The off-field histrionics that a visit to Tynecastle invariably brings is of little interest today. For now, don’t really care about the history of this fixture or the disposition of the natives. Such matters pale into insignificance beside the three points on offer to the team who have won 14 consecutive games in domestic football, a run that extends back to October.
Neil Lennon and his players will let others worry about life’s dramas, the likely influence of Hearts fifth winding-up order, served this week, the “political situation” that has a bearing on Hearts team selection, or even the 2-0 defeat at the same venue four months ago. They will instead focus on how to deliver a disciplined performance against a team who have recorded unlikely highs and lows this season.
10-man Hearts put five goals past St Mirren last month but were lucky to leave Tynecastle with a draw against 10-man St Johnstone at the weekend after Cillian Sheridan ran them ragged. They are neck-and-neck with St Johnstone in the league, both of whom have slipped six points behind Motherwell in the chase for what may yet become a Champions League spot.
The biggest decision for Neil Lennon may be in defence. Celtic have lost only two league goals in their last nine outings (they lost 12 in the previous nine), which has been crucial in their push to the top of the league. This has seen opportunities for now-fit Kelvin Wilson limited. Kelvin played a full 90 minutes in the Scottish Cup against Inverness on Saturday and will give the manager a decision to make.
Happy Birthday to Martin42, 70 years of refusing to take life too seriously. A win tonight would give us a better birthday reference point than the cold and miserable night at Celtic Park 12 years ago.
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443 Comments- Pages:
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Steinreignedsupreme @ 14:56,
“You would have thought that one of his ’high-placed BBC sources’ might have helped to get him a job…”
Too true.
More worrying ” he is a man who little is known of…. the man who edits BBC Scotland’s flagship news programme is unknown to the movers & shakers in BBC London even after all those years of working for them.
HHHMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I wonder if Redknapp paid the jury in cash?
Tully57,
Take care tonight…a repeat of the result the last time the both of us were in Gorgie will do!
Boca Bhoy’s wee cousin, HH
voguepunter says:
8 February, 2012 at 15:13
No problem – I did not see the wee o) at the end
However if I did I would not have known what it was – so it would seem I am the one that doesnt know what is going on
No offence taken Hail Hail;
For the record I really am intetested in the transformation – we were “not very good” and now I think we are unbeatable ! !
67 ECW
lionroars67: 8 February, 2012 at 15:06
It’s obvious Jack Irvine is behind much of the stuff on his blog. The rest of it is just a bunch of sentences that amount to nothing, as he can never back up any of his fanciful claims. It all explains why he is on the broo though.
As for the obsession with Graham Spiers – that is a real man-crush if ever there was one. The Limbs in the Loch psychopath probably started in the same manner. These things are not unrelated.
BlantyreKev says:
8 February, 2012 at 15:09
That’s also the view among my hun mates – they think administration is some mystical board rubber that wipes the slate clean so Whyte can then ‘bring his own money in’ and they’re good as new for next season.
They also, to a man, think that Whyte will ‘sort us out’. Mad!
They also want Hooper hammered by the SFA a la Aluko for his ‘dive’ to win our penalty on Saturday…. Huns, eh? [shrugs]
Hi Bhoys
Templeton injured,Black suspended, Kello Banned and Skarchel tweeting he is
on the bench tonight,
All helps
Hh
Mike
Martin42:
Happy Birthday…
On the fast Train to ML5, a few drinks and then off to swinecastle.
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
67 European Cup Winners says:
8 February, 2012 at 15:20
Unbeatable,has a nice ring to it.HH
I was looking for Leggat’s blog last week and couldn’t remember the name of it and was getting the spelling of his name wrong. I did a bing search using p#sshed stained alchy, remarkably it was the number 1 search choice.
Rangers chairman, Craig Whyte has had his phone hacked by The Sun.
They put £10 credit on it.
