Can Brendan’s Bhoys Turn Ibrox Into Paradise? Yes, of course they can…
Having famously being a dissident against the infamous international breaks, I now find myself an ally-for one night only. Ok, two.
With our plethora of walking wounded im-patient-ly hovering around the waiting room of Mr Williamson, Celtic’s head physio, the fixer-upper and his backroom team must surely be on extended bonus as they bid to re-animate what could currently be considered a shell of a squad.
It is hard to recall the last time Celtic had a raft of first class stars all out at the same time, and on such a consistent basis, tho thus has it been since the toot of the first whistle in season 2023/24 when Ross County were put to the sword by four goals to two on Flag day.
Subsequently, I doubt it would be contested in any quarter should the fans choose to dub this term, ‘The Pendulum Season’ such have been the highs and lows we have enjoyed and endured to date.
Now, we have St. Johnstone at home on Saturday, a game in which I fully expect a ‘Rodgers eleven’ to turn it on and give the support a performance to take us into the last phase.
In the meantime, our Scots/Irish/Japanese/Panamanian contingent will be off to show their wares in the Asian Cup, Copa America and frustratingly, meaningless friendlies dredged up at a time when clubs are readying themselves for a tilt at the title and other ambitions.
With only nine games of a teak-tough season left to play, this is mind-blowingly thoughtless planning by the beaks, and neither Rodgers, Clement nor any other top-flight manager will thank them for it.
However, there’s a silver lining to this intermittent rainbow in that Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Luis Palma have now been granted an extra two weeks to recover from injury, and, by the grace of God, be fit and ‘ready’ for the all-important last phase.
That last phase begins with a treacherous trip to the appalling plastic carpet of the Tony Macaroni Stadium in the outback town, Livingston. Remember, we just took four off them on Sunday, but they scored two of the game’s best goals!
Their surface is notoriously ‘dodgy’, but so is our defence therefore a tweak or two might be in order for the return on their unofficial car park. Should we overpower and outscore both the Saints and Livi we will await the outcome of matches being played elsewhere with bated breath-literally.
theRangers will do their utmost to harness the emotions of their chosen referee up in Bonnie Dundee on St. Patrick’s Day (where their fans will surely embrace the celebrations with a flourish of green and a shamrock on their attire).
It is highly unlikely they will be awarded a penalty kick, nor will Dundee be likely to end the game with less than eleven men on the field of play when the boys in blue come a-calling. No, the rules of play will be strictly enforced as per usual as a visual continuation of Scottish ethics in football. (Expect a 4-0 win, a penalty and a red card).
This illumination of conscience will be followed by another green encounter, this time at home to Hibernian when the Easter Road side will attempt to derail their nemesis for the first time this season after conceding nine goals and scoring just…none.
With the horrific head injury incurred by Martin Boyle in their previous tussle, Nick Montgomery will be praying that his talisman makes a full recovery although the introduction of Kevin DeBruyne would unlikely galvanise this outfit to an unlikely result in Govan.
Should the expected become reality, Celtic would then travel to Ibrox in a do-or-die encounter in one of the most anticipated Glasgow Derbies in more than a decade.
The Bhoys would be two points behind with the same number of games played. theGers would be anticipating a celebration of epic proportions with not one park bench safe should they win, a victory propelling them to a five point lead with only six games to play.
I do believe even the most ardent Celt would concede the title in that moment. However, for every devil on the shoulder, there’s an angel, and I do believe we have one in the form of the fixture list. The international break may well prove to be divine providence should it prize open a doorway for the reintroduction of our most prized and aforementioned assets.
Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki/Scales and Taylor. Yang, McGregor, Hatate, Kyogo/Idah, O’Riley and Maeda/Palma/Kuhn. Not all at once. Of course! Now, that’s a team selection to put your faith in and should the good Lord shine his light on our blighted wounded, the light at the end of this tunnel may prove to be too bright for Clement’s ‘champions-elect!’
Celtic have been well and truly ‘done’ in the injury stakes this term, and to be fair, they have too, but if we can garner all our top Bhoys for the final journey, it could prove to be one of our most celebrated Flags in recent times.
With a final and possibly decisive ‘derby’ to be played out in the frantic setting of Celtic Park towards the end, I can see a silver lining my friends.
And finally…Paddy Power will most certainly have the tic-toc man flagging that the Guinness and Jameson brands will boast exponential growth in their profit margins come the 25th of May when the Scottish Cup is finally raised. But, what coloured ribbons will be tied around the beautiful and historic trophy?
25th of May… now, there’s a date to deliberate and salivate over as you give your team talk in the dressing room. If your charges cannot get up and raise their game to Everest heights whilst pulling on the famous Hoops, they should be nowhere near a Celtic shirt.
If they cannot perform like Lions on the road to this particular date, one so dear to our hearts, then there is a major problem. Should Celtic see off Miovski and co. at Hampden in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup, we go again in the Final, most likely against our greatest rivals once again as Heart of Midlothian are incapable of landing a meaningful glove on the Ibrox side.
A Celtic v theRangers Scottish Cup Final would be played out on Saturday, 25th of May 2024. It will be 57 years to the day since Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers fired Celtic to a historic European Cup triumph against Helenio Herrara’s Inter Milan in Lisbon.
Memories of Stein, Faither, Cairney, Cesar, The Brush, Murdy, Jinky, Bertie, Wispy and the goal scorers will come flooding back, and social network will be alight with footage of that great day. History would be on our side after the glorious Centenary Year celebrations of 1988 when the Bhoys famously won the Double in unlikely circumstances. The club was born for these days.
This club…we always triumph when least expected, and a victory against an Ibrox club in the Cup Final on the anniversary of our greatest triumph, well, that would be SO Celtic!
But first things first…lets assimilate our favourites, AND OUR SUPPORT, and take our game to the next level with a result at Ibrox, and a Grand Old Championship win. It is not widely expected, but, as the famous 4-2 game proved, we often keep our best for last. Keep the Faith-and keep the League Flag flying high!
Eddie Murray
Nice to read a positive rallying article , well done Eddie , COYBIG.
Positivity wins the day-just need to get the fans on board and united-we can win this!
Defiant article,( maith an fear) meaning, good man.
Absolutely! Take the positives and we’re better than them. Unquestionable. HH
Your enthusiasm never seems to wane. Key point is keep the faith. Man you hold your faith so steady that mines is vicariously transfixed!
Cheers Gav-pass it on!