We have had games which were hugely important to the club, and to our new manager, some which were ‘must win’ games, which were ultimately lost, but tomorrow’s League Cup tie against Hearts is a must win game for different reasons.
A year ago we lost in this competition to one of the worst teams to win at Celtic Park in the last half century, possibly longer, but thus Hearts side are a Premiership team in all but name and come with the weight of their history behind them to fell Scottish football’s last superpower.
I’ve seen Hearts win at Celtic Park before, there is one particular painful memory as they taunted us while drawing, but Ronny and his new recruits should know, this game ranks above all league matches in order of importance.
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jungle jim
13:29 on 23 September, 2014
Correct…. support the team on the park, debate / vent anger off the park……..it’s all about confidence in Football…
Hopefully we pick a team capable of beating hearts but more importantly we should pick a team certain to win it. It’s fine dropping league points as we will no doubt pick up in rhe end but I get the feeling one of Ronnys kPIs is a cup win.
I just have a nagging feeling that some other change or ponderable decision will be made to throw some doubt on our game.
Would Ronny be bold enough to play a narrow 4 3 3 for example with Guidetti, Commons and Scepovic all playing? Backed up by Kayal, Brown and McGregor?
How will the rotation of Guidetti and Scepovic play out? We paid money for Scepovic so there is pressure to play him but Guidetti looks the better of the two. Scepovic fills a jersey but I have seen nothing to suggest he has anything over the perfunctory Stokes to get a game as the talismanic striker.
The defence should pick itself with the unfortunate mandatory inclusion of Ambrose. Gordon in goal please.
The rigidity of the formation limits us I would hate Ronny to feel that it is mandated.
DAVIDOPOLOUS
PHILVISRETURNS
Benefits hold-ups have been a disgrace for years.
If you have a few bob in hand after redundancy,you aren’t eligible for many benefits.
And if you haven’t,yer screwed. Because by the time the system kicks in claimants can be in thrawl to Wonga,on the verge of eviction,and seeking the help of food banks,charities,friends,family.
Quick enough to take yer stamp contributions off you,mind. Try being as tardy paying in as they are paying out.
moonbeams wd. – I wasn’t in favour of the Yes campaign, but if anybody changed their mind based on the promises of Cameron, Miliband, and Clegg, more fool them.
I’m not sure it changed the result though. No led throughout the campaign. (thumbsup)
Honey, I shrunk the Hoops.
philvisreturns
I agree that it plays a significant role, however I do not believe that removing delays would automatically eradicate food banks.
philvisreturns
13:33 on 23 September, 2014
There are many reasons why benefit claimants are forced the indignity of attending at a food bank. In my experience the bureaucracy of the DWP is not a significant factor.
The sheer vindictiveness of this Government’s hateful attitude to those attempting to pursue employment is IMO more of a factor.
Neither does DWP bureaucracy account for persons in low paid work perceiving they have no option but to go to food banks.
Unless one takes the Ian Duncan Smith position that people make an informed choice to use food banks because they are there and they get something or nothing.
Must go….
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers –
Yes. The system is broken. People who have never worked a day in their lives are treated better than people who try to do the right thing. (thumbsup)
Moonbeams WD. Wee Oscar’s our Bhoy and Kano’s our mhan. The Vow – Crtically Rebuked by 45% of this fine nation.
13:39 on 23 September, 2014
There was a referendum.
You lost.
Get over it.
The Tories have confirmed they’ll honour their commitment to devolve more powers to Holyrood.
http://www.scotsman.com/mobile/news/politics/top-stories/hague-says-pledges-to-scotland-will-be-honoured-1-3549523
Philvis
maybe if the civil service stopped producing targets for their staff, placing high importance in getting benefit seekers onto sanctions (ie. no benfits) over helping them find appropriate work, then sanctioned benefit seekers would not need to seek out Foodbanks. Alas, I doubt you did pay attention to the BBC Panorama progamme on this issue. Sancioned benefit seekers do not receive a penny benefit for a 6 week period up to a period of 6 months. Sanctions are put in place for job seekers being 5 minutes late from signing on, in some caases attending interviews which stops them from signing on. The system is (add your own expletive here) and manufactured to cause harm and poverty!
