Callum McGregor would have started the scoring on 65 seconds if he got his shot away a fraction earlier, but it was the intelligence of Patrick Roberts after 5 minutes that started the party. He laid the bait in front of Newco’s Beerman, showed him enough of the ball to convince the left back to attempt an interception.
At that moment, Patrick conjured up his version of the Missing Lady. Before Beerman could make contact, the ball was gone, replaced by Robert’s limbs. Referee John Beaton took his time before awarding the kick. Conditioned by an earlier refusal to give a stonewall penalty to Celtic, we thought the worst, but the award was made and Scott Sinclair rolled the ball into the corner of the net.
Leigh Griffiths unleashed a lethal shot for the second. Stuart Armstrong won possession off Hyndman, when he really shouldn’t have. Goalkeeper, Fotheringham, got a hand to the shot, but, in a moment symptomatic of Newco’s entire play, he didn’t have the steel to divert the shot from goal.
Scott Sinclair will be exhilarated today, but on the odd occasion he’ll ponder why he didn’t help himself to a hat-trick yesterday. He squandered two great chances, one after a Griffiths shot from 18 yards rebounded off the crossbar.
Measuring a manager is difficult as there are so many other variables go into a club’s season, but if you want to judge Brendan Rodgers, take a look at Callum McGregor. He opened Celtic’s account in the second half, six days after scoring the first against Newco at Hampden. This season, Callum has emerged as a tidy and skilful central midfielder. So much of our play is dependent on the speed of thought and movement he brings to the game.
Dedryck Boyata scored the fourth, a header from a whipped Griffiths free-kick. This act was superfluous to the big man’s imperious performance. He simply won everything that came within his considerable reach. More evidence of his manager’s ability to improve players, teams, leagues and the mood of a nation.
I doubt Dedryck’s partner, Jozo Simunovic, required a shower after the game. He strolled through the occasion. Really good defenders are not called to defend too often. They simply know where to go to inhibit or intercept. This was Jozo’s game, apart from a simply stunning tackle on Kenny Miller. He swooped like an eagle picking up a field mouse, making a surgical contact with the ball and clearing the danger.
This brought a period of utter nonsense on the Sky Sports commentary, where we were told Jozo’s “speed” should have been penalised with a foul. I can only assume parallel universes exist, in another, fast players are not allowed. We were also told that Jozo went in “with two feet”. He didn’t, one knee was bent, foot under his gluteus maximus.
We are at a stage where television is asking for fouls when Celtic bring genuine world-class football to Scotland. Make no mistake, this tackle was of Beckenbauer standard. Mr Walker, take a look at yourself.
We lost our shape around five minutes before Newco’s late consolation. The players are not robots, fatigue may well have crept in, and the occasion was getting to all of us, but fortunately Mikael Lustig had a plan.
You remember that moment in Escape to Victory, when Bobby Moore is talking tactics, and Pele picks up the chalk and says, “Give me the ball and I’ll go here, here, here and here, the score”, while meandering across the blackboard. Mikael must have watched that movie as a child, and some long dormant neurons, which were protecting the memory, sprung into life.
That’s pretty much what Mikael did.
They were absolutely brilliant, every single one of them. But let me assure you, this really is just the beginning. 12 of the 13 Celtic players who touched the ball yesterday were at the club last season. Wait until you see what Brendan does when he makes the squad his own.
Newco surrendered. They looked like they didn’t want to be there. By the end, not many of their fans were.
741 Comments- Pages:
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Beatbhoy
He did chide me.
He’s 12 ffs!
:-)))
HH jamesgang
Jamesgangsta: He only outed himself after many years. He always declared himself a Manure fan.
He doesn’t come into my class room (Celtic shrine) but, in fairness, he is good to me on a professional level.
There have been a few students who are Huns but it is usually through a family connection.
On the rare occasion he mentions his team I remind him that he follows a new club and he has no answer.
KINGLUBO on 1ST MAY 2017 7:35 PM
Poor ole Teddy Berz. As if it’s not bad enough being humped at Castle Greyskull, now they turn to a Portugese for help. Would somebody tell them, the Portugese are Kaffliks
*should be interesting as the pork and cheese will not like to be told not to bless themselves.
Almore
You always leave me with a ;-) when I read your craic
HH jamesgang
Jamesgang
At 12 had I dared my dad to chide
He would have taken it out of my hide!
Poetic Licence.
He never laid a hand on me. Didn’t have to. . . .a disapproving look was enough!
Tontine Tim
Port and cheese, shirley?
Jamesgangsta: You still into Lucy V? I only see her when I’m in spain as I don’t have ITV here.
