Adrenaline dip, reds, wanton ruffling

1215

Cast your mind back to earlier this month.  February ended with a 100% domestic record, qualification for the League Cup Final and two merit awards for performances against Inter Milan.  We then walloped nearest challengers Aberdeen 4-0.  A small matter of a game against St Johnstone lay ahead before the Scottish and League Cup double-header against Dundee United.  Which we lost.  At home.

If a team drops even a few percentage points below its optimum the actual drop in results achieved can be enormous.  Celtic have answered all the big questions over the last seven weeks, despite the reversal in Milan; there will inevitably be a drop in adrenaline when normality returns, which is tomorrow, again against United.

We have a month to prepare for the Scottish Cup semi-final but another St Johnstone-type episode would cut the gap at the top to zero points, with Celtic having one game in hand.

I’m a great believer than a manager cannot and should not ask his players to climb the mountain every time.  If he does, he loses that special intensity he’ll need for the truly big occasions.  The players, from captain to novice, must carry the burden.

Niggles between players happen in every game.  On most occasions it will be a couple of months before you face the same opponent again, so whatever happened last time will have been replaced in the mind’s gallery of items the player feels sore about.

Since Scottish football became the Celtic-Dundee United show that’s changed.  A player who elbowed you last game will be running at you next time out.  This is the stuff red cards are made of.

There is a chance that we’ve beaten United into submission and that they’ll turn up in body, not mind, tomorrow, but if Jackie McNamara manages to convince them they are victims of wanton Celtic player’s face-on-United player’s elbow action, you can expect more reds.

Keep your cool, Celtic.  Nothing more than wanton hair ruffling.

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  1. Hamiltontim

     

    06:50 on

     

    21 March, 2015

     

    burgas hoops

     

     

    Good afternoon.

     

     

    ______________________________

     

     

     

    haha no quite yet HT 9:25AM just back with my dogs from the beach.

  2. TBJ says Wee Oscar Knox is in heaven with the angels on

    A lovely sunny morning in the East end of Glasgow .

     

     

    3pm kick off so should be at CQN corner around 2pm and expecting some man hugs from the usual suspects

     

     

    My first opportunity to see zig & zag playing in the hoops ( although stu got his picture taken with me last weekend)

     

     

    Fully expecting our football to be sharper again today and their thugs to chase shadows all afternoon .

     

     

    Come on you bhoys in green

  3. Like no other

     

    07:12 on

     

    21 March, 2015

     

    Best pasta in Glasgow:

     

     

    _____________________

     

     

    Cant be doing with that stuff…………………….stick a wild boar on the barbie kinda guy.

  4. colour blind bhoy

     

     

    We were decanted to 106 from 406 for Wednesday’s game. I must say the view was excellent.

     

     

    For the first part of his time with us Boruc was the best I’ve seen at Celtic in my opinion.

     

     

    And then Easter Rd happened :-(

     

     

    Burgas

     

     

    Aye me too :-)

  5. TBJ says Wee Oscar Knox is in heaven with the angels on

    Best 11 of my lifetime

     

     

    Gordon

     

    McGrain . McNeil . Clark . Gemmil

     

     

    Johnstone .. Auld … Murdoch .. Lennox

     

     

    Larsson … Balde

     

     

     

    ;)

  6. Like no other on

    Burgas hoops…

     

     

    That’s what I’m talking about – it was the best wild boar pasta have ever had – still had the hair on it. Deeeeelish.

     

     

    HH

  7. Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles on

    Good morning from an overcast, somewhat chilly, Vordingborg in Denmark. Up visiting my oldest Bhoy who studies here. Heading to Copenhagen to hopefully see the game in the Dubliner bar, which is a bit of a Tim shop from what I can gather.

     

    Hopefully Dundee will get their wellies on against the Sheep and do the necessary and a wee 5 goal thriller at CP to follow, all 5 goals being scored by us.

     

     

    COYBIG

  8. like no other

     

     

    07:33 on 21 March, 2015

     

    Burgas hoops…

     

     

    That’s what I’m talking about – it was the best wild boar pasta have ever had – still had the hair on it. Deeeeelish.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    ——

     

     

    You sure it was a boar? :-)

  9. tbj says wee oscar knox is in heaven with the angels

     

     

    07:32 on 21 March, 2015

     

    Best 11 of my lifetime

     

     

    Gordon

     

    McGrain . McNeil . Clark . Gemmil

     

     

    Johnstone .. Auld … Murdoch .. Lennox

     

     

    Larsson … Balde

     

     

    ;)

     

     

    ———

     

     

    Grand looking team as long as that’s Jobo you’ve got up there with KoK?!!

     

    Or Bobo up for a corner!

     

     

    ;-)

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  10. TBJ

     

     

    “Larsson … Balde”

     

     

    ——-

     

     

    I preferred him with the dreadlocks :-)

  11. Colour Blind Bhoy on

    After close on 3 hour’s peace and quiet, I am no longer the only one awake so time to make breakfast, go for a run, wash the car then go and see the Champions play.

