AEK Athens have played only four friendly fixtures since losing the Greek Cup Final on 12 May. They failed to score in three of those games, beating Galatasaray 3-2 at home in the more recent game. The fixtures have been spread out: with 6 days, 8 days and 10 days between them. There will be a gap of 8 days between the Galatasaray game and their visit to Celtic Park tomorrow, so there has been no intensity to their efforts.
AEK needed to prepare an entire squad, not just a starting 11, during these games. This is not appropriate preparation for one of the most important ties of the season. It feels like an inexplicable oversight, I would be livid if this was Celtic’s preparation for this tie. Such complacency deserves to be punished.
By contrast, Celtic have played five competitive games and five friendlies since our 12 May Cup Final. The fitness strategy contrast between our squad and AEK’s is stark. As a consequence, we have to make tomorrow’s game a multi-ball, unrelenting, occasion.
Even if the game is tight at 80 minutes, how we finish the match could have a significant bearing on who progresses. This is when you would expect AEK’s lack of fitness to be most telling. Players lose concentration and coordination when tired. This is when we should look to push the tie over the edge.
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Sleep well Timland
@ DEXTER P. BAMPOT on 7TH AUGUST 2018 10:53 PM
If those quotes are accurate then that is very worrying.
BREAKING: @TheEveningTimes Reporting Celtic have MATCHED Aston Villa’s offer and personal terms for John McGinn.
Wee BGFC . Nice one . Congrats.
CRC & Neganon . Proud of your sprogs CSC.
Nice one .
CRC . Ayr races . Ten minutes walk from the Market. You could watch the game in there . HH
So the McGinn deal is back on. If we can get him over the line and finalise the Arzani deal with Izzy coming back as cover for KT that just leaves us needing a Centre Half once Boyata goes.
(Gamboa can cover Lustig at right back)
Simples
:-/
That’s a very naughty headline on that Herald article, typical Scotland though…
CRC
Thought I was the only one . All my friends, in fact pretty much everyone I knew did better than me , I cringe when I think about it . One of my classmates big brother greeted me with a ‘you must be gutted with your results ‘ in that reality condescending tone, nearly killed the bassa :))
IF truth be told this state of the nation address had been coming.
All summer, Brendan Rodgers has not been himself. Normally so easy-going, the Celtic manager has been spiky, not quite as open as before and at times downright sullen.
Yesterday he made it clear that a manager and squad which had delivered two trebles, record derby wins, successive Champions League group stage campaign and a full stadium deserves more from the board.
Look at all those triumphs and yet signing a Hibs player has become a chore.
After chatting about this and that, Rodgers was asked for his view on transfers and where his squad is.
BR: “My role in the summer was clear; to keep the players that were here such as Kieran [Tierney] and Tom Rogic which is great. And at the very minimum replace the players that we lost and where we might need improving.
“So we done the first part with Kieran and Tom. We sign, which is a no-brainer, Odsonne Edouarrd,
“He was on loan and we could see his qualities and now he looks like he is going to kick on and keep improving and developing but there are still a few key areas where I want to bring in quality and thus far we haven’t completed on it – not a lot of players,but we needed quality.
“And that is something that we haven’t got in the building yet to add to the quality that is already here. You have to do that when you are in a strong position. I am not sure the club has been in a stronger position this summer than what they have been for quite some time.”
Q: If you stand still, it can be seen to go backwards.
BR: “Absolutely. 150%. I couldn’t agree more. We need to complete deals. It is as simple as that. One is identifying the players which we do and then get them over the line.”
Q: Regarding John McGinn, do you see why people would think the club should put money on the table and get the deal done?
BR: “150%. If you open your door to players in general and they have an opportunity to go through that door and have a look and see that there are other good clubs with facilities and are equal – and probably better – than what is here, then you risk the chance of them not coming back though the door. That is the gamble you take if you wait.”
Q: Did you expect more to be done by now?
BR: “I just wanted quality. We weren’t needing a huge overhaul here this summer. For me it was pretty straightforward.”
