Opportunity to claim a great Celtic reputation

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Within a few hours the first leg of our Summer Cup Final will be upon us.  Make no mistake about it, these are the biggest games of our season.

The players and manager have learned plenty about European football over the last four weeks to know the scale of the task.  Maribor will be given due respect but the importance of Saturday’s win over Dundee United cannot be overestimated.  Players’ confidence will have received a welcome boost, while some will have realised the weight of responsibility lies with them.

Since the draw I have written enough about the strengths of Maribor, but they are weak at the back – and they are showing all the signs of over-confidence.  Having watched us against Legia, this lot will be shocked if a different Celtic turn up tonight.  Their fans, media and officials are emotionally spending their Champions League windfall already.

Most of all, we need a disciplined performance from Celtic.  No conceding penalties, getting caught in possession deep in your own half, or second yellows.  Stick to the basics, stay alert and we have an excellent chance of progressing; this is not a team with irresistible talent.

For a few players, they have the chance to claim a great reputation at the club.  What an opportunity…..

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632 Comments

  1. Catman

     

    18:44 on

     

    20 August, 2014

     

    catman

     

     

    17:09 on 20 August, 2014

     

    My guess is Ronny will go with

     

     

    Gordon

     

     

    Lustig

     

    Deneyer

     

    VVD

     

    Izzy

     

     

    McGregor

     

    Kayal

     

    Johansen

     

    Mulgrew

     

    Berget

     

     

    Stokes

     

     

    —————————————————————————————————-

     

     

    Nice one Ronny you must have been looking into CQN earlier………..:-))

     

     

    …………………………………….

     

     

    catman

     

     

    Ronny was on before the Legia 2nd leg and copied my team so here’s hoping you are a better manager than me!

  2. okay tonydonnelly

     

     

    i will take your word for it…..anyway lets just hope we can get the job done tonight…something like a win would be epic….feel

     

    goodfactor

  3. Nerves a plenty now.

     

     

    Saying that I keep having a feeling of 2 nil to us.

     

     

    Cmon

     

    HH

  4. JimmyQuinnsBits on

    Tora! Tora! Tora!

     

     

    Yung mental tongs an anythin else u can think of

     

     

    Intae thum

  5. Living_in_the_Love_of_the_Commons_People on

    Op-tim-istic tonight. I think the team is due a massive performance and I have a sneaky feeling this might just be it.

     

     

    Either way I’ll be supporting all the way through the CL, or the EL. Both have their own merits and most importantly, it gives Ronny space and time to develop his own team and style accordingly.

     

     

    Hail Hail the Celts are here!

     

     

    P.S. Tony Stokes, let’s see you cover some grun the night eh!?!?

  6. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    Calm down bhoys and enjoy the game whatever happens we will still be in Europe.H.H.

  7. I like Ronny. He doesn’t fear dropping players to suit his game plan. He will also throw players in when required. The man has bottle. Hope it comes off for us tonight.

     

     

    Mon the Hoops

     

     

    LB

  8. Butterfly’s in ma belly, it feels more like Pterodactyls.

     

     

    I’m happy with the team and it must be remembered we have a subs bench.

     

     

    Any player off the boil or not pulling their weight should and will be whipped off.

     

     

    That is one of the things I’ve noticed with RD, he is prepared to make substitutions a lot earlier than Neil did.

     

     

    COYBIG.

  9. Living_in_the_Love_of_the_Commons_People on

    My Slovenian pal reckons that Maribor really are of the opinion that they just have to show up to take both games.

     

     

    Might just all play into our hands.

  10. timbhoy in spain on

    andy corr

     

    19:01 on

     

    20 August, 2014

     

    timbhoy

     

     

    sleep in the car,

     

     

    Good idea Andy,but I’ve got an Airport run at 8.30 tomorrow morning..

     

    By the sound of Big Joe it’d be a VERY late session.

     

    Always the way.

  11. tonydonnelly67

     

     

     

    19:01 on 20 August, 2014

     

     

     

    That’s it, what we have we go with, get stuck right in, leave it all on the park and you’ll get no criticism from me, mon the hoops.

     

     

    Ditto :)))

     

    Mon the Hoops

     

    Suprise us AGAIN

     

    Hail Hail

     

    Johansen to score anytime in 90mins .

  12. Delaneys Dunky on

    TD67

     

     

    Rage against the negative machine.

     

    Give us a C.,

     

    Give us an E,

     

    Give us an L,

     

    Give us a T,

     

    Give us an I,

     

    Give us a C.

  13. ALL of last nights games have left the 2nd leg with all to play for……that is what we need to do.

  14. squire danaher.1758.

     

    i dont know if my telly has program guide will have a look thanks.

  15. Jeg er Delia Smith on

    As I said earlier, I’d have gone for bitton ahead of kayal, but happy with that team!

  16. Apologies for being negative

     

     

    Would never have picked Kayal to start game, put up reason last night,

     

     

    Hope I’m wrong though

     

     

    Hail Hail

  17. Living_in_the_Love_of_the_Commons_People on

    A lot of faith has been shown in you tonight Tony, let’s see you rise to the occasion.

     

     

    Having Craig Gordon between the sticks has increased my faith too.

  18. I’m not Ambrose’s biggest fan, and I really liked the look of Denayor against Dundee Utd. However he’s got the sum total of one game in his professional career, I’m not at all sure about starting him in a massive game like this.

     

     

    I’d have picked Commons ahead of Kayal also, while Kayal looked decent coming on against DU, it’ll take a lot more for me to forget a year of misplaced tackles and yellow cards.

     

     

    Otherwise happy with the team selection.

  19. Happy with the starting lineout.

     

     

    Hope The Twins can keep it tight at the centre back.

     

     

    Up The Hoops.

  20. Living_in_the_Love_of_the_Commons_People on

    Funny how the entire crowd that love to have pop at Celtic magically disappear when game time comes around…

     

     

    C’mon the Celts!!!!!!!!!!!

  21. timbhoy in spain

     

     

    18:57 on 20 August, 2014

     

    Big Joe,I’d come down for a pint with you but I’m a half hour’s drive north of PP.

     

    Drive equals no drink so it’s Sky plus drink I’m afraid.

     

    COYBIG

     

     

    PP, shows every game mate…..

     

     

    Comeondownforthecrack

  22. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    Do you think those who run Sky and advertise on it realise folk like me will switch on for the 1st half at the last possible moment, switch off at halftime and then immediately after the FT whistle in order to avoid listening to Nicholas and McCann?

     

     

    I always thought the business model of a broadcaster was to encourage as many people to watch for as long as possible.

  23. I am Neil Lennon e El Juarez Bravo on

    Quite happy with the selection, hopefully the back 4 and midfield (I’m looking at you here, Beram) will maintain their shape and discipline. No diving in, no going on unnecessary forays forward and getting caught on the break. If we’re level or one behind with 10 to go, then maybe – MAYBE – try and push forward for an away goal.

     

     

    Negative? Maybe.

     

     

    Sensible? Definitely.

  24. Nerves are now a jinglin…..will be cheering on tonight in hope rather than expectation. Don’t feel as bad as I did before LW kick off ( I did fear the worst that night).

     

     

    Cmon ye bhoys in green n white

     

     

    Over and Over