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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BRRB
Doon the Clyde withoot a paddle
Our next two games are the same as the ones that caused their implosion last season,beat 3-2 and 0-0 draw.Just saying like.
120 billion dollars,so far,the estimated cost of the LA fires.Looks like Malibu has been wiped out.
Celtic Mac
The four pioneers rowing up and down the Clyde in their simmet and drawers. Perverts and criminals ra lotto thum.
BRRB
Aint no doubt about it…
BRRB@10.42
That image is the stuff of which nightmares are made.
Home. Beer. Wee dram.
A shortage of available attacking wide men has everyone guessing at our starting line up for tomorrow. Personally, I’d be surprised if BR alters the shape of the defence, given our run of 8 consecutive clean sheets in the league (excluding Jan 2nd). So I’d expect a back four to remain insitu.
Midfield to front could be 3-3 as per or, as suggested elsewhere, we could go a diamond 4 in midfield (we have 5 fit regulars) and both Kyogo and Idah starting up top.
We still have two full backs that could provide width in attacks, if need be.
One issue with this line up is that you don’t get the benefit of fresh legs upfront that comes from subbing one striker for the other. We would be relying on one if not both probably playing 90 mins, which is not ideal. Especially with another game coming up on Tuesday. You would also only have one regular midfielder on the bench (rather than the usual two) to freshen up that area later in the game. So not ideal, imo.
I hope BR sticks with 4-3-3 and starts Kyogo OR Idah, with the other replacing around the 60 mins mark. Then reverse the situation on Tuesday. That way both get 90 mins over the two games. Evening out the workload.
I think we need to start Yang out wide. He’s the only fit option that plays the position regularly. I like the idea of starting Valle wide left ahead of Taylor. McCowan could possibly come off the bench to replace Yang or Valle in the 2nd half (or Taylor, with Valle dropping back).
I thought Johnston looked jaded on Wed, so would consider starting Ralston tomorrow; if not tomorrow, then Tuesday. I’d be happy to see any three start in midfield between Calmac, Hatate, Engels and Bernardo (keeping McCowan and one other on bench for later in game).
CCV and Trusty in front of Kasper.
That’s my tuppenceworth anyway.
😁
HH
To think there could be/is trepidation as we approach Dingwall while at the same time looking to progress alongside the elite in the CL, shows that every game is different – eleven human beings against another eleven human beings and presents its own unique problems.
It’s not, as some say, all about us and how we perform, it’s also how ‘they’ perform – Ibrox being a prime example. We can only strive to win games – that brings success. The final winning scoreline needn’t be fretted-over as aggregate scores are irrelevant in the meantime.
So one goal victories should be celebrated, if that what the Ross Co & Dundee games bring. At this stage of the season winning is all that matters – let’s hope if we achieve narrow wins in the next two, the manager and squad are not ‘analysed to death’ because of a lack of a hatful of goals. HH
What a brilliant excuse for Brendan to try out a new formation and new tactics….if he doesn’t do it tomorrow he’ll NEVER do it…
JACKIEMAC on 10TH JANUARY 2025 8:34 PM
rocco rocket
*watched that game thats all he done, 3 goals in 19 games
I HOPE….just to see if they work…a 3-5-2….a 4-4-2…or even a 4-5-1…..
Login again
Not wanting to diminish the tragedy in LA, but my point here is about media coverage.
With 10 fatalities and 140,000 evacuated in LA, the media beats its crestfallen chest about the carnage toll.
With 46,000 dead and 1.9million displaced in Gaza, the media concerns seem – least here in Oz – more muted. But surely the loss of life in both locations is horrifying and shocking.
I’m puzzled/angered by what looks like selectivity in how some media report the tragedy of human loss and infrastructure devastation.
Independent media, my arse,
JIMROYLE CSC
Dear Green Brigade
Until the game is won, can you please sing songs about the Celtic players in the squad? Heard from a present player the sing song against Dundee United was more motivational than the usual ditties.
If you want to motivate the players why not give us an edge?
Get your heads together and come up with songs about our present day players. The more humourous the better apparently.
Once the job is done please continue with the Irish history lesson.
Thanks in advance,
Sionnaigh
Irish history lesson
Who would even fell the need to articulate that.
Dearie me.
18 points in front has a nice ring about it.
In many cultures 18 is considered a lucky number.
Don’t think it will be considered lucky over at Greyskull.
HH.
https://www.youtube.com/live/ZNX_efIjMpY?si=qGCzuAoDoPNA-2XG
Ok, its baltic, its depressing January so time for a rant.
Like many i received an E Mail from Celtic informing me that a limited number of tickets were available from Monday Jan 13th fot the Young Boys game for existing ST holders who have not purchased a 4 match package.
£60.00 for ST holders.
When the general sale takes place the price will be even higher.
What planet are they on.? Do they forget we play in Scotland.
Given all the recent games , what working family can afford this ?
HH.
Greenpinata on 11th January 2025 7:24 am
Ok, its baltic, its depressing January so time for a rant.
Like many i received an E Mail from Celtic informing me that a limited number of tickets were available from Monday Jan 13th fot the Young Boys game for existing ST holders who have not purchased a 4 match package.
£60.00 for ST holders.
I saw that, i really was astonished at the sheer brassneck of it.
Maybe I am ” NIT PICKING” but at the start of Brendans Presser he clearly states that BOTH KUHN and MAEDA were rated as ” DOUBTFUL” for the game against Ross County, when he contradicted the ” Reporter” who claimed that both KUHN and MAEDA were OUT of the Squad due to injuries ?
Towards the end of his Presser, Brendan himself then stated that both KUHN and MAEDA were injured and therefore NOT available for the game Today v Ross County, but both could be okay for the midweek game away to Dundee ?
