From the stands, you follow most goals as they mature from chances, but some happen so quickly and unexpectedly, that in the middle of celebrations, there is a part of your brain that wonders, what actually happened there?
Twice yesterday, Celtic constructed a goal from seemingly nowhere. Hibernian took the lead, we took kick-off and Callum McGregor had possession around halfway on the touchline. There followed a 40 yard pass and the most sublime touch imaginable.
Kyogo Furuhashi was facing away from goal, his body on the wrong side of the ball. The keeper narrowed the angle but before anyone in the stadium knew what was happening, the Japanese striker found the corner of the net with a left foot shot. David Gray, the Hibernian interim manager would be entitled to ask, “What happened?” There were 10 seconds between kick-off and goal.
I was fortunate enough to be at Hampden yesterday and at Celtic Park on 27 August 2000 and witnessed two incredible lobs sail into the net from two incredible strikers. The marvel that Henrik Larsson’s goal against Rangers induced was every bit as evident yesterday. After that game in 2000, Martin O’Neill spoke of his ire when the ball left Henrik’s foot, “Players try these lobs but never work.” For most occasions, he was not wrong. The talent required is exceptional.
The first thing Kyogo did was catch the eye of Tom Rogic, Tom knew what to do next. The Hibs defence were not involved in the covert communication, so were late to the party, so much so, that if you watch the replay (I’m sure you have), Kyogo has time to check his run and wait for the ball to drop a little. The finish, ooft! What a special talent we have.
Much of the credit for a great final goes to Hibernian. Overwhelmed by talent and resources, they were within the width of a post in the 94th minute of sending the game into extra time. For a team that never managed to stage an attack until a defensive lapse gave them a corner kick in the 51st minute, that was a performance at the limit of their collective abilities.
Kevin Nisbet got the better of Carl Starfelt throughout. On one occasion, winning a corner kick that let to the Hibs goal, on another, it took the first of two magnificent saves from Joe Hart to deny the Hibs striker. Without Hart, it could have been a different story. Teams we face in the coming weeks will have a plan for Starfelt, so must we.
That’s the first of our trophies back home. The weeks and months ahead will bring greater challenges, but amid the burning embers of 2021, we assembled talented people for the cause. They now look like writing the next great chapter in the Celtic Story.
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Whatever else the 2nd January game behind closed doors is not an option . It completely neutralises home advantage. If there’s to be no fans then we push for a postponement. Sevco v. St Mirren on boxing day – fans permissible at that I wonder ? If Sturgeon is considering going doing that route then bring it in right away – no need for delays to appease Sevco and their fans.
Government are funny creatures
If you listen to their stats we should be in lockdown now
But they made an economic decision instead of a public health decision and kept us open to xmas
Then ruined that economic decision by asking us not to go out
Bars, restaurants everywhere should have had there busiest weekend of the year
Instead, it was pretty quiet
Lockdown is a coming whether we want it or not
CLUNKS
There will be no more lockdowns. You can take that to the bank.
JHB
Every administration in the UK is playing politics with Covid/Omicron.
I know. How dare those pesky regions like Scotland, Wales and NI make decisions for themselves? Just who do they think they are?
There will be further restrictions. Whether or not they amount to lockdown will be open to interpretation/debate.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 21ST DECEMBER 2021 10:45 AM
The devolved administrations are playing politics, as is the UK government. Hardly a surprise.
Magnificent day on beautiful Sunday. Aftermatch celebrations in our favourite watering Hole were magical. Maybe unwise in the bigger picture, but nevertheless magical. Ange soooo gets us.
Can anyone really differentiate between hangover symptoms and Omicron symptoms.?
Anyway, currently waiting with the wife for her booster at the Donald Dewar Drumchapel. Mad queue, circa 2 hr wait. If anyone is going for a booster, wrap up, it’s baltic.
HH, the journey continues.
Have the Welsh government outlined the impact barring sporting events will have ? Or is this some low hanging fruit ?
I’m so glad I’m never in the position of having to rely on CQN’s live updates to keep up with a Celtic match. Reading back, some of Sundays comments were so negative and would have been depressing if I didn’t know the score.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1472934428183777284
starter for 10.
in which year did celtic play their first match ?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FHFz1StWUAEdtE1?format=jpg&name=900×900
That’s a cracker St Stivs
TOM MCLAUGHLIN @ 10:45
—–
You miss the point again and one now has to conclude that you do it on purpose when replying to my posts.
The important nub of my post was the delay in implementing action when critical facts are known.
I included ALL administrations in the UK.
Disagree and offer a different argument by all means, but please read carefully, keep it relevant & in context…..not much to ask!
I have to say there was a special atmosphere at Hampden on Sunday. I was in F2 in the east stand, diagonally above the North-East corner flag, with two mates.
A family of 4 men and 2 boys in front of us had inflatable kangaroos and 2 of the men wore Aussie ‘cork’ hats. The goal celebrations were phenomenal with the usual hugging of people you don’t know (I know I know).
Everyone just seemed that extra specially happy to be there and the full-time and after-match scenes were a joy to behold.
Then there was the journey back to Edinburgh. What a sing-song. I’m still a bit hoarse.
