By the time they cross the white line on Sunday afternoon, Celtic will have rested for 8 days. Kyogo had a few heavy training sessions early in the week and will be fitter, Giorgos Giakoumakis has iced his delicate limb. The entire squad has rested in preparation for Hampden, a stadium, which incredibly, over many years, has provided Celtic with a higher win rate that the Paradise itself.
I didn’t get everything I wanted from this week’s European ties, but extra time at Ibrox was top of my list. The script is written, althogh, you and I both know football is full of adlib moments. Scripts give you a sense of what to expect, the punchlines often come from an inspired creator rising to the occasion. We can take nothing for granted, this will be a battle.
On our last visit to Hampden, Ange Postecoglou considered the League Cup Final important enough to start Kyogo, who pulled a hamstring 10 days earlier. The decision proved pivotal, as our Japanese striker scored two to transform a deficit into a win. The manager’s wisdom was called into question a week later, when the same player exacerbated his injury, leading to a three-month layoff.
With a glance at the trophy cabinet, Ange might consider his instincts were right regarding Kyogo. If so, Giakoumakis is likely to start. Those three months, however, gave Ange time to ruminate. I expect the Greek to start on the bench.
Patience will be required. The game could last 120 minutes, if so, substitute decisions will be important. Oh, and please, tomorrow, practice from 12 yards……….
561 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- »
AN TEARMANN
when you see a Tifo from the GB ,its a case of
WOW look at that
When you see a Tifo from the onion bears ,its a case of
Whoa WTF is that
HH
Neil Lennon leads Omonia Nicosia into semifinals of Cypriot Cup on away goals after 1-1 aggregate score in quarter final.
Man City pull one back. 1-3.
Well done Man City.
A very quick unambiguous statement apologising to all connected with Liverpool Football Club for disrupting the minutes silence prior to the game.
YNWA.. Justice for the 97.
First thing Grealish has done all day. Looks nothing like a £100M player.
Ronaldo with hat trick for Man U.
Regardless of who starts for us at the top end of the pitch I’d simply remind them shooting low (and left) will give us the best opportunity of a goal!
Fernandinho very lucky to stay on the park.
MACCARGO
Unless Callum is taking a penalty kick! He only ever goes one way, and the other McGregor knows it!
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 16TH APRIL 2022 3:52 PM
Tontine Tim, Thanks for the correction. Did they both play together in the late 50s?
*Possibly but it would be near the end of Eric’s Celtic career
Fergusslayedtheblues
Mind the gaps and the misspelling.joined up letturz n’at🤣
Thought Bertie was good
HH
Spurs and Arsenal seem determined to donate the 4th CL place to Man U. Arsenal, with 76% possession, lose to Southampton team with big Fraser in goal, and Elyounoussi and Stewart Armstrong up front.
INIQUITOUSIV on 16TH APRIL 2022 4:47 PM
MACCARGO
Unless Callum is taking a penalty kick! He only ever goes one way, and the other McGregor knows it!
________
Agreed but McGregor should be absolutely no where near a spot kick should it go that far.
Seethin’ G’s Villa slip to 14th. Could yet be overtaken by Howe’s Newcastle.
Allison saves Liverpool.
Jesus could have chipped it, and made it 2-3.
Salah misses sitter after Man City gift.
It’s Kilmarnock vs Arbroath next game for winner takes automatic promotion. C’Mon the Red Lichties!
With big jacka out
It could be
Jota meada an abada
Meada koyogo abada
Forrest could also be in for his experience as I think rogic was taken off early as a precaution with this in mind .
Jota will be desperate for a goal against them and there is no doubt the bhoy has the quality to deliver one .
I think we can see the benefits of Ange having weeks preparation on the training ground rather than days
If our passing and tempo is spot on tomorrow they wont be able to last the pace .
Wee gio has gone with the sit back and hit on the break plan and the blitzkrieg plan ,both to no avail.
He will be looking luck and madhun
Plan tomorrow
HH
Game against Atletico Madrid damaged Man City’s chances, while Liverpool B team was strolling it against Benfica. Man City look nothing like the team that drew 2-2 last week.
Jota and Firmino on now. Just what City wanted to see!
AN TEAMANN
I blame the schools
CELTIC MAC on 16TH APRIL 2022 3:18 PM
ernie lynch
Wasn’t referring to Celtic supporters
But rather to those that pretended to be so…
A category you might be more familiar with…….
—-
Those on here who descend to the snide common denominator of calling other posters “huns”, or, “pretend Celtic supporters”, have invariably lost the argument and have nothing relevant to add……it is utterly pathetic cult-like behaviour.
