How many times do you wish players would just practice crossing the ball? Set aside the low balls across the face of goal. A good aerial cross needs enough pace to make it difficult for the keeper to pluck it out of the air, but not too much, it also needs to drop to allow an attacker to make contact.
Most of the poor crosses you see fail the test of pace, more often than not, they are blasted beyond control. Notwithstanding Josip Juranovic’s waywardness last night, a failure to direct the ball carefully enough is less common.
When Tom Rogic crossed the ball as the clock hit 96 minutes last night, including the keeper, there were nine Ross County players in the box. They had to contend with only three Celtic players: Liel Abada, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Anthony Ralston.
For the first time since our first away win of the campaign, at Aberdeen on 3 October, I watched those closing moments thinking the season was about to pivot. Devastated by injuries and with a cup final to plan for, the manager rested Rogic, his remaining creative force, as well as left back, Greg Taylor.
If Ange Postecoglou wins his first trophy in Scotland on Sunday, his gamble will have paid off brilliantly, but goodness, what a gamble.
I doubt Tom practices crossing any more than the rest of them, his talent appears God given. If so, a Divine Hand lifted the ball into an area for Anthony Ralston to attack. Heavily outnumbered, it should have been a no contest.
What happened next is the stuff of legend. Anthony’s leap was astonishing. His head met the ball 8’ off the ground. Up early, he used his shoulders and neck to keep his head where it needed to be, for an instant, giving the impression he could levitate. No Hindu divinity here, just athleticism.
Add your own adjective to this team: winners, fighters, determined, indefatigable. On nights like this, they are all true. Enjoy your Celtic.
Today’s earlier blog on Poor SFA governance.
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BIG JIMMY and THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY
👍
MOISEY17 on 16TH DECEMBER 2021 4:23 PM
What about Cadete goal on “delayed” debut…..was the temp stand in place then?
…………..
Yes it was v Aberdeen in midweek game.
If I remember correctly the Season Long Book for the Temp Stand was only £100 ?
More importantly, when you bought your Book for the Temp Stand, it placed you at the Top of the Waiting List for when the rest of Celtic Park was completed.
I bought my Season Book for the Lower North Stand immediately after the Temp Stand. My seat was amongst where the Green Brigade are now.
A brilliant view, and right next to an Exit for Toilets etc.
I met Paul MacStay one day in my work, and when I told him that I was seated in the Temp Stand, his reply was ” So Jimmy, you are one of the 3,000 Volunteers then” ?
Not only did he know the capacity of the Temp Stand, but we also got chatting about the EXCESS Noise the 3,000 would make when Celtic won a corner and/or scored, and how it seemed that almost every home game that season was played in the rain….with the Temp Stand having NO Roof…but the 3,000 Volunteers couldnt be silenced no matter how wet we got.
It had a Stainless Steel Flooring, which meant that when 3,000 Celtic supporters STAMPED our feet…the noise was incredible !
Paul MacStay also commented on how NOISEY we were, and how the players LOVED it.
Super fun watching the Super Celts.
HH
TIMMY7_NOTED on 16TH DECEMBER 2021 4:37 PM
Moisey17 on 16th December 2021 4:23 pm
I was in the Nth stand on both those occasions, my recollection ( probably hazy due to alcohol) was that for the Cadette debut the temp stand was not in use. We broke the radio that day :-)
…………….
I am 99% sure that I was in the Temp Stand when Jorge Cadette finally made his delayed debut.
HH
MOISEY17 on 16TH DECEMBER 2021 4:05 PM
Your not sure it was a foul ?
Watch it again. He didn’t make any contact with the ball.
David 66,
I saw Jason Leitch’s comments about travelling to the cup final.
I know our players are professional, but the uncertainty will not form the best preparation.
One thing I picked up was his comment that he wasn’t too worried about the match itself as quote ” That’s outdoors, it’s a big space ”
So that’s it clarified:- A football stadium is outdoors.
HH.
Now that I have thought more carefully…I am 100 % SURE/CERTAIN that I was with the other 2,999 Volunteers in the Temp Stand that Wednesday night when Cadette came on as a Sub for his debut v Aberdeen and scored.. We won 5-0.
Cadette scored at the Hun end…and I was as far way from it as possible, being in the Temp Stand.
HH.
Big Jimmy.
You’re probably right I was in the second from front row of the Nth Stand in line with the penalty spot at the Away end end so had a great view of that goal. I remember it was all over the radio the next day because the noise caused huge feedback on the radio microphones and shout down their transmitter!!
Shut.
InQuitousIV
Some C,V, Cap doffed.
GREENPINATA on 16TH DECEMBER 2021 5:04 PM
‘So that’s it clarified:- A football stadium is outdoors.’
##
But smoking is banned.
