DMAA

Torrent had it in August apparently so would have immunity anyway.

This is disappointing. It’s expected but Aribo is missing so many big games and he is a huge player this season.

I had a look at how Celtic will most likely line up, and tbh they are are hardly weakened. Edouard and Christie are the only starters they are missing. Livingston was the last game Forrest was fit, and Frimpong started ahead of him in the 3-5-2 anyway, and in that game Ajeti started ahead of Edouard too. Ajeti is in much better form than Edouard and Elyounoussi has started 6/9 games anyway. Barkas Jullien Duffy Ajer Frimpong Taylor Brown Ntcham McGregor Ajeti Elyounoussi I think the narrative has been set in such a way that the pressure is on Rangers and off Celtic, which I think is unjustified. They are missing one key player, who was anonymous every time they played us last season, and another who has been absolutely miles off it in recent weeks anyway. We don’t know who we will be missing but Aribo is a stick on starter and IMO our best player and probably won’t make it (even if he does he has been out for so long). Roofe is another stick on starter (imo) who probably won’t make it. Then we have a few players who are slight doubts. There really isn’t the huge difference in player availability that is being reported.

Celtic 0-1 Rangers Arfield

I think you could add Jack vs Hagi here. In a game like this away from home, Arfield could be deployed in Hagi’s position. You could also add Morelos vs Itten. Morelos is very late getting back from Colombia and has been in really poor form.

It’s genuinely embarrassing. Belongs in a Celtic match day programme.

The papers seem to be trying their best to do their bit. "Leigh Griffiths backed to gun down Rangers by Celtic kid as he's 'one of UK's most lethal strikers'" is the headline. Where has this story come from? The article tells us. That's the thoughts of Celtic kid Scott Robertson who worked alongside the Scotland striker in training on a daily basis before heading out on loan to Gillingham earlier this summer. How is this news? Youth player reckons first team striker is good.

Unlikely tbh. Those who did catch it have isolated and the rest of their squad are negative. I don't think it would transmit easily on a pitch either. Definitely a risk in the week ahead with so many players coming back to our camp from all over the world though.

That’s Elhamed confirmed as positive. Funny how the only two Israel players to test positive were Celtic players. Surely it’s not a coincidence Edouard was positive too joining the French camp.

I had the same thought, he isn’t doing a very good job of hiding the fear

That guy is a nut job. Absolutely mind numbing reading that drivel.

If true it’s another blow because him and Bitton largely compete for the same spot, one of the back 3 spots. If he misses out it would force them to throw in Jullien who hasn’t played in over a month and clearly isn’t fancied to play on the right side of a back 3.

Yes but you are right that we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. We have dropped points away from home to sides far worse than a slightly weakened Celtic side.

Anyone know if 4th official have a track record of being reliable?

Biggest squad in the country, absolutely no excuses. Have a £2m signing sitting on the bench at centre mid actually who must be itching for a game. Won’t get any sympathy from the rest of the league when that is money they could only dream of being able to spend and their backups are kids. Same will go for us of course.

I was right to be skeptical, he says there’s been no contact from us. He’s considering La Liga, Serie A etc.

It could have been Clancy

Yes I like Defoe. I think it is a sign that Roofe isn’t far off because that would leave Defoe 4th choice in that position. I still think Defoe would play better than Morelos in many games if he was given the chance, he is much better at taking the ball to feet and linking up with the midfield.

Jones left out for Barker is a strange one. I don’t know why the management rate him so highly.

While I'm at it, one more random fact. Walter Smith only lost the first Old Firm game of the season once and it was the 94/95 season. For his very high standards, that was one of his worst seasons. Knocked out of Europe, the League Cup and the Scottish cup very early. Won the leaugue of course but only won 1 of 4 games against a very poor Celtic side who finished 4th. That loss didn't bode well for the season.

Since promotion, our record in the first Old Firm of the season is horrendous. 16/17 - 5-1 Loss Away 17/18 - 2-0 Loss at Home 18/19 - 1-0 Loss Away 19/20 - 2-0 Loss at Home Incidentally, in each of Walter Smith's 4 seasons in his second spell as manager, he didn't drop a point in this fixture. I think it carries a lot of weight psychologically and sets the tone for the season. The winner of this fixture almost always goes on the win the league. Even without them missing some big players, this is a great opportunity for Gerrard to put this record right and send the message that this is our season.

This guy doesn’t know anything. Another one trying to seem ITK on the back of one reputable person tweeting on Monday night that we had shown an interest.

All their players returned negative tests again today by the way so it seems they haven’t caught it from him. Though it is still possible that they have.

Monday night he left I’m sure, they were afraid he was flying out for a last minute deal. I don’t know what the rules are in terms of how far back you have to go, test must have come back positive Tuesday afternoon. My understanding is that the average incubation period is about 4-5 days.