I suppose we should start by heading the warning from Sevconian under-performer, Ian Black, who suggested that the Third Division is harder than the SPL. By this logic, Second Division Arbroath will terrify the life out of the Celtic defence ahead of their Scottish Cup tie tomorrow, they did, after all, put three goals past Inverurie Locos in the Third Round tie, and again in the replay.
Only Montrose
Having previously experienced the delights of Brechin, Forfar and the Dundee clubs, after tomorrow, the only Tayside club I will not have seen will be Montrose. These opportunities don’t come around often enough!
In all seriousness, Second and Third Division football is not difficult, it is essentially Keep Fit on the cheap. Celtic must deal with the sincere endeavour of their opponents while giving an opportunity for several fringe players to grace Celtic Park.
With our midfield already stretched by injury and suspension ahead of the Spartak game, Neil Lennon will want to guard this area of the team in particular. Spartak play their last game before heading to Glasgow tonight, at home to Zenit, who sit five points about them after 17 games. This is a huge game for Spartak and interim manager Valery Karpin, who will either succeed as interim, and be made permanent boss, or to fail and to also lose his general manager position.
Unusually for the Champions League, they have five days to recover before facing Celtic, a game Karpin is keen to win. Celtic will technically only have four days rest but the bulk of players likely to play in midweek will surely be rested tomorrow.
Spartak will be without striker Welliton, who travelled to Germany for an operation this week. Emmanuel Emenike, who scored twice against Celtic last month, is likely to lead the line. Emenike is a penalty box striker who is more than capable of exploiting gaps in the Celtic box. Karpin may instead opt to play target-man Artyom Dzuba as a sole striker. Dzuba is not a prodigious goal-scorer but he is able to hold play up and bring others into the game.
I loved media suggestions today that Sports Direct have a fight on their hands from other firms if they want their brand used to rename Ibrox. You have to admire the intellectual endeavour that goes into news coverage in this country. Sports Direct area THE key business partner for The Rangers. The only issue open to question is how much skin they are in the game for and what they get in return. Remember this when you’re buying sports kit for Christmas!
Lower league clubs will all surely be quaking in their boots at the news The Rangers will not only bring in well over £20m in a share issue, but could also earn countless riches from stadium naming rights. The leaked IPO PowerPoint presentation suggested the Offer for Subscription would commence on Monday. I am sure it is on-plan.
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Kitalba – is it you who has been posting the ol’ Oirish history?
If so, thanks.
My dad did his best to enlighten me on past events but there are big gaps in his stories that have been filled in. Can you recommend any decent books that cover the more recent history?
I have read the older stuff, such as The Tain, mainly because it refers to Culchullain(?) the Hound of Ulster, whom I’m sure would be welcome on the niteshift here. :-)
TIA
Estadio, I wouldnt be so sure.
Arbroath will surely play five in the middle. Don’t wanna be swamped like in the Ross County semi.
Wanyama is the quandary today, imo. Do you rest him knowing he ain’t playing on weds or is he first name on team sheet as injury or tiredness is slightly less of a factor?
Would be glad to see both Tony and Dylan start today.
HH!!
Geordie 09:22
One holding should be ok for Arbroath…
It might have been a good idea to give Wanyama a weeks holiday after the hearts game, refresh him a bit.
EN
Tallybhoy, me too.
I want to put 4-0 on today but will hang back till I’ve seen the team. Can’t see them scoring with big Fraser ‘the Forge’ Forster in inspiring form. HH
Estadio,
I suppose it depends on who you class as a hm and also where you play them.
I agree that one should be enough but it’s a funny ol’ game.
I’m looking forward to watching Celtic playing at home today. Ain’t I lucky!! Everyone better wrap up warm cos it’s Arctic out there and with there being no GB today I’ll be starting the singing from 138 so please join in. HH.
Nae wurries.
http://www.thecelticnetwork.com/2012/11/08/spanish-media-label-fraser-forster-la-gran-muralla/
Harry, there will be some GB there ( just like the last game) but not in their own seats. ;)
Just gimmy the cue.
