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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There is no chance we will not play our best team on Saturday.Like it or not every Celtic fan wants to beat this mob and beat them well.Being at Hampden last season was a sickener and we cannot make the same mistake again.We have a better manager now and an improved team.Barca can wait.
Jimmynotpaul, far more importantly , I hope you are keeping well
The original Big Yogi, owned MacConnells for a short period.
I had always thought of him physically huge but he wasn’t as tall as I thought he was.
Still strange seeing one of the Lions squad serving pints in a pub.
Scotlands Game (but dont mention David murrays cheating nor souness 60grand ebt))
HH
DALLASDALLAS
Bobby Lennox served me many a pint in Saltcoars.
Bertie too,in Bairds.
Last chance for me to slaver some rubbish before our next fixture so here goes……
Reckon Dorus and Gamboa will start.
Brendan hasn’t messed about so far with the new bhoys and has fired them straight into the side so after being handed his debut v the sheep, i feel that #1 jersey is now the property of De Vries.
As for Gamboa…….the only thing that might stop that debut was his travelling for international duty…….so……IF he doesn’t start……id say he will probably do so v Barca.
Never been one to get my knickers in a twist over any game simply because it is just a game of football despite all the other stuff that goes on such as the workplace banter, or the snash in the pub and it won’t happen with this one either whatever way it goes.
Was in a relationship with a girl that had suffered physical and mental abuse from her ex, who was a hun.
She was deep and kept the past there, but i always felt i was reaping what someone had sown and after too many strange times i finally just went and asked her mum why she could get like she was and her mum told me a few stories of what she and her kids endured.
Whenever we played the old them and got beat, sadly the family expected me to become just like him and the kids would constantly ask if i was ok.
It was weird, horrible and so sad.
Its a game of fitba…….i will be delighted if we win but it certainly won’t be the end of the world if we don’t.
Have a good day whether you’s are going to the game, pub, or sitting at home 2, or about 12,000 miles away.
BT/Adi/Dallas/JNP
Thanks guys. Spoilt for choice.
I hear we are playing the Glasgow derby this weekend.
Who are the main danger men in the Thistle line up?
HT, completed and submitted.
Hope it helps, and this damned awful law is binned.
Hope Leigh is fit for Barca, if not, I have confidence in Moussa.
Will see the usual suspects on Saturday, if a tad earlier than usual.
Same flies, different turd.
ThunderRoad, I’d say the opposite regarding Gamboa, if he doesn’t start or appear on Saturday, he’ll not start on Tuesday, he needs game time.
SFTB’s, it’s not that bad, it’s the newly promoted Glasgow team we face on Saturday, not as stiff a test as PT.
Dallas.
Thanks. No attacks for a week now, so that’s good. Gave ticket away on Saturday as I thought I wouldn’t be up to it, sort of regretting it now but deep down I know it’s a sensible call. Guy over from Germany has ticket.
At hospital on Tuesday to see Professor Holyoake to get results of bone marrow biopsy etc, after that I will have clarity and can take it from there, tonight I feel really good but like a broken down record, please remember that there are so many people worse off than me. However that doesn’t mean I’m not grateful for all the prayers and kind wishes.
Hail Hail to all.
Off to the racing at Chester anyone know where I can watch the first half. Fully expect it to be done by then which will allow me to concentrate on picking winners. Anything in green always a good idea.
Thanks in advance
JNP
I’ll update you a bit by text tomorrow. We’ve got a few things planned which will be supported by most SPFL clubs including another day of action.
The deadline is 23rd October so there’s time but I don’t really think a lot of supporters realise how significant their contributions could be.
I hope you’re keeping well my friend.
Toronto’s own BMCuWP,
has managed to arrange a wee Friday night Huddle for the Bhoys in town
Thanks Mike in Toronto :-)
HT, I filled it in several weeks ago, even left my name, should I expect a wee visit fae the Polis now
Hail Hail
David murray cheated due to deindustrialisation-.
David murray was a supporter of thatcher.
A product of thatcher
Murray personified Thatcher
A shyster in a suit with an angle
Debt shyster
Other peoples money. He gets kudos.
Dodgy
HH
H.T.
Thanks for update.
See my reply to Dallas ‘re health.
As ever I will text you on Tuesday with update. Thanks for all the support from you and Minx.
