2019-08-03: Celtic 7-0 St Johnstone, SP

Trivia

Review

First domestic game of the season,and there is lots to be cheerful about.

Teams

Celtic

• 29Bain
• 33ElhamedSubstituted forRalstonat 51'minutes
• 6Bitton
• 35Ajer
• 23Bolingoli-Mbombo
• 8Brown
• 42McGregor
• 49Forrest
• 17ChristieSubstituted forNtchamat 71'minutes
• 19Johnston Substituted forGriffithsat 76'minutes
• 22Edouard

Substitute

• 1Gordon
• 9Griffiths
• 11Sinclair
• 15Hayes
• 16Morgan
• 21Ntcham
• 56Ralston

• Johnston (9' minutes),
• Christie (26' minutes, 30' minutes, 67' minutes),Ntcham (72' minutes),
• Edouard (80' minutes),
• Griffiths (86' minutes)

1Clark
19FosterBooked at 74mins
2Duffy
5Vihmann
15Kerr
3Tanser
8DavidsonBooked at 78mins
26Craig
4Callachan Substituted forMcCannat 45'minutes
• 17O'Halloran
• 33KennedyBooked at 27mins Substituted forHendryat 65'minutes

Substitutes

• 6Anderson
• 11Swanson
• 12Parish
• 18McCann
• 20McClean
• 22Hendry
• 50Northcott
Referee:Kevin Clancy
Attendance:58,877

Referee:
Attendance:

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner –

Stats

CelticAway TeamSt JohnstonePossessionHome76%Away24%ShotsHome24Away2Shots on TargetHome11Away0CornersHome8Away0FoulsHome10Away10

Articles

BBC

By Tom English

BBC Scotland

From the section Scottish Premiership

Highlights: Celtic 7-0 St Johnstone

Ryan Christie hit a hat-trick as Celtic crushed St Johnstone in a stunning start to their bid to make it nine titles in a row.

The league flag was raised before kick-off and Mikey Johnston kept the celebrations going with a fine finish.

Christie added a double before the break, his first a beauty and his second thanks to a Zander Clark error. He made it 4-0 with a cracking strike before Olivier Ntcham, Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths added goals of their own in a thumping victory.

The result ensures Celtic sit top of the table on day one and is a clear sign of intent from Neil Lennon's side, but St Johnstone were miles off the pace as their miserable start to the season continues.

Lennon thrilled with three-goal Christie
Christie hits treble in Celtic romp
Predict the Premiership table

High-class Celtic way too much

Given their awful League Cup campaign, with losses to Montrose and Forfar, the last place in Scotland that St Johnstone would have wanted to come on opening day was Celtic Park. If those cup defeats were painful for manager Tommy Wright, then this only added to the misery.

The place was electrified before a ball was kicked, the title flag raised by Liz McNeill and Sadie Chalmers, widows of the great and lamented Billy and Stevie. And Celtic were a blur of movement, imagination and goal threat from the start. When Christie wasn't causing them bother, it was Johnston. When it wasn't Johnston, it was James Forrest or Edouard or, later still, Griffiths. It was a high-class victory.

There was a debut for right-back Hatem Abd Elhamed and he was impressive, too, before he limped off early in the second half. By then, it had become a rout. The only saving grace for the visitors was that the three they had conceded hadn't become five or six. That pain would come later. Celtic's speed of thought and hunger for goals was way too much for the Perth side to cope with.

The champions were ahead after nine minutes when Christie's cross-field ball was gathered by Johnston, the winger then turning his unfortunate marker, Wallace Duffy, outside, inside and then outside again before slamming his shot past Clark.

Celtic's goals total in the league was only 77 last season, a sizeable fall from their average over the course of their first seven titles in their run of eight. Johnston only played in 36% of those games. Christie played in only 60%. Those two alone should ensure their ruthlessness in front of goal rockets skywards. Griffiths scored only twice in the last league campaign. In a better place now with his health, he's already halfway towards matching what he did a season ago.
Leigh Griffiths celebrates
Leigh Griffiths completed the rout after coming on as a substitute

Christie once again hammered home the point about Celtic being a far different attacking proposition when taking Forrest's pass on the right-hand side of the D and then smashing an unstoppable shot high past Clark. A peach to go with the pearler he got against Nomme Kalju in Europe.

