Having established a three point lead in the league, Neil Lennon will not want to allow the chasing pack daylight when Celtic face Hamilton Accies on Saturday, but the manager will surely rest players ahead of the game in Rennes on Thursday. There are few enough benefits of playing in a league with clubs with the resource levels of Hamilton, so we have to take the advantages when they arrive.
The major area of concern is in central defence. Jozo Simunovic’s knee continues to keep him out of the team. Nir Bitton pulled his hamstring at Ibrox and is likely to miss another couple of weeks. Kris Ajer missed the Ibrox game after suffering a groin strain against AIK, we could do with his ability on the ball in France.
If Celtic can take all three points they will extend their lead on one or both of their nearest challengers, as Livingston play Newco later that day. Those two sit within a point of each other ahead of the chasing pack. Which would be nice.
Happy 80th birthday to our own Connaire12, from all your pals on CQN. Paint Greenock green tonight!
117 Comments- Pages:
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http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/the-lennon-press/
Celtic are playing more aggressive front-foot football under Lennon. Goals and chances created are up. There are other clear improvements shown in the data under from this approach. However, there are also dangers whilst Celtic achieve the organisation and consistency of personnel to implement Lennon’s plans effectively.
Gaun yersel Connaire12…………….
HH.
Happy birthday Connaire.
Martin42
If in doubt about anyone’s fitness on that pitch, then don’t play them. Things should be banned anyway😈😈😈
Happy 80th birthday to Connaire.
Speaking of birthdays, and as CQN is the latter day equivalent of the Notices column in the paper…
Pleased to report that my wee girl had a wee girl on Tuesday night, putting a new bonnet on the family hat stand.
Paul 67, apologies for taking the podium with selfish promotion of my own stuff!
To do you the courtesy of actually responding to the article…..
The league, I believe, is weaker this year. Other than the Ibrox outfit, all the other sides, living within their means, have gone through the usual cycle of losing key players. At best the likes of Aberdeen and Hibernian are struggling to match last seasons level. Hearts under Levein will continually regress. Kilmarnock lost their X factor in Clarke.
My point on this in general is that Lawwell’s desire to have a “Rangers” in the league as the best of all worlds comes with considerable risk in seasons such as this. Whilst Celtic are indubitably the stronger side, the margins for error are reduced when the closest opposition are less likely to drop points due to the overall weakness of the league.
Celtic needs a strong Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs to ensure league domination.
A weaker league with an overstretching main rival is riskier than it ever should have been.
Rest and rotation and points first 11 against Accies:
Forster
Bauer
El Hamed
Julien
Bolingoli
Brown
Ntcham
Forrest
Christie
Elyouassi
Griffiths
Off the bench – Bayo, Taylor and Sinclair.
Rumour of new contract for Eddy
Forster
Bauer
El Hamed
Julien
Bolingoli
==============================================================
Ye Gods.
Including the great wall , if we can get away with a complete do over of our central defence and flourish , then what do we have to complain about in terms of recruitment ?
Sfa ?
Hoopy birthday Connaire 🏆🏆🏆🍀🏆🏆🏆🍀🏆🏆🏆🍀HH
Bada
Rumours of a new contract for Eddy
McGregor as well i believe
In the past, that sort of announcement would settle the fans worries a bit.
Now they make me more anxious…
Happy birthday/anniversary MrsB67 my rock HH
The Battered Bunnet, Brilliant, Congrats to all,
Macjay don’t forget Greg Taylor as well. In fact there could be a case made for blooding Lee O’Connor or at least having him on the bench.
You are correct Bhoylo, If Eddy gets a new contract it will include a 40 million escape clause. That is how this business works.
Macjay
3 of those have been mainstays – Julien, El Hamed and Boli Boli…
Fraser’s our new No 1. Big Kris is a starter and should partner Julien at CH but hopefully ready for Rennes.
Taylor can figth it out for No 3. I think Bauer will bew the mainstay at No. 2 but a good contest with big Tam.
No Ralston, no aging Lustig, no underperofrming Gamboa and Toljan. Feels a better place for it.
Sky at it again, photos and times of EPL manager’s press conference, and Slippy G at 3.30……pathetic
Had been banging that drum earlier in the week.
