The absolute best news this week so far came yesterday, when Reo Hatate came through a 45 minute bounce game at Lennoxtown. His chances of making it to Ibrox fit enough to play more than just a token part in the match have been dramatically improved.
He’s going to be ready for that game, but how ready he is will depend on what we do about the game against Livingston, where we’re facing more than just one difficult choice about who to select and who we might have to leave on the bench.
For many fans there will be an understandable hope that we wrap our best players in cotton wool to prevent any further problems. But of course, that comes with one enormous risk. We want to go to Ibrox top of the league, and that door is now open. If we can’t go to Almondvale and win then the Ibrox game is going to be pretty irrelevant anyway.
He has to play at some point in that one, and so does Carter Vickers.
If we had Callum available for even part of that match that too would be pretty amazing. They don’t have to play the full game, just enough of it that we can go to Ibrox with something approaching our best squad, with all of the players sharp and close to match fit.
In a season where we’ve had nothing but bad luck, are we not due some of the good kind? Just seeing Hatate back in the Hoops is a lift. Knowing that we’ll see him in the team soon, and that he will be available for the run-in after the split even if he’s not fit for the game coming up is pretty great. We have missed his ability to weave magic.
The best Celtic performances against the Ibrox club in recent years have come with our midfield troika of McGregor, O’Riley and Hatate.
It makes me laugh to recall that two years ago, when we signed the latter two in the January window, that some of the Ibrox fans openly mocked the idea that we might go into a game with that partnership, with some of them labelling it the “weakest” Celtic midfield of their lifetimes. What a shock they got.
They won’t be so shocked this time, except if all three are in the starting line-up. Yes, we’d be taking a chance, but we’re really in “no risk no reward” territory now and the only question the manager will have to answer for himself is whether a half-fit McGregor and a three quarters fit Hatate are really better options than the alternatives.
I would suggest that nobody would be trying to get these guys ready for the game if he thought otherwise. This is, in some ways, an indictment of the signings.
In another way it’s just an acknowledgement that we still have the three best central midfielders in this country, and that if we can get them on the park for that one we should.
Even if they are available, which would be a huge boost. Ah wouldnae be daft enough, tae think they’re goin tae turn it on big time after bein out. Some longer than others. Although ah’ll be 100% glad theyre in the team, ahm no expectin too much in their first games back. Just hope they can make the difference. And btw, this game against livingston first, ah can see bein a real tough, hard one. They’re gonnae be out for some payback against us for the SC game and that wee nyaff will have them fired right up. If we can get through that with a result and nae injuries, we’ll have done really well and the ibrox game will take care of itself.
Kenny Miller told us last night on superscore board he wont be the same player that he was ,,, so there you have it straight from the horses arse , lets put this clown back in his box.
Even though it’s this incoherent, blabbering, inane wreck of an opinion mouthpiece – Get His pish pot jerker translated into Japanese and pin it on the dressing room wall to make Reo Grande !
So you’re conceding the title if we drop points at Livingston? You must be if you’re saying the Ibrox games irrelevant if we don’t win at Livi. I understand why you’re saying it, but I can’t agree. If we drew with Livi due to protecting key players and some Tynecastle’esque decisions, then beat the klan at Ibrox, as far as I’m concerned we’re still very much in it and the leagues still there to be won. The Ibrox result could never be described as irrelevant if there’s 6 or less points in it heading into that game with a home derby still to be played. I’d guarantee if we dropped points at Livi then beat them at Ibrox, you’d be saying its still game on, and you wouldn’t be wrong.
Calm yourself down.
I’m perfectly calm. I’m also confused. You say that if we can’t win at Livi then the game at Ibrox is pretty irrelevant. Is that not a concession of the title. If that’s not what you were implying then that’s how it reads to me. If you meant something else then I’m curious what it was. I was just pointing out that if we drop points at Livi, then the game at Ibrox becomes more relevant than ever. A win, and I don’t think the titles anywhere near over, a loss and I’d have to almost concede the title too. But I’d still retain a flicker of hope.
Not a chance. Takes him weeks to get match fit. Wrap him in cotton wool and sell in the summer
I’d give Hatate 30 minutes against Livi and the first hour v the huns, CCV needs to play the whole game against them. I’d only play McGregor if he’s fully fit which, given his attitude, I’d say is likely
I really worry about some of the comments on here. What a great idea, let’s sell our players. Very supportive board like.
I played football for years. Was I 100% fit for every game? No. Did I give 100%? Absobloody right I did. So will Hatate, Callum & CCV for whatever period of time they’re given. Maybe consider not have them playing 100% of the game but give 100% when they’re on the pitch. If you’re fit enough to play then you’re fit enough to play.
If I don’t feel 100% should I not go to work. Time to man up, get on the pitch, win us this league & shut up the doubters & moaners in our support. HH