The learning period and experimentation is over. Neil Lennon will play a more familiar looking line-up on Sunday, with James Forrest on the right, Ryan Christie in the middle. Neither are as effective in other positions.
Odsonne Eduard will be given every chance. He, Boli Bolingoli, Jonny Hayes and Mohamed Elyounoussi have all been allowed to recuperate from various strains in recent weeks. Even if they all pass fitness tests, due to their common injury type, Neil has to consider the high possibility of a relapse in their first outing. This could force early substitutions in a game that could go to extra-time.
These permutations make a lottery out of guessing our left flank. Bolingoli or Hayes at left back, with Elyounoussi or Mikey Johnston at left-mid. Johnston is back from injury and in sparkling form. He played a crucial role in the win at Ibrox in September when these two teams last met but Neil Lennon may prefer Elyounoussi to add a greater physical presence.
Jeremie Frimpong will almost certainly get the nod ahead of Moritz Bauer, with Hatem Elhamed still injured (from yet another strain). The regular core of the side: Kristoffer Ajer, Christopher Jullien, Scott Brown, Callum McGregor and Fraser Forster, will all play.
This is not an occasion for an inexperienced winger to play centre forward. Lewis Morgan is at the very early stages of learning this role, if Eduard is not fit, Leigh Griffiths should start.
Whoever loses on Sunday will leave Hampden knowing they have bigger fish to fry this season, but the victory will make anything and everything seem possible for the winners.
In Celtic’s favour, they have players who have regularly been through challenges like this and come away with the win. Players like McGregor, Forrest and Brown could write a manual on how to win at Hampden. We can also expect a match-winning performance from James Forrest.
After recovering from a two-goal deficit against Newco on Wednesday, Aberdeen manager, Derek McInnes, spoke about the aggression his team showed to get back into the game. On Sunday, both teams will be hyped up and ready for the battle, managing that aggression, however, will be important. Celtic are clear favourites but a careless red card would change that.
Tom Rogic signed shirt raffle for Celtic FC Foundation
The Celtic squad wore a special shirt for last month’s league game against Motherwell, bearing the Celtic FC Foundation Christmas Appeal logo instead of the normal Dafabet logo on the front, and the words “Christmas Appeal” on the back, instead of the Magners logo.
Tom Rogic’s signed shirt from that day is available for raffle. Each donation of £10 or more will be entered into a draw, which will take place on Friday 13 December. The shirt will be posted on Monday 16th (or available for collection at the Hibs game on Sunday 15th).
The Celtic FC Foundation do incredible work throughout the world all year round, but their work with those most in need in the winter months, and for children and families coping with chronic poverty, can give warmth, nourishment, self-respect and human compassion that some people struggle to find. All donations go straight to the Foundation.
This is why Celtic exists. You can enter here at JustGiving. Good luck and thank you!!
363 Comments- Pages:
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THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 6TH DECEMBER 2019 3:57 PM
I’d play Callum McGregor at left back.
__
You are a sadist.
Rogic before Ntcham
Jamesie right before left
Frimpong before Bauer
Boli before Hayes
Eddy before Morgan
Broonie before anybody IMO csc 👍
CONEYBHOY on 6TH DECEMBER 2019 4:31 PM
i agree it is an option but as you say we rarely play it so i would be against it for a final.
we’ll hump them anyway if we keep the ball
___
Hayes and Frimpong makes it a really attacking lineup. Maybe we will run riot over them.
I imagine that Frimpong and Forrest would torment Flanagan.
Calling their captain a serial loser BEFORE the cup final – not a good ide
“Will it run through the Rangers players’ minds the fact that the likes of James Tavernier has been there for a number of years now and been a serial loser?
“With the greatest respect to the Petrofac Training Cup, the last proper one they lifted was nine seasons ago”
I love big Chris Sutton to bits but all this will do is top up their motivation.
