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Ibrox: dangers and opportunities

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

In January I shared a concern with a Newco fan.  At the time, they were four points clear, both teams had a game before meeting at Celtic Park.  My worry was that Newco could go into the game knowing that whatever the result, they would still be top of the league.

They could hope of moving well clear at the top, and concerns contained to nothing more than a reduced lead.  A disastrous display in Dingwall combined with a 10-man-inspired Liel Abada winner two hours later turned the psychological tables.  Celtic went top with a win over Newco, an oppertunity they took and never let go.

Celtic and a hardy band of 700 followers go to Ibrox on Monday with a 9-point lead.  Defeat would do little damage to their heavily odds-on favourites status, whereas a win would put them out of sight.  I doubt this game will determine the outcome of the title (on this question, the win at Hibs may be more important), but a win, or even a draw, would be an important determinant in our squad planning for the remainder of the season.

Newco mostly attack down their right, through Tavenier’s overload.  Daizen Maeda was a successful counter to this at Ibrox in April, pushing Tavenier back.  He seems a perfect fit on our left flank.  Jota has been out of the starting line-up recently as he recuperates from illness.  He is our most valuable talent and now fit.  Will he start on the right?  You may think so, but if Ange Postecoglou watches reruns of our recent encounters with Newco he will recall how Abada torments Newco left back Barasic.

The final decision may come down to the fitness of Jota.  He is unlikely to play 90 minutes, I think Abada will get the nod.

With Josip Juranovic certain to return at right back, Ange must decide which two join Callum McGregor in central mid.  Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley are the settled selection, but you have seen Aaron Mooy’s recent influence.  At an away game where Celtic can afford to be patient, a McGregor-Mooy partnership sounds like it could control that crucial area of the field.

Whatever the league table tells you, Newco will be strong and ready for the challenge.  They suffered earlier in the season through injuries, in particular at central defence.  Goldson and Davies are both back and better than those playing there recently.

Barasic and Tavernier have been exposed by successive Celtic teams, so there are areas for us to exploit where they are weak, but their core is robust and twice last spring did well against Celtic.  Jack, Lundstram, Kent and Morelos will let Celtic know they are not on home turf.  This is a battle we will need to win if our devastatingly good forwards are to be given chances.

My greatest fear is a random ball-to-arm inside the Celtic box.  We appear to be in a lawless era of the game, which never bodes well for Celtic.  My random hope is that the Charge against Allan McGregor as a hasbeen is confirmed by a costly error.

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  7. big wavy on

    Blood n snotters first half at Ibrox. Not a game for Mooy. Bring it back to the trio of O’Riley, Hatate & McGregor. I expect them to have someone like Arfield on Callum to stop us building from the back but apart from the mishitting Kent & maybe Sakala’s pace, their team is painfully one paced.

     

     

    They either go for us and get picked off or attempt to play European rope-a-dope.

     

     

    We’re in good form, we’ll be up for it and we’re the superior side. Off days and shocks can happen but expect us to win by a few.

     

     

    HH

  9. Big Jimmy on

    BHOYJOEBELFAST on 30TH DECEMBER 2022 11:31 AM

     

    BURNLEY 78

     

     

     

     

    The 3- 0 game was a Wednesday fixture.

     

    …………

     

    Thanks for clearing that one up.

     

    So it still begs the question will this game v the Huns be the first on a MONDAY since May 1979 when 10 men won the League ?

     

    Welcome to the CELTIC Family TOMOKI…..or TOMMY or TAM ?

     

    HH.

  10. Greenpinata on

    Paul 67,

     

     

    I’m not concerned in the slightest about going to Greyskull. We are the best team in the league, with the best squad and Ange will ensure we turn up.

     

    At times we can attach too much to this fixture. Sure its a Derby game, but it’s only 3 points the exact same as any away game.

     

     

    Personally I would have told the huns to ram their 700 tickets, however I respect the choice of those who want to go.

     

    I hope that the 700 get right behind the team and remember why they are there, its not an IRA singalong.

     

     

    Let’s win on and off the park.

     

     

    HH.