My team for Hamilton is:
Forster, Bauer, Elhamed, Julien, Boli, Ntcham, Christie, Elyounoussi, Rogic, Forrest, Bayo
You could switch in Griffiths for Bayo
You could switch Brown for Christie (taking Brown off after 60 mins)
Not sure how close Rogic is to fitness but Lennon was talking him up
CalMac and Eddy started both Friday & Monday
Personally, I’d go wild and throw Kouassi in. But that would be a bit mad.
Celtic By Numbers at 12.35.
A very good point. Although, so far Sevco have only managed single goal victories against Kilmarnock and St Mirren so it remains to be seen if they really are likely to drop less points. We just need to take care of our own games. And, based on Paul’s leader it may be just as well we held onto Jack Hendry!
Ps sun’s oot again but thanks to those that offered advice this morning ;-)
Big Hoopy Birthday to Connaire 12
CORKCELT on 12TH SEPTEMBER 2019 1:01 PM
Yes.
Sorry. Didn`t make my myself clear.
I was focusing on the team suggested by :
BIG WAVY on 12TH SEPTEMBER 2019 12:36 PM
A few interesting notes from the Norway national team over the international break:
– Birger Meling never made it off the bench either game
– Tarik Elyounoussi made it off the bench for both games
– The lack of Kris Ajer saw big Tore Reginiussen (Hero of Leipzig) get at a game. Get
him signed!
– Omar Elabdellaoui started both games and I hope he remains a target if things
don’t work out with Bauer
– Erling Braut Håland is one we missed. Son of Roy Keane’s nemesis. Scored bucketloads of goals for RB Salzburg this season.
BIG WAVY on 12TH SEPTEMBER 2019 1:02 PM
Couldn`t agree more.
Jam packed with talent.
Better place indeed.
Papa Bunnet
Congratulations to all, on the arrival of 👶 Bunnet
Hail Hail
Hoooooopy Birthday Connaire!
Congratulations TBB
Hooooooopy Birthday MrsB67.
TwosleepsCSC as Jobo would say
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 12TH SEPTEMBER 2019 12:35 PM
Congratulations to your daughter, her partner and of course to you for your very important contribution of pacing up and down until the news was received.
Happy Birthday Connaire.
I see your a Greenockian, perhaps we have shared a bus at some point over the years.
Best Wishes.
Big Hoopy Birthday to Connaire 🎂
The Battered Number a grandad 😱 you don’t look old enough, congrats and hope mum and baby doing well
HH
TIMALOY29
The Elyounoussi that came off the bench was Tarik, cousin to Celtic’s Mohamed. They do look amazingly alike.
IniquitousIV
Dena
The Battered Number might not look old enough but The Battered Bunnet can manage to on occasions !
JJ
PS Warmest congrats, T.
INIQUITOUSIV on 12TH SEPTEMBER 2019 1:34 PM
TIMALOY29
The Elyounoussi that came off the bench was Tarik, cousin to Celtic’s Mohamed. They do look amazingly alike.
__
Haha thanks for pointing out
Sign em both!
Big congrats to all CQNers celebrating new borns and milestone birthdays – announced on here or not.
Great time to be a Celt.
Our ongoing success is absolutely destroying them….
Hail hail…
Connaire
I hope you have a very happy birthday.
The Battered Bunnet
Congratulations to you on the birth of your grandchild. It doesn’t get much better than that.
As regards the game against Hamilton, one of the most important aspects of our preparation should be to insist that the pressure of the match balls is checked by the match officials prior to kick off.
Many happy returns to Connaire 12.
TBB. Congratulations 👍
glad to hear Neil Lennon highlighting the ‘no slip ups’ mantra after beating Sevco.
I’d say he is haunted by 2011 where we:-
Beat Rangers 2-0 and a week or so later drew at Hamilton
Beat Rangers 3-0 and a week or so later lost 0-2 to Motherwell
Drew away to Rangers (and missed a soft pen) and then lost 2-3 to Caley a week or so later
I remember being annoyed at the first slip up; angrily constructed a big trampoline away from the family after the second; lost the plot entirely after the third
The Battered Bunnet
Many congratulations, hope mother and granddaughter are doing well.
FrannyB67
Best wishes to Mrs B67, trust you both will have a great day.
TBB- Good health to all,HH
Dedryck Boyata……….injured
The Battered Bunnet – Congratulations to all of the family
FrannyB67 – Best wishes to your wife.
HH