ALL CELTIC’S GAMES AGAINST SEVCO
2014-15 season
1/2/2015 – League Cup Semi Final (Neutral) Celtic 2 (Griffiths, Commons) Sevco 0
2015-16 season
17/4/2016 – Scottish Cup Semi Final (Neutral) Celtic 2 (Sviatchenko, Rogic) Sevco 2 (Miller, McKay) [after extra time, 1-1 in 90 minutes – Sevco won on penalties]
2016-17 season
10/9/2016 – League (Home) Celtic 5 (Dembele (3), Sinclair, Armstrong) Sevco 1 (Garner)
23/10/2016 – League Cup Semi Final (Hampden) Celtic 1 (Dembele) Sevco 0
31/12/2016 – League (Away) Sevco 1 (Miller) Celtic 2 (Dembele, Sinclair)
12/3/2017 – League (Home) Celtic 1 (Armstrong) Sevco 1 (Hill)
23/4/2017 – Scottish Cup Semi Final (Hampden) Celtic 2 (McGregor, Sinclair) Sevco 0
29/4/2017 – League (Away) Sevco 1 (Miller) Celtic 5 (Sinclair, Griffiths, McGregor, Boyata, Lustig)
2017-18 season
23/9/2017 – League (Away) Sevco 0 Celtic 2 (Rogic, Griffiths)
30/12/2017 –League (Home) Celtic 0 Sevco 0
11/3/2018 – League (Away) Sevco 2 (Windass, Candeias) Celtic 3 (Rogic, Dembele, Edouard)
15/4/2018 – Scottish Cup Semi Final (Neutral) – Celtic 4 (Rogic, McGregor, Dembele, Ntcham) Sevco 0
29/4/2018 – League (Home) Celtic 5 (Edouard(2), Forrest, Rogic, McGregor) Sevco 0
2018-19 season
2/9/2018 – League (Home) Celtic 1 (Ntcham) Sevco 0
29/12/2018 – League (Away) Sevco 1 (Jack) Celtic 0
31/3/2019 – League (Home) Celtic 2 (Edouard, Forrest) Sevco 1 (Kent)
12/5/2019 – League (Away) Sevco 2 (Tevrnier, Arfield) Celtic 0
2019-20 season
1/9/2019 Celtic 2 (Edouard, Hayes) Sevco 0
SUMMARY
Games played – 18
Games won – 13
Games drawn – 3
Games lost – 2
Goals scored – 39
Goals conceded – 12
Celtic Goalscorers
7 – Dembele
5 – Edouard, Rogic
4 – McGregor, Sinclair
3 – Griffiths
2 – Forrest, Ntcham, Armstrong
1 – Hayes, Lustig, Boyata, Commons, Sviatchenko
If Sevco are capable of giving us problems, it will be cross balls from their right hand side. I agree with selecting Frimpong ahead of Bauer, for what he can add to our attacking play, but worry about his lack of aerial ability when we have to defend.
🍀⚽️
..and whilst I’m on….the ref apologising to Steven Gerrard for not giving them a penalty against Aberdeen (!)
Think SG was deffo off script when he told the media about that – and now we should all be watching for the next time (Beaton?) the same ref does another sevco game – for sure he will feel as if he owes his drinking pals a penalty.
Mind you do they care who’s watching – probably not.
Rock Tree Bhoy
` I love big Chris Sutton to bits but all this will do is top up their motivation.`
Invariably, I agree with your Points of View but , in this case,I really don`t think THEIR motivation will need any topping up.
Re That not given penalty. If it was a foul, then it was definitely a penalty as the incident took place on the line. I am far from convinced, though, that it was a foul and could even make a case for a yellow for Morelos for diving.I cannot imagine Beaton would have apologised to Shinnie for not having shown Morelos a yellow !
HOT SMOKED on 6TH DECEMBER 2019 5:51
Fair enough. Just listening to Celtic TV commentary there re Broony’s goal on Wed night…
” oh its a wonder goal – its the Broony ! “
Tom Boyd at his very best.
Tom Boyd is top notch.
Cheerio for now.