His second, and Celtic's third, came just before the half-hour when Christie drilled a shot straight at Clark only for the keeper to let it go by him and into his net. They could have had more before the break, too, with Forrest (twice) and Edouard all creating trouble.

Just when you thought that the visitors might be spared any more punishment, Christie popped up again. St Johnstone once again gave him space outside the box, Christie once again measured his shot and this outstanding footballer once again lashed a left-footer past Clark via the underside of his crossbar for his hat-trick.

The thing about it was that it looked effortless. It looked like the type of goal he might fire home in training. It was his sixth in a matter of weeks. Already he's almost halfway towards his goals total from all of last season.

More goals followed, Edouard putting Ntcham away just seconds after the Frenchman had come on for the serenaded Christie. Ntcham, with his first touch, thumped home the fifth.

St Johnstone needed their bus to appear at the side of the pitch to take them away at that point. What they got was Griffiths coming on and putting Edouard away for the sixth, the striker going around Clark before scoring.

Then, Griffiths rifled in a goal of his own. A seventh and a gorgeous strike on a day of gorgeous strikes. A fitting end to a performance that started really well and only got better after that.
Man of the match – Ryan Christie

Ryan Christie showed his excellence last season, but he looks to have upped it in a very significant way. Christie is a happy amalgam of Callum McGregor and Stuart Armstrong – all the high energy and passing range of the former and all the cleverness and goal threat of the latter, at his 2016-17 season best.

This was a day when every Celtic player did their stuff, but Christie's hat-trick stood out. His strikes for his first and third goals were as sweet as you'll find. Not just that, his influence was constant. Mikey Johnston, Christie and James Forrest are going to cause some amount of mayhem on this evidence.
Christie's stunning start – stats
Christie graphic
'We're in a good place' – reaction

Celtic manager Neil Lennon: "It's just been a great day. I'm not getting carried away, but it was an outstanding team performance.

"Ryan Christie is playing really well right now. His first and third goals were sublime finishes. We are in a good place at the minute. It is a really good marker to put down for the rest of the season."

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "There were two teams on the pitch – one was absolutely brilliant and the other was poor. We conceded early and did not have enough belief when we had the ball.

"At least four of the goals are outside of the box with people not doing their jobs. This afternoon shows there is a huge gulf in class of the squads but it's one we dust ourselves down from."

