-
Willing to take any sort of victory and would evn take a point if offered it right now.
my bullishness has disappered over the last few weeks due to the performances of the midfield and defence.
we need to keep it tight and hope we can exploit the space that will be left for us. The huns are now a danger at set peices and fernando the command can toss in a decent ball so marshie will need to become a confident commanding goalie.
couldn't imaging us being worried about this hun team but our failings this season have caused us to be worried about what is a very poor rangers side.
only thing that will be re enforced tomorrow is that who ever goes on to win the league will be the poorest team since Jansens to claim scotlands top prize.
Mon the Hoops one last big performance just to show us you can.
-
Thankfully the forces of darkness are playing as poorly as we... However at times like these home advantage is enormous, on that basis I agree totally with Celtic Ultra that a point would be fantastic... To be honest thought I hae a really bad feeling about Hearts at Tynecastle, its got draw written all over it, especially if we are only two points clear...
Agree with Paul on team selection, bummer Henchoz is not 100%, expected him to make a considerable impact after his move, is he going to stay, I think I'd like to see him stay for a year see what he can do from a fresh start...
Sorry to bang my drum but still wish we were playing 3-5-2, Valgaaren would fit better in that system, Juninho may have had a chance in it and on a day like Sunday we'd be much better equipped. Two seasons ago we were talking about how 4-4-2 would be better in away games of champions league, but the 3-5-2 domestically was a far stronger unit...
Anyway rant over, lets hope the 4 the 4 and the 2 do the job on Sunday!
richiecallis
-
Ian in Budapest
Time and time again our supporters claim that the current Rangers side is "very poor". Where there's little doubt Celtic have gone backwards, particularly in defence, there's also enough evidence to conclude that Rangers have improved. Sure they remain inconsistent but in retrospect their results against, so-called dodgy, European teams are nowhere near as bad as was previously thought. Each of the teams they fell to in the Champion's League qualifiying and UEFA Cup have consequently done very well - AZ and CSKA are now in the last four of the UEFA Cup. Auxerre fell to CSK. AZ eliminated Shakhtar Donetsk.
Rangers' improving results against us are no flash-in-the-pan either. It's time we gave credit where credit is due. McLeish has ripped the guts out of his team and his re-building efforts are exceeding his own expectations (his comments this week). Rangers' inconsistency is understandable given the number of changes they've made and I'm hoping they have another poor game on Sunday. Otherwise things could be really tough for us. Like many others, I'd settle for a point if it was offered.
-
Sutton for Balde at the back, worked a treat previously at Mordar
-
Ian- i will admit rangers have slightly improved but if this celtic team were still at last seasons standards we would still be a fair bit in front of them.
celtic's slide has gave us and others the false sense that the huns have become a good side.
for me all that has been added is a bit of steel and to add that big feck has lost a bit of quality.
remember they have 2 full backs playing in the midfield!!!!!
Not one of the rankers team would get into ours, full stop.
Hey but every dog has it's day and they have had a few this season, but it is time for the dog to get put down.
-
It will be tough tomorrow. I have a bad feeling about it, but then that's probably a good thing as it's when I feel confident that things seem to go belly up. I would play McGeadie as I think he will be up for it and has the pace to make the moves. I think our best chance of beating TFOD is by running them ragged. We have the pace that they dont. Lets use it to burn them up.
Clanvid Horse
-
Stating the obvious here, but the incentive to go 5 points clear with 4 games remaining should drive the bhoys on. Hopefully,the mental resilience, so prevalent in big games over the last 4-5 years, will awaken now we are at the business end of the season.
I think some of the goals conceded recently have been down to cold lethargic starts, a winning before turning up mentality, unfortunately, this attitude was ok when we were playing better. This should not be a problem on Sunday.
Also,There was definitely tired limbs against Aberdeen, 3rd game in 6 days took its toll on some players. With a full week to rest and Agathe back to shore up the wing areas, which is where rangers forwards constantly drift to, we are in much better shape this week. With Sutton getting in about Ferguson and upsetting their rythm, our midfield will hopefully come out of their slumber, this could be the crucial area rather than defence.
