If you missed Rodgers press conference today you missed a treat. He refused to apologise or express regret for criticising officials. He pointed the finger of blame for the ticket fiasco squarely at the club across the city. He reiterated Celtic’s stance on the matter and he dismissed questions about the game next week with mock irritation. It was masterful.
Amidst it all was the team news, and that, folks, was nothing but good.
Hatate, back in training and fit and raring to go. Carter Vickers, back fully fit and up for the fight. We even heard that Palma will be back in training shortly, so that injury is not as bad as was evidently feared. But the real news, the news we all wanted, was about Callum McGregor. “Back out on the pitch,” the boss says, but not being risked at Livingston.
Will he be ready for Ibrox? Rodgers says he might very well be. I think he’ll be there. There is no more important player to the team, and if Rodgers is talking about risk mitigation, then he’s also decided that he’s being saved for the game next weekend.
He’s going to be ready. Hatate will be ready. Carter Vickers will be ready. Rodgers will be in the dugout. Kyogo is back on form and scoring goals.
We’ll be rolling into Ibrox in good shape if we can get tomorrow’s job done.
This is a far cry from where we thought – feared – we might be some weeks back when we didn’t know if any of our injured stars would place.
Hatate is going to elevate the whole team. At his best he can turn games single-handed. But it’s McGregor, of course, who is the really important one.
We can’t know how much we’ve missed Hatate in the team, although I expect a marked improvement with his return, because he’s been out such a long time and we’ve been muddling by … we can definitely measure how much we’ve missed McGregor. That was a terrible blow at the worst possible time.
Of all the players in the squad I didn’t even want to contemplate a match at Ibrox without … he was by far the biggest possible loss. If he’s back that’s everything. If he’s fit that’s incredible. The lift the dressing room will take from his presence. Amazing.
The lift it gives the fans … yeah, I feel up for it now more than ever.
Bring on the next two games.
Great news on the injury front then – And not before time either !
Great news that he’s not gonna apologise – And why should he either !
And great news that he is stating by the hour on TV that it wasn’t Celtic who wanted the visiting fans allocations cut in The Glasgow Derby matches either !
And great that I’m hearing this at ma family home far from mine on the one Sly Sky Sports Channel they get (409) as I sure as hell ain’t paying one fuckin red cent to Sly Sky Sports Scotland or England either !
Quite simple, CALMAC!!!
Mon the Hoops
Definitely gives the optimism a huge boost havin our players back. Tho let’s get this one tomorrow out the road, hopefully with a result and crucially nae injuries. This could be one of the toughest games we have left. They’ve everythin tae prove and still hurtin from the SC game. Martindale will have them pumped up and along wi that mess of a plastic pitch, can see this bein hard goin. Get by this yin with the team intact and ahm happy.
Intae them Bhoys, push it.
I find it strange that some tims fear a game against LIVI, bottom of the table and 54 points beyhind us! This should be an easy opportunity too boost goal difference against sevco! Come on guys where is our confidence? Hammer this mob tomorrow. I think no less than 4 goals difference to the good guys.
One huge mistake the manager made, was to say that VAR is relatively new, IT’S NOT, if not for that, it would have been perfect.
I would worry about Hatate going straight into the match against that team, that we share our city with because, I always feel that it takes him a couple of games to find his passing range, I hope I’m wrong, if he starts.
I don’t want Hatate starting at Ibrox. He’s been out for a long time and usually takes time to find his stride.
It seems to be coming together at the right time but the big one for me is CCV being fit. As much as I love McGregor, we can cope better without him than we could without ccv