Brendan actually CONTRADICTED himself during that Presser, I was surprised that some ” Journalist” didnt pick up on it.
Maybe I am ” Nit Picking” , but I know what I heard.
Also, I think that if Brendan selects ” YANG” for this game, it will be a waste of a Jersey ?
Theres NOT much room for any winger to perform on that narrow Pitch, and YANG will probably just do his ” usual” anyway by constantly coming in field and into even more Traffic ?
” PERFORM”….When was the last time that we saw YANG ” Performing” in a positive manner ?
Having said the above, IF YANG is selected I hope that he plays brilliant and scores a couple of Goals ?
LOL.
HH.
Good morning all from Govanhill. Gerrintaethum Celtic!!!!
One of my favourites and one of the best not heard or been sung in a good while now.
🎶 🎵 🍀❄️
https://youtu.be/_B_5zC2WrBU?si=qWPWapC3zTjP1psI
IF you enjoy reading James Forrest, and/or you just enjoy wallowing in Thems’ misery, here’s a wee five minute read.
Especially love the very last sentence, which I must admit reflects my own feelings: “No fanbase in football has ever deserved hardship, suffering, and pain more than they do.”
https://thecelticblog.com/2025/01/articles-and-features/clements-future-is-now-in-the-hands-of-the-mob-thats-a-bad-bad-place-to-be/
Ave Ave
BIG JIMMY on 11TH JANUARY 2025 9:02 AM
We’ve seen this sort of thing before immediately before and during transfer windows. It’s all about the timing.
Brendan wants at least one winger. Our first choice picks suddenly become unavailable, the lack of depth is exposed and suddenly the need for a new winger is obvious to everyone. Brendan can risk a couple of substandard performance to make a point. Come the big games they’re fit.
From James Forrest ( The Blogger ):
“Earlier this week, I called them ( Daily Record)out for taking Brendan Rodgers’ comments out of context to make it look as though he’d had a go at the fans. ”
Hmm… quite a few on here seem to have swallowed that.
That, incidentally, was from the link provided by
EMERALDBEE \O/ A DOUBLE NINER!! on 11TH JANUARY 2025 10:15 AM
Quadrophenian
Totally agree about the lack of coverage of the ongoing genocide in Gaza compared with the wall to wall coverage of the LA fires.
The genocide in Gaza is paid for by USA and the victims live “far away” and have brown skin and a funny religion …so carry on ..nothing to see here.
Kim Kardashian’s cat got stuck up a tree and we will get hours of talk show interviews about her ongoing trauma and how brave she is in coping with the pain,a true feminist icon and inspiration to …blah blah
The west will pay a terrible price for this and it deserves to.
Ignoring genocide is complicity
Free Palestine
DR on that Tillman tale again. See below about a windfall, that of course will be evident on their published accounts 🙄
“He made his loan move from Bayern to the Eredivisie side permanently last summer in a £12million transfer, landing Rangers a reported £1.2m windfall after the German giants had a change of heart about an agreed deal to allow the Ibrox club to sign him after his loan spell.”
“
CELTIC: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Valle, McGregor, Hatate, Engels, Yang, Idah, Kyogo.
Subs: Sinisalo, Taylor, Scales, McCowan, Kenny, Bernardo, Montgomery, Cummings, Ralston
No Kuhn ???
We are doomed I tell ye
What is the Starz on 11th January 2025 11:01 am
Quadrophenian
Totally agree about the lack of coverage of the ongoing genocide in Gaza compared with the wall to wall coverage of the LA fires.
The genocide in Gaza is paid for by USA and the victims live “far away” and have brown skin and a funny religion …so carry on ..nothing to see here.
Kim Kardashian’s cat got stuck up a tree and we will get hours of talk show interviews about her ongoing trauma and how brave she is in coping with the pain,a true feminist icon and inspiration to …blah blah
The west will pay a terrible price for this and it deserves to.
Ignoring genocide is complicity
Free Palestine
YUP
Good to see some younger names on the bench up there today, Kenny, Cummings and Adam Montgomery.
Kenny might get some game time under a couple of different scenarios.
CELTIC40ME @ 10:40 AM,
Could we have a wee reality check.
When Ange went our two main wingers were Jota and Meada.
We sold Jota and got Palma and Yang in as development players.
The manager turned to James Forrest to be a back up.
The manager then got Kuhn in as a proper replacement for Jota.
Palma is going out on loan, James Forrest is injured.
The manager is resting Meada and Kuhn as they have “niggles” and he doesn’t want to risk our first choice wingers with important games coming up.
Does that sound a bit more accurate than you fantasy!?
Good team selection today…
Ross County 0 – 3 Celtic
COYBIG
Hail Hail
C
Sionnaigh on 11th January 2025 2:39 am
Dear Green Brigade
Until the game is won, can you please sing songs about the Celtic players in the squad? Heard from a present player the sing song against Dundee United was more motivational than the usual ditties.
If you want to motivate the players why not give us an edge?
Get your heads together and come up with songs about our present day players. The more humourous the better apparently.
Once the job is done please continue with the Irish history lesson.
Thanks in advance,
Sionnaigh
========================
Dear Sionnaigh
Please stick to your knitting while watching the game,or better still turn your telly down so you dont get to upset at what Celtic fans are singing.
Hope the jumper turns out well
PlainNPurlCsc
Lisbon Lions Part 2
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdS8v9Pe/
live updates up
Need to play these academy players when we get the chance I feel.
We need to prove there is a pathway to first team football.
Yang has played 50 games and wr could should have given that opportunity to Vata or another.
Pointless spening all the money on the infrastructure and not seeing any benefits.