Perfect conditions for Celtic’s natural game, “they just needed one draw”

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Are you feeling confident?  I’m not as confident as I would like to be.  We’re so ‘on’ and ‘off’ these days it’s difficult to anticipate how tonight’s Europa League game against Rosenborg will unfold.  I am assuring myself that we turn it on when we need to, as we did for much of last season too.

Since drawing with Celtic on 1 August, Rosenborg have been on fire.  Nine wins and a draw in 10 outings is impressive consistency.  That run has given them a two point lead in the Norwegian league and given temporary manager, Rini Coolen, reason to think he may get the job on a permanent basis.

Celtic Park has not been kind to Rosenborg on their two visit since July last year.  They had chances to win the first game and took an early lead last month, but lived to regret being unable to capitalise on opportunities that came their way.  The mini-league setup is different from the knock-out contests we have previously played, which reduces any incentive Rosenborg have to seek an away goal.  They will be happy to shut up shop and will have watched St Mirren do just that on Friday.

It is going to be a calm and damp night in Glasgow, the perfect conditions for Celtic to zing the ball around and get into their natural game.  Big performances from James Forrest, Olivier Ntcham and Tom Rogic will be needed.

I see Gordon Strachan dismissed George Peat’s tears over Rangers capitulation in 2008 this morning: “Wasn’t that the season when Rangers had two games against us and they just needed to draw one of them to wrap up the title?

“We had to play them twice in the space of a couple of weeks at home knowing they only needed to take a point away from our place but we managed to beat them twice.

“They had the opportunity to put it to bed with a draw but we won the two games, with big Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scoring a last minute winner in one of them.”

Those two games against Rangers live rich in the memory.  Towels were thrown-in all over CQN after the home defeat to 10-man Motherwell.  We were behind in the first Rangers game and level deep into added time before that Vennegoor of Hesselink winner.  Credit to Scott McDonald for notable contributions on both occasions, after chastising him for having a go at Celtic for not offering competitive wages.

“They just needed one draw to wrap up the title.”  I bet reading that still stings Peat.

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  1. 4-0? Those predictions have been way off the mark recently. I’d be delighted with that result though.

     

     

    What team will turn out for us? The committed one or the complacent one?

     

     

    Scipio Africanus: Fàilte to the bhlog.

  2. Right Aff oot Club Celtic for me

     

    If anyone is in and see a big handsome blonde guy with looks like Dolph Luudgren then it’s no me.

     

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    COYBIG

     

     

    D. :)

  3. I know Villareal made 9 changes from the team that won at the weekend,so are these 2nd string players,or what?This mob wont dare tell you,because I have to say,this is the worst Villareal team I have seen.A bit better quality up front,they could be 3 up.Cazorla,class act.Must have better players on the bench.

  4. CELTIC (4-2-3-1): Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Benkovic, Tierney; Brown, Ntcham; Rogic, Forrest, McGregor; Edouard

     

    Subs: Bain, Hendry, Sinclair, Christie, Mulumbu, Johnston, Griffiths.

  5. Only the second game I have watched the tribute act this season, against us and that 45 mins there. They are rank rotten team. This is Villarreal reserves they are playing.

     

    Cmon the Celtic Submari! Destroy them.

  6. Is the Broony skelper Coulibaly on the park.What a miss from Villareal.That Bacca scored a great goal,but has been rank since.Another sitter missed.I can see the Huns punishingbthis mob for this.

  7. wish all you ghuys saying it will be 4-0 to us would stop saying it, was the same on Friday its gonna be 5 nil and we will be top of the league, it never works out that way.just be thankful we are in the Europa league and see how it pans out.hh.

  8. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    TURKEYBHOY

     

     

    Had me worried there,that post at 720 seemed to be cheering on an FOD goal. Of course,it wasn’t!

  9. So Villarreal are playing their reserves, I suppose the deluded ones will think they are at the races, they equalise as I type

  10. Dominant thought…we will win…only the 3 points count…if we win through scintilating fitbaw…be delighted….if not…who cares ?

     

     

    LookinBeyondCSC

     

     

    H.H.

  11. POGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES on 20TH SEPTEMBER 2018 7:33 PM

     

     

    beat me to it.SEVILLA have scored 5 against ST LIEGE.you are correct either take it serious or don’t enter.lots of tally wally teams do the same.their fans are never interested.

  12. POG

     

     

    If u were a Villareal fan…you’d b posting on their blog…mores the pity….???

     

     

    FTSFA

     

     

    COYBIG

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