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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****Goals For Shay 2 – your invitation!****
Welcome to the launch of our brand new competition, “Goals For Shay 2” which will commence on Saturday 1 April 2017.
Simply pick 1 single unique team each week for the remainder of the league season and the entrant with the highest aggregate goals scored will take the top prize (roughly 90% of the total prizepot). And this time, to keep everyone fully involved, there will be a separate prize (about 10% of the total prize money) for the entrant who does best over the final 3 rounds. So even if you get off to a disappointing start, there’ll still be everything to play for as the weeks go on.
The cost of entry is £10 per team entered and this gets you one free joker which, when played, will double your score that week. You can also buy one additional joker for £5.
The prizepot will consist of 50% of the entry free, with 50% going to support Walk With Shay, All monies for the additional joker will also go to Shay.
Realy, really simple to take part and all you need to do for now is just register your interest by sending an email to cqnpredictor@gmail.com . If you have a moniker, nickname that we can use to identify you once the competition starts then please tell us that. We’ll get back to you with full details, usually within 48 hours.
And please feel free to tell your family and friends, share on Facebook, involve your work colleagues, etc. We are a competition Open to All.
Thank you for Walking With Shay.
Celticrollercoaster and Jobo
I thought Eboue looked like he was nowhere near ready for the first team yesterday.
Having said that, the only way he’s going to get to first team standard is by getting some first team involvement.
A bit early to tell perhaps but it looks like a bigger step up for him than it has been for some of Brendan’s
other acquisitions.
Tony Donnelly.
Condolences to you and your family . Take care .
Tony Donnelly
So sorry to read of the loss of your mother.
My her soul soul rest in peace.
TD67
God bless and keep your wee mother safe
KEEP THE FAITH
RIP Annie Donnelly
Bazza must have had his interview tonight, would explain why he wasn’t on Shortbread tonight
Auldheid
Who of the Celtic directors would have been in position on the SPFL and/or SFA boards around time of HMRC notification?
MWD
There was an interview with Andy McLaren on the radio Scotland sport program at 7pm.
If it’s on the podcast have a listen . Well worth it.
Apart from an honest assessment of his own career being blighted by alcohol and drugs he also raises awareness that football is now becoming to expensive for many kids .
Many kids from deprived areas don’t have parents that can afford the transport and participation costs , involved in playing football .
McLaren is doing some brilliant work in helping underprivileged kids .
Only one SFA coach has ever visited any of the coaching sessions or games he helps organise .
Many kids , talented kids , are being lost to the game.
AN TEACH SOLAIS on 20TH MARCH 2017 7:32 PM
Thanks for that, sir
I note that the uninformed Dr Fatih Karanfil who was rolled out by the DR to praise the benefits of O** F*** rivalry, was once a joint author of a paper entitled “”Does urbanization cause increasing energy demand in Pakistan? .”
Hmmm! Let me think about that for a second. My response might include references to Ursine defecation habits or the religious preferences of the Pontiff.
TD67, sincere condolences on the loss of your Mum.
Angelgabriel
He is paid via SFA sponsored projects. CFC get money for summer camps etc same way
Although I think Leigh Griffiths is overdue a start, I am not sure he should do after match interviews
Why some footballers should not do after match interviews
Is Phil’s site down already?
They really have it in for him
MWD
You will be hinting next that some of our suits had a hand in the 5WA :-)
HH
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES 12 AND OSCAR KNOX
I can still access Phil’s site although he did say that his tech guys were working on his new style site. Basically saying that King was jetting in on Wednesday hoping to persuade the three with any money on the Ibrox board to help him prepare a share prospectus. Phil thought that SARS would find his intentions a mite interesting. HH
Adi Dasler 8.06pm
Where he gets paid from doesn’t detract from his opinion .
Football is now too expensive for many kids to participate in . HH
Tony
Condolences to you and your family
Sorry for your loss
God Bless
Mt
TD67-sad news,rest in peace your mum
Thats not my point.
‘McLaren is doing some brilliant work in helping underprivileged kids .’
He is but he is being paid for it.
Agree that there should be more for poor kids.
Not an argument. Just observation.
HH
TD,
God bless you and yours.
HH
Adi. No problem. HH
RIP Annie Donnelly.
Tony, my condolences to you and yours.
Tough times.
A cracker from Quote/Unquote today:-
“The difference between erotic and Kinky?
Erotic- you use a feather. Kinky- you use the whole chicken.”
They also referenced a Carol Ann Duffy poem whose first line might be referencing Sevco’s problems at I(brox):-
Because the Badgers are moving the goalposts.
The Ferrets are bending the rules.
The Weasels are taking the hindmost.
The Otters are downing tools.
The Hedgehogs are changing the game-plan
The Grass-snakes are spitting tacks.
The Squirrels are playing the blame-game.
The Skunks are twisting the facts.
The Pole-cats are upping the ante.
The Foxes are jumping the gun.
The Voles are crashing the party.
The Stoats are dismantling the Sun.
The Rabbits are taking the biscuit.
The Hares are losing the plot.
The Eagles are kicking the bucket.
The Rats are joining the dots.
The Herons are throwing a curveball.
The Shrews are fanning the flames.
The Field mice are sinking the 8-ball.
The Swans are passing the blame.
And the Pheasants are draining the oil from the tank-
but only the Bustards have broken the bank.
TD67
prayers fur yer wee maw
TD67
Sorry to hear about your loss. Take care
HH
CRC
ANGEL GABRIEL
I heard the Andy McLaren stuff tonight as well. I had heard of his project before and I fully agree that he has a very good point.
I have coached young lads from deprived backgrounds and it is heartbreaking to see how some of the kids are being let down , through no fault of their own.
ATS- From a guy i know very close to Park, he has put his last penny in at Poundland.
Angel
Dont know if you live in or near Glasgow.. but would amaze u ( well it does me) who SFA give coaching roles to.
!!BADA BING!!
Good to hear that Park has belatedly learned sense. I had heard that the son was worried about the drain on the business resources.
That is why I find Phil’s latest a bit puzzling and at variance with what JohnJames was punting in”Persona Non Grata”. We sure live in interesting times. HH
Tony Donnelly
Very Sorry to hear your sad news
May Annie Donnelly rest in peace
RIP Annie Donnelly.
I am looking for advice/information on Kodi boxes as an alternative to my current Virgin Media deal which ends next month which includes telephone. internet and BT Sports. All views welcome.
HH
TonyD67
Condolences on the passing of your mother may she rest in peace.
ATS- same reason i heard, he put a lot to the January wage bill seemingly.
Sorry to hear the sad news about your mum , Tony .
May she rest in peace.
Sorry to hear of the loss suffered by one of our frequent posters on here.
In no way connected however I see we are anticipating another meltdown at Ipox.
I think we have been here before, many times, and guess what? They’re still around. It pains me to see it.