I have no intention of encouraging anyone to place a bet, but if you think Celtic will be crowned champions in five weeks’ time, you can make a 40% return on your money. Bookies do not give a 40% return on capital within five weeks often, so what’s going on?
The confidence you feel after Sunday is based on some cognitive biases. We have bossed Newco for 2.5 out of 3 games this season and there is an expectation that this trend will continue.
Also, five of Newco’s remaining seven games are away from home, whereas we have only two away games left. On average, more points are dropped away than at home, so there’s encouragement there too.
Add in your knowledge that the Celtic squad are getting fitter and better; Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate are back, Cameron Carter-Vickers is playing, and we look as good as we have all season, and you can see the plan coming together. So what gives with the bookies?
Bookies love trends. They know two facts about them: punters back them to continue and they always end. Lots happened on Sunday, but we should focus on the fact that at halftime, Newco ended a 2.5 game trend and started to cause Celtic problems.
Clement’s joy at a home draw was based on his belief that he – like you and me – knows what to expect from Celtic, and he will travel to Celtic Park with a plan he has confidence in.
Celtic are not the only side with players coming back from injury. Sima will be fully fit the next time these teams meet; Yilmaz will return to the left back slot and Matondo will be asked to continue how he ended on Sunday.
This will allow Newco to play to their strengths as a counter-attacking side, as they did successfully away to Betis and Benfica. If you can take a win and a draw from those games, you are entitled to be confident at Celtic Park.
Brendan Rodgers needs a plan, for that plan. He will be preparing for it already, but you cannot just decide how a game will progress; chance, form and (of course) rogue decisions can derail the best of us. We have a lot to do to win that game.
This leaves us looking at the away fixtures. Celtic will visit Kilmarnock, where we have lost twice this season, compounded by a home draw. Difficult though this game will be, I expect a win. We are also likely to go to Paisley, scene of two comfortable wins this season.
Newco lost at Celtic Park in December, drew at Pittodrie a month earlier and lost the opening game of the season at Kilmarnock. As well as their best European performances being away from home, they have a better domestic record away than at home.
These sentiments are why the bookies don’t particularly fancy our chances. There remains a lot to do.
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Greengray67
Excellent post and excellent advice. Been feeling a bit tired myself following a fall in early February and had been thinking about getting blood tests done myself – your post has ended my thinking on the subject
Je Suis \o/
I’m wondering if the huns want that game played tonight, remember it’s been suggested playing on a neutral venue, disadvantages Dundee or even Hampden. Not only disadvantages Dundee but enhances the huns chances.
The hun manager has already questioned playing at Dens Park next week……
Glass 2/3 full
“Only if the “plan” was to weaken the team, produce a lower points total and create a “title race” with our old firm partners!”
———————————
Unfortunately, there are several ways to lose a league.
In NFL’s final season, he was backed by delaying the sale of Edouard & Ajer who both wanted to move …..
but still we lost the league and it wasn’t even close.
Now, I agree that our summer recruitment has been unproductive – Nawrocki has not been as impactful as I felt he would be & Lagerbielke has hardly had a chance, for some reason – probably re-assessment by the manager. Palma has looked good but moody and the others were players to be given time to develop (Yang, Tillio etc)
We all agreed that we had a bloated squad and we did a decent job of moving out players on loan in the Winter Transfer window but only recruited Kuhn and Idah (on loan).
Our transfer failure was to have inadequate cover for the LB position and, perhaps, goalkeeper (though I think we have enough for domestic tasks).
But our main failure was not personnel, in my opinion, but a long period of treading water in getting a team identity together under a manager who gave off worrying signs of being over-patient to the point of complacency with regular points-dropping and boring football.
Since our “weak” recruitment in the winter, we have actually played better (eventually) and we have seen a re-energised manager. This gives me some hope but I look on this season as reflecting many matches where we have been tentative for 80 minutes and then we get energetic for the last 10 minutes.
We are now in the last 10 minutes of this season so I hope we can keep it up.
About 14 years ago I was tested by the GP, who told me he was testing all men of my age. I have lived with prostate cancer since then. (The Consultant who informed me that I have cancer told me that many men of my age have it without being aware of it). I have to have my PSA taken every 3 months and a prostate exam about once a year.
So, I heartily endorse that all men should get tested once they are of an age.
Well if any are in gambling mode you might want to take a look at the US Masters
Tiger Woods – 100/1
Greengray67
Excellent brave post.
I was sent for a colonoscopy after one of those annual bowel screening poo tests. Thankfully it gave me the all clear but the doctor suggested , rather generously, that he would like to conduct a gastroscopy immediately afterwards in a 2 for 1 deal, to save them having to make a 2nd appointment..
So the camera on rope was sent down through my mouth and throat and it was only when it was half way down, that the thought occurred to me that maybe they only have the one camera and I never heard it being washed before they switched ends.
Still, I got the all clear and I appreciate that, in this instance, the NHS was still operating with its brain and its heart.
still raining
“SFTB
…..t was only when it was half way down, that the thought occurred to me that maybe they only have the one camera and I never heard it being washed before they switched ends.”
Excellent ! :-)))))
The rain in Arbroath is lighter than was forecast but, if it suits the Huns for the game to be re-arranged, then I think it will be.
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 10TH APRIL 2024 12:11 PM
Bhoyjoebelfast from last blog.