Posted at
Match ends, Celtic 7, St. Johnstone 0.
Full Time
Posted at 90'+1'
Second Half ends, Celtic 7, St. Johnstone 0.
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at 90'+1'
Wallace Duffy (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 90'
Attempt missed. Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) header from very close range is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Posted at 90'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jason Kerr.
Goal!
Posted at 86'
Goal! Celtic 7, St. Johnstone 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Olivier Ntcham.
Posted at 85'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jason Kerr.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Olivier Ntcham (Celtic).
Posted at 83'
Alistair McCann (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 82'
Foul by James Forrest (Celtic).
Posted at 82'
Scott Tanser (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Goal!
Posted at 80'
Goal! Celtic 6, St. Johnstone 0. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths.
Posted at 79'
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Booking
Posted at 78'
Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 78'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 78'
Foul by Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone).
Substitution
Posted at 76'
Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces Michael Johnston.
Posted at 75'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Alistair McCann.
Booking
Posted at 74'
Richard Foster (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 74'
Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 74'
Foul by Richard Foster (St. Johnstone).
Goal!
Posted at 72'
Goal! Celtic 5, St. Johnstone 0. Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard.
Substitution
Posted at 71'
Substitution, Celtic. Olivier Ntcham replaces Ryan Christie.
Posted at 70'
Michael Johnston (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 70'
Foul by Richard Foster (St. Johnstone).
Goal!
Posted at 67'
Goal! Celtic 4, St. Johnstone 0. Ryan Christie (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Michael Johnston.
Substitution
Posted at 65'
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Callum Hendry replaces Matthew Kennedy.
Posted at 63'
Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 63'
Foul by Richard Foster (St. Johnstone).
Posted at 60'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Richard Foster.
Posted at 57'
Attempt missed. Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Posted at 57'
Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).
Posted at 57'
Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 56'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Tanser.
Posted at 56'
Attempt blocked. Anthony Ralston (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Posted at 53'
Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 53'
Foul by Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone).
Substitution
Posted at 51'
Substitution, Celtic. Anthony Ralston replaces Hatem Elhamed because of an injury.
Posted at 48'
Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).
Posted at 48'
Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 47'
Michael Johnston (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 47'
Foul by Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone).
Posted at 46'
Attempt blocked. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Second Half
Posted at
Second Half begins Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 0.
Substitution
Posted at 45'
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Alistair McCann replaces Ross Callachan.
Half Time
Posted at 45'+1'
First Half ends, Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 0.
Posted at 45'+1'
Attempt missed. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 44'
Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Posted at 43'
Foul by Ryan Christie (Celtic).
Posted at 43'
Matthew Kennedy (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 43'
Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 42'
Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left.
Posted at 42'
Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Posted at 36'
Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).
Posted at 36'
Ross Callachan (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 36'
Hand ball by Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo (Celtic).
Posted at 35'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 35'
Foul by Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone).
Posted at 33'
Attempt missed. Ross Callachan (St. Johnstone) header from very close range misses to the right.
Posted at 32'
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
Posted at 32'
Ross Callachan (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 32'
Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Goal!
Posted at 30'
Goal! Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 0. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by James Forrest.
Posted at 30'
Attempt saved. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Booking
Posted at 27'
Matthew Kennedy (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 27'
Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 27'
Foul by Matthew Kennedy (St. Johnstone).
Goal!
Posted at 26'
Goal! Celtic 2, St. Johnstone 0. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by James Forrest.
Posted at 25'
Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Posted at 23'
Hatem Elhamed (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 23'
Foul by Liam Craig (St. Johnstone).
Posted at 18'
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 14'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Madis Vihmann.
Posted at 13'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Zander Clark.
Posted at 12'
Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner.
Goal!
Posted at 9'
Goal! Celtic 1, St. Johnstone 0. Michael Johnston (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard.
Posted at 8'
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Posted at 6'
Attempt missed. Michael Johnston (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 4'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Madis Vihmann.
Posted at 4'
Attempt blocked. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Posted at 2'
Foul by Scott Tanser (St. Johnstone).
Posted at 2'
Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 1'
Foul by Ryan Christie (Celtic).
Posted at 1'
Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Kick Off
Posted at
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Celtic sink St Johnstone with seven-goal salvo
Celtic's Ryan Christie (left) celebrates with team-mate Kristoffer Ajer after Christie completed his hat-trick during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match against St Johnstone at Celtic Park, Glasgow on Saturday August 3, 2019.Picture by Ian Rutherford/PA Wire.
http://www.irishnews.com/sport/footballsoccer/2019/08/04/news/celtic-sink-st-johnstone-with-seven-goal-salvo-1677422/
Martin Maguire
04 August, 2019 16:42
The Celtic team look on as Liz McNeill and Sadie Chalmers unfurl the Premiership flag before the
Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match against St Johnstone at Celtic Park, Glasgow on Saturday August 3, 2019. Picture by Ian Rutherford/PA Wire.

Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership: Celtic (3) 7 St Johnstone (0) 0

Flag day at Celtic Park has begun to feel like Groundhog Day in the words of Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

This summer Lennon has said that all talk of nine-in-a-row Scottish League titles is off the cards, moreover, he stated that he wants the club to go for 15 in a row.

Fifteen in a row sounds very ambitious to say the least, however, if you are going to dream then dream big.

Rangers, under the reins of Pedro Caixinha, never got near to catching a rampant Celtic.

Steven Gerrard has gone some way to closing the seemingly ever-widening gap that Celtic have created.

However, during Gerrard's maiden season, Rangers were unable to catch their Glasgow rivals … or prevent them lifting a single trophy.

And that was despite Celtic’s own tumultuous season.

They, by their own making, endured a summer transfer window which failed to impress … plus Brendan Rodgers departing mid-season.

Yesterday, Celtic opened the 2019/20 season strongly.

