After last weekend’s disappointment, the players need to put a good, solid, performance. Neil Lennon will welcome the opportunity to dispel any regrets as he faces Ally McCoist for the third time as manager.
Celtic fell apart at Ibrox on their visit in September. A halftime lead evaporated, we lost four goals as Rangers hit the woodwork and missed other glorious chances. It was as complete a capitulation as I remember from a Celtic team.
You can forget any nonsense you hear about this being a young Rangers team, man-for-man they are certain to be older than the (genuinely) young Celtic team they will face. You can also write-off recent poor results; on Sunday they will elbow, kick, push, elbow, block, chase and elbow in an attempt to put our key players off their game or provoke retaliation from our easily provoked’.
Those given the honour to wear a Celtic shirt on Sunday must rampage around Ibrox as though they owned the very tuft they tread upon, as though they were taxpayers legitimately claiming their dues. Each green blade of grass is theirs, secured court order as custodians of Rangers have failed to pass on monies collected that should now be paying for health, education and other services.
Only once in history have we won the league at Ibrox, in May 1967, coincidentally a few hours after I was born. Jimmy Johnstone scored both Celtic’s goals, the second, a thundering left foot strike into the top corner.
The first time I met Jimmy I told him I was born that day and he talked me through the game, which he remembered well. The Ibrox pitch was wet and heavy, as was the ball. Jimmy found the going tough and tired in the second half, all the players did. With 16 minutes remaining Jimmy peeled off his marker to collect the ball from a throw-in. He ran in-field until he could sense space closing in on him. There was one defender at his back and one in front of him, although he told me he felt they were zoning-in from all angles.
His shot from the edge of the D passed inches below the crossbar into the net. Jimmy told me, “My legs were empty, I couldn’t have run any further so just hit [the ball]as hard as I could”.
Typical Jinky understatement. It was an exquisite strike, born of not just outstanding technique on his weaker foot, but from having oceans of reserve to plunder when everyone else is done. This was the most beautiful goal crafted from sheer effort and the will to win.
I wish he was there on Sunday.
198 Comments- Pages:
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Oglach,
swap McCourt for Ki (invisible in games like this)
Wilson for Cha (prone to headrush)
you’ll have players who will fight for everything
great piece Paul
According the Daily Record, Hugh Dallas would love to be the referee on Sunday.
I’ll bet you would, Hugh. (thumbsup)
Paul67
continentally ? que .Where you born in Lisbon?
Bobby Murdoch
“You can’t handle the truth!”
Seriously, I would like to think you are right, but I am reading the runes, when I should be reading about the ruin! Hope I am wrong of course.
Paul67
Beg your pardon, the rest was top notch.
Hail hail
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS – Me? I’m just a backroom bhoy. (thumbsup)
paul 67
The way the players behaved at the end of that match in 1967 was impeccable. Celtic in victory (in the league) and Rangers in defeat. The handshakes were warm and meaningful. Compare that to the behaviour of the victors in 1999.
Anyone looking their afternoon cheered up? If you have Twitter then follow @CelticTaxcase He’s on a one man mission to either embarrassed himself badly or wind up the Huns big time. I’m almost sure it’s a parody account, but part of me hopes it not.
HAMILTON TIM 1337
My Dad would never say such a thing to me. It was simply understood!
He had one over me,I would never see it-telly disnae coont-and to be honest,he deserves the lifelong smirk.
As did yer own Dad.
Because there were a fair few years of famine before they saw success,they stood by the club,and when it came,they DESERVED it.
Hail,Hail tae the auld yins……..
My dad saw most of the greats including Jimmy McGrory, Jinky and Kenny (sadly he passed away before the arrival of Henrik) but he still insisted that Patsy Gallagher was ‘peerless’. He must have been one hell of a player. My dad also insisted that Malcolm McDonald was a true great.
My top Celtic goals against ‘Them’
1. Henrik’s chip in 6-2 rout.
2. Shunsuke Nakamura in 2-1 game at CP.
3. Shaun Maloney rocket in 2-0 game at CP
4. Joe Craig in 1-0 victory at Ibrox
5. Henrik’s chip in 3-1 League Cup semi final victory at Hampden
6. George Connolly’s goal in 4-0 Scottish Cup Final victory at Hampden
7. Alan Thomson rocket in 1-0 victory at CP.
8. Bobby Murdoch goal in 5-1 victory at Celtic Park in 1966
9. Murdo MacLeod goal in 4-2 League clincher at CP (1978?)
10. Alan Thomson’s dribble and swerved daisy cutter at Ibrox in 2-0 League win.
Some great moments and sublime moments. Apologies for any great goals I’ve overlooked.
Hail! Hail!
Forster
Cha-Rogne-Wanyama-Mulgrew
Commons-Brown-Ki-Ledley-Samaras
Stokes
celt55 – That was a different generation and, in some ways, a better one. (thumbsup)
Two changes from one game to the next is about the max I’d contemplate at this stage of the season.
