Finding what it takes

376

Celtic are the last title contenders out the blocks this weekend as they hope to resurrect their championship defence at Dens on Sunday evening.  Newco face Dundee United at home on Saturday, before Hearts are at Livingston on Sunday afternoon.

Dundee United were impressive against Celtic two weeks earlier, but that had a lot to do with their ineffective opponents (as well as an agricultural surface).  Their two previous meetings with Newco this season ended in 2-2 draws, with Newco claiming a point in the dying minutes of each game.  Neither side will take anything for granted.

Livingston struggled for most of the season but so often lost by only a single goal.  That was the case in both their meetings with Hearts.  Marvin Bartley has steadied things since taking over at Livi, who have drawn four of their last five games (their 2-1 loss at Celtic Park six games ago also had some merit).  They are 12 points adrift from Kilmarnock and St Mirren.  That has the look of inevitable relegation to it, but inside their dressing room, you will find footballers playing for their jobs next season. Assume nothing.

You know too well our record at both Dundee grounds this season.  Even at Celtic Park, Dundee caused trouble before going down 1-0 in the league, then held a lead until the 97th minute in the Scottish Cup.  No matter what happens at Ibrox and The Home of the Set Fare Arena (and why shouldn’t a taxi company sponsor a football ground?), no Celtic fans will be confident of a win at Dens.

The most we can be sure of, is that everyone will drop points between now and the end of the season. There are no great teams in the league, but one of them will find what it takes to get over the line.

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376 Comments

  1. The Battered Bunnet on

    I’d say our margin of error has vanished. We need three points, preferably without anxiety.

  2. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    Well, pretty much every game is going to be a struggle when you don’t have a forward who can hit a coo’s banjo with an ar$e.

     

    Great for the old firm though, and all who favour it over European ambition.

  3. Nothing that has happened regarding Celtic or been said about Celtic, in recent weeks, has given me any grounds for confidence.

     

     

    And, our shite displays have given our rivals great confidence.

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  5. Clashcitybhoy on

    Although we are likely to be further behind by the time we kick off on Sunday, the extra day gives us an advantage in recovery.

     

    I understand Sinisalo was in New Zealand, Trusty in Canada, others were closer but we do have an extra day for training and tactics.

     

    Lets hope we spend time reviewing our last trips to both Dundee stadia, as I dont see the opposition tactics being any different from the 3 previous trips.

     

    We need to get their defenders facing their goal, by moving the ball forward quickly, matching them physically, shooting on sight,and getting to the byline.

  6. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I read regularly on here that we had the best squad in the country and there was no excuses for not winning.

     

     

    Now, we’re at the point where no Celtic fan is confident of beating Dundee. Dundee.

     

     

    We’re in quite the state. We’ll likely drop points on Sunday and I’ll admit I’m at the point where I want Hearts to keep winning because, if they don’t, the Huns are winning this league. That’s what we’re faced with. It’s an extraordinary position to be in when we were double digit points in front of them a few months back.

     

     

    We’re a bad team that look badly coached right now. We look very badly coached. We’ll likely finish third.

     

     

    Anyway, happy Easter everyone and be thankful that we’ve such a great team of execs doing such a great job.

  7. The 4:30 pm kickoff on Sunday, is beginning to look beneficial, as the worst of the storm should be over. We can only do as we’ve been doing for ages, hope for a comfortable win and a few goals😮. A win is a must.

  8. Maolmuire O Muirgheasa on

    It looks like it’s going to go down to the final day. . . . . .

     

     

    Like a Hollywood script.

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  10. vinniethedog on

    Incredibly while we need every small advantage possible…we STILL keep out our most vocal supporters ….meanwhile Hearts and worse the Huns and union bears will be flaunting what they see as their rightful superiority in our faces ….we’re here …and your hard core are where they should be …locked out with the help of our friends to give US that advantage !!!

     

     

    Makes me utterly sick !!!…..and whoever is responsible should go immediately….

  11. Hoop hoop Hooray on

    We are a moments team. Relying on players to come up with a big moment. Same as Sunday amateur league teams do. Like many have said, we are dreadfully coached if at all.

     

    If only Despot had trusted our multi trophy winning coach instead of a guy whose lack of glory had all come in the 3rd and 4th tier of English football.

  12. the long wait is over on

    From last thread

     

     

    LETS ALL DO THE HUDDLE on 3RD APRIL 2026 11:32 AM

     

     

    the evening times has an article about 5 clubs potentially being interested in making a summer bid for lagerbielke.

     

     

     

     

    can someone tell me why that is worthy of an article in a scottish newspaper considering he left here many months ago and was hardly van dyke-esque?

     

     

    ————-

     

     

     

    It’s what they think is a subtle , but actually a fairly obvious, wee anti Celtic story as we get to the business end of the season.

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  14. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    “but one of them will find what it takes to get over the line”

     

     

    Yip.

     

     

    Where we have an advantage.

     

     

    Our manager has a track record of finding what it takes.

     

     

    The other two don’t.

     

     

    How much of an advantage?

     

     

    Time will tell.

     

     

    Right now all I covet is us winning one match

     

     

    The next one.

     

     

    We’re on 61 points.

     

     

    We’ve been on 61 points for 20 days.

     

     

    That’s a long time in a title race.

     

     

    Momentum can be measured in physics.

     

     

    That it can’t be measured in sport doesn’t negate its value.

     

     

    A win on Sunday …

     

     

    … particularly if we are subjected to that “Gers go top !” crap on Saturday night

     

    (Their lickspittles are out today already)

     

     

    … will stabilise us nicely.

