Let’s get this one out of the way first: put notions of Newco out of your mind for tomorrow. Those of you who will be at Ibrox, and who are old enough to remember our last visit there, will have a familiar experience.
From what we gather, the stadium hasn’t changed, the home team play in the same colours, there will be some new fans, but many will have been there the last time we visited.
I’ve been going to Ibrox for over 30 years, we’ve faced some pretty awful teams in that time, but it’s never been easy. We were 2-0 down at halftime in the 2-4 game in ’83 (when Rangers were really awful). We were under the cosh for 60 minutes before things clicked in the 0-3 game in 2001. We’ve won plenty there, but we’ve had to battle for everything we’ve had. It will be no different tomorrow.
The 5-1 game in September happened because Newco were caught in the headlights. Perhaps believing their own preseason publicity, they matched up to Celtic. It was an embarrassing mistake, one they didn’t repeat in the League Cup semi-final, when they defended deeply, hoping for good fortune on the break.
Their big players were unprepared and looked unfit. Signs of the subsequent internecine squabbles were evident on the field.
Self-knowledge
Know your limits, who you are, what you can and cannot achieve, is a primary lesson in goal setting. As far as you and me are concerned, Newco will surely repeat their Hampden tactics, double-up in the fullback positions, protect central defence, and hope Auld Kenny can pounce on something on the break.
These are more-or-less the tactics we face every SPFL game, but I’m not sure what will happen tomorrow. This is a club who not only proclaim, but protest, with their every breath, that they are Rangers. Can ‘Rangers’ really line-up at Ibrox as scared of Celtic as everyone else in the league?
Maybe, but I’m not sure. There are signs that group-think has taken hold at Murray Park. They want to be the Rangers, with a century’s worth of ‘heritage’. If they want to live that out, they will need to take the game to us.
There’s a good chance that whatever they do, Celtic will win tomorrow. In the grand scheme of things, this matters little to the home team, who have beaten Aberdeen and Hearts this month, and look capable of snatching one of the Europa League qualifier spots. They were never really “going for 55”.
But if you bring the punters in on that promise, there will be pressure from the stands to live up to that sentiment. What to do, go for it and lose 0-4, or crawl into your shell, lose 0-1, and betray your season’s aspiration? I hope they go for it.
Brendan Rodgers has two problems; whether to play Moussa Dembele or Leigh Griffiths, and whether to give James Forrest or Patrick Roberts the nod? We have two highly-achieving strikers, only one of which will start, and two fit and ready wingers competing for the slot on the right side.
My hunch is that Moussa will get the nod. I know what you’re going to say: Leigh’s on fire, but Moussa has scored more goals in his two games against Newco than the striker they are all singing about this season has in his 17 appearances. Dembele terrifies then, with good reason. They have no answer to him, they cannot shove him off the ball, cannot keep pace with him and cannot seem to find him in the box.
I expect James to start with Patrick coming on late to pick at the bones.
Tom Rogic would have started if fit, but there’s an untold story of our recent form: Rogic, Stuart Armstrong and Callum McGregor have been our form players this month. Only two will start any game. McGregor and Armstrong will not be significantly weaker than any combination with Tom.
We also have Scott Sinclair back and approaching full fitness. He’s going to love Ibrox, he’s made for this game. I expect big things from him.
What are our biggest risks? Red cards. Newco’s best chance of getting something from the game is for Celtic to have a man sent off. I’m not going to mark your card on the referee, but we’ve seen too many Celtic players ordered off there over the years not to acknowledge the possibility.
The target for the team is clear: go into the winter break 19 clear with a game in hand. There’s a confidence in and about this Celtic team which makes anything seem possible, so don’t ask for my score prediction, as I might get carried away.
The target for our 7000 supporters is to have 7000 torches illuminating the 67th minute. If there’s one guy not participating I’ll want to know why. If you’re going, get this planned well in advance.
Juxtapose our targets with comments from Mark Warburton yesterday, who doesn’t want to be judged on results against Celtic.
I bet you don’t, buddy. I bet you don’t.
