The players would have had a light training session at Lennoxtown today as muscles continue to refill after Wednesday night’s exertions. Expectations of Celtic in the Champions League are not high, and were exceptionally low when this group was drawn, but even so, these games have a huge financial, physical and even emotional impact on every area of the club.
One argument suggests the last thing we need is a cup semi-final four days after a Champions League outing. An alternative thought is that this is the perfect game for Celtic right now. Memories linger of sitting stressfully at Fir Park days after Celtic beat the reigning European Champions, Milan, as (subsequently liquidated) Grenta held onto a lead until the 87th minute.
While playing (subsequently liquidated) Rangers away 64 hours after winning a Uefa Cup semi-final 1200 miles from home in 2003 proved to be the perfect game to instil steel into the legs.
With what passes as a fully fit squad, Brendan has choices to make for Sunday. Did Patrick Roberts do enough off the bench against Borussia to justify a start? Perhaps. He’s a player who owes us one at Hamden too.
Callum McGregor will also fancy his chances ahead of Nir Bitton, who didn’t have a great Scottish Cup semi-final against the same opponents in April.
It would be a huge surprise if Moussa Dembele didn’t start as the lone forward, despite Leigh Griffiths itching to get on alongside him. Brendan will not change formation for this game, while Moussa will fancy his chances against a defence he punished to ruthlessly last month.
For me, our two most important players on Sunday will be Scott Sinclair and Tom Rogic. They are the epitome of the modern footballer, strong, skilful, intelligent and difficult to defend against. If we can get them on the ball often enough we’ll score a lot of goals.
Pretty much every Celtic fan I know expects Mark Warburton to have learned a lesson from his Celtic Park whipping and for him to deploy a more defensively-minded team this time. My Newco pals don’t expect this to happen. Warburton hasn’t varied his game-plan since arriving at the club and is apparently reluctant to start experimenting now.
He took his team to Hampden to face Celtic against similarly long odds last season. Within minutes we knew we were in a game, and despite the clear chasm between the teams, it was Newco who faced Hibs in the Scottish Cup final.
A repeat of the 5-1 win at Celtic Park is possible, but you’ve seen enough football to know that nothing can be taken for granted on Sunday. Remember that Newco came close to levelling that 5-1 game at 2-2 early in the second half, and the latter part of their collapse came after going down to 10 men.
I’m off later to meet those from the Tyneside No. 1 and friends, who have walked (yes, WALKED), from Merthyr Tydfil and will reach Doherty’s Bar in Hamilton this afternoon. They’ve pretty much walked a marathon a day for 13 days and will make the final journey to Celtic Park tomorrow.
This herculean effort has been made to mark the memory of Jonathan Thomas, who aged 30 lost his biggest fight one year ago tomorrow.
We’re lucky as Celtic fans that we get to meet and read about people who do these things in our name. It’ll take you 2 minutes to let them know how inspiring they are here.
It’s also worth marking the events in Aberfan, the village a few miles from Merthyr Tydfil which was visited by unimaginable tragedy 50 years ago today.
John Humphrys: What we owe the people of Aberfan 50 years after tragedy struck the village, and why it shows authority must be challenged. pic.twitter.com/OdjyaAGTsQ
— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) October 21, 2016
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FAVOURITE UNCLE on 22ND OCTOBER 2016 6:49 PM
BIG GEORGES FAN CLUB – HAIL, HAIL, WEE OSCAR on 22ND OCTOBER 2016 6:36 PM
great post as always WEE MAN.and you prediction for tomorrow is????
———————————————————————
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Sorry for only just replying now. I was pealing tatties as Da is making home made chips (yum!).
Prediction
The Rangers 1-4 Celtic
HH
WEE BGFC
TET: Gracias , mi amigo !! Not a wine afficianado but like your recommendations when we come out here! Remember your nod re El Coto particular bottle and it was ‘nectar’ or fn brill! Thanks for the invite to your place but we have a recently widowed pal of my wife’s on this visit so we will be showing her round here! If I could work out your post re sky go I would go on right away but I need to write it down and try separately!! DINOSAURS ARE WE!!
Blantyre Tim
Here is the link
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/scottish-football-job-prospects-1983/
On the ads causing problems, I posted on this the other day and we have made improvements with more to come.
Thanks WC
Hope to catch up with Andy Lynch Monday evening on Cqn
Messi goes tonto at Valencia fans after Neymar is floored with a plastic bottle.
Hello,
I have just ordered Hoops, Stars and Stripes from the CQN Bookstore using the following link http://cqnbookstore.co.uk/shop.php?p=74.
Have I missed the Quality Street Gang offer? I didn’t see any mention of it in the link.
Thanks.
HH
CCB
Try Coto de Imaz, it’s top quality for the money, better than El Coto, Mercadonna and Consum sell it.
Go here and see what works for you re the VPN, as you are only here for a short while a free trial might be the answer.
https://www.google.es/search?q=how+to+add+a+vpn+to+your+computer&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-ab&gfe_rd=cr&ei=srQLWNznO4bY8gfO8LGYDA
HH
Harry Artur has Victor on his ar$e today – nice picture:)
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/harry-arters-comments-on-euro-2016-and-the-upcoming-clash-with-austria-will-please-irish-fans-35153055.html
Bendigo
He had a high tackle on big Vic today then was on the receiving end of an elbow from Another Spurs player
That being the highlights of another crap EPL match
Iniesta out for 3 months.
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 22ND OCTOBER 2016 7:58 PM
Don’t watch the EPL to be honest but hopefully Artur can do something for Martin and the Republic
Stephen McPhail retires
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/steven-gerrard-serves-up-classy-tribute-to-stephen-mcphail-after-old-rival-announced-his-retirement-35153147.html
Bendigo
He played well,I have the android box so watch sky sports for free, tbh it’s on in te. Background more often than not
GREENINBINGLEYINOSLO
We are working on this but best advice at this stage if you can switch off Javascript.
