{"id":18798,"date":"2024-09-23T11:04:16","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T10:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=18798"},"modified":"2024-09-23T11:25:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T10:25:40","slug":"everybodys-changing-etims-match-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=18798","title":{"rendered":"Everybody’s Changing : Etims Match Report"},"content":{"rendered":"
“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.\u201d<\/strong><\/div>\n
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley,Frankenstein<\/em><\/div>\n

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\u00a0Celtic 5: 2 Falkirk<\/h2>\n
On last weeks podcast, we looked ahead to the Falkirk game and wondered just how many changes would Brendan Rodgers make to the side that had gubbed Bratislava. The general consensus was 2 or 3, maybe even 4 at a push depending on any niggles, but no great shake-ups. How wrong we were.<\/div>\n
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When the team was announced, it was a shock.<\/div>\n
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Maybe not so much for the forward line of Palma, Idah and Forrest but for the decision to field\u00a0 a totally brand new defence compromising of 2 newbies\u00a0 in Valle and Trusty and with Stephen Welsh returning and Anthony Ralston starting.<\/div>\n
I swear you could immediately hear 1000000 people logging on to their Betting accounts to see the odds on Falkirk scoring.<\/div>\n
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Sure enough, despite a decent start with James Forrest and Bernardo showing some classy touches, those defence fears were justified in the 11th minute when Falkirk took the lead. Targeting their attacks towards our left channel, saw Falkirk send a diagonal which saw a Valle header lead to a stray ball\u00a0 on the edge of the Celtic box. The Falkirk number 9 McIver strode up with ease and slammed into the back of the net with aplomb from the edge of the box. Questions could be asked about a foul on Valle but more of a worry was Reo ball watching and letting the guy get the shot with no semblance of a challenge.<\/div>\n
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Falkirk then had another great chance when another ball was played down the left side which saw them race clear\u00a0 and outpace the Celtic defence but no finish thankfully. This was similar to Bratislava break midweek and something we need to ensure we cut out moving forward.<\/div>\n

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Celtic looked to find their way into the game but the regulars were leggy and off it and the newbies and wannabe benchwarmers were like rabbits in the headlights. Passes were going behind players and there was no cohesion or composure, until the 21st minute.\u00a0 Taking a ball out on the Celtic left hand side, Reo chipped a lovely ball into the racing Valle who nodded the ball down to Paulo Bernardo. The Portuguese U21 captain said “Obrigado!” and volleyed home for a beautiful goal.<\/div>\n

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1:1 and surely it would be plain sailing now thought Celtic fans.<\/div>\n
Sadly not.<\/div>\n

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Falkirk didn’t retreat but instead grew even more into the game and indeed took the game to Celtic and had some half chances and then a good shot from ex-Celt Calvin Miller saved by the Celtic keeper. They got their rewards just before half time when, again down the Celtic left, Valle appeared to be fouled but Falkirk didn’t hang around and took advantage. A soft lob into the box saw Yeats rise and easily head into the bottom corner with Schmeichel rooted to the spot and the Celtic centre halves all at sea.<\/div>\n

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The half time whistle went and the question of just how many changes would Brendan be making resurfaced.<\/div>\n

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Amazingly the answer was none, with the same poor XI starting the second half.<\/div>\n

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Celtic tried to move out of 1st gear but attempts were being nullified or the crosses just not being met. Adam Idah, understandably, began to shown some frustration at the lack of action. The wingers were failing to beat their men and generate even half a chance for him to get onto. Falkirk were more than happy at this as the Celtic Nbr 9 came deeper and deeper. . The question was would he get the service needed up at the business end of the park before he got hooked for Kyogo on the bench.<\/div>\n

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Thankfully, Brendan finally saw sense on the hour mark and made wholesale changes.<\/div>\n
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Engels swapped for a tired Hatate, Yang replaced the frustrating Palma, Kuhn came on for a ineffective Forrest and Taylor replaced the exposed Valle.<\/div>\n
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Engels and Yang would have an impact but\u00a0this game would turn into the Kuhn and Idah show.<\/p>\n

Within half an hour, the game would be wrapped up in a pretty bow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Nicholas Kuhn has been a revelation so far this season and continued his great form with a dynamic half hour display.<\/div>\n

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On 69 minutes, Taylor played the ball to Ralston who slid a lovely through ball to Kuhn racing into the box down the Celtic left. The German winger slid a lovely ball across for Idah to slot home for the equaliser, despite a long VAR check.<\/div>\n

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Within a minute, the game was effectively over. Kuhn won the ball on the Celtic right this time. Kuhn found Idah in the middle facing 2 Falkirk defenders. The Irish international showed lovely composure to play the ball through the gap and stride on through to slot the ball home. A lovely goal and great to see the big forward get his rewards for what had been a long day for both him and the fans.<\/div>\n
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10 minutes later we would see Kuhn get his first of the day when he ran through to meet a lovely Engels ball. With only the keeper to beat, Kuhn took his time and deftly lifted the ball over the Falkirk stopper and into the next for the Celtic fourth. It would only a few minutes until he got his second and Celtics 5th when he hit a great shot from just outside the box after a bit of a stramash and a lovely double backheel from Adam Idah.<\/div>\n
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Kaspar Schmeichel made a nice save\u00a0 just before Falkirk had a man sent off for a thigh high tackle on Ralston and the game duly finished.<\/div>\n
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On reflection 5:2 was a more than generous score-line given all that Falkirk had contributed. They showed why they were a team with the longest unbeaten record before coming to Celtic Park and ex Celt Head Scout John McGlynn and his side could leave Parkhead with their heads held high and their confidence undented.<\/div>\n

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Celtic’s class eventually ran out the winners but a few lessons were harshly learnt.<\/div>\n
Its\u00a0 a semi-final versus a reborn Aberdeen next. We can expect a full strength starting XI!<\/div>\n

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MOTM – Adam Idah<\/strong><\/div>\n

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Brendan may have a few thoughts on his Squad players after this poor display. Palma just never really got going in a game, a game perfectly set up for him to remind us what he could possibly offer. James Forrest looks more of a “last 30 minutes” player these days rather than a starter. At the back, Valle had a tough opening game but he stuck in and helped create the Celtic opener. It will have been a harsh lesson for the young guy but a baptism of fire might just be what he needs as an introduction to Scottish Football. In the centre Auston Trusty didn’t show anything on his full match debut and he and Welsh amazingly looked like 2 players who had never played together, whats the chances of that I wonder?<\/div>\n

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Stephen Welsh looked miles off it sadly, passes going behind players and just a general lack of confidence.<\/div>\n
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As for the subs, they all showed exactly why they are first team regulars or regulars on the bench. Taylor didnt have much to do in fairness,\u00a0 Engels helped set up at least 1 goal,\u00a0 Yang showed great application ( Take note Mr Palma!)\u00a0 and had some great direct runs and one lovely move where his shot was saved by the Falkirk keeper but the star was undoubtedly Kuhn. 2 goals and 2 assists in 30 minutes. Very impressive indeed.<\/div>\n
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Given he was only on 30 minutes, we wont give him the MOTM award though.<\/div>\n
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The two starting players who did show up were Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah.<\/div>\n

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Bernardo was the main man in Midfield and he kept going right to the end and also scored a wonderful goal.<\/div>\n
Idah had to endure the game being played elsewhere for long periods but the big man bided his time and got his rewards with some great finishing and positional play.\u00a0 Idah scored 2 so we will give the award to him for his goals and perseverance. Strikers always get the glory in football.<\/div>\n
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