There was much to love in yesterday’s win at St Johnstone, so many lessons played out, it was a clear opportunity to learn a bit about the game.
On Tuesday last week, before Leigh Griffiths had kicked a competitive ball this season, I wrote, “Leigh is one of the most natural goal scorers we have seen at Celtic this century. He has natural pace, confidence and an attitude that will not easily be subverted”, and that his campaign “could start as early as Thursday, if we need a goal late in the game.”
In July, after he was left at home while the squad travelled to France, I wrote, “My money is on him scoring the goal that seals the 10.” He is that good a striker you can hang yourself out there and know he will perform.
The header was a dream; watch how he arced his back before thundering the ball inches inside the post. It was an exceptional finish, from an exceptional goal scorer. If you think he is the only player in the squad with baggage, you were not watching carefully enough yesterday, but he has the talent that could be the difference between first and second in the league, and he wants to be here.
I don’t think I have seen a player play on after being scythed in two, as Patryk Klimala was yesterday. Mark him up as another with talent, who wants to be here. Tom Rogic did his part too, but how consequential was Scott Brown’s arrival?
Without Brown on the field, Kristopher Ajer would not have been advanced enough to do a jink on the edge of the St Johnstone area, making space for Hatem Elhamed’s cross. Nor would Shane Duffy be as high up the field to play a short pass to Klimala on the edge of the area.
After the game, Neil Lennon spoke about those throwing stats at his captain, you can see he’s been affected. Suggestions that the manager does not see what tens of thousands of fans see is ludicrous. Stats are a great tool, but they need to be interpreted correctly; some of the best defenders hardly ever touch the ball or tackle, but they can still control a game, while some captains impose a gameplan. Neither attribute shows up well on the stats.
Maybe see you later.
417 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- »
For what it’s worth I clench my fist when I see certain poster come on.
Might be something in it.
Any comment from SPFL on sale of rights yet?
Couldn’t be that The Rangers have broke the rules, could it?
How can The Rangers sell the rights to something they don’t have exclusive ownership of…I’ve a feeling this will have some distance to run…
HH
BGFC
ONENIGHTINLISBON on 5TH OCTOBER 2020 2:03 PM
BIG WAVY on 5TH OCTOBER 2020 12:25 PM
As yo8u may be aware, I’m not a huge fan of our manager but at least he had the sense to make the substitutions he did….
—-
Agreed but I guess my point was that it felt like a bit of a hail mary move than with any strategy in mind.
Interestingly in both goals it was fascinating to see the involvement of all 3 of our CHs in creating the chances.
HH
I reckon we should let those who want away, go.
We have enough cover in most areas to win the 10 IF when we get clicking right again.
As elegant as Olli is (on his day) you get the sense that Kilmala like hunger doesnt burn so, in our Gallic pal.
Mibby Ed and others are worried COVID is going to dash those dream big money moves (agents probably leveraging the fear to fuel discontent and force a transfer thru).
If Ajeti, Griff and Paddy all stay fit…we’ll be right at least locally,
Hope the Laxsaly kid is our (Uru) guy. Read back about him and he’s seen multiple EPL deals fall thru.
Hawked and shuttled around on loan by greedy agents reports say. Hope he recover his appetite and form for us.
Big Jimmy – from previous thread, my Knee or ligaments on inside of knee are killing me so much that my back and hips are sore and I had to have large amounts of Lager yesterday to cope with said pain. :)
Hope you are well sir.
D :)
BIG WAVY on 5TH OCTOBER 2020 2:16 PM
Totally agree pal….last gasp, no other option…
A Uruguayan defender who has spent some time in Italy, please make it so.
Please consider joining the 50+ who have already voted and make your opinions count. A brief email with the names of your 3 best performers from yesterdays game, in no particular order and without even needing to justify your choices – couldn’t be simpler! results should be out just after 10pm tonight. And remember, this is open to all, posters and lurkers alike.
CQNPOTY@GMAIL.COM
Turkeybhoy
I was in one of the premium car showrooms a couple of months ago
The salesman was very open
No top up pay on the goverment furlough scheme was being paid by said car dealership
Not all sales staff had yet returned.
Not that I would buy from there, but wanted to look at a specific car model
Borgo
Will be very excited if we get this Laxalt deal done. 👍
DD
I know GT isn’t a favourite of yours. I don’t post very often so I try not to look at the negatives when I do. But the left side of our defence gives me the hebee geebees.
Hi all.
I’d pause before reacting to anything published by the Herald.
They have a dwindling target demographic which doesn’t include us.
So any bumming up of Sevco’s activities isn’t just on the agenda – it’s a default setting.
Just to be clear – Sevco do not own the SPFL television rights.
You see this the problem we have with this Celtic Board of Directors especially Peter Lawell as he is ,I think high up in the SFA ,any skullduggery that Sevco and Referees get up to ,he doesn’t seem to challenge them why?As for Sevco and the India Sports Station it’s just not on SPFL would need to pay all clubs and TV Companies for showing these games,So what I suggest is for Peter Lawell and other club Chairmen need answers,let them away with nothing and that includes all Referees,especially the one who is the Refs Boss.
Borgo
Yes, agree 100% with you, however, hebee geebees is mild to my feelings on us left side defensively. 😜
The Frank McGarvey game that SAINT STIVS posted earlier , I also was in attendance. Happy days then, but 18,000 in attendance, you’ve got to laugh.
