A cold February night and a long trip north awaits Celtic as the league challenge continues at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen have blown hot and cold this season as Stephen Glass tries to build his team. As usual, it won’t be easy but Celtic do tend to get results up there and with the current run of form it should be another memorable night.
Not expecting a 7-0 , however, more likely a 3-1.
That run of form was mentioned to manager ange Postecoglou, along with the fact that Celtic have been behind in a game for just one minute out of the last 1350 played, when hibernian took the lead in the League Cup final.
Clearly impressed at the quality of research, Ange told the hack
“I don’t know how sad your life is to be looking up stats like that, mate,”
He’s a mainstream Scottish sports hack, which answers that.
Getting serious for a moment, the manager continued;
“Look, I think it is an indication of our form over the last couple of months – possibly longer, to be honest.”
“I think the key thing for us is not to get too sidetracked about what’s happened in the past. We’ve been really good at focusing on our next challenge and making sure we are at our best.”
“I think when you do that your performance level doesn’t drop, if anything it keeps improving. Then you are really putting pressure on your opponents.
It certainly seems to be working.
As for injury news, no one will be returning for tonights game, though Yosuke Ideguchi might be ready for the weekend game against Raith Rovers, and Kyogo and Turnbull might make the Bodo Glimt game next week.
Then again, they might not.
With the European stuff starting again soon, Celtic have made a few changes to the squad. Out go Shaw and Urhogide, who are on loan, and Soro, who isn’t very good, and in come O’Riley, Maeda and Hatate.
Only three changes are allowed at this stage, and I genuinely don’t think any other club in the tournament will have made a more significant change than Celtic.
Tonights game isn’t on Sky TV.
As usual, they are not interested in anything but Celtic “rangers ” games, and supporters will have to either find an illegal stream, or pretend they live overseas and watch it on Celtic TV.
The only way to get Sky to take our game seriously is to ditch your subscription. They only give it to English clubs to buy our players with anyway.
From a business point of view, we have to accept thats a necessary part of the game these days, but from a supporters point of view not giving them any money makes me feel a little bit better.
Of course, there’s always the impartial Radio Scotland sportsound show.
During the “rangers ” Hearts game it was quite surreal to hear the commentators refer to “Tav ” and “Alfredo ” when describing a couple of the Ibrox galacticos, but then again, they do wear their hearts on their sleeves at the Beeb.
Just lately as the league table begins to look more like it should, it’s been quite fun to listen to as their little world starts to fall apart.
But there is an unmistaken enthusiasm for the game among those in the studio, and bias is acceptable if it’s blatant.
That in itself makes the radio a far more entertaining option than Sky TV anyway, as at least they praise the good in the game and do look outwith the two Glasgow giants.
Matty Longstaff, a player I hadn;t heard of until yesterday, or at best forgotten about, criticised Scottish football as being full of long ball merchants, and it was good to see Ange Postecoglou not only spring to its defence, but emphasise what’s good about our game, and why we should maybe start to stand up for it a wee bit more;
“There is a variety of styles. With us, it is a bit different because a lot of teams will set up more defensively. When I watch games between other teams you can see different styles, different systems.
“But the one thing you can’t shy away from is that it is a competitive league, it’s not an easy league.
“Sometimes, particularly when people come from down south, players will come up here and somehow because maybe the profile of the clubs isn’t high, think you’ll get easy games, get time.
“You don’t get time and space up here. It doesn’t matter who you are playing against. It is very, very competitive.
“It’s why it is a good league for young players because if you can handle the competitiveness of the league here, then that sets them up.
“We have seen it with our players, particularly the foreigners. They need to adjust and understand that every game is a battle.
“Home or away, it is going to have intensity and no teams here give you time and space to do what you want to do. From that perspective, it is a very challenging league.”
There’s been another fine for the club over the fireworks used by the Green Brigade,
Some are blaming the board as the section they use will be closed for the visit of Raith Rovers, and yet again the real problem isn;t being addressed.
Flares are illegal at football matches.
If you break the rules, you will be punished, and there seems to be a section of the support struggling with that simple fact.
Yes, it looks good, and it’s probably not as dangerous as some claim, but there is still the potential for serious injury, which is why they are banned.
On this occasion, the GB have absolutely no defence and cannot possibly expect sympathy as they must have known what the outcome would be.
We’re on a roll on the pitch, lets enjoy it without the extras….
On Monday we had this;
Arsene Parcelie
Someone else say Republic, I dare one
Today…..
Caption:
Quick, the ball is on the hedge.
Ange is spot on about the variety Celtic employ. His team’s athleticism is catching the ‘long ball, boot em up
in the air’ mobs out.’ Tonightvexplay Aberdeen, Lewis Ferguson will demonstrate. Will will the head cases get a grip re glares, am embarrassed.
Not so Rod Stewart, English guy loves their Queen, no story there. Singing a rebel song doesn’t make you a Republican. Back in the 1970s the IRA had a derogatory name for guys who sang the songs snd were posted missing in conflict ‘Celtic IRA men.’ Sorry true, cruel but true. It’s about football today.
Get her, she tried to get in with a Concession season ticket!!!
Caption ..
