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Celtic v Hearts – Player Ratings

And, its back to the same old same old.
After Broony unveiled the flag to a Neil Doncaster free pitch, the Hoops faced a “dogged” Hearts and finally limped away with a a 4-1 victory to sit atop the SPFL 2017-18 table.

Hearts were of course led up front by the Kyle Lafferty, a player that we all know and love to hate. Despite Laffertys best roughhouse efforts and a very lenient referee, Celtic managed to gradually up the gears to almost reach 3rd and kill off the game. Sadly after scoring 4, the team then rested to gift Hearts a goal which totally buggered up my coupon and worse the guy next to me who had the Griff / 4-0 Scorecast on for a potential 220 notes. Paranoid Me thinks Ladbrokes was maybe having a wee word in Brendans ear!

And so, to the Ratings

Gordon – 7
Had to make more saves than he should have really given the Celtic dominance. Craig wouldn’t have been happy with the conceded goal but still not as unhappy as some of us in the crowd. Had some nice distribution, including one great pass to Griff from his own box, and had only 1 or 2 passes going astray. Good to see him always looking to make himself available for ball to feet from his defenders but could maybe try stepping up the park a little to intercept through balls from the opposition as a few times the shout of “Keeper!!” came from an anxious crowd, well ok, from me.

Lustig – 7
Steady and solid at the back. Lustig is carving out that ability to seem to do nowt much exciting equals doing nowt much. In fact, hes our Mr Dependable, making sure wingers have to work to get passed him and doing his best to link up in attack where possible.

Bitton – 7
The midfielder come centre half had a nice controlled game and would have learned quite a lot playing against the shit-house that is Lafferty. Got in a tangle a few times but that’s only to be expected with 2 tall guys giving it everything. Once again big Nir didn’t let anyone down and brought the ball out well into the midfield from the back.

Jozo – 7
The “enforcer” had a steady enough game and will have enjoyed more game time with Bitton as he tries to help the makeshift centre pairing gel. Nothing spectacular to remember but that’s fine, cleared lines where needed and marshalled the defence as necessary. became really close friends with Christophe Berra whenever we had a set piece in the Hearts box but the referee didn’t seem to notice.

Tierney – 6
Not been the greatest of season starts for the Boy who would be King but nothing to worry about. Had a good enough game but caught out of position at times and also a little quieter up front than usual, mind you the wanderings of Sinclair wouldn’t have helped him there. Took a few clatters from Hearts players and Brendan might want to get a back up ready to give the boy some rest, its gonna be a long season after all.

Broony – 6
Unveiled the flag and then had one of those games where you applaud his tenacity and circulating the ball but then think “WHAT WAS THAT!” when he played a poor pass or finds himself the wrong side of the opposition. To be fair, even when its not working out exactly as intended, he never hides and gets straight back on with his game.

Ntcham – 7
The wee guy sat next to me watched this performance and said “I think N’tcham’s a lazy player!”.
I just sighed as you cant beat that level of football ignorance and I wont be chatting to him all season that’s for sure. Who needs balance, skill and vision when you can have blood sweat and snotters? N’tcham had a fine hour and his passing is a joy to watch, the ball actually goes in front of the advancing player rather than to feet or behind like some of his colleagues attempts. He will only improve with more games and I cant wait to see him truly flourish in the Hoops.

McGregor – 7
See that McGregor, hes either in the game or he isnae!” was a quote from another Celtic fan football guru behind me on Saturday. 5 minutes later and the Celtic midfielder had blasted in his brilliant finish. For a player who flies under the radar, he fair scores some great goals with some great running to link up with the forwards. He did what he had to do in a crowded first half and then excelled in the 2nd as the game opened up. This could be some season for another bhoy who is one of our own.

Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Stuart Armstrong!
Stuart Armstrong who?
Exactly!

Forrest – 6
A steady enough game which started off brightly but faded towards the end for our CL superstar striker. Jamesie actually ended up playing centre forward by the end of this game so maybe a wee punt on “Forrest for final goalscorer” could be a bet for this season. Again another who took quite a few hits from Hearts players and Brendan will have to be mindful of such abuse in the long term.

