It’s the battle of the Lennons at Celtic Park tomorrow with Danny enjoying the best run of form in his managerial career. St Mirren are on 20 points, joint with St Johnstone, who they beat in Perth last month, and have already taken a point from Ibrox this season. They are a technically sound team who will be more difficult to create chances against than Dunfermline were on Wednesday. They can also play a bit.
Team formation will be enormously important for Neil Lennon. This is the type of fixture he would previously select a 4-4-2, with two wingers, giving width to the game, but leaving a central two outnumbered by opponents who inevitably pack the middle of the field. If Celtic persist with this strategy they’ll need to tighten up in the middle.
There is an interesting subplot to this weekend’s games. Earlier this month there was a daunting 12 points between Celtic and Rangers. A win for Celtic tomorrow would see that gap shrink to 4 points, with Rangers playing their game in hand away to Kilmarnock at lunchtime on Sunday. As well as playing for three points tomorrow, Celtic have the opportunity to put pressure on Rangers.
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I wouldn’t start Commons, fit or not, and I fail to see what he did that was so special on Wednesday. Wanyama, Forrest, Hooper – yes (not forgetting Ledley, Celtic’s best player and man of the match in that game). All I saw Commons do was put one decent ball in to Stokes (as part of the attack that led to the second goal) but I also saw him spurning plenty chances (selfishly hitting over from long range when we were in promising positions).
However, I do recognise that he is an integral part of the fast one touch football Lenny would like to see played and for that reason, I hope like everyone else he gets back to his best – he is nowhere near it as yet.
Wanyama is our form player, a must-start, but now that Loovens is back I’d like to see him return to midfield. Kayal looked more like the Kayal of old against the Pars, and he was excellent last time we played St Mirren at home. Stokes, despite or because of his hissy fits, is the in-form striker and still a better bet than Hooper. These 3 players will be key (not Ki, who is clearly out of sorts).
I’d be happy enough to see another Hooper/Stokes partnership on Saturday, but I still feel Paddy would excel if the team is set up right. He did not fit the mould established in the first half on Wednesday, but I think allowing him a free role needs to be looked at. I’d opt for him over Hooper, and get 5 in the midfield.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Zaluska ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Matthews :::::::: Loovens ::::::::::: Majstorovic ::::::: Ledley
::::::::::::::::::::: Kayal ::::::::::::: Wanyama ::::::::::::::::
::::::::: Forrest ::::::::::: McCourt :::::::::: Samaras :::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Stokes :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BSR
I’m free!
Pollokshaws East is right at the heart of the ole ole Cellick supporter/Erasure fan overlap demographic.
It’s one of the reasons house prices there are so high.
Nollaig a chara
Re your post, Charlie’s Dad passed away yesterday thought’s and prayer,s with the Mulgrew Family, know them well RIP Charlie Senior.
Papa John
Starry plough
im sure he ended the game playing playing 3-5-2 as you suggest
it didnt take much to persuade didier of jackie to get their arse up to the byeline
i appreciate that the 442 is a more modern set up but when teams visit CP too many just line up with basically 10 defendesr and its our job to break them down
seems a wee bit foolish to have 4 defenders waiting for the occassional attack from the likes of hamilton and killie etc, when maybe they could be better used to “break” the opposition and get that opening goal which often seems to force the opponents out a bit
A wee practise session from the Thai Tims:
Thai Tims Christmas no1
V
How long before the new Hibs manager has to deal with shouts of ‘Felon bas…’
Oops Felon = Felion
voguepunter: 25 November, 2011 at 14:23
“Kenny sumbdy.”
OMG – I thought they’d killed Kenny…
Or even Fenlon……
DBBIA
Absolutely correct. Any Venn diagram worth its salt has that noted.
Interestingly that shading of the Venn diagram that represents Celtic and Beer meets squarely at the Barras and is always green if it is to be taken seriously in and literary publication, but by virtue of Estadio’s eloquence alone has been extended to Sharkeys and the Gorbals by insistence of John Venn’s very descendants if the visual mathematical aid is to maintain any form of modern scientific relevance in the new millennium.
Oh Venn the Celts, go marching in……
up_over_goal says:
25 November, 2011 at 14:42
first half perormance with Commons v second half performance with Paddy
that should tell you why, if fit, Commons should play and why Paddy, when fit, should be a substitute
Commons links up the midfield and attack and even when not at his best he still does that better than anyone else in our team
Paddy never will be a first choice first team player at Celtic as he is not good enough, often enough. For every mazy run that sets up a goal there are dozens which lead him up a blind alley where he loses possession.