P.S. Paddy in Cancun, flew out on Monday morning, he text Wed night to say he had arrived safely. I asked him if his flight had been delayed for 48 hours. He bit and replied that he only has 30 minutes internet access a day and wouldn’t waste it on me anymore. He did put a smile at the end though.
Hail Hail.
looking for some advice, I need to take the car on Saturday as I need to be home in time for a 50th anniversary party.
Last time I drove down was about 10 years ago and i parked in the Nuneaton St area. Can you still park on the streets there or is it a no park area.
My seat is in the main stand and I would prefer to park at that side of the ground.
Thanks in advance.
Doc
Good man, now get everyone you know to do it! Please :-)
Fifty years ago Celtic were setting out at the start of a season which would see them win all before them, including the European club champions cup. That’s all.
Bobby, seeing Big Billy , collecting glasses in his pub in the Southside, was too much for one of my pals.
He couldn’t believe seeing our greatest living Celt collecting glasses in a pub, even though it was his boozer. My pal kept on going on about it for weeks lol
JNP
Ye I’d heard the bhoy was away because I was trying to book seats for Saturday for DG and his mates but hauf the bus is is on holiday! :-)
P has a gift, I just need to see him and I smile!
Cowiebhoy
You sound good sir. We’re delighted.
Good Evening.
Just done a new piece about the abject failure of the the Scottish press to behave like journalists
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2016/09/08/bring-me-more-old-firm-bullsht/
BROCHBHOY on 8TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:27 PM
I’m pretty sure Nuneaton St is all buses now. If you’re coming from the east along London Rd you won’t get that far. The polis are erecting riot fences at Springfield Rd so you’ll be directed right towards Parkhead cross.
HT
Filled out the form, bit of a pain but there you go.
I have a feeling that if you don’t furnish them with your name and give them at least an e mail addy they will bin it, just going by things that have gone before.
Best of.
HH
Auroraborealis79
How very dare you!
75% of supporters THINK they were liquidated. . . . It’s not an opinion, it’s a legal fact, so that should read KNOW.
The author knows it too, so I’ve no idea why there are so many references to Rangers without a) quotation marks or b) their year of birth, 1872, and year of death, 2012, Or(c) at the very least, the definite article, as introduced by Big Hauns himself. ( See what I did there?).
Guy seems a bit obsessed, if you ask me!
Shoot out between the young guns Iheanacho and Rashford in the big Saturday lunchtime derby?
Dallas.
Another Lisbon lion who ended up in the pub trade was Bobby Murdoch.
He ran The Levern Water Hotel in Nitshill for a while. Now Nitshill was/is rough but The Levern was the roughest of the lot.
It was sad to see a true legend having to run a place like that to make ends meet.
However no one would ever be able to take his achievements from him.
Hail Hail.
An Tearmann, you might get incoming with your great post about the Madame Medusa of British politics .
H.T.
Yes Broon or Maddy,as he likes to call himself, on here, Paddy and Crum all on holiday.
Butsybhoy will have to make sure everything is in order on the bus. :-))))
Absolutely no idea why this song popped into my head all of a sudden.
R Dean Taylor – There’s A Ghost In My House.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wjSqDVP7aEY
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Its ok, we got the inverness tickets. My Dad “took care” of it.
Time for breathing exercises
Phewcsc
HH
WEE BGFC
Jimmynotpaul, after Malcolm MacDonald , Bobby is my dad’s next favourite Celtic player.
Was that pub as grand as the Nia a roo.
TET
Thanks for completing it K, trust me there are forces at work and every supporter who completes it advocating it be repealed is making a difference.
JNP
Feck me T, that’s the blind leading those with nae eyes!!! :-)
Hamilton Tim
I am coming off the M74 at junction 1 thats the way our bus usually comes, this takes us by the back of the veladrome, thats why I was asking about Nuneatin St area.
I park just off Nuneaton street. Plenty parking for cars if you are there early enough and always the fastest escape afterwards down skimming Bridgeton, passing Shawfield and onto M74. Cops always doing there ole traffic fing on this route with no regard for FOCUS.
MWD
Wee BGFC
Yer Dad deserves a pint or two for that.
Tell yer Mum I said it was ok.
HH
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Hello it’s Thursday night Country night here on TIM radio! A bit of southern to rock your way into Friday!!!!!!!!! First BBS with Rock and Roll again.
You know she made me rock and roll again
Put the rhythm in my soul again
Night all.
Enjoy.
Hail Hail.
Push me back across the line again
And put the writin’ on the wall