It’s so rare it almost feels un-Celtic to look ahead to an important game without a handful of injury concerns. Callum McGregor missed the kick-off in our visit to Ibrox last month, a game we went into with the prospect of going five points adrift if we’d lost. The win over Newco at Celtic Park in December was achieved without Cameron Carter-Vickers or Reo Hatate (who made the bench but had not played since October).
And who can forget our first trip to Ibrox this season, which saw then-unfancied Liam Scales get a jersey due to the absence of Carter-Vickers, Nat Phillips, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh. We finished that game with a back four of Ralston, Lagerbielke, Scales and Bernabei – still won, in case you’d forgotten.
Brendan Rodgers had clearly whispered in the ear of those who stepped up in the days before these games, inspiring performances that would have surprised their dads. By contrast, yesterday, the manager told Celtic TV that Saturday’s game “will probably be the best version of the team that I’ve had since I’ve been here”. Adding, “I think after another good week of work and concentration on the training field, we’ll arrive on Saturday as good a place as we have been all season.”
That’s why you feel a little unease ahead of Saturday, you are in unfamiliar territory. Football is seldom straightforward, the best two sides in the country will be on the field trying to win, so the risks are clear.
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HH
Good afternoon Bada
Left click- how’s it going there?
BIG JIMMY
Got a bet on @ 23/10 with Ladbrokes.
🤞
But we can rely on all of that terrific summer recruitment.
“Football is seldom straightforward, the best two sides in the country will be on the field trying to win WHILST BEING REFEREED BY ONE OF THE MOST INCONSISTENT REFS AROUND AIDED BY AN ALLEGED RANGERS FAN ON VAR, so the risks are clear.”
Fixed that for you (thumbsup)
The confidence of most Celtic fans (and overconfidence of some) and the pessimism of most Rangers fans/media is also making me eerily uneasy!
If Keevins predicts a win for us then I’ll know we are doomed!
QB
All good Bada.
14yr old grandson got a ticket(his uncles) for Saturday.
I’m delighted there will be no products of the hate factory in attendance.
Can someone post the horse tip
Whether we’re confident or apprehensive, it will make no difference. Preparations are under way and come Saturday, we’ll see that.
Personally, I’m very relaxed. Certainly compared to where I was a month ago in the build up to Ibrox, I’m pretty much zen like.
Saw Big Jimmy’s comment about the co-commentator at the European game last night. Last week and last night I did the simple thing…I turned the sound off.
Another comment about the game. One of Europe’s top referees was in charge of the game. I still do not know what is a foul and what is not. I know the reasons why it is impossible to tell in our games because of the attitude of most refs, but I thought Europe would give a better idea of what counts as a foul these days. Maybe someone could enlighten me on this matter.
MORAVCIK
Kingston James
Kelso 4:55
CONNAIRE12
It’s kinda hard to comment without specifics.
“That’s why you feel a little unease ahead of Saturday, you are in unfamiliar territory. Football is seldom straightforward, the best two sides in the country will be on the field trying to win, so the risks are clear”.
Yep, I was feeling confident until i started reading comments and stories about how the Huns have “imploded”, how Cement has “lost the plot” and why it will be a “shock” if they win on Saturday.
Beware a cornered animal.
I’ll be very confident of a win, after we win! Until then, focus,focus, focus.
Thanks for that BIG JIMMY. Got 5/2 with Boylesports.
R.I.P. Ger
MORAVCIK on 8TH MAY 2024 6:35 AM
The Original Sadie’s Bhoy,
Do you think there will be the same amount of empty seats on Saturday with an inconvenient early KO, compared to the usual number of empty seats for a 3pm KO ?
……. ………. ……….
No I don’t because the wedding in London was last Saturday but we didn’t know we were playing Hearts and not Rangers. The last 5 fixtures were only arranged three weeks ago. We were on tenterhooks waiting on them coming out. Every one of us thought it would clash with the Huns game but fortunately it didn’t. So the Celtic support will at least be increased by 5 fans. The Groom I’m afraid will miss attending in person as he will be detained on honeymoon duties but I’m 100% certain he will be watching in a Celtic pub in some foreign shore.
However, I cannot speak for those other Celtic fans who will miss the game due to Holy Communions, weddings etc.
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 8TH MAY 2024 12:23 PM
“Beware a cornered animal.”
Indeed. I also hate going into games where there may be background thoughts of “just don’t lose” / “a draw might do us here”.
Hopefully we approach with a strong will to win and work harder than they do and don’t go into it being mindful of not losing or in two minds.
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 8TH MAY 2024 12:37 PM
“Do you think there will be the same amount of empty seats on Saturday with an inconvenient early KO, compared to the usual number of empty seats for a 3pm KO ?”
Lost my seats on the supporters bus at the weekend as its been filled with members of the association for the first time this season (since the last derby game) so taking the drive through expecting as close to a full house as it can be.
QB
QuadBhoy
I think it’ll be ram jam full on Saturday. I’m sure there will be good reasons why there are empty seats at many of our home games. We have 55000 ST holders. Games are never played at a fixed time (Saturdays 3pm or Wednesdays 7:30pm) like in the old days. When you buy your ticket in May you don’t know what lies ahead of you for the next season. Family commitments, illness or worse.
I’d like to point out to those suffering from pre match nerves like myself that Brendan will have the players feet firmly on the ground for Saturday. He will not allow over confidence to seep into the squad. We played like demons on Saturday and I’m 100% certain that he’ll instil that mentality into the players every day this week in the build up to the game. As supporters we can do our bit by getting right behind this Celtic team and roaring them to victory. We might need to be patient though if the goals don’t arrive early. Positivity is required from everyone of us throughout the game.