Man for man Celtic have better players, for the first time in years, complacency has allowed a very poor Rangers team to take us all the way in the league. Their team reminds me a bit of our team in the middle of the 90's, the odd decent player surrounded by journeyman, who deep down you knew weren't quite good enough.
Our journeymen never really got a sniff at the title, I think Wim the Tim's team were better than that what had come before. That is what would make losing the league this year, .......so annoying.
-
I have to admit I am petrified about tomorrow. I hope to God we see it through, the gers in the CL would be a disaster. Can't believe the Marvin Andrews stories I've had the cruciate injury and there is no way he could play with it. If he does play even Hartson should shred him with his superior mobility.
I guess we'll know who's side God is on in a little over 24 hours!
Agree with Paul I think that MON will play a very tight game. It will be boring and we will try to hit on the break. Rangers need to attack and I just hope we come through it still ahead. It has all the hallmarks of a NIL-NIL.
I don't think I can even bear to watch it tomorrow.
Come on the hoops!
-
Roll over the hun we shall so it shall be written in stone and so it shall be told around the land.
3-1 the timaloy.
-
With this Celtic team in it's sunset phase, they can either blow it through defensive blunders or rise to the occasion and pull out the stops one more time.
I hope MON reminds them just before they leave the dressing room how many times RFC has beaten them this season, that Celtic are the underdogs and when they walk out onto foreign territory at the "Castle", they feel the animosity and taste some fear. If none of that gets them up for one last push, then I for one will feel they didnt deserve the title anyway.
The big concern I have over a draw is that we might well blow it in the last few games against inferior teams.
Tims for a win, white smoke at the Castle.
YNWA CELTIC
-
Paul I hope you are wrong about the tactics tomorrow.We both have poor defences therefore we should go for it. Can you see our back four conceeding less than two goals if we let them come at us?Our advantage is in attack. If MON plays Bellamy with Hartson or Sutton and McGeady wide we have a chance. If he plays Sutton in midfield I will worry. We need Petrov supporting the front two and Aiden putting crosses from wide areas.The idea of playing a long ball game won't work now . They are more than a match for us if we try this. Their back 4 strolled through the last game except when we released players in wide positions. I agree with a lot of the posts about this being a poor Rankers side , but what exactly does this say about us?If we don't get the next couple of signings right we could be facing up to hard times. On the other hand a couple of good players in the right positions and its adios Rankers.
-
Paul,
what is your take on Brian Quinn stepping down in the Summer, reports are circulating in my line of work that a well known leader's resignation in a London office is a direct link with Brian Quinn's departure in the Summer?
Personally, I would think it to be a loss to the club if he was not involved with Celtic at all next season.
-
McGarveybhoy
I don’t know if he is going or not, though it wouldn’t surprise me – let me know what you have heard. He is destined to be remembered as the man who got the bird from the fans, not the man who held the ship together for £15k per year.
Many will welcome it, however, his succession alone will not bring millions for the team, if anything, our credit rating will inch a little lower.
The Abbott and Costello routine he and Martin played out last week concerned me. It was a sign of things not going to plan.
If he remains, Brian Quinn will be the man who decides budget for next season, not DD or Peter Lawwell. He spent big the last time he had the opportunity to do so, as such I am happy leaving him in charge this summer.
I have laid my cards on the table and said that I want to see a big push. His successor will almost certainly come from the accounting/banking sector of business (no offence), not the entrepreneurial disciplines which I would prefer (Fergus was pure salesman, and salesmen make the world go round a little quicker). As such, I see nothing to gain from change and would rather stick with the man we know.
He is a passionate Celtic man with a considerable intellect who enjoys my trust.
-
Imagine if someone told you at the start of this season that the title would come down to a game against the huns in which they were relying on a half fit Marvin Andrews to shore up their defence.
That is what we are up against. An immobile Livingston defender.
-
Timmy7
You've hit the nail on the head.
If we can't beat that lot then we don't deserve to win the league. For me tomorrow is about a convincing win. Nothing else will do for me.
MON will pay safe with Sutton in midfield but with Agathe at RB and Jackie at LB the team will have a better balance.
With Bellamy up for it we should have no worries.
