13/09/2018 : ST MIRREN V CELTIC (SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP) FRIDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2018
The SPFL is back!
ST MIRREN V CELTIC, SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP, FRIDAY 14th SEPTEMBER
KICK-OFF 20H45, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
Brendan Rodgers makes his first trip to sunny Renfewshire as Celtic play their first Friday night game of the season. Most of the players returned from international week free of injury, and a chance for Brendan to look at a few players in training while their teammates were away. The starting lineup may offer the opportunity to field some of those new faces, with Filip Benkovic the most likely candidate for game time.
A busy time for the Bhoys and for my keyboard now looms with seven games inside four weeks, so some squad rotation looks both likely and necessary. Lewis Morgan is nearing full fitness and back in training, while Tom Rogic was left out of the Australia squad to recover from a knee injury. It will be an interesting tie, after the buddies jettisoned Alan Stubbs faster than the Compliance Officer rejecting a Rangers case, so Oran Kearney will take charge of his first game.
Hail! Hail!
David
ST MIRREN V CELTIC, SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP, FRIDAY 14th SEPTEMBER
KICK-OFF 20H45, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
Brendan Rodgers makes his first trip to sunny Renfewshire as Celtic play their first Friday night game of the season. Most of the players returned from international week free of injury, and a chance for Brendan to look at a few players in training while their teammates were away. The starting lineup may offer the opportunity to field some of those new faces, with Filip Benkovic the most likely candidate for game time.
A busy time for the Bhoys and for my keyboard now looms with seven games inside four weeks, so some squad rotation looks both likely and necessary. Lewis Morgan is nearing full fitness and back in training, while Tom Rogic was left out of the Australia squad to recover from a knee injury. It will be an interesting tie, after the buddies jettisoned Alan Stubbs faster than the Compliance Officer rejecting a Rangers case, so Oran Kearney will take charge of his first game.
Hail! Hail!
David
01/09/2018 : CELTIC V THE RANGERS (SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP) SUNDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2018
Celtic facing their first major league challenge of the season.
CELTIC V THE RANGERS, SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP, SUNDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER
KICK-OFF 13H00, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
Celtic face a major opponent for the first time this season, after a tumultuous period which has seen some sections of the media label Glasgow new boys The Rangers as serious title contenders after they managed not to lose against European giants UFA and some competent performances against other teams we’d barely heard of.
That said, the transfer season hasn’t been so successful for Celtic, with their hand forced into selling what many would consider their prize asset in Moussa Dembélé at the very end of the transfer window. They will have Edouard back and available to play, however, meaning that Celtic will have the same personnel available that played in the 5-0 win last season. It probably will come too early for the 3 new signings completed on Friday, but the squad is otherwise mostly intact from last season.
On personnel, The Rangers haven’t held back on spending money HMRC will never see, but yet to be tested against this Celtic team who found the gears in the 3-0 win against Suduva and now progress to Europa League qualifying against the Red Bull twins and a team called Rosenburg we’ve seen before somewhere. Let’s hope for more ball retention with more incisiveness tomorrow.
Hail! Hail!
David
CELTIC V THE RANGERS, SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP, SUNDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER
KICK-OFF 13H00, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
Celtic face a major opponent for the first time this season, after a tumultuous period which has seen some sections of the media label Glasgow new boys The Rangers as serious title contenders after they managed not to lose against European giants UFA and some competent performances against other teams we’d barely heard of.
That said, the transfer season hasn’t been so successful for Celtic, with their hand forced into selling what many would consider their prize asset in Moussa Dembélé at the very end of the transfer window. They will have Edouard back and available to play, however, meaning that Celtic will have the same personnel available that played in the 5-0 win last season. It probably will come too early for the 3 new signings completed on Friday, but the squad is otherwise mostly intact from last season.
