We played at Hampden on League Cup duty for the game after the death of Bertie Auld’s great pal, Jimmy Johnstone, Celtic players wore a number 7 on their shorts to mark his passing. There was so much emotion around the club that week, Gordon Strachan later said that winning his first trophy as Celtic manager that day was second on his thoughts, they simply could not lose with emotions among the community already so raw.
There is a symmetry with tomorrow’s game. It’s a League Cup semi-final, not the final itself, but Ange Postecoglou is also chasing his first trophy as Celtic manager and Celtic will wear Bertie’s number 10 on their shorts. If they play with a fraction of the guile and fight that Bertie showed when he pulled on those white shorts, St Johnstone are wasting their time showing up.
Celtic have won 12 successive games at Hampden, St Johnstone won on their four visit last season. The Perth side have struggled to score goals this season but remain a formidable defensive outfit who know how to win cup games, albeit against lesser opponents than Celtic.
That record of Celtic’s will count for little as for many who will play for Celtic tomorrow, this will be their first visit to the national stadium. It is a big game for the captain, too. Hampden has provided Callum McGregor with fond memories for years, he knows every inch of that pitch and can own it tomorrow. This League Cup offers him his first opportunity to climb the steps to collect a trophy as captain. I cannot see past Celtic tomorrow.
Newco provided their fans with a recognised name, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who starred for Rangers before heading to Arsenal then Barcelona. Earlier this week, I suggested a manager should be, “tactically gifted, an effective communicator of ideas and instructions, as well as a working knowledge of a value market to strengthen your squad”.
van Bronckhorst was manager of Feyenoord for four years before a year in China. His first act as manager was to sign a loanee already at Feyenoord, Colin Kazim-Richards. Hmmm. He won the Dutch League, the latter by a point from Ajax, who played 19 European games that season, 13 more than Feyenoord. He resigned from Feyenoord having subsequently lost the league by 17 and then 21 points, without leaving evidence of being tactically talented. An 11th place finish in China left no one stressing about his departure. The Netherlands in not a value market, it is the most monitored country on the planet, every time a kid there bounces a ball, three scouts turn round and take a notebook out their pockets.
It continues to amaze me how appointing a famous player as manager turns otherwise sensible people into adherents of superstitious gambling. Evidence van Bronckhorst will succeed at Newco does not exist, this is a huge gamble, all the man has is name recognition and a title eked out against an exhausted Ajax team. Newco remain at their natural territory, the roulette wheel.
189 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
As Rezerection Originated in the NE of England MC Sneaky Eye overstayed and spoiled a good few mixes, IMO.
It would have been better if he wisnae the main MC @ the Time.
MC Conrad is the Coolest dude out there.
Ange is Something Special.
Celtic will be SMASHING it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLIu3ahDiy8
What is going on?
Deidco r Deidco.
How many Jabs every Season?
3:07
Seeing Newco getting SMASHED by Hibernian FC.
Again @ Hampden.
Apologies, had a few.
I’d prefer Hampden a Sea of Green.
Good morning from a grey but dry Auld Reekie. Got a ticket for Hampden this evening. Being picked up at 10:30am. Supporters bus leaves at 12 noon as we are stopping for refreshments en route, so a long day ahead supporting the Bhoys.
Quietly confident of another entertaining victory to book a return for Ange’s first Cup Final.
In fact I am relishing the thought of Kyogo and Jota, the two amigos, running riot on the Hampden turf and shooting down the opposition.
3-0 to the Celtic and a victory for Bertie.
Hail Hail
Gooooood happy matchday morning from the Garngad
Prestonpansbhoy – How is your first week of retirement?
I think the team will pick itself today:
Hart
Terminator CCV Welsh Jura
Cal Mac Nir
Turnbull
Abbada Kyogo Jota
On a seperate sport, how racist is Yorkshire Cricket a bit like our SFA and Sevco
The way Azeem Rafiq and others have been treated is absolutely DISGUSTING.
D :)
Match day:
Woohoo. COYBIG.
By the way I would take a punt on John Soutar if the price is right.
D :)
Hoping to see a front 3 of Forrest Kyogo Jota.Rest of the team picks itself.
What I don’t want to see is the endless moving of the ball back and forth,across the front of a St Johnstone defence.
David66 Many years ago on a trip home I watched a talent packed Celtic beat Dundee United at Tannadice. Soutar was the stand out player that game. He dominated the middle from back to front and led in every way. I had no doubt he was going to make it. He would have been a good buy at that time but seemed to be regarded as a big fish in a small Dundee u pond. If we could get him now I think that would be a Scott Brown type of signing.