  11. celtic40me on

    I’d have Mooy in as well, in the two games where they matched us last season we couldn’t take the ball under pressure. If they play the same way, which seems likely given that was how Gerrard’s Huns successfully neutered us, Mooy would get the nod ahead of Hatate for me – he didn’t do well when he was ganged up on, Mooy has shown recently for Celtic and in the World Cup how good he is at retaining the ball, and in the most pressurized atmosphere.

     

     

    I’d leave Jota on the bench as well, Maeda must play in this form. Come on after an hour with Hatate.

     

     

    But as ever, Ange knows best.

  12. quadrophenian on

    Just back in from another A-League game and got chatting to two Celtic-tap wearing blokes at half-time break. Talk about six degrees of separation; me and the Old Aloysian faither immediately knew about 4 bhoys in common (tho I went to a no fee secondary), including the Eden Mill founder who was an Eaglesham boy. But the chance meet in the middle of Melb shows the old Celtic connections are super tight.

     

     

    BURNLEY78 – re St Joes and Tommy Tomasso – I’m guessing you were 1/2 years older than me as I started there in 67. You’da been ages w Corrigan, McWhirter and mibby Gerry Sharkey?

     

     

    And while I welcome our new bhoy Tomoki; if it disnae quite work out, I’ll forgive it and put it down to being just Iwata under the bridge. I’ll get my coat…

  13. Hot Smoked on

    “GREENPINATA on 30TH DECEMBER 2022 12:21 PM

     

    Paul 67,

     

    I’m not concerned in the slightest about going to Greyskull. We are the best team in the league, with the best squad and Ange will ensure we turn up.

     

     

    Personally I would have told the huns to ram their 700 tickets, however I respect the choice of those who want to go.

     

    I hope that the 700 get right behind the team and remember why they are there, its not an IRA singalong.

     

    Let’s win on and off the park.”

     

     

     

     

    `I’m not concerned in the slightest about going to Greyskull. We are the best team in the league, with the best squad and Ange will ensure we turn up.`

     

     

    I agree we are the best but I am still concerned :-)

     

     

    `At times we can attach too much to this fixture. Sure its a Derby game, but it’s only 3 points the exact same as any away game.`

     

     

    I can`t agree that this game is not `different`.The bias in Scotland where us and them are concerned makes this a VERY different game for me;

     

     

    `Personally I would have told the huns to ram their 700 tickets`

     

     

    As would I ;

     

     

    ` its not an IRA singalong.

     

    Let’s win on and off the park.” `

     

     

    Again, I agree.

  14. Scaniel on

    The Blogger formerly known as The Green Man at 11:40.

     

    Sorry I missed your post earlier. Beginning to ease off now but yellow warning for rain still in place. We’re in Dunscore. Haven’t heard about Kirkudbright, but daughter had to take three different roads to get to Castle Douglas as usual routes were flooded. Just received a delivery of logs from Sanquhar and driver said worst he’s seen. Phoned daughter just now and she says main roads ok now. Hope you’re ok.

     

    End of traffic report.

  15. celtic40me on

    Really going for it in the East Asian market, 6 Japanese players in, serious bids in for 2 South Koreans according to Twitter

     

     

    Japan ≠ South Korea but if we can get the same hit rate from our new players as we have had from Hatate (clear poty in Jobo’s table) Kyogo (first choice striker and top scorer) and World Cup star and recent match winner Maeda we’ll have an oustanding squad with the sort of depth we’ve never seen before, for a minimal outlay on transfer fees and, more importantly these days, wages.

     

     

    It will also mean we’ll have younger players coming through to take the place of the players who will be sold while they can still command a decent transfer fee – transfer fees to the epl fall off a cliff from any league other than the top 5 once a player hits 26

     

     

    Some very progressive thinking going on at all levels at Celtic.

  16. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    BIG JIMMY @ 12.18

     

    Almost certain we played them at Celtic Park early 80s nil- nil outcome on a Monday night.

  18. quadrophenian on

    Agree it’s a grand thing we’re bringing in so many good value additions to the playing squad.

     

    The backline options now look rich enough.

     

    A meringue, tho, in thinking our midfield stocks are getting a bit bloated? Callum, Mooy, Reo, Turnbull, Iwata, McCarthy, O’Riley… (and i’m presuming Guchi and Robbo are goners…?)

     

    And while our current strikers sure do the biz for the domestos league, isn’t it the Euro cups where we still need to make some real quality striking additions ?

