Friday 14 November 2014

Celtic clash at Parkhead

Off this afternoon to Glasgow for a potentially classic celtic encounter as Scotland and the Republic of Ireland meet in a Euro 2016 qualifier. After Scotland's positive start to the campaign, this is their chance at home to cement it and put down a marker as real challengers for an automatic place. 

Scotland currently trail the Republic by three points and eight goal difference, so it really is a must-win. That's usually a worrying sign for us but I am hoping Ireland come looking to maintain their margin and take a point as that should play into our hands. The choice of Parkhead for this fixture is a strange one as the Ireland side will feel more at home here than anywhere else they might have had to play and there will inevitably be a larger away support given Celtic's Ireland-leaning. Nonetheless, the Tartan Army are in good heart given Wee Gordie's fine start as team supremo and we will give our side all the vocal backing they need.

This may be my last game of the qualifiers. The daft idea of playing all of the fixtures on a different day of the week means that most involve at least two days off work which is a nonsense. I may go to Dublin in the Summer for the return fixture but tickets will be hard to come by and Scotland would need to be well in the mix to get me flying over.

It's England on Tuesday night in Glasgow too for a money-spinning friendly. Fifty quid a ticket is cashing in but I won't travel for friendlies, let alone take time off work. England didn't sell their ticket allocation but they are taking four and half thousand which is impressive for a meaningless fixture. I hope the match is trouble-free - it should be - or it will quickly quash this fixture once again for years to come.

6 comments:

  1. How is a country of 60 million bringing 4000 for a friendly impressive?! How many did Scotland take for the match last year!

    Mon the Hoops - Parkhead is the perfect venue for the Celtic derby;) 

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  2. It's impressive. Taking 20,000 is just that much more impressive.

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  3. Lets just hope "The Hoops" don't sing their selection of IRA songs. That would spoil the occasion

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  4. No Secretarian nonsense to report. Think that might be reserved for England games.

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  5. Your up early for a Saturday morning following a good Scottish victory.
    I'd have thought you would have hit the McEwans following that well taken goal last night.
    Good game and obviously, result.

    I am doubting our chances this coming Tuesday, I think your lot will want it more. Still, we will see.

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  6. On the 8am flight back Tony.

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