Return of Hooper-Stokes man-love required

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Since a couple of flat performances against Sion in the qualifying round, Celtic have reserved some of their most organised performances of the season for the Europa League, despite the lack of a victory.  Honourable defeat in Madrid followed by more-than-credible draws against Udinese and Rennes suggest there is more to this Celtic team that we see in the SPL.

It’s hard to look forward to the second half of the season and the potential for knock out football in the Europa League but if Celtic get their act together, a win tonight could go a long way towards restoring the reputation of the club, and a few players.

How Neil Lennon responds to yet more injury absentees is difficult to imagine.  I’m not expecting fluency from a makeshift defence and midfield, although Celtic Flourished in the Glasgow derby in similar circumstances on 2 January this year, but I’m hoping to see Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes look more like a partnership.  We need both players on form and enjoying their work if any progress is to be made.

Busy day ahead but the Hearts situation is possibly worth a discussion this afternoon.  The scenario changes by the day at Ibrox but that conversation will need to wait.

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  1. googybhoy says:

     

     

    3 November, 2011 at 18:11

     

    My money is on 3-1 for the bhoys and Stokes first goal.

     

     

     

     

    When I say my money I mean CW amounts.

     

    £1…..

     

     

    I have ridden my luck already this week.

  2. Nuclear Bovril and a Half Munched Pie on

    We have, understatement alert, been a tad disappointing of late….but it’s amazing how thoughts of negativity disappear in the hours pre-match.

     

     

    Heading off to the game shortly with Nephew Bovril in tow. ‘See’ yeese there.

     

     

    C’mon, no really, C’MON YOU BOYS IN GREEN!

  3. Just seen that Gollum’s red card agin the Aberdeen player has been rescinded.

     

     

    Just in case you think this is just a paranoid’s dig at our referees, on Tuesday and Wednesday’s Champion’s League Group games NOT ONE Scottish referee was involved! Anywhere! Wonder how many are in action tonight?

     

     

    So, we now know what UEFA think of the fantastic system Dallas of Bonkle left in his sectarian wake.

  4. C’Mon The Bhoys tonight.

     

     

    Going to miss the game – way past my bedtime – but hope we can get a win, regardless of who plays!

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

     

     

    HopingToWakeUpToGoodNewsIn5Hrs CSC

  5. *** TKF PREDICTOR POST ***

     

     

    All you predictors, this weekends fixtures are up on the website.

     

     

    Go on, whit ye waiting for, GET PREDICTING!

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  6. The Exiled Tim/Thomthetim

     

     

    I know where you are both coming from, but I happen to believe any comparison with Nazi Germany is inappropriate. Northern Ireland of course was and is an artificial construct, as indeed was the made up State of Yugoslavia, a post 1918 invention. The former we all know a lot about, the latter I owe much of my knowledge to the work of Misha Glenny in the late 1980s and early 1990s, so much so I was able to use that godforsaken country as an example to American undergraduates, in 1989, of an area about to descend into hell. In Scotland the vast majority retain a historical perspective which, rightly or wrongly believes we were sold out, to perfidious Albion. We do not hold the Catholic Church responsible for that. Still, if anyone wants to know where hatred will take you the Bible is a pretty good place to start.

  7. Mahe The Madman.

     

    Spot on.What about starting a new supporters club.What will you call it?Put me down for membership.Slan

  8. Vmhan who Supports Neil Lennon says:

     

     

    3 November, 2011 at 18:25

     

    No Googybhoy, CFC sent me 3 ticket package twice, but I’m not up. Laid up with a bad back all week on the wifes very strong painkillers lol

     

     

    Hope you are back in your feet soon.

  9. Lullabies and Battle Cries on

    bjmac says:

     

    3 November, 2011 at 16:59

     

     

    A few Rennes supporters in town today, they seem a good bunch, the piper on Argyll St must have got his bag fixed after me bursting it and has been coining it in all afternoon – me, well I’m still totally sick of bagpipes.

