While Georgios Samaras dominated the headlines for his hat-trick at Kilmarnock it could be that one of the other goals will turn out to be much more significant.
Having watched Teemu Pukki come in and score within ten minutes of making his debut at Hearts Amido Balde wouldn’t need to be told of his declining place in the strikers pecking order.
Sitting on the bench as Virgil van Dijk was pushed into attack against Morton must have been a sobering experience for the former Vitoria Guimares striker.
Given his chance yesterday at Kilmarnock, with the game still in the balance, Balde showed why he’ll be classed as a ‘work in progress’.
Some touches were good, others were Kenny Miller-like, but presented with a sight of goal in stoppage time he delivered the goods.
Anthony Stokes looked to be in a far better position but Balde fancied his chances, beat his marker and drilled a low shot across Craig Samson into the far corner of the net.
His goal was greeted with delight by the travelling support, a support that has rarely seen a physical striker in the hoops.
With the exception of the John Hartson and Chris Sutton era Celtic have always steered clear of physical strikers.
From the Lisbon Lions and Dixie Deans, through Nicholas, McClair and McAvennie to the King of Kings Celtic strikers have been of the skilful and wiry type rather than the target man or battering ram.
Last season Neil Lennon regularly talked about the need for a physical striker to provide a different element in attack with the trail leading to Balde.
With a goal to his name hopefully there is much much more to come from Balde as he attempts to play his way into Lennon’s thoughts.
I do not see the point of signing players if you dont give them a chance. Give him a start
HAIL HAIL THE CELTIC
Great to see the big chap getting some time, better yet getting on the score sheet, but you’re bang on (as per) Joe, there’s a certain rawness, no, almost a naivety.
He’s a young lad in a strange place far from home, some players take to it like a duck to water, enjoy the adventure if you like. Other players come from different cultures and can find the entire thing very difficult, and that’s just human nature, all the money in the world won’t make it better.
Lenny’s obviously easing him into things gently and I’ve got every confidence Lenny knows exactly what he’s doing.
HH
A bit of honesty is needed here. The big fellas touch is woeful at best and he looks cumbersome.
In saying that to me he has the perfect build for a modern day striker and I’m sure that’s why Lenny purchased him.
Our management team have a fairly good record of moulding raw talent into something special so it’ll be interesting to see what they do with this lad.
His goal on sat should give him a real boost lets hope so.
Hail hail
I would like to think we all give an ‘honest’ opinion Jimbo.
The thing about opinions m8, is they tend to differ.
HH
A three legged giraffe comes to mind and I’ve still to see the bhoy crack a smile. But he’s scored two goals out of nothing so I’m more than willing to watch his progression. As with everything else involving Celtic its quite simply the greatest show on earth. HH.
I’ve just watched the second half again and took some notes on the big chaps performance:
First touch, a bit awkward, but certainly nothing I’ve not seen every Celtic player do several times during a game, second touch a shot on goal. This guys not afraid to have a pop and was very unlucky a killie leg got stuck in or it was goalward bound.
Next he picks up a wayward goal kick from big Frazer and heads straight for goal, looses posession when faced with a couple of killie men, but back tracks and wins the ball back, but killie player throws himself to the ground and gets the expected f/k, a tactic that seemed to work for killie throughout the game. Celtic man with the ball within touching distance, throw yourself to ground, free kick killie.
Next touch, gets head and shoulders above killie player who decides his only chance is to jump with both arms in the air. free kick Celtic in dfangerous position.
Next touch, beats two killie players around his ankles and splits the killie defence to put Stokes through on goal, only the keeper racing out stops Stokes from scoring.
Next touch, gets the better of killie defender, but knocks the ball to far ahead of himself, something Stokes does half a dozen times in a game.
Next touch, recieves to ball from Charlie on the half way line, Amido makes a solo run for goal tracked back by killie defender, Amido takes him all the way into the pen box only to slot the ball, nutmegging the killie man, past the keeper low into the net at the far side post. BELTER.
Next touch, splits the killie defence to put lustig in on goal. Lustig unlucky to hit side netting.
That looked to me a man who put in a fantastic 20mins.
Am I wrong?
What was expected of theBhoy, ffs.
No offence to any of the more descriptive opinions, but the last time I read opinions like that, ‘is he feart he’s gonnae rip his tights’, and the like.
