Notwithstanding the possibility of further setbacks from tonight’s international games, or from commercial flights back to Glasgow, the core of Neil Lennon’s team for Saturday looks stable.
Assuming Christopher Jullien is fit, he will play alongside Shane Duffy and Kristoffer Ajer, with Vasilis Barkas in goal. The central metronome of the team: Callum McGregor and Scott Brown, will be in-situ, Jeremie Frimpong and debutant Diego Laxalt will occupy the wingback roles.
That leaves three places for the manager to fill. Albian Ajeti is now beyond his expected recuperation period and should be ready for 90 minutes, but Neil will be mindful of how his decision to throw a recuperating Mohamed Elyounoussi into December’s League Cup Final backfired. Moi was a passenger at Hampden and Celtic did not spark until after he was replaced. Albian plays a different role and I expect he will get the nod.
That leaves two slots to fill, a forward and an attacking mid.
Odsonne Edouard’s health will be assessed when he arrives in the country less than 24 hours before kick-off. It is a lot to ask of a player to start under these circumstances, but he persistently terrifies the Newco defence. If he has remained asymptomatic throughout it is likely we will see him at some point.
I would start Leigh Griffiths in a heartbeat. He has experience performing in and winning these fixtures. His attitude is perfect for them and he is a born goal-scorer; for years, the sugar in our tea. Patryk Klimala will be full of confidence after his remarkable recovery and goal in Perth last time out. I doubt he will start but he is a striker – just think back to the aforementioned League Cup Final, when Lewis Morgan started up front. That really was an understrength Celtic team.
Ryan Christie would fill the attacking mid role, were he not excluded while healthy, but this is one position Neil is drowning in options for. Olivier Ntcham is most likely to get the start, but Elyounoussi, David Turnbull and Tom Rogic are all more than capable, although I would hold Tom for a late goal-scoring cameo.
It is understandable that news of pandemic exclusions are alarming, but frankly, I don’t know what anyone is worried about. The script is written for this one.
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i know Naka was the “place it” man for frees and shots, but did anyone ever hit a deadball harder than L
i know Naka was the “place it” man for frees and shots, but did anyone ever hit a deadball harder than Lubo
https://twitter.com/i/status/1315950487292780546
SS
I was one of the 20% who would not take a seat without my daughter getting one.
Academic since they were told weggie post codes first, second and third from the government😵😱
If you thought watching Scotland was hard, try listening to them on the radio. Jeese oh.
Anyways BRTH coined a phrase something like “magical things happen at Celtic Park”
I wonder if the Human Torpedo passed on some magic to Henle, what a heider.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1315952430643908609
TT,
That game you mention. Was it a League Cup tie? Did we win with a Bobby Lennox goal and a Bobby Murdoch thunderbolt after they missed a penalty with about 10 minutes to go? I was in the Jungle that night.
SS
Same position as last Scotland game, wife aff to bed leaving me the big telly and sound on. Got some wine to compensate for this pish
decent result for scotland
didnt see it but the stats suggest it maybe wasnt deserved!!
but if you dont concede then you always have a chance to nick a goal
right offski. onwards to the bhoys in green.
Lets all
Possession
Home31%Away69%
Shots
Home6Away16
Shots on Target
Home1Away6
Corners
Home1Away12
Fouls
Home9Away1
Scotland have become Kilmarnock
Great result from Scotland tonight.Amazing fight from the whole team.
Jinky
Playing at Rugby Park may be an idea😵
last for the night …………. saddle up billy.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkSJxyWWkAAUEEL?format=jpg&name=large
Listen,if we can get that result on Saturday with those stats,we will be fekin delighted.
Hi Bhoys
Watched the Scotland game tonight Jack played as if it was a rehearsal for saturday don’t think he moved out more than 30 yards from Scotland goal.
KEEP THE FAITH
Good first half performance and defended heroically in the second. Pretty sure Scotland now only need 2 points from 2 games to win the group. That would provide another alternative play off chance for qualifying for the next World Cup (if we don’t qualify through our WC qualifying section). Would also promote Scotland to Division A for the next Europa in 2 years time. I think…
So, now that that’s out of the way, 3 more sleeps… ;-)
look at their faces, lol
https://twitter.com/i/status/1315256223336468492
I didn’t say it was a bad thing – great result
Just so reminiscent of many a Killie result
I’m quite happy actually😀
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 14TH OCTOBER 2020 9:09 PM
I was one of the 20% who would not take a seat without my daughter getting one.
———-
Me too. WeeBGFC widnae let me go without him 🤨
Actually enjoyed Scotland’s effort there. Back line were solid, determined and well-drilled. Wee Calum best man on the park. McGinn good with quiet patches. Big Dykes – I like them 😉. Fraser – wish he played for us. Jack – good in bits (surprisingly, because he’s a donkey). Taylor – solid, and some decent balls in. Marshall – solid. Would like to see wee Leigh and Lyndon together – would be a decent front line.
