You and I often discuss that teams learn lessons from failure; less so from victories. So it was after the League Cup Final in December. Celtic took home the trophy after a penalty kick decider, but whatever plans we had to control events were thoroughly subverted.
Two weeks later, Celtic went to Ibrox with no learning whatsoever from that final. Philippe Clement, who was deep in job-losing form at the time, bossed the battle. It was a chastening experience, one which remains in the memory ahead of Sunday’s game. We need to learn lessons, not only when they are obvious (Dortmund), but also when they are hidden by a result.
No less than Jose Mourinho got it wrong against Alloa’s 11th best manager of the 21st century. This Newco team remain dangerous, they have the muscle memory from their last two games against Celtic and have a sense of grievance over the loss in December. Celtic will need be far better prepared than the last twice we faced them. We will be allowed lots of the ball but will be subject to synchronised presses.
Newco will defend their box, play on the counter and largely live of misplaced passes as Celtic try to build. Whenever they get into the Celtic penalty area, they will crumble to the deck. A grab of a jersey will be magnified (looking at you, Auston) and there will be plenty left on each challenge. In possession, their most potent player is Cerny. Jeffrey Schlupp and Trusty will have the job of showing him down the line. His fondness for cutting inside is almost compulsive.
Your confidence will be fortified by Celtic’s attacking options. Daizen Maeda has thrived against Newco since before his recent run of free scoring form. Newco have no answer to his speed and power. When playing on the left, they doubled up on him, as does every other Scottish club.
Memories of Jota against Newco from his first spell in Glasgow, his goals and the way he controlled play, remain vivid. What’s your favourite, the Scottish Cup semifinal headed goal, the goal when he rounded Allan McGregor and rolled the ball into the empty net, or the deft control and lob over keeper Jon McLaughlin? Your other memory of Jota in these games was how Newco doubled up against the Portuguese winger.
What Newco could not cope with in this season’s League Cup Final was the dribbling of Nicolas Kuhn. The German was Celtic’s fulcrum on the right, scoring what should have been a late winner. Nicolas went into that game favourite for the Player of the Year award; Newco doubled up on him in an attempt to inhibit his craft.
There is a theme to how Newco defend against Maeda, Jota and Kuhn; they double up against each of them, but they have never faced all three in the same game. I am looking forward to seeing how this plays out. Celtic need to move the ball quickly to drag opponents across the field. This will result in misplaced passes; live with it. Passes reach their destination 100% of the time when you slow things down; that outcome would be a poor indicator of our play. This is particularly true of Reo Hatate, he needs our support to misplace the odd one when trying to expose a defensive stucture.
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Heart Of Midlothian
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Sat 29 March 2025, 15:00• Celtic Park
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Somebody will post the Green Brigade don’t speak for me
Favourite Uncle.
Thanks for the tip,I know nothing about horses. This gives me an interest today. Stuck a tenner on each way at 11/1 with Unibet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE69g0a94Lg
For our younger viewers, this chant came from protesters at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago 1968…
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM @ 12:24 PM,
Well, we will see what he says in today’s presser but I’d be surprised if Brendan Rodgers see’s this as a very important game.
Outside our next game is the most important, mindset.
The lessons learnt narrative is nonsense to my way of thinking, the new years game was an outlier and Brendan Rodgers looks for continuous improvement in his teams, we have seen that happening over the 20 months since he returned to Parkhead.
Last game against, R2ngers…
Starting XI: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Bernardo, Hatate, Kuhn, Maeda, Kyogo
Subs: Sinisalo, Trusty, Palma, Idah, Valle, Yang, McCowan, Engels, Ralston
Last Game, against Hibs…
Starting XI:: Schmeichel, Schlupp, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Johnston, Hatate, McGregor (C), Engels, Jota, Kühn, Maeda
Subs: Sinisalo, Taylor, Idah, Yang, McCowan, Kenny, Murray, Ralston
Quite similar, yet our newbies such as Engels and Trusty have bedded in, we have Jota and Schlupp from the January window – so four changes.
Yet each a significant mprovement.
Brendan Rodgers record against the Ibrox team is second to none, the result of the game won’t have any significance on who wins the League.
We have the small matter of a Cup semi-final which is a much more important game coming up.
Hail Hail
CHAIRBHOY on 14TH MARCH 2025 1:46 PM
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Measured post CSC
Aff oot CSC
Weebobbycollins on 14th March 2025 11:09 am
Celebrations I shall remember…Pedro Caixinha at Firhill…Phillipe Clement after a 3-3 victory at Ibrox…Barry Ferguson and his staff and players after losing 2-0 at ibrox…
Booby, was scrolling back over last blog and came across your comment (above). Excellent stuff!!
Ave Ave
Chairbhoy – I really hope it was an outlier.
We’ll know by 2.30pm on Sunday👍
BOONDOCK SAINT
Was asked thae question in the Irish club regarding the union jack…..didn’t know the answer …still don’t.
thae=the
So,while they welcome 3000 scum on Sunday,regaling us with sectarian bigotry,and vile abuse for 90 minutes,we manage to deprive our own fans of a Tifo display.Might offend some !!!!!!!!!.
Someone needs to put a rocket right up the arses of our Board.
The disgust me.
Some nonsense on here.”We have more important game coming up,semi final”.Eh ?.
Try telling that to BR and the team.Sometimes I out know what planet people live on.
” Might be a gamble playing Kuhn and Jota”FFS,utter bollox.
