Celtic’s performance on Sunday was a game of almost two halves, Clichéd as it is. The team emerged from the tunnel in Sunday’s and played as we all felt, with a football hangover that a Scottish Premiership hair of the dog was not going to make up for Wednesday night’s Champions league costly bender. One where we just knew tactical self-indulgence had led us to making a fool of ourselves and it looked like we were about to do the same again.
Step forward Celtic’s Scottish contingent who took the game by the scruff on the neck.
As a lesson in possession tactics Sunday afternoon’s opening 40 minutes were around 30 minutes too long. To get a foothold in the game they were fine but be it the formation or fear to commit to attacking play and be suckered on the counter, the Celts had been too cautious for too long. Then certain individuals took it upon themselves to change all that and drag their teammates with them.
Callum McGregor’s driving run, James Forrest’s patient wait for a gap to appear before unleashing an unstoppable swerving shot and then the best moment of the day, hearing Jamesy’s throaty shouted celebration. Like any one of us did as we watched the game at home.
From that roar came the palpable relief that Wednesday night may not necessarily be the beginning of a worrying downturn in form was unleashed in Forrest’s celebration. This club and its continued success mean the world to guy’s like Forrest. Winning and doing so in style is a habit some of them have no intention of breaking. These Bhoys intended to show that from a domestic perspective at least reports of Celtic’s demise are premature and it was the Scottish contingent that supplied the evidence.
The much maligned – and rightly so for his tactical indulgences – Neil Lennon of course went on to change the formation in the second half and Motherwell adapted theirs, all of which amounted to a changing landscape on the field of play where we created space.
The opposition added an extra body to midfield, sacrificed a defender and left our wide players with one rather than two players to contend with. The introduction of Klimala as a natural striker pulled central defenders from their comfort zones from which Celtic rammed home their second half advantage.
Scott Brown may not be needed in every game anymore and by the end of the game it would have been easy to question whether he’d been required to play at all, but when you play a physical side like Motherwell it’s no bad thing to have someone who despite advancing years still isn’t afraid to mix it with the hammer throwers. Brown did just that. Whether he plays every week or even is required for 90 minutes is open for debate but there are certain teams and particular midfields in Scotland that call for Scott Brown to start a game at least and Motherwell is certainly one. It always begins as a battle.
Football fans all have opinions it's what we do, but over the years we have been harsh on players who are giving their all. One such man in danger of becoming a whipping boy is Greg Taylor. He may not be everyone's cup of tea but he never gives up and I admire that HH pic.twitter.com/CsfUL2qQUN
— Celtic Gossip (@CelticGossip) September 1, 2020
Until his substitution -and being replaced by Jeremie Frimpong – Greg Taylor did what he always does he gave everything for the shirt. His final ball may need work and when he reaches the opposition full back, he needs more belief in himself but you can never ever accuse Greg Taylor of lacking in application endeavour or good old-fashioned commitment and he showed that again on Sunday.
Callum McGregor took a play the Paul McStay style of leadership and led by example, driving his team on from midfield in a man of the match display and took it upon himself to carry the ball, break the lines and supply Forrest for that opening goal. From then on, he performed like the legend he has become.
Forrest came into his own in the second half, switched to a left wing back role and with Motherwell’s changing from five at the back to four took it upon himself to stretch his legs and in turn the Motherwell backline at every turn. That run and shot that hit the bar in the second half deserved greater rewards than it ultimately received.
Ryan Christie came alive when relieved of his striking duties. Pushed into a position for a game and a half that he simply doesn’t have the instincts for he took his lead from Brown, McGregor and Forrest as the Scots in the side continued to push forward. He was back to his best finding space, creating it, committing players and driving forward trying to link with the genuine front men. He certainly didn’t look like he was working his ticket on Sunday instead in that second half performance he looked like he was a player fighting for his teammates.
By now this endeavour, hunger and seeming reaction to Wednesday night’s chastening Champions league exit was driving others on around them. Ajer broke forward and supplied the goal for substitute Ajeti and Jullien bust a gut to support the attack and score the third. In the end – from a pedestrian first half – came an onslaught that could and should have seen more than three goals bulge the Motherwell net.
It may have been tactical decisions from both managers that changed the shape of the game but the drive and determination of the Scots in the Celtic side made a huge difference on Sunday.
With the addition of the talented David Turnbull to the squad Celtic have picked up the next best Scottish player outside those already in the employment of Celtic. With the news Scott Robertson – highly rated as being better than he was at his age by no less that Scott Brown – has signed a new deal, it bodes well that the Scottish influence will continue to shine at Celtic.
Sunday was a sign that the home-grown player, who gets it, invests in it and believes in what and who they are representing will be the foundations upon which the ten-in-a-row campaign is built. Their clear ability to influence those others around them to pick up their own ideas and join the fray shouldn’t be underestimated.
Steve Clarke and Scotland will now hope that determination shown by Celtic’s Scottish core translates to the international fixtures in the days ahead, but on Sunday it was Celtic who benefitted from a performance made in Scotland. A curer following Thursday morning’s sore heads.
Niall J
ALSO ON THE CELTIC STAR…Walfrid & The Bould Bhoys – “St Bernard Battles, the Patron of Parkhead”
AND DON’T MISS THIS…Walfrid & The Bould Bhoys – Celtic’s first Broony one of five ex-Hibees chosen as the Irish clubs meet for the first time
