In different times, it would be difficult not to consider a run of 18 wins and a draw in our most recent 19 fixtures across all competitions as anything other than a performance highpoint. But we were made to fight to hold onto our advantage late in the game against Dundee yesterday, while Newco snatched a late equaliser a week earlier – a goal which had been on the cards for some minutes.
Tiredness looks to have crept in.
Like Aberdeen, Celtic had six European games to contend with over the summer, although the intensity of five of Celtic’s games was of a higher level than that of Aberdeen’s. Then there is the matter of the Champions League group stage; six nights of the most acute energy sapping football available, and that’s just for the fans.
There is also the matter of the new regime to factor in. Training changed when Brendan Rodgers arrived, new levels of fitness were required and reached.
Talk to any athlete and they’ll tell you their fitness varies in a planned manner across the year. There is a recovery period, a time when they lay down base fitness, a time for improvement, then peak fitness is reached. But peak fitness doesn’t last forever, you have a window before burn-out, then often a cliff-edge.
Body and mind become tired as the athlete approaches the recovery period. The January break will have helped, but that wasn’t long enough to go through the cycle of recovery-to-peak. Evidence for this is most readily available in our current star performer, Stuart Armstrong, who has played 36% fewer minutes than club captain, Scott Brown.
While many Scottish clubs will look ahead to the international break in anticipation their players will get some time off, Celtic will lose the vast majority of their squad to full and youth international sides. The playing surface at Celtic Park might get a rest during international weeks, but the players don’t.
Despite this, I expect we’ll cling on to top spot and take the title. If we get the win at Tynecastle next time out, I also expect Brendan to prioritise the Scottish Cup, and rest significant numbers for the games against Partick, Kilmarnock and Ross County.
We’ll pounce onto the Hampden surface with renewed purpose.
In different times (#2), news that Rangers’ QC, Andrew Thornill, who led their defence against HMRC for their use of EBTs, has been made bankrupt by HMRC would be too ridiculous to be true. But for that lot, it’s just a minor footnote in the final chapters of their ridiculous history.
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Condolences to TD67 on the loss of his mum.
Well done, Masty. I will need to have a pint with you and Tony down The Brazen again sometime.
JJ
Good stuff,Masty.
HH
Masty,
Sounds like a feisty wee lady! R.I.P. Annie
When Paul updates the blog can someone please stick my thanks back up? I want as many who posted to Tony to see it.
Thanks
HOT SMOKED
Biased MIB ?
Of course they are. The blatant cheating and bias against Celtic has been rife for decades. im an old man now, and I can vividly remember my dad telling me about it in the late 1960’s.
During a season that dear Tommy Burns was manager of Celtic, if I remember correctly, Celtic played 36 LEAGUE games ?
During those 36 (?) league games Celtic were only awarded ONE penalty kick, which again if I remember correctly was missed by big Pierre.
The point being Hot Smoked, is that the SFA, SPL and the Refs and other cheating huns would have we Celts believe that during that ENTIRE SEASON of League games, only ONE Celtic player must have been fouled in the opposition penalty area ?????????
Do these cheats expect we Celts to believe that NO OTHER Celtic player was tripped, shoved, pulled back, had his shirt pulled, kicked, assaulted in ANY other League game that season ?
Are they feckin serious ?
We are always being accused of being “Paranoid” ?
They are half right……………..I call it …………….JUSTIFIABLE PARANOIA !
HH
JJHS
Anyone who doesn’t think the bias shown by referees isn’t ingrained,institutional,and encouraged,hasn’t been paying attention!
RIP Martin McGuiness. Born to be Irish.
I suggest anyone who doesn’t think theres ingrained bias from referees should go watch Paul larkins any one but Celtic.
Robinbhoy
She surely was.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 21st March 2017 1:46 am
I don’t; his histrionics in Norway were completely out of line and, IMHO, you do not abuse a Celtic Manager like that in public and come back from it.
He and his wife may be nice people and do a lot of charitable work; he may have played well for Celtic (that’s his job) but his complete lack of professionalism was something that is unacceptable for any Celtic employee.
KTF
JJ
I’ll ask a more important question.
Is it toast n cheese, chease on toast or roasted toasted cheesy bread?
MWD
Big Jimmy
They don’t level the ‘paranoid’ accusation at us anymore, since the events of 2012 proved that we weren’t paranoid enough!
Lovely gesture Masty .
Could you be so kind as to pass on my sincere condolences to Tony and his family .
Thank You .
beatbhoy on 21st March 2017 8:53 am
I recall Edward; however, SFTB used it in a very amusing way last night (ursul defecation), so it made by job easier when selecting a word today!
dontlookagifthorse CSC
KTF
BMCUWP,
Hi mate.
As you will gather, I am now back on line full time.
Lock up yer grannies Bhoys and Ghirls !
Ive had some delay with my broadband thanks to BT, and at last I can deal with some of the ongoing legal issues online in my new home, instead of the local library ( which was very useful of course ).
I represented myself in Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month at the Prelim Hearing in my claim against the Scottish Legal Aid Board ( SLAB). They denied me my legal rights to Legal Aid Funding, during the time that I was pursuing my former employers for “Unfair Dismissal”. It took SLAB over THREE YEARS (3), to finally admit making mistakes, during which they blamed a third party for my lack of legal aid funding. They deliberately misled me, and my former solicitor and also The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission ( SLCC), for over 3 years.
At this moment, they are citing the STOCKLINE PLASTICS CASE ( Maryhill, Glasgow 2004), in which there was the massive explosion that cost the lives of many, as a “Predecent”, that I am somehow “Time Barred”, from raising the Court Action against them ?
I believe that I have SLABs measure on this legal point, and I will find out for sure when I return to Court next month for the “Proof Hearing” !
