It’s really refreshing to hear the positivity towards the manager from senior players at the club. He has the squad pulling in his direction like no one has since Martin O’Neill. This hasn’t come about by chance. When a player asked Brendan if he could arrive late one day this week to see his child start school, training was changed for the entire first team squad.
With term starting across several days at the start of this week, training at Lennoxtown started at 11:30 Monday and Tuesday (we’d a game on Wednesday, in case you forgot). The fathers all got to see their kids start, or return to, school, while the others fell into line.
This kind of family support is credit in the bank for Brendan (a lot more than some entire clubs have). Players want to him.
I watched highlights of the Hapoel game and caught things I’d missed on the night. Leigh Griffiths’ delayed run for his first goal being the most striking. As Scott Sinclair pushed the ball right to James Forrest, Leigh stopped his forward run, waiting at the left edge of the box.
This created space. With that space, he built-up sufficient momentum to out-jump a defender and power a header into the net. It was a stunningly intelligent thing to do.
I had a word with a Celtic coach a while back on how intelligent you need to be to be a modern footballer. It turns out footballers need to be smarter than you probably think. There are outstanding talents in football, and we’ve had more than a few at Celtic, who are just not clever enough to understand how and when to use an abstract entity like space.
Today’s great teams deploy very complicated tactical systems in defence and in possession. It doesn’t matter how good you are with the ball at your feet, if you can’t keep up with the tactical demands of the game, you’ll bounce around clubs never quite fulfilling your early promise.
Some big decisions for Brendan about the line-up tomorrow. McDiarmid has often been a tricky place to go, so resting players could result in points being dropped. We’re three days away from the >£20m game in Israel, which I’d be reluctant to take risks with, despite the three goal advantage.
It’s probably a good opportunity for us to have a look at Dorus de Vries but I’d be reluctant to tamper too much. Only the two big Glasgow clubs haven’t dropped points yet, and I’d like us to be the last man standing in that race. A win for us in Perth and a draw at Pittodrie tomorrow would do nicely.
Sorry to see Scott Brown retire from international duty but it’s unquestionably the right decision. It’s also an acknowledgement that he needs to manage his fitness and recovery cycles carefully.
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Wummin’s pole vault.
What can you say………………………………Happy happy daze
Yubba ding ding
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 20TH AUGUST 2016 2:03 AM
Random thought.
Samaras would have been a great fit in Brendan’s front line
———-
No i don’t think so. Had a random thought about Sammy the other night, we were so one dimensional under Lenny in Europe with him. Long high balls up to him and play for scraps. Once teams sussed it out we were toast.
Art of War,
I just read your touching post about your mam. I’m headed up to St Brigid’s shrine in a place called Faughart, near Dundalk over the weekend. It’s a special place. I’ll say a wee prayer there.
http://www.megalithicireland.com/St%20Brigid's%20Shrine,%20Faughart.html
Nytol
Clogher
Say one for me and mine please.
Looks a lovely place.
CLOGHER CELT on 20TH AUGUST 2016 1:37 AM
Unfortunately it will be perceived as being anti Jewish.
aye the moniker seems to fit right enough
Saor Uladh
a short lived republican organisation
Macjay,
I will say a prayer to the ancient Celtic Saint/ Goddess Brigit in case anyone gets that perception.
http://www.druidry.org/library/gods-goddesses/brigit
DD,
Will do.
You’d think the huns that come on here would spend their time more usefully on things like fixing their ramshackle roof than posing as wannabetims:)
Offskithistimecsc
CLOGHER CELT on 20TH AUGUST 2016 2:45 AM
I will say a prayer to the ancient Celtic Saint/ Goddess Brigit in case anyone gets that perception.
===================================================
That reminds me so much of my upbringing.
You`re a very decent man.
Clogher.
Here`s one for the pub.
Oh the irony.
Lands of the Goddess
The name ‘Britain’ is a derivation of Brigit’s name.
:-)
MacJay
You are 100% correct.
Clogher Celt is my friend and one of the best.
Like yourself.
Good Guys CSC
DELANEYS DUNKY on 20TH AUGUST 2016 3:04 AM
Mate.