When are the ole GB returnin’?
Art of War
Glad somebody agrees with me!
I would also rest Vic today even ‘tho he is possibly, usually, the first name on the teamsheet.
Still expect a strong line-up.
HH!!
.
I Hope the Ole Green Brigade are Not playing Musical Chairs..
Summa
Billy Davies ruling himself out of the Scotland job on BBC website. Who in their right mind would even consider him. His only obvious qualification is being immersed in the fabric of society, that tattered, fading orange fabric oozing the stench of stale piss.
BBC Scotland sports department really give me the boke.
sally has actually SAID that “history and tradition probably mean more to this club than any other in the World” ……… Has no one told him that “this club” only has a few months of history, and they seem to be trying to ‘adopt’ the shameful tradition of a former club which used to play in the SPL ……..LOL……(I hope BDO are keeping an eye on all this fantasy movie stuff …….) ……and the media, who are a bunch of twallies, seem to be caught up in the same deception ………
art of war
09:15 on
1 December, 2012
Kitalba – is it you who has been posting the ol’ Oirish history?
If so, thanks.
My dad did his best to enlighten me on past events but there are big gaps in his stories that have been filled in. Can you recommend any decent books that cover the more recent history?
I have read the older stuff, such as The Tain, mainly because it refers to Culchullain(?) the Hound of Ulster, whom I’m sure would be welcome on the niteshift here. :-)
TIA
—
Tomy barry guerilla days in ireland
Buy that book.
Unbelievable read about a great patriot of took the black and tabs on whereever and whenever possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x998_xo7e9s&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Tom barry himself talking about one of their attacks.
balhambhoy
Davies is ruling himself out of the Scotland job probably because he knows he’s not going to get it.
Horrible wee individual – a bitter hun! Refused to pick Kelvin for Nottm Forest after he signed a pre-contract with us.
HH!!
Their history and tradition consists of a plucky, but ultimately doomed, run in the prestigious Coup du Ramsden
The rest is mainly made up stuff off the internet.
Big Kelvin not good enough for Davies’ Forest team, more suited to Clough’s!
Geordie……Only me and the bhoys so let’s make some NOISE…a big happy fenian sonic boom as we start the Celtic Song. HH.
Tallybhoy – I wisnae agreeing with you, merely sharing the same opinion :-)
I would still play Vic tho and if going well then take him off later. Aside from Tony and Dylan is there not one or two other young bhoys ready to step up?
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, for those who are in the CQN Saturday Naps competition, please go back and post your selection at the end of the previous article :
“Huge decision ahead for Neil Lennon”
Alternatively, if you cannot access the previous article for any reason, then you can send me an email message with your selection to : fleagle29 at gmail.com
Good luck, fleagle1888
Tallybhoy, I kinda agree but he looks likes one of those players who doesn’t need a rest. He can have a blaw on weds.
Harryhood, I’ll try my best but as our bus doesn’t run to CP on cup games I’m having to drive with a few bhoys and I’m not going to be able to sample the ‘singing juice’ ;)
Proudbhoy – thx for that. Got some Amazon vouchers for my birthday and a little learning is on the agenda.
.
Interesting wee Read from Scotzine..
Lynch Mob mentality over Rangers Tax Case..
http://www.scotzine.com/2012/12/lynch-mob-mentality-over-rangers-tax-case/?
Summa
art of war
09:56 on 1 December, 2012
Proudbhoy – thx for that. Got some Amazon vouchers for my birthday and a little learning is on the agenda.
No worries.. Iv read a few and thats as real as it gets .
Enjoy
Vic a young fit bhoy..doesn’t need a rest
Brown does as does Ledley and Mulgrew
Play Vic, Kayal and Lassad for match fitness and fill in with youngsters
Morning all. Bright and very cold here in North Ayrshire (and not Ardrossan, as someone suggested yesterday, further up the coast, actually).
