While we all want to have a party on Sunday, the first priority is to win the tactical battle. Normally, I would be anxious to control the middle of the park, but Celtic’s impressive defensive record indicates midfield may not be as crucial.
Newco were the last domestic team to score against Celtic that was not a penalty (Hearts) or a goal that even the Motherwell manager admitted his team had to subvert the rules of sportsmanship to record.
By comparison, Newco have conceded 10 since facing Celtic in December; Celtic are defensively solid, Newco are not. If the game is tight, we should be confident of defending and hopeful of exploiting some of the defensive anxiety that Newco suffered in recent games.
Brendan Rodgers had selection problems at Ibrox in December, resorting to play Mickey Johnston as striker (unsuccessfully) and Callum McGregor as left back (to his cost elsewhere). Neil Lennon also has selection problems for tomorrow, but of a different nature.
Dedryck Boyata will start, but I’m not sure if Kristoffer Ajer or Filip Benkovic will partner him. Heart says Ajer (one of our own), head says Benkovic (so impressive). I expect Jeremy Toljan to get the nod over Mikael Lustig.
James Forrest, Scott Sinclair, Odsonne Edouard, Kieran Tierney, Scott Brown and Callum McGregor will all start, leaving one midfield space available for Ewan Henderson, Tom Rogic, Olivier Burke, Mikey Johnston or, at a push, Olivier Ntcham.
Tom terrifies this team. If he has 60 minutes in him, he should start, and if he starts, he will punish them. If Tom is not fit, Ewan Henderson has done enough to suggest he has the craft for this occasion.
The two games between these teams this season have ended in a comprehensive 1-0 home win for each side. This is an historic high for Newco, but you and me have missed what we were beginning to regards as customary four or five goal winning margins. Neil Lennon will want the win most of all, but you also know the manner he would like to achieve this.
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Good morning CQN from a dry, mild but overcast Garngad
Bring on the zombies.???
Bain
Ajer Boyata Benkovitch KT
Brown. McGregor
Burke Forrest Sinclair
Eduard
Only my opinion, Ajer has done so well I would fit him into the back line.
D. :)
Pete…take religion out…then peace may ensue ;-)) Next would be…not money as the root of all evil…but the pursuit of money that is…so you stop that and yer called a socialist…;-)) Every job would need to be a vocation for that to work…or a proportional taxation system…but who would vote for that ;-))
David66…interesting…but Toljan at RB
Forrest Henderson Burke
Eddie
opinionsCSC
H.H.
Last, no Henderson for me too lightweight.
Great young player, but him and Young Mikey need bulking up.
Also Toljan has not set the heather a light for me. Lustig can do for cover, but the Viking that is Ajer has never let us down IMO.
All about opinions, most important one is Lennys and whatever team he puts out, he/they will have my total support.???
As long as we are up for the personal battles our skill should shine through.
I would stifle the midfield and get back to our counter attacking football.
D. :)
TheLurkinTim,
It took a Blastie that was going through the initiations and he was reading this gooblygook of a book, a Massive man. He shut the conversations off when I, hopefully, stopped him going further. He was a Good Man – Genuine and wanted to help others from the little I know.
He was a hardcore Kilbirnie Supporter. Iain/John Massive respect.
Last ffs that’s meant to be TLT sorry
D. :)
If Lustig is fit Lustig will play
Neil has between now and the 25/5/19 to state his case he will play the players he trusts
Lustig
Broony
Forrest
That’s Neil’s 3 amigos
GFTB,
Mine would be….
KT
Calmac
ED
……
Need Jamesie to really show when the chips are Up from the off. He is just cruising now. He has Everything.
Laurent Garnier
Magical tune.
Petec 7.21am
Am not saying it’s my 3
Think Neil gave Jamesy his debut after working with him with the youths, think Neil had an influence in the signing of Broony and think Neil & Lustig have a terrific bond… just think if these 3 are fit under Neil these 3 will play in these games between now and hopefully the 25th May :-)
Am usually wrong more than I am correct :-)
GerryBhoy,
Jamesie was driving Neil crazy first time round.
Jamesie was easily the POTY up until the Scotland games before Christmas.
I don’t think James will start on Sunday fit or not. He will definitely be brought on Howevaaaaaah. ;)
Have a Great weekend Gerry.
Whatever team/players we play bhoys……… Come on the Hoooooops.
D. :)
morning bhoys from an overcast Cheshire, its all about opinions,,.whatever team lenny puts out., we will beat them.hh COYBIG.
LMS12
Good Morning all,
Final reminder to those who have yet to do so to make your picks for Round 2. Fixtures below.
As long as your pick reaches us before kick-off in your nominated teams game, you’ll be fine.
It didn’t seem appropriate to be chasing contestants for their picks yesterday, following the very sad news of the passing of young Shay McGinlay. It still doesn’t seem right, but given that so many of you helped in some small way to making his time with us a little bit more bearable, for both Shay, and his Family, it would be a shame not to carry on now, what was done in your names then. God Bless, and Rest In Peace, wee man.
Thank You all for your support, as ever.
CRC and Bateen Bhoy.
Saturday 30 March
Fulham v Manchester City (12:30)
Heart of Midlothian v Aberdeen (15:00)
Kilmarnock v Hamilton Academical (15:00)
Motherwell v St Johnstone (15:00)
St Mirren v Dundee (15:00)
Leicester City v AFC Bournemouth (15:00)
Manchester United v Watford (15:00)
Sunday 31 March
Celtic v The Rangers (12:00)
Cardiff City v Chelsea (14:05)
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur (16:30)
Good morning friends, from an overcast but dry and wind-free East Kilbride.
