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

802

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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  1. What is the Stars on

    Afternoon gents

     

    Been told Red Label is fancied in the next at Newmarket ( 4.15)

     

    first time on a race track.my mole says working very well at home

     

     

    We shall see

  2. Chairbhoy

     

     

    what does it mean for us?

     

    My interpretation is that our coefficient is based on only our results in comp.

     

    The country part of coefficient is no longer material.so we do not have clubs goin out in early rounds adding to our qualifying rounds

     

    It seems extremely unfair now as the gap between those who qualify and dont will be represented by a money gap

     

     

    Wonderhow new clubs formed say in 2012 will cope

     

    Hope your good

  3. An Tearmann

     

     

    Leicester a pot 1 Champions League team – no offence to Leicester – The Big Man he likes to ridicule the ludicrousness (is that a Word?) of it all.

     

     

    I hope you are well ‘wee’ Guy. :)))

  4. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    A few scattered thought ‘s

     

     

    Can anyone confirm if the Huns have paid the ticket money for th ,5.1 game ?

     

     

    Paul67,

     

     

    Email me your IBAN and Swift BIC code to my google email addy

     

     

    Auldheid,

     

     

    I mentioned on here and JJ’s site at the time that Grant was lying … possibly unaware but I doubt it. This was due to his proclamations about coming to his office and seeing the email for oneself … GUILTY .. I note and I am not surprised that this has not been fulfilled

     

     

    Grant should be asked only one question

     

    Did his email come direct from UEFA or from the SFA

     

     

     

    Brendan,

     

     

    Forrest needs to start ahead of Roberts

     

     

     

    HH

  5. Awe naw

     

     

    Grant is actinglike the level5 manic twatterer at the time the cqn addi was getting taken on in switzerland (cant rem paper) he should leave open his correspondence on this whole subject imo.

     

    HH

  6. traditionalist88 on

    ‘A subsidiary company will be created that will play a strategic role in determining the future and the management of club competitions: UEFA Club Competitions SA, where half of the managing directors will be appointed by UEFA and the other half by the ECA’

     

     

    HH

  7. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    WEEMINGER 1506

     

     

    Staff numbers are irrelevant to circulation. Hardly any of them left.

     

     

    More of a concern if you can be bothered to check it is ‘dumping’ in non-traditional outlets,at say 10% of cover price,on a no-return basis.

     

     

    As long as each outlet receives no more than 100 copies,they count as sales.

     

     

    Recent change in audit rules allowed this. Watch circulation figures level out over the next six months or so via this artificial life support before they freefall again.

  8. Will the charges against Kenny Millar scupper sevcos plans to bag Joey the mad Tim? After all they can’t sack invisible Joe for minor misdemeanor and keep the misser on, or can they?

  9. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Tearmann

     

     

    He’s been had or is at it. If he values his reputation and he won’t. He works for STV then he will start answering questions.

     

     

    Radio Silence CSC

  10. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 23RD SEPTEMBER 2016 4:32 PM

     

     

    You’d be surprised how many folk are in the H&T office. I reckon a bit of massaging could easily put it at close to 5% of the circulation.

     

     

    As you say it’s not much but if added to other shadowy methods it’s getting on to quite a chunk.

  11. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Tearmanm

     

     

     

    His correspondence would be telling. Almost a smoking gun but a comparison on the smtp logs between STV’s and the Res 12 bhoys would be definitive.

     

     

    Will never happen as it’s a lie …

     

    But is he being had ?

     

     

    HH

  12. So who the hell is James Von doom, he of the ongoing Twitter spat

     

     

    Do I need to learn about more stuff and people now? Can I ignore this without excluding myself from vital Celtic stuff! :-@

  13. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    WEEMINGER

     

     

    Pretty sure the 31p per month charge is only available to contracted employees. And that after a qualifying period.

     

     

    In other words,not agency workers.

     

     

    However…

     

     

    Many newspapers in the same fold as The Herald employ ‘home delivery agents’ who are what used to be paper boys in our day.

     

     

    The papers are phone-marketed at a hefty discount,kid delivers in time for breakfast. Voila,over 50% of sales guaranteed.

     

     

    Oh,and there are more ‘home delivery agents’ than full-time employees at the paper.

     

     

    Each of whom gets their 31p per month perk.

     

     

    Thoughts?

  14. And the hun at the back said everyone attack!

     

    and it turned into a wine bar blitz!

     

    wine bar blitz!

  15. Awe Naw , Tearmanm

     

     

    If you followed one of the days of the back and forth between Grant and the Res 12ers it was pretty clear that he’d received a different answer, from a different person, to a different question the he put to UEFA.

     

     

    I don’t think there’s anything sinister in that, and he didn’t get a copy of, or doctor the response that the Res 12 guys got.

     

     

    What’s telling though, is that he’s refused to make clear the questions he asked of UEFA. So I’m in no way stating that he’s been totally transparent on this.

  16. sixtaeseven - Gardez la Foi on

    Geordie Munro at 3:29 pm

     

    Mickbhoy,

     

    Is there such a thing as a hard semi? :)

     

    Carryoncqn csc

     

     

    Well, erm – a mate told me that – for some, to actually get to the semi stage is quite hard…

     

     

    So I reckon there are hard semis … for some … to actually get to that stage …

  17. Etims:

     

    “The reply given to the Resolution 12 guys was also given to Celtic FC, and the SFA”

     

    Why would the reply be given (presumably by UEFA) to Celtic FC if res 12 was about the SFA?

     

     

    is it because it was raised at one of their AGM’s although subsequently they washed their hands of it publicly?

  18. Awe Naw

     

    This res 12 thingummyjig could be a blockbuster!

     

     

    and there’s a few blocks to be busted.

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