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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By the way folks, is the clyde1 phone in on tonight???
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
27 December, 2011 at 17:07
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JFH, What channel was that game on ?
Palacio67 I watched on an ilegal stream from a Spanish network,H.H.
Seville67
Since they’re not on double time/pay, as they would have been on the 2nd january, does this mean there’ll be twice as many police ?
A lot of fans will have been drinking from early/mid/late afternoon, this aligned to the heavy police presence, Salmonds new catch all law and Collums
record in games involving us, worries me.
HH
I think Stokesy will be on the bench…..
I like:
Forster
Izzy
Mulgrew
Kelvin
Cha
Gorgeous (free to roam out wide)
Ledley
Wanyama (if wanyam’s that good, just imagine how good twoyama would be)
Kayal
Brown
Hooper
Will the game go ahead very strong winds expected
Severe weather Warning for Matchday
Stenna have changed their crossing to 3.30am tomorrow…
JFH, Though I missed the boat there, was watching the Sheff utd game.
Swansea 1 -0 up on QPR
HH
delete my last post please
If there is one word to describe our southside neighbours this year, it must be, Appealing.
A more appealimg team hasn’t taken to the field throughout FIFA/UEFAs jurisdiction.
They have appealed the big Tax Case, the Wee Tax Case, plus the Dying Aluku episode and the Bruised Elbows.
I think it is also long overdue for Mc.Coist to be invited to explain his various critical remarks, made in all honesty, directed at match officials and the SFA’s disciplinery mechanism.
Re tomorrow’s game. i see it as a very tough and dangerous encounter for us and, unfortunately, I don’t share a lot of the optimism that’s abroad on here.
We are not built for their game, unless we play five in midfield, including Brown, Kayal, Vic and Ki/ Ledley, ( or both).
One up front.
*appealimg = appealing.
Palacio67 Send me your E.mail address and I will send you the link there are allways plenty of games to choose from tonight Norwich City v Spurs looks interesting.H.H.
BT
I love Stenna…
MurdochAuldandHay
There is strong wind in my hoos every day. It’s never affected the wife’s cleaning or cooking schedule so I can’t see it stopping a bunch of good ghuys and baddies kicking a baw aboot.
MWD
gallagher says:
27 December, 2011 at 16:47
:)
I know Neil is a miracle worker but even I didn’t think he was a clairvoyant. ;)
The Killie game was the big turning point as you say. They talk about how Fergie had to win the FA cup to stay in a job, I think that was Neils moment and he will go from strength to strength because of it.
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
27 December, 2011 at 17:21
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JFH, I have got the full sports package with Virgin, usually watch all the games. Only watch online streams if Celtic are playing and have no other way to watch.
Would have loved to watch the Norwich game but going out very shortly for a few swift ones before I head off to The Port Harp annual dance.
Plenty of illicit alcohol and chanting with our guests Quigleys point.
Hail Hail
While I am desperate for Celtic to win tomorrow night but if we dont its not the end of the World as we have already clawed back 14 points so 4 would be very achievable.I think we should go to Celtic Park and make the thunder and enjoy watching the Bhoys.H.H.
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/scottishpremier/celtic/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/11/12/27/SOCCER_Celtic_Nightlead.html
I have read a few interviews in the build up to tomorrow’s game and it is clear that no one in the Celtic dressing room is taking anything for granted.
As supporters though we have every right to be confident of beating the Huns on Wednesday. Celtic go into the game undefeated in 11 league matches with eight straight wins, and we are playing a team who have had 14 points knocked off their lead at the top of the table in seven weeks.
If you can’t be confident of getting a result in those circumstances then you never will be.
Confidence should never be mistaken for arrogance.
It will be tough but the game is there to be won and we should not have any fear.
So how many SS Troopers are the Scottish Nazi Party deploying tomorrow. Remember travelling fans/public all at risk of causing offence tomorrow.
MWD
MWD
Its mini hurricane bawbag2 heading our way Met office have issued severe weather warning
Nothing do do with your flatulence in the hoose :)
Fecked up the creator there,obviously, apologies to the iphone users.
cathach says: 13.58
Sorry ’bout your experience in Louisburgh. In truth, tho I’m a native I have never managed
to watch a Celtic Match there. And of course with the native pop. well squeezed by the ‘blowins’
of the Tiger, you are as likely to meet anykind in the local hostelries.