Cheers old chap! The 4 intrepid Tims shall enjoy a last day of revelry in good old Donegal.
========================================================================
God’s County BRRB!
Where about are you today?
Terrible news about Ron Bacardi. May he Rest in Peace
The article is a great read today. Thank you Paul67
So they are spraying the skies with digital dust – aluminium and barium – so that it will connect with the “payload” which has been injected into 5.5 billion innocent people? 👀️
https://x.com/KateShemirani/status/1777996714193907942
PS, Aluminium + Barium = Ba + Al = Baal. 👀️
Baal = Demons. 👀️
Don`t shoot the messenger CSC
….oot.
for every great article there is a barium lined cloud
ooot
GreenGrey1967
Thanks for posting!
Very informative
Continuing best wishes on your health
You’ve just got to love this boy Foden at Man City – not only for his goals which are now as frequent as they are spectacular.
I have watched him closely now for two seasons and he is a breath of fresh air. He always wants to go forward, either with the ball, or, passing the ball. None of the constant sideway-shuffle, or, back-pass conveyor for him.
In my opinion he is now more influential than De Bruyne in the City team…..also younger and less injury-prone.
I hope we have some youngster coming through the ranks that models themselves on him, as we could never afford to buy anyone anywhere near Foden’s ability.
They are pumping Barium and water and potassium, Iodine and Einsteinium into some people and forcing them to speak through their
Ba+ H+ OO+K+I+E
I’ve had my daily dose of Fluorine, Uranium, Carbon and Potassium
And I don’t give a …… about what any compound of Hydrogen, Uranium and Nitrogen thinks
SFTB 😂😂😂😂
Brilliant – worth the effort to create that chain reaction.
Regarding the Den’s Park situation and on/off scenario.
Imagine it was our club, in the same position in this very very tight title-race, who was being affected by what is now a fiasco.
This forum would be lit-up like a Christmas Tree with allegations of sabotage against everyone and anyone connected with Scottish football.
Every silver lining has a clown …😊
If the game is postponed again will sevco demand to be awarded the points?
Will the spfl oblige?
3-0 to sevco?
Had a look on hun media. 1 orc saying even if pitch passes 15:30 inspection Another planned for 19:00. Saying it was on record website.
Surely not
“I hope we have some youngster coming through the ranks that models themselves…”
Grammar did you say?
I think you’ve been on the barium and aluminium…
i dont know why but everytime i say healium i do it with a squeaky voice
Saint Stivs
And can’t keep your feet on the ground?
Darwin
If it was Celtic instead of Sevco involved in the ‘fiasco’ there wouldn’t be a fiasco. Celtic would have played the game last Wednesday, when Sevco chose not to, when the pitch was playable,
a very good caller to clydelast night the fella is a groundsman and worked all over the world, and was responsible for the improvement of the motherwell pitch which not so long ago was in dire straight everytime it rained.
dundees problems are sub structure is passed it lifecycle, but to put it right costs millions, he said the best pitches cost two and the best clubs spend a million a season on them
dundee lost £3.9m last season getting up to prem, they expect to lose the same this season
but they also want to move to a new ground within 2 years,
so the simple prolem why spend money on a pitch now.
interesting for me, strachan is now the 4th largest shareholder, he strikes me as being a shrewd individual, can he foresee a profitable future for this club somehow ?
who caes when the fixture is played, if it give huns angst i find it funny, i dont find it embarrasing for scottish football, it is what it is, and old structure and heavy heavy rainfall for months.
if it goes ahed clement will find something to mona about his utterances lately for me show a man under pressure.
hey ho
This is getting even funnier, the hun if not already in Dundee will certainly be on the road.
“Dundee are due to take on Rangers later on this evening and a 11.30am pitch inspection from ref Don Robertson has given it the all clear – for the time being. There will be another check at 3.30pm and Robertson has already hinted at a FURTHER inspection before the game is supposed to get under way at 8pm.”
MCPHAIL BHOY on 10TH APRIL 2024 3:17 PM
Saint Stivs
And can’t keep your feet on the ground?
———
and the cost of them helium balloons, £5 last year and £10 today.
i suppose it is inflation
Saint Stivs
Enough of this levity!
i seen a very good angle picture of the penalty incident in which the player alread has his arms raised and his left leg crumpling, in the split second BEFORE HE connects with AJ.
GREENGREY
sUPERB POST, great to be forewarned.
Best to you
KINGLuBO
Re the bigot dome.
How many times now has there been issues with objects, glass and all.
Really, and it will never happen, but the SP Hell /SFA should deduct points, that should do it.
Next season, CELTIC should not allow, under any circumstance, huns into Parkhead. I mean, why should they ?
KINGLuBO
KINGLUBO on 10TH APRIL 2024 3:31 PM
Re the bigot dome.
How many times now has there been issues with objects, glass and all.
*and NOT just us but other supporters tae
GREENGRAY1967
Great post. Thanks for sharing.
I have survived prostate cancer twice and get a blood test every 6 months. Been clear for 5 years. I also get tested for bowel cancer annually.
All clear so far, but you never know the day. Regular tests are so vital.
Tully57 2.10
In Shamrock Bar, Falcarragh. Great pub, be sad to leave.
Sounds like Thems game is in real jeopardy.
Pitch inspection taking place now and seems it’s touch and go.