The only thing I have in common with some on here is that I AM a Celtic supporter – if I there was anything else(discounting religion), I would be utterly astonished.
2-3 City- Liverpool. Too little too late?
Game over.
Steffen killed any hope they had. Should be chased.
I bet Liverpool to beat City 3-2 @ 25/1. Had given up when it went to stoppage time.
Couldn’t believe City scored.
That’s tomorrow paid for ☘️
JHB…what about human being…are you still astonished ;-))
H.H.
Unionists get to determine what’s snide on a Celtic blog?
That’s new
Celticmac,am sure,being on the blog for a good while you’ll be able to handle any steering.
HH
Andy Robertson, for me, at fault for both City goal…loses possession for 1st and doesn’t chase back…ball watching for 2nd
AN TEARMANN on 16TH APRIL 2022 5:29 PM
‘Unionists get to determine what’s snide on a Celtic blog?’
###
Is the person who decides what is and is not acceptable on here not a Unionist?
Not a bad day with the Bookie…
5 Horse Winners at early prices of 16/1, 7/1,5/1. 3/i and 7/4 …with one more to run at 5.55pm.
I also had a wee cheeky FIVER on Man.City-2 v Liverpool- 3 @ 25/1.
Ya Dancer…bring oan the Huns.
HH.
Big Jimmy…always guid to hear the bookies losing money…but ffs man…why u not sharing the horsie tips on here ;-))
H.H.
ernie lynch on 16th April 2022 3:01 pm
CELTIC MAC on 16TH APRIL 2022 2:55 PM
‘ll be a tough gig for some on here tomorrah
Pretending to support Celtic……..
while waving their banners of red white and blue…..
####
Well generations of Celtic fans managed it, so I don’t see it as an issue, never mind a problem.
If you know your history.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I have yet to see a Union Jack amongst the Celtic supporters. Maybe tomorrow I will get to see you in person – holding up your red, white and blue.
Big Jimmy,
Good to hear you skelping the bookies. Hope and trust you are feeling better.
I was recently on the Steeplechase in the Pleasure Beach and I swear my horse was going faster than the half dozen we put on last week.
Cheers and HH.
BTW JHB – always resort to the typecast comment about anyone who dares to express a political opinion that you don’t agree with and then plead innocence and demand that everyone show respect. Yes, Putin type behaviour indeed.
https://www.67hailhail.com/news/report-celtic-park-derby-wont-be-moved-in-wake-of-whining-from-rivals/
Brass neck or what – remember 2003?
Ffs…is this the season when their fixtures were moved and the season extended to accomodate their run to the Europa League final in Manchester. Huns are notoriously bad at remembering facts
Celtic fans arguing over National Identity is sad and unnecessary
By Liam Kelly 13 November, 2020
On a personal level, I don’t like international football. Not only does it mean that Celtic aren’t playing, but it runs the risk of injury to our players, let alone Covid-19 being a new threat. However, another reason for my growing dislike of the international game is the sad and pathetic arguments that emerge between Celtic fans over whether they should be supporting Scotland or Ireland.
I put out a tweet addressing the matter in as few words as possible:
Some Scottish born people feel more affinity with Ireland because of their cultural upbringing.Others identify with their birthplace. Nobody can tell you how to feel.Sad to see Celtic fans arguing about this to be honest
“An Irish club, but a Scottish institution” Billy McNeill
— Liam Kelly (@cfcliamk96) November 12, 2020
At the heart of the issue, it really is that simple and the fact that some Celtic fans take issue with cultural identity being different from place of birth is pretty pathetic. We should know better given our history. It’s the sort of argument I’d expect to see on Follow Follow. On the flip side, the fact that some fans dislike people identifying with their birthplace rather than their background is also nonsensical.
Let me first explain the relevance of Irish identity to Celtic Football Club and then match that with the Irish and Scottish identity of different supporters. Both are absolutely legitimate. Billy McNeill once described Celtic as “An Irish club, but a Scottish institution.”
Firstly, at the core, everything about Celtic Football Club’s culture and history is Irish. Before slamming the laptop shut, allow me to explain using facts.
The club was founded by a number of Irishmen and descendants who identified as Irish (except David Meikleham). Celtic was formed to feed the needy children in St Mary’s, St Michael’s and Sacred Heart Parishes – Catholic children, almost entirely from Glasgow’s Irish community. Our first fans were Irish, or of Irish descent, and their children needed fed, along with their pride needing restored, because they were rejected by Scottish society due to having a different faith and culture, as well as being seen as a threat to the native population’s employment.