And smoke particles are larger than covid particles
After Round 18 in the Superbru Predictor, we have a new leader in the weekly high score category.
Bhoy from the Village cleared the previous best by one point to score 15.5 points in winning this week. That is our new target.
Behind him this week, in joint second, matching the previous best of 14.5 were Bily Bhoy and Jmccormick, with Big Archie a further point back.
At the bottom, wee McCaff was awarded the wooden spoon with 3 points even though Gscbhoy scored nil having failed to offer a prediction.
With 3 league games to play before the first set of prize money is handed out, our overall clear leader is Call me Gerry (gonna have to start copying his scores) with 109 pts. Behind him we have Bhoy from the Village (106.5), Big Archie (104.5), Vateen Bhoy (103) and Jmccormicj (101). The next 12 places with 90 points or more are still in the reckoning with 3 sets of fixtures, I’d say but guys below that will need to crawl their way up week by week to get into contention for the May prize.
Wooden Spoon spot overall is wee BGFC but he closed the gap on Gscbhoy so he could get out of that spot by New Year easily.
Next round of fixtures are due for 3pm on Sat 18th but you might want to put in your Boxing day predictions then in case you are too drunk to type and inadvertantly put the Huns down for a win.
CORKCELT
Thank you. I don’t blow my own trumpet, or need accreditation, but the accusation annoyed the hell out of me. I will be curious to see if RIMTIMTIM responds.
I see that Ross County manager Malky MacKay is now begging the SPL NOT to punish Ross County for the pitch invasion of 3,000 Celtic fans ?
MacKay needs to try and do some arithmetic……there was NEVER 3,000 Celtic fans on the pitch !
Wasnt he also SACKED for RACIST comments while a manager down south ?
Ernie,
I anticipated your rebuttal. But the main man has clarified it, smoking or no smoking ban.
His clarification may be really important going forward.
HH
GREENPINATA on 16TH DECEMBER 2021 5:35 PM
It’s as incoherent and inconsistent as the rest of the stuff emanating from the clown car administration he is part of.
And the position will change tomorrow if it suits.
If Ange Postecoglou wins his first trophy in Scotland on Sunday, his gamble will have paid off brilliantly, but goodness, what a gamble.
imo the the gamble was bringing on kyogo when we haven’t any fit strikers , not leaving out TR last night.
Nations League draw.
Group B1: Ukraine, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.
Temporary stand re Cadete.
I was there in the wee stand that night and season, great memories 🍀 HH
I’m not sure Ange gambled last night. Tom needed rested full stop. I’m not sure he had much choice.
I also disagree about the potential for the season to pivot last night. I was thinking about a point gained. There is a long long way to go this season. Points will be dropped. Our support can’t afford the become nervous at every goal against or long period without scoring. That makes its way onto the pitch. It’s also not the celtic way. I don’t like the narrative and folk have to think about what influence they have on that.
Anthony Ralston is the personification of the Celtic I grew up with. Never say die, sweat blood for the Jersey and fight to the bitter end.
He scored that goal last night because he knew he needed to be in a position to make the difference. He won the ball because he knew Celtic needed him to. It was all about desire and fight. He is not without limitations as a technician but give me a few guys with his guts in a Celtic team every day of the week.
My worry coming into this season was where we would get enough character into the team in a short period. Ralston, Harte, CCV, Kyogo have added that in abundance and that in turn lifts others or eases that pressure on the likes of Cal Mac.
I for one am absolutely loving this season.
SFTB @ 4.38
We are very poor in front of goal — historically it has been an issue since probably since BR2 aka 2017/18.
We have built up an attitude that if we miss a good chance then another will turn up — which means we more often than not win until the next chance doesn’t turn up.
Recent history — OE and JF have harboured the bug over the past 2 years.
JF playing well within himself — injury worries?
OE becoming a “vegetarian” and not wanting to hurt the leather in his boots.
Both lacked focus and desire — EM aka The Cannibal is what we have to aspire to.
It might have been cycling but he was a winner.
Moment — Since September.
Lack focus / hunger / desire in front of goal.
Making life a lot more difficult that it should have been.
Last nigh saw the petted lip added to our problems — JJ’s crossing pointed to a lack of team spirit as he tried to take out the far side linesman with cross after cross.
We should have had last night’s game won by half-time.
That we were only one goal in front meant that they were given hope in the second half.
Results matter but so does performance.
We need to start scoring more goals.
I wonder how the bookies have fared with all our one goal victories?
Good place to crunch some numbers.
SFTB @ too much time on your hands
Please no sermons.
RT @ 5.58
I fear that the TFOD2.1 booster club had pencilled in a more normal season for this year.
Teams would be allowed to take points of TFOD2.1 in the normal way.
TFOD2.1 play badly or they play well.
