With Scott Brown suspended for Sunday’s game against Motherwell, I would play Olivier Ntcham in Valencia on Thursday. Olivier was due to return to the substitute’s bench last week, but succumbed to illness shortly before kick-off. He has not played since December, so will be short of match fitness, but an hour in the Mestalla will prep him for Motherwell.
With Filip Benkovic injured, Dedryck Boyata is our best central defender, but neither of them will be at the club when the Champions League qualifiers take place in July. Kristoffer Ajer and Jozo Simunovic will both be here. For that reason, they should start against Valencia.
You, me, Brendan and Peter all know we need central defensive reinforcements for the qualifiers, but knowing that and meeting the challenge are two different things. Ajer and Simunovic should be given every opportunity to develop their game at this level, as well as their mutual understanding. We have nothing to gain from developing Dedryck’s understanding of European football.
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AKBW1888
I’ll have a we peek , thanks for this
KINGLuBO
Chris great to see you posting and keeping up the good work as usual. Best wishes to Helen.
Erin’s with an interesting take on the coin throwing incident at Killie, apparently Boyd was standing just beside the dugout so it must have been some throw for a Celtic fan to hit him from the stand behind the goal. http://etims.net/?p=13923
Matt
Thanks for the update.
It may though have been a case of queuing at the wrang windae as there are numerous stories doing the rounds on social media of guys buying several tickets without even being asked for ID.
Try the roon windae next time!
Meant to type ETIMS
When your ‘talisman’ is Alfredo Morelos and you are relying on him to beat Kilmarnock at home in a cup replay, even though he played the last time they beat you, then you are probably screwed.
Just saying.
Also when Ryan jack and Scott Arfield improve your midfield you could be a bit further away from winning the league than you thought you were.
Random thoughts for the day
OldTim
I’ll let you know mate.
Connaire12
Thank you I trust you’re well.
HAMILTONTIM on 19TH FEBRUARY 2019 3:51 PM
Afternoon Folks.
On Saturday 9th March before our game against Aberdeen the Glasgow An Gorta Mor group are holding a bucket collection to help raise the necessary funds to build a permanent memorial to those who sadly perished during The Great Hunger. We expect this to be the most significant fundraiser but it can only be successful if we have sufficient numbers to rattle a bucket. Celtic have been fully co operative and are actively helping in some of the logistics and organisation. If you are able to help then please get in touch via email at angortamorglasgow@gmail.com
Thank You
#WeAreBuildingIt
HamiltonTim See you on the 9th.
Just a wee point. Throwing a coin at a footballer is a cowardly reprehensible act.
Oh and one more. I saw two seats being broken in the Moffat stand on Sunday, one was at half time when a young guy tried to climb over a seat to get into the front row. It was accidental and was recognised as such by a nearby steward. The second was by Kris Boyd during shooting practice in the warm up!
Cheers Eddieinkirkmichael it’ll be good to see you.
Given that the tie is all but over, it would be a useful opportunity to test a more defensive tactical approach. We should try the low/mid block we encounter on a weekly basis. With our quality we could always nic a goal and then you never know. If we repeat the tactics of the past then it could be another Zenit away type outcome.
Every midfielder that Rangers have signed (and there is a lot of them), is what I would regard as a 5 out of 10, or 6 out of 10.
They seem to have a monopoly on mediocre players. Like they are stock-piling them.
I couldn’t tell you the difference of a Ryan Jack to an Andy Halliday. Both triers. Both very limited. Similar to the other 9 centre mids that they have.
https://twitter.com/GovanEmerald/status/1097814902750752770
No one should have ran o to pitch. .coin ..was from main stand…..who threw it?…PS only invaded pitch once..pathless infamous fog game v. Hibs..getting away from bottles thrown in jungle …well I think I was in pitch..couldn’t see a thing!
Good evening, friends.
A wee bit disappointed in the tone of Paul67’s lead article today. I know we are very long odds to qualify on Thursday. Nevertheless, we are “only” 2 down so not an impossible task. The next game is always the most important and on that basis pick the 14 players that give us the best chance of scoring at least 2 goals.
As for the game itself, I’d actually prefer it if we don’t score too early!! Go in at half time nil nil, score a goal around the 67 minute mark and then pose Valencia the question – stick or twist. In fact, even if the game is still goalless after 75 minutes I wouldn’t be too despondent.
