I know Saturday is a long way away yet but my nerves are fooking wrecked. This game IS our season. Lose, and the trophy goes to Ibrox. Draw, and I can see it going down to the final day and could even be decided on goal difference. Win, and I beleive the momentum will be on our side. This is the game where Strachan and his men will have to stand up and be counted for. They have to win the fans over again. Make us beleive that we can make it 3-in-a-row.

Our recent form hasn't been the best and we dropped a few points aswell as being dumped out of the cup. Rangers havn't exactly been free-flowing either but they seem to have the nack of grinding out results and collecting all three points.

Rangers are more than likely going to play uber-defensive again as a draw will be good enough for them. I think Strachan will try to beat Walter at his own game and pack the midfield and drop a striker. I personally don't know what lineup I'd have. If Bobo is fit, he HAS to start in place of Caldwell. I'm fed up watching my team get bullied of the park by this shower of turd. He'd be a presence on the field and maybe give Darcheville a wee lump in his trunks when he see's the big man walk out the tunnel. I think Hartley has to play in Donati's place. Give the defence that bit of protection and allow Brown to do his own think without having to worry about defensive duties too much. I'd think to see McDonald start from the bench. He has looked nackered the last few games and Samaras appears to give us more options when he's on the field. His runs into the channels will give Ol Man Weir difficulties. Also expect McGeady to torture that Broadfoot erse.

My Team:

....................Boruc

Hinkel.....Balde.......McManUs....Naylor

Nakamura...Hartley...Brown.....McGeady

............JVoH........Samaras


Gingerness's team:

..................Boruc

Hinkel....Caldwell....McManUs...Naylor

.......................Hartley
Nakamura....Brown...Robson..McGeady

....................JVoH


Any sort of victory will do for me. We currently have a 2 goal (I think) advantage when it comes down to goal difference. Here's hoping for a 2-0 win and secure our most important victory over them since '98

2-0 Rangers i think

2 -1 Celtic, I hope. I'll never hear the end of it otherwise.

be a good game.i see barry ferguson,lee mcculloch,allan mcgregor,christain daily have all pulled out of the scotland squad faking injuries.

i dont think thers anything wrong with Macgregor or Mcculloch, but fergy has a bad ankle and dailly broke a toe against hibs.

im not looking forward to this game. its too important not to lose this, but im sure the gers can pull this off.

Going to miss this for f*cks sake. Massive game for the Timmies, expect them to fight and get themselves a point.

1-1.

Samaras should start in my opinion.

i cant wait!!! if we lose , your right , title is on its way to govan , in my opinion if we want to win , we need to play samaras ahead of jvoh , i have been very impressed with his performances , he works hard and has a good finish aswell as pace and hieght , surely he is a must start , but something tells me that strachan will play one up , mcdonald would be a stupid option against such a defensive side with lots of height and strength , so its a certinty that JVOH will most likely start , which worries me if im honest , but well just have to wait and see
hail hail!

Agree with that mate. Strachan should start Samaras with big Jan but think he's going for one up front. It failed drastically earlier in the season and we have to male them play us at our game. First goal is vital. They score it, they'll sit on it and defend it, we score it, they have to change their play and attack us which will open up their defence for us

JOHN COLLINS has backed Scott Brown to prove his critics wrong by showing he is worth every penny of the £4.4million (€5.6m) Celtic paid for his services.


Brown was regarded as one of the brightest talents in the country when Celtic beat off competition from Rangers to land the midfielder in a record-breaking deal last summer.

However, the 22-year-old has so far failed to live up to that billing during his time in the east end of Glasgow, leading to discontent in some quarters regarding his contribution this season.

But Collins – the former Hibernian manager who sanctioned the move – insists Brown not only has the potential to inspire victory in Saturday’s Old Firm derby, he also has all the makings of being a Celtic great one day.

"I have no doubts at all that Scott will turn into a top quality player for Celtic," he said.

"Remember, he is still a young player and this is his first year at a really big club and it’s never easy in your first year.

"He’s adapting to a new system, a new team, and different expectations.

"When you play for Celtic, you are under the spotlight every single week in front of full houses. That wasn’t the case when he was at Hibs and he has to get used to that.

"But I’ve no doubt that he has the ability to win the game on Saturday for Celtic.

"People look at the £4.4million price tag and expect miracles but that isn’t a huge amount of money in modern football.
"Trust me, £4.4million for Scott Brown was value for money."

Collins has also been watching the progress of another of his former players on the other side of the Old Firm divide and he believes Kevin Thomson is not fulfilling his potential at Rangers.

"He plays the sitting, holding role for Rangers and it’s an unglamorous role," said Collins.

"He just takes the ball and plays simple passes and I think he’s got more talent than that.

"I think he could do more and probably get further up the park and maybe get some strikes on target," he added.

Both players are set to go head to head in Saturday’s much-anticipated Old Firm derby which Collins believes Celtic can’t afford to lose as they attempt to bridge a three-point gap over a Rangers side with a game in hand.

"In the last few years Celtic have been out in front in the title race so the pressure is on now," he said. "They are chasing Rangers and this is a game they can’t afford to lose, it would be very difficult to come back from.

"They are two evenly-matched teams and there isn’t much between them but, to win at Ibrox, you have to play well."

