Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v The Northern Flock

The Celtic Star

·26 février 2025

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v The Northern Flock

SANDMAN’S DEFINITIVE RATINGS: CELTIC v THE NORTHERN FLOCK

“Quality is not an act, it is a habit.” – Aristotle.

A minutes applause for the passing of former Celtic player Evan Williams during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Aberdeen FC at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025 (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

THE FRIENDLY GHOST – 5.5/10 – Awww…So close. A record snatched from his No More Nails grasp right at the death. Straight through him, too, at the front post. Almost blew it right at the start too with the best through-ball big Nisbet had received all season to offer an open net. The Schmeichel kids’ Lego with be getting scattered tonight.

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WAYNE GRETZKY – 7/10 – Rocky the Moose. Or was it Bullwinkle? Anyway, it was antlers at dawn for the Dons as AJ carried on his marvellous roguery. Relentless input highlighted by a goal-saving tackle that deserved the clean sheet record and an icing-the-cake assist with a Ralstonesque delivery for our fifth.

Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring his second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

SCHLUPPTHE ‘RA – 6.5/10 – Looks a fit with every passing game. A manoeuvrable tank that can play a bit. Has segued with our system so well since he arrived that you’d think he’d been mixed-in by Darren Emerson. Seems to enjoy his new lease, with the question to be answered whether we can afford an extended one on him…

GET CARTER – 7/10 – A bigger American Rock than Mount McKinley. Had his work cut out tonight as our other pilgrims’ son stayed a little out of sorts. Used that bouncer’s physique admirably to win every crucial challenge, air and ground, particularly at a recovery second-half when the odds were against him.

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings continues on the next page…

Yang Hyun-Jun celebrates scoring a goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025 . Picture by Mark Runnacles

CRUSTY THE CLOWN – 5.5/10 – Shaky-Fine-shaky…Maybe haunted by Hibs, tonight he remained dogged by lapses that could have made life difficult. Won a few, lost a few, but the challenges he did lose were critical and we got away with a couple. Been a standout since he played his way into big-game level; Worry around him would be his focus for 90 minutes of domestic drudgery.

Callum McGregor at the final whistle during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025. Picture by Mark Runnacles

CALMAC – 7/10 – The skip steps it up after a dodgy first fifteen and we’re in cruise mode by the break. Once he got a few short passes and burst of activity in, positional sense sorted, the game was his to control and his to win. That he did, with a wonder-skelp from his gimp peg; translation: he passed in a nice opportunity with his less-favoured right foot.

Celtic s Jota scores and celebrates his goal with Arne Engels during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025 . Picture by Mark Runnacles Celtic v Aberdeen

THE TERMINATOR – 8/10 MOTM – When the class gets to work the class learns what class is; the bhoy was everywhere and anywhere we needed him. Touch was in and sublime and demonstrated with uplifting sublime verve early on, deep in his own half, guiding a pass wide as his momentum was drifting him in the opposite direction, opening up the game for us out of a nothing position. After that, the Arneball exhibition was there for all soyboy detractors to comprehend – movement, ability, influence; 80-yard gallop to support and setup Jota, dig when required, and an attitude that opponents and MIBs (same difference) will hate. Have remarked before – he’s the arrogant, best kid in the playground 20-a-side that you hate to play against but want on your team any day. We’ve got him, and there’s a lot of jhoy to come.

HAKUNA HATATE – 5.5/10 – Like Austin, Reo was a margin off the page. Forced himself around but struggled to find space and his usual deft touch; nothing much went for him.

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings continues on the next page…

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic and Aberdeen’s Jack Mackenzie during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

TAKINTE – 6/10 – File with above. Plenty involved and had us off our seats a few times when he shifted up the gears but it just wouldn’t happen for him tonight. And, like Saturday, his normally deadly final ball wasn’t playing..ball…

Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025. (Pihoto by Mark Runnacles)

LORD KATSUMOTO – 7.5/10 – When you need a worker to get the nightshift going, enter the mad kamikaze to hustle like Huggy and cause chaos. Daizen doesn’t sleep, he waits… And pounces – first as ever to a deflected ball to set us off with a casually taken but difficult volley, and last as ever – still running – to nick in his quarter century of strikes in the Hoops this season. I think. Might be 24? You check it; use the internet ffs. Like I’m a flaming database…Anyway, in-between samurai goalscoring exploits, Daizen… Ran. Quite a lot. Some mhan. What a player; of unique and legendary status.

Jota scores and celebrates his goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

NOTEBOOK – 7/10 – Touch, skiffle, shoot! Saved… But the tone was set by the most glamorous chanter in the Scottish Premiership, and soon after he was adding to his Celtic songbook of harmonic moments – he’s swerved them in, slammed them in, smashed and passed and headed them in; tonight he bobbled one in, but after a wonderful end-to-end move of sweeping, swashbuckling Celtic Celticness that was the game’s defining moment. Getting fitter, getting livelier, getting even more box-office with his iconic celebrations, lol.

