Neil Lennon was right to emphasise the importance of discipline ahead of tomorrow’s game against Rangers; there must be a high probability that 22 players will not be on the field at the end. Beram Kayal in particular should expect tumbling Rangers players anywhere in the vicinity of his tackling.
Rangers’ squad is sufficiently thin that there was no chance they would allow the opportunity to appeal Elbows McCulloch’s red card to pass. McCulloch is seen as part of the problem by a lot of Rangers fans, concerned at their recent malaise, but he is as experienced on these occasions as anyone who will play tomorrow. Celtic will need to dominate him and Steven Davis if they to win the midfield battle.
It was at least three years ago Celtic Quick News prefixed McCulloch with the name ‘Elbows’. An elbow is the face is remarkably effective at asserting dominance, something McCulloch knows too well. It may be that the player’s overt physicality will be inhibited by his recent red card, just as team mate Shauny Aluko declined to tumble in the box when presented with the opportunity on Saturday after recently being out-ed as a diver.
Both teams will deploy unfamiliar central defensive partnerships, which will worry both Lennon and McCoist. Rangers’ Jelavic has looked like he wants to be elsewhere in recent weeks but it he gets an opportunity to put himself in the shop window he is likely to take it. Winning the early battles may sap his enthusiasm.
I don’t know about anyone else but I’ve written a couple of versions of my match report already but in all of them Gary Hooper and Georgios Samaras are match winners. If Celtic can win the midfield battle these two – hopefully Samaras from the wing – will win the points for Celtic.
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The mighty Quinn :>)
Night Celts.
V
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/defiant_ally_mccoist_confidently_declares_we_will_win_1_2026818
Get it on the bus and in the dressing room. Lets put them in their place. I can’t sleep!!!
Hail Hail
A late morning kick-off for the west coast of USA. Looking forward to the game immensely.
Win the midfield battle first please Lenny, just in case you are lurking looking for last minute pointers…
Stay safe tomorrow all those who are attending. I hope you Irish Bhoys make the game without any hitches.
Win the game for wee Oscar please Celtic.
To all lurking Huns…your time is nigh (check your dictionary).
Gallagher , Quinn , have left their mark –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H28HyPAF57w
safe journey, from Swansea and the North, hope you all make it.
oh oh oh the sweetest thing
end of the game Celtic 5 Rangers 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e19jVEoBLXw&feature=related
dont ever underestimate the enemy.
Mark giving a sterling (£ land) performance on Countdown to Huns and Blackpools shame.
I blame non kafflik schools.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGF3VMwtV-8
.
Tom..
You back on the Sauce.. Medicinal l Hope.. I was 5yr off it.. Best thing l ever Did (Getting Back on It)..;b)
Ditto 3am Alarm.. If l actually do Sleep.. This game is My Christmas & New Year rolled into One..I would Hate it Not Having these Games.. Unless we Got Into another League and they Didn’t.. Ha..
Sammi Hat-Trick someone Said.. He has Came Close 5 times l think.. Don’t think Lenny would Sub him this Time if he was On One..;0)
Summa
It’s quiet tonight, anything going on tomorrow then?
001:
Aye there were not many who stood by Broonie and Sammi, even fewer stood by both and Lennie too. After what he’d been through in our name some of the posts regards Neil Lennon were repulsive. Let’s see what tomorrow brings and should we prevail look out for hell being unleashed. I think I’ll give the game a miss in the morning, after the Hearts game and the St. Mirren massacre there is not too much left of my ceiling.
Estadio:
Good to see you on again, Ramie was asking after you last night.
Sorry for posting this link, it doesn’t make for good viewing!!
But just wondering who the Scottish commentator is…..anyone know???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANgswiXwHyU&feature=related
Celtic- You Are Everything to me
A Disgrace To Football
bartley animal filth tackle
Its Always Been Celtic With Me
.
14hrs to Go..
Summa
Blarney Pilgrims – Scotland’s Shame
The Blarney Pilgrims When Saturday Comes Around
The East End of Town
Paul67 it is indeed in midfield where Celtic can win the game, a central three of Kayal, Ledley either side of Wanyama with Brown and Samaras on the wings, Hooper will poach on the service that midfield will supply
Paul67 no mention of Collum? with 4th official Callum Murray, Rankers have the two officials they want tonight, Collum was selected and fast tracked through the system by Dallas his refereeing talent has not merited this meteoric rise, most in the professional game do not see him as a good referee, in terms of big decisions on a wet and windy night he may be the deciding factor i hope not? but Celtic on and off the park have to play him as best they can, make or break for Collum tonight
One for our oft maligned manager…
Neil Lennon Tribute – Something Inside So Strong
Celtic Paradise
I’m Shipping Up To Boston – Dropkick Murphys
cannysleep.com
.
That’s the Party Started.. Floating in Me New Pool..With Celtic songs thru the iPhone..Pear Cider in Stubby Holder of Floaty..
Song for Tonight.. I Got a Feeling.. that Tonight is Gonna be a Guid Night..
Hail Hail..Wish You were Here..Wish l was There..
Summa ft GetThisPartyStartedNowCSC
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13hrs to Go..
Summa
Morning,all.