Facing St Johnstone, within three minutes Celtic's new right back Hatem Abd Elhamed found himself in the box to put a ball across the face of the goal.

The same scenario occurred on seven minutes when Ryan Christie blasted a cross ball over the bar from Elhamed.

Mikey Johnston cut inside from the left wing to receive the ball and perform two stepovers which left St Johnstone’s Wallace Duffy in his wake before sliding past Zander Clark nine minutes in.

On the 11th minute James Forrest tried to copy the move but this time Clark was equal to the task putting the ball wide for a corner.

Celtic maintained early pressure when Edouard’s headed shot was put out for a corner on 14 minutes.

St Johnstone looked overwhelmed by Celtic’s high-pressing game with the full backs pushing up and enjoying a level of freedom they .. and the Celtic support … will hope is a regular occurrence.

Johnston and Forrest pushed further infield to assist Odsonne Édouard with Christie and Callum McGregor also pushing forward at every opportunity.

Kris Ajer and Nir Bitton in the early stages had a very easy shift.

St Johnstone front man Michael O’Hallaron spent the majority of his game inside his own half.

Scott Bain had an easy afternoon and effectively could have taken a seat in the stand when Chritie scored on 25 minutes to make it 2-0.

The closest St Johnstone came to affecting the outcome of the game early was Matthew Kennedy’s scything tackle on the goal scorer just after the game restarted.

Christie responded by adding to his Celtic goal tally on 30 minutes when he latched on to a cutback from Forrest with his left foot.

Clark should have saved the shot but Celtic were well on their way to an assured victory.

Clark did well on 42 minutes to keep a Forrest shot out before defender Bitton had a go himself on 44 minutes, the shot fizzling out wide.

Celtic went in for half-time to a standing ovation, ahead 3-0.

After the break, on 50 minutes, Tony Ralston replaced Elhamed, who on his debut had an impressive showing.

With Champions League Qualifiers looming Lennon will be hoping to have his man fit for Wednesday evening as the squad travel to Kluj.

Christie ensured he would be taking the match ball home with a third wonder strike.

Fed by Johnston from outside the box, Christie slotted the ball past a helpless Zander Clarke.

Christie came off on 71 minutes to a standing ovation and an embrace from manager Lennon.

He was replaced my Olivier Ntcham, who took up Chritie’s mantle scoring almost immediately.

St Johnstone's Kennedy was joined in the book by Richard Foster for his elbow on Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo.

Scorer Johnston was replaced by Leigh Griffths on 75 minutes.

Scott Brown, who put in a comfortable performance, was fouled by Murray Davidson on 78 minutes, the St Johnstone man booked for his efforts.

Edouard, with an assist from returning Leigh Griffiths, made it six when he rounded Clark .

Celtic were denied a penalty on 83 minutes when McGregor went down in the box.

Celtic probed for a seventh when Edouard’s shot was put out for a corner.

The goal came a minute later when Griffiths stuck from outside the box with his left foot on 86 minutes, Ntcham assisting.

Despite four substitutions in the second-half a compassionate Kevin Clancy only added one minute of extra time, to bring to a finish a agnificent seven goal display at Celtic Park on flag day.

The club that Celtic beat 2-0 in May 1998 to deny Rangers’ 10 in a row provided weak opposition yesterday as Celtic fans sang of their own title winning ambitions.

Neil Lennon is putting his own successful stamp on the team in his second spell in charge, the fans loved it.

Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership: Celtic (3) 7 St Johnstone (0) 0

Celtic: Bain, Elhamed (Ralston 51),Bitton, Ajer, Bolingoli Mbombo, Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Christie (Ntcham 71), Johnston (Griffiths 76), Edouard.

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Sinclair, Hayes, Morgan.

Goals: Johnston 9, Christie 26,30,67, Ntcham 72, Edouard 80, Griffiths 86.

St Johnstone: Clark, Foster, Duffy, Vihmann, Kerr, Tanser, Davidson, Craig, Callachan (McCann 46), O'Halloran, Kennedy (Hendry 65).

Subs Not Used: Anderson, Swanson, Parish, McClean, Northcott.

Booked: Kennedy, Foster, Davidson.