Weathergirlscsc
Off to mo leaba. Twenty four work days (5 of which are half days) until the Summer hols.
Huns sign Ryan Jack I see
https://mobile.twitter.com/BigDorinGoian/status/859136918965166085/photo/1
Almore
Sane bitthday, very different year.
HH jamesgang
TET,
think that is fake news,nothing on huns twitter,
think he may be heading to USA
TET,
Another lump of wood.
TET, that tweet was deleted immediately after it was put up.
As GordyBhoy64 says.
It was put up though.
https://thecelticblog.com/2017/05/blogs/everyones-a-target-for-the-ibrox-equal-opportunity-hate-mob/
Bhoys can of course post what they want, but ÌMO far too much about a rat who plays for Sevco on here in last 48 hours, rather than one of our own.
The Ryan Jack tweet is fake, it was never put up.
I wouldn’t have a clue if it’s true or not, if it’s not, f them, if it’s true, I agree with TTT, they are real desperados
HH
Sad news to hear of the passing of Perth’s Mr Celtic Jimmy Carroll . Jimmy ran the Perth and district supporters bus for many years and followed the bhoys everywhere. God bless you jimmy. His funeral is tomorrow at St. John’s 10.00 am . Prayers for the repose of the soul would be much appreciated by family and friends. HH
Doc
How are you my friend hope all is good with you great time to be a Tim.HH
PAPAJOE55
Will do,mate. My condolences to all who knew and loved him
R I P
thetimreaper on 1st May 2017 10:21 pm
The Ryan Jack tweet is fake, it was never put up.
Will be a Level 5 scam to make the huns look like they are reacting to getting pumped, watch the shite getting ramped up to sell STs…..is van Persie signing again……
Jimmy Carroll
May you rest in peace
Condolences and prayers offered for his family
HH
And fair to say, a lump of wood.
Jack Ryan couldn’t even save them>
T3- VG
PapaJoe55, sad news, may Jimmy rest in peace.
Thoughts with his friends and family.
Great time to be a Tim mhate, and a future that looks Green and White:-)
Bada 10.20
Bang on.way to much goin on wi our team to mention him.
Should Calum have cut back?
Your favourite sinky sitter?
Dedryck jozo lokin a solid unit?
Dedryck jozo mikel kt solid back 4?
How fluid they are with midfield?support etc
How fluid in support of forward line-
Pingin balls from back 4.
Are full backs suppoting as wingers potent enough?
All better topics
All bout Celtic
;-)
HH
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 1ST MAY 2017 10:44 PM
Jack Ryan couldn’t even save them>
Brilliant.
GOAL OF THE SEASON!!!!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WesJRZQBNhw
Off to work in a mo,maybe someone will have counted the passes before I get back…
TURKEYBHOY on 1ST MAY 2017 10:55 PM
******
Thank you. I consider that an accolade.
AT- he is a player i wished had never played for us.I am thinking BR might have thought Kouassi would be a starter for us by now.We don’t pay £3 mil for a guy to sit on the bench.The way Armstrong, McGregor and Rogic have improved, is making it difficult for him to get a game.Maybe with Broonie out he will get a chance.HH.
Doc
Enjoyed your Paddy Roberts could nutmeg a mermaid line from Saturday.
Been down to about 10 games this season , Scoogz (who is going to Lisbon to help entertain the bhoys in Lisbon ) kindly lets me use his ticket. But none of the games exceeded the 6-0 v Kilmarnock you kindly got me the ticket for. HH
papajoe55,
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Jimmy C.
BADA BING
He’s not long turned 19-exactly the number of games he’d played before joining us.
I think he’s one for the future,but he’ll be looking to push forward ASAP.
What a weekend. For many reasons it will live long in my memory.
I’ll spare you the details but every emotion was touched. Every one. Kinda cryptic but I had to say it somewhere. And in the midst of it all was Celtic. As always. They are never far away. The tie that binds us. Wasn’t at the game but I had some really good Celtic moments in among the mayhem.
And now to sleep. Work tomorrow. And that’s Turkish delight right now.
Hail hail and good health to all
“Home Truths” from teddy bears…….firstly they admire the celtic fans…..saying they are away ahead of them in their choice of songs etc….which wouldnt be too difficult…..next they say 80% + go to ibrox for nothing other than football reasons….and their support consists. of catholics jews muslims a nd sikhs…..so who sings the songs of hatred ????? next they will be blaming the tannoy system…..this newclub will always be disease ridden.
PapaJoe55, had a few comments, it went down well:-)
RobertTressell, hope the weekend went well overall.