TalkCeltic - The Ultimate Celtic FC Forum

The Celtic support has been nominated for a FIFA award, largely helped by the displays and emphatic support of the Green Brigade. Click on the link below to vote:

http://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/fan-award/

The Betfred Cup holders seen off a hard working Dundee side without reaching 2nd gear in a physical battle with Neil McCann's team at Dens Park. Celtic's winning mentality and patient approach in the game, added to the quality of in-form wingers Scott Sinclair and James Forrest took them into their 4th straight semi-final in the Scottish League cup.
League Cup quarter-final
Dens Park, Dundee
Wednesday, September 20, 2017


DUNDEE…0


CELTIC…4
(Sinclair 24, Forrest 42, 92, McGregor 87)

It was a repeat scoreline from the weekend as the invincibles racked up another 4 goals and a clean sheet in what proved to be a routine victory for the Glasgow side. The home team gave it their all to stop the Celtic players breaking through them, but Scott Sinclair showed great technique and skill to drive into the opposition box where he drew a foul from Jack Hendry to win, and subsequently score, a penalty kick halfway through the first half.

It was...

Celtic found themselves on cloud nine after qualifying for the Champions League group stages, for the second successive season under Brendan Rodgers. The prestige and financial benefits of the competition are well known, so the early European qualifiers have become a vital part of the season for the club. Tonight, Celtic's faithful supporters were brought back down to Earth with an unforgiving smack.

The wait is over and normal service will once again be resumed as Celtic travel to New Douglas Park to take on Hamilton Academical.

When the sides last met back in April, the Hoops emerged victorious, courtesy of a double provided by Moussa Dembele. However, it’s a new season and with an international break behind them and a Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Gemain ahead of them, who knows how Celtic will perform come kickoff on Friday night.

Celtic

Arguably the biggest challenge facing Brendan Rodgers and his squad heading in to this match is that of fatigue. Many of his first team regulars featured for their respective countries over the international break, including the Scottish contingent who featured heavily in both of their matches, which is something he’ll surely be aware of when selecting his starting XI. As such, there may be an opportunity for some of the players who find themselves slightly further down the pecking order to step up and impress come Friday.

One potential absence come Friday is Celtic’s star striker, Leigh Griffiths. Griffiths, who started in both of Scotland’s international fixtures, scored against Malta but was subbed off due to a tightness in his calf and is a doubt for Friday’s game. However, even if he was to recover in time for the Accies match, with the PSG game loomingone wonders if Brendan Rodgers would be tempted to rest Griffiths just to be safe. If Griffiths is rested on Friday, that raises the question of who fills in for him?


What are the odds on Edouard starting on...

The moment every Celtic fan across the globe has been waiting for all summer has finally arrived. Fan Favourite Patrick Roberts has this evening agreed to rejoin the Hoops for another season, putting to bed a transfer saga unlikely to be beaten again anytime soon.

The signing of the diminutive English winger will be viewed as a coup, despite the deal only being a temporary one once again. After his scintillating form last season, the player had plenty of suitors across Europe, but clearly sees Parkhead as the right place for his development to continue. Brendan Rodgers has been coy all summer in regards to his pursuit of Roberts, but will no doubt be ecstatic, as he has finally secured his top transfer target.

Celtic's squad at the moment is a strong one, however in Roberts, Rodgers now has something different. The winger has that special 'something' that is often hard to pinpoint. From the way he dribbles with the ball to the way he effortlessly cuts inside and curls it into the top corner time and time again, he is a special talent, one which is perfectly suited to a club like Celtic. So much so, that he has been given the legendary shirt number, 7. Ok, so a few duds have adorned it in recent years, but so many Celtic fans still harbour memories of the likes of Johnstone, Dalglish and Larsson having it on their backs. Roberts is exactly the kind of attacking, flare player that made the number such a part of Celtic folklore in the first place.

With a tough Champions League campaign on the horizon, the Hoops will need every bit of quality possible to get the better of their group opponents. The draw of the competition itself...