You thought St Mirren were a hard watch? Livingston won three and drew three of their last six games but did not manage the majority of possession in any of those outings. Incredibly, they beat Dundee (by four goals), Dundee United and Aberdeen with an average of 39% possession.
If they dug in against the team at the bottom of the league, they will only leave their defensive third to have a shot on goal against the league leaders on Sunday (expect them to shoot on sight).
There will be no surprises. High crosses into the box will be successfully defended. There will be no space in front of goal, marking will be skintight, the defensive line will be straight. The pitch will be terrible, passing and control will be difficult – if you have a ticket, please be forgiving.
If you needed a reason to be concerned more than Celtic’s historical results against Livi, their recent form is impressive. Livingston have collected the joint second highest points total from their last five games, just two behind Celtic.
The first objective will be to get possession inside their box. We have the players to make any defender nervous at making a rash challenge with a penalty on the line. Shots from the edge of the area will be important. A ricochet did us no harm against St Mirren, against a packed defence, another is very possible.
Teams who win leagues win games like this. Three points for Celtic here will go a long way to achieving that objective.
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An T
Great memories. One of my best childhood memories that night. My dad and I we’re still really concerned after losing a 3-0 lead to Benfica in previous round.
To beat the champions of Switzerland Portugal Italy and Engerland in the one season and not actually win the cup was incredible back then. If only we could go back and tweak a few things and replay the Feyenoord game.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN @ 1:35
HOT SMOKED is spot on. I can’t believe we have Celtic supporters saying they’d take a draw now from our visit to Livingston.
——-
I understand where you and Hot Smoked are coming from – I look for a win, as I do everytime we play them. I also understand those who are more circumspect in their outlook. Our record over the seasons is not good, and this season is bad – one point from six is our worst return from any opponent.
They seem to be able to neuter us time after time – others can also do this for large parts of games, however to our credit, we have found a way to win on most occasions.
I want us to win on Sunday, but I wouldn’t bet a penny on it happening……why do they cause us so many problems?
DAVE KING has launched a scathing attack on the Rangers board and slammed the decision to take part in the Sydney Super Cup.
The former Ibrox chairman is backing supporters who are up in arms over the controversial trip to Australia.
Dave King isn’t happy with the recent actions of the Rangers board
Gers – along with Celtic – have agreed to play glamour friendlies in November in a tournament that’s being billed as Ange Postecoglou’s homecoming.
Furious fans protested throughout Rangers’ 1-0 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park with more demonstrations expected at Ibrox this weekend.
And King – who stood down as chairman two years ago – has pleaded with his successor Douglas Park to pull the plug on the tour.
King said: “I am 100 per-cent with all supporters on this. It is not something that I would have sanctioned if I was still on the board.
“Unfortunately, this is another in an increasingly long list of recent instances where the club has shown its indifference to supporter wishes and interests.
“The shoddy treatment of Club 1872, the firing of Mark Hateley, Richard Gough, Derek Johnstone as ambassadors, the unseemly spat with the football authorities and the completely unnecessary loss of a manager who won title number 55 and would have successfully defended the title are among the concerns that have caught my attention.
“Recent success has unfortunately created short memories and supporters have every right to be concerned.”
King’s comments came just hours after the Union Bears waded into the row.
The fans’ group – who made their feelings known in Perth on Wednesday with a banner reading “Money over morals. No d£rby friendlies” – branded the move “disgusting”.
A statement read: “We are disgusted to learn that our club have plans to take part in a friendly over in Australia against our biggest rivals, though not entirely shocked given the recent over commercialisation of the club
“Board members will come and go but the one major consistency at Rangers will always be the supporters.
“We’d ask all fans inside Ibrox on Saturday to take part in the tifo – no matter your feelings towards the disgusting decision that the board has made.”
Meanwhile, Rangers hero Craig Moore has urged fans not to “get their knickers in a twist” over the planned Old Firm clash in Australia.
I see our friends at BBC Scotland are telling us ‘UEFA charge Rangers for fans on the pitch’ and how Orcs “entered the pitch” during their draw with BD.
I recall Ralston’s last second winner against Ross County when Celtic fans entered the pitch. That time BBC Scotland called it a pitch invasion.
Slightly difference of emphasis, eh?
Tell me please anyone. Is there another league anywhere , where all teams in the same division, have to play on different surfaces. The Livi situation is ridiculous in the extreme. only in Scotland,eh.
While I’m in this grumpy mood, what the hell is the point of the stupid split coming up. Crazy that the way it can turn out with probably Celtic getting a bum deal. Just what is the point, again, only in Scotland, land of innovation, my arse.
KINGLuBO
And another thing.
