Whisper this, and don’t let certain people get the wrong idea … but Nicholas Kuhn looks like a new player.
This doesn’t mean we don’t need new players, or that we’ve got one less to buy, but he has undergone a radical transformation over the summer and Celtic are now reaping the benefits of it. He had a great pre-season. Today he was exceptional.
No player deserved a goal more. No player was more deserving the ovation when he left the field. Yet this was no mere one man show.
He formed part of a team which moved better, which ran further and faster than last season and which seemed to have a better understanding than we’ve seen since Brendan arrived. This was an Ange-style display, as we saw in the States … there may not be new players, but this is a new Celtic nonetheless, which again is not an invite for folk to further drag their feet.
The midfield was excellent. Hatate won the man of the match, and scored, and had a superb game. Up front, Kyogo buzzed around, gave them nightmares, had a couple of moments of sublime skill and should have got us a penalty.
You better believe that subject is going to be covered in more detail shortly, because we are off to one Hell of a start in the Honest Mistakes stakes.
The stats are incredible, reminiscent of the best under Ange; 82% possession. 32 shots at goal. 13 of them on target.
Four goals, with four different scorers.
Kuhn personally got a goal and four shots on target.
Kyogo got three on target and an assist.
O’Riley had a quietish game but still finished with a shot on target and an assist.
We got one from a centre back, Scales, and one from Ralston at right back. Greg Taylor laid one of the goals on.
How effective was this team at pushing up the pitch?
Our three players with the highest number of passes in the game were Scales (181) Carter Vickers (116) and McGregor (105.)
The players who should be playing closest to our own goal, in other words.
It was a brilliant display, with everyone on his game and the side producing flowing attacking football at will. We should have scored a few more – on another day, Kyogo himself would have racked up a cricket score – but it’s the sort of start you really want.
Watching Jim Craig raising the flag as that tifo was on display was actually emotional. This is what we’re all about as a football club, special people and special moments. And today we got the special football that is exactly what you would hope for.
Domestic football wise, we’re going to very hard to stop because that was one of the best teams in the league we just played and we blew past them like they weren’t even there.
There was a time last season when it looked as if any team which set up to frustrate us was going to make us sweat a little but that tactic did no good whatsoever this evening because the movement on and off the ball was perfect, players ran for each other and we gave them far more than they could handle.
One terrible moment towards the end of the game sums up where we are in terms of this squad; the moment Kyogo went down under that heavy challenge from their keeper. Hearts were in mouths. We were all thinking the exact same thoughts.
He seems fine, but we’re riding the ragged edge here and no mistake.
I thought one of the best insights on this window came this morning from Chris Sutton when he said he recognises that a lot of deals are done late in the day but they should be “icing on the cake.”
Instead, we’re in a lunatic scramble to get virtually all of our business done in the last four weeks when nearly two months have already passed us by.
For us to be here with a squad that’s still weaker than the one that ended last season is not only reckless, it’s unconscionable, and people should stop embarrassing themselves trying to defend it.
It’s a scandal, and for a horrible moment today, with Kyogo on the turf holding his knee, every single Celtic fan knew it.
I hope it’s been worked on pre season because I thought Kyogo had his best non scoring performance today. He was excellent
A really encouraging performance and the season is off to a flyer
Celtic board it’s over to you now
Don’t let us down again
Great performance against a flat back 10 .
No change from the referee as far as Celtic are concerned , no penalty, a shortage of bookings, and a free kick everytime a Kilmarnock player went to ground.
Don Robertson has set a standard worth complaining about .
A good result to kick the season off with, and 2/3 quality signing will put us out of sight, and in with a chance in European progression.
We live in hope.
2 things –
It’s a shame you make a decision on a player (Kuhn) who arrived in January, with medical issues. Nice that you think he is good now.
I think it’s disrespectful to call this an Ange level performance and not Brendan Year 1. I think his Team performances then deserve that recognition
What are you gibbering about? I haven’t said a bad word about Kuhn since he arrived.
The only thing that disappointed me even slightly today was Kyogo not getting the goal he deserved.
I agree about Kuhn. I was expecting a lot before kick off and he delivered. I also agree it’s not an excuse not to strengthen. You’re correct on that.
But please please wait until the window is over. I am hoping now that the season is upon us and Celtic have got off to a good start that fellow Celtic fans will hold back until we know what we are dealing with.
