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Celtic Diary Friday February 16: Alright, He Is The Messiah

Celtic will take a one goal lead and a clean sheet over to St Petersburg next week after a mature and disciplined performance at Celtic Park blew away any doubts that manager Brendan rodgers was incapable of adapting at this level.

The manager planned and prepared perfectly for the visit of the Russians, from the pre match press conference through to the introduction of Charley Musonda to set up the winning goal, and for once, everything went according to that plan.

From back to front, every Celtic player did his bit and more.

Dorus Des Vries showed incredible mental strength to look composed in goal, even pulling off a crucial early save to show the defence what he is capable of.

Kristoffer Ajer, a mixture of Roy Aitken and Paul Elliot at the back teamed up with jozo simunovic, and bonded in a way that decried both players youthfulness, which in turn allowed Mikael Lustig and Keiran tierney to concentrate on their own jobs.

With the steely protection provided by Ntcham, Brown and Kouassi, Zenit had to work hard not just to create chances, but to keep possession.

Calum MacGregor covered all the bits they weren;t, and his finish for the goal was something Moussa Dembele would have been proud of, James Forrest was a marked man but still created problems for the Russians, ably abetted by Demebele, who held the ball, passed the ball and won the ball.

Then came Charley Musonda, eager, quick and intelligent.

He took a clattering almost immediately, but sprang back to his feet and got on with it, and he started the move fpr the goal back in his own half, with a simple pass and move.

And move he did, collecting the ball from Demebele and in one movement looping a pass to MacGregor, and then there was much rejoicing.

Musondas vision, speed and intelligence was epitomised in that one assist.

An outstanding performance which has re-ignited faith in the side, and more importantly, given us back a wee bit of pride.

 

Alright, when the dust settles, we are only half way there, but we’d all have taken 1-0 before the game, and we’d all happily accept playing anyone anywhere if we could get a goal of a start.

The manager seemed quite pleased about it…

“I thought it was a brilliant performance from start to finish and we limited them to very few opportunities.

“It was a very mature performance from us, tactically in the game we were excellent and we showed our personality and our development as a team to keep a clean sheet and play with that calmness.

“I’m very proud of the team, but we’re only halfway there.

“That level of opponent that we have come up against in the last couple of years tests you to the limit, but I think it’s important you defend well in any game.

“Whether it’s a Scottish Premiership game or a Europa League or Champions League game, but I thought defensively we were very strong.

“They were very clear in their role and how they worked it and we showed a great calmness with the ball. Everyone contributed.

“I said to the players yesterday that between 60 and 70 minutes we would need to change it because the shape we were playing was going to be taxing on some of the players.

“Charly Musonda is a dribbler, you can see with the goal he can stay on the ball and took us out of pressure.

“He was very good when he came on, but it was very much a team performance and a great result for us.

“It was going to be two difficult games, but we’ve given ourselves a wonderful opportunity.

“We defended very very well, we took our opportunity and it sets it up very well for next week.” 

Rodgers , of course, is too modest to trumpoet his own part in the win, so we’ll defer to former Celtic boss Neil Lennon, who knows a thing or two about winning against the odds in Europe..

 “I think he deserves an enormous amount of credit,
 
“The squad has been decimated by injuries and there was a lot of negativity coming into the game off the back of the Champions League campaign.

“He got the tactics bang on, he got the personnel bang on, he got the substitutions spot on.

 
“It’s been a perfect night for Celtic, really. 1-0, clean sheet, going into the second leg it gives Celtic a real foothold in the tie and that’s all Brendan could have wanted.”  
Goalscorer Calum MacGregor explained the plan..

This being our first game back there was a bit of pressure on the lads, so I thought we answered it brilliantly with the way we pressed the game and the way we played.

“We knew they were just off the back of a break and sometimes teams coming here can be really uncomfortable in the first 20 minutes.

“We set the tempo with that, by getting up and pressing and when we had the ball we played really well. We grew in confidence, they started to tire a little bit and we got the goal, so it was a prefect game plan for us.

“Going into next week we are confident, we know we can play against them and we are confident of getting the result.

While everyone will be talking about that pass, and that goal, there was much more to that performance than , er, that.

It showed Celtic have learned, it showed that will keep learning and for all the fears about last nights game, largely in the eyes of the media, it has to be said, Rodgers just played along with it, Celtic have a squad capable of competing with anyone.

We just have to keep reminding them.

 

Elsewhere, oh sod elsewhere, Celtic is where its at.

