Having watched previous generations of Celtic teams park the bus at Barcelona I’m not one to criticise Hamilton Accies when they do the same at Celtic Park. They put on an effective defensive performance but although the game got nervy as Celtic defended a one goal lead in the final minutes, Accies were never able to pass the ball well enough to make a genuine attempt at goal.
The only goal of the game came from a deep run by Moussa Dembele, who had dropped behind Tom Rogic, before sprinting forward to collect a pass from the Aussie. The Accies back line were concentrating on catching Leigh Griffiths offside but didn’t have the response necessary to match Dembele’s run.
It was great play from Rogic, Dembele and Griffiths, who remained in control to finish. That aside, the incredibly high standard of passing Celtic have achieved in recent weeks wasn’t matched. That’s football, it’s impossible for players, or anyone else for that matter, to perform with machine-like consistency, even John Lennon wrote the lyric, “I am a walrus”.
As well as experiencing varying levels of performance, we are now far enough into the season for teams to face Celtic with some revised plans. We play three at the back in possession, so Premiership teams push three men up when Craig Gordon has the ball, forcing the keeper to kick to the halfway line, where possession is often lost. This happened against Aberdeen, Motherwell and Accies in recent weeks.
Brendan Rodgers is miles ahead of his competition, but elements of games between now and the break will be more like chess matches than football. Not least our visit to Hamilton’s artificial surface on Christmas Eve. In the whole of 2016 only Motherwell beat Accies in consecutive games, and indication of an astonishing level of resilience by a club without the resources normally associated with senior football. Coo coo ca choo.
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MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 15th December 2016 8:29 am
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 8:06 AM
Aye. O.K.
Forget his marvellous service over a number of years and judge him on a dummy spit which ……..only my opinion………was totally , completely and utterly justified.
__________________________________________________
His service was great over a number of years; his frustration and anger was justified; where we part company is on our view of how he displayed that. I found it unacceptable for a Celtic player to react like that. I seem to recall Billy McNeil subbed a subbed during a match – a humiliation, but I don’t recall such a reaction on that occasions. That’s as it should be for me.
He knew more than his coach.
His frustration mirrored mine.
After 8 or so more months , the penny finally and belatedly dropped in the Board room.
I don’t disagree.
KTF
Some very good comments about Darlington Nagby from his head coach.Watching him play,he reminds me of Kante,the boy who starred for Leicester.
“He has athleticism as well – extremely explosive, great balance. The other thing with him is he’s become much more assertive. I think you’ve seen that. His production this year has been the best of his career.
“It’s honestly the tip of the iceberg. I think he really does have the ability to be one of the most special players that this country has seen.”
The price could be 2 million.January will be interesting.
Two posts that say you don’t care. That’s why I pity you.
MWD
TURKEYBHOY on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 8:47 AM
Interesting stuff.
tonydonnelly67 on 15th December 2016 8:34 am
Nothing needs to be run by me at all. I’m just another poster on here. No more, no less. The only difference is that I do, on occasion, submit some of my views to Paul67 in article format as I think that they are too long to post on the blog.
KTF
SFTB @ 08:41
Brilliant stuff!
KTF
VFR800
Well it’s maybe best you don’t tell me how and in what manner I post then, you just ignore my posts, as long as they are within the COC of CQN then I’m ok with that, although the brown shirts may think different, but that’s another game.
On the Commons thing.Its funny how many times history can be re-written.While he was manager I was loathe to criticise RD,not because I thought he was good,he was our manager.Many on here,and many more Celtic fans had lost confidence in him long before the end.Look at the difference now from the players that played under RD.Had they all downed tools?.Were none of them playing for the manager,lost all confidence in him?.
Commons loved playing for Celtic.He got the club and what we were about.His family also.No one should forget the season he carried us single handed,when all around were floundering in apathy.
RDs European failures,will come back to haunt us the season after next in the CL.We could lose our seeding.
Commons ,in my opinion,was only railing against the sheer ineptness shown by our management team at the time,because he cared.If that is a crime,and some say he should never play for Celtic again,then what of the myriad of fans who thought the same.Should they never go to a game again?.Should they be thrown aside,because they cared.I would think the players who were performing week in week out abysmally,picking up their wages,with a “Oh well”attitude,not really giving a monkeys,but are now playing like world beaters are more in need of the fans ire,than Commons.
