Not a 100% satisfactory game, and I had a few qualms until the third and fourth goals went in, but it turned out OK in the end with Mikey Johnston’s goal one that I will remember for a long time, not least because of the almost perfect pass from Greg Taylor, whom I am now convinced is the best full back we have at the moment.
So what was wrong today? Well, not really an awful lot but a few rockets up backsides need to be applied for the goal which was, let’s be honest, “soft”, as everyone just seemed to leave it to someone else. Perhaps Fraser Forster should have come out, and certainly one or other of the powerful heads of the central defenders should have been there, Jullien seemed to mistime his jump and Ajer was not there either, and the goal should not have gone in. That said, it was only a mistake and I would hate to hear anything like “they are not Celtic class” or “a joke”. It was a mistake, and the Celtic defence are good enough and big enough to learn from it. Total concentration will be required next Sunday!
Jeremie Frimpong seemed to be upset by his (unfair) booking, and I wonder how many supporters agree with me that he is a tremendous potential, but not as a full back? Is he even worth a go further up the field, even as an old fashioned Jimmy Johnstone type right winger? Something to think about, here.
Referee Mr Walsh probably on balance got most things right. He was right with Celtic’s penalty, I wasn’t totally convinced when it happened that Ryan Christie was onside for the second goal – but probably it was just the correct decision. But Celtic certainly should have had a penalty when Scott Brown was elbowed in the back of the neck, and I also think that Ross County’s goal which was disallowed should have stood. The booking of Frimpong was harsh – a foul maybe, but not a yellow card – and that of Mikey Johnston was simply wrong and incredibly stupid! On the other hand, Mr Walsh got most other things right and kept the game flowing.
I have always been a great admirer of Ross County. Their Chairman is apparently a friend of Fergus McCann, according to his interview at the start of the programme, and he has done a great job up there with a decent crowd, a pleasant town and a club that punches away above its weight to prove that there is no real excuse for the other underperformers in Scottish football. One immediately thinks of Edinburgh! Or Dundee!
Celtic’s best players were Taylor, Brown and Christie.Morgan was OK, McGregor and Forrest were quieter than normal, but no doubt will be less so on Wednesday and Sunday. Sunday is massive, but so too is Wednesday in the context of the season. The players must be able and willing to cope with it all. The fans certainly will be up for it. Wednesday first, though!
TV coverage was good, and congratulations to Celtic for wearing the green and white! Either on TV or in reality, there is no greater sight on earth that Willie Maley’s hoops! Commentary was good as well, and Kris Commons as usual talks a lot of sense but Kris Boyd made a couple of questionable statements “Last year, everything for Celtic depended on Tom Rogic” Hmm! I am a great admirer of the Aussie, but there were other factors as well, I feel. And “There are no great players in Scottish football at the moment” Some of us might beg to differ on that one! Pity you’ve retired, Kris! (That is me being sarcastic, by the way!)
David Potter
