You don’t need to tell me. The biggest thing worrying you about tomorrow is the number of people (from both sides, but especially from the other side), who are saying Celtic are going to “batter them” tomorrow.
I have been going to Ibrox since John Greig was manager and Rangers were a midtable side. Greig endured several years of humiliating results and grief from those who were previously only disappointed in him for being so poor as a player against Celtic. “Greig must stay” was a popular Glasgow ditty for a while. “Martin must stay” has a ring to it too.
There is an anchor game which is often in my head I want to talk about, not long after Greig left the scene. The sides met at Ibrox in November 1985. Jock Wallace – the man who eventually stopped John Stein and won two trebles in three years- was back in charge. Celtic would go on to win the league that season, Rangers edged out Dundee on goal difference to finish fifth, with the same points gap between them and Celtic, as they had to bottom of the table Clydebank.
Celtic were buoyed by the arrival two days earlier of big money signing Mark McGhee from Hamburg. Everyone expected Celtic to breeze to the points but they lost the game 3-0. Good Celtic teams have lost to poor sides at Ibrox for as long as the place has stood.
The managerial titan that is Barry Ferguson took Newco to Celtic Park in March and left with the points. It has been an entire year since we have beaten them over 90 minutes (a penalty win in the League Cup Final being the exception), which for a Celtic team who win so much domestically, is not a good look.
I have indulged in watching them a few times this season. Russell Martin’s suggestion that they have players who do not have minds on the task is on the mark. Punches are being pulled. Does anyone think they will pull their punches against us? Expect Newco players to throw everything they have at us.
We are not without our worries. Kairat’s soft-press was all it took to eliminate Celtic from the Champions League. We struggled to progress the ball quickly enough into dangerous areas. And when we managed it, the cutting edge was gone. Who can we expect to get the goals tomorrow?
Brendan’s record against Newco managers has been very good, but Ferguson was one that got away. Russell Martin could do the same if we don’t find a cutting edge. This is why Brendan is the manager and you and me just fans. He needs to find a fix for what ails us.
Welcome to Celtic, Marcelo Saracchi. The 27-year-old Uruguayan left back joins on a season-long loan from Boca Juniors, allaying fears of an over-dependency on Kieran Tierney. It’s a tall ask but I expect to see him at some point tomorrow.
That game in 1985; two weeks before it I walked into the Celtic Shop in town (top of West Nile St, I think). Stevie Chalmers from behind the counter said, “How can I help you?” “Six tickets for Ibrox”, I replied. That’s how easy it was to meet a European Cup winner can get away tickets back then. Enjoy the game.
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Good Morning Celts – Grand Day For A Hunskelping…
Midtable Ibrox club 1 – 3 The Truly Original Celtic
Hail Hail
Five hours til kick off
Should be an intersting day
Really hope we avoid injuries, as squad looks a little under cooked
No idea what to expect. Does Idah play? How is he emotionally? Who plays if he doesn’t?
Not overly confident, though I’ll plump for a hopeful 2-1 Celts 👍🏼
Keep hearing statements about elite manager.
What constitutes an elite manager ?
What if Idah plays and gets injured????
Cmonnnnnnn Celtic
No excuses for the second time this week. A win today would really tilt the balance.
Experience of derby’s is so important. Experience of playing together as a unit too.
We have more of both of these. Manager, Captain, Players.
Gutted not to be there but hopefully a win to complete a perfect personal weekend after my son and his now wife’s wedding here in Bordeaux yesterday.
Scales mom. Engels and Maeda to score.
A win today for Celtic could see our Glasgow rivals slip to 10th place with the only 2 teams beneath them both having played a game fewer.with their tricky run of games to come in September that would be interesting.
Apprehension prob best describes my mood for today (albeit clouded by a stinker of a cold this weekend).
Aside from that, bad news for the local club I follow (Western United); they’re basically going broke and have had A-League licence revoked after player payment issues.
Given Celtic recruiters’ love for a bargain, they really should snap up young defender Dylan Leonard (class prospect) who should be available on a free when Western gets wound up later this week.
Praying for a win later. HH
Very best wishes to your son and his Belle, Paul.
Let’s turn their hatred against them Celts !🍀💚
FOURSTONECOPPI on 31ST AUGUST 2025 7:09 AM
What if Idah plays and gets injured????
————-
All that matters is whether we win or not.
If he gets injured we use our substantial reserves to buy a proper striker and sell Idah in the next window or , if a bit of competition improves him , we keep him and have , heaven forbid, two proper strikers on our books.
