How Celtic lose cups: red cards and penalties

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I don’t know anyone who was confident Olivier Ntcham would score with his penalty against St Mirren earlier this month.  Our stats have been awful this season.  Ryan Christie scored his only attempt in a comfortable win over Hearts.  Moussa Dembele also scored his solitary attempt, against Alashkert, but Olivier and Scott Sinclair have each missed two, while Leigh Griffiths missed against Motherwell.  Seven out of 12 have been converted.

Those of you who are old enough to remember the last time Celtic did not win a domestic trophy will recall we went out of that particular Scottish Cup semi-final on penalties.

If you were Derek McInnes, you would have spent all week planning for this eventuality.  Hopefully, the point is not lost on Neil Lennon.  Celtic will take the game to Aberdeen, but if the tie is level in the latter stages of the initial 90 minute period, Aberdeen will sit every-deeper and play for penalties – which they will have a decent chance to win.

That reversal in the 2016 Scottish Cup semi-final aside, Celtic have only exited a cup tournament since Neil Lennon’s first tenure as manager after being reduced to 10 men.  Efe Ambrose conceded a penalty and was sent off in the 2016 League Cup semi-final against Ross County, and Craig Gordon was sent off in the 2016 Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness.  The latter remains an infamous refereeing performance for the failure to award a penalty and red card Inverness’s Josh Meekings for punching a goal-bound header off the line.

Objectively, if Celtic are going to be stopped from collecting a treble treble, it is most likely to happen on Sunday, as a result of either a red card or a penalty kick competition.  We can plan for both.

Expect Aberdeen to wind up whomever they think is vulnerable to some referee attention – I’m looking at you, Scott.  The script has been written on this one.  Do not get drawn in, play the game on our terms, if anyone loses composure, let it be their daft full back (again).

None of us have confidence in our penalty takers, but practice helps (despite luddite beliefs).  Training will be light tomorrow.  It should consist exclusively of penalty kick practice.

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  1. DD – indeed! But it’s looking like it’ll take maybe -15 or -16 to win it tomorrow.

  2. Delaneys Dunky on

    Call Me Gerry

     

    International Bar or Montfords Bar are two I have been in before Hampden matches. 10 mins fae Celtic end both pubs.

  3. Could be the perfect weekend Celtic going through, and joey Barton getting banged up and stuck in a sell with big Brendan the good time girl

  4. Delaneys Dunky on

    Jobo

     

    A two stroke lead at -13 would be nice to start tomorrow though. Tiger the danger according to GFTB.

  5. DD – really looking forward to a great afternoon tomorrow. Our semi final with, hopefully a positive result and then a straight channel switch over for the last 3-4 hours of The Masters. Let’s enjoy these Days of Days!

  6. Delaneys Dunky on

    Jobo

     

    Magnifico Sunday.

     

    Celtic and Frankie will be a great Sunday on my son’s sofa. ??????

  7. DD 11.26pm

     

     

    Last day of the masters anyone in within 4 shots will fancy their chances, Molinari has been outstanding today but the hard work is staying in front .. I will invest a couple of shillings tomorrow

     

     

    Best of luck with Molinari you have a good record with bets when in discussion with me :-) (viva la France)

     

     

    But more importantly a Celtic and Neil Lennon victory first then we can watch the Masters unfold

     

     

    Fellow Celts good night n god bless

     

     

    Hail Hail

  8. The Masters has been played 79 times. The lowest winning score has been -18 which has happened twice (Tiger in 1997 and Jordan Speith in 2015). Segio won it last year with a score of -9.

     

    As I type, Francesco Molinari has just teed off at the 18th and is -13, 2 shots clear of the field.

  9. Jobo / DD

     

     

    Cheers for replies

     

     

    International was just mentioned by another, so might be worth a try.

     

     

    On Masters – I had a flutter on R. Fowler pre-tournament. Hopefully one of us gets a winner

     

     

    All the best tomorrow bhoys

     

    HH

  10. ……but plays the shot of the day from the bunker to leave a 2 foot putt for a 2 stroke lead…

  11. Hunderbirds are Gone on

    Used to like watching the golf majors on TV, no bothered now though…

     

    … well, as long as a Septic Tank win it ??

