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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14-1 for a Griff hat-trick…….will be doubling it with WITS tip for Ayr……kerching!!!!
Another Leinster try. Come on you Celts!
Geordie.
I don`t recall saying that. Maybe said I don`t watch football on telly but I do watch rugby and The Simpsons.
JJ
Was thinking of getting a ticket for myself and my mate The Green Man for Sunday. The thought of TGM in close proximity to the hun put me off that idea. ;))
Bognorbhoy,
I take it that reply was from the Scottish BBC, I think you can take it further and introduce the recent legal opinions made by some of the most senior legal minds in Scotland.
Are BBC Scotland now overruling the their judgement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgXwIIHAmaw
perfect !
Edinburgh run one through !
JJ,
I coulda swore you said you were handing it to cash converters so you could buy a shirt like mines :D
I went to the doctors a while back, complaining that I can’t stop thinking about animated TV programmes.
He asked “what are the symptoms?”
I said ‘a wee yellow family from Springfield!’
I’mhereallweek csc
Bognorbhoy
Spotted it as I was hitting the ‘post comment’ button
CANAMALAR IT LOOKS LIKE OCD OBSESSION
i will be emailing them back (when im sober)
My son who is working on Sunday told me he and his Tim workmates are no that bothered about not seeing the match. Said it was like playing Raith Rovers or Dunfermline in a semi final.
and leinster get one back
THUNDER ROAD
whats a podium ? ;-)
“There’s a red card winging its way to the first Celtic player to stare at an opponent in a rash manner.”
Paul67 to be fair the refs, linesman and SFA are locked in a dark room in a lodge somewhere in lanarkshire drawing the Celtic player to be sent off just now. The hot balls in the pot are Scott Brown and big Kazim, with griffiths as a back up for 2 bookings for a hat trick.
“The First Minister will probably get involved too, so be prepared.”
Surely the scoddish govt would not get involved in a football match let alone produce a law designed to even up the score. This is not russia #perestroika
Well comrades!! Whilst I be going here is a russia related gag
Q: Where do Russians get their electricity?
A: From Moscow Dynamo
Hailski Hailski
Good mhan Bogmor bhoy make an official complaint and take it as far as you can be bothered :)
DD@ 8.47
I would need a straight-jacket and a muzzle:)
Full Moon Fever at 12 in the afternoon:)
Even the sight of that scabby blue dish-rag of a strip is enough to drive me doolally:)
HH
Why the paranoia about game manager Thomshun? :)
Not watching it, but have seen bits of the Hull v Wolves game tonight, shocking standard, to think that guys like Steve Bruce has spent squillions on his team and IMO, they are no better than anything that the spl has to offer, and a sight worse.
Imagine what we could do with the sort of wages they pay
Tell you what…this rapid technological change is difficult to get to grips with.
Im still getting to grips with smart phones…but as we speak, theres a wee online robot making me a pizza.
Marx would have loved 2016:)
HH
The only statistic I want Ronny and the team to keep in mind this week-end is the current run of 0 for 2 in semi-finals at Hampden. Get it sorted.
Hope we intend to take advantage of our significant physical advantage over Sevco’s midget army. Mikael, Dedryck, Charlie, Nir and Tom are starters in my team. Big Colin to come on later to knock them over like skittles. Send the message; from July you’re up against the big bhoys now.
Canama
How tricks? when you back
TGM
A few weeks ago Mrs TET and I were in Granada for a bit of shopping, decide that we would have a McDonalds, it was all robotic, we quickly exited the joint, too much for old timers like us :-)
HH
TET
Few weeks ago….i needed to go to town to see about some random council problem.
Ended up outside what was the old births,deaths, marriages etc.
Opened the old original doors….when i walked in, it was like an airport.
Took a ticket….5 mins, problem solved, back on the street.
Bizarre.
HH
Calabam,
Be home for my birthday
Well, Leinster , clearly the quality side of the two, have just won but they made hard work of it. I will not be amazed if a similar comment re Celtic is made after Sunday`s game.
Geordie
Would I really need to Cash in a TV for such a shirt? Are they still available outside Fife?
JJ
Tricks are all illusions and distraction
How’s you and your team, that bhoy of yours singing the The broad black brimmer yet
TET
McDonalds does not appeal to me but if one is served by a robot I might be tempted. Are you sure it wasn`t just a rather dull human named Robert?
JJ
TGM
Aye, tis a very different world today than when I~we were young.
Mobile phones and the internet are part of life for todays weans, Oh to be young again :-)
HH
we having another one of the frank Gallagher nights out
It’s the rulz
Team line-up for Saturday
———————–C.Gordon———————-
Lustig. Boyata. Mulgrew. Tierney
————Brown. Bitton——————-
–P.Roberts. Johansen. Take ur pick
————–Griffiths————————
Wide left is the dilemma. Options
GMS : probably the most logical choice. Only downside is inconsistency.
CKR : Strong, good link up. Downside, would give Tavernier free licence to get forward
Rogic : Most talented of all the options. Only downside, he is better in central role. Not a wide left
Armstrong : would be my shout. Good pace. Would give best balance between defence and attack, as he is a natural midfielder. Downside, his form and confidence have been poor.
Commons : better option as a sub. He is a mile out in fitness and sharpness.
Forrest : Nah…..that about sums him up. Potentially a good option, but he seems out the picture and uninterested.
JJ
McDonalds disny appeal to me either, but it was handy, and no, it wasn’t a person, you had to order your stuff from a TV screen, we got so far and gave up, we looked for a human but none to be found so we fecked off,
HH
Jungle Jim
I doubt Celtic will benefit from the appalling refereeing we saw in Leinsters favour tonight that is for sure.
The non tackle which nearly decapitated Hoyland should have been a straight red any day of the week. On two counts ….. Too high and not a proper tackle. Somehow the ref and his assistant saw neither !
It was appalling regard for player safety by the referee.
he’s great every time we drive by castle grey skull he boo’s only a puppy but you have to teach him early there the baddies
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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CgGgGewWEAAsbIR.jpg
1977 League win at Easter Rd.
TwoGiantsCSC
TET
Still got black and white telly.
And a milbro sling.
And my first Balaclava:)
Laughing.
Technology eh
HH
Ruggyman
I am in general consensus with your assessments. I would go with GMS. I believe he has become more consistent. Armstrong, by his own admission, has found playing for Celtic a tad overwhelming. I don`t think he would find this game relaxing 0:-). I would also consider the much improved McGregor.
JJ
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CgGgf-HXIAAIM3a.jpg
The class act that was Pat Stanton wins his only league medal at the ground of his beloved Hibs.
GreatplayerCSC