Which is why Alex McLeish will be snuck in to the Scotland managers job today, with alex Rae as his number two and Peter Grant in there to appease Celtic fans.

But we don’t need appeasing, we don’t give a toss any more.

Celtic is where its at.

It’s also why the papers are reporting another huge bid for Alfredo Morellos, which should assure the hordes of darkness that everything is tickety boo and any talk of payday loans is merely a figment of Timmy’s imagination, which is where he goes to hide from the very real fear of 55, a number which seems to obsess the gullibillies.

For whatever reason.

Largely because they know that Celtic is where its at.

Knob of the Week is postponed until the morning, because i’m in such a good mood I don’t want to talk about , er, knobs.

Caption competition…

Image result for brendan rodgers scott brown

Daziekanowski’s nightclub child February 15, 2018 at 10:17 am · Edit · Reply →

Caption: ‘I told the media that you are all shite!’ 

today..

 

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Mike
6 years ago

Little men, stand aside,
we all know what it is that your trying to hide,
Little men, change your tune,
go and follow, follow Regan, the conflicted balloon.

Little men, Petrie and McRae,
bigots both at the head of the SFA,
Its time for you to go,
we need honest men leading our fitba. show.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

FUCK THE SFA!

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

No,don`t eff the SFA,better it!

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  portpower

If some supporters are not interested in trying to get justice
including the board, that is up to them, me, I want justice for Celtic, I wont the titles stripped, I want the whole stinking cabal cleansed, chased back to their lodges.
In short, I want an honest, clean and open game, Petrie and McRae, Regan the lot,epitomise everything that is wrong with Scottish football, I long for the day when they are chased away.

Mike
6 years ago

Assuming that Celtic win the league, then last night’s result was PRICELES, a draw with Zenit might have been enough to get us SEEDED in next seasons C.L. qualifiers. They will be hard enough, Celtic were the first unseeded team behind PSV and PAOK who are not in any European competition, if Celtic go through via Zenit then they will definitely become SEEDED, that win last night should have been enough.
God Bless the Celtic. B.M. (Bobby Murdoch).

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

Excellent performance last night and as per the fans where out in force. I think we could have squeexed a bit more but luck wasn’t with us. It’ll be interesting to see how Zenit respond at home, they need to come out and we defo have players who can hurt them. Let’s see what happens.

On the matter of McCleish and the SFA, you’re spot on, who cares, it should only be about CFC for us, leave Scotland to those who’ve a penchant for wearing British military garb, glengarry’s and kilts and are tied in with the lying, cheating cabal that infest Hampden. I care not a jot. For me it’s Celtic from your cot until your box hits the sod, nothing else.

For knobs of the week, it should be all those in the meeja that wrote us off for last nights game.

Stu67
6 years ago

Top performance from the bhoys last night- just need to relieve big Ntcham from all set piece duties !

Broxburnbhoy
6 years ago

The appointment of Alex EBT McLeish shows the paucity of thinking and the paucity of qualified candidates for the Scotland job. This is a major step back and an appointment guatenteed to have most football fans in scotland completely uninterested in Scotland. Poor decision made by a very poor leadership team and completely underwhelming to all. Celtic is where it’s at. I wonder how they will explain away the EBT? Is Hector looking for Alex to pay tax and the creditors looking for him to pay back the loan?

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Broxburnbhoy

Alex McPISH.

6 years ago

Couldn’t give a fuck about MacLeish appt. he may do an ok job hun sheep or not we had an ex celtic manager last time doing it there’s no fuss at all . He may do ok. We’ve had both ex celtic and rangers managers do the job. It’s all about celtic for me I couldn’t give a toss.

Admin
6 years ago

Utterly joyous last night.
No-one was confident inside Parkhead at start of game bar mates mate wee George who stuck a tenner on MacGregor…God reward those with faith it seems.

Big result for Brendan and no mistake. That atmosphere will have also got noticed by quite a few big players who might start looking East of Glasgoward come the summer.

Stunning performance and ratings piece coming online at 12:30.
The futures bright, the futures Green and White.

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Desi Mond

Desi,

sitting at the game before kick off with no Zadok’s- The Priest CL music blaring felt strange. WTF is the tune they play for the Europa games? Support was brilkiant as usual. There was a Russian fella behind me in the main stand and he was blown away. I watched this guys body language during YNWA, he was just looking around the stadium and had a look of feckin hell written all over his face and he even applauded when it was done. I can safely say he was impressed. Mancini also said the atmosphere is simply incredible. CP is unmatched when it comes to pure raw emotion, love and support from supporters watching a game. It’s our biggest asset.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

Noel,
Madok the Rev

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

I think they should re-record U2’s Zooropa to Europa…simples!