On personnel, The Rangers haven’t held back on spending money HMRC will never see, but yet to be tested against this Celtic team who found the gears in the 3-0 win against Suduva and now progress to Europa League qualifying against the Red Bull twins and a team called Rosenburg we’ve seen before somewhere. Let’s hope for more ball retention with more incisiveness tomorrow.
Hail! Hail!
David
22/08/2018 : SUDOVA V CELTIC , EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFIER, THURSDAY, 23 AUGUST 2018
Last chance to salvage our European Campaign, starting away from home in Lithuania.
SUDOVA V CELTIC , EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFYING PLAYOFF, THURSDAY 23rd AUGUST
KICK-OFF 19H00, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
After resting a few players for the league cup match, Brendan Rodgers will have a few choices to make for the starting lineup in Lithuania. The match will come too soon for ‘French Eddy’ and Lewis Morgan. Moussa Dembélé and more controversially Dedryck Boyata may play some part in the match, with Moussa marking his return with a goal at the weekend in the League Cup game, and we could even see a debut for Daniel Arzani, and suggestions Christian Gamboa has done enough to deserve a start.
After the weekend match, Brendan Rodgers remarked more on the need for the Bhoys to return to their trademark style of play: "Our pressing was too passive and our identity is very much around aggression and intensity in our press and we were nowhere near that. It's been a brilliant couple of seasons here and we can still have that this season. But on the back of a long week, it's something that can prey on the players' mind but this [Glasgow derby win] will be good for their confidence."
Suduva may be unfamiliar opponents, but the helpful Celtic TV has recalled a previous win against them: https://www.facebook.com/CelticFC/videos/296392607823920/. Hopefully we can put disappointment behind us and progress in Europe once more.
Hail! Hail!
David
SUDOVA V CELTIC , EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFYING PLAYOFF, THURSDAY 23rd AUGUST
KICK-OFF 19H00, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
After resting a few players for the league cup match, Brendan Rodgers will have a few choices to make for the starting lineup in Lithuania. The match will come too soon for ‘French Eddy’ and Lewis Morgan. Moussa Dembélé and more controversially Dedryck Boyata may play some part in the match, with Moussa marking his return with a goal at the weekend in the League Cup game, and we could even see a debut for Daniel Arzani, and suggestions Christian Gamboa has done enough to deserve a start.
After the weekend match, Brendan Rodgers remarked more on the need for the Bhoys to return to their trademark style of play: "Our pressing was too passive and our identity is very much around aggression and intensity in our press and we were nowhere near that. It's been a brilliant couple of seasons here and we can still have that this season. But on the back of a long week, it's something that can prey on the players' mind but this [Glasgow derby win] will be good for their confidence."
Suduva may be unfamiliar opponents, but the helpful Celtic TV has recalled a previous win against them: https://www.facebook.com/CelticFC/videos/296392607823920/. Hopefully we can put disappointment behind us and progress in Europe once more.
Hail! Hail!
David
18/08/2018 : PARTICK THISTLE V CELTIC , SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP, 2nd ROUND, SATURDAY, 18 AUGUST 2018
Celtic look to bounce back from a disappointing 10 days, and need to ‘get back on the horse’.
PARTICK THISTLE V CELTIC , SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP SECOND ROUND, SATURDAY 18th AUGUST
KICK-OFF 13H30, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
Celtic need to get their concentration levels back after a deeply disappointing midweek where the main talking point was probably not about who was on the pitch, but who wasn’t. It’s still summer and the transfer window is still open, so the next few weeks will be interesting in terms of personnel changes. On the park, there is still a job to do, and perhaps it is apt that despite the Jags’ relegation, there is still the chance to play the Glasgow derby, with 23 years since it was last won by Partick Thistle. They may be looking to catch Celtic colder than the moment Dedryck Boyata next wasl into the dressing room at Celtic Park, but the team will be ready, and hopefully some sharpness will be restored in attack.
Callum McGregor, one of the standouts in the past few weeks, urged the team to come together: 'We have had a lot of success over the last couple of years, it is a new test for the boys and the management team and the fans as well. They are so used to success and once you get two bad results in a week, the players know they are up against it and we have to come out fighting and show we are good players and why we have been successful.’
