This Factfile is brought to you by the thought that Liverpool look every inch of an Europa League team
Managers View
“The squad is a bit stretched again and there are a few bumps and bruises from Tuesday night and we will have to change the team a little bit. Rogne, Brown, Samaras and Commons are doubts. They are not too bad but they will struggle for Saturday I would imagine.
“I wouldn’t look at it that way (giving them the day off) but we want to have our best team on the pitch on Wednesday night and if that means we can’t take a risk with them we won’t.”
How They Doing:
A quick look at their squad list shows it much changed from last season. This doesn’t seem to bother them though as it happens most seasons and they still hang around like the smell of a blocked drain inflicting the vexatious Terry Butcher on us season after season.
Any Ex Hupes
No ex Hupes, I think.
Recent Form
Unbeaten this season with three draws. Last week’s impressive comeback from 2 down and a man down will give them confidence.
Top Marksmen
Andrew Shinnie is top goal scorer with 2 goals. Pepper, Ross & McKay all have one each. They have scored 4 goals in two away games.
Clean Sheets
Losing an average of 1.66 goals per game this season. Failed to keep a clean sheet so far. I would mark them as suspect.
Record Against Us (Since The Lennon Revolution)
We have – surprisingly – won 4 out of the 5 games we have faced them up the Tullich Stadium. The one we lost as a major one though. Our last two visits have seen us jog away with 2-0 victories.
How We Looking
In Rolf’s Animal Hospital the bearded Antipodean help injured animals to health and returned them to their loving owners. He is currently working at CP drawing cartoons and playing a didgeridoo in the hope that our pets can be home soon.
Joe Ledley (groin), Beram Kayal (ankle), Daryl Murphy (hamstring), Dylan McGeouch (broken jaw), Anthony Stokes (ankle), Thomas Rogne (ankle), skipper Scott Brown (hip),striker Georgios Samaras & Kris Commons are either out or doubtful. Yikes.
Wanyama is back and someone called Mo Bangura in the squad. Still, we are looking a bit lightweight in the middle and up front.
Top Bhoy
Top Marksman
Commons with 4, Sammy with 2, Ledley with 1 along with Mulgrew. Only one is not injured. Tony Stokes has scored 4 goals against The Senckie along with Sammy and Ledley. There is no good news here only woe to a soundtrack of Coldplay.
Clean Sheets
3 clean sheets in our 5 games this season and we haven’t lost a goal in the first half of any match.
Wanna Win Some Money
If your skint, The Senkie are 6/1, which if you have the cojones to back against your heroes surely will tickle your fancy. Us, with our team sheet being selected by counting how many toes our players have you would be a fool to back a scorer at the moment without seeing the team.
Draw/Celtic for me but draw/draw seems more likely. Since I am a fool (and love a fairytale) I’m sticking on Bangura and 1-1.
This time next year I will be a millionaire, baby.
I think they will miss Hayes, last week hearts were suffering from pre-Europe thinking the same as us(in my humble opinion). Butcher will no doubt install “take the man if you have to” attitude, but if we do or jobs honestly I see no reason to be worried. I think alot is made of a couple of past results against them, at the same time 80% of results are forgotten, Think Lenny will try the boot up the arse routine in dressing room before ko. Celtic halftime/ full time and -1 for me.
Our whole summer has been focused on getting into the Champs League. Tomorrow is just a boil on our bum that needs to be lanced before we move on. Yes, Lenny may try the kick up the arse routine but it will be half hearted.
Would like to see Twarzik getting a start and also watt. If they are going to learn there is probally no better time and place. In all honestly if we were to drop points(which I don’t think we will) the first few games in is the time to do it. Lenny has probally had the first few weeks of season in his thinking for sometime. Hope to see some new faces soon.
He mentioned Twardizk today and surely Tony Watt has done enough to start? These young kids should at least be involved in around 20 to 30 games this season. I just dont won’t faces for the sake of it. They must conform with the plan. No quick fix or marquee fuckin mooner just for the sake of it.
I fear DD and Pete might have different views. Lenny might be waiting untill the correct face smiles lovingly at him, but the other two will no doubt have the words “Celtic Brand” bouncing round their skulls!
I think I answer that point in the next blog…
Don’t want to be chasing the game tomorrow. Tell Izaguire to be a left back first and foremost. No sprinting to the half way line when one of our centre halfs has just won the ball at the edge of our box and has three opposition players round him.
I agree the young lads should be given a chance. If you’re good enough you’re old enough.
Lets see what they can do.
Can we just tell Lizzy that he was once a not to bad footballer? That would be a start…
He’s been a bit of a liability so far this season..