Tim Boyd is great but he’s no Tony Cascarino😜
The second goal here is quite revealing re how humans react to non-verbal signals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeHh3OSOSRs
Hunderburds
I disagree in general that FBs need height. Most crosses are aimed for the centre of goal and are for the CHs to deal with
A cross to the back post for a winger/midfielder has less chance of accuracy, is longer in the air and the FB should track and out off the winger or get in first
Most goals in this situation are due to the FB being asleep. Lustig did it often, Danny McGrain hardly ever
I used to play RB and there was no issue that I was small
Being shite was a bigger factor😎
CONEYBHOY
Cheers, your point lessens my anxiety.
However if Kent scores wi a back post header from a Tavernier long cross… ah’m comin for ye 😉
🍀⚽️
https://youtu.be/DKwzbu5w6X0
Kevin Bridges new the score and spread the word…. Well it made me laugh again.. and again etc
Some photo this….
https://t.co/M43h73Yv3u
On the point about players falling asleep and abrogating their responsibilities. I watched Sportscene today. In the Sheep v Sevco game, the whole Sheep defence and midfield get two out of ten for their efforts at the second Sevco goal. Except that absolute donkey McKenna who gets zero out of ten. If you get a chance, have a look. He just jogs slowly towards goal, watching the play develop down Sevco’s right hand side. He does not once take a look behind him to see where any danger might be (like Jack, the scorer), or even look into the box to see what’s happening.
He has absolutely zero defensive instinct. He is terrible. Where does this idea come from that he is a £5-£10m player. Did we really have a genuine interest in acquiring this lumbering dud? If we did, then I hope whoever suggested him as an option for us has gone. Such poor judgment should be nowhere near our scouting set-up.
🍀⚽️
Hunderburds
That’s a deal 👍
‘Relentless Celtic READY for Rangers’ – BBC
Treble treble, 2-0 at Mordor, Europa qualification with a game to spare, top of the league.
Who’d have thought???
https://youtu.be/jiQcyGUqdwI
Hunderbirds- McInnes sent out condemned men if his pre-match talk was anything like his pre-match interviews.
As I said at the time, Aberdeen will always be losers with him in charge.
Brendan Rogers signs at long term contract with Leicester until 2025😮
I think I’ve seen that movie before😂
Mike Ashley.
What a boy.
You must be seriously stupid to take him on😮
https://on.ft.com/368P5ud
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 6TH DECEMBER 2019 8:13 PM
Mr Blue 😂😂😂
BOGNORBHOY on 6TH DECEMBER 2019 7:19 PM
Some photo this….
https://t.co/M43h73Yv3u
————————
A cracker….none of Bens fans watching game…checking oot the two Tims doon front.
https://youtu.be/UMVjToYOjbM
Marspapa – ha,ha.
Mr Blue was the warm up act for Mr Red White and Blue😂😂😂
https://youtu.be/Up4WjdabA2c
Give it yer All, Celtic.
This Run has to end some day.
I hope it isnae Sunday. I am confident with Neil overseeing things that we will get that 10th Trophy in a row.
Truly Remarkable what the Bhoys have done so far.
We have a Superb team in the Making Right Here Right Now.
Marspapa-on fire tonight pal🕺🍀
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM
From earlier .
Whatever else you think of Brendan Rodgers , he’s no daft. Leicester react to his reputation as an itchy-footed shipjumper by chucking another few million at him.
https://youtu.be/JOIo4lEpsPY
I am happy that Neil Lennon is in the dug out as he is the man who is prepared to go to plan B if Plan A is not working. Neil is prepared to regroup when injuries occur and make tactical changes. We do not have a divine right to win on Sunday and we will need to work hard.
We need to be on the ball and pressing high straight from kick off and play at a tempo where the Huns wont live with
Marspapa-the sweet baby James live is for jobo
BIGBHOY-as much as Brendan pissed me af,I think we are in a better place right now
Celtic, I really couldn’t care less who fills the jerseys on Sunday. Just, please, Celtic WIN.
Probably because of so many disappointments in my younger years, I am seriously anxious about Sunday. Nerves jangling already.
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED.
If we turn up it could be 5 or 6