'This is a time for the club to stick together. We have lost two games in a row and we need to get back on the horse’
Hail! Hail!
David
PARTICK THISTLE V CELTIC , SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP SECOND ROUND, SATURDAY 18th AUGUST
KICK-OFF 13H30, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
Celtic need to get their concentration levels back after a deeply disappointing midweek where the main talking point was probably not about who was on the pitch, but who wasn’t. It’s still summer and the transfer window is still open, so the next few weeks will be interesting in terms of personnel changes. On the park, there is still a job to do, and perhaps it is apt that despite the Jags’ relegation, there is still the chance to play the Glasgow derby, with 23 years since it was last won by Partick Thistle. They may be looking to catch Celtic colder than the moment Dedryck Boyata next wasl into the dressing room at Celtic Park, but the team will be ready, and hopefully some sharpness will be restored in attack.
Callum McGregor, one of the standouts in the past few weeks, urged the team to come together: 'We have had a lot of success over the last couple of years, it is a new test for the boys and the management team and the fans as well. They are so used to success and once you get two bad results in a week, the players know they are up against it and we have to come out fighting and show we are good players and why we have been successful.’
'This is a time for the club to stick together. We have lost two games in a row and we need to get back on the horse’
Hail! Hail!
David
14/08/2018 : AEK ATHENS V CELTIC (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER) TUESDAY, 14 AUGUST 2018
Celtic already face their first main major test of the season, with AEK Athens ready to park the bus in front of our Champions League hopes again.
AEK ATHENS V CELTIC, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND, TUESDAY, 14st AUGUST
KICK-OFF 20H00, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
After two disappointing performances and results, Brendan Rodgers will hope that Celtic travel well to Athens for the 2nd leg of the qualifying round, in what is likely to be our hardest test so far in qualifying. We have seen returning players from the first team squad, but questions still being asked of our formation and first XI for this match, so Brendan will be glad to ignore off-field talk by players, pundits and especially agents and try to force Athens out and create chances. In that regard, the timing could be perfect for Moussa Dembélé to the starting lineup, having travelled with the squad.
AEK Athens have predictably indicated that it will not be easy in Athens, but after a ‘taps-aff’ summer, Celtic should be used to playing in 28 degrees heat, and Brendan Rodgers thinks the Bhoys have the quality to progress: ““I always felt we would have to go over there and score anyway, so it is very much still I the balance. It swings a bit to them because they’re at home, but we certainly know we have the quality to go and perform. I think everyone was thinking the same thing at this stage last year, going out to Rosenborg and wondering if we could get a result knowing it was going to be tough out there, but we went there and produced a really good performance and won the game. I don’t see any reason why we can’t do that again here.”
AEK ATHENS V CELTIC, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND, TUESDAY, 14st AUGUST
KICK-OFF 20H00, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
After two disappointing performances and results, Brendan Rodgers will hope that Celtic travel well to Athens for the 2nd leg of the qualifying round, in what is likely to be our hardest test so far in qualifying. We have seen returning players from the first team squad, but questions still being asked of our formation and first XI for this match, so Brendan will be glad to ignore off-field talk by players, pundits and especially agents and try to force Athens out and create chances. In that regard, the timing could be perfect for Moussa Dembélé to the starting lineup, having travelled with the squad.
AEK Athens have predictably indicated that it will not be easy in Athens, but after a ‘taps-aff’ summer, Celtic should be used to playing in 28 degrees heat, and Brendan Rodgers thinks the Bhoys have the quality to progress: ““I always felt we would have to go over there and score anyway, so it is very much still I the balance. It swings a bit to them because they’re at home, but we certainly know we have the quality to go and perform. I think everyone was thinking the same thing at this stage last year, going out to Rosenborg and wondering if we could get a result knowing it was going to be tough out there, but we went there and produced a really good performance and won the game. I don’t see any reason why we can’t do that again here.”