Most Scottish born fans are descendants of these people. In many cases, it is their Irish background which is the reason that they were born into Celtic, even if they don’t realise it, or care about their ancestry. They may have to go back a couple of generations to trace the beginning of the family’s Celtic support, but invariably being brought up in a Catholic or Celtic tradition, will often link back to Irish immigration somewhere along the line. Perhaps a great grandfather followed the club because of how it resonated with him, and it was then passed down.
The club very openly and publicly supported Irish Nationalism in the early days and had revolutionary Irish patriots on the early committees, including an IRB man on the run, who brought Willie Maley to Celtic. The founding fathers sang patriotic Irish ballads and rebel songs such as God Save Ireland at the reception held for Hibernian and promoted those Irish ballads at post-match receptions, as well as inviting TD Sullivan to sing God Save Ireland on the pitch at the grand opening of the new Celtic Park. A convicted Irish patriot, Michael Davitt, laid the first sod of turf, imported from Donegal, at that same opening ceremony. He was also the club’s Patron.
The political identity has been expressed in each generation and is why Celtic enjoys huge support in Ulster. The fans have always sang songs of Ireland and the culture of the country has always been kept alive, being passed from one generation to the next. It is also the reason many people around the world identify with Celtic, because of their Irish heritage.
Dr John Conway, founding father and the first man to ever kick a ball at Celtic Park, once famously said: “Glasgow Irishmen, we can emulate the Hibernians example not only in social but in political matters as well, so that the goal of every Irishman’s ambition – legislative independence of his country – will soon be attained.” Meanwhile, Celtic was always referred to as “The Irish club,” even 50 years after formation. John McLaughlin (another Celtic founding father and former Chairman), when the club moved location due to the original landlord’s demands, once said: “Being an Irish club, it is but natural that we should have a greedy landlord.”
Given the above, Celtic was clearly founded as an Irish club, primarily for Irish people, but it was open to all and never exclusive (as shown by the signing of an Orangeman in the club’s second season). Irish culture remains relevant because it is part of many fans’ background, the songs being passed down to them at games, and the Irish community is the group for which, and from which, the club was born. For this reason, Celtic has a big support in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora around the world.
It could be compared to a Chinese takeaway in Glasgow. If such an establishment is formed by a man from China, which serves Chinese food, and then he passes the business and his Chinese culture onto his Scottish born children, does the establishment become a Scottish takeaway? Or does it remain a Chinese takeaway in Scotland?
That doesn’t mean all Celtic supporters have to feel Irish or Scottish though. Celtic is a football club, not a person. Your own identity doesn’t need to be altered by a football club.
There will be people born in Scotland from an Irish background, who identify as Scottish. This is natural and will only increase as the generations get further down the line. If one has been born, lived their whole life in Scotland and been accustomed to the culture, then they will likely feel Scottish. That is absolutely fine. Some of these people will also take an interest in their Irish roots, whilst feeling Scottish first and foremost. Others will not be interested. Again, this is fine as long as it doesn’t take issue with people in the same situation feeling differently.
There are also many Celtic fans in Scotland from outside of the Irish tradition. They may support the club for any number of reasons. The fact that Celtic has an Irish history and identity, doesn’t mean that they will or should feel that way themselves.
On the other hand, in terms of people born in Scotland identifying with Ireland, the reasons are quite understandable. If your forefathers were Irish immigrants and handed down their music, sport and history, then it may give you a different sense of identity. In my case, I am born in England. My grandparents are Irish. However, I feel more affinity with Ireland because I grew up listening to Irish music and watching Gaelic games. I visited family in Ireland and I learned the history of the country, whereby I came to believe that Ireland should be united as it is an injustice that Britain (my birthplace) stole six counties and still occupies them. I still listen to Irish songs, I enjoy playing Gaelic football over here and I support Celtic because of the club’s Irish roots. It doesn’t mean I hate England, English people or my home, it just means that in a political and cultural sense, I feel more connection with Ireland. I can’t help how I feel and I make no apology for that.
Embed from Getty Images
Frankly, people can celebrate which ever culture or nationality that they feel drawn to. Immigrant communities and diasporas have always had descendants valuing their roots, and others moving on from them. Often there is a combination of both identities. In Scotland, most Celtic fans will probably feel Scottish nowadays and have a pride in their own or the club’s Irish heritage.
Whatever you feel, it is your choice. How others feel is up to them. Can we stop the pathetic arguments and forcing identities on to people?
Enjoy the games for those of you who enjoy international football. Let’s hope that Scotland and Ireland get a victory and you can all argue again before the next round of games!
Liam Kelly
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Feel free to bring your Union Jack to Celtic Park – I don’t mind.