Ever feel you are being setup?
Following vandalism in the away section of Celtic Park earlier in the season a reciprocal agreement has been made with the offending club. In the very unlikely event Celtic supporters vandalise property tomorrow, the club will pick up the repair tab.
Without getting into detail, there is concern that some facilities will be ‘headline ready’ before Celtic fans enter the stadium. If you are at Ibrox when the gates open, go straight to the toilets, be the first there, photograph any damage (and how empty the stadium is at the time) and publish immediately on social media, to time-stamp what you observe.
There will be a minute’s silence before kick-off. For reasons which are difficult to fathom, Newco have not publicly announced this silence, it will be sprung on many fans. This will lead to some arriving at the ground unaware of the commemoration, making its observation less effective. Alert as many as you can that this is taking place.
Tomorrow will be a celebration of Celtic. 7000 light will shine at the 67th minute, the players will shine brighter-still on the park, but be ready, the same old faces are plotting the same old distractions. Be aware of their tactics.
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I’ll let you know.
See, lament till yer blue in the face
Moderator 2,
Unbecoming of your position.
Mod 2, I luv yoo anaw…………………:_)
To say, the ads make posting quite a krypton factor of a challenge.
There are ways to make CQN landing page a far more user friendly experience.
Should anyone wish a second opinion, give me a shout.
Thanks
Anyway,
My old man
Said “Be a Caley fan”
I say f….off you b……
You’re a c….
Who put the ball in Caley’s net?
Ross Counteèeè
Ha ha
For the moon howlers and late night carousers
https://youtu.be/qnncBgLC6Cc
The first league game against the newcomers.
Five goals of beauty and a perfect hat trick from Dembele
Send them a message.
HH Celtic men and wummin, lets pump these huns rid raw later today.
Am away to cosy up to ma size 22.
Who knows what the dawn will bring? I just heard a cheep….so ah’m aff..
From my log cabin..
The blessed morning light…..
Inane Rambler
An ad blocker does the trick.
Trying to send a donation to CQN. Where is the donate button/link/paypal thingy?
Inane,
it all depends on yer interface…..Apple….means turning of Javascript… ios means (Samsung) & Windows Phones…..Coral mini….let me post…..ghuid luck…..I hate computers ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
jeebus,
it’s a sad state of affairs….if ACGR is MOD2….there, I sed wit yer all thinking…..scarily he’s a smart operator….;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
I think the murderators need to be murderated
So ah day
Never in the field of human murderating
Have so many murderators murdered so many with murderating gusto
Methinks their monikers have been murderated
Readin bak….wtf….
there’s a missing post…..mine……baaah feck…..shame…..;-))
Mod2 has unveiled himself….and am keeping it to myself…..;-))
FTSFA
deductiveorinductiveCCS
H.H.
CCS=CSC mmmmm
..
OK it might be Sevco Sunday and Not Throwback Thursday
But here is a Wee Reminder of CQN of Olde when it was a Addiction Not a Affliction
NJoi..
and if You can Relate Type KTF at the End of Your Post..
..
The following is based on a “True Story”.
Names have been changed to protect the Innocent….
Hi everyone….My name is 001Bhoy….And I’m a CQN’r….
It’s been 30 days since my last post on CQN.. (round of applause from the body of the Hall)…. but it has been very difficult not to post lately….The CQN Withdrawals have been Incredible..I’m all over the Place..But I know I can’t even ’Lurk’ because it’s Too Tempting.. I must not post I must be strong and I know if I lurk I will end up Posting Again as the urge just gets to strong..
But that’s The CQN Addiction….
How did all this start….?
Well at the beginning I was just surfing the net on my laptop for Celtic News Quickly..Then one afternoon and I noticed a catchy headline on a Website Called Celtic Quick News..Something about ‘Amortisation’ if l remember correctly.. so I clicked the link and read the article.. and being new to the internet I closed the link and went on looking for more Celtic News..
Over the next few weeks.. I seen some more catchy headlines from the same Website.. One even mentioned Celtic and G.O.D..!!