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Please note the kick-off time, and that we will be joined by some pretty friendly and gracious AEK Athens fans once more tomorrow night, as we were last week.
Also, following his appearance at the weekend, maybe an internationally renowned musician and performer may join us again. Here he is on Saturday, sitting beside Paolo Nutini. Hail! Hail! David |
04/05/2018 : HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN V CELTIC (SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP) SATURDAY, 11 AUGUST 2018
Celtic will be looking to kick ideas that Hearts can get one over them again into the long grass…
HEARTS V CELTIC, SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP, SATURDAY 11th AUGUST
KICK-OFF 13H45, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
The Bhoys will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing result and performance in midweek, and show that they can break down defences, even if they have to wear wellies, following a ‘war of words’ (exclusive to all badly written tabloids) between Craig Levein and Brendan Rogers, with Brendan anticipating the grass to be longer on this occasion following the SPFL refusal to intervene on pitches resembling rainforests.
There may be some squad changes as while every football team talks about taking it ‘one game at a time’, as according to Brendan, with regard to the return in Athens next Tuesday (at 20:00 – also live in the Michael Collins) “We have to consider heat and everything out there. We have to look at the squad and look at the players that are robust and need to come out with Tuesday in mind, but we’ll always pick a team to get a result.”
Both teams have relatively full squads to choose from – Dedryck Boyata or possibly Moussa Dembélé may feature, but too soon for recent (at this point officially unconfirmed) signings Emilio Izaguirre or Daniel Arzani. Hearts may have Kyle ‘Timebomb’ Lafferty back in their time, in a match likely to be a feisty affair, but which we’ll be hoping ends Hearts’ brief sojourn at the top of the league.
Hail! Hail!
David
HEARTS V CELTIC, SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP, SATURDAY 11th AUGUST
KICK-OFF 13H45, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
The Bhoys will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing result and performance in midweek, and show that they can break down defences, even if they have to wear wellies, following a ‘war of words’ (exclusive to all badly written tabloids) between Craig Levein and Brendan Rogers, with Brendan anticipating the grass to be longer on this occasion following the SPFL refusal to intervene on pitches resembling rainforests.
There may be some squad changes as while every football team talks about taking it ‘one game at a time’, as according to Brendan, with regard to the return in Athens next Tuesday (at 20:00 – also live in the Michael Collins) “We have to consider heat and everything out there. We have to look at the squad and look at the players that are robust and need to come out with Tuesday in mind, but we’ll always pick a team to get a result.”
Both teams have relatively full squads to choose from – Dedryck Boyata or possibly Moussa Dembélé may feature, but too soon for recent (at this point officially unconfirmed) signings Emilio Izaguirre or Daniel Arzani. Hearts may have Kyle ‘Timebomb’ Lafferty back in their time, in a match likely to be a feisty affair, but which we’ll be hoping ends Hearts’ brief sojourn at the top of the league.
Hail! Hail!
David
08/08/2018 : CELTIC V AEK ATHENS (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER) WEDNESDAY, 8 AUGUST 2018
Celtic will be looking to progress once more in the Champions League and build a lead ahead of their visit to Athens in one week.
CELTIC V AEK ATHENS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND, WEDNESDAY, 8st AUGUST
KICK-OFF 20H45, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
The match will be available through subscription TV, as we experienced for the Rosenborg game last week.
The starting lineup is likely to include some more returnees, after Lustig, Simunovic and Rogic started at the weekend, and it looks as if Ntcham and Tierney will have shaken off knocks in time to play. Leigh Griffiths is also available, but Dedryck Boyata may not yet be risked, with the transfer rumour mill suggesting Fulham and Lazio are circling with bids.