  15. PeterLatchfordsBelly on

    The huns will horse DU and Hertz will squeak past Livi. They will both have much harder games to come.

     

     

    Best we can expect is a squeaky win. Hard to win matches when you’ve sold all your goals out the team.

     

     

    Despot’s dreaded ‘model’.

  16. Brendan touted for the Saudi managers job at the world cup.

     

     

    Aint we glad we got rid of this boring football high scoring manager.

  17. lets all do the huddle on

    It’s what they think is a subtle , but actually a fairly obvious, wee anti Celtic story as we get to the business end of the season.

     

     

     

    thats all it is.

     

     

    a story with zero value

  18. CELTIC V ST MIRREN TICKETS

     

    SCOTTISH CUP | BARCLAYS HAMPDEN | SUN APR 19 | KO 2PM

     

     

    Ticket Information

     

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  20. bigrailroadblues on

    You know you’re gonna live thru the rain

     

    Lord you got to keep the faith

     

    Faith: don’t let your love turn to hate

     

    Right now we got to keep the faith

     

    Faith: now it’s not too late

     

    Try to hold on, trying to hold on

     

    Keep the faith.

     

    Bon Jovi/Sambora/Child.

  21. bournesouprecipe on

    High anxiety

     

    It’s always the same

     

    Ooh-xiety

     

    It’s you that I blame

     

    It’s very clear to me

     

    I’ve got to give in

     

    High anxiety

     

    You win 🤷‍♂️

  22. ziggydoc1 on 3rd April 2026 1:23 pm

     

     

    No issue with storms, after all we walk through them

     

     

    HH

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  24. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Saint Stivs @ 2:10pm – interesting.

     

     

    A story worth watching IMHO. Its legs TBC.

     

     

    Purely in the interests of keeping it factual

     

     

    We didn’t get rid of Brendan.

     

     

    He resigned.

  25. Last night I was at the Holy Thursday Service which most of us know consists of the washing of the feet, it reminded of one that took place around 30 or so year ago in a neighbouring church, one of the candidates selected for this ceremony was from Glasgow, let’s call him Jimmy, in the same row at the other end was a Bankie who we’ll call Paddy.

     

     

    Anyway Jimmy goes up to the altar and after its over comes back down the other side of the pew and gingerly slides his way along, all pious by this time and doing the usual “excuse me” as he slowly makes his way back to his spot, as he passes Paddy who says “well done Jimmy”, at that he turns round and says “how’s it goin Paddy” and just as he goes to continue on turns back and asks “how’d the Celtic get on last night”.

     

     

    And that what’s it all about, as Willie Nelson once said, “you were always on my mind” and that’s what Celtic are for most of us on here, 24/7, as we widnae be on here unless we cared, so let’s stop the stupid bickering and get on with it as we still have 2 trophies tae win.

     

     

    Off now to the early edition of the Good Friday Service.

  26. Celtic fans call out the UK Government response to latest sectarian march footage

     

    “During a march in England, the Orange Order once again displayed naked anti-Catholic hatred. Videos and images circulating online show participants in outdated uniforms, drumming and chanting, prompting widespread reaction from Celtic supporters.

     

    The footage quickly gained traction on social media, where Celtic fans highlighted what they see as a double standard in how sectarian hate is treated in the UK.”

     

    https://bornceltic.com/2026/04/02/celtic-fans-call-out-the-uk-government-response-to-latest-sectarian-march-footage/

     

    Happy Easter holidays…..

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  28. onenightinlisbon on 3rd April 2026 1:29 pm

     

    We will se how good Dundee Utd are at the bigotdome….

     

    ————————————————–

     

     

    We know how ‘good’ they are and that is, they are a mega poor team. We were shit against them and An Dun’s earlier comment about coaching may be right or maybe its about being able to do something with the players MON and Shaun have.

     

     

    Am annoyed that Saracchi has not had more game time – good skill, energy and dig. Hope that with Engels back he shows well and also think Bernardo always comes good towards end of season (wish he didn’t wait that long). The CF position is the greatest concern and looks unlikely to sort itself until next season with what we have currently.

  29. Hoop hoop Hooray on

    Just watched Martin’s presser. Usual inane questions. If you drop any more points on Sunday will it be damaging to your title hopes. That’s the msm for you. Where’s fan media when you need it.

     

     

    Interesting the non international players got a few days off for a break!!!!!

     

    Martin nearly bumped into Calmac who went to same place.

     

     

    As we head into the split we haven’t won in 6 league games against the two above us. We have lost all 3 times we have played in Dundee. Have to admire the blind faith of those who think we can now put a 6 or 7 game run together.

  30. https://x.com/DaleJohnsonBBC/status/2040088251172626600?s=20

     

     

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    Scotland v Brazil: highest World Cup 1 ticket resale price on Fifa’s official platform. 2/2

     

     

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  32. those resale prices.

     

     

    no ordinary fan will be in attendance.

     

     

    what an utter disgrace

  33. onenightinlisbon on

    Kelvinbhoy on 3rd April 2026 3:52 pm

     

     

     

    !00%. They are pish as are we.

  34. ” An Dún on 3rd April 2026 1:05 pm

     

    Now, we’re at the point where no Celtic fan is confident of beating Dundee.”

     

     

    Really? You feel you can speak for ALL Celtic supporters?

     

     

    In fairness to you, CQN has become so negative, I can see why you would think as you do.