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Squad game as some will need rest for Champions League

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  1. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    Lit a fire under my behind!

     

    Got me high and didn’t cost a dime!

  2. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    One thing for certain I can tell you my friend,

     

    My baby made me rock and roll again!

  4. GuyFawkesaforeverhero on

    For those lucky enough to be in Toronto this week, table toppers Boston Red Sox complete a two week road-trip with three games at the Skydome, Fri, Sat, Sun. The Saturday game is at 6pm Celtic Park time and it’s a must-watch for me after the Celts have played at lunch-time.

     

     

    Seven home games next week including four against the Yankees. Bring ’em on.

     

     

    Don’t blame us if we ever doubt you. You know we couldn’t live without you.

     

    Celtic you are the only, only, o-only.

  5. onenightinlisbon on

    Mistakingly turned on car radio tonight and heard a sevconian state that if his team give it their all on Saturday they will “win at a canter”… I reckon a three legged pantomime horse would beat this nag…..

  7. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    She know me well and never fail

     

    She know just how to put the wind back in my sail

     

    She got the key to set me free, it’s just so easy to see

     

    The way she make me rock and roll again

     

    Put the dirty in my mind again

     

    Ain’t nothin’ to it but she pull me back in

     

    My baby made me rock and roll again

     

    Yes she made me rock and roll again

  8. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    She is a thrill up on the hill

     

    She keeps me moving when I get to sittin’ still

     

    If I get slow, she lets me know

     

    I gotta get up and go

  9. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    Because she make me rock and roll again

     

    Put the rhythm in my stride again

     

    Callin’ to me like a long lost friend

     

    She put the writin’ on the wall

  10. Jimmynotpaul on

    Dallas.

     

    Nia roo still going.

     

    Levern Water long gone just rubble now.

     

    That tells you all you need to know.

     

    Hail Hail.

     

    Definitely away this time.

  11. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    Lit a fire under my behind

     

    Got me high and didn’t cost a dime

     

    One thing for certain I can tell you my friend

     

    My baby made me rock and roll again

     

    Yes she made me rock and roll again

     

    Now she made me rock and roll again

     

     

    HH

     

    WEE BGFC

  14. winning captains on

    When we changed CQN over to its current format the number of users in a 30 day period was around 110k.

     

     

    Our aim was to get this up to 200k and when that target was reached we set our sights on reaching 250k.

     

     

    Just had a wee look – for a reason I’ll explain in a moment – and the current number of users for this 30 day period is 285,417.

     

     

    So CQN’s audience has more than doubled and is on its way to being three times higher than the starting point.

     

     

    This week we have been pretty much ignoring the ‘Old Firm’ hype within the features from CQN Magazine. We’ve told a few home truths about who we are playing on Saturday and frankly they don’t like it at all.

     

     

    Meanwhile the MSM, whose circulations continue to fall through the floor, have been indulging in Old Firm Mania all week.

     

     

    Just have a look at News Now and Celtic News Now and you’ll see what I mean.

     

     

    However as we approach a crucial ‘Old Firm’ game they will revert to type and do what they always do.

     

     

    So tomorrow, or maybe Saturday, they will run a story not about the Offshore Report of the Letter from UEFA, not about King’s missing millions and broken promises or about the Flute Band they appeared with last weekend (remember the Tony Stokes coverage previously?)

     

     

    No they will run their usual anti Celtic story.

     

     

    You don’t buy their papers. Next you need to stop reading their links.

     

     

  16. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Jimmynotpaul, it looks better out that way now than it did about ten years.

     

     

    I hope you keep well and you get good news from the doctor next week.

  18. cathedral view on

    BROCHBHOY,

     

     

    Nuneaton Street is no parking but all the side streets off it are fine. Get there early as it gets a bit tight from about an hour before kick off if there’s a big crowd.

     

     

    cv

  19. Hamiltontim on

    BROCHBHOY on 8TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:56 PM

     

    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.

     

     

     

    —–

     

     

    So long as you’re not coming along London Rd you should be fine mate.

     

     

    Ps nae mention of games prior to 2015 in Saturday’s programme guys.

  20. jmccormick on

    Anyone looking for some decent grub in Los Cristianos, I found a really nice place near the church. A really good kitchen, lovely staff and cheaper than the sh it holes on the front with the dodgy entertainment on the mikes.