We will face opponents who will be playing their first competitive match of the season, although not to be taken lightly, as they managed to defeat Galatasaray 3-2 in their last warm-up. Since winning the league, they have lost their manager Manolo Jimenez and his assistant, and a number of key and experienced players, including Lazaros Christodoulopoulos controversially joining Olympiakos and the case ending up in court. As with any team, they have tried to replace the key departures, and will pose an attacking threat, and may line up with their three entertainingly named new Latin American ‘stars’, Boye, Ponce and Alef.
Please note that for the match we will be joined by a small contingent of AEK Athens fans who asked to come and have a beer with us. We have made certain that they will be well behaved, and will be buying the beer, even giving their own reference to their club in Brussels: https://www.facebook.com/AEK-Belgium-Supporters-1341946709152084/?ref=bookmarks
Hail! Hail!
David
CELTIC V AEK ATHENS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND, WEDNESDAY, 8st AUGUST
KICK-OFF 20H45, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
The match will be available through subscription TV, as we experienced for the Rosenborg game last week.
The starting lineup is likely to include some more returnees, after Lustig, Simunovic and Rogic started at the weekend, and it looks as if Ntcham and Tierney will have shaken off knocks in time to play. Leigh Griffiths is also available, but Dedryck Boyata may not yet be risked, with the transfer rumour mill suggesting Fulham and Lazio are circling with bids.
We will face opponents who will be playing their first competitive match of the season, although not to be taken lightly, as they managed to defeat Galatasaray 3-2 in their last warm-up. Since winning the league, they have lost their manager Manolo Jimenez and his assistant, and a number of key and experienced players, including Lazaros Christodoulopoulos controversially joining Olympiakos and the case ending up in court. As with any team, they have tried to replace the key departures, and will pose an attacking threat, and may line up with their three entertainingly named new Latin American ‘stars’, Boye, Ponce and Alef.
Please note that for the match we will be joined by a small contingent of AEK Athens fans who asked to come and have a beer with us. We have made certain that they will be well behaved, and will be buying the beer, even giving their own reference to their club in Brussels: https://www.facebook.com/AEK-Belgium-Supporters-1341946709152084/?ref=bookmarks
Hail! Hail!
David
01/08/2018 : ROSENBORG V CELTIC (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER) WEDNESDAY, 1 AUGUST 2018
Celtic will be looking to complete the job tomorrow night back in Trondheim, following their 3-1 win at home.
ROSENBORG V CELTIC, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND, WEDNESDAY, 1st AUGUST
KICK-OFF 20H45, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
The TV match will definitely be on (Premier Sports) after the policy of home legs not being made available to commercial channels saw many of us sitting round phones two weeks ago watching the match.
The same XI may be entrusted to finish the job that started just before half-time in the home leg. Rosenberg can pose a threat, but most will expect Celtic to be capable of also scoring if they can show up the same way they did in the 2nd half at Celtic Park. Moussa Dembélé and Leigh Griffiths are unlikely to feature, and Šimonuvić will not feature, as Celtic had concerns that UEFA may still have one category of ban left after they upgraded his debatable red card to a harsh red card and one extra match out.
Possible additions may be Mikael Lustig or even Dedryck Boyata as they rejoined training, along with Armstrong Okoflex, apparently a 16-year-old addition to our squad and not a training regime. Whatever the team, we’ll be backing them to finish the job and get us into the next round to face AEK Athens next week.
Hail! Hail!
David
ROSENBORG V CELTIC, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND, WEDNESDAY, 1st AUGUST
KICK-OFF 20H45, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
The TV match will definitely be on (Premier Sports) after the policy of home legs not being made available to commercial channels saw many of us sitting round phones two weeks ago watching the match.
The same XI may be entrusted to finish the job that started just before half-time in the home leg. Rosenberg can pose a threat, but most will expect Celtic to be capable of also scoring if they can show up the same way they did in the 2nd half at Celtic Park. Moussa Dembélé and Leigh Griffiths are unlikely to feature, and Šimonuvić will not feature, as Celtic had concerns that UEFA may still have one category of ban left after they upgraded his debatable red card to a harsh red card and one extra match out.
