Yesterday’s win over Motherwell came 29 days after the defeat in Gibraltar but for all intents and purposes there was a lifetime between the performances. Celtic have been transformed in that time. It’s still early days but you can see the week-on-week improvement in Celtic.
We look like a proper team, one which will be difficult to play against and will carry a threat. Although we went home raving about the flowing, attacking, football, Celtic were patient early in the game; it took them 11 minutes to craft a chance. I think this is going to be a feature of our play this season. Getting our systems organised and feeling our way into games before stretching opponents.
Scott Sinclair probably did more last night than on his marquee performance at Tynecastle to show what he will bring to the team. He often played between the forward and midfield lines and always had an eye open for the defence-splitting pass.
It was another solid performance from Moussa Dembele, who looks increasingly comfortable in a Celtic shirt. Goals help, of course. Top performer was Tom Rogic. Twice he scored by perfectly timing a run into the box, the first of which was an exquisite piece of work between Rogic and Callum McGregor.
You will have again noticed Rogic’s fondness for ‘having a pop’. He’d developing that antenna for goal which we like so much in Kris Commons, a good number of Motherwell keeper Craig Samson’s saves came from the Aussie.
In the next round it’s ‘Same old Alloa……..’ This game comes in the midweek between the first and second European group stage games, so a home tie against lower league opponents will probably be a welcome change of pace for Brendan and the players. And us.
The Road to Lisbon
As many of your know, our own Mouldy67 will undertake an enormous effort in May to commemorate the 50th anniversary of something or other. He and others will cycle from Celtic Park to the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon to raise funds for the Celtic Foundation.
They will leave Celtic Park on 6 May 2017 (50 years to the day since we won the league across the city), arriving at Estadio Nacional on 25 May, the 50th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions becoming the first team to break the Spain-Italy-Portugal stranglehold on the European Cup.
This is a stunning project. At the moment, opportunities exist for you to join Mouldy and the others in the cycle, you can also become a project sponsor, or simply donate to the fundraising effort. For more information, visit theroadtolisbon.com
736 Comments- Pages:
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Thom the Tim,
Good to see that some people on here recognise the value of Calum McGregor. Too often people don’t realise the work he does, the way he wins the ball back and sets up an attack. I thought he had a great game last night and I’m sure Brendan appreciates him.
HH
vfr800a8
Sorry mate, I’ve not got any links to highlights :)
I keep forgetting that my name is hyperlinked to the site…
its actually 45 years old, opened in 1971.
The 1986 frontage expansion , shortcut construction, lets bolt on to existing walls.
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/1/txBBNzJnVPDUs8uG6kRoCA242431/GW1120H784
Grrr…posted before I finished…
Anyway Paul, I think you’ll get the gist of what I’m saying…a film to be shown to fans at CP and CSCs
around the world, raising even more money for the foundation…it can be done.
Any thoughts?
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/1/Dreb0sdhqUqW0rzk-tVZvg156592/GW1184H784
Trying hard to retain some perspective after last night’s performance and result.
Adult son couldn’t watch, and trying to explain it to him without sounding like a hopeless romantic was difficult.
One of Brendan’s post match comment in that BT Sport interview sticks in my head today.
“I think you’ve probably seen a shift in the tempo of the team.”
On Callum, he has a very short & quick running gait over the 5 to 10 yard distances which means he gets to loose balls faster than others. His work rate (as for all the players) has improved. Both of these combined with his scoring ability and his final passes make him a great asset. His pass to Tom Rogic last night was as good as his pass for Paddy Roberts to score our third goal against Lincoln RI. Sometimes underrated player who is a great fit for Brendan’s style.
HH
I think it’s becoming obvious that Calum McGregor’s best position is centre mid, sitting a bit deeper. Disciplined enough to break up play but still able to break forward and be creative. Wonderful pass through to Rogic for opening goal.
He’s not a wide player, or a no.10, where RD used to deploy him.
