The wind will make it uncomfortable to be out and about in the Glasgow night but it will have a big impact on this evening’s game. Any team hoping to prosper from playing long-ball football is likely to flounder but it will be equally difficult for defenders facing balls that drop into their penalty areas.
Goalkeepers in particular face a difficult challenge. Rangers will not expect to have a great deal of possession around our penalty area so you can expect them to shoot early and from distance in the hope of exploiting the wind. There is probably a distance Celtic will be happy to see them shoot from but any space sub-30 yards from goal must be closed down.
Perhaps the most important preparation Celtic can do today would be to send Ki out with a bag of balls to get his shooting eye in. He has the ability to score from outside the box against any keeper in the world. Rangers’ McGregor doesn’t cope with a bit of movement in the ball, just ask Kris Commons, so will not look forward to seeing the ball fall to Ki in a shooting position.
Celtic’s most effective out-ball in recent weeks, high to the left wing for Georgios Samaras, will be difficult to make effective. The short passing game will be more profitable; Ki and Scott Brown in particular will need to fancy the game today. If we get a top performance out of both the result is not in doubt.
James Forrest is an fitness concern for Neil Lennon but he is a player who will worry Rangers manager, Ally McCoist, so I expect him to start, even if he’s not 100%. He has the kind of pace no defence in the league can cope with, he creates and scores goals. When he gets the ball, look out for how alert Rangers become. This is panic. Forrest will make it easier for others to find space, look for runs into the box from midfielders when he’s on the ball.
It would be a huge gamble to bring Emilio Izaguirre back into the starting line-up for this game after a four month injury lay-off but he is such an important player to how Neil Lennon wants Celtic to play I wouldn’t be surprised to see him. Celtic need to control the ball in midfield and Emilio’s composure is a huge advantage in this respect. 60 minutes from him might be enough to give us the edge.
Gary Hooper will score.
The most important question for tonight is who will be able to maintain discipline. Celtic’s recent narrow home wins against Kilmarnock, Hearts and Dunfermline should have been more comfortable but the visitors maintained composure throughout and gave themselves a good chance as a result. Rangers are a better team than any of these three but discipline and composure are not words you would use to describe today’s visitors. The most important thing for Celtic could be to frustrate Rangers and have the patience to wait for the opportunity to take advantage.
Get ready for a classic Glasgow night.
492 Comments- Pages:
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lennon’s passion says:
28 December, 2011 at 13:11
Did all the irish bhoys get over ok.
share
All boats sailed,Derry crew are in the pub already..
Awe Naw Why is that then he is probably our best player at the moment ? H.H.
They will be desperate to
Play tonight and take chances with the weather and jell a fish falling down for penalties … Would be incredible calling it off.. Not in Scotland..
Paul: ‘When he gets the ball, look out for how alert Rangers become. This is panic.’
I put that through the new ‘Google translate’ from English to ‘Hunnic’:
‘When he gets the ball, look out for how agitated and violent Rangers become. This is Hunnism.’
Elbows to foul with impunity tonight. Gollum arned by his pinny-weairng masters not to incur a recurrence of their shame game. i.e no Hun will be sent off.
However, Iwill have a sneaky wager on us getting a pen; Gollum has nowhere to run after this one and may feel he owes us, such is his character.
4-1 to us. Samaras, Hooper (back on pens?), Wanyama, Ledley. And a Hun.
Good outcome on the lost ticket I sent to Vmhan,Ticket office printed of a new one..
FF
Cha Wilson Mulgrew Ledley
Forrest Brown Vic Kayal Sammi
Hooperman
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
28 December, 2011 at 13:24
I agree it is always a good idea to play your best players. Especially against the league leaders and current champions.
Hail HAil
Lenny/Hamiltontim
Beers still on for tomorrow night? Even if it’s still windy?
See yees there.
MWD
Hi Ghuys, Salve salve;- Edwardus Ursus Majorus, good to see your post old friend, hope all is well with you and yours.
Tonights game, I do not like the weather forecast, best I have seen is 25 mph with 40 mph gusting. Should be comming from NW this will make shots from left wing to goal difficult for away end. Anything that increases the chance aspect to a competition pulls my negative string.
I think that if we look like being in the ascendancy our guests will try to reduce the procedings to a Donneybrook oor Ally likes to dish out stick. Usually before these games, I get a feeling one way or the other, not happening just now but let’s hope for the best. As one who is on record has having flung in the towel when it got to 12 points, I am delighted to have been proved so wrong. All of you who are going, keep safe and return home to your loved ones.
Greenwells
Cogito, Facio Fio
hamiltontim says:
28 December, 2011 at 13:21
Be good to see you mate. Take it CRC e-mailed and or texted you?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Bjmac
On the earlier topic, I don’t believe the Odd Nugget is interested in owning a football team. It’s a detail only in the scheme.
Let’s suppose though that he has the wherewithal to take on the property investment with his current backers? Might be interesting to consider Whyte as the fund manager, having exercised his floating charge and taken the stadium in lieu of the £30m ish he’ll be owed. Given the numbers earlier, £30m is good business for the buyer. RoI = 12.5%. Very tidy.
His primary job then, is to put the Phoenix into the hands of some wealthy supporters who can provide the capital sufficient to stand up the Phoenix as a leasee. He’ll be particularly careful on this if he is the landlord.
Ultimately, if he has the title deeds, he controls the destiny of the newco. Once everything is settled, with well backed newco paying tidy rental to Whyte’s property company, he has a merchantable proposition. It’ll be valued like any other.
He could double his money in 12 months.
Just a thought.