Quick catch her ,if she chains herself to the railings we will be pilloried in the press , go on kick her , get her down cuff her and take her to the lock up , equal rights for women , that’ll be right …
Half seven at night and 25 degree cee where I am Khids.
Port yer all over the place as normal
It is the bloody heat I tell ya.
England’s metropolitan synchronised ice skating team in practice
Caption:. Police and stewards still trying to catch the wee boy from the Celtic v ranger’s game.
The Green Brigade sit in the vessel of Celtic Park. Shit happens.
.caption.right lads lets play catch the taig
There’s no point causing all this fuss at the palace miss, we have Andrew on CCTV eating a ham and pineapple at pizza express.
Quick don’t let her set the bomb off where is it sarge oh it’s doon her Carter Vickers
Feck, someone else said Republic !
Caption – Quick, some members of the board are paranoid the Green Brigade are going to set the place on fire! HH!
Caption; Teenager catches Prince Andrew’s eye as she walks past mummy’s house…London’s finest act as ‘matchmaker’ for the willing young lady.
penalty to Rangers
Caption:
Lana is oot again.
“Quick, return the ball to Bournemouth!! Ryan Christie has to retake the free kick”.
Glasgow derby pitch invader still on the run.
Caption:
Fireball.
The long arm of The Claw is coming to get you.
sevconians, Arron Ramsey wears a pair of eff this for a game of soldiers football boots.
We are the Pongo.
Caption; quick,hurry up.. the party venue has changed..I mean the business meeting
Ben Doak is a forbearing Bhoy, Jack.
Sufferin’ suffragettes.
In honour of the 70 years reign, sevco FC have purchased a Queen sized treatment table.
Caption
Whits the goalie dae’ in?
Is that Michael Fagan in drag get him before he gets in again
Queen’s Scot’s language instructor tutors her before visit to Glasgow by having her shout out “HELP MA BOABY”.
Caption: Panic ensues as word spreads the queen of england is about to abdicate ones throne.
False alarm, turns out she was talking about one’s golden toilet
Caption : Quick lads, Michael Fagan has come back for seconds.
The Royals get a hand fixing up Andrew with a new wife
The Board reaction to the Green Brigade is clearly influenced by their and the police humiliation over Higgins, which was overwhelmingly opposed by Celtic supporters, if not the author.
Its also the self-same who harassed and fined foodbank collectors, enabled 2 large-scale Hun riots and were responsible for a near-fatal crush outside Paradise.
All carried out without any consequence or censure.
The vast majority of fans oppose the Board and Police actions and those that don’t are a very small rump who only speak out a week later after the Board has told them what to think.
Board stupid? You better believe it.
One of the best comments I’ve ever seen on here, whether it was the true eTims or the now eTragic.
Cha, we’ll disagree at times but I’ll be on your side as it’s clear you’re a very intelligent, proper Tim. I lived in ‘the smoke’ too, once.I’ve a nephew there now and a sibling not far away.
The fannies that have ambushed the site? Let’s just say, for now, I’m watching.
To allow ‘voting’ without comment? Fuck me, I told Ralph and co ages ago, it’s a spineless, witless fukkup for sad trolls. Point made. AGAIN.
Finally, the Board can ONLY be as “stupid”, self-serving, capitalist scum as the supporters allow.
He did say Republic, the wee shite, after him
Michael Fagan goes for a walk down the Mall
Close game. Bereft of the fluid football previous, mark of champions
Good win away Bhoys.
Willie Collum has not got a clue about refereeing a football game.
For 94 minutes he was conned by the sheep shaggers diving club.
And he happily obliged.
Jota should of had a hat trick. Baffling decisions is just the norm now.
Well, we never really got going tonight, a wee bit fortunate to be 2 up at HT although at least we were far the better side.
2nd half was a hard watch and with Collum the MIB made it harder again.
BUT, we ground out a result away from home and CHAMPIONS (elect) do that.
Hail! Hail!
Caption: Officer, yes you at the back, does your head go all the way to the top of your helmet? Tit-head!
sevco FC were ready to print out a League leaders pamphlet.
Caption
They`re skating on thin ice the way they are manhandling that wee wummin, I can tell you.
Having been given a ‘heads up’ by a top Tim to listen to Ange P and having taken his advice and listened several times, I JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH.
AP is, profoundly, what we needed to get our soul back after Lawwell sold us down the river last season. AND, we won 3-2 tonight in a difficult game.
We are Celtic…… on a level playing field we’ll accept any outcome, BUT, we’ll NEVER be at the back of the bus, not EVER again. AND, we’ll call out the Sevco is Rangers lie, day after day, until it is accepted and proven openly that they are fukkin zombies.
HH
On reflection, perhaps tonight (last night) was a ‘wake-up call’ but we still took the essential 3 points.
The energy and commitment of games vs new huns and M’well was missing. Some of our Bhoys, understandably, were jumping out of tackles they should’ve won. It’s not lost on our Bhoys, that the hun Ref society will let them be seriously hurt. Ange sees this too. It’s now about keeping one’s temper and articulating a response to cheating. If all else fails then violence becomes reasonable. I’m on Ange’s side and the Fenian Bhoys’ side.
We’ll fight fire with fire+, attacks with a Bertie Auld equivalence, we’ll fight from the Jungle, from behind the goal…. until that scum surrenders, ‘fur immer‘.
HH