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You are at:»»Don’t expect an easy semi, James and Patrick, Here we go again

Don’t expect an easy semi, James and Patrick, Here we go again

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Kilmarnock had a pretty ropy start to the season, defeats to Motherwell and Ross County coming either side of a win at Hamilton, but they travel to Celtic Park tomorrow on a run of three consecutive draws.

They will be confident of scoring (scored in five of their six league games while we’ve yet to keep a clean sheet), and there is the added incentive that if results to their way elsewhere, a win could see they jump to fifth, behind Celtic, Hearts, St Johnstone and Aberdeen.

Brendan Rodgers will have a few selection options to consider with Champions League duty coming up on Wednesday. For these two games we’re going to perm two from Toure, Sviatchenko and Simunovic in central defence, one of Dembele or Griffiths as striker, while Gamboa could make his Celtic Park debut tomorrow. I’m hoping for a straight back four against Manchester City.

The other big area of outfield competition in the team is for the right midfield berth. James Forrest and Patrick Roberts both make good cases for inclusion. Don’t be surprised to see them subbed for each other in each of our next two games.

I see a lot of confidence after the League Cup semi-final draw, pitting us against Newco next month. This game will be six weeks after the 5-1 drubbing at Celtic Park, when a vast chasm between the teams. I expect us to win, but I also expect a considerably more difficult time.

We had the run of the show earlier this month. Moussa Dembele mustn’t have been able to believe the space he got, something denied to him by more tactically aware teams like Alloa and Inverness.

We benefited from the capitulation of one central defender, Senderos, shortly after his partner was subbed as part of a tactical change. The sight of Joey Barton unable to get off the ground to intercept Mikael Lustig’s cross for Celtic’s fourth is unlikely to be repeated.

In short, Newco’s mistakes were so evident and avoidable they are bound not to be repeated. The semi-final will be a different game.

I’m not a conspiracy theorist about last night’s draw but the League Cup has been a financial lifeline to Newco, who were rewarded with large home attendances for earlier rounds, and will already be busy selling premium hospitality content for the semi-final. There could be enough income in this one to buy more Velcro for the roof.

Here we go again………

Hot on the heels of that magnificent news from Mary’s Meals that we will be feeding 650 school kids in Liberia for the next year, I’m running the Great Scottish Run Half Marathon for the Foundation on Sunday, 3 October.

We’re getting to that time of the year when the Foundation’s plans to assist those most chronically in need in our own community need to kick in. The winter challenges aid providers. It kills many poor and homeless.

If you can help, please do. There’s a MyDonate page here. Your money goes straight to the Foundation, where it will used quickly.

Thanks.

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  2. Jobo Baldie on

    Half time in the ironing and I’m hanging in there. Thanks to the music clips from THETIMEREAPER, ROY CROPPY (x SEVERAL), YORKBHOY (x SEVERAL) AND LYMMBHOY.

     

     

    Roy – your Del Amitri track wins best of the night so far. Justin Currie is in my top 3 Scottish singer sonwriters of all time (with Gerry and wee Paulo leaving Donovan trailing in 4th….)

     

     

    Will dig out my own fave Del Amitri momentarilly……..

  3. butsybhoy on

    And another thing.

     

     

    Aint the Coors Light cold activated cans cool

     

    when the front mountains turn blue its as cold as the rockies and ready to drink.

     

    Well it works? pity you need 24 cans to get at charge and 40 trips to the toilet.

     

     

    back on the Stella/Magners

     

     

    HH

  4. Lennybhoy on

    BIG ARCHIE on 23RD SEPTEMBER 2016 9:38 PM

     

    Next Saturday?

     

    GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 23RD SEPTEMBER 2016 9:46 PM

     

    Glassford Street, round the corner from The Corinthian which is on Ingram Street. Me and Leftclicktic heading in for the K.O. in the BV, get you on the Train?

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

    Hail Hail!

  7. mike in toronto on

    Jobo … the first del amitri album is probably in my top 3 favourite albums of all time…. and Keepers probably a top 10 song for me …. criminally overlooked

  11. big archie on

    Lennybhoy.

     

    Out on Friday with A on our anniversary night .

     

    Spoke with JE re joining up.

     

    Text the details during the week.

  13. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    Just listened to Yorkbhoys you tube link there and heard the whole thing,brilliant!

     

     

    Well done Sutton.

     

     

    The fat (choose your own expletive) was well and truly put in his place.

     

     

    standinginthebandcorrectedcsc

  18. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Lennybhoy

     

     

    Cheers for the directions, I should know where it is, hopefully out for the game at least :-)

  22. mike in toronto on

    roy c … my favourite PN song… my gran was just up from Glenfield road on linnwell crescent, so that line/song always makes me think about her. thanks!

  23. MoonbeamsWD 'Stand up on 15 for the GB' on

    Just listened to Sutty V the pie muncher.

     

     

    The most telling point was actually made by BFDJ – why did you need 2 body guards on gantry Chris?

     

     

    I wonder if there is a pundit anywhere else in main land Europe who’s employer feels the need to employ 2 body guards for their protection at any ground?

     

     

    Hunbelievable attempt to score a point based on your own clubs hatred and potential to attack a pundit doing his job.

     

     

    MWD

  24. vfr800a8 on

    ALMORE on 23RD SEPTEMBER 2016 9:47 PM

     

    Lennybhoy: got the mail and hopefully see you tomorrow.

     

     

    VFR: Thanks. I know where that is. What time will you be there?

     

    _____________________________________

     

    I’m 5 minutes away so I can be in any time from 12’ish.

     

     

    FAC the Act

     

     

    KTF

  27. Almore on

    Ok, it’s goodnight from me. Remember to bring some loose change for the Kano Foundation collection tomorrow. I will head over to the corner at 2.15 to say hello and catch up.

     

     

    WITS: See you early morning.

     

     

    Oíche mhaith & Coinnígí an Creideamh(KTF)

  33. Almore on

    VFR: I’ll head there for 12, and a quick cappuccino. I’ll be wearing a black United Irishmen CSC rain jacket with a Guinness T-shirt in the Irish language underneath

     

     

    Off to mo leaba.

  36. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    LENNYBHOY

     

     

    I had it in my head as four days before my parents’ wedding anniversary.

     

     

    Nope.

     

     

    Four days before my Mum’s birthday,need to stop getting my reminders wrong!

  40. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Roy, the. Picture with Andy Lynch.

     

     

    Iwish my mind was as broad as the lapels are on Andy’s suit jacket.

     

     

    Two photos you have posted tonight of two underrated players, Mark Reid and Stevie Murray.

     

     

    Mark was a solid player for who also had the guts and balls to take a penalty in the last minute against the now defunct club in the 1984 league cup.

     

     

    Mark cemented the late Davie Cooper with one great tackle when we beat what was Rangers 3 1 in February 1981. Cooper was awol after that tackle.

  41. THE EXILED TIM on

    Thom

     

    Replied

     

    HH

     

    ………………………………….

     

    MWD

     

    I noticed that that point hadn’t been mentioned and wondered why, I doubt that the bodyguards will be needed anywhere other than the bigot dome, telling so it is, but you won’t hear that from the rest of the scottish media.

     

    HH

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