Is it reading between the lines to suggest you are frustrated?
Q: BR: “I am fine.”
Are you looking to get quality before the end of the window?
BR: “I would hope so. We identify the targets and like I say we just hope that they can be completed.”
Q: Are you happy with the reasons given for quality not being here?
BR: “Whatever I feel will always be private. I will never speak openly on that.”
Q: Will the English market closing (Friday) reduce prices?
BR: “I am not sure. I think we will see how it all evolves down south when the window shuts. My concern is not that side of it but rather on getting quality in. That is the business side.
“I run football and operate football and I want top footballers in and I want to work with them as quickly as I possibly can.”
Q: Do you want more than projects…proven players?
BR: “Yes. Talents are fine. All my career I have done that, worked with talents, improving 19-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 17-year-olds, 18-year-olds…I have put them in. But you also need proven talent.
“There is an expectation here to work not just alongside the talents but to have proven talents that will allow us to grow.
“This is the best time for improvement and you can’t just wait and sit back.
“You have got to keep improving and developing and that is something that we need to do. That is a constant thing, not just every other year.”
Q: A persistent criticism of Celtic is that the club doesn’t build from a position of strength.
BR: “Well, we’re in a position of strength. So we shall see.”
Q: Would you have liked the Edouard deal done quicker?
BR: Of course, a year earlier when he was available, there was an availability there for that. But, like I say, it wasn’t done. The most important thing is that it got done. You see then when you deliver that quality, that level.
“Listen, I always respect that there is a balance because we’re now in the market with the resources to go and spent nine, ten, eleven million pounds on every player you sign. You can’t do that.
“But I think we’ve earned, over the few years, the possibilities to – where the squad needs the actual real genuine quality – the ability to do that. So hopefully we can.”
Q: Are you any closer to Daniel Arzani?
“Not that I’m aware of, no. I think it’s something that’s between Manchester City and Celtic.”
Q: Can you tell us the position as it stands with John McGinn?
“No, other than they’ve been working on it for the last few months. At this moment I don’t have anything further to add. Clearly Aston Villa have come in and maybe found an agreement with Hibs, I assume, which is why they would let him travel.
“And he’s taken the opportunity to go and have a look and see. What he’ll find is that it’s a very good club that’s now been taken over by owners that look like they really want to back what they’re doing now. They have a wonderful stadium and a great, great training facility.”
Rodgers then moved on to how Celtic works.
BR: “Ultimately, it will always go down to the board, which it is at most clubs. The board and everyone are fully understanding and clear and have clarity on my ambitions. Absolutely.
“My ambitions are always for Celtic. For the club and the supporters to have success.
“Of course, the club have to balance that off with everything else that goes with running a football club. I’m not privy to the real depths of the business side of it.
“You guys know as much as me in terms of the club and the operation. We’ve got a board who want to look after the interests of the club and I respect that.
‘They respect that I am ambitious for Celtic. For the 60-odd thousand who turn up every week and for the millions around the world, we want to deliver the very, very best that we can.
“Of course, the club want to do that within their means. That’s where we are at. I love it here. I love my work. I love working with the players, developing the team.
“We just try to push the very best we can to deliver on the expectation of what the supporters want.”
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 7TH AUGUST 2018 11:11 PM
BREAKING: @TheEveningTimes Reporting Celtic have MATCHED Aston Villa’s offer and personal terms for John McGinn
*looks like we’re calling petrie’s bluff.
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE on 7TH AUGUST 2018 10:53 PM
___
Rhymes about domestic success carry no weight in the PLC board room.
As my point was about Kouassi, two years, and he’s still on the outside looking in.
Is that good enough ?
How long would John McGinn be in the same status as EK ?
HH
Marspapa
GNGB B. Love ya pal.
YNWA
Bloody forgot we also signed Jack Hendry and Marvin Compper in Jan
So this year of 2018
It’s been
Bain, Hendry, Compper, Morgan & Edouard
Forgetting the loan of Musonda ?
