SANDMAN’S DEFINITIVE RATINGS: CELTIC v COLOMBIA…
“But the point is, I bounced back. People bounce back. Teams bounce back…”
– Alan Partridge, ‘Bouncing back’.
THE FRIENDLY GHOST – 6/10 – After Thursday’s abandonment trauma, the aged gentleman goalkeeper got a quiet 90 minutes of reflection while his defence thwarted any ambitions of the lumbering giants lining up around him for set-pieces. Highlights of his day were a nice searching pass deep into their half as he joined in the kickabout, then the scintillating counter just before the third, launched by his footballing wits.
GREGGS THE BAKER – 6.5/10 – You still here? A swansong, perhaps for the busy baker. And he reverted to the type we’ve taken for granted; industrious water-carrying with organisational oversight. If it weren’t for the identikit quality of the Barca Kid and the incoming powerhouse returning prodigal it would be a wrench to see him leave. But now if he does, it’s with deserved goodwill.
WAYNE GRETZKY – 7/10 – Back in the chain-gang. Of two – him and the German Jinky believing their aberration at the Hate Pit to begin on the front foot today. Lung-busting support, deadly balls into the danger zone, robust defending. A proper AJ outing.
CRUSTY THE CLOWN – 7/10 – Obvious. Selection was obvious. Not obvious – how he’d come back from the cold into the cold and deal with their hired muscle. Consummately, was the answer. And managed to throw in a vital first goal for the Hoops to put us out of reach at a perfect point in the game. A belated Happy New Year for the Pennsylvania Puyol.
GET CARTER – 6.5/10 – Back in tow with his compatriot, a chance for the Big Mhan to delegate some authority and let others prove themselves. Kept control of the line well and produced a quietly efficient stifling of their attack.
CALMAC – 6.5/10 – Watch closely, acolytes – 33rd minute, loose ball around our centre circle, bounces up, four players considering option, Calmac already sprung into life, two electric touches and Luke’s free to feed Daizen to find Kuhn and the deadlock is broken. Such is the quality of the skipper, taken much for granted these days, berated after the matrix anomaly of Mordor. A scintillating burst of energised intuitive play to ease your stress and tip the frustrating balance in the Champions favour. He’s not got more medals than Captain Tom (had…) for nothing, you know.
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE…
Didn’t understand much of that and I’m a season ticket holder
When we look back on our time as Celtic supporters and someone from a younger generation asks just what was Sellick Da patter?
Link them up to this.
Like him or loathe him, Sandman’s Definitive Ratings gets a huge audience every single time. He has no idea why!
The only reason I subscribe to this blog is to read this.
(Cellic granda looking forwards to seeing a third NIAR)
Agree with you about Engels, Sandman. He will just get better and better.