     

    ?⚽️

  12. Big day tomorrow , hopefully we get to make history , ps I know we have done so already, wee double for the gamblers , 2-0 the champions and tiger to win the masters, HH

  13. Jobo

     

    Sorry for not pasting, too tired to concentrate.

     

    Hoose fir me, I’m in the FTSFA camp.

     

    HH and good night all.

  14. lets all do the huddle ? on

    there is something about serious amateur sport folk i just cant be doing with

     

     

    the worst are – in no particular order –

     

     

    cyclists

     

    runners

     

    swimmers

     

    golfers

     

     

    footballers are also in there just not as bawbagish

  15. Just caught the last half hour of the Jinky programme on BBC Alba….tears blinding me,we were truly blessed…

  16. Just in from a great night out courtesy of Bathgate No.1 CSC,

     

     

    In true Celtic fan tradition £k several raised for local and national/international charities.

     

     

    Take a bow Bhoys.

  17. Keith Tribute

     

     

    Wan thing is certain with the Premier Sports coverage not being (relatively) mainstream…. the likelihood of honest mistakes rises considerably.

     

     

    I hope my fears are not justified and Celtic really have saved their best game in ages for a Must Win scenario – negating anything Aberdeen can possibly do.

     

     

    COYBIG

  18. Tony B 2003

     

     

    It is just incredible that my Bhoy can now vote.

     

     

    He has came from a broken Home and it would be very interesting to see who he voted for.

     

     

    My Eldest Sister has never said who she votes for, I dinnae expect to know who Aidan will vote for.

  19. Maastricht Treaty hehe.

     

     

    WMHN.CSC

     

     

    IF we lose the day, Thank You Celtic for being MAGNIFICENT in winning so many Trophies with Style and mega respect for the Rules of the game.

     

     

    Win, Lose or Draw!!!!

  20. Celtic are gonnae Kick like a Mule – I reckon.

     

     

    The Temperament of Celtic players can Never be questioned.

     

     

    Scottie Bhoy Bain – Great Stuff.

  21. Jobo

     

     

    WHERE WILL CQNrs BE WATCHING THE SEMI FINAL?

     

     

    HAMPDEN – Bournesouprecipe, Eurochamps67, BGFC, Wee BGFC, Ivehadtochangemy mind, Call Me Gerry, Son of Jobo, The BAttered Bunnet, Paul67, Bada Bing, Lennybhoy. An Tearmann

     

     

    LOCAL(ish) PUB – David66

     

     

    HOOSE (own or relatives) – Jobo, Bateen Bhoy, The Long Wait Is Over, Daughter of Jobo, Big Packy 1, Delaneys Dunky, Thecelt45, Headtheball (dodgy stream).

     

     

    HOLIDAY – Greenpinata

     

    RADIO – GFTB

     

    NADA –

     

     

    Hh

  22. Lookin forward to tomorrow

     

    Seeing Celtic.

     

    We have a big job to do and a lot of hard work to get thro.

     

    Nowt to be afraid of there

     

     

    Go to work Celtic

     

    :-)

     

    HH

  23. Neil is on a hiding to nothing.

     

     

    I thought his tactics against sevco – conceding and letting sevco play oot frae the Back – Nuts..

     

     

    It was so bizarre, I actually think it may well be Genius… Despite what all the in the know dudes… say about Mika F*cking off frae training.

     

     

    Celtic, AGAIN, are Pioneers in the Genuine sense.

     

     

    The Bhoys ready to Go

     

     

    Strangely I want Tiger to Win the Masters.

     

     

    I am Nothing – Never forget that,

     

     

    I am, I am, I am is Everywhere. Lucifers jibber jabber.

     

     

    Come on Celtic and Neil.

     

     

    It’s Gods Story.

  24. Having been to vigil Mass tonight, in case we go to ET and penalties, I will be installed in front of the Desktop watching Celtic TV. I’ll also have a muted TV on with Premier Sports as backup.

     

    Belts n braces CSC

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