In my opinion,for his service to the club,he deserves a farewell to the fans.For me anyway,he will go with my gratitude for a terrific 5 years.
Macjay1@1:57am
“It could reasonably claimed that he ” took one for the Club.”
Thank you , Kris.”
*****
It could reasonably BE claimed.
Erk alors!
VFR800
And I mean no disrespect with my last post.
BEATBHOY on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 9:11 AM
Zoot ,alors.
Merci , monsieur for your input.
If not your output.
Joyeux Noel , mon brave.
Turkeybhoy
Fair point I’d agree he didn’t stand alone, there where a few who didn’t step up to the mark, but his petulant display didn’t help matters at all, his whole body language was way wrong and it showed.
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 8:06 AM
Aye. O.K.
Forget his marvellous service over a number of years and judge him on a dummy spit which ……..only my opinion………was totally , completely and utterly justified.
__________________________________________________
His service was great over a number of years; his frustration and anger was justified; where we part company is on our view of how he displayed that. I found it unacceptable for a Celtic player to react like that. I seem to recall Billy McNeil subbed a subbed during a match – a humiliation, but I don’t recall such a reaction on that occasions. That’s as it should be for me.
===================================================================
So.
Lenny`s highly publicised nasty altercation with little plump Al.
The bum`s rush for Lenny ?
VFR800
I don’t disagree.
=================================
You`re learning.
;-)
TURKEYBHOY on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 9:11 AM
Thank you , sir.
That just about says it all for me.
Fondly remembered and forgiven for his indiscretion.
Macjay1
Ok, in the spirit of Festivus, I’ll let your apostrophe abuse at 7:17am go!
In the languages I was taught at school, Frohe Weihnachten, Feliz Navidad, mi amigo!
Every player at our club was given a chance this season except from one, Commons. Brendan would have carried out due diligence on the squad in the close season. He had Commons well sussed.
And another angered post to evidence my point further.
That’s why I pity you.
MWD
Well, time to head towards the madness.
Ever since the great HMV voucher debacle a couple of years back, “lazy” gifting is no longer an option for me.
Quite funny fielding phone calls from disgruntled family members on Boxing Day, right enough!
I have no qualms with KC not playing this season for Brendan.I really dont think his style would suit the system the manager is looking for long term.All I am saying is he should not be made a scapegoat for all that was wrong,and should be allowed a farewell to the fans.
Not a biggie to ask.He is still training with the team every day.
BEATBHOY on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 9:29 AM
Buon Natale , yersel.
:-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rUVtd77q88
Going by what I am reading,and hearing,I would think anyone going to the Hogmanay game better have a strong stomach.The filth are engineering what,even for the despicable animals they are,their vilest hatefest ever.
It is hard to imagine a lower form of life exists on this planet.
In all my years I dont think I have wanted to gub them so much.
Ronny’s managerial frailties were exposed to the max against Molde. However people are different and he chose to let Commons verbally abuse him in front of the cameras. It’s the way he is and doesn’t make him a coward. He’d have dealt with it inside, in one way or another.
Commons showed his personal frailty that night too. His frustration and anger were totally understandable but he couldn’t conduct himself in a way befitting of a senior Celtic player. Instead he bullied Ronny and let himself and the club down.
Stein, O’Neil or big Billy would have dragged him up the tunnel. Commons knew Ronny wouldn’t.
Both lost out in the end.
TURKEYBHOY on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 9:57 AM
Going by what I am reading,and hearing,I would think anyone going to the Hogmanay game better have a strong stomach.The filth are engineering what,even for the despicable animals they are,their vilest hatefest ever.
It is hard to imagine a lower form of life exists on this planet.
In all my years I dont think I have wanted to gub them so much.
—————————————————————————————————-
Could you give further info on this please Turkeybhoy.
I too look forward to beating them soundly on Hogmanay.
HH
My son spoke to Commons at a B licence session a couple of months ago.
Said he’s still some player, fit, great build etc.
Kris admitted he’s not in Brendan’s plans.
Smashing guy it seems.
The other thing about Chris Commons is that his performances had dropped . To many moves were breaking down through him . He wasnt completing passes . Basically he’d lost a half yard of sharpness.
