The Official Glasgow Celtic Thread

[salty]

8 points clear thanks to a very fortunate win. Even allowing for the god awful pitch Celtic slowly but surely drove me mad watching them. Dreadful control shocking crossing easily hustled off the ball.

 

Apart from the two early shots by Eddie Celtic never created any danger until the Christie glancing header late on. Killie moved it far better and my fear was if they scored we were cream crackered. The one standout for Celtic was Boyata who made some good blocks and saved some very awkward situations. And of course his header from the corner from which Brown scored with the aid of the deflection. Weah to me looked much better in the time he was on than all the other front men.

 

It is a huge bonus for us to be a further two points clear and one of our most difficult games out of the way.

[salty]

A much better display in Valencia but the horse had bolted in the 1st leg. For most of the first half we had the better of matters and created a few half chances. But then Toljan was sent off in the closing stages of the first half for a second yellow. Both silly fouls I thought.  It was a signal for the home team to take over and put us under severe pressure. Bain made 2 superb saves to keep it at 0-0 at HT.

 

2nd half was a continuation of Valencia pressure but Celtic with a gutsy display kept then at bay until midway through the 2nd half when the home team made the breakthrough to completely kill the tie. Hayes who otherwise played very well was caught out by a diagonal ball. His opponent headed across goal and it was finished at close range. Shortly before Ajer missed our best chance when he headed wide from an excellent free kick by Christie. It would have created an interesting scenario if we had gone ahead.  Celtic survived further pressure to the end without concession.

 

So as expected our European Odessy is over for this season. Now the focus has to be trying to successfully defend League and Cup.

[hackjam]

The tie was indeed lost in Glasgow.

Liked the shape of the team that BR put out, with 3 center backs, a well earned rest for SS.

But I was really impressed with our display last night and would have panned out differently if Toljan, it was 2 stupid fouls, that will get cards at this level. Up to the dismissal, we had the control of the game, Hayes was impressing on the left, SB & CMcG doing positively in the engine room.

But the red card changed the dynamics. Bain really came of age and showed he deserves to be our No 1.

Second half we were always going to be on the ropes but I was so proud of how the players stood up to the task, before conceding, Hayes should have read the danger-a natural LB would have been tighter. Thought Ajer came of age with a solid display when pushed wide right, so aggressive in the tackle and was unlucky with a few goal chances.

 So looking ahead to Sunday, we will be without Brown for visit of the hammer throwers, may see TW in No 10 role or Henderson. Rumor has it KT will feature.

Forrest seems to have drifted back to the JF inconsistent of old, not really kicked a ball since Scotland hat trick, may benefit from a rest. At least we now have options.

[salty]

Just seen brief highlights. 4 excellent goals. Controversial goal conceded made it a nervous 2-1 for long period until the clinching 1/2. Keeps the 8 point lead intact.

 

Good to see KT back but on the debit side Calmac did not start with an injury. No word on how serious and Christie off with a hamstring which looks like he will miss a few at best. Young Henderson looked promising again. Excellent ball for Edouard for No 2.

 

2 games in Edinburgh next week. We have lost at both venues this season so no sense of complacency you would hope.

[hackjam]

Proud day for a returning KT, as he captained Celtic in a League game for a first time and also, Ewan H making first full start in the SPL. Good to see Bitton back after over a year out.

Toljan had some good link up play, but was still troubled by the Well No 12, every time he took him on, worrying.

Great finish by SS, after a good run by KT and cross by RC

So impressed with Henderson, a lovely cross for Eddies goal, lots of good one touch play.

Then, from having total control of the game, Christie goes off injured, we don’t make a substation and they don’t give the ball back after we put it out to get attention for RC, we stand off and they score-Bain spilled the first shot. Say what you like about unsporting behaviour etc. play the ball. We totally lost it after their goal, Boyata & Ajer both picking up bookings. Ajer has impressed lately but he needs to wise up, was sure he was going to get sent off. Motherwell take control of the game and we are struggling to get hold of the ball.