Barney
-
I actually doubt whether Marvin Andrews actually has this cruciate ligament damage, I suspect its just a PR ploy by the dark side. Surely he would struggle to walk, never mind play 90 mins of football. (Anyone with a medical background got any insight into this injury)
Secondly if you had invested in a player would you really want to see them risk their career (and your investment) by not having an operation ???
Declan
from Derry
-
Hi all
You guys are getting me a bit nervous... If both teams play at their best Celtic will win...
I can't see MON risking Mcgeady losing possesion cheaply at Ibrox....so that means half of our midfield will play out of position (again!!!)...but Sutton should be back to full fitness and not only will he take Ferguson out of the game he will also go on to score the winner..(you heard it here first)
If Celtic go five points clear they will WIN the league!!!....(especially as I see TFOD dropping points in the frozen North- this is more likely after today's result)...Hopefully meaning its all over by the time we go to the Castle2
PS- If anyone has a spare ticket for tomorrow I would appreciate it...My girlfriends not too keen on me remortgaging the house so that I can get one off e-bay.. rumoid@hotmail.com if you have...
Cheers
PS Declan- I think Andrews has signed an insurance waiver as he has decided to play on against medical advice....
-
Surely that only covers rangers against any compensation claims from marvin, but what about the money they have paid for the player, although he was a bosman, he was still paid a signing on fee on the basis he would be available for the lenght of his contract. Only glad that maloney and JK did not go down this route.
Someone mentioned Liam Coyle, on a previous thread. He was an absolute legend for Derry City almost in the lubo mould !! Scored some cracking goals too !!!
Would be happy with draw tomorrow but feel we are more than capable of winning. Only concern is the lack of pace in the middle of the park, ie with lennon and sutton in there.
I would play a 3 5 2, have mcnamara left of a back three, varga middle and balde right. Have Agathe right wing back and thompson on the left. Lennon petrov sutton in middle and bellars and BBJ up front. Means we have more cover in the middle of the park against fergiehun and ricksen. Also we can push agathe to right back and petrov on to right midfield to form a 442 if needed. McGeady on bench if needed along with maloney beatie etc.
Hail Hail
Declan
-
I feel outcome of the game will rest with how our mid-field operates. if we are positive we can take them apart. If we go defensive I fear for our chances. If Sutton can get himself involved in the football side and not get caught up in running fueds like the last game we can do it. Bellamy to score first 2-0.
-
Bellamy and Aagthe ..together for the first time...against Andrews or Malcolm and the big slow Greek...and Paul thinks we should play for a late 1-0...get into them.....!!!!!!
they are there for the taking!!!!!
-
Re: Marvin Andrews
not a physiotherapist, but i am a postgrad in physiology so i know a bit about the anatomy of the knee, and i have also suffered from this type of injury myself, so i can't believe his injury is as bad as stated in the press. if his cruciate was ruptured as ive read then he would not be walking. that simple.a strain/stretch of the medial or lateral ligaments (either side of the kneecap) is enough to greatly reduce the mobility of the joint. cruciate is much more serious. a cruciate strain, never mind rupture, would cause swelling and pain so bad he wouldn't be able to fully bend his knee.and more, the ligament will be weakened, meaning that a tackle or strain on the knee may cause hyperextension and exacerbate the injury.very dodgy.waiver or no waiver, big 'eck's a cunt if he puts the guys health at risk.
mind you, sounds like they're talking pish as usual.
-
If thats their best secret weapon its not a very scary one....
Big Eck was supposedly encouraging him to get the op...as the "signs of a tear" are there..so if he plays it will be Marvin's choice..
But hey the guys a faith healer in his spare time so maybe stranger things have happened....
I think the idea of it being an elaborate plot is ridiculous..
But if BBJ, Hartson and Sutton play anywhere like they are capable it wont matter anyway....
-
From what I heard on clyde today it's his medial that is damaged but not ruptured. Medical advice is that to continue playing is to risk rupture.
-
i'm really caught in two minds about this one...
as long as we don't lose we're in pole position...
but if we are positive and take them we are 5 clear with 4 games to go!
surely it's got to be go for it!!
but maybe that's why i'm not the manager...
-
Rumoid - "..elaborate plot.."?
Cummon! The press doing what it does best in Scotland - MINDGAMES! And not in our favour.
