Footballers often play two games a week but their peak fitness levels are achieved when the play once a week. More often than that and the muscles don’t recover quickly enough. Top players’ muscles are finely tuned to deliver 90 minutes of exertion. To reach this peak, they NEED games as well as training. It appears to be beyond the ken of sports scientists to create a training routine which matches actual matches.
Apart from a 25 minute run-out against Hearts two weeks ago, newco’s players will not have played a football game in 22 days when they line-up against the champions on Sunday. If the boot was on the other foot, I would be concerned.
Celtic watchers will note that they score more goals late in games than early. Ronny’s team try to win the battle for territory, the ball and energy before running over the top of opponents. Whatever happens in the opening 20 minutes on Sunday I would expect Celtic to be far more effective in the final 20 minutes of the game, when their superiority will be most effective. There’s a chance newco will crumble early on, but I don’t expect many chances at either end until later in the first half.
While we all know how Celtic will play, it’s harder to figure out how Kenny McDowell will line-up tactically. If he was Ross County manager he would defend his 18 yard line for 90 minutes and hope for a breakaway, but I’m not sure that’s a viable strategy for Sunday. Lose an early goal and he would be caught between damage limitation and attempting to get back into the game. It could get very messy.
My hunch is that he’ll play a conventional 4-5-1 and attempt to find space out wide behind Celtic’s full-backs for Kenny Miller to run into. The full-backs will play forward, there will be space, we’ve just got to be faster than the 35-year-old ex-Celt now plying his trade in the lower leagues.
Despite their form against Hibs and Hearts this season, newco have an excellent record against Premiership competition in the cups. Three wins, against Inverness (only one point behind Aberdeen on same games played), St Johnstone and Kilmarnock, without a goal conceded, is a measure of what they are capable of, when they put their minds to it.
The wins against Kilmarnock and Inverness are particularly noteworthy, as both Premiership clubs enjoyed the majority of possession, but were frustrated in attack and hit with sucker-punches. This is what McDowell will seek to do at Hampden.
Ronny, get the job done. Very, very, very, thoroughly.
A reminder for North American readers that the Annual Celtic Supporter’s Féile is on in Philadelphia this weekend. The events include live music each day, the US premier of The Asterisk Years, with a Q&A with Paul Larkin and Graham Wilson of Beyond the Waves podcast, as well as live coverage the semi-final. You can find out more, including how to book, here.
Have you booked for the CQN11 Str Patrick’s Dinner on Friday, 13 March? We’re hoping to raise enough money to build Mary’s Meals a school kitchen in Malawi. Mary’s meals emailed an hour ago with a report on one of the kitchens we built last year, in Kholoni, where they are now feeding 1245 children each day, a considerable increase in the roll-call since the availability of kitchen facilities, see the photo above.
Email me for tickets, celticquicknews@gmail.com (to the Dinner, not Malawi).
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hun skelper @ 12:25,
“Miller against Van Dijk and Denayer hahaha
Oh the thought of it”
Well yes – however a wee story of caution from 10 years ago…
T’was making my way down to the Willie Wallace Pub in Marylebone, to meet my cousins to watch Scotland v a very good Italy, we needed something from the game to keep our World Cup Qualification alive…[cough]
Got a call from one cousin to say they were running late, oh and Miller is playing as the lone striker….
That will have Nesta shaking in his boots, says I.
Anyways, Miller run the Italian defence ragged, scored a goal and Italy were lucky to get a draw…
Okay that was ten years ago
BUT
The guy keeps himself fit and will so, so ,so be up for this game – on his day he’ll give us problems.
Hope your right though.
Hail Hail
Sure I saw a tip for a horse at Lingfield,3/1 maybe 300 race but it has gone!
Aw well. Theme the breaks.
If anyone else saw it and I didnae jooost imagine it-repost,pdq please!
Hamilton Tim
Many thanks mate for your help re connecting to the blog. I had CQN but in a strange format. I’m now back to normal.
Really weird not getting my daily fix of news from a tim perspective.
Imagine having to rely on a paper or the broadcasters for reliable news.
HH to Paul and everyone else who contributes to putting CQN out there.
This site and its members are brilliant thanks kev
Rwe 14:11.
Yes, not sure which God though.
winning captains
14:20 on
30 January, 2015
Brilliant initiative in the first place, and from the update; things are heading in the right direction.
They can’t handle the truth.
That’s park head booked for Sunday thanks again for all the help
Feckin auto correct
ncmjc
His Mammon did though :o)
kevinbhoy,
Glad you posted the link, as I’m meant to be going to the kerrydale and getting bussed back and forward to hampden for the game.