We cannot under any circumstance play the hunbigots in Oz. I really appreciate how attractive it is for both sets of Oz fans, but sorry, they elected to live there knowing the likelihood of seeing their team is pretty remote.
We want as little to do with them as possible, they are poison.
God, I am in a mood today
KINGLuBO
KL
I don’t understand why we haven’t moved for a vote to get Livi to remove the pitch and ban all such surfaces from the top division.
My understanding was that an 11-1 majority is required for rule changes. Now would be a good time to press this as it is the first time for years we have had only one plastic pitch in the top division.
Of course if all clubs including the lower divisions get a say, we are gubbed.
In my opinion, this would benefit us more than the introduction of VAR monitoring by corrupt retired masons in the black. We should be pushing this.
Shane Warne RIP 😳
Bada, Just popped up on my screen, a true legend RIP
Imagine for a moment its election time, being a fair minded person you want to allow for all viewpoints and your ok with opening the door to candidates. Your a naturally left wing working class type of fella, and you know your migrant great grand-parents and grand parents faced many hardships facing bigotry and discrimination in all aspects of their life.
Your own parents only got economic parity with the locals in the 1990s.
So you look forward to the Labour candidate visiting , as you have a few socialist things you would like to discuss.
Knock Knock
whos there ……………
Och you big kidder, its me, the former Imperial president and a couple of our campaigners, I was wanting to talk to you about the role of Catholics schools creating a secterian divide in North Lanarkshire, oh and the state of the Union
https://www.northernirelandworld.com/images-o.jpimedia.uk/imagefetch/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimage/Prestige.Item.1.73204223!image/1892126650.jpg?&width=990
I’m not in the least bit worried about playing Livingston however they wont make it a game of football, they will be 541 so im not sure how you find a way to get round the back of them or create overlaps in wide areas go 3 52 against them a be direct when necessary using Maeda’s pace with Gio as a front 2, the surface looks small and narrow and easy for a long throw to reach well into the penalty box, very difficult match ahead I think.
Bada
Just read about Shane Warren
52 too young.
R.I.P Shane Warren.
Almondvale is considerable shorter in length but amazingly slightly wider than Celtic park.
so, I dont know what to make of that, tactically.
Almondavale Field size 98m x 69m (area surface 6762 sqm)
Cetic Park Field Size 104m x 68m (7072 sqm)
so not a tight pitch, but 6 meters shorter, so less space to defend, less space to have forward runs into.
Something you wont ever hear me repeat, but on this occassion shoul Livvy every ventured forward, the blooter up the park is surely an option to take out all the back line early early.
or mibbies not at all.
Martin Compston on the One Show tonight.
Alex Jones ” Would you ever like to do a musical ?.”
Martin ” Nah, the only time I sing is at Celtic Games ” :)
the best thing about lockdown was that Hamilton the musical got cancelled
Pitch size trivia –
The biggest surface pitch in Engalnd PL is ?
wembley
St stivs
I’m in the play whatever it takes style on that horrid surface.
3ptsCSC
Saint Stivs on 4th March 2022 3:06 pm
the best thing about lockdown was that Hamilton the musical got cancelled
Took the wife to see Hamilton…..she wasn’t best pleased…..they got beaten 2-1 by Ross County…
St Stivs
One of the Nottingham teams? Forest
The other in Birmingham maybe?
St stivs
Old Trafford?
The biggest surface pitch in use in the English Premier League is incredibly Brighton and Hove Albion at 7245m2
Brentford, Burnley, Watford, Villa , City, Newcastle, Leeds, West Ham, Arsenal, Spurs, and Man Utd have the size pitches at 7140m2
So all above are bigger than Celtic Parks pitch
Anfield is 6868m2, so 272m2 smaller than those above, interesting when you see how lighting fast flowing accurate and precise they go from defense to attack, like they know how to use every blade of grass.
Wolves is a teansy weensy 6,400m2 , which suprised me as I always thought it was big big.
Saint Stephens gravel pitch on kilmacolm road was so small you could kick a ball from box to box aged 13,
Re the game in Australia. Red tops citing a report in the Aussie Roar that we are on eleven million dollars for the tournament whilst the other travelling team is on less than half of that. There’s a joke in there somewhere about not half of anything!
Shane Warns.A hero of mine.Probably the greatest “Sledger”ever.
Loved to hear the shout,in Oz dialect” A beauty Warny”.
Also,rumour has it,went out for a while with Liz Hurley,Aarrrggh,even bigger hero.
AN TEARMANN on 4TH MARCH 2022 9:49 AM
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 4TH MARCH 2022 9:29 AM
Hello there Sadie bhoy I hope this note finds you in good health and enjoying our team as usual.Take your time coming back,hopefully more see you before season ends.
