Callum McGregor

Some think he's a myth...

Hibs tried to stop him playing today. They failed. He scored a screamer. We won.

 

That was as good as I've seen him for a long long time that first half particularly..

Was levels above..

 

Callum McGregor, as always, led by example in the heart of the Celtic midfield, orchestrating the tempo of the game and controlling proceedings.

He also chipped in with a goal, though it was less of a chip and more of a thunderous 30-yard effort that flew into the back of the net.

The strike gave Hibs goalkeeper, Josef Bursik, no chance, and it sealed a 2-0 win at Easter Road for the champions, following on from the Flag Day 4-0 win over Kilmarnock last weekend.

Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the Celtic captain said: “In the first-half we were excellent. We started the game with a real intensity and got the early goal which always makes a difference when you come here.

'Then to get the second one fairly soon after that gives us good comfort in the game.'

“We just wanted to find the third one as quickly as we could and kill the game but it didn’t come and the game changes a little bit in the second half.

“You’ve got to do a bit more defensive stuff which we’ll try and learn from that about trying to regain control of the game, but it was a tough venue, that’s two wins from two and two clean sheets, so it’s a positive start in that aspect and we try and move forward with that


McGregor’s goal in the 19th minute – his 65th for Celtic in 467 appearances – was no more than the Hoops deserved for a dominant start to the game.

And while the Celtic captain was pleased with the win, and the start to the season, he knows from experience that it’s important to keep taking it one game at a time.

Reflecting on the goal, he said: “Nic did well in terms of drawing bodies towards him and it was a nice lay-off and it just opened up.

'I was just thinking, hit it on target and give yourself a chance and it was nice to see it flying into the back of the net.'

“It’s been a good start but that’s all it is. It’s two wins from two, the performances have been great, the team looks slick but even in the game today, there were little bits that we can always brush up on so it’s important that we don’t go slack or go soft.

“We come back in tomorrow and recover and then we have a tough week training and just keep pushing, keep pushing the players, keep pushing the game model, keep pushing the idea. Like I said, it’s only the beginning so we just take one game at a time.”

 

Pretty much ran the show. See if we got a proper CDM in, I think he'd go up another level. He'd have the confidence to someone was behind him, controlling things and able to pick him out going forward.

Good sign he's on it early this season so far.

 

Absolute screamer

It’s something i’ve been wishing he would do more for ages as we know what he’s capable of.

 

466 appearances not 467

 

His goal against midtjylland a few years ago stands out for me, unreal technique

 

All the talk about his two midfield partners potentially leaving just makes you appreciate how lucky we are to have had this lad in our team for so long.

Matt may have a higher ceiling, Reo throws up performances here and there that suggest likewise, but for sheer consistent quality, Callum has been the best player in the country for years.

 

I usually don’t even comment on his thread after games as his performances don’t surprise me.

He’s the best player on the park in the majority of the games he plays. Been that way for about 6 years.

 

And others too, we seem scared to get shots off, Turnbull was always one to have a pop from distance.

 

what a goal that was!

 

Pains me that we’ve never bought a holding midfielder capable of allowing McGregor to play his preferred position further forward. Think we’d have seen even more from him (scary thought as he’s been incredible anyway) in his time here.

 

He's trying to pull it off, but it ain't Broony with the stare in the tunnel, lol.

 

He’s been absolutely class again out there today. Great when he’s in this form

 

100% defensive mode today, and did it fantastically well

 

Motm for me, excellent.