Weighty comparison for Ntcham

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Roy Keane played 13 games for Celtic and the first two of those were memorably for a disastrous performance and result away to Clyde, then what looked like an out of shape performance by the former Ireland international at home to Kilmarnock.

The remaining 11 games of his Celtic career were a lesson on what a great central midfield player looks like.  This was an era when we had recently seen Champions League winner, Paul Lambert, and Neil Lennon, play central mid, both masters of their craft, but Keane fulfilled the role better than anyone I had seen in a Celtic shirt, even as a 34-year-old.

There’s a video of his solitary performance away to Rangers (@FocusOnCeltic), where he asserts himself effortlessly, a lesson on how it should be done.  I watched a similar video of Olivier Ntcham against Newco on Sunday (@CelticBible).

The obvious point should be made.  The Rangers team of 2006 that Keane faced had players like Barry Ferguson and Dado Prso, and had a proper manager, whereas the team Olivier Ntcham faced are not of the same calibre, nor were they at home, but you and me have watched rubbish Oldco/Newco teams over the years without seeing such a complete performance from a Celtic central mid as Olivier’s.

Last month I suggested we drop Olivier and pull Callum McGregor deep, as the former’s passing and effectiveness was off the pace during the qualifiers.  He was one of several subject to bids and contract talks over the summer.  A clear head seems to have elevated the 22-year-old’s game to a new level.

The King is in town, get along to see Henrik and pals do their stuff at Celtic Park tomorrow.

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667 Comments

  1. Looks as though it’s a slow blog day, just a wee thought for

     

    all you negs and trolls out there , ” CELTIC WOMAN ” voice of

     

    an angel tour of Australia was sold out faster than any other

     

    musical show in 2018.

     

    Even our babes have got this ;-)))))

     

    H.H Mick

  2. GuyFawkesaforeverhero on

    Oli’s influence can bring us wins on Friday then Thursday but I’m not averse to Mulumbu taking on the hurlyburly in Paisley if he’s up to speed.

     

     

    Two aspects I haven’t noticed about Fairhurst’s independent review of Janefield St last weekend are 1) will Police Scotland fully co-operate with the consultant’s investigation? 2) will the review be completed and published before the club’s AGM in November?

     

     

    We went through turnstiles 6-13 at 11.20am and casually remarked on the bigger than usual numbers heading to their areas at that early time. I’d say there’s scope to increase use of these eight turnstiles at all games.

     

     

    Greegsy’s done himself no favours recently. A pile of hurt is heading his way soon in a goalmouth stramash and my bet is he’ll be sidelined, injured, before this month’s end.

  3. okay im the only one on the blog so its nostalgia time, here we go cowans penny carmels, tiger nuts. cremola foam, marathon bar don’t mention the other word, frys 5 bhoys chocolate, red kola, American cream soda strike cola .hh.

  4. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    I have just seen the cartoon from, I think, Goal.com, on NewsNow Celtic.

     

    It’s about the swaggering hun before Sunday’s game, extolling SG.

     

    Around the corner is a depiction of Brendan and Scott Brown, throwing a banana skin in their path.

     

     

    A while back, during one of CQN’s reminiscing periods, I recalled the swagger and confidence of the hoardes approaching Hampden for the 1969 Cup Final.

     

     

    Last Sunday, much of their hubris was down to Dembélé’s departure.

     

    In 1969, it was the absence of Johnstone and Hughes.

     

     

    Same result……..stuffed.

  5. Ch @ 12.35

     

     

    Enjoyed the game yesterday.

     

    Pretty low key build up — check out the story above — so the crowd was good.

     

    The attendance on the day of 20K plus was a good turnout.

     

    Just a case that CP is a big arena to fill”.

     

     

    Something to build on.

     

    Great fit with our history.

     

    Plus it makes the CP experience available to new people.

  6. 20k at Celtic Park can seem like a low turnout. But think if it was a charity concert selling out the Royal Albert Hall in London for 4 or 5 nights in a row. It would be on the national news.