     

    Relaxing now with a good glass of local vino.

  22. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    Okay – I give up! I’ve been in denial.

     

    I really have missed Rangers.

     

    I’m really looking forward to the Old Firm game.

     

    I really believe they are the same club.

     

    I really believe it was the holding company that got liquidated.

     

    I really believe they were relegated to the fourth division.

     

    I really believe it was a punishment.

     

    I really believe it was because of bigotry.

     

    I really think it was a huge mistake to have them demoted.

     

    I really think this was terrible for Scottish football and is the reason why the national team haven’t qualified for a tournament since 1998.

     

    I really think Scottish football has been rubbish these past four years and not even worth watching.

     

    I really think Celtic should hand back the titles won in the last four years as they are completely meaningless.

     

    I really believe Rangers would have been neck and neck with us in 2014-15 when we finished 56 points ahead of Motherwell who beat them 6-1 after they finished third in the Championship.

     

    I really believe that it was because we didn’t have Rangers in the league that we only beat Barcelona 2-1 in 2012-13.

     

    I really believe that Rangers were given a three year ban from Europe for going into administration and that Hearts avoided that same ban because someone at UEFA slipped up.

     

    I have no idea what Sevco is – other than maybe an anagram of coves.

     

    I really don’t give a hoot about the Barcelona game or any of the other Champions League games.

     

    I’d much rather have more games against Rangers instead.

     

    Sorry – Old Firm games against Rangers.

     

    I really believe that if we finish 20 points ahead of Rangers this season it will still have been a more competitive season than finishing 15 points ahead of Aberdeen last season – just because it’s Rangers.

     

    I really think the two teams are evenly matched and they will be a close rival in the coming years.

     

    I really don’t think Celtic has an identity of its own and only has any global recognition through being half of the Old Firm with Rangers.

     

    I really think the whole £100m+ debt/EBT episode was nothing major and anyway it allowed Rangers to be competitive with Celtic which is the main thing.

     

    So good to get that off my chest. Now I don’t need to be in denial anymore.

  27. RobertTressell on

    Thunder road at 9.08 – I’m now a lurker, for a while anyway, but I felt moved to respond to that post. It deserves a mention. And you are spot on. Worst I ever got was put off eating my dinner and not talking to anyone.

     

     

    Even that was too much.

     

     

    It is only a game. No matter how crappy it feels getting beat. The sad reality of what you describe though should be a reminder to people that for some it is a violent hate filled occasion.

     

     

    Be careful folks. And be good.

  30. Jungle VIP on

    I have recently taken to travelling by train to see games @ CP.

     

     

    I usually go from Glasgow Central to/from Bridgeton and London Rd.

     

     

    Will this route be safe enough on Saturday … ?

     

     

    VIP

  31. Eurochamps67 on

    Celtic v Rangers: Brendan Rodgers relishing first Old Firm derby.

     

     

    Headline by John Barnes on BBC website.

     

     

    Nowhere in the article is old firm mentioned.

     

     

    Support Brendan. Don’t accept same club narrative. There is no old firm.

     

     

    The only peepil who want an old firm are them. They are nothing without us. An irrelevance.

     

     

    Eurochamps67

  33. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    The Clumpany

     

    Excellent article.

     

    Looking forward to you ripping Neil “sporting merit is so important” Doncaster to shreds!

  34. Hamiltontim on

    Jungle vip

     

     

    Coming along London Rd from Brigton will be mixed. The riot cordon will only be in place at the junction of London Rd/Springfield Rd.

  36. voguepunter on

    JUNGLE VIP on 8TH SEPTEMBER 2016 10:23 PM

     

     

    I’m afraid to say that anytime we play a team from Glasgow with rangers in their name no where is safe.

     

    Get a cab to drop you off London rd in front of ground at Celtic way.

     

    ———————————

     

    Before anyone gets a dig in….I will not be working this weekend.hh

  37. Hunderbirds are Gone on

    My banner entry for Saturday…………..

     

     

    ………… “We find that offensive”

     

     

    Could be raised every time the strains of “hello, hello, it’s the only song we know” are heard.

     

     

    :)))

  42. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    HUNDERBIRDSAREGONE

     

     

    Really sicken them,their tune our words-

     

     

    Haha,haha,ha ha haha haha…

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