buster.

Hearts at Ibrox gives us a decent opportunity to start with 3 points but the next game at Parkhead has the potential of producing negative momentum, press openly disregarding Murty, some players throwing in the towel as they think of the summer and different clubs, etc., etc. When you look at it, the more important it becomes to get a result this weekend in the semi-final. I think that is what we really need to keep everybody concentrated and positive.

Fair enough but it's a subjective thing. For me, I like a bit of the unexpected and some real drama. With this format, we generally have to wait until the Springtime for ties that produce this. I find the groupstage tedious unless Rangers are in it. Standard is one thing and I get that one can appreciate the technical ability but after a while, that alone isn't enough. Nor for me, is the tactical jousting unless it actually sparks a decent contest with 'real drama'.

The fact that this seasons quarters have been outstanding doesn't negate the general tendency over many seasons. Glad to see Liverpool get through as their semi-final promises fireworks, whoever they get. No-one will want Real Madrid in the semi-final. To win CL (bet365 odds) Real Madrid 13/8 Bayern Munich 15/8 Liverpool 3/1 Roma 10/1 A fiver on Liverpool will provide value, one way or another.

That sound's like entertainment !

We'd better hit one of our decent patches for what on the face of it, is five challenging games. We could still end up being a relatively comfortable second or end up in 4th place. At least last weekend saw us back in pole position for second spot.

It's not really Miller for Candeias, it's a different formation. Anyway, this thread asked for "your team", not instruction that was to be passed on to the manager

Having someone like Candeias on the bench wouldn't be such a bad thing in that even if he doesn't start, he can still play an important part in the game. I think we have to prioritise giving protection to the centre-backs and being solid in midfield. With that you look to keep a clean sheet and build a base from which to work from.

Holt has played in the two draws at Parkhead and the SC semi-final in 2016, so he has it in him to do a job and he is one of the few in our squad who know what it is to put Celtic out of the Cup. I think mentality and belief will be important, we need players who genuinely believe we'll go out and win, Miller is one of those types,...and another with experience of beating them many times. Take off your rose tinted glasses wrt to Docherty. He is a work-in-progress and has a lot of improving to do and experience to gain. When he develops into a better decision-maker, he'll become more (net) effective.

It's a team for a specific game. I think Holt has shown he can do a job in these type of games and whilst Docherty has more of a future, he has a tendency to lose the ball far too often, often undoing the good work of winning it in the first place. Miller is a player who can hurt Celtic. His mentality for these types of games tends to be spot-on and he has a game and a goal under his belt from last weekend. It's tough on Candeias but it's a formation thing and Tav is a very good outlet to have on the right.

WesTav Martin Alves John McCrorie Holt Dorrans Miller Murphy Morelos

He has been a strategically placed thorn in the side of our club for some years now. Toxic Jack used him extensively during the sp1v years. Not only feeding him 'stories' but getting a 'service' that often included McLaughlin weighing in with an opininated slant to suit after info had been divulged. This service wasn't exclusive to McLaughlin because Lamont occasionally did the same, eg. Monday night prior to the 2013 AGM being the most notable one that I can remember. Lamont had been leaked 'the results' to date wrt the AGM and stood up and basically said it was a waste of time to go and protest against the sp1vs....ie. it was Irvine trying to dampen the enthusiasm of many supporters/shareholders to protest at the AGM.

Thank's elfideldo, much appreciated !

The Monday sportsound (pod link below) was an extensive follow-up on Rodgers public request for the Celtic v Rangers game to be played in the first group of fixtures post-split. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p063syd1 Coincidently it was Chris McLaughlin who did thge post-match interview with Rodgers on Sunday who was leading the charge on the Monday night show to help push the Rodgers line. He was joined by other pundits who supported the view and they all pretty much rounded on the ex-polisman, who was against it. There is no doubt that when Celtic want/need to control the BBC Scotland narrative, they'll mostly get their wish and McLaughlin, the man at the centre of the conflict between us and BBC Scotland, bends the other way when on the other side of Glasgow.

Surprise, surprise.........if there was a subject that would bring The Fraudulent Hack back to our attention after a welcome break, it was this. The forces of darkness would seem to be stirring.

Thank's elfideldo ! A couple of questions if you have a minute........ How did Rossiter get on for those 60 odd minutes and what do you make of Glen Middleton ?

Just watched Roma comeback and put Barcelona out ! Great and refreshing to see, reminded me a bit of the old European Cup days. Real Madrid haven't had a great season but you have to fancy them for a 3rd CL IAR.

I think that FdB would crash and burn. There isn't the willingness/ability within squad to immediately grasp what is wanted. Nor the money to finance a significant arrival of the type of player required/more suited for it. Nor the patience that would be required amongst the support. Whether Steve Clarke would come is debatable but he'd be my first choice. ----------- The other issue is how much control in an appointment / subsequent football operation that Mark Allen will have and how that might impact the type of manager we are actually looking at.

Surely an open and shut rescinded yellow....or perhaps Lawwell would prefer an upgrade to a straight red

Good effort in getting it up before it left the building !!

What is really needed is for Brechin to get their first league win of the season against them in a week or two. IIRC, one of the Glebe Park teams four point haul, came against those in Tangerine.

It'll most probably end up being McGinn to Celtic for around 2.5 to 3M plus a player. Would prefer he went South as he'd be a significant signing for Celtic, at least within domestic football.

Fair enough Frankie ! I'm not saying the anchor was that bad, more that in the first show, the anchor was especially good (said it in my post on that thread). I appreciate that it's early days and it might be better to be stricter in the '45 minute goal', until things become more fluent.

On the face of it, good pro-active and constructive work.

Just listened to it and tbh, it was hard work getting through it. IMO the anchor from the first week was far better than the second, as was the balance between the two podders and the interaction between anchor and podder. This week there was a more uniform downbeat tone that over a hour or so was (as I mentioned above) I found hard work to listen to.

I'd start a company that offered to clean the dugcr@p off folks shoes, using cub scouts as labour after the Tories privatise them. Not bob-a-job....but clean a job(by)