BT Sport had Alan Thompson on at the weekend previewing the Cup Final and I was reminiscing about him. When he played, I wrote he was the most influential Celtic midfielder since the Lisbon Lions. Not the most talented, McStay and Collins among others could claim to be more gifted, by Thompson pushed Celtic into places none of the others managed.
His goals in Europe and against Rangers are legend, and his assists record is outstanding, but despite my complete adoration of the player, he had a clear drawback. Whenever he was absent through injury, it took weeks in the first team before he looked moderately competent. So much of his game was about sheer physical effort that anything below 100% fitness made him ineffective.
This week Boli Bolingoli, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Leigh Griffiths, Jonny Hayes and Mikey Johnston started games for the first time after injury. Bolingoli (that corner kick!) and Elyounoussi both reminded me of Alan Thompson returning from injury. We should cut them some slack as they build fitness.
The same cannot be said for Leigh Griffiths, who looks as sharp as a tack. He will benefit from 90 minutes last night but he is ready to lead the line, if required.
Scott Robertson looked the part, especially early on, when Celtic had more shape than they did at the end of the game. Delighted too that Karamoko Dembele got his first outing of the season. He was not able to contribute much but he is a lad we should have plans to develop into a first team player.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the raffle for Tom Rogic’s signed shirt for the Celtic FC Foundation’s Christmas appeal. It is humbling to see Celtic fans in action like this. The winner has been informed by email – so check your inbox!
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Rod Stewart. Tory?
A club open to all.
Or is it only open to all except Tories?
GFTB,
Good post.
SUPERSUTTON
It’s a well known fact that there were three Stewart brothers, Rod, Jackie and Matt.
Matt was the only one to make a success of himself.
Anyway tomorrow…..on edge, and going to not bother with the laxative tonight as crosses into our box have a far more purgative effect.
Hail Hail
Matt
No doubt GFTB we have been on a fantastic run but the day the team takes success fir granted is the day we are in trouble.
Nothing lasts forever & the day will come when we lose a trophy and when we will lose a League.
So we start again from scratch tomorrow, we should win, we are favourites to win but none of that means we will win.
SuperSutton on 14th December 2019 10:07 pm
You want to argue with a redheaded woman called Murphy?
Good luck with that one.
I think the point though is that mathematics means the study of geometry, algebra, calculus etc, and as study is singular so the word mathematics is singular.
Why I’d sign Aiden McGeady…..
1. Hates the hunz
2. We need men for the run-in
3. Wouldn’t bottle Ibrox, Tynie or Cup finals etc.
4. Brave
5. Wee bit arrogant
6.Better than Morgan, Sinclair and Shved.
7. As keen as the rest of us to win the league.
8. Experience in Europe.
9. Available for free.
10. Final chance to be a star.
11. Hates the hunz.
Turkeybhoy 10.09pm
That’s not like me :-)
Corkcekt 10.14pm
No way this success is being taken for granted in fact I think Neil doesn’t get the plaudits he should … which probably suits our manager … my point is maybe the fans (online) aren’t enjoying what we are witnessing as much as they should … it might not always be as good … in my opinion I dint think Neil gets the praise he deserves … 4 defeats since February … although he was out of order playing Callum MacGregor at left back just because Ntcham played well at Fir Park
Still think the Cluj “defeat” might have been a wee Euro blessing … stuff the CL £25m for Dermot & Peter … at least we are competing in the Europa :-)
(That’s me criticising Celtic :-)
Math is an abbreviation of mathematics. ( Rolling Stones…… Aftermath album .)
As is Maths.
Singular.
SuperSutton on 14th December 2019 10:08 pm
He learned of a facet of Irish Republican culture through his attendance at Celtic Park which he then appropriated for personal gain.
So subsequently publicly congratulating Boris Johnstone is going to involve some blowback.
I heard him being interviewed on radio last week. I didn’t know who he was at first. He sounded very, very old.
Am I not right in thinking that the Labour Party in Ireland have never come even close to winning an election? I thought it was either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, neither of whom could be described as socialist, much more like the Tories.
Why then can a Celtic supporter not be a Tory, given our founding fathers Irishness? Not that I personally have the least regard for the Tories. Are we not supposed to be open to all?