MWD said AYE
The Deila Wears Nada
PHILVISRETURNS
Interesting point you raise re absolute numbers and percentages.
Two-thirds of claimants on food banks are not due to benefit delays-though I reckon many may be due to benefit withdrawal-and the total number trebled in a year.
This is not a statistic which sits well in a civilised and socially-responsible nation. Much less that it is happening in the world’s sixth-largest economy.
That’s not a dig at you on party or ideology,btw. Just an observation that the figures you referenced are a disgrace to us all.
Ernie
But I am a far better reader of a situation than you will ever be.
What did you say 2 to 1 agains my 43/47% loss.
Now keep that squeaky bum close. You are going to need it again soon.
MWD said AYE
mullet and co 2
Scepovic must play every game. He was bought for big money.
He should be the team number one striker. We failed with Pukki because we didn;t make him feel first choice. The lads confidence was shot as a result. If he has been signed as a striker keep playing him up front. I would still go with Griffiths tomorrow though. He has a hunger to score against Hearts and will be up for it. Guidetti can start from the bench. 2 up top and let Leigh at them. He will score.
We MUST beat Hearts. They are unbeaten in the league and flying in confidence. We are toiling to score goals and our most potent goal scorer is not even getting a look in. Play him and watch the goals go in. Griffiths is a no brainer against Hearts. If he doesn;t feature at all we would be as well loaning him to Hibs because if he doesn;t play against Hearts there is no point keeping him.
LB
Celtic have only won one game from the last seven. Hearts have won seven and drawn one. If winning is a habit then Hearts are clear favourites for this match.
Sorry Ernie.
Did you just seriously put up an article which has a link to a man callled Hague making a pledge to Scotland’s eloctorate.
Seriously!!!
lordy lord. You really are detatched from this fione country aren’t you!
And i larfed.
MWD said AYE and back to footy.
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jamabhoy
12:17 on 23 September, 2014
I don’t understand this call for the Ronnie’s head if he loses the next match or two.
Obviously we want to win every match, but our new manager has new ideas and he should be given the chance to put them in place and build the team he wants.
My view of last weekend is him testing out his squad in the best way he could and that is in a match.
I’ll like to think he now has a better view of the players at his disposal and what he needs to work on.
He can ‘experiement’ to some degreee in the league as we have time to pull back any dropped points. For me it’s the best place to build his view of the squad.
I hope we give Ronnie the time he needs and he proves his doubters wrong by building the kind of team we all want to see, winning and winning well.
Just for a laugh I thought I’d check the first league results of our greatest very manager, Jock Stein:
W 6-0
L 0-1
D 3-3
L 2-4
W 1-0
W 4-0
L 2-6
L 1-2
L 1-5
Different times, different teams and most importantly no internet.
Hail Hail
~~~~
The Difference Is…
Big Jock Persevered Wi’ Wee Jinky,Willie Gemmill…
An’ Bobby Watt….
Delia Didnae Just No Play MegaWattie An’ SupaGriff…
He Eased Them Oota The HOOPS..!
SACK THE LONESOME LEMMiNG…!!!!
Put Him Oota His Misery..
He’s Clearly Pining Fur His Fjords..
—
Moonbeams WD. Wee Oscar’s our Bhoy and Kano’s our mhan. The Vow – Crtically Rebuked by 45% of this fine nation.
13:51 on 23 September, 2014
‘Ernie
But I am a far better reader of a situation than you will ever be.’
###
Will the Tories implement their pledge to devolve more powers to Holyrood?
Yes or no.