67 European Cup Winners: 8 February, 2012 at 15:13
The main thing that got us going was getting on a winning run.
We were 15 points behind and in third place when we went to Fir Park. That victory and the following week’s win at Inverness lifted confidence. Two difficult away matches – and I think the Huns dropped points the day we beat Inverness as well. It’s wee things like that which instil belief in any team – particularly a young one.
We will hit further rocky patches, whether it’s this season or not I don’t know but it’s the nature of the game. And we have a young manager who is still learning his trade. When it happens, just keep the faith.
BlantyreKev and Stefferano
People like Kev’s big blue nose friend have no excuse not to know what happens from here. Yes, the mainstream media have been jaw-droppingly negligent in reporting the second-biggest story ever in Scottish football, but the information is out there and has been for a long time.
Rangers contributions to the new media revolution (ahem) have, of course, labelled it all a big Timmy fantasy, but people with a modicum of business savvy are bound to have realised that a lot of it rings true. You can’t put a team you can’t afford on the park year after year and then ask the football authorities to sort it out for you.
Plus, what kind of business does the guy run if he thinks administration, a ten-point deduction and a bit of embarrassment are enough to make debts of £90 million vanish?
Webster ooot anaw anaw
Just finished this months CQN magazine.
Well done to all contributors ,especially
oor Paul ,James Forrest(wee soul’s fingers must
be sore with all that typing) and BRT&H.
Good Mhen
Stefferano del Bhoyo (but you can call me Neil Lennon) says:
8 February, 2012 at 15:25
BlantyreKev says:
8 February, 2012 at 15:09
That’s also the view among my hun mates – they think administration is some mystical board rubber that wipes the slate clean so Whyte can then ‘bring his own money in’ and they’re good as new for next season.
—-
Any H*n acquaintances I have are strangely avoiding any form of social intercourse. No replies to my Jelly and Ice cream e mails of late when not so long ago they were more than willing to engage in debate over their alleged debt or send me numerous e mails regarding their 3IAR. Very strange indeed.
Paddy Turner
Where is saying Webster’s oot inaw … ?
FF
BlantyreKev: 8 February, 2012 at 15:09
I was talking with someone the other day about this. And to be fair there were Celtic supporters who refused to believe we were in dire trouble long after our slump began. They were still backing the old board until the bitter end. I know some of them.
I think the similarities are the belief that clubs like Celtic and Rangers are too big to go to the wall. Blind faith plays a part in all this. And the assumption that someone will sort it all out.
Fortunately for us, Celtic fans were pro-active when the danger was apparent. When you look at what represents Rangers fans (folk who are only interested in promoting themselves and making money) it is easy to see why they are past the point of saving.
I have the same experience as several other posters – huns with a view that they will go into administration but then everything will be ok. Debts will be paid off at a rate of a few pence in the pound and then everything will be fine. All this stuff about a huge HMRC bill leading to liquidation is just our wishful thinking.
Many will not hear the penny drop until it is too late.
Webster and Black both oot?………….We’ll no even need shinpads!
Celtic_First @ 15:36,
“…..the mainstream media have been jaw-droppingly negligent in reporting the second-biggest story ever in Scottish football, but the information is out there and has been for a long time.”
The RFC news embargo and deep suspicions of all things Timmy has insured the R@ngers have sleepwalked into an empirically obvious oblivion – still in denial!
Crisis! What Crisis?
Steinreignedsupreme says:
8 February, 2012 at 14:33
I think that this hinges, just as you say on the type of hearing involved.
My understanding is that the standard of proof in criminal cases is “beyond resonable doubt” while for non criminal cases (civil) it is “on the balance of probabilities”- which is a significantly lower standard. Maybe our legal experts can advise as to what standard of proof would apply in HMRC tribunals.I suspect that since it is not a criminal hearing then the lower standard would apply, but…
Related to all of that Rednapp and Rosie stuff…
An apposite quote from the steps of the court today, which may interest not only MBB, but the old board and the previous owner of der hun.
