The big decision of the day was to move Callum McGregor from central mid to left back, leaving Celtic with a Scott Brown – Olivier Ntcham central midfield partnership. This was the central mid pairing we started the season with, when form was at its poorest for years. Due to injury, the side changed at halftime at Murrayfield in the League Cup semi-final against Hearts, infusing the season with fresh impetus. Without that change in October the league table would look significantly different right now.
Jonny Hayes could have started at left back, as he did at Pittodrie on Wednesday, allowing McGregor to partner either Brown or Ntcham, but Brendan Rodgers’ gamble did not pay off and Celtic did not compete throughout the 90 minutes.
We hoped for tactical changes at halftime but injuries to Filip Benkovic and Mikael Lustig limited what the manager was able to do. Odsonne Edouard replaced Mikey Johnston on the hour, which improved things, especially when Callum McGregor was able to get into the box in support, but Newco had control of the game throughout. It was a one goal victory that could easily have been four. Special mention goes to Craig Gordon, who repeatedly got his teammates out of trouble.
Although we got little from James Forrest, Scott Sinclair, Ryan Christie and Mikey Johnstone, we were forward so seldom, it is difficult to be too harsh on any of them. Dedryck Boyata’s chances of a big money offer next month were not enhanced as he repeatedly mis-controlled and mis-passed.
We had two late chances to equalise, McGregor put the ball in the net but was marginally offside, and Ntcham had a great chance blocked, but a draw would have flattered the champions.
I seldom complain about officiating, but Morelos kicked, punched and stamped on Celtic players off the ball, without caution. I assume referee John Beaton missed each incident but we should see retrospective action.
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GREENPINATA on 29TH DECEMBER 2018 11:42 PM
Macjay,
Don’t go to mass very often now, however I always try to make midnight mass when circumstances permit.
I miss the hymns in Latin.
I also reminisce about the Gaelic mass which brings back magical memories.
Off topic I know, but hey ho.
HH YNWA.
=============================================
Similar situation , myself.
I always remember that virtually every society has a ” supreme being . ”
Part of the human DNA , I suppose.
If that doesn`t work , then at the very least a spiritual side to one`s life is helpful.
I expect to attend a Tridentine Mass soon .
Perhaps with a plain chant ” Credo in unum Deum ” thrown in.
:-)
GREENPINATA
Get yer lugs roon this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErJ3u_ePnuI
Wally dishes rools.
Got a feeling Gerry that’s not good night ??
Dyo ever feel alone
I mean nothing
Alone
Nothing
I didn’t mean anything
Earlier
There’s gaps
I need to fill
Mother wasn’t
Always
1973
She started drinking
Father was
Mental
And an alcoholic
We were children
Father
Jail
Mother
Drink
And
Men
Then
Father came home
Jealosy
That was gonna
Work right
And he was violent
And so was she
Perfect
And I cry now
Cos what came
Later
Funny story about Calton, my mate went out with a bird fae the Calton when we were in our 20s about 30 years ago.
He had a black Datsun, and next morning it said on it Calton tongs in white paint. He had to get a re spray???
Judas old bird apparently
D. :)
Caltontongues I beg your pardon about your name, you are correct that is pretty ignorant.. Sorry
My wife is from here I have been here 25 year and know a few people through playing footy and Celtic
D. :)
DAVID66 on 30TH DECEMBER 2018 12:42 AM,
Yer excused. My family are from Rymer Street.
Caltontongues , apologies for the wrong spelling of your moniker, I would hope that any decent Tim would apologise for that comment, no matter whom U disagreed with on this site or anywhere would I say that , pretty sure nobody else on this site would say that
Caltontongues what’s there names?
You know big Keech? Steven McGechran in the Garngad flute band??
D. :)
Can I ask a genuine question
My mother was a Catholic.
We were mostly raised protestant
Help me find a way
DAVID66 on 30TH DECEMBER 2018 12:47 AM,
T’was in the 60’s.
Calmac was a quarter of a yard offside, no way did the Liesman see that, he either guessed or awarded the way he wanted to. When there is no clear daylight the benefit should go to the attacker. Cheating bassa.
Caltontongues. Goodness sake I was born in 66
D:)
David17 12.52am
Not even a quarter of an inch… the four leaf clover “might” have been over the 18yrd line
Travellerbhoy 12.49am
After meeting you in McChuills any chance you could show me the way
3 red cards in one game.
https://twitter.com/p_bov1/status/1079028728330637312
The way
Is
Celtic
I proclaim
For
Gerryfaethebrig
And
All
CQNdom
WEEBAWBABITTY on 30TH DECEMBER 2018 12:58 AM,
Obviously you missed the :-)))) after the Quote, but…
As for Hard man? Meet up, whit?
BAR67CSC
Traveller Bhoy 1.08am
Brilliant ?
I was an idiot (still am)
2008 my life changed
Hope we will talk rubbish in many years to come, through BMCUWP… if not for that Sentinel Celts I would have met less ….
Weebawbabbitty #????
I’ve got the best genes man
My maternal grandmother
Drank herself to death
Alcoholic poisoning
Mother’s brother
The same
Found dead after he had been living in a shed
Alcohol related
Maternal grandfather died an alcoholic after taken 2 strokes the secondthst killed him
Father alcoholic
71
Still alive
Stroke and alcohol related dementia
Paternal grandfather died at 54 after breaking back alcoholic
Paternal grandmother
Died 74 secret heavy drinker
Mother murdered
Alcoholic
Sister dead 44 alcoholic
Brother dead 35 alcoholic
Brother dead 24 alcoholic
Sister 50 alcoholic
sister 42 alcoholic
Me 48 alcoholic
Apparantely it’s a disease
Travellerbhoy 1.23am
I used to think you were somebody that wrote letters … only met me for a short time your words are
Powerful
Also sad
But mainly powerful
I asked earlier on
A bout a time
I can barely remember
We used to go
To the club in cowie
Near the camp.