Not sure about Souttar, although not against
I would rather see our own Bhoy, Dane Murray given a chance
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 20TH NOVEMBER 2021 7:39 AM
Good morning from sunny Prestonpans, like you our chariot leaves this principality at noon too. Montfords for 2 pm at their inflated match day prices😵
David66
First week of retirement was a hoot although have no intention of drinking this much in a week again😂😂😂😂
ALMORE on 19TH NOVEMBER 2021 11:21 PM
Thanks but I did understand that. What I didn`t understand was Scullybhoy telling me to try living under their
democratic Government.
PS I e-mailed the Irish Times congratulating the Journalist,Johhny Watterson, who wrote the article.
SCULLYBHOY on 19TH NOVEMBER 2021 11:08 PM
“For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.”
Really?
Hot Smoked,
Think Scullyhoy was referring to living in the Occupied 6 and having to live with the likes of the DUP in Government.
That is the way I read it anyway.
Hope you are well pal,
Corkcelt
I considered that as well but his response seemed to suggest that I was criticising the article and that feeling was increased by his `understand` quote.
I am well, thanks but that feeling is often altered when I take to the links !
Are you going to any matches this year?
J
Turkeybhoy
I,too, would like to see Forrest back in the team. Only Ange knows if Jamesie Bhoy is ready, though.
Hopefully J. but nothing planned with this bloody Covid.
We DO have a Cup semi-final today, don`t we? :-)))
Where have all the posters gone?
PeterpaulandmaryCSC
Still waiting for Superbru picks from Frank Terry, Gscbhoy and wee BGFC.
Right time to get the bus, 3:1 to the Hoops!
Be prepared for 11 men behind the ball,and Tag Team thuggery to avoid bookings as long as possible.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zNB1jrqgGYs&feature=youtu.be
A Tale Of Two Souttars…
Which one would we favour; the Stoke Socceroo or the Scotch Heart ?
Cmon the Celtic
any win will do.
NerveskickedinalresdyCSC.
Bada
Where we not in for Soutar before? Or circling,then he got injured? Heard that
HH
If Souttar stays fit until January, it would be daft to not ask the question and look to get him on a pre-contract. What a waste if he ended up in Stoke. At 25 years old and on a free he is a steal and has his best years possibly ahead of him.
has julien decided when he is gonna return yet?.
AT- it’s possible we were interested in the past,fot 500k he could be worth a try, given his injury problems
RC, Usual cheap shot from you
The manager, physios etc will decide when he is ready to return.
Maybe we will see JJ at right back and big Tony at left back. HH ☘
3_1 to the Celtic.
CARDBOARDCSC on 20TH NOVEMBER 2021 1:35 PM
RC, Usual cheap shot from you
only asking as he was meant to make a come back following the last international break ,and as we have been told he takes at least half a dozen games to get up to speed as he is a slow starter .
CARDBOARDCSC on 20TH NOVEMBER 2021 1:35 PM
RC, Usual cheap shot from you
The manager, physios etc will decide when he is ready to return.
is that the same group apart from the manager that couldn’t find his back problem?
Just watched Leicester – losing 3 could have been 6 – no wonder BR wanted to take John Kennedy with him. 🤭
COYBIG
Watched Grandson play football – check
Shopping with her in doors – check
Chillin before game – check
Watching old games waiting on the bhoys coming in – check
Maybe have a beer or 3, the 1st in 5 weeks see how the old body holds up.
Get at them from the off Celtic, what an achievement this would be for Ange and the bhoys to get to the 1st final of the season after the overhaul we have/are going through.
Come on the Tic
D :)
new article posted.
RC on 20TH NOVEMBER 2021 1:15 PM
has julien decided when he is gonna return yet?.
——
RC – I dont think sick note will return this year. Only my opinion of course.
D :)
Celtic have injury woes with regulars Rogic and Starfelt still out, and it’ll soon be a year since Chis Jullien was anywhere near fit. Welsh can cover CB, and Ange will continue with two right backs, one playing on the left.
James Forrest is due a return to the starting line up, and McGregor and Turnbull will take the midfield slots poignantly today, in a tribute to predecessors Auld and Murdoch.
Giakoumakis injured again with the jury still well and truly out leaves the abominable Ajeti as back up goalscorer, it’s as well we have heroes Kyogo and Jota, capable of winning any game.
If we score early as Bertie did against the same opponents 52 years ago, we’ll sail to victory, otherwise St Johnstone will make this an industrial meeting, “ But can they play “ ?
RIP Mr Celtic
corkcelt on 20th November 2021 10:05 am
Hot Smoked,
Think Scullyhoy was referring to living in the Occupied 6 and having to live with the likes of the DUP in Government.
That is the way I read it anyway.
Hope you are well pal,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yip, that is it in one.
HH
Please God, a good win today
Pingback: No. 10. Roulette wheel manager appointment | Celtic FC News Now