I still haven’t told the wife I’m going to the game tonight. I’m waiting for the right moment. Which will probably be tomorrow morning when I \u00a0get back.<\/p>\n
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Celtic have a must win game against Milan tonight in the Champions League. Milan are in crisis, they haven’t won for weeks-in fact since they played us, and there fans are in uproar. Thats all we need after the last champions League game.<\/p>\n
The support waited outside for the team after the weekend game , to give them a kicking, I presume, and at least if they wait around tonight it will help us all get away a bit quicker. Maybe they could do a protest in the ground after the game, if they get beat.<\/p>\n
Memo to Celtic. Spotlights around the stadium near the old bus park.<\/p>\n
Figured I should mention that in case I forget. Exiting plans will need to be clearer than last Saturday. Perhaps we should get the Dutch police to help.<\/p>\n
Neil Lennon seems like he’s up for it, but has a note of caution;<\/p>\n
\u201cI CAN’T worry too much about Milan\u2019s problems. We\u2019ve had them in the past ourselves and it\u2019s not a nice place to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a calibre of player and they like these nights. They like the Champions League and they have the pedigree. They have a backroom staff with four or five Champions League medals. So the whole structure of the club is geared towards the Champions League.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might not be a vintage Milan team but it\u2019s still an excellent side.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople question Balotelli\u2019s temperament on a night like this but I think he\u2019ll enjoy it. I\u2019ve seen him play at Old Trafford and City won 6-1. He scored two and played brilliantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe played brilliantly the other night as well despite all the negative headlines coming out of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know he missed a penalty but his play in general was really good. He\u2019s so strong and his first touch was good.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had 13 attempts on goal and didn\u2019t score but he was making chances for himself or getting on the end of things. He looked a top, top player.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sometimes you see the head and the body language but sometimes he puts that on as a show.<\/p>\n
There have been times when he has blown up in matches and I hope that Balotelli turns up tomorrow rather than the other one. But you never know. He is a bit unique. You forget how young he is and he probably won\u2019t mature for another two or three years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frankly, I’m more concerned about which of our players will turn up. Lennon answered that for me;<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of them owe it to themselves to make up for the Ajax game because they\u2019ve been so good.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have played well above the expectation level thrown at them in the last couple of years.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes you take it for granted and expect the team to play like that every game. But the first half in Amsterdam brought a realism again to where we really are.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to find that high level we have been showing in previous games.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe showed what we can do against Milan at the San Siro. Unquestionably that was one of our best away displays. One of the best I have been involved in either as a player or a manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we ended up losing the game. So while we can take a lot of things from it we still didn\u2019t get the result we were looking for.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can get the same type of performance and a result this time then I will be thrilled. But it\u2019s all about winning tomorrow night.\u201d<\/p>\n
The crowd will call for a gung ho approach. High intensity both on and off the pitch should put the fear of death into an already fragile Milan side. Midfielder Kaka explained the mindset of the Italian side;<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bit tense but tension is not bad sometimes. It can motivate you.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are always under pressure at Milan.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter seven matches without a win, that pressure of course gets more and more.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur big problem at the moment is we just can\u2019t get a victory.”<\/p>\n
Get intae them. As the saying goes.<\/p>\n
Celtic will have pretty much a full squad to pick from, and hopefully we will start the game at one hundred miles an hour and pick up speed as we go along.<\/p>\n
First player to do a sidieways pass tonight instead of a shot on goal gets a piece of doggy do in his letterbox.<\/p>\n
Keep the tempo up, keep the atmosphere frenzied, and get the win that pushes us towards the last sixteen.<\/p>\n
For all that talk, the odds are against a lot of goals. Celtic have only scored once from open play thus far in the tournament, and Milan have only scored twice in their last four games. Which is exactly how many Celtic have conceded at home in the five games in Europe this season. Is any of this relevant.<\/p>\n
Well, thats what the bookies take into consideration when fixing odds. They are usually right.<\/p>\n
Milan are favourites-just-to win tonight, but what statistics cannot factor in is the crowd. Granted, it won’t be a supporter who scores tonight, but the passion in the stands can be the wild card tonight-if its matched on the pitch.<\/p>\n
C’mon the hoops.<\/p>\n
Have to keep it short today, things to do before I set off. Like avoid the wife.<\/p>\n
Incidentally, did you see that survey that says British couples are having less sex ? My wife has cut me down to just a couple of times a week, but i suppose I’m lucky. I know a couple of guys she’s cut out altogether.<\/p>\n
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It’ll serve me right.<\/p>\n
We’ve had a lot of emails concerning the goings on at Sevco, and I’ll put all them together later this week. Thanks to those who sent them. Today, though, \u00a0is about us, and the game tonight.<\/p>\n
C’mon the Hoops.<\/p>\n
That was Dixie Deans in the picture yesterday, or , as he was known in match reports when he played against Hibs-<\/p>\n
Deans (3) -we could do with a Dixie tonight.<\/p>\n
Today, who is this guy, and what happened after he scored against tonights opponents a few years ago ?<\/p>\n
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