LAST night I said that there was as much chance of Hearts doing something against Rangers as there was of pigs flying over my garden. I got that one wrong and delight in apologising to Mr Levein and Mr Ikpeazu and others, who emphatically did not lie down (as they tend to do at Ibrox, to be fair) but put up a strong performance.
But we learned a few things today as well. One is that there seems to be a major weakness in Tavernier, another is that McGregor (whatever we may think of him) does have an ability to launch an attack with a kick or a throw out, and the other is that there quite a few “persistent foulers” in the Rangers side – at least that’s what Mr Clancy thought, anyway.
And they are definitely not as good as Celtic!
So several things to be happy about. We are now partially out of jail after the Hibs and Livingston disappointments, and I believe we are technically at the top of the Premier League. Let’s be happy about that.
Another thing to be happy about is that Hearts might now put up a fight in the League Cup semi-final. Maybe they won’t lie down, as they have done so often in the past to Rangers.
Basically, it has been a very good weekend. Now if you excuse me, These flying pigs made an awful mess in my back garden! I will now have to go and shovel it up…
David Potter
Here’s what David said last night on The Celtic Star…
I think we all needed a boost after recent events – the horror show at Livingston and the International break which was even more boring and pointless than usual – and we certainly got it today.
Rightly does Neil Lennon claim that this was one of the most complete performances of his time, and really only two questions remain to be asked. Why did we not score more? (6-0 at half-time, let alone full time, would gave been a fair reflection!) And the other question is why did we not get something more like this at Livingston?
Odsonne Edouard was named the Man of the Match. I did not agree with this. I would have been far happier if it had been given to Mohamed Elyounoussi for his first goal and his constant hard work, or the real eye-opener of the day – Jeremie Frimpong, who was absolutely superb and was awarded the Man of the Match by The Celtic Star.
Without in any way wishing to diminish Edouard, I do wish that he would shoot whenever he gets the ball rather than try to tee things up. He is not at his best when things are “close” and “tight”.
He can certainly score when the ball comes to him unexpectedly and I loved his header today as well, but there are times when he slows things down at the wrong time and when a direct shot might produce better results. He should work on this, but the basics are there for him to be a top class striker.
The first goal was a thing of beauty and should be recorded when BBC get round to showing their Highlights. But Frimpong! Some of his “skinning” of that poor full back reminded me of Jimmy Johnstone, and the goal that he made for James Forrest was sheer class.
Full marks to Jamesie as well for being in the right spot and hitting it first time. I always feel that you should kick the ball once when the ball comes into the penalty area, and make it a good kick. Life would be more simple, and there would be more goals.
Jeremie Frimpong turning that boy inside out pic.twitter.com/w60j3tHmIS
— Tam sellics son III (@TamsellicsonIII) October 19, 2019
For the rest of the game, little needs to be said. It was quite simply a superb Celtic performance with no-one really out of place. Bolingoli, one has to say, always has a mistake in him but his improvement since the summer has been nothing short of phenomenal. The central defenders had little to do but coped with it well, the Scottish midfield of Brown, McGregor and Forrest were good enough and it was nice to see Tom Rogic getting a full game again.
Ross County’s goalkeeper saved at least 4 or 5 goals, but apart from that, there was little for the Highlanders to be comforted by. They were simply out of their depth. Referee Mr Robertson might have given a penalty in the second half, but I don’t think it was clear cut (I will stand corrected if TV proves me wrong!) and the backing of the Green Brigade was once again phenomenal. The weather was a lot better than we dared hope in the morning, the crowd was a large one and it was a very good day for Celtic.
We must keep scoring goals however. It may yet come down to that in this League race which looks as if it is to be very tight this year. But it is possible that Hearts might so something against the Rangers…? Maybe, but it is equally possible that that was a pig I just saw flying through my back garden!
The next two games are against Lazio and Aberdeen. Now, it would be nice to think that we could put six past each of them, but I would be prepared to settle for 1-0 in each case. But well done Celtic! A fine performance!
David Potter