So l would click on the headline and read the Article..then slowly but surely I started reading peoples posts in the Comment section.. a lot of their net speak was new to me..
Words Like ’Podium’….’Lurker’….’Mineshafter’…and ’Happy Clapper’…. what was this to do with Celtic l thought….?
I was starting to get really curious.. I started watching them post their comments live….It was as if I was spying on people I didn’t even know.. I eventually found out this was ‘lurking’.. I soon started ’Lurking’ myself every morning before I went to work.. I would have a wee ‘lurk’ in the afternoon.. then a wee ‘lurk’ Then Last thing at night.. Then one night at the weekend after a few sherbets.. I plucked up enough courage.. I was going write my own post.. next thing before I knew it I did it..l even had my own username.. I just typed a few words and quickly pressed submit…. but I had forgot to say that “l had been reading the blog since day One but it was my first Post..” (at the time l thought this was some sort of secret code to enter).. I kept pressing f5 over and over again nobody even said as much as Hi..
Was CQN some sort of clique..? As they all seemed to know each other.. Then the next day I posted again and Paul67 said Hello.. I wondered if he knew me….? At the start of my posting I would post just once a day.. but I was ’Lurking‘ more and more I realise now I was Addicted from that very first post..
Then Gradually slowly but surely I started posting every chance I had…. sometimes 3, 4, 5, times a Day.. I would even post on different subject’s…. it became an obsession….Soon I just had to post as soon as I woke up…. it would be the first thing I would think of….I started Getting to know all the names and Words….
I even became a Podium Chaser..My Boss thought I was working through my Lunch.. but in reality I was pressing the F5 button trying to get a Podium Post..
.
.
Then it happened….
Paul67…. told me he liked one of my posts and I made a good point…. Things just got crazy after that I would spend the full day posting.. even the BB clique were replying to my posts…. OldTim67 told me I made him laugh.. then Martin42 told me to Stand Up for the Champions..That was something I always dreamt about..Even Oz Bhoys were saying G’Day to me….it was getting crazy.. I would post and somebody the other side of the World would reply..I knew the Wife was Starting to get suspicious…She accused me of having a online ‘affair’.. I would tell the wife I was going to the shops for the morning rolls as had stopped buying the Newspapers..but I would go to an lnternet café and post from there..
Even my mum got suspicious she asked what I was up to spending all my time on the Computer..? I think they both thought I was having a online affair….But they soon found out when my Mobile Broadband bill came in..
The wife asked…. “Have you been posting on that CQN..?”
I denied of course.. but she said “you’ll end up in the gutter you know..or posting on that E-Tims if your not careful..” She said in ML2 there are kids giving men money to go into internet cafes to post for them.. a Primary School kid called Joshybhoy got Expelled from School for ‘Doggin it’ to Post..
Friends were starting to ask what was wrong with me..? Some were asking me why I was in the Toilet so long.. I even put the Mobile on silent so they couldn’t hear the beeps…. I bought a Blackberry Bold so I could comment on the live updates at the games….
Then i started ’Lurking’ with the Kerrang Crew on Friday Night Music Hour.. Pablophanque a CQN legend asked me to post a Tune..it was getting terrible.. They guy’s were sharing Prepaid Mobiles..Some of them had 3 to 4 Usernames.. I knew then l was a full blown CQN’r .. it was taking over my life I had to get help..
That’s when I phoned up The About Page Helpline.. the Bhoy on the phone had a long chat with me.. and that night a ex CQN’r came to the house to speak to me.. He had been CQN Free for six months..
He told me his story and how it nearly ruined his life….But his wife took him back and they have a CQN Block on the computer.. He said he ended up Sharing YouTube Downloads With The Kerrang Crew before he Got Help….I Must admit I never did the You tube thing.. as I heard it was for Hard Core Users..
The last 30 days have been really up and down..Though now at work I actually do some work..and I’m not lurking All day and sneaking in Posts when the boss is not looking..and Im staying late at work To Actually Do Some Overtime..
Do They Miss Me on CQN..? Probably Not..