We know where we need to strengthen. We know we have to replace quality like for like if anyone leaves. We all know this. In my view, only an idiot would think that squad is good enough to guarantee the title never mind improve our stock in Europe . Our track record with injuries tells us otherwise.
That said, what I saw today gives me great hope that we are going to see something special this season.
Come on the Hoops!!!!
PS. Don Roberton is a total prick. Why was that not a penalty? It was clear as day!!!!
Kyogo…..Ouch
As for VAR ruling out a penalty for offside before contact. The pictures
really weren’t conclusive and benefit of the doubt should surely have gone
to the attacking player.
One Centre Forward at the Club says it all for our Transfer Strategy.
Palma, when he went over on his ankle ….Double Ouch.
So we’ve got room to manoeuvre with the number of wingers at the Club
but that could have stretched us a bit thin as Brendan tends to use the wingers
as subs in the second half or latter stages to maintain pressure on défenses.
I thought the ref was a bit lenient on Killies tackling. The tackle on Palma was late
and Slow-Mo gave a case for a possible Red Card as he was hit high on the ankle.
As per usual VAR didn’t consider referring it back to the Ref.
Honest Mistake still a thing in Scottish Referees Rule Book.
I’ve maybe missed something since but it was clarified on commentary that offside played no part in the penalty not being given. So it was entirely because it wasn’t deemed a foul.
I don’t want to hang on the penalty not being given though as I do think he probably was marginally offside as he was for his disallowed goal. The sooner the offside rule is revised to return the advantage to the striker the better.
The SPFL & SFA are the most amateur top league in Europe. I think only South American leagues have more controversy
I worry about the treatment Kyogo will recive from our leagues hammer throwers.
These teams know he’s our only striker. Talked about painting a target on his back.
They know if he’s wiped out we are (thanks to our amazing recruitment professionals) we are up 5H1T creek without the proverbial paddle.
Yep – A great performance against what has been a troublesome opponent as recently as last season…
Was great to watch indeed…
Not really for The Celtic Blog as such but enjoyed The Dundee Derby as well which was entertaining…
As was Sevco dropping points as well !
Delighted for Ralston today – given the grief he got for doing his best for his country at the Euros, it was great to see him getting the applause.
Charlie Green, I think that maybe, just maybe, Greg Taylor, and/or Brendan Rodgers read Your post regarding Taylor and his throw in’s. Today is the quickest I have seen him take Them. ever. ??
Can’t fault the performance. Kilmarnock are a good side tho tbf, they were missin nearly all their back line today. Was still played at a good tempo, that’s encouragin and great tae watch. Lookin at that today, ye can see how addin 3-4 players in key positions, would no only put us in a really strong position domestically, but imo give us a good chance in the Europa. It’s up tae this board and if ever there was a reminder how things ‘could’ change, it was the kyogo knock. Where would we be if that was more serious !?
Charlie Green, I think that maybe, just maybe, Greg Taylor, and/or Brendan Rodgers read Your post regarding Taylor and his throw in’s. Today is the quickest I have seen him take Them. ever. ??
Yes . Maybe just great minds…but it is a vast improvement.
It’s early days but already our rivals are restless waving the white flag. We knew before a ball was kicked that Celtic would be the team to beat domestically. As you stated theirs no players coming in nor is their any 1st team going out yet. This is a big ask of this lot (the board) because their money driving, nothing else. Matt O’Rielly who is a big cog in the team said in his Instagram (it’s good to be back). Instead of searching for players that are not in the same calibre as Matt O’Rielly. Pay this guy another 5 grand a week and at least keep what we have. If the board get money grabbing (again) with Matt O’Rielly, it will be another backward direction because we can’t replace him for the type of money Celtic will spend
Great performance but the same “weaknesses” are still there.
Scales with too many misplaced passes, Ralston whilst picking the goal up right at the death virtually killed our attack down the right. He came on & almost just sat right of CCV & it took James Forrest out of the game when he switched to the right. He was immense down the left & had more to offer. Ralston could have been more attacking minded for me (possibly still concerned about being caught defensively post Euros).
Other than that I think we looked superb. Liked the look of KS in goal. Not that he had much goalkeeping to do he was calm & composed on the ball. He already looks more comfortable with the ball at his feet than Joe did imo.
These are minor things though & all in was a great result. Hopefully we strengthen in defence & midfield & we’ll be unstoppable.
Promising also that Holm got some game time. Rodger perhaps sees something in him to be giving him a good chance. Hopefully he comes good & can be a good supporting role over the season.