[Official TC Thread] Celtic v Motherwell League Cup last 16 19:45 K/O Live BT Sports 1

Said his keeper and the man who gave it away said it wasn't a penalty. Other than that he basically said they played * and came up against a much better team.

 

Very pleasing and impressive showing tonight. Biggest bug bear of tonight was having to listen to Steven Craigan spout some amount of * the whole night.

Sinclair, Rogic and Dembele were the particular highlights for us but all round it was a real quality display. It sets down a standard so early on in the season, not only for our players but also the opposition.

Opponents content with the stifling tactics of parking 10 players around the 18 yard box, are doing so at their own risk. Give up the possession and territory to us at your peril.

Motherwell done it tonight and got a sound pasting. They dropped off the ball and sat around the area. When they won the ball, they only had McDonald advanced with occasionally Johnston. McDonald was left outnumbered against Lustig and O'Connell, who defend him easily. With McDonald unable to keep the ball, they were forced to try and play out of the defence. Which was ideal for us, we had so many players in advanced position. We were able to put immediate pressure on them and ended up winning the ball back. The same process played out for time and time again in the 1st half and the majority of the game.

Our opening goal was one of real quality. Rodgers mentioned the importance of fans being patient and trusting the players. This goal highlighted exactly what he was referring too. We kept possession of the ball, worked it forwards to the edge of the area. Tried to go wide on either side of the field before coming in from Janko to McGregor, who found the diagonal run of Rogic with a superb ball. Rogic is probably the most technically gifted players in our side and he shown it with a class 1st touch and volley into the top corner. Tremendous stuff!! A real quality goal which was more than just a great through ball and finish.

Sinclair had already displayed pace and ability which was above anything Motherwell could contend with. The pace got him away from Tait, who in order to redeem himself, barged into the back of Sinclair. He also made a 2nd attempt to rectify being beaten on by Sinclair, by dangling a leg in after the barge. Even with the two attempts, it still wasn't convincing enough evidence for some/Steven Craigan. Dembele dispatched the penalty well again.

Second half continued in the same manner. Sinclair, Rogic,Dembele and Forrest were causing all sorts of problems. The constant movement, direct running and the passing onto the runs continued to tear Motherwell apart. Sinclair and Forrest were a constant menace. They managed to isolate themselves in 1v1 situations, used their pace or dribbling to beat the opponent. Rogic was able to get on the ball, act as pivot for moving the ball and be creative. Brown and McGregor assisted by giving and winning back the ball. Brown had a good run and shot, while McGregor had a fine assist. Janko and Izzy provided a good compliment for Sinclair and Forrest, with over-laps. They had one opportunity from a corner which they headed wide, looked quite clearly a foul on Lustig with the Motherwell defender all over him. Sinclair added a 3rd with a fine finish and Dembele added a 4th after another bout of constant pressure. Rogic with a strikers finish for the 5th.

It could have been a lot more. Samson made a number of good stops, we hit the bar and a few others which through either luck or scrambled defence, stopped us from adding more.

It really was a quality display, at an early stage in the season, where you would expect the adjustments with players,tactics etc. However we moved the ball well, our off the ball movement was good and we took our opportunities.As a result, it afforded us an opportunity to rest players, while also allowing us to field McCart and Ralston in the latter stages.

 

great perform any team watching that tonight will be scared. So much better without the ex manager who now manages a relegation team in Norway.

 

thats cause we always hump him

 

What's our strongest lineup everyone fit then? Do we go 3-5-2 or 4-3-3?

Possibly 4-3-3

---------------Gordon---------------

--Lustig---Toure-----Erik---Tierney--

------Brown---Bitton---Rogic-------

---Roberts---Griffiths--Sinclair-----

And I'm not even sure 4-3-3 suits Rogic's game. looking at that we need a new GK.

And that's still leaving out guys like Janko, Simunovic, Forrest, Christie, Ajer, O'Connell, Commons, McGregor, Dembele, Izaguirre, Ambrose etc etc.

Choices, choices, choices.

 

Gordon
Sviachenko Touré Tierney
Roberts Brown Rogic Bitton Sinclair
Dembele Griffiths
​

 

I think its a bit unfair to lump McGhee as bitter. He is Celtic thru and thru, but has a job to do.

 

Came across as bitter when he blanked Ronny Deila for absolutely no reason.

 

He has to give 100% commitment to whichever team he is in charge of, and he has to be seen to do so also. I dont know why ex players get so much flak for being biased when they move to another team or being objective when in the media. Its as though people in here are incapable of understanding objectivity.


He would walk over broken glass to be at Celtic.

 

McGhee is a good tim, he doesn't half talk some * though.

 

Thats a fairer point.

 

Maybe i empathise with him as a natural born moaner myself.:smiley-laughing002:

 

That's the worry, isn't it. If we have a brilliant season, and let's hope and pray that we do, Brendan will be on the radar of the Premier League clubs again. Let's hope he stays with us to see out the 25 in a row.

 

I really dont think he would move now unless to a top 6 club....and i dont believe for a minute that any of them will come in for him regardless of how well we do. I think he would need to get to CL quarters a couple of times to be on the radar of the top clubs.

I think he is here for a good while.