You had me worried there! :))
I’ll be sticking my money on 5-0 and 7-1.
If 7-1, many photocopies will be made and posted through all hun lockers in the work. HH
bigphil47,
Hope your mrs and yourself have a grand time at paradise. HH
RobertTressell
14:09 on
30 January, 2015
Playing against better players and a better team can be inspiring. However if you start to realise they are also fitter, your legs are.heavy reaching for clearances and so on, then it becomes less inspiration and more torture.
That’s my.experience – most people I ever played against were better. The only time I felt good was when I.knew I was as fit or fitter and could at least keep up physically.
If our attitude is right on Sunday this will be a mismatch.
I’ll be glad when it’s over though. It just feels a bit grubby.
===============================================
Celtic will be fitter
Our game plan is to move the ball quickly to our players to get the benefit from being fitter and faster – keep the opposition turning – don’t give them the ball and when they get the ball get it back from them quickly.
When we play like that then chances galore are created (not taken enough so far this season tho’) and goal scored.
Sevco Rangers don’t have anyone on the park who by fair means can counter our tactics.
The MIB can easily do that tho’ – I hope we have a plan that will make that difficult for him – 2 goals for us in the first 2 minutes will help.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
I have never mentioned my dad on here before, with him dying at Celtic Park during a Rangers (it was 1976) game he was in my thoughts with the approaching Sevco game. I posted in the hope someone would remember him, we would all like to be remembered after all…
Memories of my dad stopping the Garryowen bus after cuffing the huns and everyone piling into the Hun hole that was Lily the Pig’s Winton in Kilwinning only to be refused service (fully expected) should not be forgotten :)
I did think if there were no replies / acknowledgements to my post that I might chuck it, cliques, invisibility cloaks were on my mind….
Your dad CosyCornerBhoy and TheOriginalSadiesBhoy restored my faith in CQN nature so were very much appreciated.
Been trying to work out if I know your dad, never drank in the Cosy Corner pub but I never missed a game with the Garryowen in the early 70’s and I was practically a resident in the Garryowen social club so I’m bound to know him, who knows maybe even you…
The Wimbledon Irish Centre is on my list but it’s not so easy to get to without some driving and I will inevitably sink some Guinness..
Cheers Sipsini and I hope you, and Mr and Mrs BigPhil47, and all of us actually have a right good day wherever we are!
Hail Hail,
Kevinbhoy.
Why would Rony be finished if we lose on Sunday its 11 v.12 so the game is a one off cup-tie and you only need to look at the history of the cup to see upsets happen.We did not bullet Lennie and he had one or two bad results against so called weaker opposition.So nonsense like Rony would be finished is just that nonsense and not in my opinion very helpful at all. H.H.
Just got this from Celtic Live
Unibet, the Official Celtic Park Wifi and CelticLIVE Betting Partners, are pleased to offer all new customers a Super Enhanced price of 4/1 for Celtic to beat Rangers within 90 minutes in this weekend’s Scottish League Cup Semi-Final (single bets only and maximum stake of £10).
All you need to do is follow the link above, register and place your bet on Celtic winning before kick-off. If Celtic win within 90 minutes, you’ll get your normal winnings straight away with your 4/1 bonus added the next day.
As the Official WiFi and CelticLIVE Betting Partner, Unibet provide EXCLUSIVE betting services through the Celtic Park WiFi and CelticLIVE fans app, along with special offers, market leading products and the widest range of bets available on Celtic for EVERY SINGLE GAME! As well as this, with Unibet you can stream over 30,000 live events per year on their website, mobile site or app.
Don’t bet myself and you need to set up an account but if I did…………..
Charlie mac – the MIB is the variable we can’t control.
It kinda sickens me that we still have to consider such stuff. But we do.
Anyway, Celtic and me and the rest of us have far bigger fish to fry, issues to address and battles to fight in the coming months.
All Sunday is for me is a major inconvenience and a worry for any friends and family who are going along or will be out and about on the day. And all for a new lower league club who have decided their target market should be the previous customers of Ibrox.
You can liquidate a football club but it appears you can’t liquidate the bigotry the club encouraged in its followers…..
On the plus side, I had wondered if I was kidding myself on that I was happy never to have to play the newco or that I didn’t miss the circus around such games. Turns out I wasn’t.
I’ll watch it because it’s celtic in a semi final – The rest is a sickening sideshow.
Hail hail all.