There’s a massive list of those who wouldn’t be welcome at Celtic, open to all is a bit of a glib statement
Yep. The Huddle, Just like We don’t care whether we win, lose or draw. Just log on here after a bad result.
Hibs took 2 points off us at Easter Road earlier this season, albeit they rode their luck as we played well but wasted chances.
They have a better manager in Jack Ross and their record since he arrived is 3 wins, 1 defeat and a draw.
Yet I still feel confident.
We are at home.
We will not be complacent as we know they can damage us.
We will be less affected by a post-Euro trip hangover since there are very few of those who played 90 minutes who are likely to be selected (maybe Bolingoli or Mikey Johnston).
The weather conditions suggest a cold day but less than 20% chance of rain after 3 pm tomorrow.
All in all, I am confident we can put on a show.
We have a harder game tomorrow than the sevvies manana
I would settle for 2 points clear tomorrow night
Jack Ross is the absolute real deal and mallan n allan n boyle are too
If we win all our remaining games this month we are a huge 8 points clear….. C’mon Celtic
Motivation from a manager or fans can often make a difference to a player’s performance or impact.
But the biggest trigger to going beyond expectations comes from within. That moment when because of a spark in yer soul takes you an extra yard, a bigger leap, a wider vision, a more accurate pass or a harder shot is not only the greatest feeling in the world, but multiplies the manager’s or fans’ fuel a hundred fold.
Scott Allan tomorrow will be buzzing as he comes out of the tunnel.
How we have planned and nullify him will have a massive impact.
Mind you, Hibs have to dowse the fire of our midfield and will be stretched by the attacking prowess of a team who know how much this matters to the 60,000 watching, dreaming and tasting the blood from bit lips.
So fecking looking forward to it, especially to see how our back middle two handle Kamberi and Doidge.
Tomorrow could be iconic and light a fuse for the games leading up to the New Year.
This is what we live our football lives for.
Hail Hail
Matt
THE_HUDDLE on 14TH DECEMBER 2019 10:46 PM
There’s a massive list of those who wouldn’t be welcome at Celtic, open to all is a bit of a glib statement
=======================================================================
Not the case.
The phrase , as far as I understand it , is ” Open to all ” .
By contrast to the club which is / was a ” protestant club for a protestant country ” .
In employment terms , which cohort of your ” massive list ” would not be welcome at Celtic ?
Maybe I’ve missed something in the last 55 years going to Celtic Park , but I never thought that the political party of one’s choice disqualified a person from being as Celtic supporter.
The Scottish Football Supporters Association just sent me a Survey Monkey questionnaire and one of the compulsory questions was to choose the best football writer or blogger from amongst 6 options. They were, I kid you not:-
Tom English
Graham Speirs
Gordon Waddell
Michael Gannon
Fans Without Scarves &
O** F*** Facts
That’s like being offered a choice between the Brexit and Tory parties.
The worst type of snob is an intellectual snob
The worst type of bully is an intellectual bully
Every day we should remember the way we act, post, talk and live our lives is looked on by our enemies as a reason to attack us.
We are NOT a club open to all simply because we abhor racism, sectarianism and more but whilst I can’t stand £40k tories I don’t have a right to tell anyone what or who to vote for.
I could never vote for any right wing party but 7k people in my constituency voted for the party that decimated North Lanarkshire.
You can’t teach pork and nor should we try.
JohnMcLeanand BobbySandsCSC
It will be a tough game, every game in December is.
I am confident we will do very well the morra, to have that break for so many core players this midweek is priceless.
Playing on a Good pitch will mean we should play well. Hopefully with a few goals.
You could not make it up that the Motherwell Manager is arrested just before Newcos toughest December game.
I have no idea how they have managed to get to play 1 game less before the 29th – same amount of games played so far etc. Well it isnae that hard to work it out.
Lenny go get us another 9 points this coming 6 days – It is a tall ask but if anyone can do it. You are the Man.
CORKCELT on 14TH DECEMBER 2019 10:55 PM
Yep. The Huddle, Just like We don’t care whether we win, lose or draw. Just log on here after a bad result.
===================================================================
Dead right .
Those were never the lyrics of the song sung by Celtic supporters prior to the release of the Celtic song .
” We don`t care what the Rangers ( or animals ) say ” was what was sung .