He was great in the days when he was scoring match winning goals but those days had long gone. So it is time to thank him and let him move on. Should have gone after his discraceful show of petulance in Norway.
Kris Commons ‘got’ Celtic ok. You needn’t worry about that.
The real Celtic that is. The charitable Celtic. His wife clearly ‘gets’ that Celtic too.
More so I would suggest than some our more revered players and ex players.
His outburst was that. An outburst. Wrong, but nevertheless hardly a sign that he was a rebel.
Broony’s on field ‘ outbursts have caused us more instant damage than Kris’ off field ever have.
Rightly forgiven because it was out of frustration or passion, anger or impulse, or a combination of one or more of those emotions.
Caring about Celtic and its support generates such things.
Compare their actions to the Sevconian Senderos who sprints off the field with hardly a care?
Give me a Kris Commons type every day of the week.
He will be gone in a short time.
He will be fondly remembered by any reasonably minded person for his contribution to Celtic, which has been important on our quest for 10.
His partner’s contribution to charitable causes holds even more importance.
Good people.
OneMalloy: Just put them in the sack for you. See you at the corner.
TWISTS N TURNS on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 10:12 AM
Glad to see that my affection for Kris is shared.
I can never dissociate Kris from his performances against the hun.
Lung bursting moments. And that`s just me.
:-)
” The good is oft` interred with their bones “
HAMILTONTIM, there’s an editorial difficulty in moderating comments (or commentators) which are factually ridiculous. If it’s about a player’s performance in a game he didn’t even play, the error will be clear to most, although my experience is that even this type of evidence is overlooked by the compulsive.
If we started to delete comments because they were ridiculous it would only encourage them – believe me, they see this as an attempt to stop the world from reading their truths. It would also be difficult to moderate evenly.
Personal comments about you, or which are designed to bait you, are a different matter. Blog policy is clear, they will be deleted, the offender will be asked to amend his (it’s always a testosterone issue) behaviour, and if they don’t, their account will be pulled.
I’m the only person who pulls accounts, so please report any issues to me and I’ll deal with it. I need a specific comment, when asking someone to amend their posting habits you need to be specific about what is and is not acceptable.
TONYDONNELLY67 on 15th December 2016 9:11 am
VFR800
And I mean no disrespect with my last post.
__________________________________________________
None taken Tony; it’s about opinions.
KTF
MACJAY, Neil Lennon knew he was bang out of order that night; he reacted, one assumes, after extreme provocation and apologised afterwards. That was a flashpoint; Commons reacted to a managerial decision. 2 completely different circumstances.
Neither were acceptable though Lennon’s was, IMHO, forgivable under the circumstances (taking into consideration the personal attacks and traumas he had suffered as Celtic manager).
KTF
Is anyone old enough on here today to remember Celtic’s Greatest Ever Player taking his jersey off and throwing it at the Celtic dug out after being subbed?
I know Big Jock chased him up the tunnel and dealt with the matter then, but…………..who was all clamouring for us to get rid of the little upstart for his petulance?
No me for one!
And anyone who is critical of this post can GFY or GTF or GIRUY or GIRFUY or just plain FO!
:-)
BEATBHOY on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 9:29 AM
Macjay1
Ok, in the spirit of Festivus, I’ll let your apostrophe abuse at 7:17am go!
In the languages I was taught at school, Frohe Weihnachten, Feliz Navidad, mi amigo!
————————————————————————————–
Has The Airing of the Grievances started yet?
Oh it has….in January..! ;-))))
Kris.
Thank you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC8wUWhcQGw
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 10:25 AM
I agree with you about that.
I just remember viz 10.27 AM
That`s about the size of it.
PHILBHOY on 15TH DECEMBER 2016 10:26 AM
Is anyone old enough on here today to remember Celtic’s Greatest Ever Player taking his jersey off and throwing it at the Celtic dug out after being subbed?
I know Big Jock chased him up the tunnel and dealt with the matter then, but…………..who was all clamouring for us to get rid of the little upstart for his petulance?
No me for one!
And anyone who is critical of this post can GFY or GTF or GIRUY or GIRFUY or just plain FO!
:-)
=============================================================
Ca` canny , pal.
The boss is on the loose.
MACJAY…
If the Boss deletes that post a wull be up at his hoose the night wae ma 3 big brothers.
Off camera of course!
Hope you are well!