SS had a great chance to play in Toljan but shoots weakly.

Then we get a free kick and Eddie smashes it in off the underside of the bar, cracking goal, then Burke crashes the ball home after good work by the hard working Forrest.

Looking ahead, Hearts up next Wednesday night, looks like both RC & CMcG will be missing, Brown back. Christie’s injury seemed to be classic case of too much game time. I suspect Forrest will be next to get injured. CMcG will have XRay today. Looking like we will run with Brown, Bitton and Ewan in Edinburgh. May go 3 at back, as long as, God forbid, its not Hendry, don't know why Joso was not in the squad yesterday.

[CelticBhoy]

BR has decided to leave us at a crucial point in the season for the Foxes. Sly Bren - good riddance.

Integrity 8 Loyalty 0

[wilai]

26 minutes ago, CelticBhoy said:

BR has decided to leave us at a crucial point in the season for the Foxes. Sly Bren - good riddance.

Integrity 8 Loyalty 0

Stevie G providing too much competition?????

 

Maybe you'll have to get Lennon back on board.

Edited February 26, 2019 by wilai

[hackjam]

Poor from BR, leaving at the business end of the season. Dream job etc???

Was expecting him to wait for the Chelsea job and would understand him leaving for a top 6 side but Leicester, I mean, does he reckon he will get European football after Xmas with them???

Must have been a serious fall out over the summer transfer fiasco.

Ah well, would expect to receive substantial offers in the summer for the likes of KT and CMcG, hope they tell him where to go and offer the likes of Commper etc.

Guess Lennon should see us over the line this season but long term who do we get? Steve Clark maybe?

[salty]

Looks like BR has crossed the Rubicon with Lenny in to hopefully keep the ship steady for the remainder of the season. A depressing day. 

 

Steve Clarke would also be the name that would leap to my mind. The immediate concern is that this will not impact on the team. We will have plenty to concern us about next season when the time comes. 

 

Lawwell's popularity likely to take another nosedive.

[balo]

A surprising move , it will be interesting to see how Celtic will perform over the next few games. 

[salty]

Surprising indeed. Nearly all the faithful in shock.It will indeed be interesting beginning tomorrow night at Tynecastle. We hope the side shrug this aside and continue our drive towards another title.

 

At least Lenny coming in should ensure as seamless a scenario as possible. 

[hackjam]

Probably the best safe pair of hands to steady the ship is NL right now, so important to just keep the focus, Brown will have a big part to play also.

See that BR has taken most of the backroom staff with him also, any word on Congerton? Cant imagine Leicester having anything to do with that waste of space. Not sure if NL will be able to can him, he seems tight with Peter L.

[hackjam]

A bit like the Killi game, we get out of dodge.

Hearts were better side in first half, Ajer getting rolled way to easily in the box, Bitton out jumped at a corner, great stop from Bain, Bomb scare Boyata almost gifting Hearts the lead, before a great pass from Hendo sets us away on a counter attack and Burke does really well to set up Forrest. Hearts defender then gets himself red carded just before HT. Their keeper did make a few good stops just before HT.

Ajer then concedes a penalty after a slack Bain pass and Hearts are back in it. And we huffed and puffed right up to the end, totally uncreative, just as it looked like we were going to drop points, when a great pass from the off the pace Brown was so deadly dispatched to the net by French Eddy. I feel the sending off worked against us, as they packed the defense.

Really lacking dynamics in midfield now with so many injuries.

[salty]

Again very fortunate not to drop points. Great lead goal and stupid red card from a Hearts point of view. Great Bain save and stupidity from Boyata. Brown made some good passes.

 

2nd half important to stay focused but then handed the equalizer to Hibs. Dodgy pass from Bain to Ajer. Ajer pressed the panic button again as in recent sending off. Maddening to watch Celtic far too slow in the build up making life easy for Hearts. Resigned to dropping 2 points when good ball by Brown Ito the box and finished superbly by Eddy. Massive relief. Another difficult game out of the way. 