I do not think that we will qualify; neither do the bookies. But I think we owe it to the expected 10,000 travelling supporters to at least give it a go, no?
Seems to me that Valencia have grown in stature since last Thursday and Celtic have diminished. I was there last week and Valencia were NOT anything special. Some poor , unpressurised passing led to a downturn in our performance and an upward movement in theirs. In the end, they were the better side and deserved victory ( even though both goals were avoidable).
If we play as well as we can on Thursday, we can get something from this game.
Have to go.back later.
Cheerio for now.
JJ
PS bada and Sid .
Thanks ( I think ! ) for the information re pitch `invasion`.
JJ
Stewart Robertson’s Four Point Plan To Improve Sportscene… https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2019/02/19/stewart-robertsons-four-point-plan-to-improve-sportscene/
EDDIEINKIRKMICHAEL on 19TH FEBRUARY 2019 4:50 PM
Meant to type ETIMS
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Eddie,I read the ETIMS article.
He is talking nonsense.Boyd was directly in front of the disabled shelter located at the corner of the Moffat Stand. I did not understand where the author was coming from.
I was in 2nd row ,Boyd initially was unaware of the coin, then lifted it and put it in a bucket,my comment yesterday questioned why he was over at that end when he could have warmed up in front of the end of the Main Stand which was Killie only.
He was prompting reaction,not that to respond is acceptable.
Timo’s daddy – still playing.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-47278792
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/learning-averse-celtic-edge-towards-euro-exit/
There were few positives to take as a compact and efficient Valencia side take a massive advantage into the second leg. Much to reflect on for Celtic.
Paul67
Best team on the park please.
It shows respect for the travelling support.
HH
“Make sure ye hammer thum”
“Brownie went too far”
Utter cockwombles on tonight
Good luck MD
Sevco have been on dispute with the BBC for 3 years…….given the ‘reporting ‘ ,you would find that hard to believe….
EXCATHEDRA44 on 19TH FEBRUARY 2019 6:24 PM
I had simply taken the author at his word, sorry mate.
Hello again, thanks to Paul and Alex for sorting my lig in stuff. At this point a collective sigh is audible even here in darkest Lanarkshire. Early night tonight, Valencian late one tomorrow. HH
EDDIEINKIRKMICHAEL on 19TH FEBRUARY 2019 6:58 PM
EXCATHEDRA44 on 19TH FEBRUARY 2019 6:24 PM
I had simply taken the author at his word, sorry mate.
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No criticism of you intended Eddie,I know you had read the article,but I could not get his logic at all as I was in real close proximity to the offended superstar.
We should stop attending and hit them in the pocket.
Paul 67
Are you really saying that we should rest key players at the Mestalla on Thursday, in the last 32 of a European competition when we are only 2-0 down, in order to be ready for Motherwell at the weekend?
Neil Lennon should just leave the country according to Radio Scotland.
Where do you start with that shit??
Well, no surprise.
Richard Gordon has revealed that Aberdeen invoiced Sevco for 200 broken seats from their recent visit, that is close to 10% of the tickets,given to away fans.
That was kept very quiet and tells you, how agenda driven Sunday was.
#8pointsclear
Naknow
“cockwomble”?
I had to look that one up!
(which I did with a certain degree of trepidation, I might add!)
Natknow
The interview also started with Brian McLaughlin tryin to link killie & his treatment as only thing going on.
Soon sorted him out. Until the media call it out every weekend (true sectarian singing…& BTW PC peeps dont go there….) then that will continue.
Anyways…..HH
Van Dijk suspended for Liverpool tonight
Bayern not great at the back
Could be a good game
NATKNOW on 19TH FEBRUARY 2019 7:10 PM
Neil Lennon should just leave the country according to Radio Scotland.
Where do you start with that shit??
————
Where do you start? Stop listening to it. :)
Paul67
Mind the time they told us Bruno Alves was the best player in Scotland.
Totally, see where you’re coming from but I’d play our best centre back after all he owes us a Euro performance?
As for Jozo Simunovic there’s nobody coming in for him in the summer, we couldn’t be that lucky.
Kris Ajer is a great developing player, but we need two CB”S signed why don’t we just use the Dembele money it would be hard to take failing in three successive transfer windows.