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Rogic will punish anxious Newco defence

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  2. D66 on

    Davie mhate, just read back there, really saddened to hear about Thomas, please god let him pull through.

  3. rimtimtim on

    I too consider King Eddy as the main man tomorrow. He is our major signing and our hope of becoming a force in Europe again. A couple of windows back, fans criticised it when Celtic didn´t sign anyone to replace Moussa but surely Eddy was always destined for that role. Brendan had used Dembele and home-grown Griff according to the team´s needs but not that often together. Unfortunately Leigh is not fit to play and i hope the fans sing out his name tomorrow. Is Eddy worth the 9 million and is he as good or better than Dembele? Moussa is a bit taller but a bit heavier, Eddie is two years younger. Dembele came to the fore at Fulham signing from PSG at the age of 16. Although Odsonne was born in French Guinea he came through the youth system at PSG like Moussa, however after having played 15 times for PSG he was loaned out to Tolouse and that turned out to be a disaster….off the pitch. He got mixed up in another player´s prank and ended up getting punished in court for it! He referred to this when he signed for Celtic saying focussing on his playing was a chance to put something behind him. To be honest I haven´t watched either of them in depth enough to judge who is progressing better, taking Odsonnes´s age into account as well. Their goal stats are quite similar, averaging about one goal in three matches at this point. Odsonne shone as a young player and was a prolific goalscorer at 17, can Celtic get that potential out? However NOTHING prepares a foreigner for the wild west of scotland variety of football and you get hee haw from Scoattish refs and pundits as well if you are a sporting player in shortbreadland, the Big man is important tomorrow because we have to urge him on, his last minute goals of late deserve the cheers.

  8. David66 on

    Guys again thanks for the best wishes regarding my younger brother.

     

     

    DD- Garry, – D66 Del, I will let Thomas know that you wish him well, that will mean the world to him.

     

     

    D. :)

  11. No Bobby Does It Petta on

    Some help please?

     

     

    Pre 1960, were there any notable Celtic players, other than Bobby Evans, with red/ginger hair?

     

     

    Thanks in advance. And I’ll check in the morning for any answers.

     

     

    HH

  13. David66 on

    Thanks again bhoys. Truely humbling.

     

     

    Right let’s get into these cnuts mañana.

     

     

    3-0 to the good ghuys.?????

     

     

    D. :)

  14. big packy 1 on

    hi ghuys, have just posted this on another site, under sixties look away we need a tam gemmel jim craig belting down the wing, and pinging crosses in unfortunately we have not got a Wallace chalmers or lennox who could hit the onion bag with his napper, the last one was a mr Larsson ,although big pierre and jan vennegoor wurny bad.hh.

  15. i'vehadtochangemymind on

    nothin daft lennie please – calmac at left back was shocking- pi^^in about at the back gave them a shot in the arm – they’re not good – keep the heads and let creativity win the day

  18. bankiebhoy1 on

    Watching The Miami Showband documentary on Netflix, well worth a look………….

     

     

    Shameful.

  19. GFTB on

    Bain

     

     

    Lustig Ajer Boyata Tierney (Hayes)

     

     

    Broony MacGregor

     

     

    Forrest Burke Sinclair

     

     

    Edouard

     

     

    This managerial lark is a dawdle

     

     

    A possible 13pts in front of any of our challengers before April fools day and a possible 19pts in front of Killie …. Stevie Clarke can get 2nd place …

  20. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    DAVID66

     

     

    ” Burn it doon and i’ll watch fae the windae ”

     

    Absolute classic.

     

    Best wishes to your brother, i’m sure he’ll feel better with the

     

    Celtic support behind his recovery.

     

    H.H Mick

  21. Melbourne Mick on

    NO BOBBY DOES IT PETTA

     

     

    The only one i can go back to was the great John Fallon who

     

    joined Celtic from Fauldhouse in 1958.

     

    Maybe TONTINE can go back further.

     

    H.H Mick

  24. Melbourne Mick on

    BIG PACKY

     

     

    And don’t forget for his size wee Jinky could fairly crash a baw

     

    intae the onion bag with his head.

     

    H.H Mick

  26. Melbourne Mick on

    An auld Celts itinerary for hump a hun day.

     

     

    Pick up wee Grace and take her to the park.

     

    Reb tunes on John Thompson song must be first.

     

    Usual Questions

     

    ” Papa is John’s head o.k now ?

     

    Yes darling.

     

    Onto The Fields.

     

    ” Papa is Michael back with his family now?

     

    Yes darling

     

    ” And does his family have corn now?

     

    Yes darling.

     

    No sad endings allowed in her wee world.

     

    Afternoon, down to the local and torment the epl fuds.

     

    Early evening the roast dinner and yorky puddings, yum

     

    and stick on the rebs for atmosphere, i can’t be at Celtic

     

    park but i can imagine i am.

     

    Almost game time, a few rid biddy’s downed and the tension

     

    is palpable.

     

    Thats it, it’s hump a hun time 8-)))))

     

    COYBIG.

     

    H.H Mick

  30. southside on

    Bain Lustig Boyata Ajer Tierney Ntcham McGregor Brown Forrest Edouard Hayes

     

     

    Hunskelper 11

  31. Kelvinbhoy on

    In sunny Orlando so will revert to watching the Celts before a swim with the dolphins at Discovery Cove. Have a great day in Paradise one and all. Hail Hail!

  32. philcool on

    Hi Lhads

     

    I reckon that we,ll get a lot of free kicks just outside the box tomorrow as Sevcos roughhouse tactics are applied.

     

    Also to put their cheating in a contemporary setting if they were still at it,their forward line tomorrow would be ,Neymar Aguero and Messi.

     

    Not as farfetched as you would think.

     

    Hail Hail

     

    Phil

  35. GFTB on

    Philcool 11.22pm

     

     

    Ah well they are stuck with

     

     

    Moreloss, Cant & sweet cheeks (candy ass) serial losers :-)

  37. Teuchter ár lá on

    Bankiebhoy1

     

    Truly an inspirational anthem.

     

    Now you’ve got me in the mood for a fight. I’m off to the fridge for a beer –

     

    I may even throw my beaver aloft on my way to the kitchen.

     

    Thanks for posting

     

    HH

  38. Delaneys Dunky on

    Thanks to ACGR and Blantyretim and family. To lurkers Brian, Brad and John for a crackin pre Hunskelping eve in Malones.

     

    YNWA

  40. GFTB on

    DD 12.21am

     

     

    I saw BTs post about Malones… I was in Ladbrokes next door 12.30pm-1pm

     

     

    Delighted you had a good day in good company …. Stevie Gee on the radio “it’s not a lions den, there won’t be any lions” … Shug Keevins on SSB “Gerrard is being a bit silly, and I can assure you there will be lions there, Lisbon lions” think old Shuggy Bhoy must have the mortgage paid off :-)

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