“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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since RC hasn’t checked in yet… how about we start Friday night’s music session with a very young Justin Currie (I think he is about 12 in this video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EijGPsbNylY
When ko comes sun will do my usual routine phone add down Clyde side for a 2 hr walk can’t watch or listen now must be a getting older thing say a wee prayer or two and switch phone back on and hopefully start jumping about like a looney anyways away to watch Corrie. Should say phone off and head down clydeside
Can anyone recommend a bar in or around the Muswell Hill (N10) area that is guaranteed to be showing the Celtic match on Sunday? O’Neill’s looks to be advertising the Tottenham game instead.
Cheers
Mikeybhoy
JNP- thanks mate, i think they will come out kicking from the first whistle, knowing Collum will give them a few freebies, and won’t have the bottle to book them early.HH
Norwich 2 up against Brighton at half time, without having a shot on target. Twice Alex Pritchard has shot for Norwich, twice he’s hit the frame of the goal, twice on the way out the ball has hit the Brighton keeper and rebounded into the net.
2.0 Norwich, two o.gs by The Brighton keeper.
Mikeybhoy- we are midday on Sunday, Arsenal v Man City is 3 pm
GFTB … I am all but dead and buried in GFS ….all I can hope now is that at least I do better than Liam in Toronto!
Gerryfaethebrig.
No luck buddy. I’ve also selected Newcastle.
Bada.
You’re welcome.
You can pretty must assume we will have 3/4 booked, hopefully it won’t be either of those two and everyone will be available for the final, again assuming we make it. #notwantingtotemptfate
Hail Hail
MIT/JNP
I like a wee gamble but last man standing & goals for shay are much more of a laugh, really good fun for a great cause, don’t tell him but am gutted that AoW has had such a great start so like you Mike it’s just the personal battles I face……and the fact I have never taken the Sevs, and am pretty sure I never will…….that’s a cross I will never bear (sic) :-)
Jimmynotpaul
Nae luck to you either as ive picked them as well!
Thought i was sneaking in a wee darkhorse that nobody would be touching right now but it looks like half of cqn may be on them!
Good Evening fholks
Had a few tea time beers with Smashing Milk Bottles and 31003 amongst a few others tonight. Always a pleasure and now trying to behave ( of sorts) as game of 5s early tomorrow morning with Gordon and SFTB amongst many other lurkers.
Best hope is to fall asleep :-)
HH
CRC
Thunder Road / JNP
Newcastle ?
So that’s three fools……..where are the great minds ?
:-)
CRC
On the losing side AGAIN tomorrow by the looks of it! ;)
GFTB …
like you, I could never do anything that supports them (even indirectly, which is why I wont put anymore money into Celtic until our Board stops supporting them…) …
but…
the idea of using the zombies to make money, which can then be given to, for example, CCAS, appeals to me…
turning manure into roses.
GFTB
Tried to get my pick made last night as it sounded like it helped Jobo and CRC out a bit if they were made as early as possible but now i wish id hung back to see who you picked :)
THUNDER ROAD on 21ST APRIL 2017 9:10 PM
CRC
On the losing side AGAIN tomorrow by the looks of it! ;)
————————–
Thursday CQN 5s result was a victory by 4 and 4 scored by yours truly as well :-) Okay we had The Tim Reaper on our side as well :-)
Losing streak gone for a bit
HH
CRC
ps Was Dublin good?
@ barrymcgonigle
GFTB
Another backing the Geordies in GFS this week. Like TR, I thought I would be alone in picking them. :)
CRC
Yay!!!!
Is everybody feart of TheTimReaper now after his posts a few days ago?!
Yeah it was great :)
Managed to meet up with WITS and Almore as well so you can imagine how that ended up!
Thunder Road
A respectable position (and beating AoW) is all I look for in GFS :-)
It is quite funny, I know most pick the favourites but in both competitions so far me & AoW have selected more or less the same teams but never in the one week, I am now actually looking forward to Newcastle 0 Preston 1 (McGeady) so you and JNP can blame me :-)
I would love to see an older and wiser McGeady plying his trade at Celtic Park :-)
DD 9.23pm
Brilliant….. I actually thought between Liverpool & Newcastle but thought the floodlights at St James’s park (hope the apostrophe is in the right place) and NOBODY else will wait till Monday, last few weeks there has only been one GFSer on a Monday, I think there might be a few watching the EPL on Monday :-)
Thanks Bada,
Unfortunately Spurs look to be live at the same time and O’Neill’s is advertising them on their website.