Also thought Henderson looked impressive in the deep lying role when he replaced Brown. Hope the stories of him going back to Hibs are just that and he stays and gets plenty of game time with us this season.
the celtic end half roof starting , when was this ? 1968 ?
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/3/db5ea504e521daaccb668b45c6d00997/GW1024H768
remember when the board thought there was oil under the car park ?
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/1/hODazdmL2z_pmLEGVUHVNQ214982/GW1136H784
probably could extract shale gas now
who rememebrs when tv’s where changing from black and white to colour, and live from celtic park ? anyone guess at the match time line ?
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/1/8PAZTOkQsqE5EKCmWFYKLQ366191/GW1024H671
St Stivs…looks much older than ’68…could be wrong though…
trouble on the london road, school gates, guessing 1990 ish from the strips
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/3/d7d0b2ade52aff07564088e986698860/GW600H581
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 11TH AUGUST 2016 2:54 PM…
Wasn’t that the tunnel to the Vatican?
last and back to work –
celtic park from the air 1952
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/1/Py1QDhTLo1RNeY5NPr1I1w55671
DAVIDOPOULOS on 11TH AUGUST 2016 2:47 PM
vfr800a8
Sorry mate, I’ve not got any links to highlights :)
I keep forgetting that my name is hyperlinked to the site…
__________________________________________________________
I was referring to the blog!
Just watched the first goal from last night again.
Looked at Rogic’s involvement in the build up and the movement from all our players.
Tom takes the ball from the right wing across their defensive line before passing. As he ends up in the inside left channel, Scott Sinclair moves in the opposite direction from left to right.
Four passes later, Callum gets the ball and Tom makes his left to right run into the box to score.
Thing of beauty, so it is.
Excellent performance last night by the Hoops. Going forward with pace on both wings and playing the right ball more often than not – great stuff. It was only Motherwell though so let’s see if we can keep playing at that level. For the BR feelgood factor to continue we have to get through against Hapoel. It’s early in his tenure and we’re not where BR will want us to be yet – but qualifying for the CL group stage would give him MON-like status. Fingers crossed.
Some have mentioned the presence of Palestinian flags at the game next week. I don’t have any problem with that. The game will be covered across the world – if some poor Palestinians get a lift from seeing that they’re not forgotten then that’s not a bad thing IMO. I won’t boo Hapoel players for being Israeli and I won’t express hatred for anyone. But as gestures go flying Palestinian flags wouldn’t be a bad thing.
St Stivs…
First Celtic end cover mid to late 50s
vfr800a8
I know, just making a silly joke!
Yes, I make homemade sausages and blog about them.
Warbs obviously didnae see the game last night: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/rangers/rangers-don-t-need-to-spend-big-to-compete-with-celtic-1-4200513
Int it boring when we’ve nothing to moan about!
Nah seriously great performance last night, best in ages.
AULD TAM on 11TH AUGUST 2016 12:15 PM
I watched the draw live on TV and it was completely above board, but that won’t stop the daft conspiracy theoerists embarrassing themselves yet again when the semi-final draw is upon us.
*missing the point AT, it’s about home games and NOT who they are drawn against, the semis are neutral grounds and I believe that the monies from both semis and the final are pooled.
It’s all about keeping them afloat. Their game last Saturday was on PPV tele over here as is this one coming up tae.
Last season we were treated tae the Championship on a regular basis, no that I would pay tae watch that shower of scheitd. If it was free I would rather watch synchronised swimming than them.
Third ta.
Am gonny go search it our I meant 58.
I enjoyed wiatching Celtic last night, we played with pace skill power and threatened the opposition goal continuously, BR will have difficult choices to make when all are available however we will have many domestic and hopefully European games to keep everyone interested.
Despite the above he wants another two in, I would imagine competition at the goalkeeping position would be one and maybe somone in the defensive midfield role however play like last night nobody in Scotland will get near us.