[hackjam]

Listening to NL interview after game, totally agree with what he was saying, not getting ball forward quickly enough, too sloppy at the back, etc.

Hopefully, he can get us to move the ball forward quicker, cut out this dicking around at the back-their goal and best chance came from us dicking around.

Also, Browns ball over the top was something we need to do more, so many times our forwards are making good runs but rarely does the pass get attempted.

Tough game coming up in 2 days time, we are down to the bones in midfield. Not sure if any of our injured players are due back soon.

Not sure about Toljan, can be positive going forward but lacks defensive awareness. Definitely not worth 4 or 5 million. In fact, while he is an upgrade on ML, don't think he is much better than Ralston, would be good to see him back. 

[salty]

It was our good fortune that Lenny was available to take up the reins again. We cannot keep going to the well and having everyone living on their nerves. Rather stop arsing about and make our usual monopoly of possession pay. Then we can eventually be saying "Brendan who".

 

It is depressing to read today about the Neanderthals among our support. They seem to "specialise" particularly at away games. A huge embarrassment to all our decent fans. 

[salty]

2 superb second half goals saw Celtic advance to the semi finals of the Cup. Overall we controlled the game but were finding it difficult against a resolute Hibs side. It was very noticeable today that Bain avoided the silly short passes when they were not on and went long. Celtic were unable to make the breakthrough in the first half. Hibs never really threatened a fairly solid Celtic rearguard. I was again disappointed in Sinclair. As so often easily hustled off it and Eddy's control saw several promising situations come to naught. 

 

Forrest played more centrally in the 2nd half and it paid dividends after an hour when he made room to fire a terrific strike into the top corner. Brown scored the 2nd with another rocket after starting the move by robbing the ball in midfield. 3 in recent games after a 2 year blank. Hopefully an injury to Burke is not serious.

 

Celtic saw it out in comfort. Sinclair had a bottle and later a coin thrown at him while preparing to take corners and a moron in the

Celtic end felt the need to throw a flare after the opening goal. We

could well do without these dimwits at football games.

 

It was a happy return to Easter Road for Lenny.

 

 

[hackjam]

The second of 2 great results in a turbulent week, both difficult grounds to go to at the best of times, without all those midfielders also but must give credit to players for keeping the focus, cant have been easy. I do feel that those 2 games will be the springboard for the run in now we are at business end of the campaign.

Forrest's cracking goal totally knocked the stuffing out of a stubborn Hibs side and Browns rich scoring vein continues. Burkes battling qualities continue to impress, Eddie always looks more dangerous cutting in from left, KT and SS worked hard down the left but SS touch was poor.

See NL has given players and staff 2 days off and great we have a week off after such a hectic period of games, reckon its been 2 games a week since winter break. So some well needed recovery time for players and also gives NL some time to implement any tweaks he feels necessary.

[salty]

Semi Final

 

Aberdeen/The Rangers v Celtic

[hackjam]

Had an opportunity to extend lead to 10 but at the end of the day, a draw was a fair result, reckon we could still be playing now and still unable to score. Surprised to see Eddie dropped, Aberdeen parked bus in first half but came out and played in the second half, which should have suited us but we were so flat, lacked creativity. Guess those injuries caught up with us. We did have a lot of crosses into the box but we had nobody attacking the ball. Mikey J did have a great chance near the end should have found the top corner. We were way too defensive, Torjan is not the answer to RB issue, in fact ML may see more game time now, especially with playing once a week.

We have 7 days till next game, so hopefully get some players back from injury.

[salty]

Managed to find a stream to see most of the game and just watched the highlights tonight. Celtic were poor and Aberdeen deserved the draw. What worries me is the lack of scoring chances we are creating with majority possession.  We seem to have regressed again to slow laborious build ups making life easy for opposing defenders. Hopefully some of our injured stars will return soon.

 

We still have our 8 point lead but on yesterday's form we will face a very difficult semi final irrespective of the opposition.

