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://mobile.twitter.com/weemokerr/status/858809363695362053/photo/1
Back in work after a week working at home looking after a sick dug. There are no zombies here, so no one to taunt (not that I would anyway…). If you do work beside a zombie, please gentle with them…at first…
I mentioned last week that a thumping win on Saturday would be a serious psychological blow for their team and their fans for next season – I underestimated that as it seems to have brought some the sevcoweb to the verge of an actual breakdown. Taunt from outside the blast zone ;)
Others seem to have slipped into meek acceptance mode. This is really what we want – a club that has lost the “winning mentality” once that is gone, even cheating doesn’t help that much.
As for the Celtic squad, the positivity and feel-good factor going into the summer CL qualifiers will be at a great level, especially if we hump Aberdeen twice in the coming weeks :)
Craig Whyte Trial is SUPPOSED to reconvene this morning after the Bank Holiday Monday……..HOWEVER, do not be surprised if it’s adjourned yet again due to every Hun witness, solicitors, Jury members ALL phoning in sick after The HUNIMILATION on Saturday ?????
The Huns ( who do have a job ?), must be DREADING going into work this morning, I know from past experience in the workplace what it is like after getting beat…..BUT to face work colleagues who are Celtic fans….after that DEMOLITION of Der Hun….and how they are utterly powerless to improve their lot any time soon ( 15 – 20 years ?), will be an experience that NONE of those Huns should never forget.
I imagine that I am not alone in thinking this but, I truly believe that due to the humiliation on Saturday….AND with the Huns FC have absolutely nowhere to go, NO ANSWER’s to their short and long term problems, on and off the pitch, Saturdays demolition is just the beginning of the end of “The rangers”…….their should be ( or will be ?)…a real “Domino Effect” to the latest defeats by the Celts, and the manner in which they occurred.
Saturday’s 5 – 1 in particular, in their own midden, may yet lead to the rats throwing themselves on the traps ?
On Saturday ( and not for the first time ), they took a knife to a gun fight…..that knife has just became even more feckin BLUNT !
Enjoy the “Trials and Tribulations” of the Hun …..( see what I did there ?
hehehe.
HH
BIGJIMMY
Summer of 93,we couldn’t see any way out of where we were at. Same in darkest winter 2000.
In no time,we were back.
I know the Huns are in a hole just now-and I hope they keep digging!-but I’ll take their pain in small doses at a time. Hopefully forever.
Not usually a half-empty type,but I’m not tempting fate on this one!!!!
DAVIDOPOULOS @ 9 16
” a serious psychological blow ” .
My Hearts pal reported watching the game in a Gorgie boozer before heading to the delights of Hertz 2 -PTFC 2.. He commented on the angst induced by the realisation that what was made to look like a pub team have 12 more points than Hertz.
I said after the first Sevco game that if we could defeat them convincingly in the 4 league games we had a chance to finish them for good. We didn’t quite manage it but in many ways this was better. We gave them a little bit of hope only to cruelly extinguish it. If you were a sevconian contemplating renewing your season ticket, would you? Bleak times ahead for them. It’s great isn’t it.
Good Morning Bhoys from an overcast Central Scotland I see the MSM trying to punt Celtic players the latest one is Armstrong to Brighton they cant beat the hoops so they will try to sell them. H.H.
From celtic fc to the core site…
“This is how it feels to be sevco…
This is how it feels to be small…
This is how it feels when your team means nothing at all… “
THE BIG BOOZE BONANZA CHARITY RAFFLE
Thanks to the wonderful and continuing generosity of ACGR and a couple of others, I have some truly spectacular bottles of booze to raffle for charity.
ACGR donated bottle 67 of his own private whisky offer. A truly wonderful dram which can’t be bought in the shops.
Thanks to others I also have one of the most stunning bottles of Lithuanian (previously Russian) Vodka to offer, plus a remarkable bottle of vintage Port — well after all many of us are going to Lisbon in a few weeks.
Raffle tickets are £5 each and the raffle will be drawn on 17th May.
If you live within a reasonable distance I will deliver, but if further afield in the UK I will have to post the bottle won.
If you live beyond the UK and want to enter give me a UK address to send any winning prize too.
33% of the raffle will raise funds for the restoration of St Mary’s in The Calton and the balance will be used to feed the 265 kids who attend the VOA1 academy in Nigeria through Mary’s Meals.
So, three chances of winning a prize and they are in this order.
