Where do we even start after that? What is there to say?
All of us were looking forward to this one. We expected the team to play well, to continue the great run we’ve been on since the season kicked off. But nobody expected that. It was next-level stuff—exhibition football for points and prizes.
As happy as I am to have Brendan back, I’ve often said the best football I’ve seen from a Celtic team was under Ange Postecoglou. Yet, let’s not kid ourselves—that performance today was as good as anything Ange’s teams produced. In fact, it might have been better, because it had elements that Ange’s style didn’t emphasise.
Let me give you the highlight of the game. We’re 6-0 up and still pressing, still trying to score. St Johnstone get a rare break down the other end, and out of nowhere, there’s Daizen Maeda chasing back to win the ball.
There was nothing that wasn’t extraordinary about that moment—and yet, for Maeda, it wasn’t even exceptional. It’s par for the course.
It’s the standard the manager expects, the standard we expect as fans. Without wanting to give the guy too hard a time, it’s why Luis Palma didn’t even make the bench today. He doesn’t work hard enough for this team—but that’s less of an insult to him than it sounds. This is an incredibly hard-working squad, and that relentless work ethic is the secret to our success. It’s why we’re six games in with 18 points and a goal difference of +20.
You’ve got to be willing to run your legs off for 90 minutes every week to get into this team and stay in it. Right now, every player is doing just that. Some, though, like Maeda, do it with a zeal and energy that defy belief. He’s a walking miracle.
A couple of seasons back, I tired of trying to come up with nicknames for him and settled on “Danger Mouse.” It fits perfectly: a small, non-stop ball of energy, and it even matches his initials.
Plus, I love the song! “He’s the strongest, he’s the quickest, he’s the best!” That’s Maeda to a tee. He put the ball in the net twice today, though one got chalked off. But never mind that; he encapsulates everything brilliant about this side.
On a day like this, there are no negatives. Well, maybe one: Greg Taylor going off, though as of now, I’m not sure why that happened. And then there was the curious incident with the big screen—I’m sure we’ll find out more later, but nothing to dampen the mood today.
This was about the performance. This was about the players. It was about Nicolas Kuhn with another storming display and an assist. Kyogo got two goals, ending a bizarre streak where he hadn’t scored away from home in nearly a year—hard to believe, but apparently true. Still, it shows how little that stat mattered when others have always stepped up, like Idah has since he joined.
And of course, the big man came off the bench today and scored again, silencing any lingering doubts about whether he was worth the £9 million.
Of course he was. We knew what we were doing when we paid that for him—yes, it was more than we wanted to spend, but he’s already proving his value.
There are no bad players in this squad.
Sure, some aren’t quite up to the job of being regulars, but nobody here is bad. Rodgers saw to that over the summer, clearing out those who didn’t fit. Everyone here is competing, and if you want to stay in the team, you’ve got to work harder than ever before.
The football is sexy, reminiscent of Ange’s, but with a key difference—it has a defensive solidity Ange’s sides sometimes lacked. Today’s game was the perfect example, with Austin Trusty putting in a strong, assured performance. The first-half moment where he stopped a St Johnstone player from going through on goal was pure class. It turned out to be offside, but Trusty didn’t know that when he made the run and tackle. He did everything perfectly.
Then there’s Luke McCowan. He’s desperate to score, and he was unlucky with those two shots. Either one could’ve gone in, giving him his second for the club. The fans would have raised the roof for him, and rightly so. He’s got the talent, and he’s not intimidated by the reputations of the players ahead of him.
It would be easy to be intimidated by those reputations, too—there isn’t a single one of them who isn’t a top player. Paulo Bernardo had an outstanding game and scored a stunning goal. Callum McGregor got another. And Engels—what can you say about him? He gets better every game. It’s becoming clear we have a superstar in the making.
For all of that, though, it seems almost churlish to single out individuals when this team is operating at the peak of its powers. This is a side that plays like one, functions as a unit, and rolls over opponents like they aren’t even there.
This is a special Celtic team, playing special football. If I wasn’t buzzing for Tuesday before today’s game, I certainly am now. I think we all are.
That was brilliant. We know St. J have their probs, tho that disnae take away the manner in how we played them tonight. Maeda ! Ah lost a stone just watchin him runnin about that park. The guy’s energy’s just mental. Or as Michael Stewart says, ‘it’s ridiculous’. The whole team were faultless. We’re playin some great stuff just now. Great goals and that 6th took the biscuit. Big tasks ahead, tho ah think we’re in good shape for this early in the season.
James, we are basically moving mountains as a club but this side is a machine that will only get better and better, can’t wait to play the manky mob.
HH
I’m the same as you James, this is a team that is “buzzing” it’s only going to get better. My only worry is about CCV being out – is he the only right sided centre back we’ve got? No offence to Trusty – who did brilliantly today – but what a team we’ve got – I’m 61, watched Celtic a lot, this is getting close to the best team I’ve ever seen. The power, concentration is a joy to watch – wonderful
Yes, but, this was St Johnstone. If we play well on Tuesday – not necessarily win or draw, just play well – then the hype will have substance.
Best performance by a Celtic team for a number of years. Let’s hope it continues & we can get a result on Tuesday.
Well I expected a big score and bet 6-0 but changed it to changed Engels on the scoresheet. What’s for you will no go by you.
Great performance, St Johnstone were at their most vulnerable without a leader, different game in Germany so I will hold fire til we see that outcome.
The chalked off goal even though a pitch side review was shocking. If it was violent play Trusty was not booked.
The defender imo pushed his body in the way of Trusty’s run and it showed an upper body contact because of this. All Trusty was trying to do was get towards the ball with a run across the box. By the letter of the law a free kick to Celtic, a coming together accepted too.
VAR is poor but that was just bad refereeing by VAR officials and ref. Wee Collum cannot justify that. There was no challenge, no excessive force in a run across the box. Or maybe his run was too strong, shocking !
Yesterday was a great team performance. I hope Greg’s withdrawal was simply a precaution. (The benefit of a big squad.) The only mystery to me is why there is no great inquiry into the disallowed goal by Daizen. The clash which was deemed a foul played no part in the goal. The clash came about when two players running at right angles to one another, eyes on the ball, collided with full body contact.
I defy anyone to say, with any certainty, who initiated the contact. Carey came off worse, but he was equally to blame for the collision. Will it make the cut for Collum’s next VAR show? It certainly should and should come with the admission that a “mistake” was made.
I won’t be holding my breath.
It’s just so good being a Celtic fan these days,I went through those terrible days where we played brilliant football under dear Tommy Burns but we won 1 cup when we beat Airdrie 1 – 0 so it’s great being a Tim, well done Brendan and the bhoys,let’s hope we get a decent result on Tuesday but on the home front we will be invicibles again hail hail.?????????????
James, I see there are no or hardly any comments lately.
This may be because others are having the problems I myself is having.
when I hit the comment button the page reverts to the title and article itself, what I then have to do is scroll down to the bottom of my monitor, past all the advertisments. either that or right click my mouse and open in new tab/window.
I dont know if this is something to do with my computer or your web site.
I might be tottaly wrong but just a thought