[salty]

Once again Celtic got out of jail with a winner deep in injury time. Piles of pressure but majority of it was trying to bludgeon our way through a packed defence. Deja vu again. We had a number of good efforts in the first half from Sinclair Forrest and Brown but failed to break through. Indeed Dundee created a very good chance late in the first half but an alert Bain saved the day after Toljan went to sleep. Celtic could have a penalty when Sinclair seemed to be fouled in the area. 

 

The irritation level steadily increased during the 2nd half as an uninspired Celtic rarely created danger. The slow laborious build up was making life easy for Dundee. Plenty of corners but as usual fruitless. Hayes came on for Johnson and made a few runs to the bye line which brought some hope. Benkovic fot Ajer and Weah came on. There had been several stops for injuries which resulted in 6 minutes injury time. Dundee had a decent breakaway but fortunately took wrong options. With time almost up Edouard who has driven me mad in front of goal received on right wing in space . He drove goalwards laid off to Forrest who raced to the end line cut it back to Edouard who finished with aplomb. Cue relief and ecstasy to put us 10 points ahead. 

 

When we played at Dens Park earlier this season we had an extremely comfortable win but at that stage we were moving the ball quickly and making life difficult for defences. Since then we have lapsed back into the pedestrian build up which is dreadful to watch. Now a 2 week break till the Glasgow Derby.  Hopefully a more focused Celtic will turn up.

[hackjam]

Was reasonably happy with team selection, would like to have Burke on the right and Forrest in the No 10, instead of Johnston.

But overall, was a poor performance.

That game at Dens in Oct, we had Rogic, CMcG & Christie in midfield, hammered them 5 nil. Played our best football this season when those 3 were in midfield. Like you say, moving the ball quickly.

Was worried to see KT toiling, guy was out on his feet for the last 20min, could barely walk, just does not look right, hope he is withdrawn from Scotland squad.

Was impressed with the mental strength of Forrest, things not going his way lately, missed a few decent chances yesterday but stuck at it, never hid and was on hand to set up the winning goal. Brown too deserves credit for winning a loose ball in the build up to the winner.

Eddie, for me, does his best work when receiving the ball on the left wing and cutting inside, like the Rangers game last season. He seems to struggle as the lone striker, especially when marked by so many defenders.

Torjan is not the answer to our RB issue, every time he got the ball, he passed it back infield to Brown, of all the guys we have tried this season, Ralston has been the most impressive going forward. Lets face it, against the likes of Dundee etc. a Celtic RB will not be expected to do much defending, mostly support Forrest and track back any breakaways.

And corners, we hit double figures yesterday and not once did we threaten, in fact, not one was a decent delivery. This so needs to be addressed.

Good to see big Filip return and also CMcG, should have Aussie Tam back for next game and, hopefully Christie too.

I often wonder if all these injuries are a result of players getting flogged?? Hope new manager does a better job of managing players game time.  

[salty]

KT looks a major doubt for Sunday's Glasgow Derby. TR unlikely to start due to long layoff. RC another who will not make it. All in all not a reassuring scenario. 

 

I would not like Lustig. I agree Toljan did very little against DU with all his possession and failed to track the DU player before HT but Bain saved the jerseys. All sorts of permutations for the front men.

 

Whatever the starting eleven is you would hope we are not carrying any passengers.

[hackjam]

A few big calls for NL.

For me, Ajer would do a decent job at R/B. If KT is out, may see Hayes start, has not let the side down recently, with Boyata & Filip.

Brown, CMcG and Forrest in No 10, Burke, Eddie and SS.

 

Pissed me right off that KT was allowed to travel with Scotland in the first place, when he clearly was not 100% against Dundee, we need to harden up and refuse to release players if not fully fit, same as Aussie Tam, he was not fully fit when he teamed up with the Aussie squad at Xmas.