1st Prize – A unique bottle of 12 Year Old Glenfarclas Single Malt Whisky distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2016. This unique whisky cannot be bought in the shops as it comes from a private distilling and is bottle No 67 of 278. The whisky is 59.3% in strength and is presented in its own unique presentation box. Courtesy of ACGR
2nd Prize – A Fantastic 5 x Distilled 1 Litre bottle of Royal Dragon Superior Vodka presented in a masterly hand blown bottle complete with the legendary sculpted Water Dragon with genuine 23 Carat Gold Leaves. This Vodka is prepared in a century old Russian Copper Pot Still and the Master distillers guide the filtration process through a vast charcoal chamber 5 times over to create a truly unique vodka. The whole offering is completed by having the bottle resting in a unique back lit presentation box. Courtesy of BRTH
3rd Prize — Fabulous bottle of top quality vintage Offley Boa Vista Port. Supplied by Forrester & Co of Porto, this vintage 1982 Port was bottled in 1988 and comes in its own wooden presentation box. 20% by volume this is a superior Port which has been allowed to age and mature. Courtesy of BRTH
The raffle listing on e-bid and the ability to buy tickets can be found here:
https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/premium-single-malt-whisky-5-x-distilled-gold-leaf-vodka-and-40-yr-vintage-port-156590570.htm
Note the site includes photos which don’t do any of these prizes justice.
ACGR has some ideas for raising further funds in Lisbon I think and we will have a big charity raffle in Lisbon for those attending and a separate offering online for everyone.
Best of luck — it is all in a good cause.
HH
BRTH
South Of Tunis on 2nd May 2017 9:52 am
DAVIDOPOULOS @ 9 16
” a serious psychological blow ” .
My Hearts pal reported watching the game in a Gorgie boozer before heading to the delights of Hertz 2 -PTFC 2.. He commented on the angst induced by the realisation that what was made to look like a pub team have 12 more points than Hertz.
—————————————————————————————–
He makes a very good point. I think the psychological effect of 1) Celtic going the whole season unbeaton domestically, 2) winning the treble, and 3) beating Deidco, Hearts and Aberdeen convincingly after the split when there is nothing to play for will be quite harmful for those three would-be challengers. They start season on the back foot (psychologically) without even kicking a ball.
The only team that will be starting the season feeling good about themselves (other than Celtic) is Hibs. I’d say they’ll be the ones to watch for challenging for a European spot.
BMCUWP it will be deathly a thousand cuts. My sevconian cousin, who is married to a hoops season ticket holder , just announced that he renewed his season ticket. I don’t know how many more years ma poor sides can take. Until the last liquidation. Hail Hail.
E-Tims well worth a shuftie today,folks.
http://etims.net/?p=11173#comment-863084
So the news is that Pedro wants to bring in pretty much an entire new first 11 over the summer. Putting the finances aside for a second, even if they do that, do you think going into EL qualifiers in July with a brand new team is going to work out well? An Artmedia moment beckons.
Morning,watched the game yesterday and noticed that wee cockroach bell face tripping him in dugout, had me wondering if new mangers coming in have to keep him to keep a line of bigotry to the past. Just wondering like
Brighton in for SA…. right Brendan time to get Stuart signed up.
Half the team getting sold in the rags this morning….yawn….for lurking Laptop Loyal- must try harder…….or try and punt some of the Govan Galacticos….oh wait..
BHOYJOEBELFAST on 2ND MAY 2017 10:14 AM
Brighton in for SA…. right Brendan time to get Stuart signed up.
No point in trying to compete with a huge club like Brighton. No way can Champions league compare with
a relegation dogfight at Middlesborough or Sunderland.-))
The Whyte trial has resumed…
Has TheTimReaper slept in?????
TAURANGABHOY
Like most of us,I’ve had loads of hun pals and acquaintances over the years to discuss the fitba with. Usually passionately and sensibly,with little rancour.
Occasionally a hinger-oan joins in,usually a poisonous wee nyaff wi insufficient brain cells to make a breeding pair.
Such was life in Streatham in the early 90s. I could have a laugh-or a serious argument!-wi some heavy Ulster lads,but for all of the seriousness of our views,we knew where to draw the line.
Allow the vanquished a graceful withdrawal.
Then a Glesca hun turned up,thought he’d cracked it. These lads were just like him,right? And an uppity Token Tim to torment too,life couldn’t be better.
Except that none of them liked him anymore than I did,and being as thick as pigshit in the neck of a bottle,he was oblivious to it.
So,Gordon from The White Lion in 90-93,I hope you’re enjoying every f…..g minute of this.
Because it’s peepil like you who put your team there.
Think about that,ya loud lairy loser.
It would be great if you crossed my path again.
Especially if I’m driving…
Shanks said Lloyd’s held both a bond and a floating charge against Rangers as security on the loans
#WhyteTrial
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 3m3 minutes ago
More
Shanks says Lloyd’s group were “keen to reduce our exposure to the Murray group, which included Rangers”
DAVIDOPOULOS.
Indeed ! .
He added that there was much laughter re the absurdity of the tackle that resulted in the penalty and the defending at Boyota’s goal but that had been quickly dampened by a strong sense of WTF does that make us.?. He has been doing Hertz home and away since the late 50s. . Says it is now nothing more than a habit . A meaningless ritual !!!!
“An Artmedia moment beckons”
Davidpolous,
They’ve had enough of their own embarrassing losses without bringing Artmedia into it ;)
HH
A bhoy who posts here was in the Victoria Bar, Victoria Rd after the game on Saturday, he found a wallet and handed it behind the bar, it had cash and cards in it.If someone could stick thid on FB /Twitter, thanks
South Of Tunis
It must make Jambos that disliked Robbie Neilson reassess how much they actually know about football. If he had been there until the end of the season they would be sitting pretty in third.
