Sunday was a huge test of Celtic’s apparent return to form. Aberdeen had the luxury of training and preparing for their semi-final, while Celtic travelled to France to play on-form Lille; an exhausting occasion.
Apart from a couple of ominous looking early cross balls, the game was completely controlled by the holders, as they secured yet another domestic cup win: 35 without reply. 100 years from now fans will look back on this period in their record books and wonder at the incessant adulation the Celtic players and manager must surely have received……
Ryan Christie comes in for his fair share of criticism for shooting from distances that beggar belief. When offered inviting space 26 yards from goal he was always going to have a pop; it evaded the despairing lunge of Joe Lewis and found the top right corner of the ‘keeper’s net. It was a symmetrical strike to Mohamed Elyounoussi’s first in Lille.
By this stage, Odsonne Edouard, on his first start since recovering from Covid, passed up a double chance and, as manager Derek McInnes would later observe, the Aberdeen defence were “spooked” by his presence. Tom Rogic crafted the second and final goal of the game when he crossed from an unlikely angle, pitching the ball over Lewis to drop at the far post, where Elyounoussi committed to the cause, and the post*, to score.
There were many tired legs and minds in green and white in the second half but Neil Lennon chose to defend what he had. Aberdeen were given plenty of the ball but were unable to trouble Scott Bain. I was happy to see us play like this, there will be many occasions this season when we will need to shut up shop.
Hearts will attempt to be the first team to win the Scottish Cup in the ‘season’ they were relegated. It will be an historic final either way, as Celtic can become the first club to win four consecutive Scottish Cups, moving clear of the record they share with Aberdeen, Rangers and Queen’s Park.
We have become accustomed to setting records. The Invincible Treble was delicious and the first back-to-back treble historically special in its own right. That it was more of the same, did not make the last Scottish Cup final, also against Hearts, any less tense or celebrated. It is as though each additional achievement makes the next trophy all the more important, to Celtic and to everyone else.
Well done, Celtic.
*the post is receiving therapy.
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Good afternoon, friends. Please remember to have your opinions heard – CQNPOTY@GMAIL.COM
DD – I am tickety boo my friend, hope you are well.
D:)
Stebhoy
There’s always luck.
There’s luck when we win lose or draw.
If Neil is credited with stupidity, failure and complacency when we lose goals and drop points, I think he is entitled to a bit more credit when we win than ascribing two of the reasons as luck and the failure of the opposition.
At least you credit him with producing a good defensive performance.
I thought it was one of our more comfortable wins. Comfortable verging on boring for much of the 2nd half
Setting Free – sure I’m more than happy but always looking for improvement.
We did exactly the same against Lille – it was clear we were being over run wave after wave – yet it took Neil 80mins before he responded.
We need a player or two in there who can break up and win balls – Maybe Biton when Julien comes back. Its a concern for me – football is played when we don’t have the ball too!
also noting – Rangers are more than riding their luck at the moment defensively – they are due to lost 3 or 4 soon in a single game
If we’re asking for consistency ref Covid and breaches of public health rules, we too need to be consistent.
The broad consensus on here was that Bolingoli was an individual idiot. That he’d been disciplined by the club. And that we shouldn’t be punished as a result.
If……and I know it’s a pretty big ‘if’…..the incident was as reported, and was dealt with before the players came into training, then I hate to say it(!) but sevco have acted appropriately.
And bolingoli’s transgression was far worse, as he came into contact with teammates and opposition players before the truth came out.
If we’re going to fight, save it for a blatant case. Or even start by calling out the MIB-ery on show yesterday, where Robertson was by some distance, the most effective person on the field for Aberdeen.
HH jg
PS I’m not a hun!
PPS I too was sure Rocky was a dug, not a cat!
Getting to the final was the objective yesterday so mission accomplished.
I disagree that NFL decided to defend what he had Paul.
3 subs on 73 minutes were Hatem, Griff & Alby.
Hatem to Right wing Back/FB so that Frimpong could move to right wing area where the exhausted Christie had been. Griff & Alby to replace Moi & Eddie.
In fact Neil gave Griff a row for taking the ball into the corner with 4 minutes to go.
Hardly the action of a man who’d decided to shut up shop.
Barcelona last night
Street musician playing “Eternal Flame” as the rioters & cop vans mill around behind him in front of a big fire.
https://twitter.com/iamCiaraKing/status/1323211194052857856?s=20
Is it a coincidence that Rangers lost momentum in the last two winter-breaks? A two-game suspension could see that momentum lost as they won’t play until December.
We will have the opportunity to catch up on their “points in the bag” and really see the pendulum swing.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 3:56 PM
Time will tell
I was not in favour of sacking NL for the sake of it
If a better option was available then I would have taken that decision
A team with our resources has been underperforming
But I accept it’s not always possible and a better option is hard to come by
But I did want him getting help other than Kennedy and Strachan
The last 2 games have have not proved he will turn it around
The last 2 games have proved he can fight back and fight back he has
The 2 games before that cost us 5 points and that’s the fact that has to be rectified
A draw at Motherwell and these pages will be on fire again
But for clarity no one will celebrate 10 with NL more than me – humble pie in one hand champagne in the other
Hail Hail
67ECW
Jamesgang
” If……and I know it’s a pretty big ‘if’…..the incident was as reported, and was dealt with before the players came into training, then I hate to say it(!) but sevco have acted appropriately. ”
IF
Super Rainjurz CSC
According to The Herald the two players are Jones and Edmundsen not Helander as mentioned earlier.