 

Good news about Griff ready to return to training, will be like a new signing, may see him before seasons end, hopefully NL can get the best out of him, just feel his heart was not in it with BR as manager, never really kicked a ball during Rodgers time, odd flash here and there. Get him fit and firing on all cylinders and he is good for 30 plus a season.

 

 

[salty]

Celtic extended the lead to 13 points after a Glasgow Derby win. In truth I thought we were lucky. We were a goal up at HT and The Rangers done to 10 men but they came roaring back into it in the 2nd half. We went down to 10 men having used all our subs with 15 minutes to go and at that stage we were hanging on and I would have bitten a hand off for a draw. But a mistake by Tavanier with 5 minutes left was seized on by an alert Calmac who placed Edouard to set up Forrest for the winner. Even then it took a great block by Ajer to prevent a 2nd equalizer after that.

 

It was a much improved Celtic in the first half. Edouard revelled in the extra room and he seized on an excellent pass by Forrest to race through holding off Worral to beat McGregor. 4 minutes later The Rangers were down to 10 men when Morelos lashed out at Brown and was sent off. Thankfully Beaton was not refereeing as he probably would have seen nothing. Celtic piled on the pressure but HT came with still a narrow lead. We forced several corners but as usual they came to nothing. Tierney had a terrific effort saved by McGregor.

 

Sinclair replaced Hayes and later Rogic replaced a tiring Ntcham. I thought both were poor substitutions. Sinclair did little and Rogic predictably after a 2 month absence was way off the pace . Our lead was wiped out in the 63rd minute when Kent burst through left Boyata for dead and beat Bain. They were now in the ascendancy. Toljan replaced the injured Tierney and when Boyata went off injured a minute or 2 later we were down to 10 men. Jack had a decent chance but fortunately shot over. The Rangers were really fancying it as this stage and when Defoe came on I feared the worst. Fortunately We seized on their error to snatch a winner.

 

It was an incident packed game and all hell broke loose after the 2nd goal. Kent clobbered Brown and there were angry exchanges at the final whistle. I have to say I have never been impressed by Brown's gloating and he provoked most of the trouble in the closing stages.

 

Apart from Edouard and Forrest Ajer had an excellent game and saved the jerseys in the last few minutes. 

 

St Mirren away on Wednesday and with more injuries like to be changes.

 

[balo]

I watched the highlights and that must have been a very intense game.

 

From the reports Ajer had a good game and Rangers created a lot of chances. 

 

[salty]

It was an exciting game. Once The Rangers equalised they began to dominate. When we went down to 10 we were really under pressure. But we seized on the chance after a mistake to make it 2-1. Ajer made a sensational block in the last few minutes to save an equalizer. He had been off early for a few minutes with a blood injury after a clash of heads. Boyata unlikely to play for a few weeks    

Due to injury so your countryman will be of huge significance.

 

 

[hackjam]

2 hours ago, balo said:

I watched the highlights and that must have been a very intense game.

 

From the reports Ajer had a good game and Rangers created a lot of chances. 

 

Ajer was colossal, a rock in defense and confident in taking the ball out from the back, he was my MOM.

Hard to believe he is still only 20, really think we have a player here who will make it to the top.

[hackjam]

Surprised to see Hayes start, also looks like Filip injured, did not make squad??

So relieved to get 3 points in the end, in what should have been a comfortable afternoon, when playing them off the park in first half-and with a man up. But totally did not turn up in second half and were over run, they get an equalizer, Boyata with a schoolboy tackle attempt, then he hobbles of and its 10 against 10, we wake up and score a great goal, after their mistake but have to say, great ball by CMcG to Eddie, who slides a perfect pass for Forrest to finish. Then Brown gets punched in the coupon again and we almost gift them an equalizer but hold on to take all 3 points.

Both SS and Aussie Tam looked totally not with it, Ollie started well but understandably, tired in second half. 

Next up is St Mirren midweek,  KT and Boyata out injured and looks like ML was struggling at the end. If Filip is injured, Boyata and ML also out, Joso should start-and Commper on the bench??