You’ll be glad to know I passed on the clip onto his daughter,will let you know any response
You take care now :-)
HH
…………………….
An Tearman
You’re a scholar and a gentleman! I’m delighted that Johnny’s daughter will get a chance to see the video and see and hear her father speak – if she hasn’t seen it already. Many, many thanks for passing it on to her.
Thanks also for enquiring after my health. I’m as fit as a butcher’s dog – an old dog mind you 🤣 I’ll be back at the Holy Ground next season all being well. I’m frightened to jinx the team. They’re doing so well without me! I can’t believe the position Ange has got us in compared to where we were at the start of the season.
Keep enjoying the games AT and stay healthy.
Warne,bloody laptop.
close but no cigar bud.
UNCLE JIMMY on 4TH MARCH 2022 3:16 PM
St Stivs
One of the Nottingham teams? Forest
The other in Birmingham maybe?
———————————
The biggest other ones. Forest is there, all bigger than PL rivals.
Forrest 7455
Ipswich 7650
Plymouth 7560
Orient 7665
and the daddy of them all is ……….. drum roll please, and unbelievably
Shrewsbury Town – 8250 m2,
you would be knackerd just walking it from end to end, never mind 90 minutes on it
context WEMBLEY , the mythical big pitch is the same size as most in the prem at 7140
i a even boring myself now, and mrs ss has always told that size doesnt matter anyways
The boss’s press conference from earlier today…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shbt4pRN2QA&ab_channel=CelticFC
BURNLEY78 on 4TH MARCH 2022 2:10 PM
An T
Great memories. One of my best childhood memories that night. My dad and I we’re still really concerned after losing a 3-0 lead to Benfica in previous round.
To beat the champions of Switzerland Portugal Italy and Engerland in the one season and not actually win the cup was incredible back then. If only we could go back and tweak a few things and replay the Feyenoord game.
I agree they were an amazing team.i didn’t get to that game as a 7 y.o,I did tho go outside in the pouring rain wi ma baw and repeat the commentary on the gates opp my house,my pitch.:-)followed by chapping and telling the score to 2 old neighbours.(excuse the hovis memory ha))
Football in each country was strong.we powered thro tho,recall that journey vividly.
The prev year prati robbed jim Craig to score after 0-0 in Milan.the AC manager said after beating Celtic they feared no one.South of Tunis used to laud Scirea(i think) in 4-1 demolition of Ajax.
:-)
HH
Words my Laptop won’t do
Huns = Guns
Biton. = Bit on
Starfelt. = Star. felt
Soro = work.
WTF.
Celtic Park, Easter Road, Ibrox, McDirmid and Hampden are all the same size at that 7140 standard.
Pittodrie and Tannadice are only 6,600 second smallest pitches
and the smallest no suprises Tyncecastle and suprisinlgy Dens at 6,400
Very sad news about Shane Warne, a great bowler and entertainer, RIP Shane.
I always support England when it comes to Cricket against Australia.
A Gigantic Sportsman has left us. Shane was Incredible, just heard on the radio during the epic 2005 Ashes series he took 40 wickets.
Rest in Peace Shane
Negotiate Sunday, who knows there may be a surprise Saturday, and we are on our way.
Howzat.csc
MACCARGO on 4TH MARCH 2022 3:30 PM
Re the game in Australia. Red tops citing a report in the Aussie Roar that we are on eleven million dollars for the tournament whilst the other travelling team is on less than half of that. There’s a joke in there somewhere about not half of anything!
————
If true, that would be £6m GBP.
That would then make sense of the hun director stating it is worth a full season of Scottish League Prize money to them – circa £3m.
You can see why the PLC would like those figures, but I still wonder, would we be offered the same if playing anyone else ?
—————
Ladbrokes Premiership 21/22
1st – 13.40% – £3,350,000
2nd – 9.60% – £2,400,000
3rd – 8.25% – £2,062,500
4th – 7.25% – £1,812,500
and I still wonder more – gifting the hun a toournament with £3m to them, is that an active particpiation nudge nudge wink wink, please play us cos you know we need the money.
i hate to theink of it that way, bur surely Mr Nicholas knows these things.
Seems like a few weeks now since we had a confetti share issue for 2nd rangers, did they get money from somewhere else ?
UEFA staged payments being made maybe
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 4TH MARCH 2022 1:33 PM
Henry Dunbar, former Grand Master of the Orange Order, is standing for Scottish Labour in the May elections.
But, but, but its the nationalists that hate us and our kind (sorry I stole that from an arse).
There will be ethnic cleaning bah wa wa…………………………
More seriously I’m not surprised, the labour party in my part of Lanarkshire was full of them.
Especially the cooncils!!