But I’m Back Concentrating on Celtic Again..Will l Go Back To Posting..?
To Be Continued….
001
KTF
SUMMA OF SAMMI…. on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 4:12 AM
Brilliant , mate.
I can identify with so many of your experiences on CQN.
Summa,
yer story should resonate with most….we were all lurkers…..and am glad I took the plunge & posted…..even if you’re not. ;-))
We are a community…..it’s been proven scientifically…..that we feed off each other….(made-up p#sh by me)…..
Have a great & prosperous New Year ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
MacJay,
an all our Antipodean Tim brothers & sisters…..a cannae believe your gonna celebrate New Year before us…..have a ghuid one….and I’ll be a contentious bassa….always ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
SUMMA
A summary warning to those who think they can take it or leave it any time they want to.
They know not with what they meddle
Have a great start to 2017. And then enjoy the rest of it just as much.
HH.
I know for an ACTUAL fact. Celtic Will be Cheated today.
Sometimes I get things wrong.
Crazy Global things happening. The Fish out of her Depth, Sturgeon, has no Idea, Pray for her.
CELTIC
CELTIC
SOS.CSC
Respect the Silence – Enjoy Celtic playing the Celtic Way
Safe passage to Every person, going to the game, or not.
BMCUWP,
are u workin during the New Year? I doubt it….who wants to read the rags ;-))
A ghuid wan to yourself & Cosy Corner Bhoy…..and yer family ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
Peter can you be specific what exactly will the nature of the cheating be? H H Hebcelt
Oops Petec
Summa’s got a brand new clique.
aye….
oops Petec….& Hebcelt…..and all u mentalists who read this…..a very Hoopy New year….we’re at 58 points ;-))
FTSFA
futurereaderCSC
THELURKINTIM
Thanks,mate. I’ll pass on your kind regards.
Hope you and yours araw fine and dandy.
Work? Aye,not long finished. Start again around 2am Monday. Fair amount of bevvying to be done in between!
iPhone alarm set for 6:45. Check.
Chrome URL set to Celtic TV. Check
TV reminder set for Fox Sports 1 at 7:00am. Check
(Backup if Celtic TV has issues)
Celtic fleece. Check
Celtic scarf. Check.
Celtic underwear. Check
Celtic beany. Check
Hoops hung in bedroom. Check.
I don’t think I’ve missed ought.
So it’s a good night from me……….
Thelurkintim I’ll settle for that, Aguilar New Year to you and yours. H H Hebcelt
hebcelt on 31st December 2016 4:42 am
Peter can you be specific what exactly will the nature of the cheating be? H H Hebcelt
……………………………………………….
Of course I can’t. I actually think it is a possibility that Celtic will be ‘allowed’…. to smack the Bitch up.
The Juventus game Sickenend me Beyond anything. Celtic are Good, they Work hard as possible to do as well as possible. Then a Turnip of a Referee… Obviously primed to make sure Juve progressed… The Celtic goals were all coming from set plays… Maximum respect to Gordon and Neil.
Innovative Brendan is taking that side out of it.
Delighted.
We get Nothing at that Hate Factory. It is the epicentre of Lies and Deception. They are Liars and Deceivers. I sincerely wish we didn’t talk so much about them – The Young Ones they want some battling going on, especially as the Nanny State is going Tonto. I get Letters saying My Son is not doing as well as he should be doing at Geography or whatever.
Binned. Feck Governmental Schools.
The Administr
Jeez a guid new year
HEBCELT
I hope 2017 is kinder to you than 2016.
Have a good ‘un,mate.
HebCelt,
Have a Wonderful New Year dude, when it comes – 2016 was obviously a horrendous wan for you.
The power of Prayer is Incredible.
THELURKINTIM on 31ST DECEMBER 2016 4:34 AM
MacJay,
an all our Antipodean Tim brothers & sisters…..a cannae believe your gonna celebrate New Year before us…..have a ghuid one….and I’ll be a contentious bassa….always ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
================================================
That`s good. I love contenders.
Tho` I hope we don`t have one today.
A guid New Year tae yin an` `a.