Celtic bounced back into action last night with an invigorating 6-0 win over FR Reykjavik , re-enforcing hopes that the performance against Kilmarnock was just a glitch, and for once, it seemed everyone was happy.
Except Kris Ajer and Jeremie Frimpong, who were relegated to the bench for tactical reasons, as their positional sense had been somewhat out of kilter recently when they moved from the positions they were told to be in and took up residence somewhere they were not supposed to be residing.
Neil Lennon praised their replacements, with words that won’t go unnoticed by the two, who have seen their own positions become Israeli occupied…
“Nir had a good game alongside Chris.
“He’s been knocking on the door. He’s had a really good couple of weeks in training. I think he is a good player and he deserved the opportunity.
“It was the same for Hatem. Kris Ajer and Jeremie Frimpong haven’t done a lot wrong, but it’s good to rotate it and also give those boys some game time.
“Otherwise, they get discouraged if they keep showing up well in training and don’t get the opportunity.”
For Frimpong, that could yet turn out to be a costly mistake as if Hatem Abd Elhamed keeps himself safe, he will be first choice right back this season.
Although Reykjavik were not a great side, the combined surreal environment of an empty ground and the recent lay off meant Celtic had to hit the ground running, and keep the pace high.
They did just that, and can now look forward to a trip to Tannadice on Sunday with of not relish, then certainly confidence.
Highlight of the night was Oddsone Edouard’s solo effort, when he picked the ball up amongst a crowd of opposition players and jinked his way through to score, but in truth the performance was what counted, and we can’t be disappointed.
The manager wasn’t disappointed….
It was a good night’s work. It was really important to get 90 minutes work into the legs and obviously to negotiate the tie, as well.
“To score six goals and keep a clean sheet is very good. I’m pleased with a lot of what I saw.
“Any lethargy or lack of match practice, they need to get through it. I’ve been there myself.
“So, it’s important to try and increase the intensity and get the games into their legs.
“We’ll see how they are on Thursday but they should get a benefit from that.
“We’ve got a big couple of weeks coming up now, so it’s important we keep our focus.”
Ferencvaros and Djuurgarden play tonight, and from that game will come our next opponents. One fly in the ointment is that travel restrictions may come into play, and although the game is due to be played in Glasgow, the ever increasing list of countries that Westminster wants to blame for the approaching wave of covid infections already has Sweden on it, meaning that Djugarden cannot play in Glasgow should they win.
Ferencvaros, up until this morning, would be allowed in as Hungary is on the government list of countries exempt from quarantine or isolation regulations.
We’ll have to wait and see.
Elsewhere, it seems that Shane Duffy might yet still come in, if reports from Derry are to be believed, which will allow Kris Ajer to move on.
Aaron Hickey of Hearts has apparently made up his mind where he wants to go, but won’t tell anyone yet. In fairness, he’s probably going to pick Bayern Munich, as that kind of opportunity doesn’t come along very often.
Still, if he does, we can always blame Peter Lawwell for not splashing the cash, something that some supporters seem to think will solve all of our problems.
Olivier Ntcham and Tom Rogic could also be on their way out, with neither holding down a first team place, but there is a whisper that Ntcham will be given more game time, as the manager sees him and….David Turnbull of Motherwell as the future.
Someone who it seems isn’t going to be a part of that future is Karamoke Dembele, who we hear has become the second Dembele to ask away. There is still time to talk him out of it, but he wasn;t in the squad last night, and that could be ominous.
Meanwhile, Tom English, the Irishman who writes for the Scotsman and talks for the British Broadcasting Corporation let us into a little secret last night…well, not really a secret, but you know what I mean…
Following a real piece of thought provoking commentary from RTE 2, and have a listen to this, it’s as good a summary of the way the game is as any….
Irish football pundits are a cut above pic.twitter.com/ieE8YLMpJx
— Andrew Haigh (@AndrewHaigh) August 18, 2020
After supporters wondered aloud , somewhat wistfully, why our own mainstream media doesn’t possess such an eloquent thinker, English sprang into action to defend his colleagues….
Caption: It was a shock to his best friend Patrick when SpongeBob Squarepants was outed as a closet blue nose
Today….
Caption:
“I’m really sorry Albian, we only had 2 sizes of shorts left- Small or XL Boys”.
Caption: No listen, I-want-to-see-you-IN-a-semi.
Caption: Albian you have to start on the bench because we’re playing 2 goalkeepers against Barcelona.
Caption: I grew up playing in the 80’s whatever you do, don’t try and put one ball either side of the seam.
Caption..
Right the games called rock paper scissors,this is scissors,and no ,thats not rocks your doing
Caption – Ajieti wanted to play
Lennon thought he wasn’t ready
The matter was decided by ‘Rock-Paper-Scissors’ and Albian’s 2 rocks trumped Lenny’s scissors.
Caption: NL – ” Could you give Boli a lift to the airport “?
I think you are great Neil!
Why is it, Albian, that I feel you are looking at me like I am an idiot.
