Celtic rolled past Ross County in Glasgow in November, going 5-0 up after 40 minutes before easing off, but it took two late goals to turn the game in Dingwall the champions favour in October. We often see tight games there, while late winners have been a memorable feature.
County are the form side in the country. No team in the league have taken as many points as them since Christmas, despite the Highlanders playing three of their four games on the road. Wins at Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and Dundee, and a home draw to Hearts, have moved them out of relegation trouble for another season. For a contrast, Celtic have only won three games on the road since October. We can expect another ‘Defence v Attack’ battle tomorrow.
Brendan Rodgers has decisions to make on team selection. We had two days rest since the Dundee United game and there are two days between the visits to Ross County and Dundee, who we face on Tuesday. County have rested since last weekend and Dundee have no game this weekend, so both will be fresher when they face Celtic.
Players are human, even Callum McGregor. They cannot deliver at their peak every three days. A 15 point advantage at the top of the table allows Brendan to freshen the line-up, without taking any actual chances, while conserving resources for the three biggest games of the month, still to come.
Across the city……….. It’s fascinating. As always, it is the mistakes of the self-entitled ‘supporters’ which do the most damage. May they never stop. We should all watch and learn as much as we can from these episodes; self-entitlement comes in more colours than blue.
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Cameos sparkle for Dundee
Hail Hail
As DeniaBhoy will tell you, it’s Friday!
Lovely, sunny and warm here this lunchtime so I’m off out for a couple of hours on my bike.
On the article, it would make sense to rest Calmac or at least limit him to one half in each of the next two games. Luke, Bernardo and Engels to start with Reo coming on as the impact sub.
Given the weather up north,might be difficult for the team to travel…..
“Across the city……….. It’s fascinating”
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Really?????
“self-entitlement comes in more colours than blue.”
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So does paying too much attention to what another team is doing to your own detriment.
Morning from a chilly Texas (my favourite kind).
Uncle Fester must stay!
Expecting a tough battle in the Highlands tomorrow.
“ We cannot afford to be complacent “
Michael Nicolson
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 10TH JANUARY 2025 12:20 PM
I agree with your last sentence . While it’s nice to have a laugh and a gloat at the Mac Sennet show across the city , there is really no need to measure ourselves against them in any way .
Hot Smoked on 10th January 2025 11:14 am
Right chaps, off to visit a friend in Ninewells Hospital.
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Hope you are giving yourself an extra hour for parking!
Good afternoon from a beautiful sunny North Staffs. Unfortunately it’s still below freezing so it’s no surprise that the Vale game is off tomorrow.
DENIABHOY @ 10:49 AM
“CHAIRBHOY – fair points and I am not advocating dumbing down, just that many of us thought that was the board’s srategy up until a couple of years ago. We got a fright last season when it looked like we might lose the league, and guaranteed entry into the new CL, and that certainly helped Brendan get the players in he wanted during the summer. I, like most of us, would be happy if r2ngers did not exist. But the chances of Aberdeen, Hibs, Dundee Utd or Hearts, being able to fill the void are close to zero.
My other main point is that, however much we might enjoy their ongoing troubles and revel in yet another manager heading for the exit door, a one horse title race will not be good for us in the long term. Interest and attendances will drop off just as it did when rangers were liquidated. Attendances of 30,000 could become the norm again with the knock on financial effect that would have.
r2ngers business model needs such radical surgery their fans boak at it. Accepting being 2nd best and rebuilding their club to being one that lives within its means while developing young talent doesn’t satisfy their need to be WATP.
I don’t think there is an easy answer for the suits and I can understand why DD and our board probably don’t want the gap between us and them to be seen as insurmountable.
Not sure if I am articulating clearly my views. Just trying to say I can understand a world without r2ngers is not one that would benefit our Club though the thought of it is one that brings a smile to my face.”
Yes, I think you are making a good point in regards the competition we face in the SPL, and there is a strong argument that it needs to be a competition.
Also, the consequences of dealing with the fall-out, like falling attendances, yet we can deal with that if and when it arises, as we did in 2016.
As I’ve watched quite a bit of Scottish Football this season it was interesting to see a packed Pittodrie bouncing while they were having a successful run.
Yet even in top leagues like the EPL or the Bundesliga you can have dominant Clubs.
Of course, often one or more challengers get their act together when the dominant Club are having a low point and that changes.
The issue in Scotland is more fundamental for me, the Clubs seem happy with half empty Stadiums, poor broadcasting deals and poor player development.
On top of that you have a unique and self-styled Club in Ibrox who think rules don’t apply to them and they are entitled to be King of the Castle.
The hard graft that Celtic have put in, during the last thirty years is not for them – someone, somewhere should be handing them success on a platter.
Even if we wanted to, and I don’t think we should, it is very difficult to have a working business model with Clubd with that attitude.
Those ambitious Clubs in Europe, especially our peers, those are our competition and business partners now.
How can we leverage that!?
Hail Hail
Brendan Rodger’s should keep Palma ,Taylor ,they know how it feels to win league titles.
Bernebei away €6 million
Paul67 et al
“….Celtic have won only three games on the road since October…”
Really? Or Matt O’Riley, that is the question.
