It was full steam ahead in November, where we managing to not only go undefeated but actually won every game including the European ties.
What has to go down as a perfect month saw us coast past Hibs to reach the Scottish Cup final, winning both our league games and scoring 6 goals in the process.
Then to add a cherry on top we managed to win our first European game in Italy against the Italian Nazis and even capped off our November European exploits with a win over Rennes at Paradise.
So with that, let’s take a look at how the players rated in this dominant month.
Fraser “La Grand Muralla” Forster
The big man stood up strong again in November, although he did concede 4 goals in the 5 games that he played in.
If I am being overly critical, he could possibly have done a little better for the 2nd Hibs goal in the semi final and could have possibly got down to the near post a bit quicker for the Nazio goal.
But for those instances of being over critical, they must be outweighed with the absolutely phenomenal saves that we have come to get used to with Forster.
I would have to say, by his current form, Forster is making an absolute mockery or the choice to not play him when he was down at Southampton.
And all this before yesterday’s epic, incredible, cup winning performance against Sevco at Hampden, including a penalty save.
Grade – A
Boli Bolingoli -Mbombo
He only managed to play 45 minutes in November, after having to come off at half time during the semi final, but he had a decent half.
We can’t say much more than that, and he is due back this month.
For injury reasons, this was a month to forget for the big lad.
Grade – D
Greg Taylor
The curious case of Greg Taylor, who seemed to only manage to get game time when Johnny Hayes had to be taken off in the Livingston game through injury.
He then played the rest of the Livingston game and played the full 90 against Rennes.
Greg does seem a decent player, but maybe not as exciting as Boli as many fans still have Boli as first choice LB.
In the time he featured in November, I honestly can’t think of any major errors , but at the same time I don’t feel he put any real pressure on Boli for when he is back fit.
Grade – B-
Kristoffer “Bambi Legs” Ajer
Played in all 5 games without really putting a foot wrong, and amongst it all he still found space to stride through the midfield like a hot knife through butter.
He has formed a genuinley solid partnership with Julien at centre back.
In doing so he has kept his head down and working hard and keeping our back line solid.
One point of note, it does seem he is not going to ground as much, so I am hoping he is learning to not cause so many fouls at the back.
Grade – B+
Christopher Julien
Without this £7 million defending monster, we could have been looking at a draw against Nazio, but for his heroic goal line clearance.
But that’s just the tip of this solid defending iceberg.
Christopher seems totally bought into the club and the fanbase, he is full of passion and composure.
He played in every game alongside Ajer, and seems to have struck up a strong partnership at the back.
More than this, he also knows when to hold back to let Ajer run forward, while Julien is able to make those pin point passes the length of the pitch.
Grade – A
Hatem Abd Elhamed
It does seem as if November was an injury curse for some of our players, with Elhamed having an exploded groin. Yep, take a moment and try get that out of your head …
The injury happening in the 2nd half of the Nazio game.
Aside from being a player at right back, Elhamed looks solid in central defence, but even with those considerations it’s getting to be a concern with the time he spends in the medical room.
Grade – C
Moritz “Inspector Gadget” Bauer
He managed to play last couple of mins in the famous Nazio win, and put in a business like performance against Rennes.
Although I can’t say that I’m overly impressed, maybe even unimpressed in all honesty, he does turn up and do a shift, which is such a lazy term for basically not making any silly mistakes, but with Frimpong playing brilliantly and Abd Elhamed looking good when he does play, Bauer is also not doing anything major to give himself more of a stake for the right back role.
I have sympathy with him … but the situation is what it it is.
Grade – B-
Jeremie ‘Oh My Gosh” Frimpong
Can somebody please tell me why Frimpong was not included in the European squad?
Answers on a postcard …
In November he didn’t just play in the semi final and 2 league games in November, he lit those games up with his skill, his pace, his tricks and power.
An 18-year-old is not supposed to be even in the discussion of being first choice for a Glasgow derby, far less a cup final, but he was there and not a single Celtic fan argued with the manager’s decision to play him in it. No-one will now, in spite of conceding the penalty and taking the red.
He has the ability to make fans magically float off their seats in slow motion while in awe of this young boys talent. Yeah not a bad month for Frimpong
Grade – A+
Scott “Broony” Brown
What is Scott Brown’s secret?
He is the real Benjamin Button it seems; every year he just gets better and better and even now that he’s into his mod 30s it is absolutely ridiculous how good he still is.
Being Broony, he only went and decided to grab a double in the semi final, then grabbed a goal against Livingston, then an assist in the Rennes game.
Now that’s quite impressive, but then add in dominating the midfield in every game and ensuring to cover any forward moving defenders. On current form he is basically setting the standard for the person who wants to try and take the captains armband off him.
Grade – A+
Calum McGregor
With Brown doing what Brown does best, it allows McGregor to link up play and create chances and keep the midfield ticking over; for me the Brown and McGregor partnership is as important in this team as Ajer and Julien’s.
McGregor played every game along with Brown in November and even got on the score sheet in the semi final.
As always though I still get the impression his work rate is still undervalued by some, but for me McGregor has been just as instrumental in November as Brown.
