The count of how many times I’ve heard “I hope we don’t take the foot off the pedal like we did last year” has reached double figures. This is never a good sign. Football games, against any level of opponent, need to planned for and respected.
During last season’s League Cup semi-final, Celtic went two goals up early on, then made 100% sure the result would never be in danger by denying Newco even an attempt at goal (the match stats recorded one attempt, which was actually a wayward cross from a free kick). Compare and contrast with Borussia Dortmund’s two goal advantages last night. While I’d love to score a barrel-load, winning the game is all that really matters.
We have seen enough Celtic teams dominate possession in Europe against less-resourced teams only to lose to the sucker punch. This has been a harsh lesson, which I hope has been learned.
I doubt many of us know what to expect from Newco. They won the Championship but this season didn’t have to contend with vastly superior Hearts team. They are also in the semi-final because they thumped Premiership Dundee 4-0 at Ibrox, which is a huge result for any lower league team (we’ve failed to score twice against Dundee recently).
All my “Rangers” supporting pals tell me they are hopeless at defending, so there’s a decent possibility they will defend deeply and play on the break – just as several others have done effectively against us this season. We’re going to have a lot of possession in the final third, but Scott Brown and Nir Bitton will need to offer a lot of defensive cover.
Most of all, we’ll need discipline. There’s a red card winging its way to the first Celtic player to stare at an opponent in a rash manner. The First Minister will probably get involved too, so be prepared.
Did you read Walter “dare I say it, 10 in a row” Smith? What a man to have in your corner days before a big game. He’ll have them thinking it’s 1957 all over again!
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Charlie Gallagher! What a Player! is the new book by Celtic historian David Potter, published by CQN Books at the end of the month. Order your signed copy HERE or click on the image below.
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Mo Johnson makes it all better.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/mo-johnston-interview-i-can-t-go-back-to-celtic-1-
4101844
Comment of the day:
7:01 PM on 16/04/2016
“….Celtic didn’t have the money” to sign him, says Johnston.
Neither, as it transpired, did Rangers.
AoW
Apologies I got busy. 2002
Queens Park
Third Lanark
Almore
That would be great. Obviously were needing to sell as many as possible.
I think a League and Cup double this year would be our 99th and 100th major trophies. Is this correct and is anyone else aware of this?
Macjay
Love it
Actually for a right wing xenophobic reactionary you aren’t too bad☺
Answer – Queens Park – 10 & Hearts – 8
Q4 – In that run to the final we played Liverpool away, who is missing from that team – Douglas, Mjalby, Balde, Lennon, Lambert, Petrov, Larsson, Harton. (1 point for each)
Malvinas
The technical area could grow enough grass to supply every puffer at Glastonbury and T in the park.
Harton?
Joos Sylla Tommo
Thompson
Agathe
Lauraen
Quiet day in front of the tv watching the game? Oh no,my son has just informed me that he’s invited virtually everyone ho knows to our house to watch it. “Take it they’re all time?” a reasonable question I think in the circumstances. “There’s three who don’t care either way” meaning they’re Huns obviously. C Mon the hoops!!
Valhaaren, Sylla , thomson
Joos, Alan Thompson, John Hartson. :))
Tims.
Valgaeren, Sylla, Thomson
TGCW
That’s what you get for running the local Orange Hall!
I’ll leave you with this Ghuys…
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
HT
Everyone’s got to have a hobby. He is away out with his pals to buy cases of beer so maybe not all bad.
Answer – Vaelgen, Sylla, Thompson
Q5 – In season 1985/6 Celtic had their last 2 games away from home, we all remember St Mirren, but who was the other team?
THAT WAS JOOS BTW
Motherwell
motherwell
Mwell
Motherwell
HT?
Motherwell
TGCW
Hope you’re talking about B and not A?!
At high noon on the seventh day,
Our Champions set out to slay,
An evil that was not put down,
The filth, the shame of Glasgow Town
We thought we’d sent a steely dart
Right through their dark malevolent heart
But their presence it still makes us frown,
The filth, the shame of Glasgow town
So tomorrow we can have some fun
By setting out to thrash the hun
And let them look upon our crown
Half time scores –
Burghbhoy- 12
Hamiltontim – 7
DD- 7
TSOAL- 12
Timreaper – 8 (missed 1st 2 q’s)
HT amended to 9.
Q6 – Queens Park did not concede a goal since their inception until 1875, how many years was this a)2 b)3 c)8
The cheats are googling! :-)
Blast, premature post.
Ach broke my thread, cannae finish it noo :(
3
8
c 8
HT
You and I report card.
Must do better. Mon bro! :)
8