A big weekend ahead and what better way to start it than by a return to ParkRun. I’ve not taken part since December 2017 for various medical and injury reasons and so I’ve been sitting on ‘199 runs completed’ for these past 18 months. God willing I’ll complete my 200th this morning and hopefully in a time of around 25 minutes.
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/strathclyde/
To my shame…my head has insisted that I call tomorrow Smothering Hunday ;-)) Good luck Jobo…would be surprised if you hit sub 30min after such a lay-off ;-))
H.H.
Watch out for the squirrel about inappropriate singing again today and mañana.
The smsm trying to put pressure on our fabulous football club and our support ahead of a relatively new Glasgow Derby game.
HH
D. :)
“Smothering Hunday”
That one is getting stolen.
A cracker
Well done Jobo…………that’s some achievement matey, good on yer! To finish in around 25 mins after such a break is fantastic – that time in our wee parkrun would have you comfortably in the top six. Fair play!
HH.
God Bless This Dear Green Place.
HH.
Morning all, this site has been very difficult to view due to the increasing pop up ads to win i pods, holidays etc..
Anyway we move onwards, good luck to Jobo on his 5k comeback. I toi have returned to the treadmill after 6 months of recurring hamstrings. Slowly, slowly building back up to 5k. Achieved 4k yesterday so am in track for 5k by Easter.
Speaking of comebacks, my return to the kitchen is also back on track. Weekend began with a lively sausage, pepper n beans casserole last night. Galician Fish Stew tonight and Tagliatelle Bolognese for Sunday lunch, both old favourites in the JMcC household.
Then there is the small matter of NFL’s return to the Mankie’s fixture. I hope we prevail and my Lhad and every supporter returns safe and sound. Don’t want to comment any more on this horrible fixture. Take care everyone. HH
In ither news……………….the Alec Ahauf squirrel is being fed in preparedness for any “spectacular” that may result on Sunday…………it’ll be released soon, no doubt.
Strangely enough, none of the Blazers seemed terribly perturbed…enough…to akt on the deeply troubling “Govan” episode………………………..
Re Mad Mik playing against the Huns, I absolutely love the ghuy but the Huns targeted him and ran him ragged at the BigotDome.
Think it will be a totally different game tomorrow but if Lenny starts with PC Lustig he should also have Plan B in his head just in case they give him a repeat dose.
Last 4 games the goal glut has dried up a bit so I’m not sure where I’m getting the confidence from but I think we will mollicate them tomorrow.
TLT – Smothering Hunday
Canalamar – Broony story
Both will used many times over this weekend
Cheers :-)
Sorry – It is the Love of Money that is the root of all evil. A genuine Blastie/Mason had to point that salient point oot to me.
There is nothing wrong with Money.
Corkcekt 9.55am
Will be a different game this weekend for them to target anything, plus I think that wee cant Kent won’t get the better of Lustig if he played against him another dozen times, bad day at the office all round in December, personally I think Toljan would be more effective in an attacking sense but just think Neil will go with the experience of Mikael
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
for those in the CQN Naps Competition, please post your Week 32 selections here:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/lennon-master-of-sporting-conflict-deserves-sunday/comment-page-4/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
Celtic were truly blessed to have this guy strutting his unique stuff. His first touch was just exquisite.
This was no fluke – Nakamura
They all pass through Parkhead Gates.
I wonder if it was very personal with Gerrard and Rodgers and that was why he toked from the Loving Cup/Bong.
The Celtic Street Fighter in Neil is a whole different animal for Gerrard to deal with. Neil is Genuine.
I’m looking forward to Tomorrow.
Hearing from a very reliable source that Scott Brown will retire at the end of the season
:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
TLT
Smothering Hunday has been snaffled. Absolute belter.
Please just start Burke
It’s at times like these that we need Jtitor and his clear vision of what a Sunday post-lunchtime Timdom looks like………..
:)
can’t be doin’ with either Mystic Megs………. or Mystic Mugs I need FACTS…….
:)))))
HH
Hello again all you young rebels.
Another cold and wet day in Melbourne, 13 degs, anymore of this and
i’m jumpin a jetplane back tae Glesgy.
Only kiddin it’s climbing back up to the mid 20’s next week again, not
bad for autumn.
Down at our local ground today supporting our senior teams, lots of
tims about and it’s great to see that it’s not only me and PADDYMACOZ
that always wears a Celtic top wherever we go but probably every Celt
in Oz.
It must really get up the noses of they epl fuds when i shout ” here’s
another load of Celtic supporters” he he i luv it.
Getting a bit edgy now, full of the rid biddy, and i know we should win
comfortably tomorrow, but i don’t have to tell anyone on here about
the unknown unknowns, aka the mibs.
Or should that be the known knowns?
Whatever, if our bhoys play to form, and with the backing of the greatest
support in world football we will undoubtedly prevail.
Right it’s time for a wee video of the greatest Celt ever, who you ask?
Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Johnston on the wing on the wing on the wing.
H.H Mick
Look who’s back!!!
Sevco be afraid.
His goal away to Aberdeen was his best but there are so many right up there.
Finished in 67th place (honestly, it’s a sign!) in a very acceptable ime of 23’10”. There’s life in the old dog yet.
22h 43m and counting….