Last night Celtic turned in one of the best performances many of us has seen from the team in years. I have no doubt that this is just the start; as the Rodgers revolution gets into higher gear we’re going to see the kind of football we’ve not seen since, perhaps, the height of Martin O’Neill, or even the sort of thing we saw under Tommy Burns.
What Jock Stein called “pure beautiful attacking football.”
That was five going on ten last night. Everything clicked in that 90 minutes.
Players who have looked out of sorts – like Forrest, like Rogic, the two had just signed new deals – showed up for business. Dembele showed us what he could do, with a double. Scott Brown was more dynamic than we’ve seen him in years and Scott Sinclair … well watching him was a delight.
Oh how Celtic fans have missed this kind of football.
The team was brilliant from start to finish, from the established regulars to the kids who came on late in the game, and what made this all the more special was that this wasn’t even a full strength Celtic team but one that was missing half a dozen key players and about the same number again of squad players, missing through either injury or suspension.
It must be scary for other teams to consider that this team hasn’t really hit top form yet.
We’re in the very early stages of the Brendan Rodgers revolution and already we look light years away from what we were last season, and I write that fully aware of the pounding we gave the same team at Celtic Park on the final day. This was, arguably, a better performance, accomplished as Brendan’s squad is still trying to hit its stride.
When this team hits form I don’t expect anyone to be able to stop us.
There are tough games coming up, but with this kind of football we’re going to sweep aside everyone in Scotland regardless of who they are or what kind if hype surrounds them.
I’ve watched all of our so-called challengers already and I’ll tell you, hype is all it is. What we saw at Celtic Park last night was breath-taking. This is not hype. Brendan’s team is the real deal.
The good vibes surrounding our club right now are propelling us towards the kind of season we could only have dreamed about when it was announced that Ronny was departing and the hunt was on for a new boss. A top manager and top signings have followed. European football until Christmas has already been assured. More top footballers are on the way and the feel-good factor is back amongst the supporters.
Last night felt significant. Change is sweeping through Celtic, the good kind ,the kind that brings not only trophies and happy supporters but the kind that ushers in a new era.
In Brendan We Trust.
You can now follow The CelticBlog on Twitter at @The_Celtic_Blog