Anyone who thinks that Rangers will arrive at Celtic Park on Wednesday evening low on confidence or strategy better think again. For all their poor recent form they are top of the league, beat Celtic comfortably earlier this season and have a squad full of players who know what it’s like to win the league.
They will revert to a familiar strategy. Pack the midfield, deny Celtic’s creative players space, take no chances at the back and wait for a seasonal gift from Celtic. I watched their recent defeat to St Mirren and I think it’s possible to question some players’ attitude to the game but things will be different at Celtic Park. Already written off by many, ironically, they will arrive with the confidence only a team with nothing to lose can muster.
Celtic’s league form over the last two months has been exceptional and their Europa League performances indicate there is a lot more to come from this squad but they still have plenty to prove. A particular concern will be the lack of a settled team in recent months. Kelvin Wilson is likely to start his first game in months and I’d not be surprised to see Emilio Izaguirre back.
The front pairing is also a concern. Georgios Samaras is back to his best form but he and Hooper have never convinced as a partnership. We have to hope that Victor Wanyama can be relieved of central defensive duties to allow him to anchor midfield alongside Beram Kayal. Neither Brown nor Ki are sufficiently imposing in the crucial central midfield area. No matter how Celtic start on Wednesday the team will have a makeshift feel to it, any win will be hard earned.
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Mccoist starting to feel pressure!
Sky sports news… I stand by elbows appeal… We all sat down and thought sending off was harsh!
Your right swally!!! How dare a ref send an Orc player off prior to a derby v Celtic
Does he not know how Scottish fitba works????
I bet that refs middle name is Murphy or Declan!!!
He better not ref top flight SPL football again.
Anyway … It’s up to collum to make amends for such recklessness from SFA officialdome
Nothing withoutfans
Sorry for delay with this thankyou, worked a treat but my brand new spanking laptop had chewing gum in its works, think my nod32 and the semi installed McAphee anti virus had some issues between each other.
Thanks again your a gem
Ktt
Mtt
Watching the news there,”Royal.Correspondent/ Commentator” ffs get a real job.
Ex Huns “goal machine”© J Traynor, James Beattie warming up for Sheff Utd
mickthetic at 15:17
No problem.
If you’re still having problems with anti-virus software you’ll get lots of advice on here, but I’m a Mac user, so not from me.
The game against them:
I’m not bothered whether Elbows is suspended or not, he is just a bully and Neil has toughened up the team to be able to take care of players like him.
I am more than happy that Goian had no right to appeal as I feel he is their best defender and they will definitely be weakened by his absence.
The first goal will be vital and if we can get one in the first 30 minutes we could be in for a treat but if we have to wait until the 80th or 90th for the goal I’m not fussy as 1-0 in this game is all we need.
The pressure has been totally released from our situation which is a great thing as long as we take advantage of it, this will then ramp up the pressure on them. I hope that Neil is reminding every last one of them what jellylegs said a few weeks ago.
They will come over here biting and scratching like never before but they are definitely fragile and we will have to fight them hard to begin with before we can start to impose our football on them.
I’d still go for 3 in midfield, Wanyama being the CDM and Kayal and either Broonie or Ledley just ahead of him. Sammi must start as he scares them but I would play him as a left sided forward withdrawn from the front, if James doesn’t make it I’d have Broonie wide right and if Joe has to play LB then bring in Ki (I’d prefer 3 hard tacklers in there at the game start).
Hello everyone! Don’t suppose anyone knows any good Celtic pubs in central London? I’m ideally looking for a place within easy reach of Waterloo. Any tips?
Best case scenario for us is McCulloch gets an early yellow then Sally has to take him off fearing another yellow.
I jest of course. Sally’s last refuge is players like McCulloch and Lafferty. I expect our players to get kicked about from start to finish.
I’d welcome a 5 midfield from us and a restrained performance from Brown and Kayal. Hooper up front with Samaras behind.
And where to play Victor…
U
Anybody heard any news on Kris Commons? would love to see him back on top form.
Mtt
Vmhan is this guy Celtic class
“They have also been linked with Fleetwood Town’s hitman, Jamie Vardy, who has scored 13 goals in as many games for the Blue Square Premier club this season.”
Nothingwithoutfans
You done more than enough, l am totally rubbish on these things.
Ktt
Mtt
seanoc: 27 December, 2011 at 15:31
“Hello everyone! Don’t suppose anyone knows any good Celtic pubs in central London? I’m ideally looking for a place within easy reach of Waterloo. Any tips?”
The White Bear – Kennington Park Road is a 10 minute walk and the plaxce will be mobbed with Celtic supporters.
.
Ktt..??
Summa
Half Time
Arsenal 1(Gervinho) Wolves 1 (Fletcher)
Think we missed a good ‘un there!
Merry Christmas everyone.
Get up to Tynecastle and get young Tempelton signed Lenny.
Soul brother!
Not as much as the other striker!
I watched liverpools £35m striker Carroll then watched broms £4m long and thought …
Kenny… You wasted £40 m on Carroll and Adam
Shane long would have been sensational up here
Steinreignedsupreme
Thanks for the tip. Kennington is perfect.
Rankers spent £4m on jellylegs
We should have spent the same on long!
I reckon he will end up at man u or Chelsea in a £20m+ deal in jan or summer
I think he is a all round hardworking hard honest striker!
Sensational bit of business by WBA
Well said danny lennon
And, after the match, Rangers manager McCoist told how he was “disappointed” with the way Carey went down during the clash with McCulloch.