That’s my weekly dose of Brian Mathews over. Nostalgia; ya cannae beat it.
Hope there’s a good crowd today (might keep me a bit warmer).
Art of War:
British Spies Irish Rebels by Paul McMahon
The Graves are Walking by John Kelly
Comrades by Anne Ryan
Blood for Blood by William Henry
Stakeknife by Martin Ingram/Greg Harkin
The Squad by T. Ryle Dwyer
Behind the Green Curtain by T. Ryle Dwyer
Those are real bullets by Peter Pringle and Philip Jacobson
Who Killed Rosemary Nelson by Neil Root/Ian Hitchings
Who Framed Colin Wallace by Paul Foot
And that is the shortest list from the longest list.
Good morning all from a dry clear skied and therefore very cold and frosty EK. Several extra layers required for today’s game.
scotpatsfan
21:20 on 30 November, 2012
Sorry I had to leave the debate last night, but why are so many Celtic supporters so determined to have this new club in Govan to be accepted as the old dead club.
They aren’t, this is a fact, the MSM would love us to accept that they are, I never will.
UEFA won’t give The Rangers a license to play in their competitions because they can’t provide three years account because they were only formed in June, new.
An oft repeated lie is still a lie, it will never be the truth.
Plans are well under way for sevco’s 140 year celebrations.
There will be a lap of honour of club legneds – John Greig, Sandy Jardine (carrying a megaphone reminding everyone of their history and traditions), Bummer Brown (comatose and unsure of where he is), Mark Hateley (sponsored by the DR), FPLG (wheeled about in a motability scooter because of his chronic obesity), ….. and countless others.
Celebrity fans will also make an appearance – Wet Wet Wet.
The armed forces are also expected to add colour (orange) to the occassion.
Sevco are also believed to be in discussion with several clubs with a view to organising a glamour 4 team tournament – Barcelona, both Manchester clubs, Osasuna and …Linfield.
There will also be representatives of the 500 million global fanbase, from such exotic locations as Easter Island, St Helena, Burkina Faso and the Indonesian island of Komodo home to the famous dragon.
Should be quite a spectacle!
The MC is to be David Leggat – talks are believed to be at an advanced stage already, and are expected to continue when he awakens from his latest drunken stupor: this is expected to be round about early February.
HH!!
Who Framed Colin Wallace by Paul Foot
Brilliant read that book. Enlightening.
Glenn Gibbons doesn’t miss the target here
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/glenn-gibbons-the-48m-shadow-over-rangers-1-2670174
Kitalba – I’m gonna need a bigger Amazon voucher! :-)
However, thanks for compiling that list. Time to make some inroads(reads) on it.
Ps wish my fone had a print facility!
Art of War:
and one more that will make you wonder…
Spitting on a Soldiers Grave by Robert Widders
From Amazon;
This meticulously researched book tells the story of the men who fought for freedom but were vilified after death. It tells the story of men like Joseph Mullally who died on D-Day, 6 June 1944, fighting with the British Army on the beaches of Normandy, a year before his court-martial. And Stephen McManus who’d already suffered torture and starvation whilst being worked to death in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Gerry O’Neill risked his life with the newly formed Irish Navy, rescuing wounded British soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk And Nicholas McNamara volunteered to serve with RAF Bomber Command knowing it meant almost certain death. The freedoms and democratic rights we enjoy today were earned by men like these, who fought, and sometimes died, on the home front and the battlefields of World War II. The deserters from the Irish Army, who joined the Allied struggle, faced the horrors of the bloodiest war in mankind’s bloodstained history. Their stories are now told, in meticulous detail, in Spitting on a Soldier’s Grave. “An amazing story of heroism and betrayal.” Irish Post. “An incredible tale … the way they [the Irish government] treated the Irish soldiers is absolutely appalling” Tom Dunne, Newstalk FM
Tomtheleedstim – thanks also bud!
tomtheleedstim:
Enlightening? More like real bogey men under the bed frightening.
And people think ‘Spooks’ is fiction.