Irony of a broken silence then Dons And Kyogo Hit For Six, plus Kris Boyd’s Bitter Aberdeen Accusation…
There was never any doubt in my mind that Brendan Rodgers would have Celtic firing on all cylinders after the dreadful capitulation in Madrid during the week.
Yes, we’ve lost Reo Hatate until January at the earliest, and yes, we’ve lost Maeda for six weeks, but with some stinging criticism aimed at the boss from some quarters it was inevitable that he would galvanise and boost the confidence of the men selected to replace the Japanese duo.
The honest retorts in the press from Calmac et al regarding being ‘embarrassed’ was bound to hit the next challenger on the rebound, and Barry Robson’s Aberdeen was unlucky enough to be ‘it’.
Celtic roasted the Dons in a contest so one sided that a boxing referee would have stopped the contest at half time, and the men from the north were left as red-faced as their sweat-bereft shirts. Yes, they were that bad although nothing should be taken away from a rampant Celtic who simply took a fly swatter to them.
The only minus points were the injuries to Kyogo and Yang, both who looked like they could win the game on their own. However, robust Montenegrin international, Rubezic delivered a bullet-like header into the back of Furuhashi’s head in an assault which would see him jailed had he done so in the street.
The defender was only yellow carded by Willie Collum whilst the Japanese lay prone for several minutes before being escorted off the pitch! Now, Kyogo is normally first to shake the hand of anyone who goes down or who fouls him, but this time he refused the callous hand of his attacker, and that in itself tells its own story.
Yang was the unfortunate recipient of a head clash which saw him retire early with a nasty gash just under his eye. There was no blame apportioned this time as it was a 50/50 challenge, and the extravagant Korean was withdrawn.
As to the action which yielded six goals, it was a joy to watch despite the feeling that Aberdeen had Mogadon for breakfast. The main protagonists, (and there were many) were Matt O’ Riley, Luis Palma and the aforementioned, Yang who netted first.
These Bhoys played like they meant it and simply destroyed the Aberdeen backline time and again with a variety of flicks, tricks and shimmies. The sorry absence of our Asian internationalists in January may seem less traumatic when we see what we have in the storage cupboard, Yang excepted as he may be called up to the Korean national squad.
The main bone of contention against Atletico was that we looked threadbare in reserve, yet in the Scottish Premiership yesterday we looked like world-beaters! I’ll let you debate that one amongst yourselves.
It was heartening to see Oh star in the most effective way, creating our penalty opportunity and heading home late in the game. He may not be everyone’s cup of tea but when he makes an appearance, he often makes a difference. I’d love to see him succeed at Celtic.
Withdrawing the calmly effective Holm seemed a bit of a mystery, but Turnbull proved to be Brendan’s ace up his sleeve with a beautifully guided missile just inside Roos’ post, and again, from distance. The much-maligned midfielder proved once again that he knows where the back of the net is!
All in all, it was a superb comeback from our European nightmare, but only demonstrated how poor our domestic league is when we take a top team like Aberdeen apart with the minimum of fuss.
That said, I believe the Dons hierarchy should -MUST- take action against Sky Sports’ couch potato, Kris Boyd after his ludicrous accusation that Aberdeen virtually threw the game and stated, angrily, that Robson’s men would not do so when his favourites, (penalty to)theRangers come calling to Pittodrie in a fortnight.
It's a total joke Boyd is constantly put on tv to cover Aberdeen games. It's so clear to see his hated for us. For a pundit who is supposed to be on Sky to promote the Scottish game to instead undermine it and imply we lie down to Celtic and only try against Rangers is a disgrace https://t.co/rN8wwSG7Fy
— The Famous Aberdeen (@TheFamousReds) November 12, 2023
Boyd is a paid pundit, (paid by OUR fees!) and has a duty to impart factual and impartial information or opinions. If the rotund one cannot deliver without slandering clubs who do not fit his narrative, he should be replaced by someone who can. For all of Ally McCoist’s failings during our screen-time, he can, at least, be relatively balanced. Boyd cannot.
Celtic now go into a period of hibernation, (no, that’s not an Edinburgh club!) for two weeks due to the international snoozefest. The Champions are eight points, and seven goals clear of our nearest challengers and a massive sixteen from third spot, St. Mirren, albeit with a game more played. Did I say how poor our league structure looks?
Hopefully there will be no more injuries to our stars who will represent their countries during this hiatus. It will also eat into the time-out for the fallen, and with a bit of luck we will be back to almost full-strength when Motherwell bid to become more than a turkey shoot in Paradise.
One last gripe; despite the Celtic M.C. stating that the minute silence was for ALL the fallen in wars past and present all over the world, including players and supporters of our great club, and that it was a prayer of hope for peace, the singing and chants which emanated from parts of the ground were excruciating!
The very sight of men, women and babies decimated by bombs and bullets should be enough for folk to wish (or pray?) it all away, but like Michael Caine poignantly ventured in one of the Batman movies, “Some people just want to watch the whole world burn!”
I, like the vast majority of DECENT men and women, was sickened by it. Some people have no shame yet are happy to fly a flag of protest about the very same thing! It’s irony in its lowest form.
Europe aside, it’s an exciting time to be a Celtic supporter, and if, that’s a BIG if, The Green Brigade come to the table and resolve their differences with the club, then Celtic Park will be rocking again as we attempt to extinguish the Ibrox light of hope for yet another season.
Despite the external issues, they are a brilliant fillip for the team, and I hope to see them back in The Curve as Santa delivers the festive points. We live in hope! Well, some of us do…
Eddie Murray
Another ignorant article by an author, who’d do better educating himself than going on a Sun or a ‘Hurrah for the Blackshirts’ Daily Mail style rant.
Poppyporn is exclusively for the British Army and no one else, its not for any of the empire’s 100m victims.
That’s the way its always been and will be despite any immature puerile attempt to claim otherwise.
The organisers of this orgy of non-rememberance don’t give a damn for non-military victims and are fully backing the genocide in Palestine.
To stand in silence is to be complicit in this hypocrisy and I’m glad that Celtic still has its sons and daughters to call it out.
Those that want reverential silence for the Empire’s fallen, who the Empire didn’t give a damn about, have plenty alternatives outside of Paradise to indulge their masters bidding.
I have neither arrogance nor a need for a history lesson my friend. What I do have is empathy for people who have witnessed or heard about family and friends cut down in senseless, brutal wars throughout the world, including GAZA! If you read the text or listened to the Celtic commentator you would have heard the word, PRAYER for the victims. Not everyone who has donned a uniform in the course of history has murdered an Irishman, Republican or a Catholic! Many died defending their loved ones from a maniacial mass murderer hell bent on his own form of world domination. But hey, let’s not allow the facts get in the way of your own ‘rant’. God bless. Eddie.
The 11th commemorations are for the British Army alone. It is arranged by the British establishment for that purpose and any attempts to widen it to civillians has been met with hostility and utter rejection.
Of course, I should qualify that doesn’t include the poor bloody squaddies who were so shell-shocked they couldn’t move but were still summarily executed. No commemoration for them.
If you or the MC at Celtic wish to commemorate other victims then you can find a suitable occasion outside of Poppymas.
Hitler was supported by the West up until the late 30s and lots of Nazis were put back in place by the West in the late 40s, just as it currently supports the genocide in Palestine.
That is whose celebration/commemoration you are joining in with, the Genocide Yes.
I’m happy to be in the Genocide No camp.