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Experimentation is over, Celtic core ready for Sunday

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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!!

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  2. Jobo Baldie on

    Good evening, friends.

     

    Tomorrow is a historic occasion as it will be the first EVER cup final between Celtic and Doppelganger Rangers. This century there were 4 dometic cup finals between us and the deid club and our record wasn’t great –

     

    4/5/2002 – Scottish Cup FInal – Celtic 2 Rangers 3

     

    16/3/2003 – League Cup FInal – Celtic 1 Rangers 2

     

    15/3/2009 – League Cup Final – Celtic 2 Rangers 0

     

    20/3/2011 – League Cup Final – Celtic 1 Rangers 2

     

    Let’s try to NEVER EVER lose a cup final to The Doppelgangers!

  3. corkcelt on

    As Bankie said the word Langer is very popular in Cork. In the first instance it’s a slang word for one’s manhood, secondly if you get drunk you are described as being Langers and thirdly if you are a pain in the ass, you would be described as a Langer.

     

    Obviously pending on how much of an idiot a person is you add a bit on, for example Boris Johnson would be regarded as a Total Langer.

  13. Gutenberg on

    Dated a German burd once who had lived in Dublin for a year and she always said Scootered when she was pissed. Not sure if it was Deutsch or Irish or a combo.

     

    Pretty confident about tomorrow, so much that I had more nerves v Hearts last season. Backed it up with a bet at -2 goals but I’d take losing the bet as long as we win.

  14. GFTB on

    Fleeing, two sheets to the wind, legless

     

     

    Hunderbirds … you’ve found a subject I know something about :-)

  16. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    Never been squiffy.

     

    COCOPOPSISME.COM

     

    H.H . Mick

  18. marspapa on

    GUTENBERG on 7TH DECEMBER 2019 10:26 PM

     

     

     

    I would hope if we win , you show a bit of decorum in and around your workplace on Monday morning…..

  19. SuperSutton on

    Rain. Lots of it in Glasgow. Is it the leveller they need – apart from the ref?

     

     

    We like a slick surface but sodden could ruin it.

  21. Gutenberg on

    Marspapa

     

    Buddy, you almost run the place already so I don’t expect to see you until Tuesday…

  23. marspapa on

    GUTENBERG on 7TH DECEMBER 2019 10:43 PM

     

    Marspapa

     

     

     

     

    Buddy, you almost run the place already so I don’t expect to see you until Tuesday…

     

     

     

    lol……..can you paint both double doors yellow …pretty please :))))))

     

     

    Anyhoo enjoy the game pal .4~2 , 7~1 …a tenner on each……1~0 will suffice , just win Celtic

     

     

    Everybody have a great day and i’m looking forward to coming back on here to hear all the stories of where the game was watched.

     

     

    COYBIG

  24. Art of War on

    See when French Eddie scores ra morra and beams a smile to the faithful…..

     

     

    …thank my wee sister who gave his teeth a polish this week!

     

     

    She didn’t get me siggy though……harrumph!!

  26. bankiebhoy1 on

    In games against the huns we are always underdog……………….

     

     

    that’s the way I like it………..

  29. Jobo Baldie on

    Was it the Hibs semi final where, early in the 2nd half, it looked as if the game might get stiopped for the waterlogged pitch? Or was that a Scotland game around the same time?

     

     

    seniormomentsCSC

  30. GFTB on

    Jobo 11.18pm

     

     

    Scotland game … torrential rain around half time … Hampden usually has good drainage (place is a sewer :-)

  31. david17 on

    Scotland v San Marino in October was a farce, the game should have been called off as the pitch was unplayable.

     

     

    I’m sure the game will go ahead, with this forecast the pitch must be covered just now you would assume…

  32. bankiebhoy1 on

    Hampden’s a hun toilet………………

     

     

    just needs a guid flushin’………….

     

     

    HH.

  40. ‘GG on

    Just to lighten the tension a little.

     

    In the tunnel prior to the 1969 Scottish Cup Final.

     

    You know the one where George Connelly robbed Greig , waltzed round Martin and scored the third goal right on the stroke of half time.

     

    I didn’t see the goal live as I and 60k other Celtic fans were still busy celebrating the second goal from Bobby Lennox just a minute earlier.

     

    Anyway, in the tunnel Greig, turns to Bertie and says “What’s your win bonus, Bertie?”

     

    Bertie looks up and replies “We are on £5 to win John.”

     

    Greig looks round at his smiling team mates and says “ We are on £10 Bertie.”

     

    To which Bertie responds “ Aye John, but oors is guaranteed.”

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