Clyde V Celtic Preview
Assistant manager Joe Miller spoke to the website as the cup countdown continues.
“It has been a difficult Christmas and New Year period. However the boys have prepared well and hopefully they can let their feet do the talking now. Undoubtedly the team will give 110%. The pressure is on Celtic. There is no bigger carrot in the game than to beat one of the Old Firm and that is what we are trying to do.”
Sunday will seem a million miles away from the days of facing the harsh reality of closure in the winter of 2004. However the support responded magnificently as Bully Wee fans set a precedent by becoming the first club in Scotland to be run by its own supporters. That faith has been rewarded. Though there is still much to do, the Club has been transformed off the park while on it performances have far outstripped the meagre resources available to the management team of Graham Roberts and Joe Miller.
Joe commented: “My whole experience at Clyde has shown me a different side to the game. My ex-team mates have come down and witnessed first hand the enthusiasm of the youngsters here. It has been tremendous to experience and refreshing to work with guys who are in the first team but willing and dedicated to work at their game.”
“Money is talked about a lot in the game today but you can have all the millions in the world but the most important thing you need is to have desire and determination to succeed.”
Joe continued: “I think what we have seen at Clyde is the continual development of a team
“I’m putting into practice the things that I’ve been taught by some of the game’s greats like Jimmy Johnstone and Alex Ferguson. I’f a player asks for help there is no way I’m going to turn my back. I love coaching and Sunday is an opportunity to show how they have progressed.”
As for team news it appears that there will be little change to previous weeks, as Joe confirmed. “We don’t have a huge number of players challenging for positions as the squad is limited but regardless we have no doubts about their character. The game has come too early for long-term injury victim Paul McHale, Kevin Bradley was hit hard by a virus last week but should be strong enough to get back into contention for a place in the squad while Stevie Masterton is giving it his all to be fit for Saturday.”
“Stevie has worked so hard to establish himself within the first team and it would be a tragedy if he was to miss out on this occasion but gladly he is making great progress.”
So all is set for a cracking tie and some more history-making at Broadwood. Fans don’t have that long to wait now to see if Clyde can match Celtic they way that they matched Rangers over ninety minutes earlier this season.