© Irish Examiner, 2008. Thomas Crosbie Media, TCH
The Irish Examiner

Transcript from tomorrows huddle:

if easily offended do not read

I give you the pre match huddle by Stephen “Mick” McManUs…

SB –“that eff that cu.nt andy Cameron has fu.cked off”
SmcM – “Haw artur ya mad [beep!] get ower here right fu.ckin noo”
AB – “ohhhhh the holy goaly he hates the huns”
LN – “gnash gnash”
SB – “I’m sure that cu.nts on ectos”
SmcM – “less o that singin ya mad polish c.unt and listen up, right lads this is fu.ckin it we ah know whit we hae to dae the day right” “Artur you dae whit you dae best, niver mind windin they huns up behind the goal just keep us n the geme, Andy you get up an doon they flanks like a whippet on speed”
AH – “mine commandant ze whippet on speed?”
AB – “ he means run ya fanny”
AH – “nein im not ze fanny you are”
AB – “el fu.ckin have you ye!.. sayin that you should be right up for this hinky ah mean for fu.ck sake they were just playin dambusters there, that no fire ye up”
SmcM – For fu,ck sake you two, right Gadge dinnae be like baresi just fu.ckin blooter it”, Broonie Hartley win ‘hat midfeild battle and we can win the geme nae bather”, first chance do that geme dodging fanny Ferguson and while yer at it mind and wind that gap toothed bucket ersed Charlie aboot ‘e’s sisters pants
AmcG – “there the best fae east tae west”
SmcM - “haw lord o the dance you just be pure magic and rip the pi.ss” “robbo this is your big chance mate, we naka oan the bench, skippy dinnae be a greedy shyte and try an link up we jan”
SmcD – “strewth”
AB – “niver mind yer strewth I’l be sticking yer uht up your arse if you don’t perform today”
PH – “Gonnae no argue man it pure freaks is right oot so it does and messes up ma karma in ah that no whit ah mean”
Jvoh – “for sure Paul after the game we can go for a shmoke and a pancake”
PH – “pure quality big man”
SmcM – “Less o the bletherin you lot it’s ma fu.ckin huddle talk”
AB – “well fu.ckin hurry up then”
AmcG – “even better when there moist”
GC – “ I know ah aboot moisty hun pants so ah do”
LN – “ha gnash ha gnash ha”
SmcM –“if he’s oan the drug test the day we are fu.cked”
Jvoh – “a drugs test!”
SmcM – “eff theres that hun dougal, right lets get inate these [beep!]!!
AB – “ohhhhhhhhhhhh artur boruc the holy goaly”……..

from the game all i remember is a last minute headed goal by samaras and the celtic end going ballistic....

Charlie Adams Sisters Pants Are The Best
You Can Smell Them From The East To The West
They Are Better When They're Soiled Or They're Damp
Charlie Adams Sisters Pants!!!!!!

lol , cant wait till the game!

Oh dear Celtic. Didnt take your chances. Ref was a homer which didnt help.

A trophyless season is on the cards..........

lol , i just remembered something lionel messi said about rangers not so long ago , was in october roughly "rangers are anti-football" , i see where he is coming from , all they're good for is to clutter there own box with 8 blue jerseys at all time .. sad to be honest....

WELL DONE THE GERS.

I wasnt looking forward to the game as i thought we might not even get a point in it. But well done to Thomson. I will be the first to admit but during the first half i thought we would lose the game and maybe even the league.

Well done Cellic you played very good but it just wasnt to be.

GRATZ

title is on its way to goven

super GERS

Absolute rubbish once again! Looked promising in the 1st half went to sleep for 30 secs, Bang! Game over. Never looked like getting back into it in the 2nd half.

Its a shame Thompson hadnt broken his leg! Might have learnt his lesson for diving!!

*If only Broonaldo had gone down*

Brown could have been punched square in the face by every Rangers player on the pitch and still wouldn't have got a penalty. He probably would haver been booked for diving if he had've went down

Ah well lets look to next season and the massive re-building job the (hopefully) new boss will have on his hands!!

Major clearout needed of players needed too. Need 3 new defenders, 2 midfielders and a forward (aswell as signing Samaras permantly)

Stating the obvious but Caldwell just cannot hack it in the Champions League, he's just too slow. We need a good pacy young defender although the sad thing is none spring to mind.

You Are joking arent you? The man is immense!

He wouldnt look out of place next to Rio or Vidic for Man Utd!!

Rangers hero Kevin Thomson attacked at party
Mar 31 2008 By Jack Mathieson

RANGERS hero Kevin Thomson was glassed hours after scoring the winning goal in Saturday's Old Firm clash.

The midfielder was the target of an unprovoked attack while he celebrated Hibs striker Steven Fletcher's 21st birthday.

Witnesses claim the trouble was caused by gatecrashers at the private party, also attended by Celtic star Scott Brown.

Bouncers asked the yobs to leave the bash at a function room in Edinburgh's Three Sisters pub at about 9pm on Saturday.

But on their way out, they spotted teetotal Thomson, 23, sitting with his girlfriend.

One threw a tumbler, which struck the £2million Rangers player on the forehead.

A witness said: "There is no doubt Kevin was the target.

"Luckily it brushed off another partygoer before hitting him, which saved him from serious injury."

Thomson, who was stretchered off near the end of Saturday's game, was not available for comment yesterday.

But a friend told the Record: "Kevin was so lucky the glass didn't break. He was very shaken and had a lump on his forehead.

"These idiots could have blinded him.

"Kevin doesn't usually go out on a Saturday night but it was his pal's 21st and a private function so he thought it would be OK.

"He's usually a stay-at-home kind of guy. He couldn't wait to get away.

"He left immediately and was back home in time for Match of the Day."

Police last night said they had no record of attending an incident at the pub.