Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Fagan’s Weasels

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers after the Celtic v Hearts match at  Celtic Park on14 September 2024 Photo Robert Perry/Shutterstock

SUBS –

 

BRIAN DE – Irritating/10 – Basic laziness cost the disallowed third. Boy’s got the moves and the guile but that lapsing workrate and unwillingness to shift his backside may be his Celtic downfall.

SAINT BERNARDO – 6/10 – Rather unfortunate to be benched, Paulo makes a splendid weapon to throw on when required. Looks nip and tuck between him and Reo for a start rest of season after today’s developments.

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

JAMESY – 501/10 – Presented with a commemorative ‘500’ jersey before the game, which was his 501st – so we all know the number had nothing to do with the football… And if you can lip-read, you’ll note Jamesy winking at Brendan Rodgers during the jersey photo-call and quipping, ‘Aye, and in jist the international break.”

Whatever that meant…

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

HIGHLAND TOFFEE – 7/10 – The dream continues. And didn’t he fulfil it – perfectly finishing an attacking move which he’d initiated and built from outside his own box, chewing them up (yup, deliberate, toffee fans…) through the midfield and popping up on the edge of their box to whip one in with his cultured left peg, past one of Celtic’s finest former goalkeepers. The childhood fantasy is real now, and young Richard Jobson won’t be putting The Skids on it anytime soon; once you see it, you’ll know I’m right, Dunfermline 70s punk band fans..

DUNCAN IDAHO – N/A – Ever get the feeling it’s not your day/month? We won’t add ‘year’ after the heroics he’s performed, but he sure could do with a goal after the turbulent summer and big tag on his jersey.

Brendan Rodgers with  Kasper Schmeichelafter the Celtic v Hearts match at Celtic Park on 14 September 2024 Photo Robert Perry/Shutterstock

THE NOTAPRODDYGAL – 7/10 – Not that he HAD to, but took the decision to throw in The Terminator knowing he’d be up against no-nonsense borderline thuggery from a desperate Nasalsmith outfit. It worked out to a tee – the youngster looking the most invigorated of the lot to lead the way to a stuffy win. Nothing went completely to plan, what with a somewhat sluggish overall feel, especially after roasting the Tribute Act a fortnight ago but, bottom-line, a trouble and injury-free win was the requirement before facing the step-up in class to a testing burst of Champions League matches.

Last season in such morbid contests the system failed and faltered, games like this ended with us sucker-punched. Testimony then, to progress made in his ongoing reconstruction of the method, that we found the extra edge to get it done.

Referee Colin Steven during the  Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on 14 September 2024. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie/Hearts FC  PSI

MIBBERY – 3/10 – Good Ghod, a VAR consultation ending in our favour. Certain pen last season, reversed thanks to new interpretations the MIBs stuck by. Probably shamed into correct interpretations by their midweek exposure as Zombie onfield coaches…Fittingly for the wee Gorgie rat who attempted reconstructive surgery on young Arnie first-half, his outstretched claws gave the brow-beaten MIBs no choice but to call penalty in our favour again. But he should have been off.

This pesky new technology and openeness upsetting those bygone days of lore and the accepted customs of keeping the Celts at the back of the bus…There will be emergency ludge meetings to see what can be done. Sadly for them, the threat of withdrawal of 20% off yer plumbing bill, nae post-walk handiwork on the 12th from big muckle-handed Willemina, and being relegated to last-carriage-on-the-train for the goat-worrying ceremonies only goes so far these days, and it won’t be far enough.

Arne Engels of Celtic celebrates with his manager Brendan Rodgers after he scores his team’s opening goal during the match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on September 14, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

OVERALL – 7/10 – Tricky proposition – post international-break, off the Skelping high, along come the Craven Cronies to attempt what their big cousins failed at and upset the green applecart. There were moments times past – though recent enough – loomed back into glum view as we failed to put the game to bed; even with
Jamesy in attendance…

However, the presence of a prospective new Hooped hero, baptised in the stringent unforgiving rapids of the Bundesliga, made the difference with an added dimension of unknown quality they could not cope with. So we got the precious points and the workout to put us back in the groove for the thrilling contests to come. Not without contention either – delicious Big and Wee Cousins tears will be canned over the next few days as the airwaves reverberate to the Nasalsmith whine and sulking reprobates call the game a bogey despite not knowing the new rule interpretations.

Absolute nectar then, to sweeten the way into Champions League combat.

Go Away Now

Sandman

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers  at full time during the  match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on September 14, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

ON CELTIC SHORTS…Celtic new Bhoys Engels and McCowan get the goals to send Hearts bottom

COMING SOON ON CELTIC STAR BOOKS…CELTIC IN THE THIRTIES, VOL 1&2 BY MATT CORR…

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

3 Comments

  1. After aw his travellin (pointless, as it tourned out) think Hatate could’ve & should’ve been rested & Bernardo startin ..if Engles had ate start.
    Thought Johnstone was poor compared tae his usual standards & kept tryin defence splittin Matt oRiley passes for some feckin reason.
    Maeda .. who I’ve ayeways been critical of in the past .. has definitely been worked on by BR as his touch & crossin was actually decent for a change & thought he was oor most dangerous player 1st half.
    Kyogo .. King Henrik was never posted missin in as many games as Kyogo .. neither was Hooper or Leigh Griffiths for that matter.
    Palma .. needs a shake or a slap .. or both!

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