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

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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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802 Comments

  1. LEFTCLICKTIC on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2016 10:21 AM

     

    Good morning mate, see you soon. Heading for the Office shortly. The Boss will get us there at 12:00.

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

    Hail Hail!

  2. Not much in the way of exegesis required after listening to Big Chris and Big F Derek !

     

    Off to the game now.

     

    Cheerio.

     

     

    JJ

  3. As much as I enjoyed Sutton last night (or this morning in reality), what he was saying was well known.

     

     

    I’ve heard fans come on and call Johnstone a cheerleader, an apologist or whatever. It’s not new.

     

     

    Usually fans get cut off or faded down but they couldn’t ask Chris Sutton on and do that to him.

     

     

    It’s not down to the fact that Chris was English with a fresh eye in Scotland, it’s more to do with the fact of Chris being new to punditry, not being in the clique and not being willing to be. Michael Stewart is the same – he is refreshing and does not pander.

     

     

    Tom Boyd more than any other former player I can think of backs Celtic to the hilt and does not accept the same club myth and he was vocal about the EBT situation as well. Sutton has never gone that far with his criticism.

     

     

    Tom Boyd is not in the MSM. HeDerek Johnstone is in a bit of a different boat and it was fun to see that highlighted.

     

     

    The problem with the MSM’s pundits by and large is they know bigging up the Govan Galacticos is good for business while kicking Celtic is the same but for different reasons.

     

     

    The system has been rotten with this kind of thing for far too long so when Sutton and Stewart break from the done thing people notice it more.

     

     

    The fans of the Govan Galacticos despise Sutton. They hated him more than Henrik Larsson who they feared and respected. Henrik was not outspoken but he was deadly on the park. John Hartson was never hated by them in large numbers because they realised it was their own mistake in not signing him and they were made to rue that decision but Sutton came up and said he was there to put them in their place from the off. He won free kicks and penalties they believed were dishonest and they also suffered at his hands a few times.

     

     

    Sutton had as much self-belief and arrogance as a player as he had bravery and intelligence. He was arguably MON’s most important signing. He is carrying that attitude into punditry and a lot of people don’t like it.

     

     

    Many Celtic fans hated Sutton for slamming Deila. He was correct and we know many fans who were cursing him but he never hid nor thought I better not upset Celtic fans. It’s only now with the shoe on another foot that there is a problem.

     

     

    He called out Craig Thomson as a bottler in the Forrester incident

     

    He said their centre Halves were horrendous

     

    He said the job is/was too big for Deila and Warburton

     

    He said Celtic should have had a red against Alloa and ICT

     

     

    You’d hardly call that being partizan. Sutton must be doing something right.

  4. The caller after Sutton nailed BFSDJ as well, he was from The Huns Of Struth and agreed with CS , that he was in bed with the Easdales, Green,Whyte etc etc, the clown denied it, the caller said he was at all the meetings that BFSDJ attended…..

  5. One from yesteryear.Born in Sheffield,england.signed 1970 played one game v sliema wanderers 1971. Name this former Celt.Got this bit of info from an old Celtic view.Oh I was a scrapbook man in my youth and one photo I have pasted is a ball boy by the name James Tait helping a Celtic player(forget players name) who had caught his foot in the goal nets.Anybody out there know a former ball boy by that name,photo 1960s.

  6. Goooooood morning CQN ( Gunten Morgan for our German Bhoys) from playa Mogan :-)

     

     

    Missing the game today, but no1 daughter taking my wee niece Cara, so enjoy the day Ghirls ( no1 daughter likes to look in :-) )

     

     

    So COYBIG

     

     

    And dig deep for the Kano bhucketeers:-)

     

     

    Hail Hail

  7. Anyone in any doubt about Johnstone, listen to his take on Neil Lennon being assaulted at Tynecastle….

     

    Remember when John Wilson attacked Neil Lennon? Remember what Derek Johnstone said at time of Lennon being attacked? https://t.co/xlc7894tZc

  8. I had a peek on their FF site about Chris v The Fud DJ.

     

    This mob are even more delusional than ever, as some of them ( being as dense as they are), are actually saying that the Fud got the better of Big Chris

     

    They really do like to put as much spin on any issue !

     

    The dudfud DJ has never made any viable football point in 25 years, he’s a puppet !

     

    AN OMEN ? As I posted prior to the 5-1 game, I managed to get a bet on the bookies that Celtic would hump the Hun in the 4 SPL games this season (if there is 4 games ?). I got 16/1 with Corals eventually

     

    I also mentioned how I got the same bet up in season 2003/2004 @ 28/1. That season we bumped the Hun in a quarter of a Scottish Cup tie at Celtic Park, wee Henrik scoring the o my goal .

     

    Deja Vous? I’ve got the same bet on again this season and we get the opperchancerty to gub them yet again a cup ?