Terminate, with extreme prejudice
3-0
My house backs onto local primary school here in ML5.
The weans have stopped playing football and now chanting (drumming on grit bin) CELTIC GLASGOW OH OH OH OH.
Gladden your heart ❤️
Good afternoon all from the Black Bull, Ayr. Raising a glass in memory of Ger57.
Rest in peace Gerry.
MORAVCIK on 8TH MAY 2024 12:00 PM
What is the horse tip ?
Might have a wee flutter
………
KELSO 4.55 and the Horse is ” KINGSTON JAMES”.
It is now Priced between 11/4 and 3/1 with different Bookies.
NOTHING to do with me…IF the Horse doesn’t win ?
DO NOT shoot the messenger…you are all Grown Men.
LOL
HH.
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 8TH MAY 2024 1:00 PM
—————
Brilliant post!
Mon the hoops! 😃🇮🇪🏆⚽️🍀
RIP Gerry YNWA
The Original Sadie’s Boy,
I think you have still avoided my main point again, as you seem focused on First Communions.
Do you think there will be the same amount of empty seats on Saturday as there has been for the last few home games ?
Bearing in mind we have a worse KO time on Saturday compared to recent home games when we had 3pm KO’s ?
No hun in Paradise. Ever again.
Paul writes – The manager told Celtic TV that Saturday’s game “will probably be the best version of the team that I’ve had since I’ve been here”. Adding, “I think after another good week of work and concentration on the training field, we’ll arrive on Saturday as good a place as we have been all season.”
Apart from starting TavPen’s nemesis Maeda in favour of Khun – I’m sure Brendan will decide “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” for the starters. That would leave Idah, Khun. Bernardo, Palma, Tomoki, Ralston, Nawrocki, Ralston, Welsh and Bain on the bench; all save Nawrocki, relatively experienced – yes I agree “the best version” since Brendan’s comeback.
Sadie’s Boy,
I reckon there will be very few “family commitments” on Saturday, with almost every seat taken.
Likewise, I reckon very few will have “work commitments” on Saturday.
It’s surely not a matter of debate that a Glasgow derby will attract a full house no matter what time the kick off is?
MORAVCIK on 8TH MAY 2024 1:39 PM
The Original Sadie’s Boy,
I think you have still avoided my main point again, as you seem focused on First Communions.
Do you think there will be the same amount of empty seats on Saturday as there has been for the last few home games ?
Bearing in mind we have a worse KO time on Saturday compared to recent home games when we had 3pm KO’s ?
………………………
Sorry Moravcik. I think I addressed your point but with someone else. I expect Celtic Park to be absolutely stowed out, ram jam full and bouncing on Saturday.
Another point I would like to make about Season Tickets. When you are of a certain vintage, like wot I am, it can be difficult giving your ticket to someone when you can’t attend. As it’s a concession ticket, so to speak, you can only lend it to Senior Citizens.
Melvin Udall
Thank you for your kind comment.
Maybe it’s just me but I don’t feel any ‘unease’ about playing the second place team in front of a full house of Celtic supporters in what is likely to be a sunny Glasgow day. None whatsoever.
No unfamiliar territory for me either, top of the league (and they’re no) knowing that victory will all but demolish any hopes our opponents have of winning the SPL.
Dodgy refs, dodgy decisions and dodgy characters with dodgy cameras on dodgy VAR?
That sounds pretty familiar anaw…
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 8TH MAY 2024 1:47 PM
“Another point I would like to make about Season Tickets. When you are of a certain vintage, like wot I am, it can be difficult giving your ticket to someone when you can’t attend. As it’s a concession ticket, so to speak, you can only lend it to Senior Citizens.”
Surely anyone can use any ticket usually given the gates do not check age/student status etc. or do such tickets flag up random spot checks? It’s been common practice for years for supporters clubs/associations/buses to pass on or re-sell members tickets when they are not able to go for whatever reason and its not always possible to ensure like for like.
I used a student ticket for the hearts game after giving two adult tickets to my son and his pal (both kids/students).
I had the kids queue with me in case I was challenged so I could explain it was a seat swap to let the kids sit together but if anyone you can loan it to is prepared to take the risk them no harm in it imo from the clubs point of view; it’s an empty seat and no match day income for Celtic verses a bit more support and likely a few more quid spent in the ground on the day. Often has the added benefit of a charitable donation too which is also in keeping with the club ethos.
QB
There are different coloured lights that come on above the gate when a ticket is presented depending upon the category of ticket.
The stewards watching the turnstiles are supposed to challenge someone who appears to be using a ticket of the wrong category.
I have been challenged myself (wrongly) on entry.
Embdae got anything re Cup final ballot yet?
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 8TH MAY 2024 2:22 PM
“There are different coloured lights that come on above the gate when a ticket is presented depending upon the category of ticket.
The stewards watching the turnstiles are supposed to challenge someone who appears to be using a ticket of the wrong category.”
Thanks GGH – never noticed that being as unobservant as I am – every day is a school day!
Stewards are supposed to search ppl and prevent multiple entries too but I can’t recall ever being searched and am only occasionally asked if I “have any drinks on me or anything else I shouldn’t have” and still occasionally see folk squeezing in a 2nd with their one ticket.
QB
!!BADA BING!! on 8TH MAY 2024 2:23 PM
Nothing as yet.
GG’sHamstring
The men at the gate are pretty vigilant about concession cards being used for access by those
not entitled. A young man who was using his father’s concessionary ticket told me he’d been stopped just inside the ground. A more senior security person was summoned and he demanded to see the ticket
The younger man refused fearing that his father would be punished. The upshot was that he was ejected from the ground.
By the way, whether or not a supporter attends a given game is surely his or her decision and no-one else’s.