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Celtic Send The Statement We’ve Been Waiting For All These Many Months.

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Sometimes you can feel the tide turn. Sometimes you can feel the momentum shift. Something did in those last minutes against Motherwell; this side showed that it had a couple of those crucial qualities that a team which wants to win things must demonstrate. Tonight, we showed the other qualities that a winning team needs to have. The ability to put teams to the sword.

I think we may have witnessed something big here. That first half was as spellbinding and brilliant as anything we watched under Ange Postecoglou. Everything that was missing at Motherwell in the first 45 minutes was there to be seen this evening at Celtic Park. The flair, the passion, the fire in the belly, the dazzling football and, most importantly, the goals.

Six of them. By six different players. Incredible. When the seventh came it was arguably the best of the lot of them, from a seventh different player. And although we conceded a late goal, we’ve reduced the goal difference column to a single strike in one night of football. As I’ve said, I don’t think it will come to that, but it’s important to do it just the same, because of the psychological edge that can give you if your opponents know that dropping anything puts us back top, and that’s now the reality that they are living with going into the weekend.

Nothing matters at the moment except that we just keep on doing what we’re doing now. Scoring. Winning. Three points bagged, and we move on to what’s next. For weeks we wanted the statement victory and tonight we got it. The gears all clicked tonight, and suddenly we’re looking forward to the game at Tynecastle instead of feeling dread over it.

The second half was naturally a lot quieter than the first. We do have that game at Tynecastle to come, and the changes were all made with that in mind. It’s good that we had the luxury of being able to wrap some of our players in cotton wool; I was particularly pleased that Callum came off. Apparently, he’s a booking away from a one game ban. Get it at Tynecastle Callum, miss the St Johnstone game and make sure you’re ready for Livingston and Ibrox.

It was great to see one of our young players on the pitch tonight, and Daniel Kelly got goal number seven with a superb strike. I was well impressed by him, and in particular the way he took that ball and lashed it home. Superb.

There are literally no negatives from that at all. Every player did his bit, we scored the goals, we got the points and we sent a clear message to the rest of this league; you write this team off only if you are quite mad. Ten goals in two games, six points in the bag and the feeling that finally, at last, at long last, and just in time, Celtic has hit its stride.

Magical tonight, and just what we needed to see.

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13 comments

  • Adam Thomas says:

    But still the buns are above us when we should have been out of sight months ago ,it’s going to be a toe curler till the end of the season.

    • James Forrest says:

      Don’t particularly care at the moment. We focus on doing our own job and we’ll win this. One game at a time, and this was a good one.

    • Jim Duffy says:

      Adam ,the Huns were above us in ANGE s first time round, we’ll make it up mate ,we seem to at last found a system under rodgers.dont forget Brendan has beat them twice already this season.Hail Hail.

  • Roonsa says:

    You absolutely called it. The big win that sends out a message (which I am fairly sure will be largely ignored).

    But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. That was lovely but I’m reserving the “we’re back, baby” patter till Sunday.

    That lot were terrible against the huns and were lucky tonight to get a point against the Hibees. We SHOULD be doing them too and with style.

    Please.Celtic make it so. Like you I am looking forward to Sunday.

  • Joe McQuaid says:

    We can’t change the past, can only play the next game. More minutes into the legs of CCV, Iwata and Taylor as well as giving McGregor a rest all bonus.
    One game at a time.

  • Gerry says:

    On way home after a great win ! As you stated, the whole club and fans needed that and puts us on a hugely positive arc going into Sunday’s game v the cousins of Sevco.
    Forget their result tonight …as I said in earlier comments, we expect nothing from anyone else ! We do this through our own steam and volition ! With our own dropped points, we allowed the delusional mob to gain a narrow advantage ! Up to us to correct that ! One game at a time and now onto the Tarts.
    Great positives from tonight and important that is maintained !!!

  • sligo123456 says:

    Watch the stonewaller pen not given for killie in the 80th minute. So annoying as they are a poor team.

    • Clachnacuddin and the Hoops says:

      And of course not one cheep about it on BBC Scotland Sportscene Sligo…Of course not with three ex Huns on in Thompson, Bell and McCann –

      Also – Perhaps it was just ma eyes – But the coverage at Parkhead seemed to kinda be in some kinda sticky sort of slow motion format whatever it was, was pish to follow and was probably done deliberately to nullify any joy from Celtic supporters after a splendid 7-1 win…

      The BBC in Scotland are trolling those Celtic fans that choose to pay the licence… They truly HATE US…

      A pity that Sevco didn’t drop points tonight as I’d have enjoyed their pain tonight and that of Clyde Superscoreboard tomorrow night…

      As it turns out ma self imposed schadenfreude Sevco drop points and Sevco Media shills agony goes on a wee bitty longer –

      Edit – (Major investigation into a penalty not given at Ross County v St, Mirren) so they can do it when they see what they want!

  • Kevan McKeown says:

    Much better. Definitely a big improvement in the tempo and performance. Great tae see the goals goin in and we were lookin a lot more like ourself tonight. Hopefully we can keep it goin. Can put yer house on it, this disgrace of a mob on Sunday (and thats what they are) won’t be so generous as they were at ibrox.

  • Jim Duffy says:

    You’re right James we sent a message out tonight to sevco in particular,this team has kick up the arse it needs plus the change in formation and tactics,we were really good tonight,I know it’s a lesser team ,” no offence Dundee” but we have struggled like fuck against lesser teams so hopefully we kick on . Well done Celtic, well done Brendan ” who I’ve slagged of before* but now the team are playing to a system he wants,bring on the sevco Huns.

  • Michael Clark says:

    We can’t get carried away after one game but has Rogers finally turned things around, after all its taken him 2/3rds of the season. Theres no getting away that Idah is taylor made for the cross ball into the box. Yang is a great supply of that, he’s a handfull. Carter-Vickers back in the side has added stability at the back which seems to settle the team. Once Reo Hatate is also back in the side we will look better still. If we start putting results together it will put pressure on them and we know what happens when their under pressure. The league is still in Celtics hands

  • Jimmy says:

    Feeling much better. That’s for sure. Need to keep going forward. Noticeable in the last couple of games, central defence going forward and puting us on the offensive. No side to side passing.
    Special mention for Greg Taylor, he is often the target of fans ire. Including mine. He was excellent setting up goals and scoring one. Hope this gives him and the team the confidence going forward. When we are on our game sevco can’t match us.

  • Captain Swing says:

    Almost every box ticked last night…. and talking of things box-related….

    Boxing analogy alert: in the seventh round of the legendary ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, after pummelling Ali for the first six rounds (or so he thought), George Foreman caught him square in the jaw and Ali leaned in and whispered in his ear “that all you got, George?”. Foreman later said it was at this exact point doubt began to enter his mind for the first time. He lasted one more round before hitting the canvas and failing to beat the count.

    I imagine that’s similar to how Thin Diesel and his players might be viewing last nights events – relieved at their own result and looking at our ominous result with a gnawing fear beginning to form……

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