Possible additions may be Mikael Lustig or even Dedryck Boyata as they rejoined training, along with Armstrong Okoflex, apparently a 16-year-old addition to our squad and not a training regime. Whatever the team, we’ll be backing them to finish the job and get us into the next round to face AEK Athens next week.
Hail! Hail!
David
17/07/2018 : CELTIC V ALASHKERT (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER) WEDNESDAY, 18 JULY 2018
The Bhoys are back in town!
Celtic kick-off their season at Celtic Park with the 2nd leg against Alashkert tomorrow night back at Celtic Park, following a straightforward 3-0 away win in Armenia.
CELTIC V ALASHKERT, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND, WEDNESDAY, 18th JULY
KICK-OFF 20H45, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
The talking points may not just be the selection and formation for the home leg, but also the effect of the new pitch on the team, which saw fast attacking football being played at the weekend in the 4-1 win over Standard Liège. Brendan Rogers favoured using both our new permanent signing ‘French Eddy’ and Moussa Dembélé in that match as in the away leg, and we can expect to see both featuring again, perhaps with Lewis Morgan making his formal Celtic Park bow. Craig Gordon was an injury worry, but Scott Bain stands by to deputise, having also signed a permanent deal in the summer following an impressive loan spell as Craig’s backup.
Much of the talk around Celtic has been activity off the park, but we may get to see some of the benefit of the £1.3m investment on the new hybrid pitch itself, and maybe even some of the £2.3m outlay on the state of the art lighting and sounds system, seemingly set to turn the stadium into a venue to rival the Allianz Arena, due to be completed by the end of the summer.
Whatever happens off the park, the focus will be on the activity on the park, against a team who are no pushover as Brendan Rodgers highlighted “This is the best team we have played in the first round in my three years of qualifying campaigns. They have very fast, technical players, and it was important that we stayed focused.” Celtic should safely navigate their passage to the 2nd Qualify Round to face the winners of Rosenberg v Valur (0-1) with that match kicking off an hour earlier. Then only two more rounds (two legs) through the Champions Path will see them enter the Champions League proper.
Hail! Hail!
David
Celtic kick-off their season at Celtic Park with the 2nd leg against Alashkert tomorrow night back at Celtic Park, following a straightforward 3-0 away win in Armenia.
CELTIC V ALASHKERT, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND, WEDNESDAY, 18th JULY
KICK-OFF 20H45, LIVE IN THE MICHAEL COLLINS
The talking points may not just be the selection and formation for the home leg, but also the effect of the new pitch on the team, which saw fast attacking football being played at the weekend in the 4-1 win over Standard Liège. Brendan Rogers favoured using both our new permanent signing ‘French Eddy’ and Moussa Dembélé in that match as in the away leg, and we can expect to see both featuring again, perhaps with Lewis Morgan making his formal Celtic Park bow. Craig Gordon was an injury worry, but Scott Bain stands by to deputise, having also signed a permanent deal in the summer following an impressive loan spell as Craig’s backup.
Much of the talk around Celtic has been activity off the park, but we may get to see some of the benefit of the £1.3m investment on the new hybrid pitch itself, and maybe even some of the £2.3m outlay on the state of the art lighting and sounds system, seemingly set to turn the stadium into a venue to rival the Allianz Arena, due to be completed by the end of the summer.
Whatever happens off the park, the focus will be on the activity on the park, against a team who are no pushover as Brendan Rodgers highlighted “This is the best team we have played in the first round in my three years of qualifying campaigns. They have very fast, technical players, and it was important that we stayed focused.” Celtic should safely navigate their passage to the 2nd Qualify Round to face the winners of Rosenberg v Valur (0-1) with that match kicking off an hour earlier. Then only two more rounds (two legs) through the Champions Path will see them enter the Champions League proper.
Hail! Hail!
David