Grade – A
Olivier Ntcham
Came on for the last 13 mins against Nazio when the game was finely balanced at 1-1, and I was honestly begging to just hold on, don’t slip up… but Ntcham had other plans, he decided to come on and make Celtic history, scoring a goal that will be forever immortalised along with Chris Sutton crying out “WOW WOW….WOW”
He played in the Motherwell game, gave away a few fouls and had a shot late on in the match.
He came on for a sub appearance in the Livingston game too, but made bigger contribution in the Rennes game with an assist for the 3rd goal
Grade – B++
Nir Bitton
Had to come on for Elhamed for the end of the Nazio game, made a sub appearance to replace Rogic in the Livingston game and replaced Brown in the Rennes game.
It seems Bitton has been used more as a sub replacement for players to give them a rest or replace if injured. But he’s still got great value to this team.
Grade – C
Lewis Morgan
November will go down as the month we all had to eat some humble pie … With all the fear surrounding the thought of Morgan playing upfront against Rennes, not one person would have had him down as the first goal scorer, but that’s just what he did, and he played like a striker who was lacking match fitness and took his goal very well.
Maybe. Just Maybe Lennon was proven right with the “Lewis Morgan Experiment*”
*Lewis Morgan Experiment taken from “Badgerino” on 20 min Tim’s chat
Grade – B
Jonathon “Heres Johnny” Hayes
Turned up in Rome ready to rock and roll and put in a top performance, for a left back.
He’s actually very decent as a left back, and he shows great attacking sense too when going forward.
He put in a solid performance against Motherwell.
Then came the Livingston game where he popped his shoulder in the first couple of mins but decided to carry on until the 53rd minute.
A warrior. And we need those.
Grade – B
Mohamed “Moi” Elyounoussi
Well thanks to the international break in November, Moi was sent back half way through the month with a needless injury just as he was hitting his stride.
Up to that point he had terrorised the Hibs defence in the semi final and also managing to match Scott Brown’s double. Then he put in a decent performance against Nazio and Motherwell, showing his willingness to fight for the ball.
Looking at some stats it does seem his pass completion rate is a little lower than expected … but he is a fine player and he proved it all the way through the month.
Grade – B+
Tom Rogic
There’s still a feeling that the magic is not fully back in Tom’s feet, but with match time I do hope he can get back to the player of two seasons ago.
Tom was trusted for the semi-final, taking Christie’s place in the top of the midfield, lasting for 79 minutes but still showing some nice touches and passes.
He then managed 75 minutes against Livingston, putting in a good enough performance and even setting up a goal.
Grade – B
Ryan Christie
This was a month of top performances from Christie, possibly one of the hardest working players – after Scott Brown – in any game he plays.
I genuinely don’t think there is a blade of grass he hasn’t ran on.
Came on to tie up the Hibs game, and was one of the top players against Nazio.
Was given a more wide position to accommodate Rogic in the middle of the attacking midfield during the Livingston game, and managed to set up a goal.
Then came the Man of the Match performance against Rennes, he was a constant pest to the Rennes defence , and even grabbed the 2nd goal of the night.
Truly is a joy to watch Christie play
Grade – A
James Forrest
Forrest does what Forrest does best he .. scores the opening goal against the Italian Nazis as if he was on the front line and rifling that ball into the net as if it was shot from a cannon in an absolutely stunning move.
He played a part in every game in November, and even managed to grab a double against Livingston, overall a very good month for Forrest
Grade – A
Michael “Mikey” Johnston
He’s finally back from his injury and he managed to make an appearance for the closing stages of the Rennes game, and only went on to score a simply sublime goal.
You could see he was raring to go when he came on, and he terrorised the Rennes defence.
We can look forward to seeing him getting more game time as he moves up to match fitness.
Grade – B
Odsonne “French Eddie” Edouard
He proved that being a striker is not just about goals in November, playing four of the five games and scoring in two of them games but setting up goals in the Hibs game, the Nazio game.
He scored in the Motherwell game and the Livingston game, and got that all important pass to Ntcham in the Nazio game to set up the winner.
French Eddie is the coolest man on the park, always, he never gets phased and holds up the ball superbly to play in others.
He is an absolute joy to watch.
Grade – A+
Leigh “Griff” Griffiths
Another coming back from a longer term absence, and a guy everyone wants to see do well.
He made two substitute appearances against Livingston and Rennes and looked very much like a striker who had been out for a while and was desperate for that first goal back.
Griffiths may need to settle down a bit, although I’m sure when the goal comes it will be like a massive weight off his shoulders.
It’ll happen.
Grade – C
Neil Lennon
Lennyball* was in full flow in November, with our phenomenal manager even picking up the manager of the month award, blowing away the other teams with his spot on tactics and perfect subs, even managing to prove any doubters wrong on his selection of Morgan for the Rennes game.
So many key choices Lennon made in November from bringing on Ntcham in the Nazio game to knowing when to bring on Mikey Johnson to score in the Rennes game and even the bold choice to have the 18-year-old Frimpong become such an integral part of the first team paid off.
An absolutely top level performance from Lennon and the management team
Grade – A+
Ross McAtasney is a Celtic blogger and fan from Glasgow. This is his third monthly report card.
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