Lasley must have felt every one of his years last night as the game passed him by, as it was too quick and too mobile for him
SunnyJim on 11th August 2016 2:51 pm
Did you see McGregors pass for Sinclair(I think) from near the halfway line – bang between two defenders, no margin for error…sublime. Even better than the pass for the goal.
Rodgers definitely likes him and has a lot to work with,
HH
Davidopoulos on 11th August 2016 3:16 pm – sorry, it went over my head!
QF is live on BR Sport on Wednesday 21st September.
Traditionalist88
Now you’ve got me going back in to look.
:o))
I liked last night, we were good and hopefully getting better.
Chris Sutton calling Craigan ridiculous was fun too.
SunnyJim on 11th August 2016 3:32 pm
Traditionalist88
Now you’ve got me going back in to look.
:o))
==============
First half – hope its as good as I recall it haha.
HH
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The Betfred Cup quarter-finals involving Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen will all be shown exclusively live on BT Sport.
Rangers, who booked their place in the last eight with a 5-0 win over Peterhead, will face Queen of the South on Tuesday, September 20th at 7pm on BT Sport 1 (kick-off is 7.45pm).
Celtic, 5-0 winners over Hearts last night, will then face Alloa Athletic 24 hours later, again on BT Sport 1 from 7pm.
Then on Thursday, September 21st, the BT Sport cameras will be at Pittodrie to broadcast Aberdeen v St Johnstone, also from 7pm.
The Dons advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win at Ayr United, while St Johnstone staged a dramatic comeback to see off Hearts 3-2 at McDiarmid Park.
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St Stivs –
That pic of the west terracing roof partially built goes back to the mid-50s.
CHAVEZ on 11TH AUGUST 2016 3:13 PM
Some have mentioned the presence of Palestinian flags at the game next week. I don’t have any problem with that. The game will be covered across the world – if some poor Palestinians get a lift from seeing that they’re not forgotten then that’s not a bad thing IMO. I won’t boo Hapoel players for being Israeli and I won’t express hatred for anyone. But as gestures go flying Palestinian flags wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Except that Celtic will be fined by UEFA………..
Who’s going to pay for that? The guys who wave the flags? Never in a million years.
CHAVEZ @ 3.13pm
The point is not whether waving Palestinian flags inside the ground is or is not morally justified nor whether or not it upflifts some Palestinian people somewhere. Whether we like it or not, it will result in further UEFA sanctions, possibly up to and including partial or whole ground closure for a future European game. Rangers FC ( in liquidation) was even fined as an alleged Celtic supporter at a match v an Israeli team, forgotten which, ran on to the park waving a Palestinian flag and chained himself to a goal post.
Let’s get real here. Wave the Palestinian flag in the carpark but do not bring it into the stadium. Our players have worked too hard to get this length and our supporters end up paying for any fines. Take your protests to the Israeli embassy in London not to Celtic Park. HH
My attitude to political protest at European matches is like my attitude to political debates on CQN:
Puns, not Politics!
Voice your opinion using a witty double-entendre or sit down.
Only kidding of course….you may remain standing in the appropriate area of the ground….
Guys, we fly flags of foreign nations on the roof of the North Stand at every game. Have UEFA ever fined a club for the flying of national flags? Or is there something you find abhorrent about the Palestinian flag?
I’ll say it again.
Having been fined several times already, if there is a significant display of Palestinian flags in the stadium next Wednesday, there may well be no second leg, because the club could be expelled from the Champions League and there will be no Europa League safety net.
That’s how I see it.
If any protest extends to anti-Israeli words on a banner, then it’s DEFINITELY goodnight Vienna.
Let’s get real here. Wave the Palestinian flag in the carpark but do not bring it into the stadium. Our players have worked too hard to get this length and our supporters end up paying for any fines. Take your protests to the Israeli embassy in London not to Celtic Park. HH
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Spot on.
A PS on last night’s game.
Although totally outclassed, it is to Motherwell’s credit that they never resorted to Jambo’s tactics.
Did anyone notice Lasley on the pitch?