     

    Have a great Saturday everyone and COYBIG

  12. Good morning friends from a very bright, dry but slightly frosty East KIlbride.

     

     

    A lovely morning to mark the 250th ParkRun at Strathclyde (the 250th event, not my own total which stands at a mere 126, 65 of which have been at Strathclyde)

     

     

    enoughboringinfoCSC

  13. Like no other on

    Hamiltontim

     

    You sure it was a boar? :-)

     

     

    ——————————————–

     

     

    Definitely was. I yawned the whole way through it.

     

     

    HH

  14. Gerryfaethebrig on

    HT

     

     

    My midfield 4 that I had watched, was Maestro, Lennon, Burns & Petrov, after reading your team I might sub Petrov and put Naka in, canny believe I left him out too start with, a genius with a ball, always taught to play with your head up looking for a pass, Nakamure didn’t even have to have his eyes open, it was a pleasure to watch our Japanese Bhoy !

  15. minx1888 praying to Wee Oscar on

    Good morning All

     

     

    And a very happy birthday to our very own TTTT! An absolute gem of a Mhan! Have a great day sir!

     

     

    As I’m a Ghirl and I can im changing IT from best to favourite 11!

     

     

    McKnight

     

    Morris Mccarthy Whyte Rogan

     

    Miller McStay Aitken Burns

     

    McAvennie Mcghee (walker played but he doesn’t count)

     

     

    Have seen way way better players and teams but that centenary team they are my favourite!

  16. Morning all.

     

     

    Celtic playing at home on a Saturday with a 3pm kick off?!

     

     

    Will never catch on!

     

     

    Intae thum Celtic!

     

     

    HH!!

  17. gerryfaethebrig

     

     

    Nae Lubo????

     

     

    For me he’s the most naturally gifted player I’ve seen in the Hoops.

     

     

    Tommy Burns is my all time favourite Celt but I wouldn’t have him in my best 11.

  18. Trying to get my top 11 of all time together but i’m struggling to fit in Joe Fillippi ?

  19. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    Just took a glance at the SPL table and EVERY team still has something to play for regardless of their current form.

     

     

    This Armageddon stuff is pretty competitive….

  20. Do those of you with Naka and Lubo in their dream midfield realise there’ll be handbags for the coveted #25 shirt?

     

    Bad man management if you ask me.

  21. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    Happy birdie to you, happy birdie to you

     

    Happy birdie, dear TTTT, haaaaapy birdieeeeee toooo yooooouuuu ….!!!!

  22. TBJ says Wee Oscar Knox is in heaven with the angels on

    HT / jamesgang

     

     

    Just cos you two cannot see amidos potential doesn’t stop visionaries like me standing up for him ;)

     

     

    Was gonna put tony cascarino up front with kok but couldn’t spell his surname :)

  23. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    My dream defence

     

     

    Ronny, Roony, Ronny and Ronny ……. Off to the gym, then on to Paradise…..HH

  24. TBJ says Wee Oscar Knox is in heaven with the angels on

    Wishing tommy twists tommy turns a very happy and warm birthday in sunny climes .

  25. A wee big shout out for Magnificentseven. If you’re lurkin’ can you send in your first pick for Last Man Standing please.

  26. weet weet weet(GBWO) on

    I blame the schools;)

     

     

    GENUINE ANSWERS

     

     

    UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE (BBC2)

     

    Jeremy Paxman: What is another name for ‘cherrypickers’ and ‘cheesemongers’?

     

    Contestant: Homosexuals.

     

    Jeremy Paxman: No. They’re regiments in the British Army who will be very upset with you

     

     

     

    BEG, BORROW OR STEAL (BBC2)

     

    Jamie Theakston: Where do you think Cambridge University is?

     

    Contestant: Geography isn’t my strong point.

     

    Jamie Theakston: There’s a clue in the title.

     

    Contestant: Leicester

     

     

     

    BBC NORFOLK

     

    Stewart White: Who had a worldwide hit with What A Wonderful World?

     

    Contestant: I don’t know.

     

    Stewart White: I’ll give you some clues: what do you call the part between your hand and your elbow?

     

    Contestant: Arm

     

    Stewart White: Correct And if you’re not weak, you’re…?

     

    Contestant: Strong.

     

    Stewart White: Correct – and what was Lord Mountbatten’s first name?

     

    Contestant: Louis

     

    Stewart White: Well, there we are then. So who had a worldwide hit with the song What A Wonderful World?

     

    Contestant: Frank Sinatra?

     

     

     

    LATE SHOW (BBC MIDLANDS )

     

    Alex Trelinski: What is the capital of Italy ?

     

    Contestant: France

     

    Trelinski: France is another country. Try again.

     

    Contestant: Oh, um, Benidorm.

     

    Trelinski: Wrong, sorry, let’s try another question. In which country is the Parthenon?

     

    Contestant: Sorry, I don’t know.

     

    Trelinski: Just guess a country then.

     

    Contestant: Paris

     

     

     

    THE WEAKEST LINK (BBC2)

     

    Anne Robinson: Oscar Wilde, Adolf Hitler and Jeffrey Archer have all written books about their experiences in what: – Prison, or the Conservative Party?

     

    Contestant: The Conservative Party.