Right intae them Hoops.A right good humping a bit overdue.
the segregation nets were used in one of the european matches before.
timhorton on 14th March 2025 2:23 pm
BOONDOCK SAINT
Was asked thae question in the Irish club regarding the union jack…..didn’t know the answer …still don’t.
———————
the culloden union jack has been prominent at rangers games for years,
when first seen it was pillioried from many tims and nationaists as cekebrating the battle,
in turn though their blogs simply stated that it is owned by a supporter who happens to come from cullodenand there are several other placenames that could be misconstrued similarly.
the waffen ss one bothers me more.
and banning the gb freedom to express themselves via the medium of banners, now that does bother me.
i am sure sundays would be memorable to welcome our visitors,
i wonder what it was.
Saint StIVs
I saw that Waffen SS one and showed it to my class in my WWII studies so I could keep spreading the word as to how deluded and thick they are. Celebrating Armed forces and the people that murdered them and innocents in a past war….WTF is wrong with them or the people that sit near them and do nothing!!!
Bhoyjoebelfast on 14th March 2025 9:22 am
“As we go about our business in a quiet and dignified manner”
……….
How can we dignified when the vast Majority of Timdom supports a PLC who went along with the criminal fradulent £49 ticket cover up when Sevco got promoted and quickly became Rangers again?
Check he Same Club Lie priced £49 – 2012 = £49 – 2016 after Sevco’s promotion = Timdom is fool of daft arses who were HAD by the PLC to keep Old Firm games alive!
HAD by Salmond ad Ugly-Hun krankie for 17 fkn years votes for Hun-Ugly Tranny degenerates, and then demands the Witch Hunting of posters who refuse to listen to a single word that is spoken from the horrible mouths of 100% lying Fake Media or election rigged Politicians, or any other Vaxxeenn Genocide Guff spewers?!
The Timmy Ghood guys with unbreakable dignity have all been banned from some slithering Cellik blogs, leaving dumb dimm and daft arsed dimmy suck ups to fill the void.
A Timdom that wee Bawwy could topple coz he isny feart to change the script, as opposed to Celliks tippy tappy braindrain mega head nipper.
No wonder Khun’s face is always tripping him.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 12TH MARCH 2025 3:23 PM
AN DÚN on 12TH MARCH 2025 3:09 PM
MAJESTIC HARTSON on 14TH MARCH 2025 11:23 AM
There was a game fairly recently against der huns where we had at least an extra day rest – potentially more. I also think they were playing away from home in Europe on the Thursday. But come the Sunday we were the team that looked like we had played less than 72 hours before. I think we ended up drawing the game but we were poor that day.
*This has been central in my mind since last night, might have been during slippy’s time in charge, it always seemed suspicious since there are no illegal or even legal substances being tested in Scottish football.
Paul 67 would make some manager, maybe assisted by B78 ?
7
Do any Florida Bhoys know a bar that might be showing the game on Sunday in the Port St Joe area? A few miles East of Panama City.
“ No wonder Nicolas Kuhn’s face is always tripping him “
😂😂😂😂
Brendan Presser
https://youtu.be/xBuha5dD9q8?si=CqmbC7bZUxyIV681
Calum presser
https://youtu.be/qZqpGwCwbTg?si=40yfpPOkVEgeNzrR
HH
Schlupp will take care of Cerny
Essential info for supporters attending Sunday’s Glasgow derby (Mar 16, KO 12:30pm):
https://tx.vc/u/4S0p1/2BFn2r/7SSsTwl
Opt-out txt CELTICSTOP to 60777
Afternoon Celts,
Essential info for supporters attending Sunday’s Glasgow derby (Mar 16, KO 12:30pm):
https://tx.vc/u/4S0p1/2BFn2r/7SSnJph
########
Essential, wear Green, sing loud and proud. Don’t worry be happy.
🇳🇬
MNCelt – do the bars open that early?
https://x.com/celticgifs/status/1900517279038607537?s=46
A wee appetizer for Sunday
SS & BOONDOCK
Thank you.
Astute breakdown paul67
I’m not too confident about Sunday – if we go out with a plan to counter their strengths , we’ll easily win, if we don’t it’ll be very close.
TBB- they do in some places for the games but there seems to be nothing here. Looks like I’ll be on the laptop trying not to wake Mrs MN.
Expecting to win this one comfortably
MNCelt, I expect you’ll be unsuccessful in your attempt not to wake the missus 😂
!!Bada Bing!! on 14th March 2025 4:31 pm
https://x.com/celticgifs/status/1900517279038607537?s=46
A wee appetizer for Sunday
Bada, soopperbbb!!! Every one a beauty.
Ave Ave
i see the netting was in place between the turkish and the bears, that at least avoids missles flying across, but what about stuff thrown on the pitch ?
fener goalkeeper hit with something.
some amount of damage to the seats as well, that is what celtic park away will look like.
they are coming to be as disruptive as they possibly can. they are to gather emirates east side and springfield road for 10am. for escort and in park at 10:30, there is no chance of that going off without incidents.
london road access for celtic fans will be closed at that time.
carnage letting them back in.
as an aside , will hampden put up segregatin netting as well ?
all the cup games there in recent memory have had trouble outside and in the city centre.
oh, and lower duke street at the colledge onion pears gathering spot.
Exclusive Interview | Jota on the Glasgow Derby (12/03/25)
unleash the portugese superstar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JR166j0Wj8&t=4s
did fenerbache deserve a pen in the first half ? Bhoy in work was convinced