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Expectations but remember Gretna (liquidated)

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

The players would have had a light training session at Lennoxtown today as muscles continue to refill after Wednesday night’s exertions. Expectations of Celtic in the Champions League are not high, and were exceptionally low when this group was drawn, but even so, these games have a huge financial, physical and even emotional impact on every area of the club.

One argument suggests the last thing we need is a cup semi-final four days after a Champions League outing. An alternative thought is that this is the perfect game for Celtic right now. Memories linger of sitting stressfully at Fir Park days after Celtic beat the reigning European Champions, Milan, as (subsequently liquidated) Grenta held onto a lead until the 87th minute.

While playing (subsequently liquidated) Rangers away 64 hours after winning a Uefa Cup semi-final 1200 miles from home in 2003 proved to be the perfect game to instil steel into the legs.

With what passes as a fully fit squad, Brendan has choices to make for Sunday. Did Patrick Roberts do enough off the bench against Borussia to justify a start? Perhaps. He’s a player who owes us one at Hamden too.

Callum McGregor will also fancy his chances ahead of Nir Bitton, who didn’t have a great Scottish Cup semi-final against the same opponents in April.

It would be a huge surprise if Moussa Dembele didn’t start as the lone forward, despite Leigh Griffiths itching to get on alongside him. Brendan will not change formation for this game, while Moussa will fancy his chances against a defence he punished to ruthlessly last month.

For me, our two most important players on Sunday will be Scott Sinclair and Tom Rogic. They are the epitome of the modern footballer, strong, skilful, intelligent and difficult to defend against. If we can get them on the ball often enough we’ll score a lot of goals.

Pretty much every Celtic fan I know expects Mark Warburton to have learned a lesson from his Celtic Park whipping and for him to deploy a more defensively-minded team this time. My Newco pals don’t expect this to happen. Warburton hasn’t varied his game-plan since arriving at the club and is apparently reluctant to start experimenting now.

He took his team to Hampden to face Celtic against similarly long odds last season. Within minutes we knew we were in a game, and despite the clear chasm between the teams, it was Newco who faced Hibs in the Scottish Cup final.

A repeat of the 5-1 win at Celtic Park is possible, but you’ve seen enough football to know that nothing can be taken for granted on Sunday. Remember that Newco came close to levelling that 5-1 game at 2-2 early in the second half, and the latter part of their collapse came after going down to 10 men.walk-for-jonathan

I’m off later to meet those from the Tyneside No. 1 and friends, who have walked (yes, WALKED), from Merthyr Tydfil and will reach Doherty’s Bar in Hamilton this afternoon. They’ve pretty much walked a marathon a day for 13 days and will make the final journey to Celtic Park tomorrow.

This herculean effort has been made to mark the memory of Jonathan Thomas, who aged 30 lost his biggest fight one year ago tomorrow.

We’re lucky as Celtic fans that we get to meet and read about people who do these things in our name. It’ll take you 2 minutes to let them know how inspiring they are here.

It’s also worth marking the events in Aberfan, the village a few miles from Merthyr Tydfil which was visited by unimaginable tragedy 50 years ago today.

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  1. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    Defeats in semi-finals against Ross County,Inverness and Sevco in the same dump have me on red alert for this game.

     

    Away from the comfort of Celtic Park,I have real concerns about this Celtic team,especially the midfield to produce.

     

    I know we are red hot favourites but I share the same concerns as the Tim Reaper.

     

    Hopefully my fears will be blown away early in the game,but I remain really cautious about the outcome of this game.

  2. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    CASTLEBHOY

     

     

    Give Phil Collins his due. He said he’d eff off if Labour ever got in.

     

     

    Loadsa extra votes for the cause,and all thanks to him.

  3. Celticrollercoaster supporting @WalkWithShay on

    BMCUWP

     

     

    Joint effort means prizemoney is split 50:50.

     

     

    Got same deal on with Deccyrollercoaster :-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  4. Melbourne Mick on

    GLENDALYSTONSILS

     

     

    Chanty wrasslers

     

    Bidet botherers

     

    could we start a list?

     

    H.H Mick

  5. Matt Stewart on

    Brilliant music in Sharkeys tonight…Quigleys point and an end to end tapestry of Celtic songs.

     

     

    I may even give them a valedictory cossack dance.

     

     

    Hail hail

     

     

    Matt

  8. Gerryfaethebrig on

    I was just about to go to my bed because I have 10am mass at my chapel to get the wee blades card marked then TCR appears…

     

     

    I have never like the Skol cup but if Celtic are playing surely we don’t let the tax cheats affect our enjoyment of the hoops

     

     

    TCR hope you are well (Brendan is in charge now)

  9. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    CELTICROLLERCOASTER

     

     

    Aye,but you can just take it from D’s pocket money. Try seeing where whistling gets ye!

  11. What is the Stars on

    Roy Croppie

     

     

    Great tunes

     

     

    Comfortable win tomorrow…

     

     

    Hey whats all this hatred of Phil Collins

  14. glendalystonsils on

    Just watching MOTD . Stoke’s Shaquiri (sp) looks like a Harry Enfield thats been left in the tumble drier too long.

  15. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    Gerry,

     

    You should go to the Vigil pal then yer duties are fulfilled!

