Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Ice Station Zebra

The Celtic Star

·11 gennaio 2025

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Ice Station Zebra

SANDMAN’S DEFINITIVE RATINGS: CELTIC @ ICE STATION ZEBRA..

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Elliot

Celtic huddle in Dingwall. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Kasper Schmeichel. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

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THE FRIENDLY GHOST – 6/10 – Just another Danish summer’s day for the finest goalie in the Schmeichel family, just ahead of his Mum. Cool as the temperature with the ball at his feet – certainly knows how to play a pass under pressure or to instigate a counter. No chance with their pen, although I was surprised he didn’t go the same way (low left) as he did in the cup final to foil that grotesque imp.

Alex Valle. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

UNCANNY – 6.5/10 – The coldest place he’s ever been to in his young life; watched the Game Of Thrones episodes set beyond the Ice Wall for research and therefore probably wasn’t too surprised. But this sunshine kid is all about football and he remained as busy as the baker he replaced through the match, only denied a goal by a wonderful save.

Alistair Johnston. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

WAYNE GRETZKY – 6.5/10 – Gloves, ya jessie! Canadian citizenship now in jeopardy as AJ embarrasses the nation by wearing what they refer to as ‘girls hand shoes’ in virtually tropical conditions. Further shame precipitated by conceding their penalty after dozing on the wrong side. But…All forgiven through the atonement of superb delivery for Kyogo to give us the lead, and almost scored himself with a deft back-heel (#1) among a relentless host of invigorating bursts down the wing and troubling balls in.

⚽️ "What a ball!" 🏃‍♂️ "This guy's movement's unbelievable" ❌ "No arguments" on penalty ⏪ Rangers defeat "just a blip" Hear from Kyogo & Alistair Johnston on Celtic's mentality in the win at Ross County ⤵️
– sabato 11 gennaio 2025

Cameron Carter-Vickers. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

GET CARTER – 7/10 – Another level of leadership from the big unit. Saw a lot of the ball, tidy with his use and positional sense spot on to repel their aerial assault when required. Meant they got no change out of direct balls; can’t recall a knock-on that caused trouble coming off any of his smart challenges.

Auston Trusty. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

CRUSTY THE CLOWN – 6/10 – A bit ropey early, gifting their best chance of the opening 45, through unsure footing. However, he’s got the mindset to dispel doubts and once settled, it was all positive defensive work and plenty of midfield effort as well to help build up our pressure.

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Callum McGregor. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

CALMAC – 6.5/10 – As Wednesday, mainly required to keep the difference engine ticking over whilst the young ‘uns got to dangerous creative work ahead. However, when the stalemate required ending, forward drove the skipper, a sudden injection of zip and pace into proceedings to turn them and create the vital opener.

Reo Hatate. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

HAKUNA HATATE – 5.5/10 – Promising opening, then froze. Surprisingly, as others were thawing out and the heat was getting turned on. Integrity stopped the award of a softish but technically correct penalty when he was clipped running into the box, but didn’t drop squealing like a Zombie, so rules ignored. Surprise, surprise…

Arne Engels. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

THE TERMINATOR – 7.5/10 – Ah, the new expensive bhoy. ‘All them mullyins but Ah bet he disnae like Dingwall in the winter.’ Think again. Slick with interplay without being effective for the opening hour. Then, after appearing to fade a little, he became integral to the win through the closing period. Great roll and pitch into Kyogo for the crucial second, cool as the surrounding glacier with his penalties. And that arrogance of born footballers to shush the cheeky keeper after scoring on the retake…Quality. And he’s only just begun.

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Adam Idah. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

DUNCAN IDAHO – 7/10 – Now we have something. Was it the addition of a strike partner, so to speak? The knowledge that there was both someone running off him and someone to share the responsibility had the quiet big bruiser playing like a proper centre forward. Flicks (#2), knockdowns, awareness, mobility – what we’ve been waiting for. Still needs a goal; unfortunate today to come up against a keeper in top form.