  9. Repost from late last night…

     

     

    *** Last Man Standing 8 ***

     

     

    Very pleased to say that (subject to any last minute buy-backs) all of this weekend’s picks are now in. At the moment we have 116 still standing including 9 who bought back their history. After this weekend, that option will be no longer available.

     

     

    Thanks to all of you for getting your picks in in plently of time. It really does help us when we get everything signed off nice and early so thank you all.

     

     

    Having analysed the choices of the 116 still standing, just over 50% of you (and me) are relying on The Bhoys so good luck there. Surprisingly, not a single person has ‘bet’ against Aberdeen on Sunday. Hmmmmm.

     

     

    Here are the games that feature the LMS selections –

     

     

    Saturday 24th September

     

    Celtic (60) v Kilmarnock

     

    Hearts (14) v Ross County

     

    Inverness (3) v Dundee (1)

     

    Bournemouth (2) v Everton (4)

     

    Middlesboro v Tottenham (7)

     

    Swansea v Manchester City (14)

     

     

    Sunday 25th September

     

    Aberdeen (10) v Rangers* (1.00pm)

     

    Hamilton v St Johnstone (1)

     

     

    * – also known as : Sevco, The Deadie Bears, Triggers Broom FC

  10. AuroraBorealis79 on

    !!BADA BING!! on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2016 10:55 AM

     

     

    Utter Scum Shitebaggery was the reaction of Derek Johnstone’s reaction to NFL getting attacked a Hearts fan.

  11. onenightinlisbon on

    Well done Chris Sutton. Tells it like it is. BFDJ a Rangers and now Sevco apologist fact. More power to your elbow son. Call these cheats and liars out at every opportunity.

  12. I predict 4-1 to the Hoops with LG getting at least one.

     

     

    Time for an early lunch before heading off to CP.

     

     

    Does CQN corner still exist? I paid a visit before the Sevco game. Spoke to one guy who said that I was the third person to ask him where it was. He thought it had moved. We were in front of the burger van next to the superstore.

  13. Heard the grass earlier, We get a good breakfast, high protein, he continued to ramble on for another 2 minutes. fool of a man, never mind your club cap.

     

     

     

    KLV

  14. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Chris Sutton

     

     

    Calls it as he sees it.

     

    How long have we waited for a fair commentator ?

  15. Be good to see Leigh back today, For me the last two games would have been wins and more comfortable than the Alloa game, not just his goal but his movement, He is immense. Playing against packed defences he pulls players all over the park plus he is the most accurate at shooting in the team, He would have buried at least 2 or 3 of Rogics chances.

     

     

     

     

    KLV

  16. Now that Fat Deek has been liquidated, live, on air……….

     

     

    do you think he’ll claim to have been punished enough?

     

     

    His employers have a bit of thinking to do now. This will be unusual for thum.

     

     

    Notwithstanding the hun-humbling – their good ole boy is increasingly looking and sounding like a relic and a bye-gone………………

     

     

    Sadly, the hunned-up, corpulent Shwowaddywaddy throwback could easily be replaced by any number of

     

    “aye ready” rockets.

     

     

    My hope for our very own hunskelper is that he does not even things up anytime soon, with an “olefirrum”

     

    mainstream message.

     

     

    HH

  17. Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way on

    Harry Boe

     

     

    front of pools office, next to superstore.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  18. BANKIEBHOY1

     

     

    Yeah posted similar last night, He looked very silly and is constantly looking out his depth. How can he be in a radio show as pundit and be impartial when he is employed by a club? only in this country. He constantly says “us” “we” when talking sevco and one night Mark Wilson said “we” and he was on him in a flash and Mark had to explain himself. Horrible man and a bully. People go on about Keevins, He is cowed and bullied by this man on a daily basis. Not defending him just think it’s a factor.

     

     

     

    KLV

  19. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    JOBO

     

     

    If BR has plans to play Leigh in midweek,I expect he will be played today. If not,he won’t.

     

     

    My guess-and I’ve sworn off predictions!-is he won’t play except possibly as a late substitute.

     

     

    (My position in the Naps compy suggests you ignore the above)

  20. Cosy Corner Bhoy on

    Just waiting on transport to game! Both daughters in attendance today!! Usual Crown Creighton before match. COYBIG.

  21. Chris Sutton will in due course be sacked by BT. Scotland Will not put up with anyone questioning its bias and racism.

  22. No problems with BFDJ.He wears his heart on his sleeve.I would much rather have him on air,with all his buffoonery,than some snidey type Hun,who would probably replace him.You know the type I mean.Masonic.The problem is the people who employ such obviously incompetent dolts.When you look at BT,they have the perfect formula.Sutton and Stewart are no nonsense types,call it as they see it impartially.

     

    I really think today could be a goalfest.We are just itching to pump some team,and Killie would be a perfect victim.Once again the shots will start to go in,not hit the woodwork,or a defender.Looking forward to it.

  23. Saw on Twitter that Brendan Rodgers interview due on Football Focus today. Just turned it on and half an hour to go – anyone know if I’ve missed it?