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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DOC
Best wishes ti your Dad!
JOZO Simunovic will make his Hampden bow for Celtic today (Sunday) in the Glasgow derby League Cup semi-final.
The Croatian centre-half returns to the side for today’s game at the National Stadium after missing out in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash with Borussia Monchengladbach and will partner Erik Sviatchenko in the centre of defence.
Simunovic is the only change to the team from that match, replacing Kolo Toure, with Brendan Rodgers naming a strong starting XI for this afternoon’s tussle with Mark Warburton’s side. That sees Moussa Dembele retain his place up front, with the Hoops hitman looking to add to his 13 goals for the club in his 20th appearance.
Craig Gordon will also make his 120th Celtic appearance in today’s game as the Bhoys look to book their place in the first final of the season.
Kick-off is at 2.15pm and there will be pre-match build-up and live in-game updates on the official Celtic Twitter account @Celticfc
CELTIC: Gordon; Lustig, Simunovic, Sviatchenko, Tierney; Bitton, Brown; Forrest, Rogic, Sinclair; Dembele
CELTIC SUBS: De Vries, Toure, Griffiths, Gamboa, Armstrong, Roberts, McGregor
…the hun….t
for efffffi-jeeeeeez must be thorough!
Maybe if ye take yer blinkers off for just one minute and ask yerself this…..
KEVJUNGLE
If, Brendan is so good…..why’s he at Celtic ?
If, Kolo is so good….why’s he at Celtic ?
Sumdy said earlier that Kolo has been magnificent this season – against who ?
Kolo is the new Efe and, Brendan will fail because – he canny be cynical.
Why bother supporting our team if you make comments like this?
updates yet ?
Thanks to BSR for that tear-inducing image…
How to stop Celtic…………………..by unbiased BT SPORT
strong team, strong bench.
6-0
BRTH
I didn’t ask, but should this task not only be performed by a policeman/woman ?
Cowiebhoy
Nobody searched me and I even showered this morning!
FeelingdiscriminatedagainstCSC
Jimbo67
Celtic fan arrested in Kings Park Avenue for wearing a Celtic Top in a built up area
MELBOURNE MICK on 23RD OCTOBER 2016 1:21 PM
Hello again all you young rebels.
Amazingly i’m still sober here in Melbourne 11.15 pm and ready
for the chanty wrasslers, bidet botherers, lavvy levellers, or bog
bashers take your pick they’re going down the toilet. :-))
H.H Mick
=======================================================
Well hullawrerrr ,my fellow wild colonial boy.
Not totally sober myself , but who`s counting ?
Can`t wait.
Just can`t wait.
Here`s tae us pal.
Keep the green flag flying high.
In sunny Oz.
Here’s a prediction.
Today will be Warburton’s last game as manager of that other team.
BSR
I thought Hugh Keevins was able to buy his own way into Parkhead, it was only in his journalism capacity his access was removed.
I may be wrong though.
HH & COYBIG.
COYBIG. Just about to board bus for Edinburgh airport – Munich bound. Flight not until 18:10 should know the score before I leave.
Note that in the article above from Celtic site, the team from Govan is not named.
Deliberate policy from us? :-)
strong 11 that ‘gg
AULD TAM on 23RD OCTOBER 2016 1:32 PM
Here’s a prediction.
Today will be Warburton’s last game as manager of that other team.
============================================================
Or , to put it another way.
Huns trounced.
Where you watching the game , Tam ?
Celtic fan arrested for being in possession of dashing good looks and dazzling intellect
st j 2 up
CELTIC40ME on 23RD OCTOBER 2016 1:36 PM
Celtic fan arrested for being in possession of dashing good looks and dazzling intellect
============================================================================
CELTIC40ME on 23RD OCTOBER 2016 1:36 PM
Celtic fan arrested for being in possession of dashing good looks and dazzling intellect
============================================================================
No , pal.
I`m still at liberty.
GREENPINATA
Made a living out of being the Tim that tipped Rangers.
He’s having a lean time with Sevco
MELBOURNE MICK
MACJAY
Sunday night sobriety will never catch on. Let’s hope The Hooooops give us all a reason to celebrate in style.
HH
Live game article up Bhoys,
Not sure we are playing today, BT sport fully focussed on some other team
MACJAY 137
Wi yer dazzling intellect,you forgot to add the comment-are you a hun(!)
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 23RD OCTOBER 2016 1:39 PM
What will we do with the Glasgow Rangers
Early in the morning ?
Don`t tell me .
Let me guess.
Sevco statement expected at just after 4.00pm
MACJAY1
Cheers to you mad tims up there in Sydney.
COWIEBHOY/DOC
Best wishes in your families recovery from illness.
H.H Mick
Huge Kevin is an empty relic, a byegone……..
……… think wee chic without the help of the craft….and indulged huns………… on the down slope of Life and Career.
Hell mend him an’ his ilk.
Bobby.
Right at this moment , I wish I was sitting with Tims such as yourself.
Or even better , standing and pinting.
As wound up as I ever have been.
Cowiebhoy
No it can be stated on the terms and conditions of any ticket that the bearer will agree to be searched on the way into a venue or risk being refused entry.
As long as the search is conducted by an authorised member of staff then it is legal.
Gilks in goal for Sevxo?
Me neither.
Let’s go Celtic. Be ruthless. No mercy. Crush this new team.
HH
The Huddle
On a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Android Chrome 54.