Last month Efe Ambrose and Saidy Janko played in what will be some of the biggest games of our season. It didn’t go well. Saidy has since moved out on loan, while Efe is behind Toure, Sviatchenko, Simunovic, O’Connell, Boyata and (maybe) Lustig for a place in central defence.
From that list, Simunovic and Boyata are unlikely to be ready for the Camp Nou, but O’Connell will be no less prepared than John Kennedy was 12 years ago when he deputised for suspended Bobo Balde at the same location. Central defence has gone from being our weakest department to our strongest in a matter of weeks.
My expectation is that Brendan will play Toure, Sviatchenko and Lustig as a back three, with Kieran Tierney and Cristian Gamboa as full backs. That will be a leap of faith for Cristian, who, only five days from Barcelona, has yet to even train with the club. He’ll arrive in Glasgow today after last night’s national team game in Costa Rica.
Despite this schedule, we should look to give Cristian some game time on Saturday, I’d be reluctant to throw him into the Camp Nou cold. This would allow us to rest Mikael Lustig, who played for Sweden on Tuesday, and who will need to be at the top of his game for Barcelona.
Another player who could do with a rest on Saturday is Tom Rogic. Tom has played in Australia and the UAE since we last saw him, eclipsing whatever jetlag Cristian will go through. I’m not sure Brendan will see it the same way, as an offensive midfielder like Tom may be sacrificed for a more defensive player at the Camp Nou. We’ll touch on how to attack later.
I watched Israel-Italy on Monday. Nir Bitton did well against a superior team; it was a good run-through for the Champions League, as he will be asked to play a similar, tactically disciplined, role for Celtic. As the game was Monday, I don’t think he’ll need a rest at the weekend, although we should perhaps consider giving him around 60 minutes.
Football’s a squad game, let’s remember that this week. It’s been nearly three years since we’ve been to the Camp Nou, these occasions don’t come round often, so we need to prepare properly.
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Sat with old guy on SSB
Oldest season tkt holder Davie
On way back from Dublin when we played Liverpool couple of years ago
He has more hair than me and was
Drinking Pints and whisky’s
Some guy
HASHADENOUGH on 8TH SEPTEMBER 2016 6:26 PM
McConnells at top of Hope St on corner with Cowcaddens Rd
Celtic fan on RS says “the old Rangers”. MacIntyre throws a wobbler. Funny!
As far as El Griffalo is concerned, Rodgers said he had trained earlier this week and it was a light session today so he sent him for a scan. If he was out, I think he would have said.
I expect him to be “El Griffalo, Hammer of the Huns” to play and earn this title on Saturday!
If not, The Mighty Moussa will do for me!
FAC the Act
KTF
There seems to be a lot of…
“We should just be happy to be playing these matches”
“It will be another three years before we compete”
“Its all about buildin for the future the performance not the result is what matters”
Coming from the dead team.
Expectation Management?
I hope so and we smash them to pieces on Saturday so we can move on to the more important business of next Tuesday night…
Beatbhoy, did you write this?
http://www.thefootballlife.co.uk/post/150123636076/the-duplicity-derby-celtic-meet-rangers-and-i
How does Brendan Rodgers see the game?
“I’ve got huge confidence in the team but always mindful that we’re respectful to the opponent we are playing and we know that we have to work well in order to get the three points.”
“When you are Celtic and when you play a game at home that is what’s expected of you,” he said.
“We’re not running away from it to say we don’t want to be the favourite for the game, because whether we were playing Rangers, Aberdeen , St Johnstone or Hearts – whoever we play at home – our objective going into the game is to win.
“Celtic – Rangers are always keenly fought tough games we’re really looking forward to it and can’t wait really.
“We know it’s an important game but we’ve had three tough games before this as well. Away to Hearts and St Johnstone then Aberdeen at home.”
He didn’t say it would be a tough game ……………….
FAC the Act
KTF
Kevinlasvegas…………..Glad to hear you’re fit and rarin to go for the season ahead.
I’m using it now and it’s awesome! I’ve signed up for my account and have been bringing in fat paychecks. For real, my first week I made $305 and the second week I doubled it and theen it kind a snowballed to $120 a day! juet follow the course.. they will help you out………
This is ᴡʜᴀᴛ I DO—————- http://www.E-Cash10.Com
I’m using it now and it’s awesome! I’ve signed up for my account and have been bringing in fat paychecks. For real, my first week I made $305 and the second week I doubled it and theen it kind a snowballed to $120 a day! juet follow the course.. they will help you out………
This is ᴡʜᴀᴛ I DO————– http://www.E-Cash10.Com
I’m using it now and it’s awesome! I’ve signed up for my account and have been bringing in fat paychecks. For real, my first week I made $305 and the second week I doubled it and then it kind a snowballed to $120 a day! juet follow the course.. they will help you out………
This is ᴡʜᴀᴛ I DO————– http://www.E-Cash10.Com
TUU
Wrong site,put it on RangersMedia.
http://www.epfl-europeanleagues.com/UEFA_decision_forces_epfl_to_act.htm
If, as the Scottish media has been claiming all week, this really is the OLD FIRM.