     

     

    Back on terra firma yesterday, stopped off in Glasgow and payed the piper. Same tune every day, all day for a month.

     

    Look out for a Christmas Special.

     

    Have you changed your daily mode of transport. :)

  10. Mahe the Madman

     

     

    No harm in thinking out loud but the TV boys would not be interested in it and probably less revnue than we get now. Feel our best hope is some form of Northern Europe League or just try and join the dutch league!

  11. Mahe the Madman (formerly Blog Police) on

    Fanad,

     

     

    The entire island would want to come to the champ league nights,and we would be champs,and we would have id say 40k at every game. Would Brother Walfrid prefer that or a sinking ship slowly being desserted and sinking eventually.

     

    Pursue true sport,if not in Scotland somewhere else.

     

    hail hail mo chara(beautiful place youre from)

  12. Celtic Mac

     

     

    Try telling the huns that, I doubt they will think the way you do.

     

    Tell the people of Manchester that it was all a mistake, ask any of the other citys in europe that have had the misfortune of their team being drawn against the huns, these scum are killing us, asaulting us and getting away with it.

  13. Good evening CQN

     

     

    We have an adults ticket spare for this evening, if anyone its interested. No charge if you support the hoops.

     

     

    hh

     

     

    bjmac

  14. Mahe the Madman (formerly Blog Police) on

    Pinta,

     

     

    were a sporting club,,the tv boys should not come into this. Ask yourself why we were formed and if we stay in Scotland are doing ourselves,our founders,and our future generations of supporters,,not to mention football itself,,any favours.

     

    We will never get into those leagues. FAI has precendence with Derry and is logistically more sound. Not as much dosh,yes. But give me a proper league based on skill and athleticism any day

     

    Hail Hail

  15. The Legend Johnny Doyle on

    Just cancelled my (£7.99) direct debit for that Premier Sports channel that showed a couple of Celtic games a few weeks or months ago, can’t remember. All the games seem to be back with ESPN again now which I am already a long time subscriber.

     

     

    I live in Guildford so cannot get to too many games so I have to subscribe to watch Celtic. I was just thinking again about the amount of money Celtic could make from our 9 million supporters worldwide if we had our own TV Station.

     

     

    More money, better players, better players, more success, more success, more TV money, more TV money, better players etc..etc….. Do you get the picture here PL….?

     

     

    Mon the Hoops.

     

     

    TLJD

  16. Just saw on the Official site Mark Wilson is out for 3 months. I am a fan of Mark’s and he was my player of the year last year.

     

     

    Get well soon wee man.

  17. The stats involving Celtic fouls is from Follow follow. A cretin I know had it on his Facebook.

     

     

    LB

  18. Just about to set out……checklist almost complete……nae dinner to excited this happens every euro night at paradise…make do with 2 bacon rolls….oh shit can smell the bacon borning…wrap the rolls in tin foil hope i dont slide off the car seat with the fat…its in your bloo0000000000000d…………happen to notice at these euro games the police presence in front of the GB is limited mibees they suffer from stiff necks staring up at them from the previous saturday……………..mon the hoops

  19. Jackie Mac.

     

     

    According to the SPL stat table Celtic have had 11 yellows this season. The lowest of all SPL teams.

     

     

    Rangers and Motherwell are next lowest with 18.

     

     

    Red cards. Celtic one of four teams on 2. Rangers one of four teams on 1. Aberdeen on their own on 3.

     

     

    Make of that what you will.

  20. Celtic XI: Forster; Cha, Loovens, Majstorovic, Matthews; McCourt, Wanyama, Kayal, Forrest; Samaras & Stokes

  21. “@polishturnstile: #Celtic XI: Forster; Cha, Loovens, Majstorovic, Matthews; McCourt, Wanyama, Kayal, Forrest; Samaras & Stokes”

     

     

    Hail Hail

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