Pw m8, your description of ‘a three legged giraffe’ is exactly the type of thing that was said about this player, three years ago or so.
The player in question is big Sammi.
I’ve not read one person say the player’s the finished article, but imho, the big chap done good the short time he was on and I’m not afraid to nail my colours to the mast and say, I think Amido Balde COULD be one of the most exciting signings we’ve made in quite some time.
Just my opinion.
HH
SH, you saw a player who had a magical 20 mins. I on the other hand saw a player that if he had not scored off a deflection, was turning into Bangura II.
I really do hope the big lad sorts his game out and turns into the star that we all want him to be.
Btw the honesty wasn’t directed at any individual, it was a generalisation and an emphasis on how different opinions on this player differed from mine.
I respect ALL Celtic supporters opinions but that doesn’t mean I have to agree with them.
Only my opinion M8
Hail hail
I’m really not looking for a fight here but ‘a bit of honesty is needed here’ is pretty self-explanatory.
The only people it could be aimed at in Joe for the article, or the three posts that followed.
I think it’s pretty rum for you to be telling everyone else what’s honest and what’s not.
Take the mote out of your own eye…………….
Is there something in my rundown of the lads performance you disagree with?
And btw if you’re saying his excellent goal was a deflection imho that’s complete tosh and more than a bit churlish.
I’ve watched that solo effort half a dozen times today and it was as good a goal as you would have seen anywhere in the uk.
HH
Your 100% right it was aimed at the article and the posts. In your rundown of the players 20mins I got the distinct impression that you were not just polishing a turd that in fact you were trying to sprinkle glitter on it.
“Not looking for a fight” pure whatabootery talk.
Haha “churlish” my opinion differs from yours for the goal!!
The ball was deflected off the Killie defender, my book lucky goal, if that kind of goal gets scored against us then I would be calling it lucky. So there’s an HONEST opinion.
Hail hail
The boy wasn’t signed to go straight into the first eleven, he is a raw talent with potential who will have to be developed so it would be harsh to pass judgement on him so soon. However it’s pretty evident there are a number of things in his game he has to work on, hopefully Lenny and his coaching staff can sand off some of those rough edges and he develops into a real asset.
Hail Hail.
By the way samaras still looks like a three legged giraffe. When he’s on the ball. Hahahaha. Sweeney. Relax mate. We all love and cherish yer bhoy amido. And we look foreward to many many. I told you so posts from your good self. HH. FRWP CSC.
Lol. Leave off big Sammy pye, he’s our ENIGMA.
Hail hail
Totally agree Pw, he’s got to be one of the most frustrating players to watch, half the time I wonder if he has any control of the ball at all, the next minute he’s past three defenders bearing down on goal. His gangley (is that a word?) style is very unorthodox, but it works for him. Defenders just don’t seem to get to grips with it, he can run to a standstill with more men infront of him than anyone could possibly get past, that’s the infuriating part, but sooner or later he just seems to skip through them.
His last goal on Sat was unbelievable, but that’s just Sammi.
Right ye are Jimbo, we’ll all give our opinions, then you can give us all our places, ha ha
Glitter on turds Jimbo.
Really?
If you’re going to try and be funny at least try and be original, that patter was on this site weeks ago, and it wasn’t that funny first time around.
To be honest, you talking sh!te is nothing new.
HH
Well there’s no use giving an opinion and not being able to take a bit of critisism for it. As for talking shite, no more no less than the next man. Anyway I really hope your right and this lad turns into a good yin but we definitely have a difference of opinion on that at this time.
Hail hail
Glittery turds aside. Let’s all do the huddle bhoys. I really don’t like it when bhrothers fight. Mabye the excitement and tension for tomorrow is getting to us all. If you two remember sostein and myself had an argument last week. Where I was talking shit and he was being overly smartass. But we kissed and made up like the big bhoys we are. And I expect you two to do the same. Lol. Pretty much the main reason I’m on this blog is the both of ye. Your posts have me in stitches and educate me at the same time. So dry yer fuking eyes and cut the crap. HAIL HAIL. THE ONLY SHOW IN TOWN.
Sorry but I don’t recall mentioning Barca.
HH
Sorry missread that there.
HH
Btw, the above two posts were towards Jimbo there, I should have used the reply box.
HH