Worried? A little. But then again, I always am going into these games. Got to assume that the minds are focused on the prize, and that those with a point to prove know that they are on a big stage.
Hail Hail and KTF.
-
Does brian quinn not have to step down due to being 70, sure I read that somwhere he was stepping down in the summer anyhow. Or maybe one too many tequilas.
-
Cmon Guys about to play for the title and you lot are be-moaning the fact that they have to turn up. Our defence has been to coin a phrase mince in recent weeks as has their forwards, midfield well lets not go there like so many of our players!. So if their forwards play like our defence happy days! WE CAN DO THIS. WE ARE ABOUT TO DO THIS! Paul et al have a brilliant day! C'mon the hoops
-
Its nonsense to talk of playing Andrews with a cruciate problem, this has either been paper talk or he has no chance of playing. Personaly I think it will turn out to be the latter and if that is the case McLeish has done a great job in deflecting the spotlight from Bob Malcolm, the guy is absoloute pi$h.While I don't realy care for the welfare of Andrews if his leg was amputated above the knee he would still be better than Malcolm. I watched him in the kick about at half time in the cup game at Parkhead and everytime the circle broke down it was down to Malcolm. I don't care which one of them plays let Bellamy run at them, be positive and we will win with goals to spare.
-
2 requests to MON.
Please, please, please do not play Joos (if he is fit) on the left side of defence.
Slightly less crucial - don't play Sutton in midfield and push Stan out to the right. Either play him upfront with BBJ starting on the bench or play him in defence with Balde on the bench.
I see the redtops have saved a supposedly front page story back for a full week so that it could appear on the morning of the big game.
-
Ian in Budapest
Celtic Ultra, with all due respect, no football manager would agree with you about Rangers players not being good enough to get a game at Celtic - and that includes Mon. However, you'd be right to claim that some of the individuals concerned, and we all know at least two, don't possess the personal qualities that are required to wear the hoops.
-
The chip wrappers nhave been pathetic this week pulling out the usual predictable stories, Lennon rejcts offer 'hes off',and today a newcastle 'insider' says that shearer has been getting text messages. Absolutely pathetic. They think it will unsettle but I think it will only inspire. Sevear PMT this is it 3-1 Celtic Hartson 1st goal. Come on
-
in maryhill 2day, not from here - can anyone suggest the best pub to watch the game in with me lady?
Cheers
Andy C
-
YYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RL
-
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
The sun is shining brightly...2-1, 2-1, 2-1. We shall not be moved. Oh, it's great to beat the Huns any day but it feels just that bit better at the minute.
Parkheadcumsalford.
Must buy those shares.
-
G B T P
Hail the CHAMPIONS
-
Evening Paul, fellow Tims,
It feels so nice.
Beating this mob in their ain midden.What a place to take the title.
Well done to the lads, and long may it continue.
Hail Hail the Champs are here....
-
Taggsybhoy
Its a beautiful day....
-
Brilliant result. Had Bellamy not come off I think we would have won by about 4. On that subject I thought Craig Beattie was absolutely awful. He looked knackered after about 5 mins after coming on. His composure in front of goal is terrible. If he is the future for the Celtic frontline then God help us. For all those calling to give youth a chance then there's your answer. Just not good enough and hence the caution from MON. Stan Petrov busted a lung or two and was undoubtedly man of the match. Some great saves by Marshall also but a couple of bad errors too. For all you who knock Agathe then think again. We're a much better side with him in the team. What other defender covers the ground he covers. He gives us more options. Great cross for the first goal.
Lastly, it felt like I was watching the game on Rangers TV today. Absolutely terrible coverage. Two Rangers men commentating on the game and three Rangers men in the studio. All the talk at half time was what Rangers needed to do to get back into the game. Barely a mention of the two superb goals and the team who were playing the better football. Craig Burley will certainly never fight the Celtic corner. Setanta seem to be continuing on from where BBC Scotland left off last year. Bring back SKY....
CeeDee
PS Never a free kick leading up to the goal. Beattie won the ball fairly in a 50-50 challenge. Dougall seemed intent on giving Rangers as much free kicks in the Celtic half as possible....
-
Brilliant win for the bhoys today.