The whole pace of the team died in the second half on wednesday when he came on, not totally his fault but where Commons got the ball and linked up with the forward players by moving the ball on quickly, Paddy went on aimless, slow ambling runs which generally resulted in him cutting inside and losing possession.
I’m Neil Lennon (tamrabam) says:
25 November, 2011 at 14:49
442 drives me mad Tam, I would love for us to play a player in the hole and unpick defences, James Forrest for instance, the modern game is very different from the one I grew up with at Celtic Park, one in front of the defence seems to be the norm now and that’s no bad thing the way we defend sometimes.
I might be alone in thinking that on Wednesday night that Dunfermlines goal was coming for about ten minutes before they scored but in saying that Celtic played some beautiful football in the same game, go figure??
On Saturday I think we need to be very solid in the middle to be sure of the win..
SP
Friday, 20 December, 2002, 22:05 GMT
Irish song voted world’s favourite
WORLD No one…Will the new bill ban this song…
An Irish republican song, A Nation Once Again, has been voted the world’s top tune according to a BBC World Service poll.
The song, originally recorded in 1964, was written in the 1840s by Thomas Osbourne Davis to support the fight for an end to British rule.
The winning song was recorded by The Wolfe Tones and includes the refrain: “And Ireland, long a province, be a nation once again”.
Following a late surge in votes, the Irish sing along crossed the finishing line ahead of a patriotic Hindi song, Vande Mataram.
Top Ten
1. A Nation Once Again, The Wolfe Tones
2. Vande Mataram, Various artists
3. Dil Dil Pakistan, Vital Signs
4. Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu, llayaraaja
5. Poovum Nadakkuthu Pinchum Nadakkuthu, Thirumalai Chandran
6. Ana wa Laila, Kazem El Saher
7. Reetu haruma timi hariyali basant hau nadihruma timi pabitra ganga hau, Arun Thapa
8. Believe, Cher
9. Chaiyya chaiyya, A R Rahman
10. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen
The Wolfe Tones were said to be “thrilled” by the announcement.
They said they were “proud” to have been ranked above bands such as The Beatles, who failed to make the top 10 despite 55 different song nominations.
With the lyrics taken from a poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Vande Mataram is regarded by many as India’s national song.
In third place an Asian track, popular in the 1980s, entitled Dil Dil Pakistan by Vital Signs, finished ahead of pop poll classics including Cher’s Believe at number eight and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody at number ten.
A few artists had many songs nominated and split their vote.
Forty songs by Iranian artist Googoosh were chosen while Bob Marley had 29 songs nominated, with No Woman No Cry topping the list.
Cher’s Believe came in at number eight
Europe’s top tune was Wind of Change by the Scorpions, a song many associate with the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Also popular was this year’s summer holiday hit The Ketchup Song by Spanish sisters Las Ketchup. Abba and fellow Scandinavians Ace of Base had songs nominated too.
Challenge
Since its launch in November the poll, which was part of BBC World Service’s 70th anniversary celebrations, attracted the attention of listeners from all around the world.
From Botswana and Antarctica to the Caicos Islands, nearly 150,000 votes were received from 153 countries, nominating over 6,500 songs.
By inviting its 150 million listeners to vote either by post or online, organisers were surprised by the scale of the voting.
BBC World Service 70th anniversary project editor David Stead, said: “It’s been a massive logistical challenge.”
The poll had to deal with people trying to influence the vote through fan sites and spamming.
“Our New Media teams have been stretched to the limit and it has been extraordinary watching the votes drop in second by second into our mailbox.”
He added: “This is a unique chart, for the first time we’ve been able to see how bands like the Beatles, which traditionally do well in these polls, measure up against other forms of world music.”
Kayal33,
utter nonsense, kris couldnt lace Paddys boots
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire says:
25 November, 2011 at 15:10
In your opinion, which is fair enough. I agree with the manager, Commons ahead of Paddy almost everytime.
Kayal33
I think the ‘compare and contrast’ thing is too easy. Commons played in 1st half, we scored. Paddy played in 2nd, they scored. Therefore Commons is better.
Look, Commons played well, but he wasn’t that great. We scored because of a mistake and because of an inspired piece of interplay between Hooper and Stokes, with Commons involved in the build-up. Look at Paddy when he came on against Motherwell – that’s a game changer. People want Commons to be back to his best because they want to see a return to the great post-January displays of last season. Believe me, so do I, but he’s been utter mince so far – Wed suggests he may get back to his best but look what happens? He gets injured after 45 mins because he’s (euphemism alert) out of shape.