David66
All good Davie Bhoy. Apart fae this Covid19 fear, we all have. Hopefully yesterday was a turning point in our season. A wee winning run will get the detractors back supporting the Manager, Coaches and Players. 🍀💚
ROBINBHOY on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 12:49 PM
Duffy played two straight long passes yesterday, both intercepted by Aberdeen players which led, if I remember correctly, to two Aberdeen corners.
correct , I was going to mentioned it yesterday but I would have just got the usual claims of my negativity of our loanee centre back. he has to remember to win the ball fairly either with his head or feet and allow one of our more gifted players play the second ball.
Celtic absolutely need to hold the SPFL/ScotGov to account over this. Sevco deserve the same treatment we got or we raise hell.
has Ferguson been cited yet.
The Scottish Government has praised Rangers for taking quick action against Jordan Jones and George Edmundson following their Covid-19 breaches.
The two players have been suspended by the club and put into a 14-day quarantine by the club’s doctor while faceing further punishment on their return.
Jones and Edmundson were among 10 people fined by police after attending a house party in Glasgow’s West End on Sunday night.
Rangers immediately suspended the pair on Monday morning after discovering the news and the Government have backed their stance, saluting them for protecting others.
You really couldn’t make it up…..but the Daily Ranker has…
“We commend Rangers for taking such swift and decisive action in this instance, to protect the rest of their squad and wider public.”
Parallel universe…
Be careful what you wish for -what if Celtic player breaches covid rules – ???
We’re in this pandemic for a while yet.
…..the fabric of Scottish society indeed….
This might be a dumb question, but if they were at Arfield’s for a party, why is he not quarantined and suspended on the same basis?
DELANEYS DUNKY on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 5:14 PM
Hopefully yesterday was a turning point in our season. A wee winning run will get the detractors back supporting the Manager, Coaches and Players.
Detractors? Anyone who would criticise our poor performances this season? C’mon…
Who would win in a fight between a small breach and inexcusable actions?
DD – Garry aye let’s all get behind the team and Lenny.
As this whole sevco covid breach will prove they are cheating feckers and winning the 10 will make the achievement more sweeter.
D :)
One Night in Lisbon
Yes detractors. What would you call constant criticism of our Manager and Players?
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 5:50 PM
This might be a dumb question, but if they were at Arfield’s for a party, why is he not quarantined and suspended on the same basis?
Possibly because they are squad players, and expendable?
the greatest ever celtic strip.
——————
St.Anthony
@Stephen4_2
·
4h
Bobby Lennox at Dunfermline in 1968. East End Park was a great atmosphere with the fans so close to the pitch. Always a hard place to get a result back then.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/El0rVwOWMAExqaH?format=jpg&name=medium
Lewis Ferguson Cited today ?
Or was FtSFA busy covering something else up today ????
DELANEYS DUNKY on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 6:07 PM
One Night in Lisbon
Yes detractors. What would you call constant criticism of our Manager and Players?
So justified criticism is not acceptable?
Seriously?
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 5:50 PM
This might be a dumb question, but if they were at Arfield’s for a party, why is he not quarantined and suspended on the same basis?
…………………..
Think it was Coneybhoy earlier in this thread that gave some background.
The two players in question went to Arfield’s place for his birthday party in Glasgow’s West End.
Cops attended and onlookers were take cellphone footage & pix.
Someone??? informed their club/Gerrard to let them know that this would kick off.
Club suspended Jones & Edmundson overnight to get in front of the thing.
There’s nothing about who else was there – particularly other players but yes Arfield was certainly there.
A number of Fixed penalties were issued one presumably to Arfield himself.
It smells very much like to fringe players have been sacrificed to avoid any serious harm to their squad AND to hopefully avoid any SFA action or Sturgeon interference.
That last bit is just speculation but we’re expected to believe that Arfield’s birthday party after the win at Kilmarnock had NO other players attending except these two who hardly get a game.
Then they get a commendation from ScotGov…
If Arfield was there then of course he broke protocol. So why wouldn’t the huns suspend him and risk a cover up. I don’t think we have all the facts here.
Ziggydoc1 – that’s the point we will never get all the facts.
Cheating/sevco/SMSM/ SFA/SPFHELL and scottish Government go hand in hand.
D :)
FASSREIFEN on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 5:27 PM
Celtic absolutely need to hold the SPFL/ScotGov to account over this. Sevco deserve the same treatment we got or we raise hell.
They didn’t do anything regarding resolution 12 and will do nothing now, it’s the Celtic board way.
Bada Bing, Cornelius, ziggydoc, I agree. But cops etc must know, so why has nothing been said? Only explanation is collusion between cops, sevco and press.
Who tipped sevco off?
The Scottish media sat on the Bolingoli story for 3 days until after he made a 10 min appearance against the Ayrshire huns.
Playing with lives means nothing to them when sevco are involved.
DISGUSTING
D :)
Arfield clearly wasn’t at his own birthday party, he was out for a walk along a country lane with James Traynor.
Neither STV nor the BBC mentioned that other clubs had been punished when their players did not comply with the protocols. Simply that the deid team had punished theirs. It was mentioned on the STV that other teams’ players had been punished by the powers that be.
SUTTON1888 on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 6:55 PM
FASSREIFEN on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 5:27 PM
‘They didn’t do anything regarding resolution 12’
###
That’s not true.
They had a fully worked out plan about how to deal with it, which they duly implemented.