We go into tomorrow’s top of the table clash in better form than we were at the start of the month. Wins over Livingston and Dundee give Celtic a platform to build on. These games coincided with a consistency of selection in central midfield; Paulo Bernardo filled the endlessly changed slot in central midfield and rewarded his manager with the opening goal on Tuesday. I doubt it is a coincidence that players looked like they knew what they were doing after a period of inconsistent form and selection.
It surprised me that Daizen Maeda has not spent more time on the left since his return from injury. He is clearly more suited to that wing, and he is particularly effective at pinning back Newco, who prefer attacking on their right. How we support Greg Taylor on the left will be crucial to the result.
Both teams have injury concerns over their first-choice central defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers’ persistent tight hamstring forced his early retirement on Tuesday, while Connor Goldson went off early last weekend with a groin strain. I expect both players to start the game, even if they cannot complete the 90 minutes.
Newco will arrive tomorrow with a similar tale of injury woe that Celtic went to Ibrox with in September. We finished that game with a defence of Ralston, Lagerbielke, Scales and Bernabei, all of whom had enough ability to successfully defend their one goal lead. Celtic were able to boss the game against a weaker opponent. The fundamentals of the teams have not shifted away from Celtic in the intervening period.
We can expect lots of running and plenty of fight from Newco, they may also benefit from generous refereeing. We need to match them on the first two counts. This will be a battle and my biggest concern is that an arbitrary red card flips the scales in favour of the visitors. Celtic have to compete but give the referee no opportunity to step into the limelight.
Kyogo terrifies Newco. He has started 11 games against them, winning seven and losing only twice: his first game at Ibrox, when he played on the wing, and in extra-time at Hampden, when we were kicked off the park. I doubt anyone across the nine year history of this fixture has a comparable record. Expect him to see the result over the line tomorrow.
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think these are the biggest flakes of snow i’ve seen!
ML6 is a right off already.
Double check bhoys before heading in.
KLV
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/forms/webcam/Webcam.aspx
We didn’t have any 2 hrs ago. Its like Narnia now.
Tumnus.csc
KLV
What do I know, but I think it is critical we have our two full backs attacking and not set up solely to defend.
If we set up for them to defend, then we are bringing pressure on ourselves whichshould be avoided at all costs
KINGLuBO
Derek White and Evander Sno on the bench?
KLV
Too many snowflakes wanting this game to be postponed……..
getiton(bangagong) csc
Lololol
Try getting home after it snowflake.
KLV
Snow pun intended
At least we have var for a clear picture.
Aye its been working a treat so far.
KLV
The snow must go on……..
KLV
I’m not going to LAS VEGAS……thankfully.
chillpill csc
The planes would be aff anyway UNCLE.
Orange ball it is.
KLV
Stopped snowing at CP
Rumour Kyogo has Covid
HAIL HAIL….
CELTIC: Hart, A.Johnston, Welsh, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Bernardo, O’Riley, Maeda, Palma, Kyogo.
Subs: Bain, Abada, Yang, Turnbull, Nawrocki, Oh, Hatate, Ralston, M.Johnston
If you think it is cold here it is baltic in Vilnius.
Good bench.
Good luck Liam and Stephen.
KLV
Don’t quite get the drift of all these snow japes.
SNOWLAUGHINGMATTER CSC
The man from the Dailly mail
https://youtu.be/8384lBaN3a0?si=hH2f_d1dimzdrcTz
Wonder what the headlines will be tomorrow?
COYBIG.. MTH 💚🤍💛
Snowing ,let’s hope it turns …
Hail Hail the Celts are here …
We could do with big yogi in his sannies today!
Or feed the Polar Bear Roy.
KLV
GG live updates up
We all know what is at stake here, win today we end 2023 top of the league, start 2024 at the top and indeed with the winter break will still be top at the start of February. Need to start taking a couple more of the chances we created in our last couple of games, and with our opponents bringing a more open game should be a bit more space when we are on the front foot. Celtic to score three and win!