Hooper and Samaras ready to rip Rangers

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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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  1. Mark \o/ McGhee's \o/ Eyeliner \o/ on

    Even at Fir Park on black sunday

     

     

    bellamy( I think ) was taken out with a last man foul

     

     

    Did Dallas give us the foul and reduce the well to 10?

     

     

    What do you think?

     

     

    Heading back to watch the darts ghuys

     

     

    Here’s to us all being top of the world tomorrow night

     

     

    Hail hail

     

     

    MME

  2. Seven Fishes

     

     

    Where did you get that info re: 11.30 sailing cancelled? Was on stena site and cant find anything

     

     

    Ard Macha

     

     

    Was the call from Merv?

  3. Ard Macha.

     

     

    Right. Some of the Lurgan crew are in Jury’s and the Headbangers are in The Holiday Inn.

     

     

    I know where I’d put you. :)

  4. Lennon n mC 22.38

     

     

    You just off the ff site? Cut that out kids will read that 2 morro. Paul delete that please!!!

  5. Its getting near that time!! the long night before old firm day!!…..i’m far too pumped up for it tomorrow to be getting a good nights kip.

     

     

    The nerves and a little anxiety are already kicking in…nothing a good swally tomorrow wont sort out though , rite!! ….

     

     

    Anyways folk, wherever you are tomorrow watching the game, the most important thing is to stay safe and be careful…..this could turn out to be a tinderbox this match.

     

     

    …………………so lets round off 2011 with a bit of style and go top of the table…we’ll roar the hoops on, like we always do and fingers crossed it all goes to plan.

     

     

    My prediction- 3-1 to the good guys with a sammy double again…..fingers crossed!!!!!!!!

  6. Mark \o/ McGhee’s \o/ Eyeliner \o/ says:

     

    27 December, 2011 at 22:43

     

     

    I remember it well. He didn’t even give a foul for it. He appeared on Scotsport on the Monday night following the game on the understanding that the incident wouldn’t be discussed.

  7. Vmhan, wherever you watch the game tomorrow evening have a great time, hope you had a good christmas and an early happy new year to you and yours :) ( as I’m not on CQN too often!)

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

    Blackpoolbhoy (Sam)

  8. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    We took up all your jobs in the 19th century (lol)

     

     

    We made a life for ourselves.

     

     

    We established a fitba team because everybody else had one to represent themselves

     

     

    BUT YOU ANIMALS DIDNAE LIKE THAT DID YOU?

     

     

    STILL TO THIS DAY YOU FEEL THREATENED BY IT,WELL LET ME TELL YOU THIS,WERE WAITIN ON YOU IN PARADISE,WERE BANGIN DRUMS,WITH RHYTHM AND PATIENCE

     

     

    WE OWE YOU BASTARDS!

  9. Pandahands

     

     

    The 1130 sailing has been put back to 330pm.

     

     

    Guy from the St Peters bus is having to phone round all his members and ask them if they still want to go – it will be tight for time.

     

     

    Im booked on the 0730 ferry for rail & sail which is 50/50 at the moment, the weather is forecase to get worse from 0900 so it will either go or it will be cancelled.

     

     

    Im going to try and get on the P&O ferry from Larne if its cancelled. There are 5 of us so we should be able to get booked on by car.

     

     

    Getting a phone call at 0230 from a friend of a friend who works for Stena – so before the masses will be trying to do the same.

     

     

    I hope this helps mate.

     

     

    By the way – happy xmas to everyone – I havent been near this site in a week, in London for Christmas.

  10. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!! Tick Tock !! on

    Mjallby……..whit have you been drinkin’……..calm doon….we’re going to hump them…….leave that kind of talk to FF…..

     

     

    I was fine tonight until I came on here……now I’m hyper …..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. onlymallony says:

     

    27 December, 2011 at 22:55

     

     

    That puts Wanyama in midfield by my reckoning – elbows McCullach is about to see what a hard man really is.