Kyogo scores to make it 2-1. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

KILLER MUSHROOM -9/10 MOTM – Movement so good it fooled some American chumps into thinking they’d signed him. But there still exists some cryptic Japanese script out in the metaverse suggesting the wee ghuy is bound for a sordid casino gangster rathole and a payday in Majorette League Soccerball. Should we let him depart? After such a showcase display? Sensational Kyogo style won the game, deadly finishing topping off a 90 minutes of appearing in nearly every position on the park, and probably putting on Keeper’s gloves at their corners. May have notched four but for splendid goalkeeping rebuking his potency. Let’s hope today wasn’t part of a short farewell tour. I still want him headlining the spring Treble Festival with a send-off fit for an Eastern King, if so be it.

Yang. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

YING – 6.5/10 – Alright, not too shabby – major questions have been mooted about his Celtic worth but today he was due much praise for endeavour in conditions not amenable to his style or stature. Had a moment of glory pinched off his toe late on by a terrific tackle which might have been a deserved highlight of his tenure to date. But it was replicated minutes later and on that occasion illegally for our penalty. Note that he got himself in great positions twice at tempestuous moments of the contest when it was stand-up-and-be-counted time. So, all-round, he played a good part in the win with unrelenting tricky footwork and tireless movement in the final third that wore their resistance down.

Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

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Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Dingwall at dawn ahead of Ross County v Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

SUBS –

Luke McCowan. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

HIGHLAND TOFFEE – 6/10 – Luke who’s laughing. Mr.Composure iced the ice cake with a deft finish to close proceedings on a high. Keeps on living the dream to the full.

Jonhny Kenny. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

KENNY JOHNNY – 5.5/10 – Our answer to the popular Zombies’ ‘two second names’, enter our ‘two first names’. Big expectations after his loan exploits in the League Of Ireland, or ‘La Leprechauna’ as it’s known. The spotlight came at 1-1 and… Lines fluffed; opted to place rather than poke. But there’a bit of zip about the Sligo Serpent, built like a racing snake and keen to bite – bundled his way around and into the box to play a prominent part in the fourth. We await future input with interest.

Liam Scales. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

OF JUSTICE – N/A – Extended injury time by the five minutes it took to unwrap him.

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Brendan Rodgers. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

THE NOTAPRODDYGAL – 7.5/10 – ‘I’m dropping Greggs today because they’re too damn close to me in that wee ground.’ So singing controversy was canned, formation altered, accommodation made, and we started with two strikers for the first time since Jackie Dziekanowski was caught playing with a pair he wasn’t married to. And, ultimately, it all worked out once more – his system held against the chill, and produced more shots on target than we’ve seen recently. Maybe this mad attacking insanity will be a regular sleight of hand to flummox opponents?

🗣️ "The players showed a fantastic mentality and ended up really good winners" Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reacts to his side's 4-1 win against Ross County ⤵️
– sabato 11 gennaio 2025

Referee Matthew MacDermid with Callum McGregor. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

MIBBERY – 5/10 – ‘The screen’s frozen. Just say it wisnae a pen…’But the shiny schoolboy in charge wasn’t having it from the Boolin’ club VAR gimps and after an overnight stay in the local hostelry we got what the challenge merited. Only justice, after the when-is-a-trip-not-a-trip? Reo incident first-half and their ‘coming together’ cheap pen. Thankfully it all ended as it had begun for the MIBs – colder than cold and minus 18 to contend with on the long trek back to civilisation.

Celtic celebrations. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

OVERALL – 8/10 – Another late, late show in Dingwall – the now almost customary Thai-massage happy ending for our trips to the edge of the known world. This would have been a frustrating one given the chances we’d created up until the breakthrough moment on 81: some scintillating moves – excluding the first goal – not bearing fruit and an opposition keeper having a blinder. But it seems made for Hooped drama up there and this finale can be added to the canon of climatic Dingwall thrills as another joyful belter.

Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

The pitch started off resembling a thawing ice rink and ended with the admiration of the local Mammoth farmers as it finally cut and bobbled and chopped up under the strain of weather and studs. The temperature held somewhere just above freezing the baws off a Sabre-Toothed tiger so it was up to the players to raise it with some cockle-warming (steady Jamesy) football. We got it as the Hoops brought the heat to bear on the stoic local tribesmen, and after a thrills-and-spills final spell they sent everyone down the road happy to be feeling 18 once more…

Go Away Now

Sandman

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