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.
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.
John Humphrys: What we owe the people of Aberfan 50 years after tragedy struck the village, and why it shows authority must be challenged. pic.twitter.com/OdjyaAGTsQ
— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) October 21, 2016
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Matt Stewart
“I may even give them a valedictory cossack dance. ”
After a night’s drinking and with your advanced years that could quickly Morph into a Gregory’s Girl version of Cossack Dancing.
TheTimReaper
Trying to start a fight with maself, and I didn’t even reply !
By the way last few days on here some might find it quite therapeutic
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
I don’t know what constitutes a “Good Catholic”,not when so many of our leaders are found to be human,with feet of clay.
I do know that being able to look at yourself in the mirror,and others in the eye,makes you a good man.
Take that for a starting point and put away the sackcloth and ashes(!)
HH bud,and I hope you and the wee yin make it to a game together soon.
Gerry,
Yer lassie will be top drawer.Watch yersel pal.
TTR
I reckon Ricky Wilson is a Leeds/Celtic man.
Kaiser Chiefs CSC
Bit of eye-Candy Duffer
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uIPDa3MbS_I
Dulfer,sorry…
The story of The Jam on Sky arts. The best band that ever was.
Bobby…
There is no such a thing, I was slagging myself, I love my catholic upbringing and I hope I bringing MissGFTB up the same way……who knows, my religion is no better or worse than any other
By the way I will sit in chapel tomorrow and question every word but when I also want MissGFTB to do the same….. am quite content to tell her I think it’s a lot of shoite hopefully when she is older she can decide :-)
SFTB
I use a stool now….no ffs not that sort of stool…a wee seat….no not a feckin car.. ach I give up.
Anybody got a spare for Wednesday….RCs versus the RCs?
Wow I’m not sure my knee should be this shape.
Hail hail
Matt
MnCelt, great to meet you and your young fella on Wednesday. Just a shame your epic journey wasn’t matched by an epic Celtic performance, but I trust you both enjoyed your time in fun city. Keep in touch and let me know when you’re planning your next Scottish sclaffbaw trip, I’d be honoured to take you and your guys out on god’s holy turf. Give me as much notice as possible to plan.
In the meantime enjoy watching Celtic pump the hun afterlife tomorrow.
HH
Bmcuw
Never yet met a priest who claimed to be anything other than, as Christy would put it, an ordinary man.
SFTB – 11:50ish – well said that man!
This all reminds me of the nonsense debate over whether a certain P McCourt could play for 90 minutes. I well remember the New Year game at Sty-brox in 2011 where the Bould Paddy played superbly for the whole game in a very controlled and disciplined performance, with the Greek God Sammy streaking away for 2 lovely goals. :-) I am in full agreement with you. Tom will cope just fine if Brendan requires him to play the full game.
Winning captains 8.07pm
Your suggestion to switch off JavaScript . Why didnt you tell me this 6 months ago! Cqn has been a nightmare for me which is why I very rarely post. Tried ad blocker but didn’t make much difference. Then tonight I noticed that you suggested to another poster to go into settings and switch off JavaScript. Thought I would try that.
What a difference!! We’re back to how it was 6 months ago before the ads were introduced.
Brilliant.
G64
The Jam ruled. The Clash reigned. :)
HAMILTONTIM
My comment wasn’t meant so much as a dig at priests-most are indeed men befitting of their station and calling-than as a suggestion that Gerry has a lot to be proud of.
No intention to belittle anyone’s beliefs,bud. Honest!
Matt
Aye one spare if you need it.
QUANTUM
TWISTSNTURNS pointed that out,oh,about six months ago!
Saved me from a lot of frustration but condemned the site to similar since(!)
Auldheid, I saw your post re email addresses for the res 12 guys. I canny remember yesterday never mind whether I filled out a form a scan or a stone tablet. Do you need an email from me?
Will this result in a visit from Stewart Reagan, I do hope so:_)
OK Chaps, last post from this serial lurker tonight – I feel like an old style Centre Half who is in ‘nosebleed territory’ when crossing the halfway line with the ball! 2-0 to the Bhoys later today in our now traditional LCSF scoreline against Sevco! Cheers! BVH :-)
Bmcuw
Absolutely no offence taken sir I was only pointing out that most that I’ve known are fully aware of their humanity, good and bad.
HT
Just heard you might be moving so Cumbernauld Tim = CT which could then be HT = CT = Celtic Trust them next step the board….. although a heated driveway in Cumbernauld don’t think even Dermot could afford that !
HT, you must be having a shit holiday. Are you in the Red Lion at Arbroath by any chance:_)
SFTB. Matt Stewart is a genius I’m only saying that because he is next to me anyway 3-0 tomorrow. HH
Gftb
Don’t, that’ll cause one or two to require immediate surgical attention! :-)
Acgr
Absolutely brilliant break sir! Arbroath? I was there on a freezing night to see Matthews score a peach to beat them 1-0! :-)
DELANEYS DUNKY on 23RD OCTOBER 2016 12:07 AM
The Jam were fantastic but The Clash were brilliant.
Oh Hampden in the sun!
Celtic 7 and the Sevco 1. I pray.
Raymond Shannon61……………………….ha ha.
Only three, FFS lurker up yer game!!!!
HH to you and the stool man
Raymond
Are you and Matt sharing the same stool?!
HT, aye I remember that night well, enjoy the rest of your break. I’ll bell you next week re the agm question I posted.
Say hello to yer minx from me anaw.
acgr @ outlook dot com – Get your FREE the Zadok ringtone on 23rd October 2016 12:15 am
Auldheid, I saw your post re email addresses for the res 12 guys. I canny remember yesterday never mind whether I filled out a form a scan or a stone tablet. Do you need an email from me?
Yes
Will this result in a visit from Stewart Reagan, I do hope so:_)
No,
DD, I’d prefer a clean sheet on our part, so 7 – 0 would be a better result tomorrow v the dead. I just want their horrible bigoted support to be utterly humiliated again, and again and again………..etc. Is that too much to ask?
HH
Raymondshannon
Of course, he’s a genius.
How many other exponents of the stool-seated Cossack Dance do you know?
Well we will see what tomorrow brings.
For me first name on the teamsheet would be Leigh Griffiths.
Roberts and Sinclair too.
However,I doubt it.
Goodnight Tims and God Bless.
UTLR…TAL.
Nope nope nope.
It’s definitely Cornflake Tim. Did none of you watch Gregory’s Girl?
MWD
Auldheid, will send you an mail.
That’s a pity, I’d liked to have had a visit from Stuart. I’d have invited him in for tea and cake, and some fun with plyers.
ACGR
So he’d be more welcome than a Mormon?
MWD
HAMILTONTIM
A freezing night in Arbroath? Is it Geography you teach?
Kick it out the park it’s in The North Sea!
Reminds me of early 90s,I was a lorry driver for a company in Sutton,South London. The firm made industrial fluorescent lights,megabucks and always against the clock.
Basically their products and salespeople were better than their production facilities. Anyway…
Into work one Monday,where am I off to?
Haverfordwest,said the boss. Need you there for 530,or it’s penalty clauses.
WTF,I said. Do you know where that is? Yes,Wales,just over The Severn Bridge,like the rest of Wales.
Another ten yards and yer in The Irish Sea,ffs…
Anyway,negotiated a deal. Deliver for 530,return same time Friday,visit my lass at uni in Lampeter inbetween. Needle off the tacho…