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings continues on the next page…

SUBS –

DUNCAN IDAHO – N/A – Saturdays’ Big Dope came on with renewed hope; not a lot of involvement but one notable spin and strike that showed welcome sharpness.

Yang Hyun-Jun celebrates scoring a goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025 . Picture by Mark Runnacles

YING – 6.5/10 – What’s going on with the K-Pop kid? All but written-off as the Korean Mikey J, he’s pinged into play this past month or so with energy, tenacity and a fair amount of impact, against various levels of opponent just to confuse you more. Tonight? A finely-worked goal to highlight his return-per-minutes and a major part in the fifth with bright setup play. Bhoy’s on a mission to win us over.

HIGHLAND TOFFEE – 6/10 – Luke, it’s like this – that’s the Luke we want; involved, purposeful and creative. Straight into the middle of things with intent is how it’s done.

Jude Bonnar of Celtic in action on his debut during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025. Picture by Mark Runnacles

PADDY’S BHOY – N/A – He’s about twelve, tall and rangy like his goalie Dad, but a hell of a lot better outfield and decisively composed for his fifteen-minute cameo debut. Nice one, kid.

OF JUSTICE – N/A – Fhs, Liam, don’t let him skin you like a Tavpen for the record-breaker. The Ginger Baresi will be skulking around the dressing room avoiding the Schmeichel Stare as I type…

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings continues on the next page…

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Aberdeen FC at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

THE NOTAPRODDYGAL – 7/10 – All he wanted was a winning response to Saturday and he got that. Culled the most criminal and asked for some better energy. Whether he’ll be overly happy outwith the result itself is up for debate – wasn’t a comprehensive performance but the niggles and failings will be puppy food compared to the dug’s dinner we were making of things this time last year before the Jamesy second coming* turned the tide. So, back to Lennoxtown to ready the Bhoys for a last push into the final countdown with shiny smiles all round.

*Not a reference to his normal Saturday night action.

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings continues on the next page…

MIBBERY – 3/10 – “Ah waant a shoat! Ah waant a shoat!” Squealed Johnny B fae the Bellshill T as he watched Saturday’s festival of black magic skulduggery in Edinburgh. Well, tonight he got his chance and… Probably lost a few bets. Controversy was snuffed out by eventual rampant Bhoys and Johnny had to settle for the consolation ‘Book-The Sellic-Captain’ bonus.

Celtic fans show their support during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park on 25th February 2025. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

OVERALL – 7/10 – Another midweek clash to fire up the loins as we close on glory. It’s been Bayern the past two, and how ironic that The Sheep turn up in the most Bayern kit of all those three contests. Still, thankfully, they’re no Bayern. But we gave them more chances than we did Bayern in an opening spell where the players couldn’t find each other’s dimension, never mind frequency or wavelength. Everyone got into the calamity act for a while, more sloppy than a Lana Wolf Louden evening, with Kasper running a ‘beat-the-goalie-when-he’s-not-even-flaming-there’ charity gig, and we kind of bypassed our midfield, then finally around the 20 minute mark Calmac fired one high and wide like a Scotland rugger conversion attempt…if only he was playing at Twickenham last weekend…

Celtic v theRangers – Scottish Premiership – Celtic Park. Barry Ferguson in the stands during the match at Celtic Park, which Celtic won 3-0 on Sunday September 1, 2024. PA Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

…Which proved to be the last facepalm moment, as the skipper then exerted some midfield control with Arne. They dominated medieval Presbyterian rat-catching hobbit, Shimmie, then set about knitting together a period of concerted pressure and pressing that had the game won by half-time. So all’s well that ends well, and sweet sixteen is back on the board before the Sanfransevcoo(1)69(0)ers got to the Ayrshire Ghetto Pimps tomorrow with some new management team of Prince William, the exhumed corpse of boat-murderer suspect Bill Struth (suspected by me), the summoned demonic spectre of Jimmy Bell, Lulu, and ranting jakey Jim McDonald from Corrie. Or something… Or some motley crew even weirder than that.

🟢 Daizen Maeda bagged a brace as Celtic cruised to victory over Aberdeen at home ⤵️
– mardi 25 février 2025

As for us, once the Rugby Park hilarity’s over, the countdown truly begins at the weekend as we begin to play the final TEN. Place yer bets for the match and moment the 3IAR becomes FOUR…

Go Away Now.

Sandman

Dedicated to Evan Williams, Celtic’s man of the match in the 1970 European Cup final against Feyenoord in Milan. Requiescat in pace.

A minutes applause for the passing of former Celtic goalkeeper Evan Williams during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Aberdeen FC at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025 (Picture by Mark Runnacles)