Below is the latest from Angus Sunblest our match reporter form the Celtic seas. To look at the copy filed by some of the mainstream media after the game you would think this was a close thing for Celtic. As usual the media are adrift on a sea of self-delusion. As anyone with eyes could see this was an almost perfect performance. AnonymousCSC
Ahoy me mateys, I’m back and bhoy o bhoy am I a happy completely biased match reporter tonight. Five yes FIVE goals from our bhoys in green, not only that but two of them came from set pieces, corners to be precise. Two other goals were the rewards of great intricate passing and movement and then we had THAT goal, under pressure in our own box one minute then less than thirty seconds later thanks to two world class passes from Broony and Commons, the ball arrives in big Dave’s path who with some pleasure drilled the ball high and at pace into the top corner of Utd’s net, absolute perfection in terms of counter attacking football and very reassuring with the Europa League qualifier next week.
Ok I accept the talk will be about Hooper’s injury but this reporting has a feeling the treatment was cautionary and Hoops will be back in no time, plus I’m forever the optimist ;-)
So let’s have a run through the team units
GK Zaluska Very much a game of two halves for the current number one. In the first half we witnessed a player desperately trying to impress and as we all know sometimes this can back fire on you and unfortunately for Zaluska this was the case on more than one occasion during the opening 45mins, my heart sinks when I see any keeper chasing balls down and fumbling shots and I feared a disaster was imminent. Then he strode out for the second half and I would love to say a different man but in reality he was still shaky up until he made a great finger tip save to divert a looping header past the post. Players feed off of confidence and that save was the catalyst for Zaluska to grow in confidence, he pulled off another two or three good saves and started to become vocal, organising the defence better. It was heart warming to hear the faithful chant his name and you just never know perhaps now he may give Lenny food for thought regardless of who he brings in?
Defence The ambassador Mark Wilson was back in the starting eleven and again showed why he is our number one right back, his work ethic and link up play with Broony is exceptional and although people will rightly lay blame at his door for ball watching during Utd’s goal. I feel one switch off in concentration from a man who has shown great consistency and passion during the Lenny era is allowed, any more though and the sixtysevenlive bhoys and ghirls will make him walk the plank! (only kidding)
Chico was assured and rarely wasteful in possession it would be unfair of me or any other to expect him to fulfil the Izzy role as Izzy is a one of a kind player and would be greatly missed in any team. Solid performance from the man who can.
Dan and Sexual Chocolate (K.Wilson) again looked solid and although Utd enjoyed periods of possession they mostly played in front of the back four and rarely turned the central two, which was pleasing to see as this most likely would have been the tactics deployed by Amnoahun Houston. Obviously Dan’s poor headed clearance and equally poor decision making in chasing after his own mistake led to Utd exploiting the space left behind to score in truth a well constructed goal and he will now inevitably be subject to criticism but this match reporter will leave that for you guys to do as I’m a lover not a hater and as stated previously I’m proudly and unashamedly bias towards all things Celtic.
Midfield Lets all do the Broony was back and bhoy did he show today why he is needed, love him or have a slight dislike for him, Broony gives us what we need, not just in the usual ‘he gives us dig’ sense but in the way his role in the team helps to carry out the tactics Lenny employs. We play with two touchline hugging attacking fullbacks with our two wide midfield men cutting inside to allow for the overlaps to occur. Broony and the ambassador have this down to a tee on the right hand side and I feel this was missing from our first two games but back with a bang today. Top marks for el capitano
Commons looked much more at home out on his favoured left flank. He hasn’t hit the heights of last season just yet in goal scoring terms although he came agonisingly close after a tremendous move resulting in his low drive rebounding back off the post. His pass for the third goal will be replaying over and over in my head tonight as it was simply superb, to lay a ball like that into Ki’s path while Ki was running at full pace was genuinely world class from Kris and deserves to be added to his ever growing showcase reel. Tremendous!
Our Central pairing of Dave and Super Joe was interesting to watch as both men surely know in reality they are competing for the same place in the starting eleven. Joe took on the injured Kayal’s role and was as ever the hardest working player on the pitch as he aimed to marshal the midfield and direct play, when moved to the left this allowed him to join in more with attacks and Joe took full advantage of this by showing again just how savvy he is when it comes to awareness on the pitch by matching the run of his marker before zipping across the six yard box in anticipation of a delivery and was duly rewarded with a goal.
Dave Ki the man locksmiths hate because he just keeps opening them up. What can I say that others haven’t already, the Seoul bhoy playmaker is playing with a smile that lights up the world right now and long may that continue. He simply is faultless and flawless at this moment in time and the precision, power and accuracy in which he took his goal was greeted with a standing ovation here on the good ship 67. Marvellous Dave Bravo Bravo!
Forwards Hoops and Stokesy, Stokesy and Hoops the Starsky and Hutch of the Celtic family! Both were excellent today, as they played as a true partnership rather than as individuals and were rewarded with getting on the score sheet. Hooper’s link up play today at times was exceptional and more akin with what we all remembered from him last season. His goal although simplistic, still has to be highlighted as it showed his predatory instinct is back as he out jumped his marker to nod the ball home, the relief etched on his face was evident to see and this led to Hoops enjoying his football rather than being so pent up as he has been recently. His run that led to his injury was a thing of beauty and although injured as a result of a Utd player hacking him after the chance had gone, I feel today has marked a return to the old Hooper, the Super Hooper who battered defences up and down Scotland throughout last season. So heal quickly Gary lhad and use today as the catalyst you have been searching for.
That bhoy Anthony, is he still just a wee petulant bhoy or has he done a lot of soul searching over the summer and become the man we all hoped he would be? For me it’s the latter, his running off the ball, his willingness to track back, his link up play and temperament have all improved everything has improved and it now looks like we have on our hands a potential top drawer striker! He took his goal very well and from there on in hardly put a foot wrong the whole game. He seems to be thriving at the moment and as with Ki hopefully this form and willingness to improve continues for a very long time to come.
All the substitutes that came on also performed well, which was pleasing to see. Maloney’s runs off the ball at times left the Utd defence bemused, Forrest was constantly a thorn in the full backs side, he adds a new dimension when he comes on as he changes the tactics used by widening the play, staying out on the touchline, always looking to take on and beat his man and deliver the goods. And of sourse he got the fifth goal. The Derry Pele also deserves high praise for his world class defence splitting pass late on in the game, it just goes to show we have such a wealth of talent at the club and great depth in the squad!
Overall we were fantastic at times today our slick intricate passing coupled with our imaginative link up play and running off the ball was a joy to behold at times. For this old and decrepit match reporter the most enjoyable aspect was our counter attack as this with our European adventure about to begin needs to be top drawer and today we at times invited pressure on I feel deliberately so that we could utilise our counter attack strategy and the reward for our endeavour to do so was a goal that will live long in this reporter’s memory, a truly world class counter attacking goal! 30 seconds 3 passes and boom thank you very very much! Now bring on the Swiss Guard as I want to getter higher like a Lisboa lion against Sion!
I’m Angus Sunblest reporting for Total Celtic aboard the good ship SixtySevenLive.
I’m away to drink all the rum me mateys, don’t tell the Captain or 1st mate though!
Hail Hail
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