  7. OLDTIM67

     

    Just logged on and although I have never met you , I can feel your pain. Generally speaking, not many people understand the curse of depression, not many at all. You hear them say, pull yourself together man and all that crap, they do not understand, really don’t.

     

    I suffered very badly about 10 years ago, so much so, I had to give up work. I was on all sorts of pills and potions, saw psychiatrists etc etc, but I could not get out of the dark, as I called it. The doc asked me if I could describe how I felt, the only way I could describe it was that I felt I was looking at the world through the wrong end of a pair of binocuars, hope you get me there.

     

    Anyway, only you can try and very slowly to force yourself to do things you don’t want to do, anything at all. Even when you just do not even want to get out of bed, as I did many a time, force yourself to do something. Try to remember the things you used to like to do, and force yourself , try hard, you CAN do it, honest.

     

    Sorry to go on at you, but I really do understand.

     

    All the evry best to you and yours

     

     

    Hail Hail and all that

     

     

    KINGLuBO

  8. Melbourne Mick

     

    The Stanley Bar is a wee Fenian Oasis in hun hell hole Kinning Park. Wearing my shirt and cap with pride. Thank you.

     

    YNWA

  9. Apricale

     

    Absolutely magical Joey

     

    Wunderbar Thank you for posting that. Loved it.

     

    YNWA

  10. bigrailroadblues on

    Good afternoon all from the Depot bar, Victoria Roads answer to the dive bars of Manhattan.

  11. CHAVEZ on 9TH SEPTEMBER 2018 12:35 PM

     

    Thoughts on yesterday – Stiliyan Petrov played really well and is looking really fit and healthy, which is great to see. Henrik is still Ghod. Robbie Keane was excellent. The crowd was sparse tho, which was a big shame (not a criticism btw).

     

     

    Possibly been too many charity games at CP in last few years mate..

  12. I may have posted this before, if so, I apologise (NOT!)

     

     

    I want to see this guy playing at paradise.

     

     

    He’s coming to the Barras in November and the big new place next year. I hope millions of Celtic supporters turn up with Celtic tops on to let him see who his new football club is. God bless you George.

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOwihbur34E

  13. SHOTGUN:

     

     

     

    “Time flies bye in the Yellow and Green, stick around”

     

     

    He’s nearly there!

  14. Re the crowd yesterday. I was told by a friend who normally attends them that the timing was wrong. In recent years, charity matches have been played the day after the Cup Final and there has been a euphoria among the support. He expected an attendance yesterday of about 20,000. Seems he was proved right.

  15. Adi, Funny you should say that, I’ve been following him on utube now for half an hour and I thought he just looks like a Celtic player! I was thinking an attacking midfielder when he’s in a mood.

     

     

    Either that or a kit man.

  16. BadaBing, It took me about 1 minute of astonishment there to realise you were taking the Micky there. You little devil!

  17. I’VEHADTOCHANGEMYMIND-nice wee watch.Was on YouTube earlier watching lubo’s best goals for us,jeso you forget how many were quality ???

  18. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Fairhill Bhoy

     

     

    Delighted you had a great holiday imagine being in New Yoork and posting on CQN :-)

     

     

    As for all the Hamilton pub posts, Weebawbabbity, Stonehouse ? actually queued up on a Friday night to try and squeeze up to the bar, left there and went to Jilts ???

     

     

    Catch yourself on

     

     

    Gloss CSC

     

     

    Used to walk home through Stathy Park to the safety of Bellshill :-)

  19. GFTB-had a great time so I did?

     

    Is there a don’t post on holiday rule that I don’t know about ?

  20. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Fairhill Bhoy 9.21pm

     

     

    I posted far more on holiday than I would in the house (so maybe it should be strike :-) as CQN was my wee link to back home, can’t post for others but I think it’s fair doos …

     

     

    Hope Scotland win the morra, don’t let the McLeishs & the SFA cabal win, Scotland is my birthplace but Celtic in Paisley on Friday is far more important football wise :-)