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Desi Mond

Desi, not my cup of tea but I get it. Europa, Zooropa.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

We could play Zooropa when the monkeys visit…..see what i did there?

6 years ago

Just relieved we’re a competive force in Europe. Let’s dwell on that performance which far outweighs anything else up until this point. If we can improve in this our name is back players will want a part of it. Excellent stuff. I’ve been waiting five years for this.
HH

6 years ago

I’ve watched the game 7 times.

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Ian67,
no half measures with you mate. Lol But that’s what Celtic does to you. Before European games I hit You Tube and get fired up with past matches atmospheres.

BJF
6 years ago

Well I told you a walk in the park…. didn’t I? Oh well , it was the whole team attitude that really impressed me from Forrest!s clearance from OUR penalty spot to Ajer’s aggresdive response when he won a throw in. Midfield immense, defence solid, Dembelle unlucky but what a hold up job he bounced their centre halves around like they were kids. My first look at Charly wow!
They looked a bit rusty, but above all they were second to the ball everytime, Celtic just wanted it more. Any info on their current pitch. They laid a new one last spring which had to be torn up in May and they had to play homes games elsewhere. Did they lay another grass pitch, anyone know? I think we have a chance out there, I believe we will score and they will need 3 and if our defence plays as well as last night that will be beyond them.

Andy Borland
6 years ago

I don’t get to go to too many games these days, but last night was special for me.
The Celtic support was tremendous throughout & the outpouring of emotion & joy from fans & players alike when the goal went in was special. Absolute bedlam!
That was the kind of European performance we all want to see at Celtic Park & it was a pleasure to be there to see it.
The return leg is going to be real squeaky bum time but I cannae wait!

Gerry
6 years ago

Great performance, that is what we all desperately wanted, and if we perform well the rest will follow. Called the team almost right, but I hold my hands up and say I got it wrong on Calmac and thank the Lord, Brendan knows best. Funnily enough I thought he was quieter in the 2nd half than the 1st (where he was excellent throughout), but there he was to score an excellent goal. We deserved more but hopefully it is enough, and we can at least approach that game with genuine hope rather than watching through our fingers.
Not sure how much sharper they’ll be after a week, perhaps playing at home will give them a boost, but I didn’t see anything to terrify me last night. Perhaps they took us for granted and won’t make the same mistake again, but a performance to that level from our bhoys and it won’t matter.
Sunday will be tough, I wonder who will be “rested” as too many changes might disrupt our chance at building up momentum for the remainder of the season.

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  Gerry

Gerry we don’t have a lot left to choose from m8.
I think Hendry will come in to keep Jozo fit.
I would expect Sinclair to start also as Brendan goes to 4231.
Is Broony suspended for this one ?
But we can’t afford any more injuries, so maybe Miller in for Tierney and Gamboa for Lustig. Eduard for Dembele.
But it might be better to concentrate on the Europa and we have good enough players in reserves to cope.

maryhillbhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmy I am pretty sure Miller is on the horrendous injury list mate.

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  maryhillbhoy

Didn’t know that m8 cheers,

Mike
6 years ago

The WHOLE Celtic experience was brilliant last night, a night to put into the portion of your brain, that is memory, a memory to treasure, to bring out from time to time, especially as your ready to doze of.
McGregor….GOAL a thing of beauty to behold, a team performance to be proud of. Like the games against Man. City, Gladbach, Anderlecht away, Bayern but most of all the black and white pictures of Lisboa.
Celtic has got its mojo back, the management team and the players, the supporters, the lift that the players will get will be immence, these young men, who made us proud. I have had my doubts about McGregor, but last night he raised my bar of expectations, well done Calmac and well done all of you, for making more irreplaceable memories.

D'Fhinnein Mick
6 years ago

McLeish back,earning more than anyone in Scottish football who isn’t paid by Celtic.

What a fucking joke.

That’s me back to supporting The Republic. And if any bigoted orange basturt pulls me up for it back home,I’ll ask him why he’s wearing an England top.

Bunchacunts are just ripping the pish here.

Mike
6 years ago

ABSOLUTELY.

Monti
6 years ago

Can folk remember that only half of the job is done, great as it is we have a very tough away game next week.
Let’s not get too excited until the job is finished….it’s still a big if!

HH

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Pish 🙂

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

😉

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Are we tippin` a draw against St Johnstone here?

