OrlandoDon

Duk starts, clarkson on the bench. I assume McGrath at 10 with duk on the left. Topi right, shady coming on second half to grab a goal and an assist!

Given the 17 mill announcement I’d really like to know about Barron, how when and how much we are being paid??

I think they are under so much pressure to compete with Celtic on the park while not having their shit together off it. Money is an issue to them obviously, to an extent I dont fully understand, but I think missing out on champions league is enormous. I also think it’s clear they aren’t progressing on the field due to two main factors, the manager has not improved performance and doesn’t appear to even have a style of play, plus their new signs have cost money but so far do not appear to have bought value. then the dons factor kicks in which affects them in my opinion. Our manager has brought an instant impact with a smaller budget. We are playing well, fans are excited, and we have a clear tactical set up - they have none of that. You then could argue gueye, sivert, mitov, molloy, even palaversa and topi have had as big if not a bigger impact than their more costly signings. they envy us and that terrifies them. Lose Wednesday and that is devastating to their club and fans. Now and potentially next too, at least.

I don’t see it being all 3 at the same time, shinnie sivert and palaversa. One of our strengths this season has been our subbing and being able to bring on a fresh legit center mid in the second half has been huge for us. He didn’t do it at Celtic and don’t expect it at home to a lesser team.

Your last part is key. Thelin has made humble comments so often, one game at a time etc, that I don’t think we get carried away. Add to that, we had the stones to come back at parkhead, and we have a manager that coached us to a win making in game changes on Saturday. I know we’ll lose at some point, I just dont think it’s Wednesday. I think our mentality will be spot on and the orcs are vulnerable.

I fully expect us to play McGrath clarkson and topi behind nisbet if fit, if not sokler. Shinnie back in with sivert. duk and morris have had chances, duk is just coming back and morris had his chance earlier in the season and didn’t take it. Both have produced off the bench in recent weeks, that’s where they are best utilized at present. I wanted us to go for Alan Campbell but we signed palaversa. We got what we needed though, three legit starting center mids. Expect shinnie back with sivert with palaversa a good player to bring on when we are ahead second half and tightening things a little. its nice to have options rather than eleven players and dross coming in after that, which we have seen recently. Don’t know enough about the huns but we have plenty of players who have experience in this fixture and /or know the importance. Confidence is sky high, we have a level headed and clever manager by the look of things. we've said recently that the next game is a real test, Dundee away, hearts, Celtic, and utd. And we’ve come through it very impressively. Are the Huns any different? Everything we hear is that their manager is suspect and their players are average. I see no reason why we cannot win this. 2-1 us, McGrath and clarkson.

Tough result for united, good opportunity for rangers to get a little breathing space tomorrow in their battle for 3rd. Rangers only 11 ahead of hearts, sure they’ll still be looking in their rear mirror there too. interesting to note that we are 20 ahead of hearts after 9 games. By that average, in May after 36 games we’re 80 ahead of them?

Not sure if we were good or they were disappointing as they offered very little in attack. A very dons like performance of the past from them when we played the old firm. I expected more from them since we are not overly strong defensively and have given away poor goals. I thought they’d try to win the game. First half they offered a little on the counter, all us second half. Really intrigued by Wednesday now, don’t care what rangers do tomorrow, they are there to be beaten and I expect JT to approach it that way.

Totally. I don’t think we play really well. We dominated today but our attacking play wasn’t great and we really didn’t create much. JT can do no wrong, injuries and not just rangers but Celtic next weekend were I’m sure a factor in the line up and subbing. Using the squad and Vinny, Morris, Ambrose, and shinnie were all a factor today. Fully expect McGrath left and clarkson at 10, plus shinnie against rangers, and nisbet too if fit. Only question is if shady starts. I’d say no, he’s an impact sub. interesting we get our first pen of the year and Vinny goes to take it. I’m assuming it would be McGrath or sokler, maybe nisbet, if they are on the field??

Duk showing he’s the impact sub like Morris. Did little. When you bring him on when opponents are tired or on bookings it’s different. Fatigue, mental mistakes etc benefit duk. He’s also not the smartest, much like Morris, and should do the simple things in the attacking half.

Ambrose is quality. Can’t believe he doesn’t play more!

Duk showing he’s an impact sub. Not the right lineup and with nisbet injured expect an Ambrose sighting in second half. Odds on him scoring the winner?? id switch palaversa for shinnie, shins drives forward. Clarkson to be creative and McGrath back to the left.

