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.
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.
232 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- »
Good “Matchday” mornin.
Morning Marspapa,
Here’s hoping for a convincing performance and win today to put them back in their box.
Working today so wont get to watch it.
2-0 the goodies
How do you make a box smile?
You put a lid on it 😀
That is exactly what we are going to do to the huns today.
Firmly back in their box.
HH. COYBIG.
Majestic Hartson on 15th December 2024 9:09 am
😀😀😀😀
Time for a beer to soothe my fevered brow.
Stay safe ghirls ‘ bhoys
Off to Dundalk to watch the game. 🍀🍀
I’m more concerned about the conditions and the officials than Them as a team.
If we can overcome those issues and get the midfield right so that we dominate there, we’ll be fine.
Must be terrifying for them to know that their self aggrandising bollox claim of “THe MosT SUCcesFul ClUB In THe WoRLd” is mere hours from , and odds on , being shattered.
For good.
David66 on 15th December 2024 7:40 am
Good morning all from a mild but wet 11 degree Garden of God.
No crap or fannying about today 3 – 1 to the Hoops.
Is AJ fit ?????
………….
It appears that AJ WILL be Fit ?
How did your works night oot go….did you get blootered ?
LOL
HH.
Wet and windy this afternoon down Kings Park way. A good day for singin’ in the rain.
We will win this game as long as we don’t start slowly, This Ibrox team have used the high press right from the start of games in Europe with some success. We have got to match them. We have got to show our quality and stamp our authority from the start. No repeat of the Brugge game where their high press completely spooked us in the 1st half.
I hope that BR allows our players to throw in a few long balls into the space their high press leaves behind and with our speedy players Maeda,Kyogo and Kuhn up against a one paced Sevco defence we could get results.
BR is a bit more tactically aware than me, and I’m sure with the better players that Celtic have we’ll get a victory, but please come out the blocks fast Celtic.
CSC in Dún Dealgan Almore?
Greenpinata on 13th December 2024 7:57 pm
Police investigating a Celtic flag and treating it as a hate crime.
The flag was reported to plod by the Orange Order.
———-
And why wouldn’t they GP ?
After all, the process of reporting the alleged offence is simple.
Either turn to the guy sitting next to you in the hall or (simpler still) just talk to yourself?
🤔🫡🤭
Saint Stivs on 14th December 2024 3:28 pm
https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/top-scorer/#/player/250156652
—–
Cheers SS.
This I did not know.
Genuine question.
Imagine Kenny is not a Celtic player.
And we were interested in bringing in a “promising young striker” to augment the squad and develop ….
… and targeted the top scorer in the UEFA Conference League ….
…. what price would we be quoted?
We talked about Daniel Cummings last week when he scored a cracker, although we went down 2-1.in Zagreb ( Youth game )
If Daniel doesn’t get a chance then what is the point of a youth academy?
HH.
The gap remains nothing ‘for their stars’ and £3.5 for Bosun Lawal who wasn’t getting a game in Parkhead anytime soon. The diet may have changed but the songs will remain the same, Celtic’s back five have been the rock on which Sevco’s season perishes.
The best defences pick themselves and the predictable, Schmeichel AJ CCV Trusty Taylor will be enhanced with Bernardo, CalMac, Hatate, Kuhn, Kyogo and Maeda. With an in depth quality injection around the hour, depending on how the mercurial Hatate has went, on Kings Park’s slinky surface. Last time it was tested culling sheep, Scotland’s early go to hope.
With baby sitting Papa’s and Francesco followers in for a noisy afternoon it’s the still same new Rainjurz followed all the way from Bellshill to the Louden and its famous free sandwiches. Bringing on the Beaton before they start won’t be enough, we’re prepared for the uncautionable Sevco, BR and Celtic will let the football do the talking.
Hail Hail
Morning all. Woke up at 530am.
mmccartney on 15th December 2024 11:10 am
———————————————————————–
You make so many good points – I agree they will look to play in our half from the get-go to force an early goal. I would like to see us seize the initiative right from the start and do what big Eddy did at Ibrox during Brendan’s first spell in charge and ‘kick for touch’ deep inside their half from the kick-off, or, as quickly as we can if we don’t get it.
