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Fresh Celtic should have advantage over excuse maker

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Alistair Johnston sounded bullish about his chances of recovering from Tuesday’s hip injury in time for the League Cup Final.  That aside, Brendan Rodgers has a full squad to choose from.

The only potential change from the starting 11 in Zagreb would be Arne Engels for Paulo Bernardo.  Paulo was a big player against Newco last season, including at Hampden, so you have to fancy he will get the nod.

We know what to expect from Newco.  They will get the ball forward early and push wide.  Celtic usually win these games because with Daizen Maeda and Greg Taylor on the left, with (now) Nicolas Kuhn and Alistair Johnston on the right, we have the speed and talent to cover and breakdown their attacks.

Reo Hatate is key to the middle of the park.  He has the strength to hold off his man, turn and draw in another.  That opens space in front of the ball for Celtic to create a chance.  He is a player at the peak of his talent; Sunday is an occasion made for him.  Expect a rebound from Tuesday.

The last time we lost to Newco at Hampden was the 2022 Scottish Cup semifinal, Celtic had a week to prepare and Newco had played a Europa Cup quarterfinal three days earlier.  We assumed Celtic would be fresher but they inexplicably wilted as the game wore on and lost in extra-time.

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That was then.  Now, we have had an extra two days’ rest and should be far fresher than the opposition on Sunday.  With Forrest, Idah, Engels (or Bernardo), McCowan and Valle all capable of bringing fresh momentum, we have a significantly stronger bench and should be able to kick on from the 70 minute mark.

Newco will be buoyed by their performance against Tottenham last night.  Their press stopped Spurs’ ability to build a cohesive attack.  They will inevitably deploy the same strategy at Hampden.  Tottenham were a bit like Celtic on Tuesday; bereft of patience in the middle of the park, while trying to create openings with low percentage passing.

I believe Celtic are a better side than Tottenham, we will see on Sunday.  And, oh Ange!  What have you put your name to?  That performance had Bodo/Glimt written all over it.

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  4. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Gene- a few countries dont allow gambling or alcohol adverts on jerseys, I think the main sponsors let the Foundation advertise free of charge.

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  7. jc2 on

    Brendan team talk on Sunday should be.

     

     

    ” They have rammed the worlds most successful team down our supporters throats for 50 years

     

     

    If we win we might not be, and should never boast about being worlds most successful team

     

    but we will be most successful team in Glasgow and that will do for now”

  8. jc2 on

    Ill see your half full

     

    and raise you a half empty.

     

     

    “Aye but think of all the add ons for players signed we will now need to pay ”

     

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

    !!Bada Bing!! on 13th December 2024 3:34 pm

     

    Will be all sorts of bonuses from them, Adidas ,Magners for progressing in Europe as well

  9. bigbhoy on

    A dynamic Celtic need to turn up on Sunday. If they do then we will win. However, the last 3 games the tempo was too slow. If we play like our recent games then we give them a chance.

     

     

    Their confidence is high again and we need to run their legs off early.

     

     

    Possession without penetration does not make goals. We need to be at our best to be able to hammer them

  11. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Reo Hatate is our talisman.

     

     

    He’s not our best player but the team never plays badly when Reo plays well.

     

     

    Over to him.

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  13. Tom McLaughlin on

    SAINT STIVS

     

     

    You say Johnny Kenny would be a waste of money. You do realise Kenny is a Celtic player on loan at Rovers don’t you?

  14. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    65 hours is a helluva short turnaround.

     

     

    I don’t know anything about the group psyche of R2ngers ….

     

     

    But, from what I’ve read more than what I saw, there’s was a significant physical and emotional effort last night.

  17. TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on

    EKBhoy

     

     

    I am glad you made that point about Diamonde. He should have been red carded in three of the recent games against us.

     

     

    Another who needs to be watched is Barron. Against St. J at Perth recently he committed two yellow card fouls. The first with studs up. The commentary team were very surprised he escaped with no action taken against him. He committed a similar foul against Ross County on Sunday and again last night against Spurs. The Ref called him over last night and left him in no doubt what would happen if he did it again.

