Has the corner been turned? Is this what we have all been waiting for? Time will tell and give answers, but yesterday was certainly very encouraging.
First of all a word of praise to whoever it was who decided that Celtic should play in a recognisable Celtic strip! Personally I prefer the green and white hoops, and there was no earthly reason why they couldn’t have been worn yesterday, but this strip was far preferable to urine yellow, and not a million miles away from the reserve strip that Celtic used to wear until 1965.
It was a Celtic strip, but I think I speak for all the support when I say that we prefer the green and white hoops, the most distinctive strip in the world.
But the performance was quite simply the way that a Celtic team should play. Fast attacking play with well taken goals from players who possibly felt raw and hurt after Thursday’s disgrace in Austria, and simply decided that Sunday in front of a vast live TV audience was a fine chance to show the world what Celtic meant.
What a pity that they did not decide this before Thursday! We play Leipzig on 25 October. Let’s have a go at them!
Take a bow, James Forrest! Four great goals to show us what you can do. Jamesie’s career at Celtic has had its peaks and troughs, let’s say, and there have been times when we have all had our doubts, but yesterday was his best to date.
The other two goals were good as well with the excellent Tom Rogic never far away from the action. Callum McGregor’s levelling off in form has now stopped and nice to see brief cameos of Jozo Simunovic, Lewis Morgan and Scott Sinclair.
It was a totally excellent performance with no real weakness in sight (although Olivier Ntcham was perhaps only “very good” rather than “excellent”). Kieran Tierney was a class act in himself, and I repeat that this was simply the way that a Celtic team ought to play.
We then had Brendan Rodgers saying “No” to Aston Villa. Great, Brendan, and hard luck to Sky Sports who had tried so hard all Sunday morning to get him to go there! A good Sunday!
I didn’t see any of the TV coverage because I was there, but it was nice to watch from the Ormond Stand the animation in the BT pigeon loft when Celtic scored! And once again, I have to wonder when the penny is going to drop with teams like St Johnstone that it might be an idea to rearrange the supporters and to give Celtic more tickets. What is the point of empty seats? It looks horrible on the TV screen! And it would give them more money!
And so to the bore of the International break. Hibs at home when we come back. Should be a great game, and I now look forward to it with renewed optimism!
David Potter
James Forrest on his four goal success…read HERE.
WATCH Brendan Rodgers after today’s big win…see HERE.
Rodgers rules out Aston Villa switch…see HERE.
Scintillating football from James Forrest and Tom Rogic..see HERE.