     

    Wish I could share the easy going attitude of our supporters.It’s never been my style.

     

    I do have real concerns about our lack of pace in midfield.

     

    You take care pal.

  16. Turkeybhoy on

    Why the nerves for tomorrow from some.Our brilliant strikers will be playing against Hill and Kiernan.This is a team that has won around a handful of games since last season.St Johnstone,Hearts,I could maybe see why some would be a bit cautious,but this dross !!!!!

     

    I will not accept any reason for not gubbing this mob tomorrow,except for the MIB giving them 3 penalties.

     

    KT to run riot .

  21. Gerryfaethebrig on

    TCR 11.26

     

     

    I love your attitude, as for vigil mass the wee yin gets her card marked at 10am…. am a rubbish catholic but I love Celtic and I think we live in good Celtic times….. the Huns are defunct trust me, times are a changing

  22. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    WITS,

     

    Hope yer well pal.

     

    Dunno nuhin about the Phil Collins story you are on about just now but I remember a girl who worked at Stamford Bridge on the desk saying Collins landed one day looking for a complimentary ticket.As it happened Ken Bates overhead the conversation and asked Collins was it okay to go to the local record store and ask for a Collins CD for nothing…

  24. balvenieheights on

    Long Time Lurker, and very infrequent poster!

     

    SFTB – from hours and hours and hours ago – I agree with you that Tom Rogic should have no issue with playing the full 90 minutes in a game. I am certainly hoping for a full 90 minutes from Tom tomorrow, including 2 goals and 3 assists! It was, however, a very unusual example that you cited in praise of Tom. How could we forget his magnificent winner at Kilmarnock in March of this year in the dying seconds of the game? Only trouble was, he hadn’t played the whole game. He had only come on as a substitute 10 minutes beforehand for Nir Bitton! :-)

  26. Delaneys Dunky on

    WITS

     

     

    Massacre is better than destroy.

     

    Kaiser Chiefs tomorrow.

     

    I predict a riot!

     

    7-1

  27. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    Gerry,

     

    Never describe yerself as a rubbish Catholic mate.

     

    We are all sinners bud.Every last one of us.

  29. Gerryfaethebrig on

    GFTB 11,35pm

     

     

    Can I assure everybody I don’t know the difference between a good catholic or a bad catholic BUT at least it’s better than being a Hun … sorry Mod 1 & Mod 2

  32. balvenieheights on

    Quick message to our Speyside correspondent who I conversed with last time I was on. You recommended a drop of the Balvenie Caribbean Cask, which i had yet to try. I had a dram of it with just a smidge of water the other night as a small digestif after a very nice meal in Glesga. Excellent dram i must say, and just topped my hitherto Balvenie Doublewood as my favourite Balvenie dram. Many thanks for the recommendation Sir! :-)

  33. GuyFawkesaforeverhero on

    Good luck at Hampden, Celtic. Another game to endure at one of the worst places for watching football in Scotland.

     

     

    Don’t play us if we ever doubt you. You know we couldn’t live wthout you.

     

    Celtic, you are the only, only, o-only.

  35. Gerryfaethebrig on

    TCR

     

     

    11.39 see 11.40

     

     

    All kidding aside I want my wee girl brought up the way I was, being a catholic doesn’t mean it’s right but it is very far from wrong … I have tried to keep her away from football but slowly but surely she is becoming Celtic daft …..she must take afte her dad, anyway the flies will always be the flies the matter what crook is in charge of the bog….. Celtic is my football life …. we live good times hail Hail Hail

  37. Cosy Corner Bhoy on

    VFR8008A: Would not dispute that Nir was not the only ‘disappointing’ performer on Wednesday,see MY summation re individual performances that night, the point I was trying to make was that every time I watch him either ‘live’ or on tv (which means EVERY time) in ‘non-cruising’ games he is not up to the task! Only an old git’s opinion obviously :)

  38. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    Jeez,

     

    I wish I was as confident as you guys.

     

    Humpings by Malmo,Maribor,Molde ,Legia Warsaw and the garbage I mentioned earlier leave me feeling anything but confident.With the exception of Johansen it’s the same midfield letdowns.

     

    I know Brendans’ now in charge.We will see boys,we will see.

  40. anditsthepoleagain on

    Phil Collins hung about drank and worked with John Martyn when he encountered his marriage troubles. Whatever your view on him he had the Cohones to step up to the mark when Peter left and vacated the Drum Seat to a certain extent, Bill Bruford did a great job in that department, as did Phil upfront too – They look to be enjoying it too – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK9a2jLEAfs

  41. setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on

    Balvenie Heights

     

     

    I have already been alerted to my schoolboy error.

     

     

    I was going to go with the defence that he had had a strenuous 80 minute warm up :-)

     

     

    But it might be safer to go with the defence of the Well game in August when Tom opened and closed the scoring in a 5:0 win and played the full 90.

  42. What is the Stars on

    Horse tomorrow at Leopardstown 4.50 called Athenry Boy ,its 25/1

     

    its never won a race but has ran 4 times at Leopardstown and been placed each time including when 2nd in this race last year ( off a 6 pound higher handicap mark)

     

     

    Name alone means its worth a shillin each way

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