When Glen Daly`s recording came out `61 / `62 , they had changed ( sanitised ) the lyrics of the song as sung by Celtic supporters.
A ” corporate ” decision , ( perhaps overseen by Bob Kelly ) , not a reflection of the song sung by Tims on the terracing .
Equally , the ludicrous / nay embarrassing ” darn the hair we care ” in place of ” what the hell do we care ” .
NALLY81 on 14TH DECEMBER 2019 11:19 PM
The worst type of snob is an intellectual snob
The worst type of bully is an intellectual bully
Every day we should remember the way we act, post, talk and live our lives is looked on by our enemies as a reason to attack us.
We are NOT a club open to all simply because we abhor racism, sectarianism and more but whilst I can’t stand £40k tories I don’t have a right to tell anyone what or who to vote for.
==============================================================
When you say ” we ” , who are you referring to ?
You or Celtic F.C.
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 14TH DECEMBER 2019 11:16 PM
Maybe I’ve missed something in the last 55 years going to Celtic Park , but I never thought that the political party of one’s choice disqualified a person from being as Celtic supporter.
==================================================================
It doesn`t.
But the political entryists will try to persuade you that it does.
They must not be allowed to .
GaryGillespie 11.16pm
As a kid in the 70s the only thing I remember is my mum & dad saying you don’t tell anybody what you said in confession or who you voted for ….
These days it’s seems more important to state who you vote for and then question others who didn’t follow your lead …
After the expenses scandal, every MP involved should have got the sack … normal punters would not have got a free pass for fraud
For ever and ever…
We’ll follow the Bhoys…
Even though we know…
Their rich man’s toys
🍀⚽️
He plays on the left…..
MATT STEWART on 14TH DECEMBER 2019 11:07 PM
Magic.
A particular aspect of tomorrow`s game to look out for and concentrate on.
Thanks.
Assuming that his advance years haven’t caught up with him and he still has full command of his faculties Rod Stewart would have been perfectly well aware of how a substantial part of the Celtic support would react to his public congratulations to Johnston.
Hell mend him.
Apparently Karl Marx enjoyed playing football, and was quite good. He had an educated left foot 😃
🍀⚽️
Macjay.. Just Celtic fans in general mate
My point is whilst we wouldn’t want,, say, a mass murderer sitting beside us at CP and wouldn’t welcome him or her- that is NOT the same as sitting beside a man who votes for a party that he genuinely beliees is the right choice.
ERNIE LYNCH on 14TH DECEMBER 2019 11:33 PM
How much / many is ” a substantial part ” of the Celtic support ?
And from where do you source your ” information ” ?
I always preferred Ronnie Lane
Forster
Frimpong Julienne Ajer Taylor
Brown McGregor
Forrest Christie Elyounoussi
Edouard
Maybe
Bolingoli instead of Taylor
Mikey J instead of Elyounoussi
Hope the Griff gets a decent run out, we have a couple of weeks to try and achieve as near to 15pts as possible … remember after the January break this team performs ..
June-December is the hard shift :-)
NALLY81 on 14TH DECEMBER 2019 11:38 PM
I agree with all of that .
Your politics is your business . The guy you sit beside ? That`s his business.
Who we sit beside is a lottery , whether it`s on the bus or at Celtic Park.
The ethos of our Celtic is a different matter.
Open to all .
Macjay Agree 100%
Gerry : My parents never told us the party for whom they voted until we were well into our 20s
I don’t think these Celtic players will be worrying Snoop Dogg or Eminem in the rapping stakes.
They are better at it than me Howevaaah.
Gin&Juice
Ronnie Lane unencumbered by the periodic table.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSc1Hwa0Gx4
GFTB on 14th December 2019 11:41 pm
Forster
Frimpong Julienne Ajer Taylor
Brown McGregor
Forrest Christie Elyounoussi
Edouard
Maybe
Bolingoli instead of Taylor
Mikey J instead of Elyounoussi
Hope the Griff gets a decent run out, we have a couple of weeks to try and achieve as near to 15pts as possible … remember after the January break this team performs ..
June-December is the hard shift :-)
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Lenny will want just as hard a shift frae Jan-May.
We have a very good Team here right now.
Ely will play before Mikey, both not fully fit but both will have a part to play IMO.
OHMYDAYS.CSC