On that basis, with Forrest and Hoops injury doubts, it would be Samaras and Ki in as replacements for me and the other 9 as they were last Sunday.
One of the best at ibrox was 1988 McStay & Walker to more or less clinch the League.
Brilliant day, even if I was covered in the spit coming from above me… :)
cabbageandbacon on 23 March, 2012 at 13:54 said:
Anyone looking their afternoon cheered up? If you have Twitter then follow @CelticTaxcase He’s on a one man mission to either embarrassed himself badly or wind up the Huns big time. I’m almost sure it’s a parody account, but part of me hopes it not.
“Regular readers of the blog will know all about my expose on Dermot Desmonds dealings with former Irish Taoiseach Charles Haughey and the well documented Moriarty Tribunal”
Deffo a wind-up – and anyway, it’s the Mahon Tribunal – nor Moriarty Tribunal
Imagine if a pound coin is thrown onto the pitch at Ipox on Sunday.
Police will be in a quandry to decide whether it’s a missile or a last-minute takeover bid.
TFPLG will deploy wattennacio tactics on sunday. 4-5-1, defensive, play long diagonals to Lafferty who’ll try to get himself isolated with Matthews, Davis and Aluko pressing up looking for knock downs.
McGregor
Whittaker Goian Bocanegra Papac
Aluko Davis Elbows Edu Wallace
Laughatme
We must put out a team that can match them physically, maintain possession when we have it and have the players on the bench to come on and finish it off once the battle is won.
Logic says play our strongest central defensive pairing (Rogne & Mulgrew) but who plays left back? Ledley? Matthews? In which case who plays right back, Lustig or Cha? Or do we go with Wilson again and keep Mulgrew at left back.
I’d go with
—————–Forster—————-
Matthews Rogne Mulgrew Ledley
—–Brown—Wanyama–Ki——–
Commons——————Samaras
—————Hooper——————-
Subs Forrest, Stokes, Brozek, Wilson, Izzaguirre, McGeoch, Zaluska
Let Sammi injured run at the less than 100% Whittaker (Aluko won’t track back).
glasgowghirl – Sherlock Holmes is a Tim. (thumbsup)
should read:
Let Sammi run at the less than 100% Whittaker (Aluko won’t track back).
Blogs ,magazines ,telly and now this ,is there no end to the mhan’s
talent?
3-51324 Lexicon Lad (IRE) 36 7 11-9 t T R George jockey P J Brennan 121 6/1
Paul67.
You should do the team talk, great piece.
HH!
Tamrabam,
my personal favourite Ibrokes game (and in my Top 3 all-time favourite celtic games) was during the Henrik+Lubo era, coincidentally both made huge impacts on that game – Lubo with his genius and 2 goals, Henrik with his 50th of the season as we slaughtered them 3-0 (all 3 goals coming down at us in the broomloan).
The atmosphere was superb from before KO as we already had the Title in the bag.
Cant remember hearing them much, if at all.
This Sunday’s game has me in a quandary however.
Obviously I wants us to win and win convincingly, but, due to work committments I will be out in Singapore on Sunday (for a 9am meeting Mon morning on shell refinery) so whilst i will be able to see the game and enjoy it with the SingTims, I will not be able to fully celebrate in the style that winning the Title (indeed just winning at ibrokes) deserves.
With that in mind, i selfishly, would not be averse to murderwell beating Killie, thereby meaning we will just have to wait to the following week to win the Title at Celtic Park – this time with me, and more importantly, my bhoy, in attendance.
Nothing better than watching us lift the Title at home with close to 60,000 Celts in full jubilant voice. It would be my son’s first time being a part of that jubilation and joy into the bargain.
But beating them at Ipox, and winning the Title there too, to give it a massive GIRUY, (not to mention revenge for 99) is possibly just too much to deny…….
Either way I will of course be delighted
:-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Paul67,
It was reported at the time that the Rangers manager instructed his players that if Jinky cut inside, not to tackle him, as he would always spin back on to his right got.
Original Sadies…..,
My dad’s old mate, who saw all from
Patsy to Lenny, thought that Gallagherwas the best of them all.
My father used to rave about Malcolm MacDonald.
CELTIC MAC 1351
I think the board have played this well so far,as a whole,but PL to me is a loose cannon.
IMO,he has scant regard for the wishes of the fans-and that may be a good thing a lot of the time,because let’s face it,few of us could run a multimillion business in a hostile environment.
But……..
Well,he comes out with some poorly-judged(and poorly-timed)comments,which certainly do him no favours in my eyes.
I’m willing to be wrong,and to be honest,I hope to be wrong.
BUT…
voguepunter – I think Paul67 should have his own talk show, like Larry Sanders.