See somebody mentioned the Garryowen club does anyone who frequented there in the 70/80’s remember a committee member with the surname Agnew (has a really unusual 1st name btw)
Think he lived in Pennyburn?
Robinbhoy
wheres the link ?
Oh HAmpden in the snow Celtic ? The the Rangers ?
winning captains
14:20 on
30 January, 2015
Update on the Statement from Celtic Supporters in the Sunday Herald:
http://www.cqnmagazine.com/?p=2728
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Brilliant! Bring it on!
jc2
Link is a button on the mail but copied it below:
http://banners.unibet.co.uk/media/bannerflow/data/unibet/landingpage/2493_69967.html
chairbhoy
14:26 on 30 Jan
10 years ago haha
He’s shite like the rest of his team mates, the huns have no chance and any Celtic fan thinking different needs to get a grip, we are better all over the park, man for man none of them would get on our bench never mind our first 11.
The game will be over as a contest by half time. HH
ncmjc
which part of NC are you in? I’m in Winston Saem
Has Kris not signed yet
Just get it done today Celtic.
Ronny ,ye know the winners in the squad just get them into the team on Sunday.
1 nil or whatever just win.
Inter .
This afternoon has seen the return of the Inter to sign Antonio Cassano rumour.A very good player but daft as a brush.Today’ s version of the rumour has it happening if Inter manage to off load the man child that is Osvaldo.Mad elderly Inter man down the valley is excited at the possibility of Cassano but doesn’t think anybody will be stupid enough to take Osvaldo.
Burgas Hoops
“Unusual first name” I’m intrigued.
There was an Agnew family from Ardrossan, think they had a grocery business…
Am I close?
TOMCOURTNEY
Nae offence,mate,but never give up on a good thing!
Crap song,great sentiment.
When I spoke to my Dad about your post,he knew right away who you referred to,back then we really had to take all sorts of crap in Ardrossan and elsewhere.
I was too young to recognise the crap they went through to make sure that a wee boy got a bus to the game. But as I got older,I took various others to see Celtic.
Your Dad,my Dad,and plenty of others made it easier for us than it was for them.
I’m lucky,Tom. I can take my Dad out for the day and listen to the tales and buy the beer. And have him buy them back.
My Dad is a legend in my eyes. I’ll always remember him.
The same way that he remembers yours.
Enjoy your weekend,mate. Wherever you decide to watch it,it is because your Dad made sure you are a Celtic supporter.
Good lad…
Looking for some info ghuys, my mate is in London for the game looking for somewhere to watch it. He is staying in the Marriott in Docklands but will go anywhere to see it.Hail Hail Hebcelt
winning captains,
Keep up the good work.
The statement really hurt thems and the follow up is a nice twist of the cutting knife.
Nctim – 15:20
Huntersville.
hebcelt
There are at least twenty bars on http://celticbars.com/barsl.html
One of them is bound to be near enough
RobinBhoy
15:17 on 30 January, 2015
jc2
Link is a button on the mail but copied it below:
http://banners.unibet.co.uk/media/bannerflow/data/unibet/landingpage/2493_69967.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will be signing up for that. Thanks for the heads up.
HEBCELT
Mailed you,bud.
Will be in Melbourne middle of next week. Any Celtic related activity?
chairbhoy @ 14 26 .
It’ s interesting how views of a game can vary .
I remember that Scotland v Italy game .Yes – Miller scored a good goal but don’ t think he ran the Italians ragged .I don’ t agree that Italy were lucky to get a draw..Gordon made 2 very good saves, Totti missed 2 very good chances , Iaquinta missed a sitter and Vieri had a how did he miss that moment..I am neutral when it comes to International fitba- I simply hope the best team wins.
I’ve never looked forward to these games and I’m certainly not looking forward to this pretendy one on Sunday.
My mind goes back to last week and those 23 fouls given against us and then I think of the crazy decisions against us in previous games against oldco.
Having said that, we should be good enough to make the ref an irrelevance. Let’s hope so. Stay safe.
Nothing to worry about on Sunday.
The Rangers midfield is appalling and can hardly string 2 passes together, expecting us to completely dominate the game , it will just be a question of how many.
I suspect Ronny will have the bhoys upo for the game , non of this sitting back on 2-0 lead and knocking the ball about …….. we will keep at them for 90 minute.
Very confident of dishing out a major thumping , 5-0 would be my guess.
madtopredictaresultcfc
Anyone know of any bars in Raleigh NC USA showing the game ? Mate over there just now and struggling…