Settings – Safari – Advanced – down bottom switch off Javascript.
The ad blockers don’t do what they say on the tin.
Big Georges
Oops I’d got you two for Dingwall.
BT
Will let you know re night asap.
HH
CRC
HT
Sorry for that C
Can you get them moved on, thought coz u where abroad I would help out
CRC
Cheers mate
As I said smaller venue so will go quickly
Imo the 443/451 did not work against BMG. Our midfield were all over the place and our forward players were hopelessly isolated and starved of the ball. It’s no secret I would like to see Brendan go 442 tomorrow with Moussa and Griff up front. Sinclair Brown Rogic and Roberts in midfield, KT Eric the Viking , Jozo or Kolo along side and the new guy at rb with Gordon in goal. Btw whatever team we play tomorrow should be good enough.
VFR: See you there.
Hamiltontim: Thanks a million for tomorrow, I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t know if you remember, but when you were in Glasnevin Cemetary I took you to Frank Ryan’s grave.
https://youtu.be/xQbXO828Vio
Stan Hilder RIP.
We should’ve went 3511 against BMG, I’m surprised BR abandoned this, from his early games it appeared to be his preferred formation.
BT
No worries S these things happen. No doubt there’ll be a queue of people wanting the tickets seeing as there’s this need to reappraise the away allocation! :-)
As for tomorrow we’re at hampdump playing a game that matters so my hopes of us not bottling it are slim, hopeful I’m wrong
Almore
I do and I’m so glad you did. I’ve read a few books about Frank Ryan, an extraordinary man.
Enjoy tomorrow my friend and you’re welcome.
Give them hell!
UTLR
Green Bingley
I downloaded ad blocker app and access this site via the app. All good so far, 3 days in.
I got a new Microsoft Surface on Friday, punched in CQN, utterly blitzed with ads and offers for all sorts of bollocks. Company own the Microsoft Surface so I will just avoid using it for CQN.
My Samsung Android tablet is 5 years old and has same issues as the Surface tablet. To be honest I am with you and find it all a bit of a pain. I post less and view less nowadays.
A blessing for many I think.
VFR 2.41pm
At last another person who realises the semi final last season for what it was, we were rubbish with 30+ shots on target, the other mob tried and tried and managed to get to penalties, Tom Rogic missed a penalty in the shoot out that was it …… If any Celtic fan believes the Hun hype you’d be as well believe it’s the same team that liquidated (I realise it’s still the same flies)
BT
Looks like I am in your post code the morra, hope we might end up in the PV for a wee shandy
FRESHSANDWICHES
Yes you will receive a copy of Quality Street Gang with your signed copy of Andy’s book – as will all CQNers who order Hoops Stars and Stripes.
GORDON64 on 22ND OCTOBER 2016 8:15 PM
We won’t change formation tomorrow.
Gerry
I’m more than likely to be in the lounge mate
Night bhoys n ghirls
TTR As we have found to our cost in recent years the wide Hampden park does not suit playing a lone striker. Sinclair and Roberts can run amok down the flanks to create chances for Griff and Moussa to score at will.
The Huns will be seriously up for it tomorrow. They will go with Halliday, Holt and Windass in midfield. They will try and overrun us and create 3 v 2 scenarios. Old man Miller will get the nod along with MacKay and probably Waghorn. They have a lot to prove and will feel they can get after us. The reactionary narrative in the SMSM since Wednesday will have given them added belief. With Thomson the MIB that is another wee lift for them.
I reckon it will be a tight match dependant on which way the breaks go. The unthinkable could happen. I’m hoping that Wednesday night will be a wee bump back down to earth for the likes of KT and Moussa. Playing Bitton tomorrow is not an option and i would be astonished to see him start. Armstrong could be an option as he has a great engine and work ethic. The downside with him is if doesn’t go well early on he will fade. The key for us will be to match their energy in midfield. If we do that we should win.
During commentary on today’s Semi-Final, Michael Stewart said he thought the Hundump pitch had been narrowed.
Why would they do that? Lol.
Gordon64
With respect, what you are saying about the wide pitch etc is wrong, so wrong, Hampden is the same width as Celtic’s pitch, both are 75 yards wide.
HH
And the Ibrox pitch is 76 yards wide
TET Exactly my point. However in recent years our players have shrunk when they crossed the white line.
GFTB, too right. We were rotten and they played at the top[ of their game. A similar scenario tomorrow with Dembele up from would see us win!
TIMTHEREAPER, Halliday, Holt and Windass are not a match for Brown, Bitton and Rogic. They won’t over-run us; they will be too busy tracking back and trying to cut off supply to Sinclair and Forrest (or Roberts). Big Moussa will again bully their centre backs. They rely on Tavernier and Wallace to get forward to allow their midfielders to get that 3 v 2 scenarios. If the play their full-backs high up we will slaughter them. Can you honestly see any of them getting in our squad never mind our starting 11?
The SMSM and the Breid Man are sadly mistaken. I think he actually believes that they are as good as us.
FAC the Act
KTF
Anyone need two tickets for Dingwall on Wednesday night?
TTR
I am in total agreement re. Bitton. He needs removed from the team for his own benefit, as much as ours.
As there are still so many players in the team who featured in the last two seasons, our bottle on the big important games is still under suspicion (IMO), and Bitton more than most has been culpable before. We can not give the monkeys one bit of encouragement tomorrow, and his inclusion in the team would give them a target to concentrate on.
I am sure Brendan has seen this, and assuming we don’t bottle it, I am sure we will win well.