     

     

    That also puts K Wilson into central defence.

     

     

    The rest is still up in the air.

     

     

    Hail hail

  12. onlymallony says:

     

    27 December, 2011 at 22:43

     

    Confirmed team for tomorrow. Forrest, Cha, Rogne, Wilson, Mullgrew, Brown, Kayal, Wanyama, Ledley, Hooper, Samaras.

     

     

    I would be happy enough with that, as long as wee James isny in goal mind you :>)

  13. Reading posts from Lurgan53 and some of the other Irish lads is humbling.

     

     

    The efforts these Bhoys make to see the team and to support the team is literally awesome.

     

     

    They have my respect.

     

     

    It amazes me that some of our number in and around Glasgow don’t make an effort, other than for derby games.

     

     

    SwanseaBhoy

  14. Mark \o/ McGhee's \o/ Eyeliner \o/ on

    reilly1926 says:

     

    27 December, 2011 at 22:50

     

     

    Says it all mhate

     

     

    Good night all

     

     

    Here’s hoping we get the result we all deserve tomorrow

     

     

    Mrs Eyeliner will have to try and calm me down if I

     

     

    walk through the door after a Celtic win

     

     

    Hail hail

     

     

    MME

  15. Panda Hands says:

     

    27 December, 2011 at 22:59

     

     

    I met you before in the Felons – im quite bad with either faces to a name or the name to a face, so introduce yourself if you recognise me (well fingers crossed).

  16. Seven Fishes Four Steaks on

    PandaHands, I always go with big Jim but not going tomorrow. My mate who is going with Jim texted me and told that they have been moved onto the 07.30 sailing as the 11.30 probably wont be going. I know Jim had buses on the 07.30 and 11.30.

     

     

    SffS

  17. EWO

     

     

    As far as I know the 07.30 was cancelled and the Lurgan crew moved to the 0330. Information was on the Lurgan No1 Facebook page. Don’t do Facebook myself maybe you can access the info.

     

     

    Will try to check.

  18. Seven Fishes Four Steaks on

    SwanseaBhoy, how true about those fans from Ireland. I was a season ticket holder for 16 years (WS1 D60!!) and had to give it up when kids came along. Went to an average of 22/23 games a season, broke the bank but was worth it! Missing it like mad now as i get to only 5/6 a season now. But have done all sorts of ferries in middle of night and coming home at 07.30 the next morning and heading straight to work after midweek games.

     

     

    Hope everyone from Ireland makes it to the game and gets home again. Theres nothing worse than being stranded.

     

     

    SffS

  19. Panda Hands,

     

     

    It was indeed. Thank you for help in this, I owe you a couple of pints.

     

     

    Lurgan 53,

     

     

    I agree 100%, you know me far too well!!!.Headbangers every time.

     

     

    Árd Macha

  20. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!! Tick Tock !! on

    Night all….!!!!……I have a VERY good feeling about tomorrow night…..they’re getting worse by the game, and they know it…!!

  21. Time for bed, things to do early doors.

     

     

    I have about a dozen amigos up to watch the game, so here’s hoping they go away with a smile on their faces.

     

     

    Take care out there bhoys.

     

    HH

     

    KTF

     

    “Somos el Celtic”

  22. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    A wantae jump intae Jimmy johnstones soul n run rings them,a wantae feel a damp ginger curl bouncin against ma foreheid while the baw ricochets aff ma lowered socks jinkin roon aboot a hun defence wae the pishin rain bein illuminated by the floodlights of Paradise,a want Bertie Auld tae start a song,a want the Holy Ground to be rockin,its our turn.

  23. Seven Fishes Four Steaks on

    I remember the scenes at the docks in Belfast for the Man Utd game (1-0 Naka). A boat had been cancelled and there were literally thousands at the docks trying to get on 1 boat. Buses were overtaking other buses in the lanes to try and get on. Thankfully mine was the last bus on but i know there were hundreds of sad unlucky fans at the docks that morning.

     

     

    SffS

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