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  20. Darwin on

    Like Brendan I’m only really interested in Celtic on Sunday, or any other day, for that matter. If we turn up and play at 75% of our potential, we will surely win.

     

     

    Once again our manager laying it on thick about the brilliant shape the club is in at this moment in time. His proud boast that it has grown organically with no need, or indeed desire, of millions pumped in from external sources, is no idle one.

     

     

    There are those who delight in continually digging up past episodes where we could/should have turned left instead of right, or, stayed silent when a shouting match should have been instigated.

     

     

    Everyone is entitled to their opinion but it is self-evident that where we are today reflects the cumulative effect of all the decisions taken over the last thirty years. The bottom line always ‘ what’s in Celtic’s best interest’. Being motivated to strive for excellence and having the nous to understand that perfection is an unachievable goal. It is really no more complicated than that.

     

     

    We are in good hands on and off the field. HH

  23. An Tearmann on

    You are the only one,not even digging up

     

    But making up shoit

     

    Lets invent shoit to clarify your shoit.

     

    We see you.

     

    We read your pash.

     

    It is seed sowing shoit and nonsense

     

    Multimonikered troll

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  25. Coneybhoy on

    Hot Smoked on 13th December 2024 5:57 pm

     

    `Everyone is entitled to their opinion`

     

    ———

     

    said the one legged man………….

  27. Coneybhoy on

    I think most of the team is set

     

     

    Schmeichel

     

    Joghston CCV Trusty Taylor

     

    ?? McGregor ??

     

    Kuhn Kyogo Maeda

     

     

    The starting wider midfielders should be based on training this week. If based on the last game then it would be Bernardo and Engels.

     

     

    I suspect it will be Hatate and Bernardo.

     

     

    Would rather have Valle up against Cerny but Taylor deserves his start as the senior player (way better with Trusty than with Scales)

     

     

    Despite our great season, I always see finals as 50/50 and the first goal is key.

     

     

    PS Spurs were honking. A few changes but really embarrassing for Ange. Shoogly peg time this weekend

     

     

    Mon the Hoops

  29. Saint Stivs on

    Tom McLaughlin on 13th December 2024 4:45 pm

     

    SAINT STIVS

     

     

     

     

     

     

    You say Johnny Kenny would be a waste of money. You do realise Kenny is a Celtic player on loan at Rovers don’t you?

     

     

     

    ————-

     

     

    no, i aid buying another striker would be a waste of money.

     

     

    i know john and daniel are celtic players, my point onn him was leave him at rovers, and daniel isnt ready.

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  31. Saint Stivs on

    watching the last few games between us and thems late afternoon, butland has a mistake every time.

  35. clunks on

    Would reckon if Barnardo has been shoved up to do the presser, he is gona start….

     

     

    AJ not training today is not a concern (did he train???), rest that sore hip for sunday

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  38. Prestonpans bhoys on

    clunks on 13th December 2024 6:53 pm

     

    cant dive down low to his left either…

     

     

    Aka Spurs goal 🫣

  39. jackiemac on

    I did Ange a disservice last night – I didn’t realise Spurs had first team players injured and a 19 year old at CB.

  41. Prestonpans bhoys on

    “The best since charlie greens christmas message, so funny”

     

     

    Watched it twice, the editor should have canned the whole thing , thick as mince😅🤣😂

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  45. What is the Starz on

    On Johnny Kenny

     

    ..I was at the Rovers game last night (I go to most of their games)..He was excellent, as he has been most of this season.

     

    When he came to Rovers first ,(last season) I was if the opinion that he wasn’t good enough for Rovers,let alone Celtic.!!.

     

    However he has really improved over the course of the 2 seasons and a lot of the credit for this has to go to Stephen Bradley the Shamrock Rovers manager.Stephen is a decent coach and has had Rovers playing some really good football. Rovers want to keep him,Celtic wanted too much money (in Rovers opinion) so it looks like he will go back.We will miss him,whether or not he makes it at Celtic remains to.be seen

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