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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looking forward to the match today, think we will win. It was a bit poor against Alloa but fair play to them they came and did a good job. Sutton was great cannot stand that fat prick DJ.
Agree with Paul think the semi final will be a lot tighter against the new forces of darkness. I think the have a couple of decent players in Windass and Haliday both got a bit of pace which they lacked in the last game.
Don’t really like Man U but nice touch there with all the players wearing the names of the mascots on the shirts and the mascots theirs.
Nice touch and every mascot allowed to shake hands with all officials and Leicester players.
An interesting take on things from Martin Breheny coming from the GAA environment – I’ve pulled out the relevant piece to save reading the full article
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/how-long-until-the-call-by-players-to-pick-bosses-35074678.html
The influence of social media, especially Twitter, online comments and phone-ins means that managers and players can be subjected to fiercely personal attacks even before they leave a venue after a game.
There’s no place for objective analysis in that world, where winners are always brilliant and losers are misguided fools. It’s the ultimate in shallow nonsense, but can still exert an influence on public opinion.
In an age when former players/ managers have spotted that the best way to acquire a media profile – and the earning power that comes with it – is to unload harsh criticisms, the quality of analysis has veered sharply into nasty territory.
Full responsibility for Clare’s failure to add to their All-Ireland haul since 2013 was dumped at Fitzgerald’s door, amid claims that the riches from a so-called ‘golden age’ were being squandered.
Panic in Torremolinos. Was relying on The Bailey Pub to watch the game. They always had Celtic TV on previous visits. Just heard they might not have the game today.
Anybody know of an alternative Pub that might have the game.
CORKCELT
John Lemon Bar in Benalmadena are advertising game on their Facebook & Twitter pages if that’s any good
John Lemon Bar, Avenida Bonanza 44, Planta Baja Local No5, Benalmadena (Tel: +34 692 87 61 31)
As of tomorrow, I will be auctioning a bottle of ACGR’s special — and I do mean REALLY SPECIAL – Whisky for the sleepout fund.
For those of you who don’t know about it, you can’t buy it anywhere at all.
Very limited number of bottles in existence – no more than 280 – and it is a single malt matured, noursihed and looked after by professional whisky men from the industry at the top of their game.
Specially bottled and presented, this is no mere blend from a mass producer or a whisky based product rolled out amongst a stable of other beverages.
This is the Golden Nectar, The Dogs Bollocks, The Beyonnce’s Knickers of a whisky and only the one bottle is available.
More details tomorrow!
So Messi out for up to 3 weeks and was carrying an injury when he played against us, thank goodness he was not firing on all cylinders.
‘mon Wee Davy Fitz…………………..
:)
For anyone worried, I can confirm no current sighting of Sloey in downtown Marseilles! Hope we get a good result this afternoon, I’ll be monitoring the updates here on CQN while brother occupies the seats. HH
ThanksGary.I’ll check that out.
Caught BR on Football Focus there and he did fine apart from his inadvertant use of 2 words, one rhyming with cold and the other being the opposite of soft.
They then went on to discuss Mr Barton and ended with a good quote about him from Mr Lawrenson – “a promising career ruined by a troublesome brain injury”
VFR800a8. Yes! Another wee teaser(in hospital at moment) What was unusual about the Celtic side that beat Dunfermline at Celtic Park 2001?
Overheard 3 sevco supporters in the gym there, “did you hear that Sutton” says 1 aye “he’s a d..k” number 2 ” he should be banned from Ibrox ” says another , nothing about his points on Johnstone, just ban anyone who has a different opinion on them and their media placemen
1-0 Man U
My memory failed me there, the quote was “a promising career interrupted by a niggling brain injury”
Celtic Football Companion
Wed 03rd Nov 1971
European Cup
Second Round Second Leg
Sliema Wanderers 1
cocks 01min
Celtic 2
Harry Hood 42min
Bobby Lennox 55min
AGG
Sliema Wanderers 1
Celtic 7
Sliema Wanderers
Pearson
Borg, J.Aquilina,Serge,Micallef,Briffa;
Vassalo,Darmanin,Cocks,Falzon,E.Aquilina.
Celtic
Evan williams,
jimCraig,Tommy Gemmell,
Kenny Dalglish,Billy McNeill,George Connelly;
Tommy Callaghan,Lou Macari,Harry Hood,
Vic Davidson(Steve Hancock),Bobby Lennox
An Alphabet of the Celts
Stephen(steve)Hancock
Born-10th Sept 1953 Sheffield
(Game above his only
Competitive game for Celtic)
Steve Hancock was a fantastic prospect .