Given JTs comments yesterday I’d assume both injuries and the rangers game are a factor in that line up. As much as I’m a shinnie fan, intrigued and eager to see palaversa play, plus I also think duk creates attention that will give sokler some more space. I also think it’s fair to say these injuries make us a little different, but don’t make us weaker. Bit of depth in our squad. 3-1, sokler duk and topi!

Thinking this will be a fiesty one. We have two center mids who like a fight and booking, going to need discipline today. We’ve seen adversity going two down last week and responding, think we come out well fired up. JT has done an excellent job at preaching one game at a time and staying humble, and the players really have bought in. I still believe it’s a win today, full house roaring us on, and especially if we get an early goal, I think it’s a good performance. changing my prediction, 3-1. Nisbet, topi, and duk.

While I predicted 2-1, I would certainly like to see a shutout this weekend. We average losing a goal a game and our defense must be better. If we have high expectations we have to improve defensively. We lose pretty crappy goals too, hope we can clean this up!

I think what hurts us is that he is a natural #10 being played out of position. He’s done well at left mid and that allows clarkson, even gueye at 10. We also dont have a topi equivalent to play on the left, hence it’s McGrath. sell clarkson or gueye and commit to McGrath at 10 may make a difference, but to be fair to mcgrath, he’s 28 and has to take a big pay day if offered. would be sad to lose him but does this put Lennon miller, Lyle Cameron, or the young guy at killie on our radar as replacement?? I’m sure there’s another topi out the too.

I hate celebrating when we draw, so not a perfect weekend. But it certainly just got a lot better. The difference between us and the Huns in terms of club atmosphere and fan satisfaction could not be more different.

A biggie here, and as I posited yesterday, a must win. These are the games Celtic win, and having not won yesterday, a legit team gets back to winning ways, especially at home. we have a starting 11 that is settled, and guys that make an impact off the bench. Injuries and suspensions will come and rotation will occur, but one game a week does not require rotation. No reason to force it, this is how it should be. Unless we have injuries I see the same starting 11. I won’t lie though, doubts creeping in a little about molloy. We average losing a goal per game in the league which needs to be better, and molloy tends to be involved when we lose goals. Not all but more than he should. But is Macdonald any better, I don’t think so. Perhaps Molloy edges it plus is young and a long term project, and, like ruby, one we can sell on. second doubt is our number 9. Long term, I don’t think Nisbet or sokler are the answer, we need more. If we have a strong season that’s our money buy next summer. 2-1 us. Nisbet and topi.

Frustrating as fuck on the disallowed goal, the way ruby is manhandled by the defender. The first foul is the pulling/holding, and the slightest of hand ball after. If var is meant to catch more, and make the game purer, give a penalty for the foul on ruby before the hand ball?? I can’t remember, they specifically have to state why var look before they look, correct? They are surely checking on a foul leading up to the goal, which I’d the hand ball, and the pull/holding is the first foul.

So, sokler or nisbet up top next week?? Didn’t see his goal but works his ass off.

Definitely hanging on at the end. Excellent result to come back and while we were exhausted, we gutted it out. Tough one to disallow ruby’s goal but they missed chances at the death. Moral victory for sure. And the calmest manager in the world got booked! seperate paragraph for this for emphasis! I think we are a very mentally tough team. We did not fold and the fight and togetherness is amazing. Haven’t said that in years! two even bigger games now, have to beat utd and the Huns at home to prove we’re a top team. Celtic are a class above everyone else, we are certainly good enough to win the next 2. interesting hearts result today, maybe good to get them when we did.

Saw the first 20 mins and we were comfortable, wtf???

And much like duk can come on and make an impact, we’ve seen palaversa come on fresh in the middle and have an impact. We shall see soon enough!!

I really don’t know what to expect today and of all fucking days I have to take the kids to Disney so don’t get to watch! So many times we’ve gone to Celtic and have been shit scared, overly defensive, and taken a beating. But then I think of the cup semi last year and being very proud of our efforts. Really keen to see how JT has us play.

Was about to post this too. Assault charges, any more details or does he just like a fight? Is there more to it that it just didn’t appear to be working out for him at st mirren? anyway, am I right in saying he can fill in at right and left back? Big loon, maybe central defense too? edit this, assault on an 18 yr old woman????