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Set the alarm Fat Boy, Palets ti shift . Asbestos to move. Roaster.

portpower
6 years ago

Moussa,22yo heading to 23.

6` odd there at the 18 yard box

So he should demand how the ball is played to him.
Because he hasn’t received a decent fed ball all season.

And last night I think a couple of players realised that the ball should`ve been better.

A chance at that for me Brendan? He would.

portpower
6 years ago

It was not a game that was panic to win.
It was a win.

BJF
6 years ago

Miller on the bench last night, don’t expect to go through but we have given ourself a real chance. St J are crap do they will play well against us, they are the kind of team we need to nudge out of the wsy. I think Aberdeen and Sevco take care of themselves but they will pray the smaller teams get a result. Laxtnight’s attutude will blow them ( and anyone else in Scotland) away.

Mike Annis
6 years ago

Loved Lennon’s quote….there’s a lot of negativity about….He must have been reading your posts Ralph. Bitching apart, brilliant performance and goal to savour.

Honest hoops
6 years ago

Part one done, same again for part two next week,I see we have another hun in the MSM to add to the growing list,step forward Mark Cowden on the BBC website,could not hold back to mention that’s our 1st European win at paradise in so many attempts..excluding qualifiers….what a knob contender of the week…

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Honest hoops

No suprise mate. Let’s leave them wallowing in their hatred and jealousy of Celtic.

Honest Hoops
6 years ago

Sorry Martin Dowden….

portpower
6 years ago

Dead ball free kicks,corners and crosses from the wings.

Finery the Hoops.Hit them in the face.It`ll go in over the goal line.

portpower
6 years ago

DIFFER HEADLINE:
After European win, Celtic`ll lose the league.

Haver our right man for the billet,afraid Big ‘Eck.

portpower
6 years ago

There`s sense coming from a club coop. If we keep the loan running it`ll always be 1.5 % offered/quarterly of the pie.

Not to worry The Rangers. You`re off to the super league, including Saturdays. BYO tanning reflectors please.

portpower
6 years ago

I listened to Peter Lawwell.

Then there was green grass with the 11.

He is including them/a nature of them

Monti
6 years ago

Weered, you ok?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Fuck all wrong with you then…..:)

6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Weered don’t talk shite in here

6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Slippery elm weered

jimmybee
6 years ago

Great thing about last night was the ages of the players there must be a load of them under 23.
Apart from De Vries Lustig and Broony must be one of the youngest Celtic teams to start a European match.
I forget how young they are sometimes.

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Off the ball they European teams are what the referee lets them away with. Broonie invited it all.

Kouassi went to ground and got conned not only from the player but from the Ref. No need for the card.

On the ground don`t challenge the ball. What are you doing on your arse to begin with?

Kouassi has a temper.

BJF
6 years ago

Weered sorry to hear about A&E hope all ok.
About Barney in the 60s the head was a guy called Steele who was a legend in Belfast education circles.The sort of thing he did he would see a group of unemployed guys in their mid 20 s who had left school with no qualifications or prospects of training and of course Catholice, like their fathers before them, had no chance of jobs.
Billy Steel would invite them back to the school they had left maybe 10 years before and some would and I would have 26 year olds in class. I only remembered this because our Parish Priest went to Barney in the 60 s and reminded me recently.

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago

Where’s the voice of the Mysterons (John) today? Must have slit his wrists.

portpower
6 years ago

Did you not chip in for his microwave?

Where`s DJ Charlie?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vffk–hPySU

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  portpower

Port,
He slipped a disc 🙂

Taxi

Monti
6 years ago

Nurse can you bring another blanket……

Broxburnbhoy
6 years ago

He’s in mourning – Celtic played well and won.

Puggy67
6 years ago

So are we still sacking the board? I was half way up the road to the scary castle with my pitchfork and then somebody said one good result in Europe and we all headed back to the inn for beer and schnitzel. Surely one good result changes nothing? Like a long-term strategy or an academy that gave 3 of our best? Do we need to drop points to St Johnstone to be shite again?

portpower
6 years ago

“It`s important.It`s proven.”
Sally McCoist.

Enough is enough here with the droppings

sevco one of three FC.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

The laughs keep coming: Sturgeon wishes EBT tax cheat McLeish good luck in the Scotland job and Barry EBT,tax cheat,mover of property and assets before declaring bankruptcy declares Tavernier would walk into Celtic and make us a better team overnight….Signed I’m not John McKay….

portpower
6 years ago

here you go you fannies,barred again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM5x3TJpP24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJt4y4fH938

Greenock Morton to score a 6 all draw.
When was the last replay for Celtic in a cup game?

portpower
6 years ago

Fairness,my vocation.

portpower
6 years ago

Your comment is awaiting moderation.