Chris Martins, from HM Revenue and Customs, said outside court: “Tax evasion is not a victim-less crime.”
Lizzie is on good company too: I know a few of their fans who feel like victims at present.
RWE CSC
Paul67 et al
Neil Lennon has been doing well lately but the one area where he is failing Celtic badly is in relation to refereeing in Scottish football. I have said it before, and I will keep saying it, Neil needs to take a leaf out of Alex Ferguson’s book, and get the retaliation in first. After Willy Collum’s disgraceful performance at Ibrox at the weekend there is no way he should be in charge of an SPL match involving Celtic and Hearts. Or indeed any match. Neil Lennon needs to make it clear, in advance, and in public, that a repeat performance by Collum would be completely unacceptable. This is a referee who gave a penalty against Celtic that he did not see but ignored malicious challenges at Ibrox on Sunday that were automatic red cards. Collum was handpicked by the SFA to oversee a victory by Rangers in the SFA’s own trophy and he has been handpicked by the SPL to allow Hearts similar leeway against us tonight. Collum’s role as a referee is thus, one, turn a blind eye to assaults by Rangers players on their opponents, and two, allow Celtic’s opponents to go over the top. The quicker Neil Lennon realises this the better, the Collums of this world pose a real threat to our hopes of winning the title! Have we forgotten the lessons of last season so soon?
Any half normal journalist would state the full name at the beginning of an article and thereafter refer he/she by first name (e.g. Walter), surname (e.g. Lennon) or nickname (e.g. Coisty).
Leggat uses both names throughout, primiarily for the benefit of the hard of thinking among his following to get it through their thick skulls that this is a very very Irishy/Timmy name with even Timmier offspring.
Can we not get Leggat to do a guest spot on the next CQN mag, maybe printed with pee smelling ink?
67 ECW
We started winning on the back of decent Europa performances.
They started losing.
Simples.
Your lesson has been learned and Yoda has told me I should forgive you for being an edgit numpty.
WILL I/WON’T I.
MWD
Regardless of who is injured or not playing for the Jam Farts tonight,,,we have to go in there with the right mindset,,3 points at FT for Glasgows Green and White!!!!!!
Hail hail
Happy Birthday Martin42
Many Happy Returns to you and have a great night
Celtic Mac says:
8 February, 2012 at 15:55
Completely agree with your sentiments but don’t forget the entire weight of the establishment/ media etc is still firmly stacked against Lenny and Celtic, so any Fergie-type statements he makes will be twisted and negatively reported all over the back pages accompanied by a picture of the snarling, ‘raging’ Celtic manager.
I think he needs to be a wee bit cuter than that, but i trust him to do what needs to be done.
Chairbhoy says:
8 February, 2012 at 15:51
I take a definite gratuitous pleasure knowing that there was no reason at all for the huns to sleepwalk into this mess – the Timmy New Media have been reporting it for 3 years! If only they’d listened, we could’ve been their salvation!
Hell mend them.
Is Zbyzeck about?
Just saw an article about the Euro’s –
WARSAW, Poland (AP) -The Polish league president says he has canceled what was to be the first match at the main Euro 2012 arena in Warsaw on Saturday due to police security concerns.
Andrzej Rusko said on Wednesday he was worried about the security of fans at the National Stadium, which was officially opened on Jan. 29.
The police are saying they do not have sufficient communication inside the stadium to guarantee security.
Poland champion Wisla Krakow was to play Poland Cup winner Legia Warsaw in a Super Cup match.
On June 8, the stadium is to host the opening match of the European Championship that Poland is co-hosting with Ukraine.
—————————————————————————–
Wouldn’t be the first time that there has been a problem with police communication within a football stadium would it?
Anyway Mr Z, do you know who designed this stadium? Just as a matter of interest -like.
HH
AoW
PS. 0-3 TONIGHT!
