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.
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https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/859113200276705281
VG – some bleeped out swerry words
Bad outbreak of Schalkitis in the EPL this weekend. Rashford, Sanè, now Lucas at it tonight, but he got caught, thankfully, meaning punishment rather than reward.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/rangers/fran-sandaza-blasts-rangers-as-he-prepares-for-la-liga-1-4434472
I got it so wrong when predicting Rangers/Sevco would kick us aff the park.
When Greats say that Fleming is a Good Dude.
When the Penny Drops.
CELTIC Marvellous..
The Style is being rinsed out.
Jericho
It Won’t be 10.
When Celtic are payin’ so much in the future.
Celtic are going to a Bigger Arena, defo not a better Arena.
Keep on Working hard. Keep on Working
CELTIC/Donegal/MWD.CSC
Well he is Scottie Sinclair.
Magical.
Griffo. You are on it m8.
Wonderful.
awesome goal by CMcGEEEEEEEE
Only if I had 1 more – Dedryck BEEEEE
PETEC
You can’t kick what you can’t catch.
Shadows are immune to being kicked.
As the flying squirrel proved to late to often.
5 on it.
Brilliant that Wilde Boars Deededeeeestroyed ISIS Fighters/C()WARDS.
OH No
fan-a-tic,
Tam is the World Class player in our Team.
wee callum is keeping him out of the first 11.
Powerful Manager.
Bible verses?/a>
oops.. Again.
Loose Women talking about MicroChipping Babies.
WTF.CSC
I’m glad I have employment.
To be fair all the Wummin wwere against it…. the topic is out there now.
Dogs are All chipped. What Hegelian……
Hysteria
Never be afraid to die
J CEEEE
I’d like Kitalba to be Allowed back on CQN.
He listened to me when I needed to be listened to.
Good morning CQN from a dry and bright East Devon.
Timabhouy
Not big on self-pity at all, the self -described ‘hero for Dundee Utd and for St Johnstone’.
Happy Birthday to the Legend kikinthenakas. Unfortunately like many he very rarely posts here now.
The first pal I met through CQN & some character.
Hope you have a great day P.
Happy birthday to nakas and my mate James from Larkhall no1 CSC who celebrates his 50th today☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
RIP
Jimmy from Perth…
Not sure if this is old news …
The CIA are picking up chatter that North Korea are going to put a bid in for JS.
They are looking for a reliable way of putting things into orbit.
Terry Butcher, also in the Scotsman:
“None of the Celtic or Rangers (sic) teams from the past, who won nine in a row or dominated other periods with runs of successive title wins, did it under the current circumstances. Rangers (sic) are having to come back from the abyss”
*****
Yeah, Tel, that would’ve been an accurate description of what happened if the CVA had been accepted back in 2012, but, seeing them teetering on the edge, holding the CVA in their trembling hands, Hector gazed a gazely stare at all the millions owed, ripped it up and tipped the men who sold the jerseys over.
And, the thing about the abyss is,Tel, you just don’t come back once you enter that endless darkness!
Full marks for Continuity Myth effort, though!
Cancel that first ‘sic’. Force of habit!
JAMESGANG on 1ST MAY 2017 7:03 PM
Big Jimmy
Sorry Hunny!
HH jamesgang
okay mate…just for your information…I am a TIM….TIM = Handsome Man….well certainly in my younger days ?????
Here comes De Judge….Here comes De Judge……………….and with the added bonus of two UGLY Hun thugs and Racists who are also making appearances today at Glasgow Sheriff Court……See now I am feckin confused……what Court should I go to High Court….Sheriff Court ?
The Huns should also be in The DEBTOR’S Court !
The Huns should be in The UGLY Court !
The Huns should be in the STUPID Court !
Am I trying to “Court” trouble. ?..not at all
ANY News of ANY Enquiry by SFA into the complete lack of so called security at the Racist/Bigot Dome….NAH ?,,,,,,didn’t think so.
What’s worse…..inflating a couple of plastic dollies ( who i quite fancied by the way especially the brunette ) … OR ATTEMPTING TO ASSAULT A HUMAN BEING…..AND/OR BEING A RACIST ?
HH
Big Jimmy
All Tims are cute. I’m sure you’re no exception!
Have a fab day mate.
HH jamesgang
Well done Bognor Regis town f.c. on gaining promotion to the vanarama national league (south)
Word of The Day (Just for Big Terry ……………….)
Abysm /əˈbɪzəm/
noun
1.
an archaic word for abyss
Word Origin and History for abysm
n.
“bottomless gulf, greatest depths,” now chiefly poetic, c.1300, from Old French abisme (Modern French abîme), from Vulgar Latin *abyssimus (source of Spanish and Portuguese abismo), which represents either a superlative of Latin abyssus or a formation on analogy of Greek-derived words in -ismus ; see abyss.
KTF
Hun boss update: didn’t mention Saturday’s match:-)
Warming up nicely -way down south .
Today’s -3 from 67 ( a very good year )
7″ – Cannonball Adderley –Mercy Mercy Mercy (Capitol )
7″—Rex Marvin & The Mighty Cravers — Believe It Or Not ( Like )
7″ – The Bassies -River Jordan (Coxsone )
Busy making 3 x C90 tapes ( strictly choons from 67 ) for a wee Lisbon memorial party in a car park at the edge of some woods on the outskirts of Salamanca in 67 . .A memorable pit stop on the way home from Lisbon . 4 of us went , 3 of us remain .
Almore……….
:)
why don’t you ask him to schedule a quick meeting………
…” Is Five to One good for ye Boss? ”
;)
OOPLA –
in 67 should come after Lisbon not Salamanca .
Court case back on today ?
‘Abysmal’ a very apt adjective for the Continuity Myth, then.
Moravcik
10am kick-off, I believe. Hope it does!