     

     

     

     

    BEACON RADIO ( WOLVERHAMPTON )

     

    DJ Mark: For 10, what is the nationality of the Pope?

     

    Ruth from Rowley Regis: I think I know that one. Is it Jewish?

     

     

     

    UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

     

    Bamber Gascoyne: What was Gandhi’s first name?

     

    Contestant: Goosey?

     

     

     

    GWR FM ( Bristol )

     

    Presenter: What happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963 ?

     

    Contestant: I don’t know, I wasn’t watching it then.

     

     

     

    PHIL WOOD SHOW (BBC RADIO – MANCHESTER )

     

    Phil: What’s 11 squared?

     

    Contestant: I don’t know.

     

    Phil: I’ll give you a clue. It’s two ones with a two in the middle.

     

    Contestant: Is it five?

     

     

     

    RICHARD AND JUDY

     

    Richard: Which American actor is married to Nicole Kidman?

     

    Contestant: Forrest Gump.

     

     

     

    RICHARD AND JUDY

     

    Richard: On which street did Sherlock Holmes live?

     

    Contestant: Er. .. …

     

    Richard: He makes bread . . ..

     

    Contestant: Er . …..

     

    Richard: He makes cakes . . ..

     

    Contestant: Kipling Street ?

     

     

     

    LINCS FM PHONE-IN

     

    Presenter: Which is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world?

     

    Contestant: Barcelona

     

    Presenter: I was really after the name of a country.

     

    Contestant: I’m sorry, I don’t know the names of any countries in Spain

     

     

     

    NATIONAL LOTTERY (BBC1)

     

    Question: What is the world’s largest continent?

     

    Contestant: The Pacific.

     

     

     

    ROCK FM ( PRESTON )

     

    Presenter: Name a film starring Bob Hoskins that is also the name of a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci.

     

    Contestant: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

     

     

     

    THE BIGGEST GAME IN TOWN (ITV)

     

    Steve Le Fevre: What was signed, to bring World War I to an end in 1918?

     

    Contestant: Magna Carta?

     

     

     

    JAMES O’BRIEN SHOW (LBC)

     

    James O’Brien: How many kings of England have been called Henry?

     

    Contestant: Er, well, I know there was a Henry the Eighth … ER. ER … Three?

     

     

     

    CHRIS SEARLE SHOW (BBC RADIO BRISTOL )

     

    Chris Searle: In which European country isMount Etna?

     

    Caller: Japan

     

    Chris Searle: I did say which European country, so in case you didn’t hear that, I can let you try again.

     

    Caller: Er ….. Mexico ?

     

     

     

    PAUL WAPPAT (BBC RADIO NEWCASTLE )

     

    Paul Wappat: How long did the Six-Day War between Egypt and Israellast?

     

    Contestant (long pause): Fourteen days.

     

     

     

    DARYL DENHAM’S DRIVETIME (VIRGIN RADIO)

     

    Daryl Denham: In which country would you spend shekels?

     

    Contestant: Holland ?

     

    Daryl Denham: Try the next letter of the alphabet.

     

    Contestant: Iceland ? Ireland ?

     

    Daryl Denham: (helpfully) It’s a bad line. Did you say Israel ?

     

    Contestant: No.

     

     

     

    PHIL WOOD SHOW (BBC GMR)

     

    Phil Wood: What ‘K’ could be described as the Islamic Bible?

     

    Contestant: Er. … …

     

    Phil Wood: It’s got two syllables . . .. Kor . .

     

    Contestant: Blimey?

     

    Phil Wood: Ha ha ha ha, no. The past participle of run . . ….

     

    Contestant: (Silence)

     

    Phil Wood: OK, try it another way. Today I run, yesterday I . . ..

     

    Contestant: Walked?

     

     

     

    THE VAULT

     

    Melanie Sykes: What is the name given to the condition where the sufferer can fall asleep at any time?

     

    Contestant: Nostalgia.

     

     

     

    LUNCHTIME SHOW (BRMB)

     

    Presenter: What religion was Guy Fawkes?

     

    Contestant: Jewish.

     

    Presenter: That’s close enough.

     

     

     

    STEVE WRIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON (BBC RADIO 2)

     

    Wright: Johnny Weissmuller died on this day. Which jungle-swinging character clad only in a loin cloth did he play?

     

    Contestant: Jesus.

  27. This week’s CQN Coupon if you fancy a punt:

     

     

    Jobo – Queens Park

     

    Pog – Arsenal

     

    TTT – Burton

     

    Lennybhoy- Bury

     

    GL2 – Rochdale

     

    PF – Leeds

     

    AWATR – Shrewsbury

     

    Blantyretim- Plymouth

     

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

     

    Hail Hail!

  28. Best Celts eleven?That I have seen?….Hmmm?

     

     

    R. Baines(or Broto)

     

     

    McGrain Rieper Balde MacNamara

     

     

    T.Burns(RIP) Murdo Maestro Petrov

     

     

    Dalglish

     

     

    Larsson

     

    Can ye imagine that team playing in front of the Jungle?

     

     

    Off oot tae imagine………

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