     

     

    Only a fool would predict the outcome of the hun game: 2-0 to us. HH

  20. Greenpinata on

    Celtic40ME et al.

     

     

    Reo Hatate may well end up as player of the year in many forums, However the one player we really need and desperately miss when he’s not there is Cameron Carter Vickers.

     

     

    I bet I was not the only one watching on Wednesday urging Ange to take him off.

     

     

    HH

  21. An Dún on

    You’re bigging up a very average opponent, P67. Which is OK, no harm in it I suppose.

     

     

    For my money, if we’re anywhere near the levels we like to think to we are then Monday should be bread and butter for us.

     

     

    Kent, Morelos, Jack, Arfield wouldn’t make our team. They’ve been shown up in europe this season. They’re a poor side.

     

     

    Win and win well, Celtic.

  23. celtic40me on

    GREENPINATA on 30TH DECEMBER 2022 12:56 PM

     

     

    Agreed, and I think he looks a better player since he’s come back from the World Cup.

  25. glendalystonsils on

    Paul67

     

    I think the current side is as capable as any I can remember of taking 3 points from Ibrox . However I agree on your point about the danger from the huns/MIB ‘partnership’ fallback contingency of random handball penalties . Lawless is an excellent way to describe it , just like the wild west town that doesn’t yet have a sheriff there is no accountability for the lawless . Scottish football was lawless before VAR but now much more so . If the MIB on the park doesn’t get you , the MIB with the screen will and Timmy can lump it .

     

     

    I think we’ll beat all 14 of them though , 3-1 to the Celts .

  26. PeterLatchfordsBelly on

    They will be strong. It’s all or nothing for them. We can’t afford to be overconfident. The ref will give them one game changing decision – I suspect a soft red card quite early. Ange has great options for starting 11 and impact subs. We are the much better team, but I’d still be delighted with the draw.

  27. Big Jimmy on

    BHOYJOEBELFAST on 30TH DECEMBER 2022 12:52 PM

     

    BIG JIMMY

     

     

     

     

    We drew nil- nil March 1983,game televised live…..Wednesday night.

     

    …………….

     

    Cheers Mate.

     

    I can put my question to bed now.

     

    LOL

     

    HH

  29. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Sevco game is still several days away so filing it away in my head.

     

     

    Delighted by the Iwata signing (NEVER having seen him play).

     

     

    By my admittedly fag packet arithmetic (excluding Kyogo) we’ve signed 5 Japanese players for not much more than £7m.

     

     

    Japan is, currently, a better footballing nation that Scotland – World Cup proved it.

     

     

    Ange knows Japan.

     

     

    Acquiring “squad foundation pieces” (am being slightly pejorative here) at relatively low risk, low cost is essential.

     

     

    Frees up cash to sign players of CCV & Jota quality.

     

     

    Japanese market clearly safer and cheaper than going after assorted Scottish puddings who, upon hitting a purple patch, automatically fall into the £1m to £4m bracket.

     

     

    Or worst still – a bang average foreign or English journeyman who looks good in their company in the SPFL.

     

     

    Totally unrelated 😉 – have Sevco sold Glenn Kamara for gazillions yet?

  30. Big Jimmy on

    I am ALWAYS concerned when we play the Huns as the Officials are usually up too no good….and now we have VAR.

     

    This is the Huns last chance in reality to win and get closer to Celtic, THEMS and the Officials will be doing their upmost to make sure that happens.

     

    However, IF Celtic ” Turn Up” I am reasonably confident that the Bhoys can take the Officials ” OUT of the Game” ?

     

    Fingers crossed, and my Bets are ON.

     

    HH

  33. KINGLUBO on

    Don’t think I have ever been more confident before a game with the bigots.

     

    Even when we play against their 14 players and VAR I expect a good win.

     

    They always come flying out for the first wee while until we get them sussed and then on to heaven.

     

    Predict a 4 -1 to the good guys. You heard it here first

     

     

    KINGLuBO

  34. petec on

    Paul67,

     

     

    Ange, Celtic, and all involved, has made the Derby game exciting but not Crucial.

     

     

    10 points ahead.

     

     

    VAR do your Worst.

  38. Turkeybhoy on

    Nothing to fear on Monday.Not anywhere near us.And they know it.Hence the amount of bravado chattering from Beale and his players.

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