Newco confident, with some reason, but Brendan has the aces

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“Feeling more confident than any time in the last five years” was the sentiment expressed to me by a Newco fan this morning. And with some reason. They have gone two months without defeat, while Celtic’s blistering runs of successive wins stopped; we’ve won three and drawn three of our last six.

Reasons for any marked change in results are usually varied. With the league won, Celtic rested players, while others were injured. Opponents have also paid attention to their Scott Sinclair Problem. Stop Scott getting the ball and you inhibit Celtic’s most potent danger.

You also have to factor in the reality that Brendan Rodgers has given 52 competitive pre-match team talks. There are only so many times you can vocabularise your rallying call before its effects diminish.

The contrast in the other Hampden dressing room will be stark. Brother Pedro’s accent will still appear fresh to his players, never mind his message. His tactical talks and implorations of effort will seem innovative, whether they are or not. For these reasons, and more, Newco players will fear nothing on Sunday.

This game will be more straightforward that Ross County last week. We know Newco are there to win, to knock us out of the cup, stop our Invincibility Quest and reach their second major cup final. We’ll not face 10 men behind the ball.

Having said all of this, you and me will both be stunned if Celtic don’t prevail. We have the better players, the better manager, we’ve faced many and varied challenges this season and come through impressively.

Dembele, Griffiths and Rogic are back and available. The manager has choices on who to play, and options to change the game, or freshen things up later.

That same Newco fan this morning accused me of selective memory, with good reason, when I said I couldn’t remember Ugo Ehiogu playing for Rangers. It was no less alarming to hear a fit and active man of 44 died so suddenly. Condolences to his loved ones. There but……….

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691 Comments

  1. MIT.

     

    Apologies for late relpy, I fell asleep. Hopefully you will scroll back later.

     

    Thank you for puting Sam up.

     

    I will see if I can find time to seek it out.

     

    I read Malcolm X biography, it was a cracking read, especially how he changed his life around from being a druggie to playing a huge part in the black power/ civil rights movement.

     

    I was once at one of those conference things, when you the audience of several hundred where asked to put their hand up and say who their hero was. I was getting narked as people were saying all the boring answers Gandhi, Mandela, Martin Luther King,etc I bet you could rhyme them all off, anyway I decided to put my hand up and say Malcolm X. Let’s just say it kicked the conference off.

     

    Hail Hail

  2. Good Morning from Denia – sun’s up and breakfast is on the stove.

     

    I have 22 cyclists to take on a 140 km training ride today and will know nothing of the game until it’s all over – hope my post-ride recovery drink is a sweet one!

     

    Come on the Celts, wipe the floor with them!

  3. Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on

    Bit of help in Dubai, thinking of heading over to the dubliner to take in the game in Tim company, can’t remember the name of hotel it’s attached to ?

  4. Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on

    Cheers pog, was lazy of me, a quick google search and sorted.

     

    I’ll be the handsome one with the celtic tee-shirt on, there that should sort that out except I’ll be only one of the handsome ones with the celtic tee-shirts :)

     

    Hail hail

  5. Good morning CQN from a cool, clear and still dry East Devon.

     

    Let’s give this lot a right good pumping today.

     

    Get intae them Celtic. Hail! Hail!

  6. Hail Hail to the Famous Glasgow Celtic, getting picked up at 0815 with the Tyneside Celtic Bhoys, Come on the Hoops

  7. Hi Calanamar,

     

     

    On plane from Perth, hope to see game in Dubai if there are no delays at airport. Might see you in Dubliner. I was going to head for McGettigans, but good to meet a fellow Cqn.

     

     

    lennybhoy, seen email from our fellow Cqn who was out of touch, will respond when I have good wifi. visited Freemantle prison and seen the Wild Geese monument in Rotherham where the Catalpa Fenians escaped from the prison to U.S. The captain of the whale boat was a Quaker with no connection . Interesting as in 1913, Bulmer Hobson, another Quaker financed the guns that the Asgard brought to Howth in 1914 that led to the 1916 Rising.

     

     

    Catalpa was Oneof the all time great prison escapes. There are several songs written about the Catalpa escape. To this day, the song is banned in Western Australia.

     

     

    Hope we get a result today if so will be over for final. KTF

     

    Cathach

  8. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan on

    Canamalar

     

     

    How come you are watching the game? Everyone else I know in Dubai is working today ya big shirker? lol

  9. Been up since 4.45.

     

    What is it about this crazy club that makes me have sleepless nights?

     

    Bus leaves at 9.45.

     

    Fry up on.

     

    Bacon, Square, tattie scone ,fried egg, fried tomatoes & black pudding.

     

    Washed down by a wee bottle of Stella.

     

     

     

    Bootiful.

     

     

    HH & here’s to a skelping win!

  10. Good morning friends from, like yesterday, a gloriously bright and beautiful, mostly clear skied, sunny amd glorious East Kilbride.

     

     

    No more sleeps. Today, we will rwjoice and be glad in it.

  11. Help anyone, pub in Cleland showing the game ? Boy playing football in the area, hope to catch second half.

  12. prestonpans bhoys on

    Burgh,

     

     

    Like you healthy breakfast but not allowed the booze, doctors orders :0(

     

     

    But 45 minutes before the bus and off to a victory :0)

  13. Ticketbus, Kelly’s Barry, you should find a few friendly faces in there.

     

     

    Enjoy!!

     

     

    Fuzzy – Grant Lee Buffalo

  14. Cathach,

     

     

    I hope you are well. I’ve been working on a project with another CQNer (WeeVincefaeWoking) for a few months on the Catalpa Rescue.

     

    When you get back I’ll mail you some of the material.

     

    It would appear that the Fenian who lead the mission to Fremantle was baptised in Tearmonfeichín, An Lú.

     

     

    If you mail JJBreslinProject@mail.com …I’ll send you a few bits and pieces.

     

     

    Enjoy the match and safe trip back.

     

     

    HH

  15. Call_of_Juarez on

    Ticketbus

     

     

    Kelly’s at the cross will be showing it. You can across from St. Mary’s.

  16. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Burghbhoy 7.58am

     

     

    Enjoy your day, none of that fry up nonsense in ML5 thus morning

     

     

     

    Roasted cheese is our unhealthy breakfast this morning

     

     

    Still trying to decide what Celtic player to jinx, might just leave the bets alone today and just cheer on any Celtic goal, hopefully there will be a few

     

     

    Hail Hail

  17. Hi. Clogher Celt, great to hear from you. Bro and sister both visited the prison when they were there and both were fascinated with the story of escape . It is a great story. I bought the

  18. It’s been a long week and I’m glad it’s over.

     

     

    Time for The Boys to show their class and put to bed any idea that the new team are our rivals in any way on or off the field.

     

     

    Classy Celts to march on undefeated, unrepentant and unbowed..

     

     

    Enjoy yer day/night Worldwide Celtic Family..

     

     

    UTLR

  19. Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on

    Cathach,

     

    Grey tee-shirt with four leaf clover on my breast. Hope you make it.

     

     

    BRTH,

     

    It’s a public holiday, though the mob I’m working for tried to brow beat me into turning up :oD))))

  20. Cathach,

     

     

    Enjoy the game in Dubai. I’ll catch up in Dublin when you get back.

     

     

    Off to the Mass Rock.

     

     

    A safe day to all at the game and all those watching.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    JJBreslinProject@mail.com

  21. Won’t go to Hampden or give the corrupt cheating masonic bastards that are our governing body a penny.

     

     

    For those who are going, stay safe and enjoy the Hunskelping, GIRFUT!

     

     

    Hail Hail