It is now over 60 years ago since I saw an old man shake his head after a narrow defeat from Dundee and say “Tak yer chances, Cellic”. It had been a League Cup game at Dens Park in which Celtic had dominated but failed to score, and then Dundee had run up and done the needful. 60 years down the line, the truism about taking chances still holds good.
Tonight we are at the crossroads as far as European football is concerned for this season. Win and we are back in it; any other result probably means no European football after the New Year. It is possible that we can draw or lose tonight and still qualify for the knock out stages of one of the two major competitions, but even the most ardent of optimists would have to say that it is unlikely. We really have to win.
And whether we win or not, depends on whether we take chances. The team is good enough to create chances – of that there is no doubt – but can we take them? We must have no blazing over the bar, no shooting past the post, and (surely the most frustrating of all) no blasting the ball straight at the goalkeeper. We need composure, confidence and conviction that we are going to score goals.
And of course it is very easy to say all this in an armchair in front of a TV or from the North Stand, but I recall one asking the late Joe McBride what was the secret of scoring goals – and Joe of course, could score one or two! The amiable Joe smiled and said that there is no secret. Just be in the right place, have faith in your colleagues and “keep the heid”. Good solid stuff that, although no doubt our modern coaches will put in a slightly more elegant and sophisticated way. I prefer to listen to the great Joe McBride.
And let’s just think how much depends on taking out chances. If we don’t, our enemies will laugh at us, questions may be raised for the first time about whether Ange knows what he is doing, diatribes and general filth will be delivered in fanzines, websites and social media against certain players who will be “not fit to wear a green and white jersey”, the long term future of the club will be questioned, and everyone will be talking about who we are going to have to buy in the “January cattle market” (commonly known as a window).
All those things will happen, but if someone just squeezes home a late winner to give us a 1-0 victory, the ecstasy will be way above even what we saw at Perth on Saturday, and the buses home will rock to “putting on a show” and (irrelevantly) “top of the League”. I know which one of these scenarios I prefer!
So it really all boils down to whether we can put them away. Football really is a very simple game, you know. “Tak yer chances, Cellic”
David Potter
Morning all, a big match ahead tonight as Celtic's UCL Group reaches the deciding phase. Two home games for Celtic will decide our fate. The team will need the fans tonight so lets raise the roof and roar them on. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/XF7wnbNMX9
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog_09) October 11, 2022
