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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kiiking= kicking
Hot smoked …Spacey has done some really good stuff, but like most actors (and unlike Cazale), he has done some rubbish as well. Bogie is still my favourite. Newman is another.
Torontony …. God loves a trier, my friend. I appreciate the offer, but Won’t make it tomorrow,. However, I’m taking mum and KT to the Toronto zoo this afternoon, so that will have to do!
Found a great pie place in the city, so always an option if you want a break from noodles. But I took mum to the college st noodle place, and she loved it! So, I think you and I need to give it a try. I think you will enjoy it!
http://www.celticfc.net/news/11898 statement
Tony
Away oot and play. Big people talking.
MARGARET MCGILL on 30TH DECEMBER 2016 3:36 PM
Tony
Away oot and play. Big people talking.
This from a guy who likes people to think he’s a female?
I rest my case.
Tony
I thought you rested your case with your Velcro shoes?
and the blog follows a familiar playground name calling road
the ironing basket is calling
betterthingstodoCSC
Never been to Ibrox so is a minutes silence at this time of year common or not. Ghuys have mentioned 83,85,87, and 89 as not being marked but not any other years.
No point in running with the paranoia angle until we have a wee bit more info.
But it is them we are dealing with so God only knows
The Sevco fans will impeccably observe the silence…..
For the full final 45 minutes.
Of that there is no doubt.
MARGARET MCGILL on 30TH DECEMBER 2016 3:43 PM
Tony
I thought you rested your case with your Velcro shoes?
You in a thought mood, makes me laugh.
Tony D 67
I know you are very capable ( and enjoy ) sticking up for yourself but I would recommend ignoring those rather silly comments.
JJ
GENE on 30TH DECEMBER 2016 3:45 PM
and the blog follows a familiar playground name calling road
the ironing basket is calling
betterthingstodoCSC
Lol, they get so dramatic, sad sad sad.
HOT SMOKED on 30TH DECEMBER 2016 3:52 PM
Tony D 67
I know you are very capable ( and enjoy ) sticking up for yourself but I would recommend ignoring those rather silly comments.
JJ
I like to be vigilant JJ, :))
Hail Hail to all my fellow Hoops Supporters across the World.
For what its worth, rightly or wrongly, I hope were not set up.. I know they will do their best to discredit and shame us, but we cant rise to it.
The headlines have already been written, statements colluded and ‘witnesses’ statements taken.
Whatever the reason for the minutes silence is for, lets observe it anyway.. lets just leave their hole to crumble and collapse.
Give them nothing.. either on, or off the park. Were better than that.
COYBIG.
The turnaround of Celtic this season has been unbelievable.
BR has his team playing like Celtic, and he says we will improve in 2017. Wow.
I was even thinking of driving to a game. To even contemplate that previously would have been unthinkable.
HH.
I had to google “ironingbasket” :-)
And another thing
Remember a few years back another minutes silence
Celtic fans behaved impeccable as the vast majority usually do but as I had taped the game or sky plussed I was able to go back and see,as I thought it had gone on a wee bit longer.
The minutes silence went on for 1.30.
Why? I can only imagine to give us bad press
Shouldn’t I be thinking of being respectful shouldn’t they.
Anyway thanks to bobby in Swindon and mike in Toronto for their earlier replies
Hail hail fellow celts
I don’t know all the answers but some come on and tell everybody else that they,re not very bright
How rude
It is naive and overly optimistic to polarise our support as a group Of angels against a group of demonic Huns.
The reality is that there are absolute cretins in both supports. My bet is that damage is done tomorrow. The kind of supporter that indulges in this doesn’t read the likes of Can.
I’d love to be proven wrong.
It is naive and overly optimistic to polarise our support as a group Of angels against a group of demonic Huns.
The reality is that there are absolute cretins in both supports. My bet is that damage is done tomorrow. The kind of supporter that indulges in this doesn’t read the likes of Cqn.
I’d love to be proven wrong.
Looking like I’m on driving duty tomorrow, so would welcome any suggestions for safe parking near the cesspit.
Cheers in advance
JJ, sent you a text this morning. Did you get it?
Portbhoy
Either on, or a side street off of, Shieldhall Rd mate.
HT ,
Will head up early and try there.
Thanks and Best
If there is a reciprocal agreement for stadium damage by visiting supporters, then we are rightly liable for vandalism carried out by our fans. I hope this does not happen tomorrow.
I believe that it would be prudent, not just for our “early” fans to take photographs but for a Facilities Manager/Clerk of Works from each party to carry out a walk round survey to agree the condition and to counter any “headline ready” provisions that we may suspect is planned. I hope that we past the Gentlemens’ Agreement stage with this regime and that this could merely be seen as the kind of diplomacy that is still observed after a declaration of war.
Given their valuation of Joe Garner, I would suggest agreeing an Arbitration process.
I won’t be in Govan tomorrow but I do have a mobile phone. I am one of those who hasn’t used it as a torch at Celtic Park because I don’t think it has a torch. (Mind you, that is possibly because I don’t know how to access one, if it is there….)
Anyway, all the best to all who are going.
Obviously, I hope we hammer the deid team but I wouldn’t be in the least surprised if we are subject to a season’s worth of “honest mistakes”.
It’s going to be difficult get the Hoops to observe a minutes silence through the laughter IF what i’m hearing is true.
Halliday dude at RIGHT BACK :-)
Why all the hand ringing?
We are getting what we signed up for and it is what it is!
Stop the whining. Each of us who bought our season books and those who paid their £49 for tomorrow are supporting whatever is thrown our way for the foreseeable. That includes dodgy refs; dodgy decisions; dodgy roofs and potential risk to life; dodgy complicit PLC; dodgy Old Firm articles; dodgy pre vandalised bogs; dodgy minute silences etc. etc. etc.
MWD
Rangers v Celtic: Gap between sides might be bigger now – Erik Sviatchenko
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38464845
Yi think lol.
Philbhoy
Sorry to hear about your families loss. Condolences and thoughts and prayers with your family and you.
MWD
At the risk of sounding naive,why havent Celtic board sent photogrophers round to record the state of the hate factory toilets.
Griff & Jamesey for me tomorrow , Sinky & Stuart armstrong will run riot
http://thecelticblog.com/2016/12/blogs/some-at-sevco-are-using-rangers-dead-fans-to-try-and-attack-us-that-takes-my-breath-away/
Bad Ass Café will not be showing the match v Soft Loans Co tomorrow. Supporters in Dublin are encouraged to go to Kennedy’s Pub in Drumcondra, on Dublin’s nortside.
https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Kennedy's+Drumcondra,+132+Drumcondra+Rd+Lower,+Drumcondra,+Dublin/@53.3698555,-6.251225,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x48670e658204c11b:0xe160eb7a273e8a79?hl=en-gb
A wise soul mentioned playing Leigh in the TR role and I am of that mind
Greenpinta thanks for the info. I’ve got my ticket but the guy I go to the games with hasn’t so I’m looking for one for him.
KTF
James Forrest on 30th December 2016 4:48 pm
Well said AGAIN.
Treacherous people at work again over at the hate factory.
MWD
Indeed, – I blame Peter Lawell
I’m in the same frame of mind with JF on this sevco sting, very very strange as I said this morning.
It’s Friday it’s five to five it’s……………..