CeeDee, agree if Belllamy had stayed on we were looking at 4-0 or 4-1. However, Beattie did ok when he came on. His pace put him in positions twice - first time he was unlucky, second time he skied it but that's nerves, through on the goalie at Ibrox. Give the lad a break for god's sake. For what it's worth whenever I've seen Beattie before this season didn't rate him, no first touch but this season he has looked good to me.
Whatever, everything feels so good!!!
-
Fabulous day out at a sunny Castle Greyskull today, with my wife on her first trip to such a place! Nervous last 20 minutes but I though the defence did OK. Agathe makes a huge difference back on the right and I think he had a brilliant game today. I dontthink the league is won yet. We have 4 hard game to play against teams who have shown they can beat/draw with us. What worries me is how one dimensional we became after Bellamy went off. We need to be able to change the shape/game plan in attack to have different ways of breaking down a team who are determined to sit in and play for a draw. For me, the difference will be us - the Celtic support - we need to really get behined the tesm for the next 2-3 games and roar them on to the tiel.
-
Anon, 6.28pm...agree 100% with every word you say.
Taggysbhoy...It is indeed a beautiful day! Thanks for the best wishes in your e-mail earlier, and yes, you're correct, AB IS the notorious Bendy from Ayrshire. Although I'd say, more Olly Reed than Brian Barnes!
Sorry lads for the vagueness here, but our man in Fife knows what I'm on about. It may however become obvious to all on 15th July.
We've just got to hope CB's injury isn't too serious, the guy simply tortured RFC for 50mins today. It also became clear what their tactics were when they tried to cripple him early on. Shocking challenges which went unpunished.
-
i know we keep harpin on about this but....
www.inthe80s.com/toys/castlegreyskull0.shtml
-
Unbeleivable. What a day. I agree that if Bellamy stayed on the park we would have won handsomely although i cant agree we became one dimensional. Beattie had about 3 one on ones and had he had a bit of composure then i wouldnt have been so nervous but we played on his pace well.
Can anyone remember an individual old form performance better than Petrov's??
-
Fantastic MOM performance by Petrov. great win. But I feel terribly sorry for Beattie. I never have, and never will, criticise Celtic players during the game (except Peter Grant) but that is the second time Beattie has been taken off. I pray he will recover confidence and become a great Celt.
-
Surely it was only Beattie's awful fitness that was the problem today. He ran for 5 minutes then looked as if he didn't want to be there.......
what am i saying?!
we're 5 points ahead, 12 to go after beating the huns at ibrox. One of petrov's best ever 75mins for the club, another goal from that man Bellamy and Nervy Nacho couldn't have scored in a barrel of P*ssy. Let's ignore beattie and concentrate on singing championeeeeeeeees for the rest of the season.
westim
p.s. congratulations (i think) to BBJ being named joint-player of the year with FR.
-
We shouldn't be too hard on Craig Beattie - you can only score if you put yourself in a position to do so ..... and he did - more times than BBJ did over 90 minutes. He was nervous, but ran his ar*e off for the time he was on. Give him a break and get behind everyone in the team.
I admit to not being a huge fan of Agathe, but he gave us a lot of balance today - something we've been short of for months.
The title is within our grasp now and we need to get behind the team - no room for any dissenters!! Despite the huns pulling back a goal - we could still see them sneaking out! We can't afford a repeat at CP, or anywhere else over the next 4 weeks.
I'll remember today, singing "bouncy, bouncy" at Ibrox as we finally accepted the title.
-
well well, 1-2 to the bhoys
Hail Hail
-
Fantastic today- we bossed it. The team retains class (even if just from memory)
Now comes the supporter part. I am NegAnon - but for now forget that. The next 2 games at CP are about intimidating the other teams.
Hail Hail to all
Its close.....
-
Wonderful first half, nervy second half. I was petrified their keeper was going to score an equaliser late on, and that would have been unforgivable against one of the poorest Rangers teams I have ever seen. They barely strung two passes together the whole day yet hit the bar and had two cleared off the line. With a bit more pace, stamina and composure about our team (and Bellers on for 90 minutes) we would have scored four or five. There's no doubt the team needs major surgery this summer if we are to mount a real challenge in the Champions League. Oh for four Petrovs in midfield! Stan was immense.
