There have been a few performances from Celtic that hadn't quite been hitting the standard before the International break and a trip to New Douglas Park on a plastic pitch against a confident Hamilton team seemed a tricky proposition. This was not helped by the injury to Leigh Griffiths midweek which induced visions of a tough night with James Forrest as a lone striker.
Step forward Odsonne Edouard, a 19 year old forward plucked from PSG looking increasingly redundant with a new £300m strike force and Cavani thrown in for good measure. With a name like Odsonne though, you could argue it was inevitable that he would score on his debut
It was the return of Patrick Roberts that caught the eye in the starting lineup although Brendan does seem to see Forrest in the same way WGS sees Chuck Mulgrew- anywhere in the team, this time slotting in at right back. I would be lying if I said it didn't concern me.
I was surprised to see Simunovic risked on the plastic pitch but relieved not to have to watch Bitton defend through my fingers.
The game itself was a breeze, surprisingly a formality.
Patrick Roberts looked like he'd never been away- what I like about him and what I think Brendan has improved with him is that he now has much more to his game than just tricks and flicks. I remember seeing him play in his first few games and thought he was talented but looked to do too much- he would beat a man and then turn back to beat him again. Roberts now is able to drift into areas all over the park to use his best attributes, his lightening fast feet and a well developed deft eye for a pass. He is a serious menace and he showcased that in an hour of pulsating football, quick one twos, nutmegs, scything runs and clever passes that tore Hamiltons defence to shreds.
You could see in the 60 minutes of football that he played just what a different proposition Celtic are with him in the team. He linked up with Sinclair in what was his best display of the season. A return of the lightening quick breaks, dangerous slaloming runs at pace and 2 goals of differing quality, one a superbly composed curling shot, the other poachers instinct to follow up and finish from a narrow angle. His all round play looked so much better, not as much turning back on himself, just direct running. Alongside Roberts and Armstrong (who put in a notably improved showing- grabbing a vintage Armstrong strike, curling a shot past the keeper after breaking into the box) this was counter attacking Celtic at its best.
To the man from Paris and Eduoard was handfull all night. For a 19 year old making his debut this was a very good start. He looks a proper striker, holding the ball up when needs be and using his pace to run in behind. He also showed no shortage of skill in linking the play and industry in running the hard yards into the channels when required to. His goal was a lovely piece of link up play with Roberts, a one two allowing the Frenchman to arc his run in behind the defender and finishing across the keeper, the goalkeeper got a hand to it but it was hit with sufficient power to roll into the bottom right hand corner.
From 70 minutes onwards you could see the minds of our players drifting towards PSG and the pace slowed. This did not mean that Celtic did not still have their chances- Eduoard dinked a lovely ball across for Sinclair who could not control the shot to seal his hattrick and Sinclair would miss a guilt edged opportunity as a superb diagonal ball up the park found him running in behind, only for the Englishmen to loft the ball over the keeper but sadly over the bar.
We had a Craig Gordon moment, as we seem to do every match where he came for the corner ball, got nowhere near it and lost a goal, though admittedly the defence as a whole must be held culpable due to poor marking from the corner.
Yet this was a very good display, soured a little by the fact that Scott Brown may find himself in front of the Compliance Officer. He did flick his boot at the Hamilton player and I have to wonder why he would do something so reckless. It was unnecessary and if found guilty of Violent Conduct he may face a ban, potentially for the trip to Ibrox- so frustrating.
I don't hold out a lot of hope for Tuesday night, but these are the nights to enjoy for the occasions they are- £350m worth of Strikers (including £50m Cavani) could be brought to bear on the likes of Nir Bitton and Simunovic but I hope that we at least put in a battling display.
Hamilton 1-4 Celtic
posted on 9/9/17
comment by Stevethebhoy (an ! = excitement!) (U17159)
posted 24 seconds ago
Just watching replay of the game again - even when our move finally breaks down, our final pass misses its target or the eventual shot is saved or blocked, I still think that this is exactly the kind of football I love seeing my team play
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And so say all of us.
For to play football
The Glasgow Celtic way.
A joy to behold.
posted on 9/9/17
Don't see why brown would be in trouble. The ref gave a foul and that's all it was if it's what I am thinking about.
Thought that striker looked dodgy to be honest. He has pace but his touch was way off last night but I'll give him a break as it was his first game.