Cadizzy could be his Hank Kingsley. (thumbsup)
Here is an image posted by @CelticTaxCase and in his/her ‘RecentMedia’ stream.
http://t.co/QCBy7rAH
Check the tabs…
My team and then what I THINK NFL’s team will be..
Forster
Matthews,rogne,Mulgrew,ledley
Broony,vic,ki,commons,Sammy
Stokes
Forster
Matthews,rogne,Wilson,Mulgrew
Broony,vic,ki,ledley,Sammy
Hooper(if fit,then Stokesy)
Both teams should be more than equipped to deal with them. THEY ARE GASH, up for it or not.
IMO obviously
Brimmer
Árd Macha, thanks. Great memories from that meeting with Jinky. More another time.
Gerrys son, that’s the attitude to have.
jude2005, times move fast.
rt rev david hay, true.
ohits, sure can, if it comes.
ASonOfDan, hope so.
Highland Tim, cheers to that!
hamiltontim, I’m sure he will be.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP, OK then.
Richie, aye.
Celtic Mac, that’s correct, none of the nine-in-a-row were won at Celtic Park.
Art of War, aye.
McNair is the greatest, I’ll check that out.
whitedoghunch, thanks.
voguepunter, no, Bellshill.
celt55, indeed.
philvisreturns on 23 March, 2012 at 14:05 said:
Cadizzy? can’t place the ghuy.
Hail hail
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 23 March, 2012 at 13:56 said:
My dad saw most of the greats including Jimmy McGrory, Jinky and Kenny (sadly he passed away before the arrival of Henrik) but he still insisted that Patsy Gallagher was ‘peerless’. He must have been one hell of a player. My dad also insisted that Malcolm McDonald was a true great.
My top Celtic goals against ‘Them’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I saw most of them,but my favourite was the one that put us in front with minutes to go in “the 4-2 game” in 1979
I know it was a fairly straightforward header,and only a few yards out,but nevertheless…
STEP FORWARD,COLIN JACKSON!
Cometh the hour,etc……….
Hamilton Tim @ 13 37—–
One of the few good things about being an old git is that when it comes to historical events like winning the League at Ibrox ,courtesy of a brammer of a goal from Jinky, I can say —– I was there . [ with my father and young brother] . Great -unforgettable.
We went to a party in Rose Street , Garnethill , directly after the game. We walked there from Ibrox. I have fond memories of my father dancing to Prince Buster tunes. .-
Ska -voo -vee CSC -way down south.
Today will be the start of the Huns wriggling out of there debt.
Kayal – I like your team but I’d choose Stokes in front of Hooper. Just an opinion of course, but I think Stokes is playing better at the moment and I also think he has begun to be a harder worker off the ball than Hooper.
I thought I ouldn’t be as worried this time out given all the trouble they are having, but it’s only friday and every time I think of it I am getting wound up.
Hate these games until they are finished and we have won.
Every away game is hard. Rangers still have the second best squad in the land. Aberdeen have held us and Killie beaten us in recent weeks. It can happen. we have no divine right to win, so I hope to God that the League Cup defeat served as a proper warning.
It’s been nice and quiet from our Bhoys this week. I hope it stays that way – sign of focus. This could be Neil’s equivalent of MON’s 3-0 game where Celtic simply needed to prove they could win at Ibrox (Sure Neil has already done so??? Am I right?)
Likewise they have been quiet too. Their last big game of the season – they will want to go out with a bang. They will want to show their fans that they share in their troglodyte tendencies. They may even have notions of reducing our league lead to less than 10 points so they can claim moral victory at the end of the season (not a chance by the way) They may want to beat us more often than we beat them for the same reason – ‘we won the head to heads therefore we’re morally champions (as opposed to morally bankrupt)!
Effort, discipline and a wee bit of guile. That’s the key. But football is a fickle thing.
I will make no predictions and between now and then I think I’ll give myself a break from it.
You got to hand it to the CelticTaxCase blogger. Really well scripted. comedy gold.
I asked Declan if it was him, but he’s beside himself in myrrh.
voguepunter – Cadizzy? can’t place the ghuy.
You ever feel the prickly things on the back of your neck?
And the tiny hairs on your arm, you know when they stand up?
That’s Cadizzy.
When he gets mad… it gets cold. (thumbsup)
brimmer on 23 March, 2012 at 14:06 said:
Brimmer, I agree with your team but don’t see how you think NFL will stick with Wilson!
He couldn’t handle the occasion against thems last time and he was badly at fault last Sunday. I’m sure the manager will do the lad – and us – a favour and drop him to the bench.
HH
Ps. I think i know a mate of yours who shares his surname with a famous fitba manager!
Just seen that wee willie video ‘we are rangers’. I had no idea he did it on a kids keyboard and was surrounded by teddies.
I wonder what register he is on…