Well the results show that we have played eight times away from Celtic Park since er October.
Including twice at Hampden, first where we demolished Aberdeen 6-0 and second when we won the League Cup Final and in doing so won all domestic trophies in a Calendar year. Oh, and we drew away from home in Croatia in the CL. We also beat Kilmarnock away, then Hearts away and then Aberdeen away. Latterly we drew up at Tannadyce and crashed at Ayebrokes. Not to mention drawing at home with Brugge, and beating Ross County, Hibs, Motherwell, St Johnstone, St Mirren and Dundee Utd all at home and all without losing a goal, and all since October. But why let the facts get in the way, when you’ve got an angle?
Ye gotta know yer angles…
PythagorasCSC
Good bit of business getting our money back on Bernabei .
I think I read somewhere the other day that Bernabei was voted best LB in Brazil last season. If so, it would suggest there is a better player there than the one we saw.
Celtic Mac
So you agree Paul was 100% factually correct.
Celtic has won 3 away games since October !
Fact.
Daizen, Nic and Luis out tomorrow, minor injuries for the first two and a family bereavement for Luis.
Bernabei looked to me a left winger or a left wing back, he couldn’t defend but he did have pace, a good left foot and could beat a man, anyway if he isn’t in the manager’s plans then better for him and us to part company.
First name on the Teamsheet for tomorrow
Anthony Ralston.
” We need to strengthen in general in the January window. We know what we’re looking to do and we’re 100% confident the club will do everything to support that. We have deals we want to do between now and the end of January “
Brendan Rodgers 5th January
Paul 67
Talking of self entitlement.
Met one last night in this wee Tenerife pub watching the Dundee game .
He had had me sussed early as I let out a cheer when Dundee scored .
“Ah , but we beat yous mate .”
“Yep , you certainly did .
Enjoy your , we beat Celtic trophy “
Home tomorrow, 23c here to minus god knows what in Glasgow
HH
Burnley78
Apart from one season under Fergus McCann back in the mid 1990s I do not consider games played at Hampden as being home games any more than a game played in Zagreb.
I know that might not fit with your and Paul’s current narrative and agenda, of which it has to be said, does not like to let the facts get in the way.
Awe_ naw _ there’s two of them
Reading Yang is the only fit wide player we have available tomorrow.
Looks like a tough game ahead then .
Full quote;
“As I said, we’re very hopeful that we can get players in that we would like but availability and the affordability of players is always something that is a challenge in this month.
“But I’m fairly confident that we will be able to bring in the necessary changes to the squad that can help us. I’ve said before, I want to be able to bring in more attacking threat and more goals into our squad.
“I think January is always a really good month in order to add that freshness to your team. It’s just about getting those deals over the line. I’m fairly hopeful that we can do that.”
Good afternoon all from the Victoria Bar. Let the good times roll. 👍
My statement earlier about Daizen and Nic was wrong, they are doubtful not definitely out. Apologies.
Inside The SPFL
@AgentScotland
If you think Rangers away form has been abysmal so far in 2024-25, this is their next six away fixtures before the split.
Dundee United
Hearts
Kilmarnock
Celtic
Dundee
Aberdeen
!!Bada Bing!! on 10th January 2025 2:17 pm
Bernebei away €6 million
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That’s incredible. Amazing how players can be better suited to different leagues. Then again, the Scottish league is fairly unique 😁
Begs 2 questions
Who is the “we” Brendan is talking about?
What’s his experience of adding freshness, or the history of Celtic adding freshness to the team that leads him to think it’s a “really good” month for it.
It isnt. It’s good for finding the odd replacement for outgoing players or development players. His January windows first time round brought in a load of crap.
Good to see a decent profit being made from one of our flops. We keep on making money on players who don’t cut it in the team while the Huns bring in under a million for 4 or 5 of their signings. Part of the plan or pot luck?
lynott67 on 10th January 2025 3:35 pm
Reading Yang is the only fit wide player we have available tomorrow.
Looks like a tough game ahead then .
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[;ay kyogo right side, adam in the middle, the goals will come.
lynott67 on 10th January 2025 3:35 pm
Reading Yang is the only fit wide player we have available tomorrow.
Looks like a tough game ahead then .
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Must make it a cert for both Kyogo and Idah to start.
I asked earlier but, if there was a reply, I didn`t see it.
Did we travel, as I am sure we must have, to Dingwall today?
If so, I would say we are at a bit of a disadvantage with a 12:30pm KO.
Brendan’s “really good” winter signings
Kouassi
Musonda
Hendry
Comperr
Bain
Bayo
Shved
Gutman
Perez
Burke
Weah
Toljan
Probably worse at Leicester
“We” have been at this long enough to know the January windows rarely produces quality first teamers.
Kuhn Maeda Palma Forrest injured.
Kyogo goes wide Adam Idah up front. Not ideal but Dingwall pitch has no width anyway, another reason we sometimes struggle there.
No change to a winning BR tactical formation.
Hot Smoked:
Generally do an overnight to Dingwall Inverness or Aberdeen, por cierto.