Hate to say it, but with wee CB out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring strain, the league is not wrapped up yet. We have four tough matches to come. But, hey, whose position would you rather be in?
Lastly, I'm never too enamoured about stealing other teams' songs. The "Bouncy-bouncy-bouncy-bouncy Ha-haha-haha" chant had me squirming at the time as the game wasn't over by then. But it was the first thing the Rangers fans in my local mentioned afterwards. "That felt like a kick in the stones" moaned one. So well done the lads in the Broomloan Stand!
-
NegAnon - totally agree with you. The run in is all about getting behind the Bhoys.
Stan, Marshall and Bellamy rightly got most of the plaudits today, but what about Sutton. He was quiet as an attacking threat, probably because he had Bazza in his back pocket for most of the game. So much for the prodigal hun returning from Blackburn to win the league.
-
Told you celtic would roll over the hun and so it shall be said across the land and so it shall be written in stone. Bellamy going off was a worry and still is till the diagnosis, I think though that he is the sort of player who would come off as a precaution. Hopefully he will be ok for the next game. If celtic had scored a third then it could have been a rout. At one point of the game around the 70th minute I thought surely it cant be this easy to beat the hun in thier own back yard, and true to form they didnt dissapoint throwing everything at us, we held on the rest is history.
Marshall petrov bellamy agathe anyone of them could have got the man of the match for me it was petrov followed by marshall even though the latter did make some mistakes he made some very very fine stops as well. No bellamy what do we do we revert to sutty and hartson up front we have been succesful with that line up before and if neccesary will be again.
I have not noticed any comments about the disgraceful scenes broadcast on setanta before the game. IE rangers fans en masse sieg hieling to certain dittys, shocking. No the focus was on the celtic support singing that wee ditty cheer up eck mcpish.
-
who was felix magath there to see?
petrov ? hopefully not bellamy !
-
According to the meeja on Sunday morning – Byern were over to look at Bobo ?
Good performance – Petrov was immense !
-
Bobo? sold!! ;-)
-
Great game and result for us.
For once the big players all came through on the same day, players that we've all knocked through the season played immense.
Like negative annon said lets get behind the team and roar them on to the title and let the parties begin.
Thought Petrov was fantastic and easily man of the match but Hately giving it to Marshall makes it look like they were all over us.
Would love to know the reason behind the bookings, or do you get booked for scoring at the Pig sty these days.
Bayern are apparently after Bobo.
Couple of million off you would need to seriously consider.
-
Petrov was easily MOTM but great contribution from bellamy and marshall. I thought thommo had his best game for a while. Sutton and lennon had quiet games but in doing so nullified Baz and Fandango. Beattie was unlucky and I don't think too much should be made of a sub being subbed. I think it was tactical and to waste a few seconds. It does seem that scoring against the hun at mordor is a bookable offence. I was worried that either of them would score again and get sent off!!!
I hope we have an interesting summer. I thought at one point it was a safe bet that bellamy would stay, but he gave an inteview on setanta and said that he wanted to leave in the summer with 2 medals. He then sort of back tracked and said that he hadn't given any thought about staying or going and just wanted to get this season out of the way. If he goes we will need an injection of pace and quality. Pot 2 looks a cert and we need to invest in the team to take full advantage of it.
-
You'd also think they were all over us if you read the Herald's match report. Absolutely shocking. Go on-line and read it then contrast it with Glen Gibbons' piece in the Scotsman. Night and day. Same result, though!!!!
GM
-
What a hangover-KB if you're tuning in from Amsterdam, I never made it up the road!! I overheard a Hun in the pub after the game saying that we'd brought them down to our level!!?? Stan was immense but the difference was down to Didier, his pace at the back negated Nogoal and Poorshow. Spent the last 10minutes staring at that diddy scoreboard at the Midden - did anyone else think that the clock was stuck on 88minutes for ages?! The bouncy bouncy was hillarious, we've taken over their "Simply the best", "Hullo, Hullo" and now bouncy bouncy, absolute class from the Bhoys!
DavieL
PS Why was Bellamy booked? If the rules permit we must appeal this.
