I know there'll be an official thread in a sticky later today (make it so, ST) but I'm gonna be busy as **** today so thought I'd get some **** off my chest early doors. Sunday - oor bhoys are off to the home of social exclusion for yet another over-analysed ding dong. I was wondering how confident/worried everyone is and how they see the bigger picture for the season ahead. Sunday is the first Old Firm game this season and I can see home advantage playing a big part in all the games (between the two teams) this season - I think we'll win both the games at Parkhead (assuming both teams make the top 6) and, barring injuries, I'm confident for the second game at Ibrox. Both teams have started the season pretty poorly, IMO, although both teams are already sitting first and second in the league following our pasting of Motherwell last week. Celtic are struggling with injuries and Rangers increasingly rely very heavily on a couple of key players. I'm forecasting either a score draw or a narrow win for Rangers (I really hope I'm wrong) and for the nasties to get over-excited about it and post hyperbole on here for a few weeks. Is the first Old Firm game a massive marker on the season? Is it vital that we don't lose rather than win? Personally, if Samaras is going to play, I'd rather see him out wide like last night and I'd put Mulgrew at CB with M Wilson at LB and Matthews (who I really rate) at RB. Here's to a good game, hopefully a result for the Tic and that we're arguing on here about performances rather than decisions or inflammatory nonsense on Monday. Stay safe chaps.
I hate OF games. I hate the fact that where the title ends up usually comes down to the results of four games between the same two teams. I hate the build-up to OF games. I hate watching OF games (unless we get a couple of early goals) and I hate losing OF games. I always fear the worst going into them so expect us to lose. I expect Rangers will come tearing out the blocks because if there's one thing we've shown this season is that it takes our defence 10 minutes to get into a game. If we can get through the first 10 mins without conceding I'll be pleasantly surprised. Expect them to pump log balls into our box towards Lafferty. As for who starts up front. I really hope it's Hooper and Stokes (if fit).
Well, I'll be there as per. My wifes having a party on Saturday night, and I was swaying whether to go or not. But **** it. I'm really undecided, in the "I know the score" bit, I put down a Celtic victory, but in reality I don't know, sometimes I can see good things about this Rangers side, and other times I think we are gash. I'm hoping that Super get's his first OF victory as manager under his belt and we can kick on from there. I'm starting to get damp just thinking about this game now. <PANTYPUDDLE>
For once i would say i am quietly confident for Sunday. I would definitely start Forrest with Commons on the other wing, and keep a midfield 3 of Kayal, Ki and Ledley and keep Broony on the bench. However my main concern is Hooper playing as a lone striker. If he starts 4-5-1 we can't leave him isolated, which happened a fair bit last night. He doesn't have the pace over 20+ yards to trouble nimble defenders, although in fairness he is explosive over 5. And so far, Bangura has looked like he couldn't trap a bag of cement so he isn't likely to start. Did we really need another 5 foot nothing striker? I would leave Hooper on the bench with Sammy taking up the lone striker position... Defence-wise i would opt for Loovens and Kelvin for the CB pairing, with Chuck at LB and M.Wilson at right back. I also rate Matthews, and maybe last night's run out was to give him a taste of big match atmosphere and pressure in time for Sunday, but i would have him on the bench to begin with. So, aye, my team for Sunday: Forster - Chuck, Glenda, Kelvin, M.Wilson - Commons, Ledley, Kayal, Ki, Forrest - Samaras. I really think Sunday will be a very close, hard fought game but, even though it is the 1st OF game of the season, it won't go any length to showing who will be the stronger team over the course of the next 8 months. I do expect us to leave with a point at least, but time will tell...
My default setting for these games is '****ting it' However I'm more confident for this game That can't be a good omen
I think this could be a good one you know. Celtics Defence is ****e, but if we play stokes and hooper and have a bit of width with Forrest i think we can score Rangers new defence is untested - might not have gelled yet Up front Jelavic and Lafferty are a great pairing and will cause our ****e defence all sorts of problems as will that wee whore naismith Could be a 3-3 this one Probably be a 0-0 now ive said this mind
This is why I reckon we'll lose this one - Jelavic and Lafferty work well together and I think this will possibly be the only game against Rangers this year where we set out not to lose rather than to win. As I said, though, hope I'm wrong
I see ot being a bit of a boring game... McMoist won't want to lose, so I see a cautious Rangers team... is McCulloch fit? I think Lennon expects home victories to be important and drawing at Ibrox would be a good result ... so I expect a smiliar line up as last night. I just hope that spastic Lafferty doesn't score his first Old Firm goal!
First 10 minutes always seem to dictate the game. Over the last 5 years or so (approx) Rangers midfield have always gone in fast & hard & got the upper hand of our midfield, its slightly changed since Lenny has come in with us now having Kayal, Ki, Brown & Ledley who can put a foot in & play abit & we have started the brighter hence the better results. There were no obvious signs of fatigue last night so with 48 hours till kick off we should be fully rested & ready for the game. Have a feeling Brown will start, how long he lasts is another thing. But if he is fit I would go with him to play. If we need to change the game Forrest is a far better choice as an impact sub then Brown. If he's not fully fit then Forrest would easily be next in line. Hope Stokes is fit too. Would like us to play our best 11 with a 442 than isolate Hooper & allow them more of the ball, its asking for trouble with the uncertain nature of our defence this season. Will be a good game I'm sure
I think we should set out not to lose and frustrate Rangers who won't be going all out either, we can see how things look early in the second half and if we have plenty of the ball perhaps be more attacking then. I think a draw is a good result for us and win better but I don't like the idea of losing this one. We may well lose points after europa league games and a gap could open up if we lose this one.
High balls crossed into Lafferty and at our defence generally, worry me - we haven't coped well with high balls for some time (last night's first goal a prime example). Naismith always ups his game against us and is always a real threat. What about Badr El Kaddouri? I only saw highlights of the M'well game but by all accounts he was very competent and got forward as well - might he not be given a start or is that taking too much of a risk? I'd like to see James Forrest, Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes capitalise on their performances against M'well and take the Ranger's defence apart with their movement - that would really be getting back to winning ways and seeing good football triumph....make it happen....make it happen.....
I think it is important that we play Mark Wilson at right back instead of Matthews. Rangers always seem to try to have a tall player up against our right back and although not too tall Wilson has handled big Laverty and other big players in the past. I would worry about Matthews. If Brown doesn't make it I would play Mulgrew in midfield. Last night we were a wee bit lose in that area and we need to tighten it up.
Fair play Super but I reckon the lanky tinker will start up front (McCoist thinking that he'll get the better of our mix n match centre halves) - El Kaddouri was good last week, Espania and the idea of Mulgrew in midfield has worked at Ibrox before. It's all double-guess stuff between the two managers. Och, let's **** all this sensible nonsense. By 11:50 on Sunday, I'll be choking for it. COOOOOMMMMMEEEE ON YOU BHOYS IN GREEN
See Sion are saying they have a court injunction from court making the result of the Athletco match invalid.
Heard it on BBC Sportsday there. Probably a load of ****e. God knows what them headers are up to. They must be spending a fortune on legal fees.
Didn't Sion threaten to turn up at the Atletico Madrid game and then decided against? I think this is all just bluster. The issue has nothing whatsoever to do with the Civil Courts. Sion did not comply with the rules of the competition and as long as those rules are unambiguous and applied to everyone equally, there is no case to answer. Sion are just p,,,,,,g in the wind!
One Celtic website normally reliable says Kelvin Wilson did his hammy last night , he did pull up near the end and is out of Sunday game , Loovens and Mulgrew in centre defence !!!