From fixes website:” The visit of Spurs to King Power Stadium will be shown on Sky Sports also and moves to Sunday 23 April (12pm kick-off)”
Celticrollercoster.
You scored 4. Was Smashing milk bottles in goals for the opposition?
Gerryfaethebrig/ Thunder Road/ D.D.
I think a couple of pounds on Preston is an idea.
#foolseldomdiffer
GFTB
It adds a wee interest to MNF this week.
McGeady back in the Hoops? No thanks.
Think we should be looking for someone better than Aidan, great wee player he is.
GFTB
It was quite a tough decision this week and nothing was standing out(to me anyway)
Theres a few teams that i didnt want to pick as i feel they may be better options in later rounds.
Preston have had 3 stuck by them in the last 3 games and as far as i can see their season is over and their players may have downed tools.
Newcastle appear to have missed Dwight Gayle but as he is fit again…..i thought they just might get back to winning ways……until i found out you had picked em!
As for Aiden?
Nah.
Look to tomorrow, not yesterday.
Mikeybhoy 9.34.
Spurs are playing Chelsea at Wembley in the FA Cup semi final this weekend
Hail Hail
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 21ST APRIL 2017 9:35 PM
Celticrollercoster.
You scored 4. Was Smashing milk bottles in goals for the opposition?
———————-
Naw, he retired a couple of years ago, because he couldnae handle the power of the shots he faced :-)
HH
CRC
JNP
A pound scorecast McGeady 1-0 my bet now. :)
Norwich finish 2.0 winners over Brighton without a single shot on target in the whole game. That must be a rare rare occurrence.
It always means Newcastle still have an outside chance of winning the league :-))
Gftb- sorry i couldn’t see your post there from my lofty position in GFS2- :-)))
Just read online there that Newcastle have 6 regulars doubtful for Monday…….
DD 9.36
Totally understand re McGeady…..
Look what Brendan has done with James F who has spent his career in the SPL, Brendan inspired Aidan who has been in Russia, EPL and now championship, who knows ?
I am a dreamer…… I don’t think it will happen, but just from my own view, I would LOVE IT in a Kevin Keegan voice looking forward to Monday night after a wee semifinal on Sunday :-)
Pedro said he would find and exploit celtic’s weakness’s. And there are some ofcourse just like the man said exist in most teams – mind you the rampant Barcelona team did not have many! And the current Juve team dont seem to have many either! So let’s help Pedro as he is new to the scene. I would say that Eric is a weakness and will be replaced in the summer – but he will only be a bench player on Sunday. Boyata will get better but is still hesitant at the back and does not instill confidence – but he gets the job done and an nice a goal with his head! Hopefully a prolonged stay by Kolo will sort out his short-comings! You could say they will pick on Lustig since he can occasionally be caught for pace But his experience will be important on Sunday! Hard to pick a fault with the rest of the players. When it comes to game play we still remain vulnerable at crosses and that for sure is where Pedro will seek to hurt us! His best hope really will be set pieces but even if they do pick up a goal from a set-piece the bhoys should have enough fire-power to score 2 or 3 – prediction 3 – 1 Celtic. HH
Celticrollercoster. 9.38
:-)))))
Good Evening.
Here is something short and new…
“Absolutely Barking”
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/absolutely-barking/
Oops sorry for the heart attacks…article from 2015…lol
Mikeybhoy.
Chelsea v Spurs Sat 17.15 k.o.
Arsenal v Man City Sun 15.00 k.o
That’s the semi final dates and times.
Hail Hail
Brighton – harrumph?
And the Lord said it came to pass…………………..
and Dembele/ Sinclair/ Roberts slotted the ball into the net!
Back to the drawing board for GFS2!
AoW 9.42pm
Hope the Magpies don’t go the same way as Spurs the other week with all their players out, in your lofty position you must be panicking about playing your last joker……….wonder what team you will play your hand…..am leaving my jokers for the last two rounds so you can never rest easy
Have Brighton opened the door for a goal Avalanche on Monday night ?