John Divers
John was a first team player when Big Jock managed the (very successful) reserves. Many of the young reserve players were elevated when Jock returned as Club Manager, possibly to show Bob Kelly who picked the players. Several established first team players were dropped, partly the reason that his early results at Celtic were very poor. I think John was just unfortunate in timing. He was a very clever player……I didn’t know he was Patsy’s grandson…..some pedigree ( along with his father, another famed Celt).
R.I.P.
Johnny Divers also scored his 110 goals between 1957 and 1966, probably our poorest periods ever.
RIP Johnny, you are indeed a CELTIC LEGEND.
Oh and Ernie.
Did you get your decisive 60\40 split?
Just wondering like. Or would that thought have only stood during your bum notes squeaking when you were literally excrementing yourself at the chance of a YES vote.
And I larfed and I larfed.
MWD said AYE
Ernie
Can you tell me what powers and I’ll attempt to answer that?
MWD said AYE
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Captain Beefheart
11:25 on 23 September, 2014
Any chance that the corrupt Labour party can just put a silent Caroline Flint on stage for the remainder of their conference? That is preferable to listening to hypocritical class warriors.
~~~~
Good Grief….Cap’n Beefy…….!
The Fragrant Caroline Flint…..?
The Walkin’/Talkin’ Petri-Dish..?
Has Climbed Oan Mair ‘Rocks’ Than Sherpa Tensing…
Even MDubyaD Widnae Go There..??
[ Hmmm…Not So Sure..! Ed ]
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Mwd
You are neatly right.
Hehehe…nearly
Henry Clarson
Hearts strikers are scoring freely. Ours are not.
I work with a lot of Hertz fans. They are telling me that they are fairly solid at the back and Gomis and Bauben are not being challenged in their league and are running the show. The key is to stop them and bully them out of the game. No easy feat from what they are telling me. I haven;t seen much of Hearts. Their opinion is skewed because they realise that the Prem teams are a step up from the Champ teams.
They Hertz fans would rather see Bauben or Gomis dropped to protect them for the league. My thinking is that they are overly aggresive and fear a red card which may affect them in the league. Paterson is one to watch if he is fit enough to play. I have watched this lad for a couple of years and he is a right back and has slotted in there since Neilson took over. I thought he was also very effective up front even though he was not a natural striker. A very very good player destined for the top. I felt in the summer we could have taken him on and punted young Matthews who although is a very good Right Back is no good to us on the treatement table. Paterson is one to have a look at for the future I hope Ronny takes a good look at the boy.
Hearts will be up for this game. This is their cup final. If they beat us it gives them huge confidence and bragging rights in Scotland having aleady dealt with Sevco. The club has never been more united and they will come confident quitely assured of a result. They will not be afraid but they are a bit gutted that their former goalie lines up against them. I hope big Craig breaks a few Hearts on Wednesday and if we get a late corner he makes an appearance in the Hearts box just to even things up for some supporters.
LB
PHILVISRETURNS 1349
I agree on that,mate. The ability to play the system comes with experience.
Those using the welfare state as the safety net in time of need,the reason it exists,are at a disadvantage. And that can’t be right.
As I said,I don’t think it is a party or ideology argument. It’s about social justice. I’m pretty sure that you know that too. Your observations on it are most welcome.
Especially your clear disdain for where we have ended up. The difference between left and right is too often blurred. But the difference between right and wrong remains.
BCW
Netly was better :-)
MWD said AYE but wondering about what?
I think hertz will play the run and gun and press at every opportunity. When need a team that will slow them down and establish our own tempo. Broonie and Kayak in the middle
HH
gsu
67Heaven, one of the hallmarks of the hun support of their new team in the past two years was constant booing of their players and manager. It led to the line “What time are they getting boo’d onto the park today”.
I’ll never boo a Celtic team. Whinge, and gnash and spit feathers and complain after the event, yes. Boo a team in hoops while they are playing at Celtic Park?