Great diary, good football last night but first goal came from route 1. Maybe try this on occasion at Livi, Hamilton, Killie.
Loved the ‘debate’ at the end between WGS and BJH as to Eddie being a nine or a ten.
Route 1 unlikely to work against the Killies or Hamilton’s of the world because they sit much deeper than the Icelanders did. When SPFL teams park the bus it tends to be on the 18 yard line so anything knocked over the top rolls harmlessly through to the GK. The Icelanders were naive to say the least to adopt such a high line against the pace we have available.
Ajeti makes Morelos look like a body builder ffs
He should have been nowhere near the first team squad last night m8. I’m sure some players must be wondering wtf.
Bad management by lenny in my opinion.
Caption
It’s just aswell social distancing is in place or I’d be poking u in the eye Neil
Glad I am not the only one who sees it. I have no doubt there is a bit of decency in the swiss, but he is no fool and would have left soccer if there was not so much cash involved. He will work hard, it is in his interest to, but he went away on holiday before he commited. He may grow to love Celtic, we will see, it will be in his eyes. HH!
Superb!
Caption
Watch French Eddie son, quality!
Played well last night another stumbling block passed. Our defence really needs a strong defender, they seem to go to sleep when we are attacking, at least Barkas didn’t.
Agree with the route one, at times ticky tacky does not work.
Or taking a shot from outside the box. Dare I say…Leigh Griffiths.
It was a decent win last night given the lay off and empty stadium etc. However, the opposition were extremely poor and even then in the second half particularly, we looked wide open at times in defence?? I thought at one stage we felt sorry for them and were perhaps trying to be as generous to them as the referee was in the first half. A much tougher test will come next week ( and depending on who gets through, we might end up playing in Poland next Wednesday) we need to waken up now as a better side will punish us. Astana have already been found out by unseeded opposition.
As for Ajeti, he’s clearly not fit and sharp, given he was in Sardinia last week on his holidays, but I’m convinced he will be prove to be a player for us. The caption sums it up really, his face was trippin him last night even when he congratulated Moi on scoring the 6th goal., not something I like to see in a very well rewarded footballer.
Albian models the new Kylie Hotpant shorts. Available now at the Celtic Store
Poor opposition but Celtic did what they had to do. I want El Hamed in the team but I live Frimpong, maybe he is versatile enough to cover for both Forest snd Taylor?
“like” not live, no scandal!
Caption…… Ah no yer a striker son, but ah need sumbuddy tae stiffen up the back four n’yoo look jist the man tae dae it!!!
Caption:
Just go out there and show me what you’ve got … naw, haud on a minute!
Caption: NL ‘So that’s two black puddin’ suppers, a large coke an’ a deep-fried Mars bar – an’ get somethin’ fur yersel’ wi’ the chynge’.
CAPTION
Right foot, left foot , heiders!
But what about your tackle.
It does look like Albian hasn’t got a clue what Neil is saying. “I see his lips move, I’ve been told it’s English, but I only understand every 3 words.”
Ferencvaros it is then.
Home tie then rather than neutral venue.
They did well in last year’s Europa League, which belies their lowly ranking, as I don’t think the played in the other recent seasons.
Hopefully get date and time confirmed quickly so pubs can be booked and beers ordered!
Albian i told you already , the big back pocket is for putting defenders in
Possibly better playing the Hungarians rather than the Swedes. Sorry to see Tom Rogic go in someways, he gave us some terrific moments but he never seemed to have the physicality to play 90 minutes or the consistency to feature regularly.
Missed a couple of diaries recently but Barcelona’s contract man has got the push, other may have commented on a contract that did not prevent Coutinho playing against them in a competitive fixture and having to pay Liverpool millions if he wins the Champions League without adding “with Barcelona!“ Big Peter wouldn’t have been guilty of that sort of naivety.
It’s a UEFA rule that you can’t prevent loan players playing against you but that other one is just nuts!
Forgotten that thanks Cha.
Its a real downer if Big Tom is off.
A real match winner who scored some unbelievable goals for us.
He will always be fondly remembered as the cup winning hero but there was always something in his locker if we were struggling. Ross County Motherwell Livingston Kilmarnock etc he always got us the points.
The only midfielder we have who could take players on.
Not used often enough by the management even when fit who seem to think that Brown McGregor and Christie should be first choice no matter how poorly they are playing.
Ntcham and Rogic are too good for any bench.
Last night if I was a first team player I would have been livid that an unfit player got a place on the bench and got on in the match.
Ajeti should have been nowhere near that squad last night. A shocking decision to put him in never mind put him on the park.
Bad move by lenny which could damage a dressing room.
You train all week for the gaffer to look at you is he as fit or fitter than guys who have been training for the past four weeks. I doubt it.
Mammy,they`ve taken my Sunshine away.
Hooroo and all the best Tom Rogic.
Caption:
Albian,yourself and I have two eyes but you`ll soon learn that they Scottish referees have a third.
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i see yon bespoke jerseys urny awe they wur cracked up tae be ……will the sheepul ever learn …i think not ha ha ha ha