He won three junior caps with Newtongrange Star
and the junior player of the year cup on 17th May 1971.
what happened? ” I thought I knew better than Jock Stein.
He wanted me to move to digs in Glasgow
from my home in Edinburgh. I didn’t think
it was necessary. Now I know I was wrong”(03rd Nov 1982).
Stein dropped him from the reserves and Steve’s odyssey
Away from Parkhead began.
John Hagart persuaded Hearts to try him.
Steve turned out against Celtic on 13th Aug 1975
And pounced on a Latchford mistake in 15 minutes .
When Meadowbank freed him he was on the point
of going back to his work as a taxi driver .
Stenhousemuir took him to Ochilview where he scored
50 goals in two seasons.
Forfar played £12,000 for him (big money for the Loons)
and he took them into the Semi Final
of the Scottish Cup in 1982 with the goal
that knocked-out Hearts.
He retired suddenly to sell insurance on Saturdays.
Hail hail
BhoyjoeBelfast, no home grwn or Scottish players in that Celtic team to beat Dunfermline ?
BANKIEBHOY1 on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2016 12:46 PM
‘mon Wee Davy Fitz…………………..
:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXPfqJv2V3o
Commentators over the top here at Man U 3-0 now and playing very well, who was benched today?
W Rooney…..
PapaJoe55, on the bus now, got your ticket in my pocket. See you at the Ticket Office at 2:15.
HH
4-0 Man U
Afternoon champions…..a very high scoring win today ….that will settle the wee rock aboard the braw ship Celtica…
BRTH…….auctions are for losers!….a nice wee raffle now…..there is the leveller…. Abidy can go for it… A poond a ticket …strips of six or twelve….
Six poonds for an average half bottle…twelve poonds for a bottle….
Celtic raffles ….a raffle open to all….
The Carmylie golfer is a braw braw bhoy…
Hoopy days
Respectfully yours
Braw.
Smiley thing ..
BHOYJOEBELFAST on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2016 12:51 PM
VFR800a8. Yes! Another wee teaser(in hospital at moment) What was unusual about the Celtic side that beat Dunfermline at Celtic Park 2001?
_____________________________________
Sorry to hear you are under the weather; hope nothing too serious.
I’ll assume that you meant the SPL game in September and not the Scottish Cup replay in March.
That game Celtic started without a Scottish Player in the team.
FAC the Act
KTF
Met Almore for a quick snack in Coias at midday.
Lovely fella. It’s not the precise location he was looking for the cafe to be in, but he seemed to enjoy it!
FAC the Act
KTF
Gamboa today Bhoys?
He needs to convince many I think including myself and I hope Brendan has seen something in him we are yet to witness.
I would always give players their debut at Celtic Park if possible.
Brendan has many tough selections to make today as did Ronny last year.
Play the best 11 always is my thought.
I wonder if that’s the same Chris Sutton that was being vilified on these very same pages not so long ago
Neganon so Sutton WILL be sacked not could be or may be, you have of course evidence of this coming event, or as is so often the case with you just your opinion?
So WITS selfishly has decided to come over for the game today
and leave us all picking our own nags……..
WITS enjoy yourself and if you collect even half the cyber pints youve
been promised over the years you will not make the plane home.
I got today’s tip at 16’s if it comes up
Add my name again to list who owe you a cyber pint
: > )
Hebcelt,
Sorry to hear of your illness.
Hope all goes well.
Cheers,
Mark-C.
scroll down a tiny bit – is derek johnstone somehow related to trump’s hair?
ooops
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/
Facebook vid there of the players arriving at Celtic park.
A few obvious absentees but hopefully just doing interviews.
Doors to automatic………..
4-1 clean sheet gone at Old Trafford.
Greenpinta cheers mate, appreciated. H H Hebcelt
Yes VFR and Dallas…..It was my wife’s birthday 35 she was,wee bonus point name the Glaswegian who came on as a sub?Doing well waiting for results of scan.
BHOYJOEBELFAST on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:57 PM
That would be Gerry Crainey!
FAC the Act
KTF
Doris
Lustig
Erick
Jozo
KT
Bronny
Biton
Jamesey
Scott Sinclair
TR
Dembelle
Griff on the bench