Glass bottles
If coke all round
My first school
Baby brother born
Happy
Then sadness
Then I don’t know
Cowie
Nobody talks of it.
It’s being upheld
TravellerBhoy, stay strong.
I’ve met you and your Bhoy, keep him close.
I’ll look forward to our next beer.
Not hard to see where the issue is with us this season.
Our home record in all competitions is W14 D1 L1. (AEK & Salzburg)
Our away record is W8 D5 L7.
Two wins at neutral venues.
We have been abject in most of those away games we failed to win. Completely unrecognisable from the same team at Parkhead. It’s very Jekyll & Hyde and needs to be addressed.
Teams know we’re vulnerable away. We play the same tactics as at home, but it’s not working. The pitches are tighter, the press is higher & we look ill at ease.
He needs to find an effective Plan B away from home. This form us utterly dreadful and inexcusable. It’s on the manager.
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 30TH DECEMBER 2018 2:18 AM
Interesting logical assessment based on stats.
For upheld
Read witheld
Doc
Thank you
Travellerbhoy
Keep on keeping on L.
Make the shit better.
Love to you pal.
YNWA
Nursing a nasty hangover in Sydney in 30 degrees. Cheers Bar was rocking last night….until the match started!!
I have to say I’m not overly upset at the result last night. It had to happen at some stage and will hopefully clarify a couple of things re the squad moving forward:
1. We have some very good players, even if they played sh*te yesterday. Tierney, CalMac, Forrest, Christie, Ntcham, Edouard, Rogic and Johnstone should set us up well for the future.
2. Brown is coming back from injury and will probably improve. However, if we want a mobile, attacking pressing team like Salzburg his time is up. I wouldn’t give him a new contract at this stage.
3. As Stephboy has mentioned a couple of times we have a great opportunity over the next 18 months with lots of our squad players contracts expiring. This summer it is Allan, Izaguirre, Gamboa, Lustig, Brown and De Vries. Next year it is Bitton, Mulumbu, Compper and Hayes (hopefully we can even move on a few of these before 2020).
4. If we can get any decent bids for Boyata in Jan we should take the money. It makes no sense to lose out on 3 or 4m (if we can get it) and have no money for his replacement.
5. It is encouraging to see us linked with players like Castagne and previously Piccini. If we could sign any players like this they would surely improve us. Castagne played for Atalanta yesterday and they won 6-2 so I doubt he will leave in Jan. We will probably have to look elsewhere but at least we know we are trying to get the right quality of player.
MacJay
My assessment of the match yesterday would get me a CQN Red Card.
Deplorable performance by all bar Craig for his saves, and Calmac out of position.
No good enough.
YNWA
KEV on 29TH DECEMBER 2018 9:56 PM
16 ROADS. on 29TH DECEMBER 2018 9:28 PM
KEV – 7 trophies on the bounce says Ernie is full of mad dog’s keech.
Some say the devil is dead. ?
######################
Desmond wants into the EPL, but, he’ll only get there, as part of the Old Firm.
Given, 2008 Manchester, that’s debatable.
From Desmond, Lawwell and Rodgers p.o.v, if we had won today, the league might have been over.
But, that leads to apathy, and apathy leads to empty seats.
So, my paranoia kicks in, and tells me that, like WGS in 2009, we were going for 4 in a row, which would / could’ve meant, hun administration, so, imho, WGS was got at, to drop Aiden McGeady, and play Shaun Maloney, who had been injured for most of the season, a shocking decision, that came from nowhere, just like Brendan’s team sheet today, I felt, and continue to feel he has been got at. Why do I think that, well, because, he has taken two pishy transfer window’s on the chin, so, he can be played, and, imho, he has been a player right from the start, keeping the seats full, and getting the Old Firm game back onto the fixture list again.
Jist how I feel.
Hail! Hail!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
=========================
My memory tells me it was Jan Venegoor of Hesselink that was brought back after injury and the team that won the LC Final never played again that season and it had me wondering.
Events since then add to the suspicion, since no stone was unturned to keep a form of Rangers in Scottish football by those in charge.
Whilst its not about taking turns about, I think there might be a delicate balancing act taking place to return competitiveness to Scottish football, which has certainly been achieved this season so far.
I have no problem with honest competitiveness, but when a club is prepared to risk its corporate existence knowing it will not be truly sanctioned in sporting terms by the governing bodies, then it casts suspicion over every result and referee performance , which is simply unhealthy and unwise.
In 2008 for example Rangers spent £10M net £20 Gross to build the team that won 3iar. It included Mendez and Davis on ebts (and perhaps Papac). That was whilst the big tax case bills were arriving through the door. Compare that mindset to Celtic’s.
I wonder if referees in England come under the same suspicion and what it is like to lose a title to a team who have won it honestly within football and financial fair play rules.
if we do not strengthen this transfer window suspicions, rightly or wrongly, might harden into certainty and become ” fool me once, shame on you. full me twice, shame on me.”
Auldheid
Fool me thrice, game over.
YNWA
DELANEYS DUNKY on 30TH DECEMBER 2018 3:40 AM
Indeed.
Delaneysdunkey
Trying my best G
This helps
https://youtu.be/SJ5cg0KNKH0
Thanks for turning me onto it bhud
One of my and my bhoys favourites
Hail Hail
Travellerbhoy
That Leeds United supporting Welsh bhoyo Kelly Jones is one of my favourite voices.
Stereophonics CSC
DD
Maybe am an eijit
The “Huns” beating us in 90mins for the first not so time in this life form isn’t a bad thing ….
Hail Hail