What a retro 10 days we’ve had.    First up were the 1980’s.  We had a Papal visit to Glasgow and so our neighbours across the city rolled out some classics about their desire for there to be no Pope in Rome along with other ditties I hadn’t heard since 1982 and earlier.  Then we visit Kilmarnock and the full IRA song sheet was rolled out – did no-one notice they were at a football game?  On to midweek and fast forward to Feb 2000 and a midweek game against Inverness Caley but this time we gubbed them.  GIRUY!  I know, a ten year grudge?  Damn right, the thing I remember most about “that night” was not just the defeat but the fact that they were a bunch of moaning whingers.  You will recall that the game was supposed to be on a Saturday but exceptionally high winds had damaged the stadium.  Despite Celtic paying their bus fares back, all I can recall is the press and their fans moaning about the wasted trip to Glasgow.  So 6 – 0.  GIRUY ya whingers.

So you’re going to bet and get your free money from Paddy Power, so where should you put your money?  Well Rangers have a trip early Sunay to visit Mark McGhee’s usually useless Dons (although Rangers haven't won there in 4 years), whilst we’re at home to Yogi Hughes’ flattering to deceive Hibees.  In England our Paddy Power Weekend Bulletin looks at the Big Bucks Derby between Man City and Chelsea as well as Liverpool’s struggling start to the new season.

SPL

Celtic v Hibs

There’s a very good chance that only one person who started the game in April will start for us on Saturday, and that would be Stokes!  What a massive turnaround.  I have to say however that I would like to see more of Gary Hooper.  He liked pretty impressive midweek.  Average goals scored at home this season is 3.5.  Average scored away by Hibs is 1.5.  Does that say 3 – 1 or what?

England

And so onto England.  After an indifferent start to the season for Liverpool Paddy Power offer odds on whether Roy Hodgson lasts the season, where Liverpool will finish in the league and if Sunderland will hit Liverpool with another one of their late late goals.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, with managers such as David Moyes and Arsene Wenger already showing the strain this season there is betting on the next boss to be sent off whilst following Dimitar Berbatov’s hat-trick against Liverpool Paddy Power bet on which player from the big Six will next score three in a league match.

Handshake Betting II

The match of the weekend between Manchester City and Chelsea could see Wayne Bridge and John Terry come face-to-face once again for the first time since Wayne Bridge memorably shunned Terry’s offer of a handshake. Paddy Power offer 6/4 the former friends shake hands prior to kick off, believing it more likely they will bury the hatchet this time round compared to the 6/1 on offer when the two met at Stamford Bridge back in February.

The clash of the big spenders could be a showdown between the big strikers with Didier Drogba scoring 19 goals in his 19 Premier League matches in 2010 and Carlos Tevez almost as impressive with 17 in 22 this year. Paddy Power bets on which striker scores most in the game, the first to shoot on target and who will score first of the two.

PADDY POWER MONEY-BACK SPECIAL

Man City v Chelsea – Blue Moon Rising

If Carlos Tevez scores the last goal of the match Paddy Power will refund losing first/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the game.

Premier League

4-5 Chelsea; 5-2 Man Utd; 6 Arsenal; 12 Man City; 66 Spurs, Liverpool

Top 4 Finish

8/15 Man City; 9-4 Liverpool; 5-2 Spurs; 10 Everton

Top Prem Scorer

5-8 Drogba; 6 Berbatov; 8 Tevez; 9 Torres; 10 Rooney; 12 Bent; 16 Malouda; 20 Chamakh; 22 Anelka

Sack Race

2 Martinez; 3 Grant; 6 Mancini; 10 Moyes; 11 Hughton; 16 McLeish; 18 Hughes, Houllier; 22 Di Matteo, Holloway, Hodgson; 25 Bruce, Allardyce, Pulis; 28 McCarthy, Coyle; 40 Ferguson; 50 Redknapp; 80 Ancelotti, Wenger

Liverpool finishing position

9/4        Top 4

7/2        5^th

7/2        6^th

6/1        7^th

8/1        8^th

11/2      9^th or worse

Roy Hodgson to still be Liverpool manager at the end of the season

1/6        Yes

7/2        No

7/1        Sunderland to score after the 85^th minute v Liverpool

16/1      Sunderland to score an equaliser after the 85^th minute v Liverpool

28/1      Sunderland to score a winning goal after the 85^th minute v Liverpool

So there we have it.  Our money back special.  Our re-visit to earlier times with songs we thought had been consigned to the last century and our free bet.  But most of all Celtic were fantastic. GIRUY!