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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Fellow Celtic fans, it’s been a good weekend, in fact bank holiday Monday for us kid on workers
Good night and God bless
We live in good Celtic times (there is never a bad time to be a Celtic fan in my view)
Reggie on 30th April 2017 11:18 pm
Oh and err getting INTO the Group stages is my only concern. Anything we do when we get there is a bonus
????????
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Celtic will pass the Test with flying Colours.
Oui Oui
just seen the twitter picture of the celtic fan and the 3 rangers fans doing the rounds and being talked up by the Daily Record. Just an observation it’s some distance from Ibrox and
certainly a wee bit of a walk from the nearest underground station at Buchanan Street
Respect
Corpses in their mouths?
“You tell lies when the Truth will do”
Gerryfaethebrig on 30th April 2017 11:27 pm
Fellow Celtic fans, it’s been a good weekend, in fact bank holiday Monday for us kid on workers
Good night and God bless
We live in good Celtic times (there is never a bad time to be a Celtic fan in my view)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
God Bless ye Dood. Just so you know….. The Elite have GIVEN this day to the profane, for a Reason.
Illuminati day is more fitting of a description.
A Stats Comparison
Gary Hooper-Celtic
138 Games
128 Starts
010 Sub
046 Subbed
082 Goals
002 Pens
004 Hat Tricks
098 Wins
014 Draws
026 Lost
Leigh Griffiths-Celtic (Sat 29th April 2017)
138 Games
097 Starts
041 Sub
046 Subbed
082 Goals
007 Pens
004 Hat Tricks
091 Wins
025 Draws
022 Lost
Reason.
Frankmarker on 1st May 12.00am
Good try. Wiki has 136 games for griff.
Griff
Fred C. Dobbs
Incredible.
LG is in Town.
Ready to Rock.
Start well and Finish well.
I think the Game Management is real.
Celtic Would not be beaten with a fair Refereee…….LOL
The Sky Broadcast demands Celtic.
Get Sky out ASAP.
19th of May I’m hoping to move to Jobo Town.
CELTIC
Incredible those that use Sign language to let people Communicate. Maximum Respect.
Emdy got any tunes?
Rasc,
especially for you
Fred C. Dobbs on 1st May 2017 12.23am
Hapy to go with that. Are we using Wiki for Hoops?
Hope not.
Victorious
Celtic
Resistance D’s best ever
IMO, never forget, the IMO. :))
Petec
Long time.
Hows you? Though I have been lurkin from time to time.
rascar yer a REAL Regi Blinker about things.
CELTIC
MAGICAL.
Yer a HERO, BRO.
Not getting the Regi, but I’ll take it anyway.
EasyGroove rocking like a Rhino.
Pray for easyG
Watched the game with three nephews, their dad was at work.
The fourth goal went in and i said “now its just getting silly”
And i looked at them and thought, they have no idea whats happening here.
Easygroove is a Fighter, never been the best mixer.
He always dropped the biggest Tunes. Way Back earthly 90s.
Rascar Capac,
It iso obvious. Peace is yer jibber JABBER.
Style
Looking for awesome mixes from early 90s.
Thanks in advance Celts.
Maybe, but I love the songs of war.
From a safe distance. Two generations.
Rascar Capac,
DEEJEEEEEE Easy Groove.
He has you on the MOVE.
I Need Your Loving.
Everybody has to Leqrn sometime.
Rinsing out the STYLE.
You are Crazy Magoo.
I pattered that Rudi in France.
CELTIC
Easygroove Rinsing out the STYLE.
I didnae realise who I was talking to after a Great effort by moi.
You are Crazy Magoo was the cry by me, Ma wee Bro reminisced about Raving days
The Old French guy was likely scared.
Aidan is Loving it,
He says “They can’t have one more”
YOU are Beserk Magoo.
You are Crazy Magoo.
CELTIC