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Taking the foot off the pedal talk

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  11. Delaneys Dunky on

    The Huddle

     

     

    Do yourself a favour and download Gomez acoustic session for BBC 1998. Truth

  14. the_huddle on

    Delaneys Dunky on 17th April 2016 2:24 am

     

     

    Do yourself a favour and download Gomez acoustic session for BBC 1998. Truth

     

    ——————-

     

    From where, google doesn’t show the way

  19. Delaneys Dunky on

    Petec

     

     

    The dichotomy of Patrick Roberts and Colin Kazim Richards will destroy the vermin tomorrow.

     

    No mercy Ronny. Send the rats scuttling back to their midden please.

     

    5 in a row!

  22. the_huddle on

    Delaneys Dunky on 17th April 2016 2:33 am

     

     

    I have a bootleg. Available up the barras bro. ;)

     

    ——————-

     

    Next time I’m up getting my Amiga games I’ll grab a copy :O)

  26. petec on

    Delaneys Dunky,

     

     

    Broonie is getting on now and his form has been patchy since returning. He will be right up for this one, like all of our International players will be – like it or not, the players are wanting to play in these games more than any other domestic fixture.

     

     

    I’m hoping Nir will dominate the game and look to pass the ba’ forward again.

     

     

    SJ is likely to be the main man, IMO, as he will not give the hun a second on the ball to build anything.

     

     

    Feeding Patrick and whoever else is selected wide will be the key to getting the goals.

     

     

    Ronny might go for Tom Rogic as the 10 but I doubt it.

     

     

    Dare I put a tenner on 7-1?

     

     

    Worst ever run of form. No accummulators are coming in… I don’t do single bets, unless they are WITS tips.

     

     

    PP have the best odds for 7-1.

     

     

    I’ll decide when I wake up.

  27. Delaneys Dunky on

    The Huddle

     

     

    SFA and MSP are Wales finest. Stereophonics a credible 3rd best Welsh band.

  34. jimbob71 on

    Welsh bands.

     

     

    Went to Wembley to see Aerosmith many years ago. Back up was Kenny Kravitz and Stereophonics, Black Crows and someone else. Fantastic gig. Loved Sfereophonics since then.

  41. jimbob71 on

    God Bless everyone at Hampden tomorrow, May it all pass peacefully when Celtic win by 4.

  42. Delaneys Dunky on

    Petec

     

     

    Wow! Forgot how much Future Sound of London changed my life. Thank you.

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