Why its silence about the debts?
Evening Celts
Quonno…Simple explanation for that.
They are all dirty cheating bigot Huns, that have to cheat, its the way they were brought up.
Wont help them on Saturday though:)
HH
Given his reported less than pleasurable reaction to the celebrations of some following Scottish Cup semi, will the great absentee be in town on Saturday?
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 8TH SEPTEMBER 2016 5:46 PM
I take it everyone is eating.
Tumbleweeds
I doubt it.
Have you ever tried eating tumbleweed?
Disgusting stuff.:-))
Hashadenough, in case it hasn’t been mentioned, MacConnell’s bar , opposite the Theatre royal, at the very top of Hope Street. is a Celtic friendly pub.
Its less than a 5 minute walk from the Pavilion.
GlenDalysTonsils
Not so, health freaks love it.
Especially the West-end mob, who will buy absolutely anything at top dollar.
I mean….how much can you actually charge for a coffee in Byres Rd?
Sell Tumbleweeds down there easy:)
HH
I have so much Tumbleweed I could sell it, a bit of wind and it’s everywhere, cheap, orders taken :-)
Any news on how Celtic are pushing the game on Saturday?
Paul67 hoped they would do the right thing but all I saw on the club website was Celtic v Rangers with crests for both clubs.
No mention of this being the first league meeting between both clubs.
With Celtic’s previous on this issue I think they will continue to adopt the approach of the three wise monkeys.
Just when you think, here come’s another tuu of them. There’s three!
Turkebhoy at 7.14., my wife told me about the vandalism to the Copper Tree memorial for children who were stillborn or neo-natal deaths.
Disgraceful behaviour from some lowlife(s) who I hope never have to endure the pain and agony of a stillbirth or seeing a premature baby fighting for life.
The memorial was organIsed and put in place by the charity, SIMBA, of which Kris Commons’ partner, Lisa, is a patron.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 8TH SEPTEMBER 2016 8:28 PM
GlenDalysTonsils
Too true. My missus worked in a greengrocer’s in her young day. The shop owner would get a box of strawberries in and divide them into two punnets. He made one punnet dearer than the other, knowing that when the west-enders came in they would pay for the supposedly ‘superior’ strawberries.
They deserve all they get.
Dallas.
I agree with you. If up at The Pavilion then I would watch game in McConnells.
I hope everything is good in your world.
TET
Waitrose in Byres Rd would flog loads of that:)
They can sell any old s**** to the locals down there.
Dearest Fruit and Veg in the world.
Just put Heston’s name on something….Hey Presto.
I remember when it was a Somerfield….The locals said that it lowered the ‘cultural’ tone of the area:)
Barbarians:)
HH
Et Tu Tuu
Glendalystonsils
I agree, they deserve it.
Im waiting to see when Starbucks go for 4 quid for a Cappuccino…..while they pay s*** wages, and dont pay any tax.
HH
Walking up Hope Street this afternoon. Wee clown in front of me abusing everyone he passed, he was out his face.
As I got closer I could hear him singing, couldn’t make it out, then I got it,Penny Arcade. How appropriate. Little fanny.
On a more serious note. I reckon that will be multiplied 8,000 fold on Saturday.
Very confident of a Hoops victory. New club aren’t a patch on Aberdeen, in my opinion, we just have to focus on our own game. If we turn up we win.
I predict 4.1
Right folks time to complete the survey to play your part in repealing the OBaF Act.
http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/S/FootballActRepealBill/
This is a crib sheet which we’ve had good feed back on, it’ll give you some pointers on how to answer different sections.
http://fansagainstcriminalisation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Crib-Sheet-for-the-Public-Consultation-Survey.pdf
Football fans not criminals.
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 8TH SEPTEMBER 2016 8:45 PM
Did the walloper have grey sweats on ??
If so passed the rank …oot of his face .Whit a hero :O(
I rarely post but moved to by this blog post and the others this week.
Saturday is a massive game for us. Effecting that it isn’t, and that we’d use the game to give players a run out is hubristic. High handed disregard of a football team that defeated us, deservedly, 4 months ago is a bit on the nose for me.
Rangers, Sevco, Newco, whatever you want to call them they’re our closest challengers. This blog post and all the others this week betray exactly the same “tenner for every fiver” and “two teams for europe and the league” arrogance we used to mock in our opponents.
Voguepunter.
That’s your man.
3.30 ish today.
Wish I know who you were and I would have said hello.
When I passed two taxi drivers were standing talking to each other.
JNP
VP would have been the one who looked like a white Huggy Bear! :-)
HT
Thanks for the compliment………today I had a bright green shirt on …for effect :O)
GERRYGUK7
Nobody gives a flying feck about playing cheats and bigots.
Champions League is where we should be.
Sevco….couldnt care less
HH
VP
I’m sure you looked as dapper as a dapper dude big guy :-)
H.T.
When is closing date for completion?
Are there any numbers on how many have been fully completed so far?
Also,have you had any feedback/ conversations from other clubs fans on how they are promoting completion.
I know how busy you are, so a big well done for spending so much time on this very important matter.
Hail Hail my friend.