Crossed fingers now for no further call offs, and batten down the hatches till Saturday. I do hate 12:00 kick offs though – we don’t seem to get out of bed early enough!! Down with Sky.
HH
BGFC
Great result tonight. We’ve got a team of mostly average players but we are getting a bit of wind in our sails – though the opposition haven’t been great recently, and we rode our luck this evening.
Dykes and Fraser linked well in the first half. Hopefully Griffiths will join them soon.
BIG GEORGES FAN CLUB – HAIL, HAIL, WEE OSCAR on 14TH OCTOBER 2020 10:03 PM
I do hate 12:00 kick offs though – we don’t seem to get out of bed early enough!! Down with Sky.
Have a wee lie in its 12:30 kick off
AT I went tae Milan with the OK club 8 months after returning fae the “land of opportunity”.
Joe Docherty’s mother lived roon the corner fae my in-laws. His nephew, a baker, supplies the pies tae the Bramalea CSC.
PCS it was indeed that LC game, at the time Jock said it was his greatest ever victory, 3 months after Lisbon.
BGFC
…especially when those 12.00 o`clock KO`s are at 12:30pm.
I know Bognorbhoy has beaten me to it but I wasn`t going to let that stop me :-))
Scotland undefeated in 8 games – best run in 32 years!!!! Before smartphones, streaming, wifi…
Hello again all you young rebels.
Just watched a wee vid on Celtic Down Under, big Shane being
asked various questions.
” Shane, who would you like playing beside you at Celtic Park?
Expecting Ronaldo, Messi, etc.
” James Maclean ” said the big man.
Wow, that would make the hun go bonkers lol.
Whats new 8-))
H.H. Mick
P.S Where are you POGMATHONYAHUN?
are you and the good lady o.k.
H.H. Mick
MM
Póg is fine, we’ve been in touch on WhatsApp.
HH
Mick,
What time will kick off be for you on Saturday? And how many glasses/bottles will you have fired through by that point? 👍🏼
Mick x2
It was mentioned by a few people on here during the window that we should have bought McLean.
It seems like a great idea to me. I’m of the opinion of anything that winds them up is worth consideration.
1965 league cup final 2-1
https://youtu.be/YVN7Py2iH24
Great Celtic reading today Celts
Garcia Lorca great post.
hh
FIESDORFER
Ta for that, I know his lady works in the health dept. so
a tad concerned.
MAJESTIC HARTSON
Getting edgy now, hope to wait till tomorrow night and then
it’s out to the barricades, Rebs on, probably a coupla litre bottles
of the rid biddy and assorted beers, really craving a Guinness in
the pub though.
Fingers crossed Daniel opens the pubs on Sunday.
H.H. Mick
SAINT STIVS
Hardest dead ball shot……………Neil Mochan.
Probably a bit before your time.
Good man Mick.
My sister is joining me on Saturday and I’m definitely going to be having a few to calm my nerves throughout the game.
I was talking to my mate’s dad earlier – he played in the Scotland school boy team with Kenny Dalgleish (KD was playing inside right at the time and made my mate’s dad, a left midfielder, look good with the one twos) and played with Holy Cross alongside Jimmy Murdoch (said he was an amazing player) when they won the school’s Scottish Cup. He was quite rightly delighted to be telling me his stories…
– anyway he reckons we will give them a doing on Saturday and has put a decent punt on 7-1!
I love his optimism…
MAJESTIC HARTSON.
K.O. for the gemme will be 10.30 Sat evening for the Melburnian
rebels, just in case that was what you meant lol.
Besides winding up the hun, James is a 100% er and we’ll need that
against the jackboot jokers.
H.H. Mick
If you were allowed three subs during the lions time i think Lubo for sure would be one.
What a player he was and natural two footed.
TIM HORTON
Got to be big Tam Gemmel.
H.H. Mick
TIM HORTON
LUBO
HENKE
SUTTY
???
H.H. Mick
counting minutes towards game , cant wait
will watch in pub, limited to 180 and all siting with that’s socials distance thing.
roll on 9:30pm sat night when team is announced.
when team was announced in December 2019 for celtic park fixture v them , i nearly choked on my beer
MJ wide left and JF wide right, two players who have been anonymous v them
MJ a few times and JF an expert at the anomality v them
I said to some mates that’s us handed midfield to Sevco
sadly that’s what the team on paper did, ie gave them the midfield
Hopefully Neil has learnt this lesson to stop trying to pull surprises out the hat that eventually fail
a few of my fears for team selection
1. he will play Moi and Kilmala up front that would be a total disaster
2. play 3 at the back with an unfit CH in Julian 3 at the back makes CH run far more left and right, we play that and it will be 2 half time 5 the winner utter suicide