Ref: Kevin Clancy (Scotland).

Superb Celtic rejuvenated under Neil Lennon
Ryan Christie scores the first of his three goals to put Celtic 2-0 ahead. Picture: SNS.
Ryan Christie scores the first of his three goals to put Celtic 2-0 ahead. Picture: SNS.
Andrew Smith
Published: 22:30 Sunday 04 August 2019
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/superb-celtic-rejuvenated-under-neil-lennon-1-4976629Celtic’s start to the Premiership season could not have been any more scintillating and celebratory had Neil Lennon scripted it himself.

Little wonder that the club’s manager was left going all-of-a-flutter on an eighth straight flag day for the champions with his “wow, just wow” apt summing up of the seven-goal smashing of a supine St Johnstone.

Celtic appear a team so refreshed, revitalised and reborn under Lennon – and this without Christoper Jullien and Jozo Simunovic, Kieran Tierney, Marian Shved, Tom Rogic and Lewis Morgan in the starting line-up as they chase down a record ninth straight title.

In his spell as interim manager, Lennon, right, struggled to squeeze goals out of the squad, with only 18 netted in 14 games. In a mere five games as permanent manager at the beginning of this fledgling campaign, courtesy of threats being fashioned from all fronts, he has watched his team thunder in 19 goals.

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However, whether across the next month they can continue on all front in the vivacious vein that brought a biggest league win in three years; a record scoreline against the Perth side and a first senior hat-trick for a Ryan Christie, who is developing a lethal shoot-on-sight policy, will have much to do with storylines out of their control.

The Champions League third round qualifier that sees them away to Cluj for the first leg of the tie on Wednesday isn’t a gimme. However, Lennon’s side appear to have enough in their armoury to find away past the Romanian champions.

Tomorrow might dictate the likelihood of them following that up by progressing from the play-off round to the promised land of the group stages.

The lunchtime draw in Nyon could be potentially kind or killing to the Scottish title holders. They would fancy themselves strongly against the winners of third-round meetings between Maribor and Rosenborg and APOEL and Qarabag. That confidence would ebb profoundly were they to find Slavia Prague or Young Boys of Berne – who both enter the competition at this stage – blocking their path. Young Boys blitzed the Swiss title last season, finishing 20 points above second placed Basel. In the same campaign, they reached the Champions League group stages where they notched a win over Juventus. Moreover, Switzerland is three places above 20th-placed Scotland in the UEFA rankings.

The Czech Republic is ranked 13th, and that owes much to the efforts of their champions Slavia Prague. They have lost key players over the summer but the core of the squad that knocked-out Seville, Bordeaux and Genk on their way to losing out to eventual winners Chelsea in the quarter-finals of last season’s Europa League remain.

Aside, from this, there is another potential development that could rain on Celtic’s parade. Too many sources – including Lennon – have too often predicted that Arsenal will return with another offer for Tierney that it seems sure to happen before the English transfer window closes on Thursday.

It would be inexplicable were the London club to bother submitting another bid in an attempt to bring a resolution to this summer-long saga if it wasn’t one that, at last, met Celtic £25m valuation and the requirement to stump that up in good order, and without a reliance on chancey add-ons.

Tierney’s pelvic problems have limited his involvement to nine games in 2019. However talented is the 22-year-old then, and he has the capacity to reach a level beyond Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, his influence on the pitch has not been significant for approaching eight months.

His loss, then, would be felt by the support as much for what he was meant to represent to them: the boy who made good by wearing the shirt and living the dream” – as he used to forever talk about when he was the wide-eyed youth making the breakthrough to the senior ranks.
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His desire to perform weekly at the very highest level of club football, and earn £75,000-a-week should never be begrudged him, but the Celtic faithful somehow convinced themselves that their club was the be all and end all for a player who was simply one of them who happened to be good enough to be on the pitch rather than watching from the stands.

They allowed themselves to be blinded to the realities of modern football, just as they did in harbouring a preposterous sense of betrayal when Brendan Rodgers left for a better offer. This consistency never give their board credit for recognising the need to be business-like in how they run their club. Even as their model looks to provide a platform for the title history they crave.