Sinclair – 6
Scored a tap in goal but didn’t really do much else bar a few sparks of life, one of course that led to McGregors cracker. I keep going on about how I expect him to take games by the scruff of the neck but I think maybe I just don’t understand Sinclairs role in the team really. He drifts in and out the game, as well as drifting across the pitch and he was anonymous in the first half. Never gets subbed either which I find strange.

Griff – 9
A brilliant performance from a striker bang in form even if not fully fit. Seems Leigh has some calf worries that currently limit him to an hour or so of play but so impressive. Constantly chasing and harrying when not on the ball and then brilliant on the attack. Scored 2, including a great diving header finish and could have had a few more bar some decent saves and the odd miss. The crowds darling and no wonder, the guy epitomises Celtic at present and the crowd love his skills, enthusiasm and his attitude. Wisely taken off after scoring 2 to ease any injury threat and received a standing ovation from the crowd and a big hug from the manager.

Subs
Rogic, Armstrong, Hayes – 5
None of the 3 subs ever really got into the game of note. Hayes tried his best down the right hand side while Rogic was a little off the pace trying to get his rhythm going. Armstrong came on late with no time to make any impact.

Manager
Rodgers – 7
After a tough old week getting through that European game, the manager will be glad to see his team back on top of the league courtesy of 2 of his forwards scoring and another midfielder getting on the scoresheet. The side showed patience to break down Hearts and we will need a lot of that in the season ahead, especially at home. Early days of course but going very much in the right direction and hopefully we see quite a bit of squad rotation as everything starts to settle down whilst the fixture list starts to pile up. Rodgers also cleverly took focus away from his side by winding up Hearts treatment of Ian Cathro in an interview, which was good to see despite the “you don’t slag other people, its an unwritten rule in Scottish football” shrieks from folk in the media.

Onwards to Tuesday vs Killie in the wee cup we go.

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Monti
6 years ago

Desi,
Agree with you about Ntcham, very impressed with his range of passing & control.
Exciting times ahead for the team but i still feel we could do with a quality central defender to play beside Jozo, we could also do with a good back up striker & keeper to push Gordon.
We don’t need much, but we do need what we need.
HH

Gerry
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti I thought N’tcham had a very tidy game, but only because he kept it simple and passed and moved nicely. You mention his range of passing, I can’t remember much that went beyond the 10-15 yards though, maybe just can’t recall. He tried a couple of difficult passes to open things up that didn’t come off, one example being a lob over their defence trying to find Kieran (maybe?) but was overhit.
Anyway when he signed he mentioned his appetite for playing the number ten role and making that killer pass so hopefully as he finds his feet and develops he’ll become more and more effective, but as for Saturday I would have thought his report card would have read kept it simple. I do want to give his time so it’s not a criticism of him, just maybe not understanding what you saw.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Gerry

Gerry,
N’tcham put a wonderful ball through to Tierney in the first half, Tierney was flying down the left touchline, N’tcham put it straight into his path.

Glad you brought up the passing by Brown and Ntcham the latter being a major bug bare of mine at Celtic.
It’s basic stuff when passing a ball to a player who is in his stride and moving forward?
Play the ball square or a yard behind he has to check his run to receive it thus giving the opposing player an extra yard or two to get his challenge in or block the run.
All too often resulting in the ball being passed back or square and the move grinds to a halt.
It was a major problem under Lenny and a bit of an issue at times under Deila.
Hopefully Brendan sorts it out.
Brown has not started this Season in great form for me not on the distribution front anyways?
His weight of passing has been brutal at times even when not under pressure from the opposition it’s often over hit or a yard or two too wide and given the pace our players knock it to each other it gives the receiver little or no chance to deal with it.
Hopefully he’s just s bit rustler than the rest after the summer shut down.
Agreed on Sinclair btw l think Brendan gives his favourites that we bit more room for error than the rest.

Monti
6 years ago

CS,
Scott Sinclair isn’t so much a ” favourite ” but a matchwinner & entertainer he most definetely is.
A favourite is a Joe inge Berget!
As for your wee problem with Scott Brown’s passing, so it maybe not 100% accurate but the guy is vital to the team, he’s Scott Brown, not Andrea Pirlo!
Passing or not passing, it’s a poorer team with Brown out of it.

You missing your pal Ronny?