Good to have Roberts back he is as class and Sinclair was unplayable.
I say we just go for it against psg all out attack and see what happens.
posted on 9/9/17
comment by theresgonnaebeashow - Scones Ntcham. Tasty 😋 (U5686)
posted 53 seconds ago
comment by Stevethebhoy (an ! = excitement!) (U17159)
posted 24 seconds ago
Just watching replay of the game again - even when our move finally breaks down, our final pass misses its target or the eventual shot is saved or blocked, I still think that this is exactly the kind of football I love seeing my team play
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And so say all of us.
For to play football
The Glasgow Celtic way.
A joy to behold.
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It was a privelege to support that team last night. First half was something else.
We have some real top drawer players and I'd be confident against anybody if we had two decent centre backs fit.
Have to give a special mention to Paddy Roberts. The bears can scoff but that boy is world class at his best. His passing around the box is as good as you'll see anywhere and he had two first touches last night that you rarely see.
Before the first goal, big Jozo absolutely cannonballed that 'pass' at him yet the wee man just knocked it on and started his run all in the same movement. That was Jinky class never mind world class.
posted on 9/9/17
comment by timmy (U14278)
posted 6 minutes ago
Don't see why brown would be in trouble. The ref gave a foul and that's all it was if it's what I am thinking about.
Thought that striker looked dodgy to be honest. He has pace but his touch was way off last night but I'll give him a break as it was his first game.
Good to have Roberts back he is as class and Sinclair was unplayable.
I say we just go for it against psg all out attack and see what happens.
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I'll tell you what will happen.....we'll get pumped 7-2
posted on 9/9/17
It could be one of those nights. The worry is they won't stop attacking even if they are 3-0 up.
posted on 9/9/17
Show/Mags
Bearing in mind Paddy hasn't played 90 minutes since the Cup Final and that he had only trained for a couple of days with the full first team squad, that was a lot better from him than we could have expected
Also, aside from praising Paddy, BR went out of his way to talk up big Eddy
Rodgers said: “I’m delighted for him.
“All strikers want to get goals and he’s got one and he created one or two other opportunities for himself.
“He received a round of applause from all the players and staff after the game.”
The powerful youngster struck 20 minutes after the break following a neat one-two with the outstanding Paddy Roberts.
Rodgers added: “It’s a great debut from Odsonne Edouard.
“It’s difficult for a lad of 19 coming in and not speaking the language.
“He’s left Paris, which was 30-odd degrees, and trained with us in the rain all week.
“He’s fitted in very well. You can see his natural hunger to work, to press.
“We have given him over the course of the week how we like to play in defence and attack and he’s produced a very good performance.”
posted on 9/9/17
comment by timmy (U14278)
posted 30 minutes ago
Don't see why brown would be in trouble. The ref gave a foul and that's all it was if it's what I am thinking about.
Thought that striker looked dodgy to be honest. He has pace but his touch was way off last night but I'll give him a break as it was his first game.
Good to have Roberts back he is as class and Sinclair was unplayable.
I say we just go for it against psg all out attack and see what happens.
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Really Timmy? I thought Edo played really well given it was his first game, a lot of tracking back and made Sinclair's first goal, a very very decent performance in my book. I actually think him and Dembele could dovetail of each other
posted on 9/9/17
Last night's highlights
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/41209748
posted on 9/9/17
comment by GTB... (U14017)
posted 32 minutes ago
comment by timmy (U14278)
posted 30 minutes ago
Don't see why brown would be in trouble. The ref gave a foul and that's all it was if it's what I am thinking about.
Thought that striker looked dodgy to be honest. He has pace but his touch was way off last night but I'll give him a break as it was his first game.
Good to have Roberts back he is as class and Sinclair was unplayable.
I say we just go for it against psg all out attack and see what happens.
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Really Timmy? I thought Edo played really well given it was his first game, a lot of tracking back and made Sinclair's first goal, a very very decent performance in my book. I actually think him and Dembele could dovetail of each other
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Just thought he looked raw. His touch was off last night. With a couple of good touches he could have had more.
posted on 9/9/17
Had to avoid the score as was our last night - watched it this morning - great performance - new boy looked very good at times and the wee man showed us exactly why we were desperate to get him back - magical wee player.
Sinclair looking more and more like himself each game - great player.