Borgo- ditto, some very creative accounting in those days…..
Borgo
I was in the Jungle, it was mobbed. Main Stand full. Nearer 30,000 there that day.
Get a left back/ wing back and winger in.
D :)
Always seemed to be about 10.000 more at every home game than the official attendance.
Absolutely criminal what that board got away with. We were so close to having a great team then.
In the old day’s at Parkheid, at least 25% of the crowd got a lift over the turnstiles, maybe more than that, as far as I remember.
The Park v Aberdeen, always mobbed
Attendance 29,000….aye right….
In those day’s as well, a lift over the turnstiles happened at every stadium, until Pittodrie and Ibrox became all seated, as far as i remember.
With Sevco selling the Tv rights in India…
I think they must be forging links with the Wee Agra People
& they can sing “No No Poppadoms, No chapatis to sadden my eye”
Puri Arcade?
good article today Paul. In addiction, a new signing in a certain position can have an affect on the balance and performance of the team. A wing back who can defend and provide penetrating runs in attack, increase confidence in the back three defense who recently have been twisting and turning to cover weakness. We will see the best out of mcgregor and provide ammo to strikers.
Vital we make that signing.
PS would also benefit Taylor who has been running his socks of and playing his heart out – he needs a rest but is more suited in a back 4
We Are The Bhopal?
The TV rights story intrigues me, how can a single club from an association own the rights to all games across that association within a particular region, including those of its direct rivals?
At first I thought this was secvo simply selling rights to their own games abroad, as Celtic do for example via CelticTV. Noted however Celtic utilise a direct sale/broadcast to the customer model. However sevco’s own website states –
“Following the acquisition of the exclusive 2020/2021 season SPFL rights for India, Rangers forged a wide-ranging partnership with Star Sports…..”
I assume, as is relatively normal for any country’s association, the SPFL packaged broadcasting rights by region, and auctioned those rights. Normally you’d expect local broadcasters (such as BEIN Sports, Fox Sports etc) to bid directly, so what happened here?
Were sevco allowed to bid, along with traditional broadcasters, and hence won that bid? If so, did sevco at the time have representation on the SPFL board? Would that person have access to the submitted bids? Was this considered a conflict of interest? It’s possible of course there were no other bids, but even this information has value to a potential buyer.
Further, if Star Sports didn’t bid in the SPFL auction, why did they buy the same sell-on rights from sevco? This may suggest sevco are selling on at a loss, and see the potential club exposure in India of greater value. It could also suggest collusion, which is rife in football rights bidding.
Alternatively, did sevco approach the SPFL individually and request these rights, and was the price agreed in private and without competition? This seems unlikely, as the most likely response would be to offer to all SPFL clubs, not sure if I recall any news to this effect.
Finally, a question for the floor. Should a single association member be given the exclusive broadcast rights for the entire association, including all of its rivals? Would this represent a conflict of interest? If we assume part of being awarded broadcasting rights is that you’re actually going to, you know, broadcast and promote the full product; how would that member have the power to thoroughly or selectively promote the league, or marginalise its rivals?
SAINT STIVS
your observation about Polish Pat and Frank McGarvey was right on the money.
I cannot think of too many forwards( Jinky aside ) who would have taken that tackle on Sunday, got up and scored. It was Frank all over.
Thanks for the video. A game I remember well.
Patryk also played a lovely outside of the right foot pass through to Griff when we were running down the clock – lovely pace on the pass.
Would love him to do well – love seeing our Polish cousins in the Hoops.
HH
BGFC
!!BADA BING!! on 5TH OCTOBER 2020 2:07 PM
SS- I remember McGarvey’s goal, it was right on HT,and he got a standing ovation going up the tunnel.
the video is at the bottom of my post.
as i commented, maybe franks best game, but also Danny and Provan were brilliant, and a special mention for the Ports own Michael Conroy. 39 years ago for goodness sake, and when i watch it i can recall being there in the jungle, can also smell it.
I got lifted over once only my first ever game which was the friendly against China in 1979.
Delaneys Dunkey………,……..Yesterday’s match was like having a sweet and sour mid day Chinese meal. Sweet last fifteen minutes and sour for the rest. Agree our young Polish striker may well have scored goal of the season.
So, one of the joys of full time working from home, and the zoom calls phenomena.
I was on a team call, 4 Yanks, 2 Mexicans, an Argentinian, 3 Slovaks, 1 pole, a Brazilian, an Indian and Scottish me.
To a man and woman, they all want to know “how did the Celtics do ” “what was the score” “are you happy today”
I think my assorted choice of Celtic Park and Celtic moments backgrounds might be influencing it.
Wonderful.
Hopefully Diego Laxalt Signs today. Noticed that he has never won a winners medal. Hopefully hungry for a few at Celtic. 5 even, this season.
Hankray
Good analogy.
It sure was a belter. How he sprung back to his feet so quickly, and remained so composed, was a joy to watch.
Lewandowski like 👍🇵🇱🍀💚
Maybe I’m not seeing what others are seeing with the Christie thing but to me, it looked like a fist-pump of relief which is probably what many felt.
Maybe a case of mountains and molehills here.
GeeBee
I agree with you. Looked like that to me.
He also retained composure after the goal by not over celebrating.
I am with DD and Hankray re Paddy`s goal. There will probably be ` better` goals scored this season but I doubt any of them will impress me more than did Patryk`s.