Never, I’d rather just not be there than put that kind of negativity onto the pitch.
Boo boys GTF
Brown is our driving force and Commons is our most potent threat and most creative player.
Unless either one has lost a limb they should be played in every game, it’s not rocket science.
Personally I’d have Brown and Johansen sitting with Biton in front of them. The boy is comfortable with the ball at his feet and can see a pass. It’s time to move him 10 yards further up the park to utilise this in an attacking sense and not just to retain possession.
davidopoulos – I agree that it plays a significant role, however I do not believe that removing delays would automatically eradicate food banks.
You’re right, it wouldn’t eliminate the need for them, but it would massively reduce that need. And help a lot of families sleep better at night.
One in three people who use food banks being sent there because civil servants are too incompetent to pay out their money in a timely fashion is scandalous. (thumbsup)
squire danaher – In my experience the bureaucracy of the DWP is not a significant factor.
According to the charity that runs most of the food banks, it is THE biggest single factor.
The sheer vindictiveness of this Government’s hateful attitude to those attempting to pursue employment is IMO more of a factor.
I can’t say I’ve noticed the government being vindictive towards people trying to find jobs. Though I think the tax and welfare system as a whole has developed perverse incentives where you’re often better off not working at all.
Neither does DWP bureaucracy account for persons in low paid work perceiving they have no option but to go to food banks.
No, low pay accounts for low pay. How do we help people get more pay? The easiest solutions are: 1) stop taxing the low paid so much, and 2) stop mass immigration and its attendant depressing effect on the market price of unskilled labour.
We could also raise the minimum wage, but we know that does nothing to create jobs and simply disadvantages the young and unskilled.
Unless one takes the Ian Duncan Smith position that people make an informed choice to use food banks because they are there and they get something or nothing.
I’m not sure he has said that, though it’s probably true in a minority of cases – there’s always someone looking for a free lunch. I agree with the Trussell trust’s figures that the major single contributor is benefits delays though. And I agree with you that low pay is also a big factor. (thumbsup)
Folks asking what John Collins does
Im asking what Ronny does
Folks slagging off Stokes
Im asking if any of the new guys are better strikers than stokes
IMO not so far
Balance the positives and negatives?
Okay 5 wins out of 13- which direction does that tip the scales then, plus or minus
BTW I still have even considered that he is incompetent enough to lose a one horse race. Im sure very few have. If those thoughts start entering folks heads the clamour for his taxi will be overwhelming..
Its saying something when we are nervous about beating Jam tarts under 21s at home
RIPJohn Divers Jnr.
Great player in a poor period,scored first ever goal in our 9 in a row run.
My team would be
=============Gordon===============
Ambrose Denayer Van Dijk Izaguirre
====Henderson Brown Johansen======
============Commons===============
====Stepovic========Guidetti======
Subs Wakaso, Griffiths, Biton, Tonev, Zaluska
The only reason I’d have Ambrose and Izzy is that we have no one else to fill the full back positions. Under normal circumstance they would be dropped but 3 injured right backs and a failure to sign a left back has left the manager no choice.
Sad to hear the news of John Diver’s passing – R.I.P.
Johnny was a great hero of mine during my school days in the 60’s – I had his name emblazoned on the ‘olde’ school-haversack!*
* Haversack (not your modern day canvass version) – these were formally gas-mask or kit-bags purchased from the ‘olde’ Army & Navy Stores and converted to carry; books and gym kit (sannies).
Took me weeks and gallons of ink (courtesy of the school desk inkwells) to make Johnny’s name readable – the canvass was more absorbent than blotting paper!
A great Celtic player, wonderful touch and good goal-scorer during a barren time in the 60’s – God rest his soul!
H!H!
Gary67
14:09 on
23 September, 201
Nearly agreed,but Kayal on bench instead of Tonev,Griffiths instead of Stepovic.
Paul Brennan @CQN Twitter
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