Falkirk v Celtic Preview: The Logo that Flipped Me Off

By: JT | August 10th, 2007

My aim for this campaign is to have an opposition supporter give us some insight into their team in the run up to the matches with Celtic as a form of preview. This week, no viable candidate from Falkirk emerged, so you’ll have to deal with a brief preview and a weak review as I won’t be seeing the game live tomorrow morning. One does have to ask why Falkirk’s logo is flipping us the bird though. I’ll leave that one, and this one, to your own interpretation.

Last week Falkirk was presented with the ideal opener. They faced newly promoted Gretna, and rocked their world 4-0. Falkirk manager, former Celt, and Pretty in Pink director John Hughes admitted his side got lucky and the scoreline flattered them. He also lamented that the Bairn’s defense was “suicidal” at times. But top of the table they sit, looking down with a smile on all of the Scottish Premiership.

Falkirk Satdium will be hopped up on optimism as the hobbled champions come to town. Last season, Celtic had the opportunity to wrap up the title on a trip to Westfield, and decided to aggrevate their supporters further with a 1-0 defeat instead. Falkirk are a good club at home, and considering the form of both clubs coming into this contest, I would expect a tight affair.

Celtic need to generate some momentum heading into their midweek trip to Moscow for their Champions League qualifiers. After last weekend’s dismal 0-0 draw at home with Kilmarnock, its tough to see where that spark is going to come from. Perhaps with the knowledge that they are playing for a place in the Spartak Moskva match, a fire will be lit under the Bhoys collective butts.

Mark Brown is back between the sticks as Artur Boruc continues his shoulder healing and rehab process. Boruc could be ready for the qualifier, but I wouldn’t count on it. Brown looks stable, if not spectacular in net, so there’s no reason to rush Boruc back unless he’s absolutely 100%.

Mark Wilson is set to retain his place at right back, while WGS looks to bring back Jean Jacque Pierre Francois Henri Bertrand Louis Doumbe for cover at right back. While we in Timdom appreciate his match winner in the Scottish Cup in May, he couldn’t cut it at Sheffield United, which shouldn’t be a precursor for a role at Celtic.

Steven Pressley is back from bearded suspension, but I think WGS will stick with JFK as McManus’s partner.

In preparation for what undoubtedly (and wisely) will be a cautious Moscow trip, and given the fact Scott McDonald is still suspended, I predict WGS will go with a Southampton-esque 4-5-1. The First XI will be:

M Brown
Wilson–Kennedy–McManus–Naylor
Nakamura–Hartley–S Brown–Donati–McGeady
Vennegoor of Hesselink

Donati can direct the attack from around the center circle, Scott Brown and WGS blackmailer-in-chief Hartley can roam. Naka and McG can create from the flanks with Jan the Man doing his back to the goal, control the long ball thing. Which all means….a 2-1 win. Barely. And on to Russia we plod.