How many players should we sign in 1 year ???
@JUNGLE on 7TH AUGUST 2018 11:26 PM
Sure they could focus solely on Kouassi. It would be completely unreasonable, but i guess they could do it.
McGinn is a replacement for Armstrong; both play a similar game. In the same way Kouassi and Brown play a similar game.
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE on 7TH AUGUST 2018 11:31 PM
___
Hail! Hail! Mate.
Good luck to the club the morra night.
HH
Zzzzzzzzzz
https://mobile.twitter.com/mcgowan_stephen/status/1026957201733242883
Hope we don’t give Hibs any loan deals HH
Jungle
I pray you are keeping good health.
GNGB CQN
Congratulations to the bhoys n ghirls on their exam results today HH ???????????
Good to see that the ice is starting to melt.
Boot up the erse and a PE please talk means someone is thumbing through thlleir contact list.
EI back as cheap cover for LB = Good move providing some time to sort it out properly.
JD in the frame to replace DB = Lost a song but again it would give us time to fix the issue properly.
KA would then take on the VvD role — the second part would be JS out and SMcK in fight it out with JH for the 2020 starting spot. Finally we can sort out the experienced role if MC is a complete dud.
JMcG now seems to be in the frame — at least he now seems to have a credible choice @ £23K gross per week. Bit toppy but I’m sure the figure will come down once he sees the bonus structure.
AV’s CL bonus structure still has a clause for green shield stamps and mortgage tax relief.
I think McGinn has been onside with Celtic from Day 1….Izzy and Denayer back too, bring The Sammi back anaw?
Gary67
Hopefully Denayer to team up wi his Belgian buddy Bhoyata. Get both on 5 year deals.
YNWA
I will leave you with what I am hearing:
Izzy has been spoken to. Roberts and Denayer positive vibes, especially from the latter’s Representatives. Also talking to two others, no information on them. Gamboa giving food for thought on his performances so far, cover for Mikel. Young Miller to go out on loan.
And on McGinn, it will be his decision as Villa will offer more, just what I hear.
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
#bringsammihome
Lets get the band back together.
Ah ha the ole windae starting to creak open:))
KTF
Q: Are you happy with the reasons given for quality not being here?
BR: “Whatever I feel will always be private. I will never speak openly on that.”
Sftb,,,I told you. I effing did. No one tells the plain truth if unhappy in the bigger jobs. And he clearly isn’t happy,,surely even you can see that now.
Hi, it’s Peter…
Peter Lawwell under pressure after i just seeing BR interview, if any Celtic manager has earned the right to be backed it is him.Get it sorted asap.
Oor Brendan’s comments are pretty clear. It is cause for concern in my opinion.
I’m usually one for waiting the window out before passing judgement but when the manager is displaying some frustration in this way you have to pay attention.
I don’t want stupid money spent but I wonder sometimes what the board see when they watch us play. For a seemingly cautious bunch they seem to like a gamble. It’s strange.
Hello, my heart is breaking. I cant get back on to SFM.
Bobby, DD, help.
….or is it a cunning plan between BR & PL, to create a smokescreen….and we get in who we want, when we want….
TONTINE TIM on 7TH AUGUST 2018 11:25 PM
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 7TH AUGUST 2018 11:11 PM
BREAKING: @TheEveningTimes Reporting Celtic have MATCHED Aston Villa’s offer and personal terms for John McGinn
*looks like we’re calling petrie’s bluff.
No idea, the same as everybody else on here.
I don’t believe the Aston Villa story from the outset let alone that we’ve matched a bid they haven’t made.
The story grew arms and legs, and much more likely Celtic are the only
bidders.
JIMTHETIM53 on 8TH AUGUST 2018 12:05 AM
Hello, my heart is breaking. I cant get back on to SFM.
****
I posted your plea to SFM.
Good luck.
BSR….agree re Villa and JMcG…
WBC- The issue for me is , when did Brendan want McGinn brought in? For the qualifiers?