Reply to  Monti

Not at all Monti Brendan was my first choice to replace him (documented on here and elsewhere).
I am 100% glad he did and would suggest it is you who has the Deila hang up.
I have no problem with the man he came did his best and put 3 trophies in the cabinet not too mention 2 of the 6 in a row.
No doubting Sinclairs credentials as a match winner (he can be highly effective more often than not) but the fact is and as pointed out by Desi when he’s not playing like a match winner he still doesn’t get subbed or replaced.
Even if Forest is having a better game he seems to haul him off first.
Hayes the natural replacement for both can play on either side but his best/natural side is on the left.

“The secret of being a good manager is to keep the six players who hate you away from the five who are undecided.” Jock Stein
Perhaps this is why Brendan seems to favour some players over others
๐Ÿ˜‰

Reply to  Monti

Have replied will no doubt appear later at some point…

The Cha
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Was Scott Brown the Invisible Man when he played that awesome pass, feigning to send it to Tierney, but cut it straight through half the Hearts team, weighted perfectly for McGregor to dink it across for Griff to nod in?

Luckily Calmac and Griff knew exactly what was going to happen and were ready.

Expect no better from sodger but do from you Monti; all hail the Broony!

Reply to  The Cha

That’s the point he has far better abilities than most gave him credit for but a the moment his passing is way off the standard set last season.
If a winger puts in one great cross in 10 does this constitute him having a great game or a poor game?
Browns overall game is second to none at Celtic but his passing so far this season has been a bit erratic and all over the place.
Hopefully it improves and he gets back to the same level shown last season.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

The Cha,
Broony is vital to this team m8!

charlie
6 years ago

canny argue wae that desi i had a handful on 4-0 and griff first goal 22tae wan an awe aint bookies jammy bastards

I agree on the keeper situation we need to source a younger option for the long term a keeper on the up with some experience.
Mathew Ryan (who signed for Brighton from Valencia) for example.
Plenty of these types in Europe if you look for them.

Here’s one worth keeping tabs on…
Dijons Baptiste Reynet
26 years old now reminds me a bit of Artur Boruc in his early days.

https://youtu.be/cG6wXnyDBTg

Cost ยฃ2.5 – 3m

FredCDobbs
6 years ago

for me new keeper just has to be better. Gordon the heedy man is going to cost us against good sides.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  FredCDobbs

GBTGB!

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago

Desi, you should move to the standing section to get away from the experts that surround you…we know the type! Had Celtic at 17/2 for 4-0, Gordon, wake up dickhead…

The Cha
6 years ago
Reply to  ROB O'KEEFFE

Rob,

I thought Jozo was poor at the goal to, unnecessarily going to ground and allowing Goncalves a free run on goal.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

That’s true,I think he thought there’s no way they’ll score from that angle,oops,Craig was finishing his pint….

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  ROB O'KEEFFE

We were banned ๐Ÿ™‚

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Quite right too,you must up your game! Signed Legia Tifo Brigado….

SteveNaive
6 years ago

New season ticket behind me…
‘Sinclair’s been shit for us this season’ !!
Nothing on t.v about the loathsome Lafferty whose full repotoire was visible to all. Gave the fingers to the crowd at one point…what a total clown of a human being.
Usual union jack wavers in the wee huns with the Celtic Boys Club and ‘There’s only one Lee Rigby; prominent among their songbook.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

Bet Lenny’s glad he didn’t sign that lump of wood…..

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago

As Ralph has disappeared, have a free read of Johnjames piece today. excellent with some very interesting comments, be grown up now…

Reply to  ROB O'KEEFFE

Ralph is taking some time out at the Etims safe house in Renton.
He’s been a very naughty bhoy and spent some time with MrLiewell (comedic Hun terminology)

jimmybee
6 years ago

Lee Rigby I wish they would let the poor lad rest in peace.
RIP Lee you were only a guy going about your daily life,and didn’t deserve the evil that came your way that horrific day.

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmy, ah think his widow came out and said basically the same. We aw know the huns are chanting his name no out of respect but ti try and claim the moral high ground over us, unfortunately when yi get those bawbags last week wearing the Hoops chanting that vile chant, well IMO they are no better than huns.

BondiBrian
6 years ago

Tell yi what it make a big difference watching a full gemm from the quietness of yer hoose wi a cup of tea rather than bein in a busy pub wi a few beers, so fair appraisal of the players Desi.

Griff??? pur luv the cut of that mas jib !!!

MON THE HOOPS!!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Tulips from Amsterdam

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