Agood day to be a Tim,and I trust tomorrow will be even better,but I can’t understand the frenzied anticipation of some of you on here.
I’m totally relaxed about it!
Mind,that’s due to not being able to watch it-nightshift starts early on a Wednesday. Bummer,really.
So,as a wee favour to me,can I ask you all to refrain from updates until after I’ve watched my recording of it,which will be on Friday morning?
Thanks.
a sunny 28 here in Phnom Penh
unfortunately the game is 2.45am local time….
options… get up and watch it on dodgy stream?
stay away from the result and go to the local sports bar for 11am replay…?
Seriously,though.
This,maybe more than any other night,may be a time to avoid any huns.
Please,all of you,take every care tonight.
Good morning Bhoys from a very windy Gourock, popped into work to keep me outa the pub too early. looking forward to the game today… Any team news yet.
PS: Traffic heading into and back from Glasgow was a nightmare late afternoon yesterday.
McCoist denies playing the system to free banned McCulloch for Celtic game
Michael Grant Chief football writer
Ally McCoist, the Rangers manager, has denied trying to pull a fast one by appealing Lee McCulloch’s one-game suspension simply to free him for tonight’s Old Firm game.
McCulloch was due to miss the match against Celtic at Parkhead after being dismissed for violent conduct against St Mirren at the weekend. But Rangers knew that if they appealed the decision, on the grounds of wrongful dismissal, the SFA’s Fast Track Tribunal could not consider the case before tonight’s match.
The festive holidays may mean McCulloch’s tribunal is not held until January 5, which would also free him to play against Motherwell on Monday.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon said “there’ll be a lot of people unhappy if McCulloch starts having been sent off at the weekend”, but he did not count himself among them and said Rangers were entitled to use the rules as they stand. That view was echoed by his midfielder Joe Ledley, who said McCulloch’s use of an elbow had been “blatant”.
McCoist has been open to accusations that he had exploited a loophole not because he felt McCulloch was innocent of elbowing St Mirren’s Graham Carey, but because he wanted him to face Celtic.
The Rangers manager flatly denied that yesterday and insisted he did not think his midfielder deserved punishment. “I’ve watched it again now on numerous occasions and I stand by what I said after the game, which was: ‘I think it was a little harsh, therefore we’re going to appeal it’.
“Are we playing the system? No, not at all. I’ve watched it yesterday, eight, nine, ten times, every angle. I think it’s harsh.
“The lad’s got his arm round him and Lee’s definitely gone to shake the guy off and the referee’s deemed it that he’s tried to elbow the guy in the face, which I don’t believe was the case.” It would be untrue to call Rangers’ appeal frivolous, he said. “I don’t agree with that. That’s not true, to be honest.”
McCoist claimed that McCulloch’s dismissal was similar to that of Wigan’s Connor Sammon against Manchester United, which Wigan have appealed, and said such decisions suggested referees were following instructions from their superiors at the SFA or FA. “They’ve obviously been told to do what they’ve been doing. If you ask the vast majority of people who have played the game they’ll generally know if there’s any real malice in any tackle but the referees are carrying out the letter of the law I suppose.”
Rangers will be knocked off the top of the league for the first time since August if Celtic win tonight. Lennon said his own gameplan would not change just because McCulloch was involved.
3.30,7.30 sailings both sailed from Belfast,good luck Bhoys…2 hours sleep,and im back up,nerves are at me already,wish it was a 12 ko.
Summa should be on just about………………..
NOW.
.
12hrs to Go..
3-0 Sammi brace.. Ki Rocket..
Summa ft CelticTopWashedKiltDeMothedBadgesPolishedCSC
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MacJay..
Ha Ha.. Very Funny..;b(
Trying to say I’m Predictable..
Had to Rush out the ‘Paddling’ Pool Mind..
Summa ft DrippingWetCSC
“We will Win!”
So says Fat Sally in todays Rangers News
Looks like the fat game show host has done Lennys pre match team talk for him
Rangers biggest threat tonight will be Willie Collum
MACJAY,SUMMA
Nice one,lads.
Best of luck for the rest of the countdown.
And for the match.
Evening all CQN. I can see that the excitement is building up over the ditch and beyond. Very exciting stuff God its good to be a celt. I would love to hear the words “top o the league and your no” belted out loud by the green brigade. Estadio great to see you up an about. I expect your a.m doctor will beleive that you are ready to climb everest rather than lose that ticket. make sure he/she looks after ye. St Stivs the thanks was because I rescued Matts floating bottles of Guiness from the deluge/flood that was directly overhead on a hot Summers day. If you ever need a walking talking rain dancer Estadio’s yer man. What he writes on here is just a glimpse of the story teller, a modern day shaman. My girls still talk about Matt and his wonderous stories and he was only here for a couple of beers. Take care Matt get back on your feet and keep walking the talk. Summa and Kit I have had a wee laugh watching your Samaras and Broonie love in. Two players who I would thank for a great service to the club and happily say sionara but both playing well just now and I hope that they are equal players of the day today. I will be happy with 1-0 but I can always dream. Right another vb.
Summa
Not predictable,reliable. :-)
I had to leave the Melbourne Club and wait on the stairs while Sammi took that penalty.
Still great to meet you,though.
I`m a bit damp too.
Internally.