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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Hamiltontim –
Recent tweets suggest that they’re being repainted green and white “as we speak” ;-)
So today sees the so-called “88” derby. Celtic 1888 v Sevco 5088.
Jobo
I’m sure Policescotland will arrest the current painters for criminal damage
Celtic lead the head-to-head in this fixture with one win to Sevco’s none and no draws.
Top scorers in this fixture are Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons with one goal each.
The two sides have never met in the Scottish Cup before.
C’mon Celtic!
Jobo
Brilliant I’ve just seen that! I knew he wouldn’t leave it that way for long :-)
OneMalloy
You have a great day
MacJay
I will tell them that, by the way a cup final against the old time a good few years back (sleek it was playing for them) a friend dared me to watch it with his “pals” 7 Huns and me, I was the last too leave his house around midnight, his wife said how the heck did you put up with that shoite, she was a really nice woman who had no interest in football, I answered, I might be gutted but I know tomorrow morning I will wake up a Celtic fan, the rest of them will be hungover and still bitter and twisted
Tiocfaidh ar la
PHILBHOY
Indeed, puts football way down the worries of a lot of people. Off to Mass now.
Philbhoy
Hope you had a good day and night yesterday
Belated birthday wishes
☘☘☘
Lovely day at the top of Mount Etna.
Habitual Sunday am phone call from my old man .Went to his first Glasgow Derby in 1934 .A 2-2.He wont be watching today –
” Might as well be giving the SFA a round of applause for saving the bastards “
Good luck to all Tims going to the game today. Stay safe.
I can not countenance any result but a comprehensive Celtic victory, so beware the backlash from the horribles. They cannot accept that their team died, and after the rabble rousing performances of Walturd and others during the week, they will not be able to accept the dismantling of the tribute act that they will surely have to witness today.
No mercy Celtic.
No mercy.
Let the people sing.
Hail Hail
Quiet night in last night, fresh as a daisy this morning – quick walk then back for breakfast, before setting off to Mount Florida.
Think we will have the same team as played against Motherwell – let’s hope we ‘turn up’.
Chris Sutton’s summing-up is spot on – if we play, we win. HH
Gallowgate kirbs https://twitter.com/RadicalCelt/status/721603033654824961
GFTB,
Thanks bud, you too, hoping that we all do
HH
Gerry
You in pri ra
Road Bowling today…..
…..hoping for a good score
and a big score.
BeatTheHunsandBeatTheranjurs CSC
Oh, and can someone please explain how Sevco have “lost” O’Halloran and King? These are two players who are ineligible to play for them. They have not been “lost”.
SOUTH OF TUNIS on 17TH APRIL 2016 9:11 AM
I’m with your grandad …… If I want to watch zombies I’ll go to the cinema ….. Liquidation is legally deed……
Throughout our history defeat against Rangers was sometimes inevitable, defeat against todays semi final opponents Walking Dead or whoever they are, is unimaginable.
With the ‘journey’ still incomplete Celtic have a chance of derailing them for next season, a thrashing would also be good for SMSM who have revelled in wielding Scotlands new same club mythology for nearly four years.
There should exist a gulf in class between us and them, and this Celtic side have been conspired against as much as any in the past, so its time to put Hampden to bed. Ronny Deila has another one off game to repair some of the damage to his diminished credibility.
We have a full squad to choose from and all options are available, there are no excuses.
BT
Cheers Buddy!
Had a great time thanks!
Heid no too bad either!
Lenny is running out of kudos, Grand bright if somewhat cold morning in Tipperary, a great day for hunskelping.
Awoken by texts re the kerb painting, they couldn’t pay the face painter so the kerb painters will get hee haw but a red face when the game is done..
COYBIG.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/neil-lennon-accuses-walter-smith-of-being-inflammatory-1-4102456?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
BSR
Correct re Ronny, but today I’d like to hear that the Players stepped forward too.
GLASSTWOTHITRDSFULL –
I’m unashamadely going to steall those various facts and figures for Twitter and pass them off as my own ;-)
South of Tunis,
Sounds wonderful.
I’m thinking much along the same lines as your Dad.
This song is about Stromboli, and a rather attractive lady. It’s the closest I could think of, although I’m sure there will be plenty of songs about Mt Etna.
Any excuse for ingrid Bergman csc
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FYD4ppu9eV0
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 17TH APRIL 2016 9:25 AM
Oh, and can someone please explain how Sevco have “lost” O’Halloran and King? These are two players who are ineligible to play for them. They have not been “lost”.
—–
Disagree. Strongly!
These careless fekkers have ‘lost’ their accounts for several years, lost their crest to a big pie man from the south and misplaced forty quid to pay the face painter!
;-)
COYBIG
HH jamesgang
Bar 67 restored to normal
BANKIE
Them too
HH
Enjoy your CQN…
I’m on the road again…
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Enjoy your day CQN…it’s all the excitement…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
THE DIARY OF ABRAHAM VAN HELSING
April 17 2016 09:40am
I awoke after fitful sleep. Frequently in the night, a fever gripped me, awaking to the terrible torment of screaming goats fleeting across the shadowy rooftops.
Something is in the air this sabbath day. Something of the unholiest origin, come to soil this holiest of days.
I shall with vigour sharpen my clutch of juniper crucifixes, polish the fallen christ upon my crucifix. My larder, brimming with garlic, shall be an invaluable armoury. My cohorts, harnessing the power of prayer will spill from the chapels forged with the courage of the righteous.
The signs were there – all week the town criers warned of a gathering murk, the grocers ran dry of cloves, the skies cracked with fury and church doors thudded shut against the driving rains.
The undead will walk the streets this day. In their verminous, filthy hordes, growling malice.
But we will be ready.
Come noon this day. Noon; The fires of Ghod unleashed upon them. Noon.
At noon they will burn.
Glasstwothirdsfull –
The Twitter world now fully updated. And I did give you a mention ;-)
Unusually loud in the coffee shop this morning, mostly supporters of the newest club celebrating their victory later.
All I can say is ….
bwahahahahaha
S o T
I believe your dear dad is 90+.
How old is your ‘nonno?!’
:-)
Buona passeggiata!
HH!!
Hello again all you young rebels.
It’s with great regret and a very sad heart i have to tell you of
the passing of our good friend and Social Celt Bobby Geddes
from motor neurones disease.
As many of you CQN ghuys know Bobby fought that terrible
disease for many months with great dignity, and our clubs Irish
day today was a sombre occasion.
Bobby leaves his wife and 3 young kids and on behalf of them
paddymacoz our committee and his family i would like to thank
all those who gave messages of support and even financial
contributions to a family in serious financial need as soon as the.
call was made, again i shout with pride ” The Celtic family eh! wha’s
like us?
My everlasting memory of Bobby was at our last Christmas day BBQ
down at the beach park Mornington and despite his serious
debilitating illness, in a wheelchair, and not able to communicate
verbally, i seen that glint in his eyes and a huge smile as he watched
his young kids play football with their Celtic strips on.
God bless you Bobby Geddes and RIP.
H.H Mick
The day of reckoning…..
My Bhoy is playing 11:45 ko so plenty of posts in first half fellas…!