Palacio67. Have a great night fella and im sure you will have a second great night tomorrow.H.H.
Looking forward to a tight match tommorow.
Would prefer a stroll but doubt it.
May go for 3-1 and comfortable last ten minutes for us to huddle and JCGE.
Cmon the Hoops.
70mph winds tommorow night Bhoys.
Let’s blow them away.
MA&H
You’ve never experienced Hurricane Sphyncter Buster.
MWD
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
27 December, 2011 at 17:30
Read a good post of yours last week,about the age of the team and what Neil is building for the future.Was wondering what you would do if we didn’t win the league give Neil another year or let him go.
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
27 December, 2011 at 17:30
==================
Cheers.
Going tomorrow night with my son, but will be trying to stay as sober as possible as I think there will be a lot of flashpoints and honest mistakes from the mib. Also wary of the police motives on the timing of this match, far higher levels of drunkeness than your usual 1200 KO. Selective arrests in the Celtic support outnumbering the huns.
Confident of a result but not complacent.
HH
MA&H
Not to worry It’s an Orange Weather Warning
MWD
MWD
If we have already had Hurricane Bawbag and missed its predecessor Hurricane A*s*h*le, then surely we are up to C by now.
So long as its no Hurricane Coisty
Prof Green
I parked at the Forge during the last Hun game as I was told there were Huns down london road :L
HH
Lennons Passion. Thank you for saying it was a good post and your question is a good one.My personal point of view is we are building a real quality squad at Celtic Park and we will win the League this season.However,If by some quirk of fate we dont I would give Lennie another season we have had some good European results and the ream are begining to gel.He has managed to bring in some real quality players so who could we get that would do a better job ? so in Lennon I trust.H.H.
Ally McCoist’s pitiful denial of the obvious in two cases in the last few weeks (Aluko’s dive and McCulloch’s elbow violence) is absolutely fascinating.
It looks like Rangers FC and the laptop loyal right now is just denial-central. Top to bottom, inside out, back and furrit, denial of anything and everything that is or could be a problem to them. How many elephants can you get in one room!?
Q. Craig Whyte the SFA is investigating the facts surrounding your disqualification from being a company director and alleged illegal work done by you in that context. How concerned are you about this?
A. We’re not concerned at all, are we Nellie?
Q. Craig Whyte when are you suing the BBC? You said that you had instructed your lawyers in that matter on the 20th of October.
A. I keep forgetting to do it. But Colonel Hathi here remembers everything and we’ll be right on this as soon as I get done with this Q&A, no problem, you betcha.
Q. Craig Whyte why are the company accounts for the year to June 2011 not audited?
A. Getting £24 million plus £12 million plus 100% of £24 million to add up to £1 is not as easy as you’d think. Is it Lucy?
Q. Craig Whyte if the accounts are not audited by the 31st of December 2011 you will be in breach of company law and UEFA regulations, how concerned are you about this?
A. What’s UEFA?
Q. Craig Whyte when is the AGM?
A. We’ll be all set for that once we clear up this mountain of elephant dung.
Q. Craig Whyte why have you not paid any tax or national insurance to HMRC since you bought the club?
A. We get our insurance at elephant.co.uk
Q. Ally McCoist, did Aluko dive to win that penalty against Dunfermline?
A. No. Dumbo here had a great view from the air and says there was a definite foul, stonewaller!
Q. Ally McCoist did McCulloch deliberately and violently elbow Graham Carey of St Mirren?
A. No. Shut it Manny, you’re not even an elephant.
Patrick27 and Hamilton tim
Cheers that gives me something to think about??
The last midweek hun game I was at was the big Jan winner and plod was stopping you walking east along London road to allow the huns to get away first. Held us there for 20 mins after the final whistle. Bloody disgrace.
If they do that again will need to leave early or your stuck! Mind you when big Jan scored the winner in the last minute, no one was leaving early that great night!
SFTB
Its impossible that it’d be called Hurricane Coisty as the LL only know him as Allastair and as you say A was for Ash-hoooolllleeeee.
So C can only be HURRICANE CELTIC! Be warned ya Huns.
MWD
can you hear that??……the thunder is coming!
MWD
Good reasoning.
Now can you re-assure me it won’t be Hurricane Collum?