Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic at Salem’s Lot

WAYNE GRETZKY – 6/10 – Another torrid day for AJ. But this one he would not have expected. The surface and directness of Killie – playing two wingers and rugged beasts down the middle had him pinned back. Probably the fewest number of times he’s been able to tag-team with Kuhn this season. But The Moose is no shrinking violet and well capable of standing up to pressure, which he did well until CL fatigue took its toll.

OF JUSTICE – 7.5/10 – Some real incisive defendng from the Ginger Baresi. Great positioning and interceptions as expected. But we really needed his sharpness today – nicking balls away from the toes of strikers, timing jumps to perfection; example on 85 minutes as the ball bobbed up in a crowd around the 6 yard box, Trusty mistimed, Liam took a standing jump and nodded it out to the edge of the area. Looked easy. Anything but; had to get it just right.

Played a great ball from deep after chesting down a high one to set up the Kuhn-should-have-scored move mid second-half. Deserves great plaudits for his overall focus and composure in the most trying domestic circumstances since Sheryl Gascgoine failed to put enough raddish on the jakey’s sandwich.

CRUSTY THE CLOWN – 7/10 – Another successful testing game for our startled American import; “What in the goddamn hell kinda field do these sons of biatches play soccer on? Goddamn it! Game over, man! Game over…” …Is how the dialogue will go in his movie biopic. He took the physical challenge well as Killie went two battle-giants down the middle with MMA rules applying. Alongside Liam, he stood up pretty well to the most stringent test a Celtic defence has faced away in Scotland since Jamesy’s legal team got a subpoena from the Shetland Young Ladies Finishing School for ‘multiple counts of inappropriate ravishing’.*

Game by game Austin grows more into the role. You wonder if Rocky will get a look-in, though I’d say all four CBs will have parts to play the more successful we get.

*Not Proven verdict.

🗣️ “You’ve got to come here and dig deep”
🗣️ “It’s alway’s a difficult one… every year it’s a situation which takes place”

Brendan Rodgers has his say on Celtic’s 2-0 win & the minute silence prior to kick-off ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/g9fkcPgSaM

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 10, 2024

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