BTW you heard about the thing on Wednesday? It is quite frightening. Their club might lurch from one festering crisis to the next before it’s finally cleaned out.
MWD
Heading south for New Year on Friday but will be trying to make it for a few.
.
Coorslad..
Kool..
Summa
The Battered Bunnet:
mate, one question… if the prospects for profit are so good for Mr. Whyte, why did Mr. Murray walk away with a pound for his efforts? Or did he? I just don’t get it.
Lennybhoy
Yes indeed got an email the other day. Hope to see you there buddy.
Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. says:
28 December, 2011 at 13:28
Wind, never stopped no Mhen…except when needing to let some of the gas from the beer escape.
Look forward to seeing you mate.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
It’s a shame about Cheetah. I’didn’t realise monkeys lived as long 80 years old.
Has their been a request for a minutes appaws or will they simply wear black armbands?
————forster—————
cha wilson mulgrew izzaguirre
–brown wanyama ki ledley—
———–samaras————–
———–hooper—————
subs forrest stokes kayal rogne matthews mccourt zaluska
Give sammi license to roam, get the ball deep and run at them (wide or through the middle), ledley and brown to support the attack and the full backs to bomb on and give us width. Wanyama to sit and protect the defence/fill the gaps left by full backs and ki to get on the ball in deeper areas where he can dictate play (see cup tie at poundland when we were down to 10 men). Midfield possession is the key, win the battle there and we will win the match.
hamiltontim says:
28 December, 2011 at 13:34
Good stuff…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
monkeys have hands
Kayal33 When you look at the team you have selected and your bench it shows just how hard it is to pick the team.Personaly I think its to early for Izzi to be risked.H.H.
The weather is playing havoc here in the west.
My brother in law has spent the last week working on Aran, and
was due to leave this morning for the game, He’s just called, in near tears, to
say all ferries are cancelled for the day.
The only good news is, his ticket is on this side of the water..
Imo tonights result will not decide who will win this league. That fate ,again imo was decided on the 15/8/2011 when this Celtic team came back from 3-0 down to get a draw. A win tonight would be fandabbydozzy, a loss a setback. For them however a loss could be a reet kick in the goolies. Could be a zilch zilch bore but it us that have the momentum and us that will add some quality to the squad.
Why is Rio Ferdinand referring to Paul McStay?
Random.
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
28 December, 2011 at 13:41
He probably won’t but he is best suited to playing against Aluko, he has the pace and the defensive know how to nullify him as well as being out most potent attacking weapon. Give him an hour and if he tires we will have Adam Matthews on the bench to come on. I don’t think Forrest will start so it’ll be up to our full backs to create width when attacking. Cha will definitely start as he has done OK in last few weeks, its then a choice between the returning wounded (Izzy or Adam) as to who plays on the left. Ledley must play in midfield and Mulgrew must not be anywhere near full back.
.
6hrs to Go..
Celtic 9-0..Sammi Hat-Trick..Ki Rocket..Hooper Penalty..Mulgrew Free Kick..Weir OG..ANother from Ki 30yarder..A Wonder Gola Fae Paddy..
Summa ft CannaeDaeThisMuchLongerCSC
TBB
“BTW you heard about the thing on Wednesday? It is quite frightening. Their club might lurch from one festering crisis to the next before it’s finally cleaned out.”
Can you expand? Via email if need be.
MWD
Swanseabhoy – Obviously my wife posted that :¬)
Kit – Murray wasn’t involved. The deal was done by the controllers of the Murray Group – Lloyds. They wanted out. They made it so. Murray has no more influence on his companies now than you or I. They bear his name, and that’s about the size of it. The deal that saved the group diluted Murray’s stake to dishwater. If he’s very lucky, he might have his company back in 15 years. He’ll have paid down something like £2 Billion to LBG in between. It’s unlikely. Murray was wiped out, save for whatever he salted.
TBB
PaulMcstay twitter
Who is this Rio Ferdinand?
Summa –
you’re doing well mate but I’d recommend a rest or you might miss kick off. Happy to cover your next shift although I can’t do ‘bold’.
Jobo
Apologies for “breaking the blog” earlier. In defence, your honour, I don’t really even know what that means….
New New Years Resolution: Find and use the link creator.
Hail! Hail!
Kayal33 I think Neil will play Ledley at left back and Kayal in midfield I think the big dilema is where to play Victor 67 either Centre back or midfield? my preference would be to play him in midfield with Wilson and Mulgrew at Centre Back. However,its a credit to Lennie that we have lots of choice within the squad. H.H.
Hello all,
I just heard that some ferries are not coming across from Ireland due to the weather and that sometimes they leave their tickets in Stranraer.
I am looking for two tickets for my two brothers for the game today.
Does anyone have any spare?
Obviously this would be greatly appreciated.
Rio Ferdinand @rioferdy5
Training done,the sofa is shouting me to come+get comfy! Old firm game who you having?? Coooome on Celtic..get the Maestro Paul Mcstay back
celticinthesun says:
28 December, 2011 at 13:53
*********************************
All todays ferries from Belfast have sailed mate.
may67
http://217.174.253.143/link_creator.php
or here
TheRealist
Wondered myself?…Different decades – a very
difficult question…..unless someone tweets him
and asks:)
TAL
The Battered Bunnet:
Thanks mate, would love to say. “I knew that” but I would be lying. Football I understand, cheating and thieving, well I was nevr taught that at school.
Bed now and up for the game. Normally my wife has no interest but earlier today she put a bottle of champagne in the fidge and when I asked her why she said…
“for tomorrow morning”.