Finally, in Malone’s at Haymarket. Fans dancing on tables and more raucous singing. My pal went to buy his round and came back with a bottle of champagne and three flutes.
I went to bed with my Celtic shirt on and watched a full replay of the game on Monday morning.
Please Ange. Give us more of that.
Hail Hail
JHB
You greatly overstate my ability to read the mind of posters on here.
How is anyone expected to read behind those words to see what hasn’t been said?
You’re pretty hopeless at expressing yourself in writing. But I guess that’s everyone else’s fault.
JHB on 21st December 2021 11:25 am
You really are an arrogant arsehole.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 21ST DECEMBER 2021 11:37 AM
Love it, I can feel the joy in that post, long may it continue, por cierto
Tom
me too thought something special was happening at the match, it just felt so good, collective happiness is what it was.
and a support who actually support
i suppose you had to be there to get it.
.
Minder
https://twitter.com/i/status/1472616264833060864
last christmas
https://twitter.com/i/status/1473010564771241999
I think the stat that brings back lockdown is – how many people are going into Hospital particularly critical care
On the BBC website the number went down yesterday
I think (I am no expert) as more of the population are jabbed there is less need for people to go into hospital
Long may that continue
The other factor (in England) of those needing a critical care bed for Covid, 90% are non vaccinated
This starts another debate and a part of me wants to put restrictions on those who choose not to vaccinate
All government decisions are focused on maintaining a functioning NHS
If the NHS looks like its about to collapse – we will be in lockdown
Fingers crossed and stay safe
67ECW
Regarding the hibbees short lived joy until we scored……I think Youssuf n,dour called it right ,ie our goal was only Seven seconds away!!
Tom,
3 Flutes??????.Hope they were of the Tim variety.
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 21ST DECEMBER 2021 11:52 AM
‘I think the stat that brings back lockdown is – how many people are going into Hospital particularly critical care’
##
No.
That’s the stat that tells you you should have locked down earlier and it’s now too late for a lockdown to prevent the health service being overwhelmed. At that point you’re fire fighting.
And that’s the difficulty decision makers face.
SAINT STIVS
I think the extra collective happiness was a reaction to last season. Rangers really hurt us and there is no point in denying that.
Yet here we were at the first cup final of the season and not a hun in sight, apart from the referee. It was knowing what a message a win would send that added to the joy of simply being at a cup final.
TURKEYBHOY
3 Flutes??????.Hope they were of the Tim variety
HAHAHA
But of course. They helped enhance a Tim party.
See Saints desperate to play tomorrow night,to get the ticket money in,in case we go back to no crowds.SensibleNo matter what some think,whatever decisions are made won’t be to favor any football team.The speed this strain is spreading in unbelievable.Was talking to my mate in charge of the Ambulance services this morning,he was saying the biggest problem at the moment was Paramedics,and drivers having to isolate.Real shortage.Must be the same in the wards.Massive problems.
Commentators always made a big deal about goalies failing if they are beaten at the near post, especially English football pundits.
Kyogo’s 1st goal on Sunday was almost a carbon copy of his goal in the LC vs Hearts. The Hearts game he had acres of space and time but went near post anyway (against a top keeper) and put loads of curl and power on the shot. On Sunday it was much quicker but he hit it instantly and low and hard.
Definitely a tactic by Kyogo and executed very well; can’t blame the keeper
new article posted.
On Covid
My mate (in England) has just tested positive for Covid for the 3rd time. He has a badge now for every variant. Got Aplha before vaccines, got Delta after 2 jags and now has Omicron with a booster.
He has always had a very poor immune system but still a surprise. Was at the Madness gig last midweek so probably got it there. The Delta he got due to another friend going to Wembley and then hosting a do for the Croatia game.
obviously all his fellow Scots have taken the pish but it is still a worry really
EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 21ST DECEMBER 2021 11:52 AM
I think the stat that brings back lockdown is – how many people are going into Hospital particularly critical care
I think (I am no expert) as more of the population are jabbed there is less need for people to go into hospital
The other factor (in England) of those needing a critical care bed for Covid, 90% are non vaccinated
This starts another debate and a part of me wants to put restrictions on those who choose not to vaccinate
All government decisions are focused on maintaining a functioning NHS
If the NHS looks like its about to collapse – we will be in lockdown.
—–
You make many important points – all over the UK unvaccinated people are exacerbating the situation.
Dr Ed Patrick on SKY TV demolishes the futility of the anti-vaccine stance when he explains that unvaccinated persons admitted to hospital/ICU, will need a cocktail of drugs with side-effects, maybe inducing blood-clots and other complications to save their lives.
This makes a nonsense of the original stance of the ‘not into my body’ anti-vaccine zealots – none of them would say no, or, stop doctors and nurses saving their lives.
Of course a number of people with serious illness and requiring hospital care, e.g heart & cancer problems, are being denied life-saving treatment. Anytime I encounter someone spouting anti-vaccine rubbish, I always ask about this and say “what if was your parents, siblings, children, relatives and friends – never heard anything like a coherent answer.
Art of War 9.17. Eegads!!!!😳