We were in transition with a new manager and 12 new players added to a weak squad. Consequently they had more slack to play with and another season like the last would have raised too many questions.
Penalties — For and against.
Sending offs.
Bookings
Honest mistakes.
One exceptional season — managed to get by.
Two exceptional seasons — questions might be asked.
However things are a bit too competitive for Team TFOD2.1
Back to the future — TFOD2.1 have to win at any cost.
It is now all down to us.
Last season’s rules are now in play — it will take an exceptional set of circumstances for 10 to take points off them.
We had our chance vs Livi and we blew it.
They will not lightly give us another.
What a joy to watch the Anthony Terminator Ralston goal and celebration with the fans again.
Simply lovely.
What a joy.
D :)
No film of the assault on Carl Starfelt on STV but they said his first booking was for dissent, you can be sure that it was a serious attack on him, did show Tony’s goal twice.
D66 @ 18.20
The away support was honking last night.
AR had to physically grab one to celebrate his goal.
He runs 30 yards and no-one gets near him.
Hail Hail
Stay Safe
MOISEY17
Was at the club watching the Dundee Utd game,lost the feed didn’t know what had gone on when it came back
AT and PVH were being interviewed,i heard the crowd singing in the background and i said to my mates ,i think we won what they said then i said they would not be singing if we lost.
Well yesterday i lost the stream about the 94th mnt. saw the gol on you tube.I thought we played really well and never gave up,can’t understand the critisism of Scales and Monty both young and will learn thrown into the deep end.
At least Paul 67 mentioned our winning goalscorers name, Anthony Ralston.
A lesser blog couldn’t even mention his name, how petty and pretentious some ppl are.
Hello again all you young rebels
From a deliriously happy Melbourne
Still buzzin from that magnificent fighting display from our bhoys,
And a precious three points into the bargain.
And to cap it all, young Jacinta our Celtic ladies wizard of Oz back
in her hometown for the Christmas holiday.
She really was like a Hollywood star cutting about our soccer club
With all the kids and the aul kids getting pics taken and cuddles
from everyone, Nicole Kidman wouldn’t get a better welcome back.
Up with the squawking parrots this fine morn, a sweltering 30 degs
expected, and guess what ? It’s a Celtic weekend, leaving early today
for a lovely drive down to rebel town and all those fine bhoys and
ghirls are sure to be in a festive mood, I just might be a bit hungover
by Monday but just like big hearted Tony I’ll be up for it.
H H. Mick
MM
The away support was honking last night.
You need to help us with that one ?
Jonjo Kenny starts for Everton…😃
4 more EPL games cancelled on Saturday…
JIMDOM on 16TH DECEMBER 2021 4:23 PM
Trying to get my youngest son his first vaccination sorted, for the 12-17 age group, not easy. Spent 30 minutes on hold with NHSinform, eventually connected to very pleasant lady.
We are in deepest S. Lanarkshire but the nearest available drop-in location is Bridgeton Medical Centre. Bridgeton!! I (almost) yelled down the phone. The bhoy will come out with a sudden urge to buy a flute and dress in crimplene.
————————
I might be wrong here, but I think I recall that BRIGETON MEDICAL CENTRE is actually on Abercromby Street, about 200 metres from Saint Marys,
so it is in the Calton.
others more local can confirm
Methinks it may have been an attempt at humour 😜😜
INIQUITOUSIV on 16TH DECEMBER 2021 5:28 PM
CORKCELT
Thank you. I don’t blow my own trumpet, or need accreditation, but the accusation annoyed the hell out of me. I will be curious to see if RIMTIMTIM responds.
————————–
That was a brilliant retort actually. A real, show me your medals moment.
was it Bertie who said that ? and followed it up with aye but have you got wan oh theese as he pulls a european cup winner medals from the pocket.
Your CV is beyond reproach, the other fella does look a bit silly.
I still owe you the picture getting posted on here.
A growing number of english leagues managers wanting a circuit breaker for the sport, a 2 week lockdown through christmas.
meanwhile in scotland a few saying we have a break coming up in 17 days time, and we have 3 week shut down of the TOP LEAGUE, so we limp on till then.
i do have a feeling of dread that , the weekend games will be last with supporters, its building towards it,
many many businesses going back to their own rules which are stricter than government guidance.
Jane “Ibrox” Lewis 😶
https://videocelts.com/2021/12/blogs/latest-news/im-not-rattled-hurting-bitter-or-deflated-bbc-reporter-jane-lewis-hits-back-at-celtic-fans/
A growing number of english leagues managers wanting a circuit breaker for the sport, a 2 week lockdown through christmas.
—
who elected them to decide to imprison the population of a democratic country?
they can shout for a circuit breaker for the sport all they want, but openly advocating a lockdown is outwith their remit