The fight goes on.
hail Hail mate.
Just read of the death of another of Free Derry and Iteland’s sons, Martin McGuinness.
RIP Martin McGuinness.
MWD
From The Scotsman, May 2012, reporting on the SFA judicial panel set up to consider rule breaches by Rangers(1872-2012).
“The panel’s report, written by Gary Allan QC, stated: “Only match fixing in its various forms might be a more serious breach. They brought the game into serious disrepute.
“In the case of the non payment of tax, which was possibly by the smallest margin the most serious breach, the massive extent of the failure and the intentional and calculated manner in which it was carried out aggravated the breach even further.”
The panel considered ending or suspending the club’s SFA membership but judged that sanction too severe.”
Belated condolences to TD67 on the sad passing of your mum Annie.
May she rest in peace.
MWD
Certainly not `chease ` on toast.
Can I make it quite clear that I am certain there is a bias against Celtic in Scotland ! I was simply trying to add a little energy to CQN during the , for me, uninspiring International break.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 21ST MARCH 2017 9:51 AM
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 21st March 2017 1:46 am
I don’t; his histrionics in Norway were completely out of line and, IMHO, you do not abuse a Celtic Manager like that in public and come back from it.
===========================================================
His ” histrionics ” told me that he understood that we had a coach who was not fit for purpose.
Something some of us realised about one year before.
His frustration mirrored mine.
It just may have been the catalyst for change.
Thank you , Kris.
I would never judge or characterise you on one isolated incident of understandable frustration in a five or so year career at Celtic.
The quality of mercy is not strained…..
:-)
TONYDONNELLY67
Just read your very sad news.
May Annie rest in peace.
Prayers said for you, her family and friends.
Take care.
Talking of ursine defecation, remember this? ( From same 2012 article).
“Rangers manager Ally McCoist had controversially called for the original panel to be named, despite the club knowing their identities. Yesterday he said: “We just want transparency and clarity and I’m delighted that the appeals panel has been named.” ”
Always loved the old transparency and clarity, didn’t they?
Side Letters, anyone??
BEATBHOY 9.53 am,
I take your point mate, but I can assure you of something else,.
Ive had other Celtic fans accusing me of Paranoia over the years !
In fact last Friday, I bumped into a dear old friend of mine in the street who I hadnt seen for years, and discussing the recent match v the Huns he tried to convince me that the Ref ( Madden ?), was RIGHT NOT to give Celtic that last minute penalty award when the Griff was halved in two ??????
My old mate claimed that the Ref couldnt have possibly seen it ?
when I attempted to point out how wrong he was, he laughed and accused me of being paranoid yet again !
Now this is one of our own, who I have a lot of time for as he’s a good guy, but I just gave up trying to convince him.
What chance do we have when our own refuse to acknowledge blatant cheating by the MIB ?
HH
Comes on, lobs a grenade, then pisses off!
Typical!!
Sorry for your loss Tony, Take care Bro.
Thoughts and prayers man.
KLV
Big Jimmy.
What does he think of all the off-field cheating that has been proved?
Or is that paranoia too, in his strange world?
Knowing what you want –
” No disrespect to Juventus but I want to play for a bigger club . I don’t want to play in England . My choice is between Barcelona and Real Madrid . . ”
Paolo Dybala – 21 3 17 -Fabulous player !.
Today’s choons –
7″-Kenny Bernard – Ain’t No Soul (Pye )
7″-Darrell Banks – I’m the One Who Loves you ( Volt )
Espresso break over – back to the diggin . Overcast /warm -way down south
All this ursine talk bringing back a joke, vaguely.
Bear doing what he does in the woods, bunny hopping by, bear’s polite enquiry about the adhesive quality of fur, big ears’ empathic, affirmative reply, resulting in ursus’ less -than -empathic grab, “Good, c’mere!”.
Nah, cannae remember it!
Interesting comments from Celtic director, Brian Wilson about the importation of the word Unionist into Scottish politics.
I made the same points on here at the time of the referendum campaign.
Ho hum.
Apologies JJ
I meant chaese :-@)))
MWD
ERNIELYNCH
Anytime I was accused of being a unionist,I asked for an explanation of the term.
Just f… wi their brains,they’re screwed once they run out of soundbites.
Ernie Lynch
The dangers of sectarianism . @ 10 48
Pal in Glasgow reports the sighting of a young woman wearing a TRUMP IS AN ORANGE BAWBAG -T Shirt – on the Glasgow Underground !!!!
MACJAY1 for Neil Lennon on 21st March 2017 10:04 am
It doesn’t matter whether me, you or Commons thought Deila was an absolute cock; the way he behaved was unacceptable.
You mention mercy; I never said unforgivable. Mercy isn’t strained as you say; however, mercy was shown and he was forgiven by the manager and the fans; that doesn’t mean he needs a pat on the back on his way out the door. He had the chance to play regular football at Hibs; he chose to stay at Celtic, picking up a wage knowing he wouldn’t kick a all in anger (sic) again for the Club.
That, IMHO, says something about the man.
KTF
VFR-I think Kris showed a bit of passion,in the heat of the moment,and at that point he wasn’t alone,i for one hope he gets a chance of a swansong at CP,he’s earned it.HH
BMCUWP the loyalist unionist republican. :-@)))
MWD
VFR
I liked Kris Commons as a player for us,and could excuse at a push his behaviour that night. I thought his diatribe was aimed at Collins,tbh.
This time last year I watched us v Kilmarnock. Aye,the Rogic screamer match.
Commons got hooked at half time. His performance that day was I think the worst I have ever seen from a Celtic player with the ability to be better.
He was frankly a disgrace to the jersey that day.
Apropos of nothing at all, but in my youth, the Tories were known as the Conservative and Unionist Party.