Lennon’s thunder storms into Celtic Park
Still early days but optimism building for Celtic
With only two league games gone, no one can make any serious predictions about the campaign ahead but it has to be said that Celtic are looking like a completely different side from the one that capitulated last season.
St Mirren placed the final nail into Tony Mowbray’s coffin with a 4-0 victory at St Mirren Park but the Paisley side were blown away by Neil Nennon’s new team today. In all fairness, a four goal margin flattered Danny Lennon’s team (more than Danny was flattered by that waistcoat he was wearing) as Celtic rattled the woodwork three times in the first half and played towards Paul Gallacher’s goals for most of the game.
Celtic went ahead in five minutes and the move came to life through the trickery of Jamie Forrest. You know the papers tomorrow will be full of the Rangers debut of Vladimir Weiss but if Forrest can maintain this form, you can see why Celtic decided to stick with what they have in the wide positions.
The youngster slipped past two defenders before feeding Georgios Samaras with the Greek internationalist playing in left back Joe Ledley who grabbed his first goal for the Parkhead club.
Celtic had two midfielders in the full-back positions with Mexican Efrain Juarez on the other flank to Ledley. Proof that Celtic still need more recruits on-board in this transfer window.
Biram Kayal impressed on his Celtic debut in midweek and yet again the Israeli was running the show for the Glasgow side.
An impressive league debut would have been capped with a thunderous shot off the bar but that aside, he pushed, pulled, harried and passed throughout as Celtic impressed.
Scott Brown was also looking good in the middle of the park but Kayal definitely grabbed most of the plaudits.
Shaun Maloney prodded home, possibly going in off van Zanten, for the second goal of the game, after a prolonged period of Celtic pressure. St Mirren could not get the ball cleared and eventually Maloney grabbed his first goal of the season as the scoring stopped for the first half.
It wasn’t the last of the excitement though as Maloney struck the post and then Marc Antoine Fortune rattled the still shaking woodwork from the rebound.
The second half saw the Buddies in damage limitation mode and Celtic maybe had one eye on their second leg versus Utrecht but two further goals followed.
Lively winger Jamie Forrest grabbed the third, the move starting from a quick throw-in taken by Biram Hayal and passed on by Fortune.
Celtic’s last goal also came from some quick thinking, a corner being brought into play rapidly but the real credit for the goal deserves to be passed to Ki Sung Yueng who had the ball fired past Paul Gallacher before the keeper knew there was something coming at him.
The mighty Aberdeen may still be at the top of the table but Celtic fans will be feeling a lot better about the performance. A long way to go but the signs of improvement are not hard to find.
St Mirren fans, games like today are easy to write off so there is no need to panic too much…but it must have been a bit of a sore one.
With news that Newcastle United goalkeeper Fraser Forster is set for a medical to seal his loan-deal, the rebuilding job at Celtic Park is continuing apace.
Hoops fans, confident for the away leg against Utrecht?
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Quietly confident I’d say. This Celtic side have better movement than any of the past three or four lots did. I like the big centre half. The refs will be all over him to try and make sure he isn’t available for games against the unwashed.
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I must admit im VERY confident about the 2nd-leg. I keep telling myself not to get carried away but after the last couple of performances how could i not be confident? The team is taking shape and playing some brilliant football. One thing worries me a bit- lack of full-backs. Ledley and Juarez are capable of playing LB and RB but we want these guys in midfield to keep the fire burning.
Going by the last 2 games Scott Brown game has improved big time & sean Malloney is also a big improvement long may this continue.
Its looking positive, partnerships are starting to form and gone is the disjointed, stilted play against Braga, I just hope that they go out against Utrecht to win, not defend the lead, we’ve tried doing that for years now and it doesnt work as our record shows. Keep it goin Lenny and you might make a optimist out of this pessimist
In response to the article and Michael D, Celtic do not need more full backs, at right they have Cha and Wilson with Towell who was excellent at CM against Blackburn in pre season on the fringes and at left Izaguirre and Mulgrew with Misun and Twardyzk ready to fill in, also Juarez has played RB most of his career and Ledley has been at LB for both club and country in the past and if they have to go there for a few games its ok you can still bring the likes of Ki into midfield, we should actually be happy that we have have not just a big squad but also quality players first team players who are versatile and youngsters Towell (RB,CM) Misun (CB,LB) Twardyzk (CB,LB,LM) who are the same
New Celtic Goalkeeper Fraser Forster signs on loan from Newcastle United