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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Just seen some of the comments regarding Mo Johnson. I remember reading an article when he’d came back to Glasgow. The interviewer asked if there had been any occasions in which he’d been concerned. I expected to read about Celtic fans giving him bother. He said there was one such event,a player of the year night in larkhall. He had been advised by Deadco not to attend but decided he had to. That I think sums up his situation. He was abused by his own support at such an event. That’s what happens when you sell your soul.
TSOAL?
TGCW
His soul wasn’t for sale. To do what he did demonstrates a complete lack of anything resembling a soul.
HT
At least Judas had the decency to hang himself after his betrayal.
Penultimate question – `Ten men won the league’ – who was sent off? Fastest finger….
My hero Daniel Fergus sussed him fae day one. Ask Danny about Mo. Then duck.
Doyle
Judas will roast in hell fires
Larkhall tgcw-jeez!
I met a woman from Larkhall whose dad (wheelchair bound ms victim) was wheeling his way out of church after mass and had stones pelted at him by the local schunm!
Doyle
John doyle
Flippin Twitter!!!
The great John Doyle.
OK – FINAL QUESTION (points are 5,4,3,2,1 etc…)
Who am I?
Clue 1 – I captained my country against England at schoolboy level, aged 15.
Roberts
Paul mcstay
The maestro
Maestro
McStay
Tommy Gemmell and Paul McStay on the blog within 24 hours :O)
Clue 2 – I scored on my league debut against Aberdeen – Jim Leighton was in goal
Pele :-)
Paul ‘Maestro’ McStay.
McGarvey
Maestro was there. :)
TTR
Against England!
Roberts???
Rocket :-)
TTR
Noo yer just mentioning players you’ve read about :-)
I misread it, i thought it said for.
I’m too young for these questions i wasn’t born, it’s no fair!
TTR
You ken Big Jock??? :-)
HT
Stoap pickin oan the weans. ;)))
….and the winner is…Burghbhoy with a magnificent 18 points.
2nd – Delaneys Duncan – 15 points
3rd – Timreaper – 14 points.
Thanks for taking part.
HH
My Celtic might be different from other Celtic fans Celtic…
Growing up not winning many games against our “old” rivals……never stopped me
Icing bei g a Celtic fan
Winning ? Does it matter ? Not a jot ? From the day I could think for myself I knew the score…..
Paranoid, my arse….
Enjoy the good times, the Huns are having laps of honour against Dumbarton & Peterhead 2 weeks in a row………. Enjoy their pain
Ghuys
Thanks for the comments/prayers for Paul Murphy. Think the family are relieved that his suffering is now at an end. As I said a real good Tim. Any on here from the Peter Scarff club Linwood might have known Paul. Before the one day trips there were a group of Belfast guys who used to stay in Paisley before (and frequently after) the games and Murph would have been the first to arrive and the last to leave.
RIP Murph YNWA
Bobby
Looking forward to October
KTF and HH fhriend
More than just a blog.
Duncan ffs??
AoW
Cheers even though most of the contestants cheated :-)
Hamiltontim – in Celtic we trust!
GEAROID1998 on 16TH APRIL 2016 10:37 PM
I’ll light a candle for Paul at Mass tomorrow.
AoW
Thanks for hosting the quiz.
HT
You did well, it’s the taking part that counts.
Gearóid: Paul Murphy RIP.