On that day Scott Brown was left baffled by the incident and he branded Edouard “unbelievable” for the surprising tactic. Broonie remembers “I said that will be f****** that, then eh?’ But I’m not going to lie. It’s the first time we had ever done it and we got something from it. It was a wee change and Odsonne was unbelievable for doing it”.
The logic behind it is understandable – the idea being was to instantly put Rangers on the back foot and pen them into their own half, while signalling Celtic’s intent to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
To quote Sergeant Jablonski in Hill Street Blues – “let’s do it to them before they do it to us”. Hail Hail.
Big Jimmy – The works night out was good.
No stupid questions asked of me and even if there was, I would not have been able to answer them as I was up on karaoke.😉
Hope you are well big man and hope to see you on Friday.
D. :)
Aw naw no D66 anaw.🙄
About a dozen polis vans at Hampden just now
Scum marching to mass, sorry en masse in the Trongate.
Stay safe.
HH.
And he says January 3, the day after the Hoops play Rangers at Ibrox, is his big day. He said: “I spoke to Celtic. I’m returning to pre-season on January 3 and we’ll see where that takes us. It’s my dream to play for Celtic and hopefully I get that in January, time will tell. One hundred per cent, yeah. The goals in Europe are probably worth two or three in the league. I haven’t done myself any harm but it’s over now (after Chelsea) and come January 3, I need to impress at Celtic.
“It’s my dream to play for Celtic but I’ll take it from there. I have really enjoyed my football here (at Rovers), even last year when things weren’t going well.
“I’ll just enjoy the glamour tie next week and Christmas with my family and see what January brings. It’s up to me when I go back to take it a step further and hopefully get my chance.”
by TaboolaSponsored Links
Y
Kenny’s return, and whether he impresses, could well influence Rodgers’ plans in January. He’s made it clear he wants a young striker to compete with his two main men up top, and had Rocco Vata earmarked for that role before he left for Watford. Kenny fits that mould, and his return to be assessed means that any move to sign a new striker will likely come later in the window, rather than early doors.
Been raining heavy all day in Puerto del Carmen…..if it keeps up the game could be postponed.
the santa dash.
https://x.com/andymck505/status/1868274809265893719?s=48&t=9rozwKx5sbQAEARZzpzVAg
1 Month free Premier Sports code for the game tomorrow FREEURC.
Choose monthly and apply the code. Once set up request to cancel as you need to give 30 days notice and it will stay on until the 14th January then automatically cancel with no charge, you need to choose the streaming option for it to work
https://x.com/HereCelts/status/1868032129814442070?t=LV_1iVc8ccZgSBN8X9Qwqg&s=19
https://x.com/HereCelts/status/1868032129814442070?t=LV_1iVc8ccZgSBN8X9Qwqg&s=19
Mrs BRRB will not be watching the game with me. Reckons I turn into a beer swilling maniac. My dear girl, says I, a man needs a hobby.
Is that blue tie McKay finally coming out and admitting he’s a hun ?
In the Sunday tradition of roll and sliced sausage, anyone got a decent link for the match?
The Celtic Way Time-lapse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3elInp0RJM
what price would we be quoted?
____
Good variery of goals by Kenny, against a level at least comparable to most of our league. Kenny is a few years and level of experience ahead of Cummings.
Grace’s and the Celtic Shop smashed up by the vermin
CELTIC: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor, McGregor, Hatate, Bernardo, Kuhn, Kyogo, Maeda.
Subs: Sinisalo, Scales, Palma, Idah, Valle, Yang, Engels, Forrest, Ralston
TBB- use the Premier Sports link I posted, it works
JACKIEMAC on 15TH DECEMBER 2024 11:24 AM
CSC in Dún Dealgan Almore?
Táin Bhoys CSC in Kehoe’s Bar
Mon the HOOPS…