McCoist also questioned why, if Carey had been so badly hurt by a flying elbow, the Saints physio wasn’t called upon to treat his injury.
However, last night, Lennon fired back by insisting that his player is no soft touch.
He told Express Sports: “Graham got caught on the back of the head and the evidence is there for everyone to make their own judgement.
“Graham is a very honest lad and, for me, what’s telling is the reaction on Lee McCulloch’s face when he is coming off. He shuts his eyes and it looks like he knows he has let his team down.
“I watched the extended highlights and, from my point of view, there was certainly a swing there and Graham was caught.
“Regardless of how much contact was made, the intention was there.”
Lennon substituted Carey at the half-time interval and admits he made that decision because he feared the player might also have ended up being sent for an early bath.
pauloantony says:
27 December, 2011 at 15:56
Agreed-got to be one of the most improved Strikers in the business-wasn’t he just bought from Cork by Reading to keep Kevin Doyle company or something like that?
Probably just an urban myth!
Just saw Billy Bragg on TV and it reminded me of this. Especially for Barrach and the Peoples Republic of Barra.
Never buy the Sun
Partizan
lionroars67 says:
27 December, 2011 at 16:04
Well said danny lennon
Thought at the time it was a great decision by D.Lennon to sub Carey as he had already been booked(ironically for fouling Elbows!)The fact that he used to play for Celtic meant a red card was more likely than not if he had stayed on!
Good on Lennon. I was wondering when Ally was going to be taken to task for his cynical attempt to question Carey’s character in order to justify his appeal. It’s not the first time this has happened. So much for dignity.
Soul …
Absolutely!
Long has to be one of the buys if the season
Strong aggressive quick skillfull hardworking and above all a good finisher on the deck and in the air
The bonus! He always looks like he is enjoying himself!
£4m
Wow!
And to think we were in the running??
Imagine a hooper long partnership?
Frightening
Hi looking for some advice for orc free parking for tomorrow night. I am coming from the M74 and and need to head east(Edinburgh) sharpish after the game.
Would normally park on London road or North of London road (near the supporters club) but was wondering if the knuckledraggers would be parking there.
Thanks in advance
First of all:
Merry Christmas everyone – my interwebs has been somewhat knacked lately, sorry for the tardiness but the sentiment was there.
To business:
seanoc says:
27 December, 2011 at 16:15
That’s just it, and something the dirty stinking hun will never understand or take on board: Carey could have stood his ground and laughed in Elbows’ face (or rather his face could have laughed at Elbows, erm, elbow), but it would still have been a red card.
FPLG just doesn’t understand the rules, more so given the filthy stinking hun team he played in regularly flouted, and continues to flout, them.
Professor green
The huns park in Dalmarnock and walk up Springfield Rd before/after the game so you should be fine.
Jude 2005- Would make sense to get Templeton, the way James Forrest is progressing, the bids will come for him.
lionroars67 says:
27 December, 2011 at 16:04
Very well said Danny Lennon!!
I wonder, did Aluko need a sponge after going down……. And did Swally think he went down ‘too easily’…….???
Seeing Shane Long on TV I can only agree that he is a very good player. His off the ball movement is fantastic. The one that got away!
Good evening gents,..after a lovely, peaceful christmas…..Its back to business for us!!!!
Who will Lenny pick in centre half? who will he pick in mid field? her’s my choice..
Forster
Ledley (not worth throwing izzy in yet imo)
Mulgrew
K.wilson
cha
Big Vic
sammy
KI (if jamesy doesnt make it)
Kayal
Brown
Stokes (should be fit)
Hooper
I tell you what guys…..This is gonna be a long hard fight..and as usual at celtic park we must dominate the fraud squad for the full 90 mins…Let sammy bombard them with runs, brown will be snarling and getting in their faces,…and big vic will patrol our midfield with the conviction and porpose not seen since our Neil!
Stokesy and hooper will grab a goal each for a 2-0 win………here’s hoping for a carlsberg christmas guys!!!!! hail hail!!
Jim White on SS News got new teeth for his Christmas,either that or hes breaking a set in for a horse.
sally is bang on the sending off was harsh,
mr mcculloch has been using his elbows in similar fashion for years with little or no punishment, its reasonable then to presume he thought it was allowed, sone aluko was clearly assaulted, despite that he tried valiantly to stay on his feet, kyle laffalot is misunderstood, the taxmans a liar,
its a bit like potty training a child, if you continue to let them soil their nappy they never learn, and lets be honest thems have been allowed to S*** wherever and whenever they want for over a hundred dignified years,
why should they wish to learn now?
Bada
White could chew an apple through a letter box with those gnashers!!
MICK11 says:
27 December, 2011 at 16:35
don’t think Collum will let us play with 12 players ;-)
petec says:
27 December, 2011 at 15:30
“I hope that Neil is reminding every last one of them what jellylegs said a few weeks ago.”
I believe it’s been up on the dressing room wall since 3-3 at killie
HH
Heard a couple of interesting snippets today.
1. The police are the ones who wanted the game on a Wednesday night – so be carful lads.
2. Mr. Collum is under severe scruitiny from above tomorow night after previous performances – will be interesting to see how that pans out.
Seville67
Good evening to the Celtic Family from a dark and wet Central Scotland. I just watched the Arsenal v Wolves game Arsenal play some lovely football but have no cutting edge Wolves defend in Depth and the Gunners just couldnt finish them off.H.H.