Came off the bench for the last half hour to make his debut. Replaced John Swift who was playing as the 10.
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Came off the bench for the last half hour to make his debut. Replaced John Swift who was playing as the 10.
Off the mark for WBA. Decent finish first time though keeper will be a bit disappointed…
https://youtu.be/wCtta6OxHOI?si=kqt3eRLTNJ9Va0fG
and heavily involved in the third goal.
Hopefully he can stay fit for the run in, maybe get himself a permanent move out of Celtic.
Incidentally, using Transfermarkt and some not unrealistic but slightly creative accounting, Johnston's goal is the 100th Irish goal in the Championship this season. Which is good going considering it's still only February.
And what's the number without Szmodicz?Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Well he's scored 18, so that would leave 82. 50 of which were scored by players born 1998 or later (i.e. Kenny's Under 21 team onwards).
That's a class goal. And as Stu said his long dribble before the third was a key "pre-assist"Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
Good goal alright ~ The two opposing defenders didn't cover themselves in glory, if you were a supporter of that club.
You have to love players like that.
Also radio commentary is great too.
The combination of the two? Mwah!
There was another chance between the 2nd and 3rd goals where MJ carried the ball through and found the right pass to the supporting player to pass back to another player who had a shot that went just wide of the target - the cut back nearly found MJ who had continued his run. A lot of the criticism he gets from Celtic fans over the years is his decision making / end product. I know its a small sample size but he is definitely showing an improvement along those lines since he went to WBA. Some players just need to be loved.
... or better coached?
Paddy McCourt turned down Albion for Celtic. Maybe a mistake in retrospect. Perhaps being technically excellent is an impediment to success in the SPL.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Celtic have always had technically excellent playersQuote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
Stephen Kenny worked wonders on the lad (wink)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Always or once upon a time.
They still do.Quote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
Guess we're lining up with a front four of:
Ogbene Szmodics Johnston
.............Ferguson
Pity we haven't got a decent midfield two that could sit in front of the back four.
A coach that put his arm around him and put some trust in him, playing to his strengths.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
That’s a goal of the month contender right there.
My point really Stu is that some lads don't want to give Idah any credit for doing well in a supposedly worse league. I agree with you that the manager or the environment makes a big difference and it's great to see both Idah and Johnston making the most of the change.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
That goal was proper quality. WBA have a real decent chance to arrive into the playoffs in good form and do a job on the others.
It's so great to see a loan move like this work above and beyond what you thought was realistic from the outset.
Wasn't cut out to be an SPL winner but a realistic path to being a premier league footballer in 6 months.
I don't like to make sweeping statements about fans' views but there were a lot of noisy Celtic fans screaming blue murder over them signing the third choice striker of Norwich. Not sure on WBA fans, but they may not have been too impressed with a Celtic reserve coming down from the SPL.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
I think it is fair to say that the Championship is a better league than the SPL. But around the edges of that argument one would have to be consider the suitability of the players to the leagues, as well as the factor you mention re managers - it does seem Johnston couldn't click with Rodgers whereas Rodgers seems to love bigging up Idah.
Idah is probably stronger and faster than almost every centre half in the SPL but probably not the Championship. His goals last weekend show that he can use his pace to run off them and finish and his strength to get in between them and up for a headed finish.
Have only seen his goals but reasonable to say Johnston has a license to thrill at WBA? And he definitely has more space given how SPL teams would double their winger and full back up on him.
So, it does feel like the environments are suiting each player and I do think that both lads will develop another bit with minutes and success. Idah particularly. If he can sustain this he has a prolonged reference point and a foundation for his career that he doesn't really have thanks to injury and form (potentially driven by confidence) and rotation (all individually and collectively contributing).
On Johnston, it is a little more indicting on Rodgers. I couldn't see Luis Palma doing a stroke at Championship level....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
I think Johnson is alot more than a hug the touchline winger and when I've watched him at West Bromley.they seem.to encourage him to drift into central areas and play as a 10 and he has that creativity and technique to do that. When I see celtic the wingers seem to stay wide which I think limits johnson
The problem with Johnston is and always has been that whenever he puts a run like this together he invariably gets injured and loses all momentum. Hopefully this time is different but I'm not jumping on the bandwagon just yet with him.
And for Ireland he's had license to roam too, and that's why he's looked good for us. I listen to a lot of Celtic's games on the radio and Pat Bonner said before Christmas that Rodgers wasn't getting the best out of him by sending him out to hug the touchline. I love a winger coming inside (Yang seemed to do it against Dundee for example) or even carrying the ball in the middle of the pitch. I will carry with me forever the sight of Aidan McGeady carrying the ball progessively through the middle in the build up to Brady's goal in Lille.Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
Dropping down a few levels is really helping his game ;)
Hopefully West Brom have a buy clause in the deal already. Make it easy to sign him permanently in the summer. Currently fifth in the table and 7 points ahead of Norwich who are just outside of the playoffs.
Celtic fans will be losing it with Brendan Rodgers if this keeps going on !!
I can't even see how he made contact with the ball. It seems like he barely got the chance to straighten up before a defender was on him so he got an absolute rocket away with his instep???Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
Fair play to Kenny..
He wasn't exactly tearing up the Portuguese league last year either in fairnessQuote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
I'm liking the this season Mikey Johnston though
Shirley ~ Opposing Championship managers are going to start trying to put a stop to this Magic Johnston run.
Remember seeing his dinky run in the France game... was the first time I'd seen him in action... brilliant... a type of player we haven't had in ages.
Ferguson, Smozdics, Ogbene, Johnston... they could cause mischief against any side.
Yeah, looks great when he gets to dribble and put teams on the back foot. Evidently capable now of scoring exceptional goals. Question marks however over his ability/ willingness to defend when needs be. But a good attacking option to have in our squad nonetheless.
All we need now is to find two midfielders that can sit in front of the back four and two fullbacks for that back four.Quote:
Originally Posted by texidub
Definitely seems the kind of player we need against lower level teams that sit back and defend. Not the worst option.
Has just put West Brom level. Spare a thought for Brendan Rodgers and his white knuckles every time Johnston plays these days.
Turned it off at half time as the game was boring and the ****er scores twice in the second half.
And gets assistQuote:
Originally Posted by JR89