If you were sitting in the Cliftonville dressing room tonight, you would fancy your chances against Celtic. They are a team reportedly playing the best football in their club’s history and are packed with professionals who are focussed on the task in hand. Celtic have vastly greater resources, but the fact that we have a list of excuses ready for a below-par performance is concerning.
The plastic pitch, the departed Wanyama and possibly departing Hooper, the tactically non-existent preseason and the fact that the deciding game will take place in Glasgow next week, are all available excuses, and teams with ready-made excuses often take them.
None of the above hold water, though. I would be surprised if Celtic players didn’t spend more time working on a plastic pitch at Lennoxtown than they spend on Celtic Park. Wanyama and Hooper were each absent from substantial Champions League victories last season and whatever gave Celtic the blues in Germany is a consequence of poor form, not a reason for it. Celtic can draw or even lose tonight and will still be favourites to proceed in the tournament but this is a game of football, and deserves to be respected as such.
The momentum for last season’s triumphs started to build after a solid win in Helsinki. A win tonight in Belfast would take the pressure of next week, allowing Neil Lennon more freedom to prepare for future challenges.
No excuses, Celtic.
To kick off the new season we’re having an Internet Bampots session on Friday at the (always excellent) Columba Club in Blantyre. Paul McConville, Phil Mac Giolla Bhain and myself will be on stage for a Question and Answer session from 19:30.
Tickets are available at the door. See you there.
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The ole old guard return
The team looks as strong as it could be.
Gordon_J, looks like 4231 or 433 to me.
Foster
Listing, Ambrose, Wilson, Izzy.
Brown, Kayal
Sammy, Commons, Forrest
Stokesy
We’ll see when they line up, doubt it’ll be 442.
Feeling more confident now I’ve seen the team.
Better picture in Spain than my living room.
Excited CSC
Asonofdan – probably because relatively speaking its a large amount. Its about 90% of all shares traded in the last 4 weeks. They’re one of the least traded stocks I know of, but the football shares generally are since they’re usually more of an emotional investment.
Also because there’s a big difference between buy and sell prices the movements can be dramatic.
My nerves. Every bloody season for over 50 years. Santamaria! BRB gaga
Steven Craigan’s annoying me and he’s not started yet.
Archie MacPherson CSC
67 heaven
Yesterday I was concerned. Today I’m confident. No idea why the seed change!
Chris 7 0? Good luck…you might need it;-)
new article posted.
COYBIG, I hope we are playing in the Hoops tonight. Fairly happy with that team, almost the same as the one me and my oldest Bhoy had picked, only difference was we had Rogic in instead of Kayal.
Hail! Hail! PMTYH away to watch ra gemme.
Ok folks prediction time,
I’ll go with an underwhelming 1-1 draw.we dont seem to be clicking.
Hopefully we pull a 5 niller out the bag though
BBC Scotland backing an Irish win and BBC NI wants a Scottish win?
HowBizarre CSC
Is there some guy on a boat on council telly before the game??
Twists
That interview made great listening the passion shown by both Bertie & Wispy shone through,so many characters in the lions side it needed a man like Big Jock to control them,I don’t think anyone else could have done it
Big John & Mark McGee shockeroonie in the bbc studio
I love James Forrest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!