I hope we see the 2010/11 version of KC soon. In the meantime, all I am saying is give Paddy a chance. Accept him for what he is – not Pele, just a good player.
canamalar
I agree with Kayal. Paddy may have the silky skills but Kris’s link up play with the front players in the first half on Wednesday was superb. If anything, the reson we weren’t as effective in the second have was due to Kris having to go off.
Mort
interplay between Hooper an Stokes – should be Hooper and Forrest
Paddy is by far the more skilful and Kris the more valuable…..
Simples really bhoys :>)
V
Afternoon bhoys!
Commons vs McCourt.
I agree that Kris was not a superstar on wednesday night but he did have some nice touches. Paddy came on and slowed the pace and momentum of the game by running across the park as opposed to up it. In my book there is no starting place for Paddy at Celtic, nor do I think he has a long term future. He has wonderful feet and exquisite balance but he is not good enough for us. Commons too has ability, he was wonderful last season but has failed to reproduce it this year for one reason or another. However, guys like him are the future of Celtic and if fit I’d see a place in the squad – if not the first 11 – every week.
On the FAC subject, what is happening in this small bitter little country worries me. Many on here have criticised ETims but their lead article is fantastic in summing up the danger of the current situation.
Hail Hail
MadraRua says:
25 November, 2011 at 11:21
Quick, but important question Comrades;
I have money on this .
Who sang the Fields Of Athenry first, Celtic or Rep of Ireland Fans ??
Quick but true answer would be appreciated (backed with stats if possible)
Sorry for reposting, but I’m getting a lot of stick, “Celtic tinted glasses…ect…”
So, has anyone any evidence or memories of us singing The Fields of Athenry prior to Italia 90 when wikipedia claims the Rep of Ireland fans were the first fans ever to sing it.
up_over_goal says:
25 November, 2011 at 15:15
I do accept Paddy for what he is, someone who can occasionally come off the bench and be a game changer. He’s a throwback to a 60s/70s winger who could get away with a general lack of pace and fitness with unbelievable skill. In the modern game, sadly, such players will never be consistent enough to be first choice for their team.
I like Paddy, but wouldn’t have him in starting eleven. I would rather see one of our young attacking midfielder given a start.
My mate who was there on Wednesday reckons the difference between the 2 halves was Commons. Paddy, he reckons, ran around mostly to no great effect, when he came on.
Friday Trivia, What is the only word in the English language with 6 silent letters ?
Kayal33,
Paddy is a better all round player, he tracks back better than Kris, he retains possesion better than Kris and he scores better goals than Kris, oh and he’s fitter than Kris, why oh why cant people see that :o)
http://www.thecsa.co.uk/showthread.php?t=505
Report from CSA regarding meeting with police yesterday.
Two very interesting points from it.
1. Eddie Smith will not talk to Celtic fans due to an impending court case.
2. ACC Corrigan more or less saying the story in Record that provoked the withdrawal of CSA, Celtic Trust, etc prior to the last scheduled meeting was the work of our friend Shorthouse again.
HH
Kayal33
Argument has just about run it’s course but I have to pick you up –
In the modern game, sadly, such players will never be consistent enough to be first choice for their team.
Consistent enough? Really?
Mo Bangura has had more minutes’ playing time than Paddy this season. Mo Flipping Bangura!!!
For a club that prides itself on fielding players of skill and panache, that is a crime.
Commons and McCourt both bring positives to the team.
They are different types of players and we are fortunate to have them both.
its
apostrophe apology
MadraRua says:
25 November, 2011 at 15:20
………
A friend of mine got kicked out of a supporters club in Greenock because he was singing the fields, it was a year or so before 1990, we were singing that constantly at CP way before 1990, a search on YouTube would confirm or a tape from the Celtic shop prior to 1990.
V
Parkheadcumslaford,
from what I watched, Paddy kept possesion and by the looks of things thats what he was told to do.
The reason we were lest effective in the second half,was that Dunfermline changed from 352 to 442,2 banks of 4,closing down the space for our wide players.Slan
Vmhan♣ who Supports Neil Lennon says:
25 November, 2011 at 15:27
Thanks, I’m sure thats correct.
up_over_goal says:
25 November, 2011 at 15:25
Bangura has been the model of consistency for Celtic, consistently poor.
Looks like an expensive mistake of a signing.
Madra Rua – f-e-n-i-a-n?
[when Special Branch are listenin’]
Apologies if already posted: –
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15895454
Dontbrattbakkinanger says:
25 November, 2011 at 15:30
Nope but good..