That being said, Ian Cathro deserves all of next season to see if he can get his team playing (IMO).
Geordie Munro
I used Artmedia as the example as it was a new set-up going in cold against a team that literally no-one had heard of. That’s the type of game they will be playing in their first EL qualifier. The chances of an embarassement are high.
Geordie Munro
Also, was it too soon for you to mention Artmedia?
I’ll give it another 10 years before I do it again…
;)
Glen D:
Good morning,Is it Brighton or brigton.On a serious note I hope SA signs a new deal.
Davidpolous,
I’m still raw :)
I’d pedro will have been in for a few months before the qualifiers. Hopefully this is the huns Mcleish/zizkov moment.
I hope your dug is feeling less ruff ;P
HH
Geordie Munro
See, I’d forgotten all about Viktoria Zizkov – you’re obsessed ;)
Aye, the wee german dug is back to a houndred percent…
Dunno what the “I’d” is doing in my last post.
I need to vet them better before posting :)
HH
Geordie Munro on 2nd May 2017 10:48 am
Dunno what the “I’d” is doing in my last post.
I need to vet them better before posting :)
HH
———————————————————————
Yes, perhaps a brief paws before posting is collared fur.
Artmedia ?.
That game in Bratislava ? .
The only time in my life where a Celtic performance made me feel angry . . A shambles .. Some of the players were overweight and far from fit… I left that decrepit stadium raging . .
BHOYJOEBELFAST on 2ND MAY 2017 10:33 AM
I agree. Stuart will be a key player for us, hopefully for years to come.
Well, now that I have had a few days to actually manage to stop smiling, some thoughts on the game.
It goes without saying brilliant work by Brendan and Chris Davies. It is sometimes difficult to follow up a comfortable game against an opponent, when your next game is against the same team, but the team was set up perfectly for what was required, and what a result.
Also, (and I am not trying to be blazé about this) great performances from Broonie, Kieran, Stuart, Paddy and Griff, which you now expect, such has been their consistency of level of performance this season.
However I think three other players’ performances have illustrated just what a fantastic job the manager and coaches are doing. A year ago I had severe doubts if Callum, Dedryck and Jozo were going to make it at Celtic.
Callum, although tidy at times, looked to be lacking certain abilities to be a really effective midfielder. Currently he is keeping TR out of the team, and deservedly so. He still can’t tackle, but defensively is so much more aware than last year, and his positioning has improved a lot. He seems stronger, faster and more deadly going forward. Confidence is up, and this is part of it, but he is definitely a much better player than He was a year ago, and a valuable member of the squad.
Jozo is now showing us his stuff. Strong, good in the air and, as was strikingly displayed on Saturday, strong in the tackle with good timing. He is fantastic at bringing the ball forward from defence, and sees a good pass. Any lingering doubts that his injury woes would challenge him mentally, were washed away in that tackle. Hopefully his fitness and stamina issues (or whatever it is that means he seems to struggle to play three games in a row) can be laid to rest next season after a good pre-seasons’ work, and we will have a player.
Last, but most certainly not least, Dedryck Boyata. I actually can not believe the transformation in this player. Last year he was weak, nervy, and frankly I thought we had been sold a complete pup. I would have bet my house on him never making it at Celtic. I actually didn’t think we would be able to sell him for money. Now? I wouldn’t accept anything less than £10m for him, and if he can take his current form, game and attitude into the Champions League qualifiers, and hopefully the group stages (or further?), against better players, then you could double that. He looks pacey, hungry, and brave. All qualities that his goal amply illustrated. Hopefully his upward trajectory continues.
Whatever we are paying our management team, it is the second best (KoK) use of our money in the history of our club. Their work on these three players shows you all you need to know about their ability.
I reall hope the draw for the CL qualifiers is kind to us, both in terms of quality of opposition and location (travel, climate, state of playing surface). If we do qualify, and the upward trajectory of the performance of the team continues, then I think we can be reasonably confident of making a good competitive fist of the group stages.
It’s where we want to be. It’s the reward that the current management and playing staff deserve for their Herculean efforts and improvements this season.
If we don’t make it? Well we are still Celtic. This is how it feels.
DAVIDOPOULOS on 2ND MAY 2017 10:19 AM
The Whyte trial has resumed…
Has TheTimReaper slept in?????
——–
:))))
Ah, thetimsleeper awakes :)
HH
The S*n reporting that Chelsea will win the race to sign Van Dijk for £50m
What’s 10% of £50m?
BCUWP I was in Streatham 88 just missed ya. local was The Horse and Groom and also the White Lion where there were a few heavies from both sides of the Ulster divide? My mates were all brickies, I was on the hod. Small world, you may be talking about some of the lads I had the same verbals with. Know any Aberdeen boys from those days?