NEIL LENNON was on great form today in his first media conference since the conclusion of the international break. Scotland won a few matches but in the end had to rely on the goals that James Forrest scored against Israel last autumn to win them a place in the play-off semi final, bizarrely against Israel.
How does that one work? Nobody seems to have any idea but the obvious conclusion is that the Euros is a competition that is very difficult indeed not to qualify for. Scotland though could yet manage to ‘achieve’ that.
Lenny isn’s really sure how the plans to move the mid March matches weekend fixtures back to the Thursday night in order to give Steve Clarke the best possible chance of getting past Israel at Hampden (again) and then go onto a much tougher away match in the final, perhaps against Norway with Mo Elyounoussi and Kris Ajer likely to be in the side against their Celtic teammates Forrest, Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie and Greg Taylor. Scott Brown even suggested that he’d be up for a game if Steve Clarke needed him. Norway of course will need to beat Serbia in their semi-final.
We mentioned this morning that the Celtic v St Johnstone fixture could move back to Thursday 19 March. Quick as a flash David Potter emailed to point out the biggest flaw that no-one else seems to have mentioned.
“Is there not a rather fundamental objection to the crazy idea of 19 March for the Celtic v St Johnstone game? Is not that the night of the second leg of the last 16 round of the Europa League? I would like to think we would still be involved!” David Potter pointed out.
Another interesting development was this afternoon’s fixture change announcement which covers every Celtic away league game in 2020 up to the game at Ibrox the week before we’re due to play St Johnstone. Every away game has been moved for TV, see below.
🗓️ FIXTURE CONFIRMATIONS! 🗓️
🆚 Kilmarnock
🗓️ 22/01/20
⏰ 7.45pm🆚 Hamilton
🗓️ 02/02/20
⏰ 12.30pm🆚 Motherwell
🗓️ 05/02/20
⏰ 7.45pm🆚 Aberdeen
🗓️ 16/02/20
⏰ 12 noon🆚 Livingston
🗓️ 04/03/20
⏰ 7.45pm🆚 Rangers
🗓️ 15/03/20
⏰ 12 noon(All games are away) pic.twitter.com/9YncEJnhPB
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 22, 2019
Back to what Lenny was saying today. Asked about Crystal Palace’s rumoured interest in Odsonne Edouard, the Celtic manager said: “I cant stop teams coming in and making bids, but as far as I’m concerned Edouard is not for sale.”
And on the possible return of Leigh Griffiths tomorrow: “Leigh Griffiths will be involved in the squad this weekend. He’s happy and I’ve seen enough to think he can make a contribution.”
