HH
GREENPINATA on 24TH APRIL 2017 1:30 PM
Paul 67.
Totally agree. I thought Callum McGregor was finished at Parkhead after his D&D, but he has proven us all wrong.
Probably the most improved player alongside Stuart Armstrong.
And there’s more to come.
HH.
…………..
GREENPINATA on 24TH APRIL 2017 1:30 PM
Paul 67.
Totally agree. I thought Callum McGregor was finished at Parkhead after his D&D, but he has proven us all wrong.
Probably the most improved player alongside Stuart Armstrong.
And there’s more to come.
HH.
…………..
Correct
missed this peach from today,
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James Doleman @jamesdoleman 3h3 hours ago
More
Findlay describes Rangers in Europe in 2011 as “A day trip to Malmö”
Reporting Scotland never even mentioned our win yesterday. How they must be hurting!!!
What I want to know is this.
How can Donald Findlay talk on his mobile when he’s got that pipe clamped in his mouth?
I mean, no hands and walking down the street and everything.
How does he do it?
Just heard Craig Whyte didn’t have the money to buy the old Huns ?
I would have tapped him the quid if he asked
Parkheadcumsalford
I think Thomthethim has pretty much summed up what I intended in my post. Paddy’s treatment wasn’t as bad as what Jinky received that night but I was impressed with Paddy’s willingness to go at them time and again, similar to what Jinky did.