I don’t think Idah will start but I can see him coming on, especially if we’re a goal up and facing an aerial bombardment for the last 20 mins.
For me, this is the first real derby since the league cup final. Our lead definitely impacted our performance in these games from January.
Morning all
Enjoy
0-1
TBB
Thanks so much. It was a special day.
Lots of really lovely friends and family.
Plenty of local product on hand to enjoy too.
Hopefully continuing the celebrations today???
AN DÚN on 31ST AUGUST 2025 9:22 AM
For me, this is the first real derby since the league cup final. Our lead definitely impacted our performance in these games from January.
————
So hope you’re right.
It’s certainly an argument I used to convince myself we weren’t just rotten.
We certainly need to start the game a hell of a lot quicker than we did in those games and , worryingly, in both games against Almaty.
The day of a game against Sevco and no posts in the last half an hour?
What , if anything, does that tell us?
Hmm…
Don’t see us getting a result today. We’re in disarray. This season has strong vibes of the covid season.
BBC Sub-Headline:
`
Is Old Firm a must-win for ‘connected’ Celtic?`
SIX points ahead of THEM and they ask that question of us?
Remarkable :-)))
PS
Actually, looking at many of the CQN posts, perhaps not remarkable at all.
Cheerio for now.
I’m just finishing my breakfast ….. anyway more anxious than normal , assuming the Hun raise their game ,I’m just not sure we will. We’ve not won the last however many games against any decent opposition (plus the cup final) …. So all the usual pregame panic : is the team stale , etc etc … however Brendans been round the block , so hopefully we will be reenergised and the forward line clicks.
Bestfootforwardetccfc
Good luck Celtic – great opportunity to get back to winning ways after midweek disappointment and stretch 9pts away from main rival.
Brendan might go with ,
Schmeichel
Ralston
CCV
Scales
Tierney
Engels
McGregor
Hatate
Nygren
Maeda
Balikwisha
Hope we all get away from there safely, players and supporters. A Donnybrook we can do without thank you, their cry of no defenders needs to tested to the limit.
Hold the line CSC
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 31ST AUGUST 2025 10:07 AM
Don’t see us getting a result today. We’re in disarray. This season has strong vibes of the covid season.
————
We haven’t lost a goal in the league and have a 100% record.
We’re clearly not all we want to be but I think disarray is harsh.
How many times have we been able to go to there this early in the season and know they even a bad loss would keep us three points ahead of them.
Double standards eh !
BR stopped the transfer of Idah because he has no replacement, didn’t hear a word like that when we sold Kyogo and Khun, funny that
kinglUBO
An Dun
I really hope you are right.
Personally not so sure.
I also think this is a different and less experienced rangers team both players and management.
We really have no excuse today.
I do not understand why KT is “not up to speed” yet. Full preseason, training daily, what IS the issue
kingLUBO
Cliftoncelt on 30th August 2025 11:19 pm
Tomorrow the team that cant defend host the team that cant score. Somethings gotta give.
Both sets of supporters are deflated.
Bring on the Doldrums Derby.
……………………………….
The moveable object meets the resistible force.
Heres hoping Balikwisha has been worth waiting for and can make us a more potent threat again.
Thunder road nice to see you post 👍
Team teaser ..
.https://x.com/CelticFC/status/1962083244050133271?t=PyYt1E4LOQEc6L1qkXAXJg&s=19
C’mon the Hoops
Have a good day bhoys
🍀👍
Onto Victory ✌️
https://x.com/RonnieEsplin/status/1962088967962001663?t=misI9uNYMzEaBJXxUeCaqQ&s=19
CELTIC: Schmeichel, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Hatate, Engels, Nygren, Maeda, Balikwisha.
Subs: Sinisalo, Yang, McCowan, Yamada, Bernardo, Saracchi, Murray, Forrest, Donovan
Team
https://x.com/CelticFC/status/1962089227623043319?t=wkOzx0dRkMzzbPc91EebRQ&s=19
HH
https://x.com/CelticFC/status/1962089227623043319?t=YXugv4RRj98p7uRwW2c2EQ&s=19
Well that’s answered the Adam Idah question…
OOOft, some changes in the team today…
KS
Ralston, CCV, Scales, KT
Calmac
Engels Hatate
Nygren, Maedaa, Balikwisha
Hail Hail
a fine team to skelp some huns
Can’t see any way either Idah or Yang feature today – even as substitutes.