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  portpower

Greenock Morton to score a 6 all draw.
When was the last replay for Celtic in a cup game?

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago
Reply to  portpower

The ‘game of shame’ v Huns at Celtic Park. I t was all their EBT fuelled shame.

Monti
6 years ago

Good memory henke…..for a man of your age…
Sniff.

portpower
6 years ago

Cheers henkes.

Monti
6 years ago

Nobody on Friday Sportsound asked McLeish if he was going to pay his EBT to HMRC….
Surprised at that…..cough.

Broxburnbhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Honest journalists

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

Monti,

theres more chance of you kitting about with a puddle drinkers football top on than the imperialist broadcasting coperation asking any question like that. Cheating bastards the lot of them. The continuation myth suits the cowards.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

Noel,
Totally m8……It’s a fucking disgrace what has happened in Scottish football these last six years.
Day two of my forklift licence course today, trainer wasn’t too vocal today…

Stupid, stupid huns.

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Understanding
Best central defence in the lochness surrounds.

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Put right back in his pallet. Lok

portpower
6 years ago

my arse. Did we not win?
What a pair.Poofter right footers? Don`t!

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  portpower

Even i`ve been farting all week

Does Olivier Ntcham use his left foot?
He wins the ball. Not only but he wins the ball.

BJF
6 years ago

Jimmybee good point about the age of the team, feel that BR is taking his but building his own squad with mostly young players but, some more experienced. I think it is a 5 year not a 2/3 year plan but with Brendan it is always a plan. He may focus on 10 in a row first then Europe. I don’t agree the Leagues and cups dont matter they are the foundation.

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  BJF

Cheers m8, I think it’s worth noting, I met Big John Kennedy coming out of mass a few Sunday’s back, and had a nice wee chat as I know his family well.
He said from the day Brendan has come in a 6 year plan was put in place, that governed everything from the kids right through. He wants the club to follow this path. Let’s hope we give him the success and support to see it through.

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Hendry,I watched him on the bench watching.
The lads`s a quick lump on his toes.
Canny wait.He better be Lennox?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kltS2bstQs

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Weered your right m8 great stuff from the team,but the manager stole the show.

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Hope your feeling better better m8

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Was Willy Steele related to Jimmy Steele m8?

portpower
6 years ago

Room outside of the box,pick the ball up.That`s what`s been missing.

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  portpower

Olivier`s to watch out for corkies.

It`s his land.Would you?

portpower
6 years ago

Jack Hendry we`re the while to pass. You`re to dare

jimmybee
6 years ago

Here’s a we blog from an English Zenit fan,his dad is Russian,and he travels up for the game. It starts the same as every blogger and he gets a couple of name checks wrong. But like everyone when they get the taste of it they just love it.
Stick with it as its not a bad wee video when he finally gets into the game, and shows the emotions of the support well. If you have a wee 20 minutes.
https://youtu.be/ob9KcoPbdgw

portpower
6 years ago

I had to ask the time,when.

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  portpower

Woops.
Sorry Ralph and Des

Only the 4 from the side were missing.

I sat out the back and rolled an extra one,then woke the wee mahn up singing(do they spell it signing)

I should say,away with youse.

Dickhead fouls at the end but…

portpower
6 years ago

BB
you owe me a battery.

SBS my arse.

My Port Glasgow Uncle`s to kill me

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  portpower

PS:We danced

portpower
6 years ago

There`s a lazy day against Tav.

portpower
6 years ago

Thank you for the crowd that were there.Been a while.

Was Mancini piped in?

portpower
6 years ago

G`day Charlie

the wee Spencer to yourself……………………..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHxnm1-gVS4

portpower
6 years ago

An apple Cath,

portpower
6 years ago

Explain this:Cove Rangers.

I wouldn`t mind but he can`t tuck his shirt in.
You can tell a lawn bowl player a mile away.

We all got the measles when we were young but
They don`t ask. O`my word make a sandwich.

Stop giving them the money.

jimmybee
6 years ago

Ages of the players quality street gang Mark 2.
Jozo 23
Ajer 19
Tierney 20
Ntcham 22
McGregor 24
Kouassi 21
Mousonda 21
Dembele 21
Edouard 20

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

portpower 18

McGregor sounds Scottish when he talks

Two side arms celebration.

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