Celtic Mac says:
8 February, 2012 at 15:55
Neil Lennon has been doing well lately but the one area where he is failing Celtic badly is in relation to refereeing in Scottish football. I have said it before, and I will keep saying it, Neil needs to take a leaf out of Alex Ferguson’s book, and get the retaliation in first.
Neil has suffered beyond that which the job demands for tackling the SFA and referees bias
NL IMO has more that done his share
Celtic as a club has agreed to give Regan and the new SFA space and time to prove it has changed
Unfortunately Dallas had done a very good job in having a Grade one pool of officials populated by poor referees such as Collum
Im sure Peter Lawwell is letting his new SFA committee friends know
right local bus in 20 mins, so should be in the pub in an hour for a few beers before the game. Would advise those drinking locally to leave about 7ish because they are doing their usual body search at the gates.
3-0 to the hoops :)
Stefferano del Bhoyo
I do not want to see Neil Lennon lose his cool once the game is under way, or after it for that matter, what I want is for him to spell out what he, as a Manager, expects from the referee before the match is played. He does not have a team as physically determined or imposing as that of Martin O’Neill, Brown and Stokes apart our players cannot or will not stand up for themselves or for their fellow players. We have the ability to win games but can still be caught out if the referee allows persistent deliberate fouling against us. We play our best football, chances are, we win!
Chairbhoy
Rangers did ask the media not to report some things about Rangers, notably the sectariand and racist signing of their fans. Graham Spiers has admitted this. He said David Murray asked them to give him three years to eradicate it.
I’m not sure what the point of this was, but our compliant media just agreed and took another slurp of the finest red.
However, when debacles such as Manchester 2008 occurred, this clearly was not part of the deal and Spiers and others reported it fully. Spiers did well immediately after the event. I accept that in the days and weeks that followed, it almost seemed, going by the pages of our newspapers, that this really had just been a Timmy fantasy and hadn’t really happened.
My point is that if the news blackout did not apply to the rioting after the UEFA Cup Final in 2008, there is no way it could have applied to the events that have brought about the demise of their sorry club. The media could and should have been reporting this for years.
Work in an office where I am the token Tim out of a group of ten. I have been drip feeding their impending doom for the past 2 years but because it was never mentioned in the MSM the thought I was delusional. Took great pleasure in telling them of Dallas, sheriff officers turning up at their door, how they would get nowhere near £7m for jellylegs.
Have always said that that their club would never go into admin someone would buy them and along came MBB. It has been brilliant since the DR had the RFC in trouble exclusive because now they don’t talk about the football at all comedy gold
Can’t wait till the day comes when I can bring in the Jelly and Ice Cream for all.
My boss has recently changed and he is keen observer of body Language so he claims. Can’t work me out as He can’t work out if my performance results are great (which they have been recently) or more woes have befallen the Mighty RFC (He is of their persuasion but genuinely not interested in football)
MWD
Do they still make edjit numpties?
Get me 2oz next time yir there.
U
For those on council telly…
THE players could hardly have a bigger or more testing challenge when they return to league business tonight against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Games in the capital are always tense and close-run affairs and tonight should be no different as Neil Lennon’s side aim to continue their exceptional run of domestic victories.
And we will have live coverage of the match on the club’s official online channel, Celtic TV.
Our commentary team of Gerry Harte and Paul Cuddihy will be on air 10 minutes before the 7.45pm kick-off and we have a variety of subscription packages available for supporters – in the UK and Ireland and overseas.
Supporters overseas can get live video coverage, with the match available to watch again immediately after the final whistle.
Meanwhile, supporters in the UK and Ireland can get live audio coverage – with the game up and available to watch from midnight tonight.
Kelvin Wilson is a bombscare.
We have done well without him.
I don’t want to see him or Izzi anywhere near the team.
Keep it tight at the back,and don’t try to fix what isn’t broken Neil.
TT