I know fine and well that many of my stances are out of step .
Thanks.
Art of War-
Heartfelt sympathies to you.
Last year I was in the same boat.
My 78 yr old mum in Ayrshire suffered a mild heart attack while I was in Los Angeles.
I’m an only child…
After a short procedure for two stents she’s now healthier than ever, thank God.
Thoughts and prayers with you and yours.
YNWA
The GB ‘statement’ has surely sealed their fate.
There can be only one authority at CP and the GB is not that one.
How dare they tell Celtic and 99% of the support, what they will, or, won’t do inside the stadium.
There will only be one winner in this affair, and it won’t be the GB.
How would Celtic, or any other club in world football survive if a minority rogue element was given carte-blanche to write their own rules?
It would be complete anarchy – UEFA would be within their rights to kick Celtic out of football altogether – let’s face it if you can’t control your own fans, , and what goes on within your stadium, you will not have the trust and ability to protect the rest of your fans, and/or visiting fans and clubs.
Celtic MUST and I believe will act ruthlessly with this direct and alarming challenge to the club – this militant ‘club within a club’ must be crushed and banned.
Are the vast majority of our fans going to stand back and watch a few hundred selfish nutters destroy our 128 year old club – of course they’re not – the backlash is building and will become fans and shareholders movement to protect our club.
Do any of these faux ‘freedom fighters’ ever consider what it would be like in world football if all rules on political demonstrations and activity were scrapped.
Football is the world’s biggest sport and the most broadcast globally on TV – can you imagine how that position would be used and abused by every political interest to promote their propaganda and conflict – football grounds would become battlegrounds – not only would opposing fans fight with each other – factions within the same support would enter into conflict.
Give them their ‘dirty money’ back and get them out NOW!
MATS NILLOC on 20TH AUGUST 2016 3:57 AM
You roasters are working the graveyard shift noo tae?
Ramping up the blanket coverage?
:-)
God you write some sh*te Mats
The flag debate
It’s not a debate.
It’s an expression of entrenched views.
No one will change their minds.
As far as I’m concerned we will be punished, by being fined probably.
Let the protestors pay the fine.
Put their money behind their mouths.
Tam Collins
Away and try to sow discord elsewhere.
Good try ya hun fud.
Mars nilloc
Great points made
Green brigade trying to take over
I do agree with their politics
But I think they went too far
Flying flags at a Celtic game
Will not make a difference
Middle eastern political situation
Very complex
Mats Thicko
Even though you are a DICK I’d love for you to attend the upcoming Hootenany. I’ll bring a flag so you can spot me and you, well, I’ll be able to spot you Dinny worry.
MWD
Happy Birthday Griff, I hope you celebrate by putting St Johnstone to the sword..
HH
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 11:21 PM,
Very true…
What BR has managed to achieve in the preseason, while we’ve been involved in UCL qualifiers and preseason tournaments has been stupendous!!!
We now have a genuine squad, i.e. two players for each position, all the players willing to play for the shirt.
That includes all the penalty practice;) and he is by no means finished.
It will be a hard ask today, but another good performance will keep up the momentum…
St J 0-2 Celtic
Hail Hail
STARRY PLOUGH
Good reminder.
Yes, Happy Birthday, Leigh. Hope you score a couple of goals today to put the icing on the cake, so to speak. HH
AN TEACH SOLAIS
I didn’t really know much about him when he came to us and have to admit to be underwhelmed at the time but boy has he worked hard at his game, the next season or two could see him really take off as a striker.
Thebestisyettocome CSC
Happy 25th Birthday Leigh Griffiths.
How about a hat-trick on your big day?
Hail Hail
I felt a wee bit bad yesterday for posting what I though may have been ott criticism of one of our trolls.
It appears my self criticism was unfounded. The L5 troll has been undeterred over night.
Any ways, a big team are playing st Johnstone today. 3 more points is the aim. Always tough to win the weekend after a euro game so we have a challenging game ahead. As it should be. Hail hail to the travelling fans.
STARRY PLOUGH
I, too, felt that when Celtic signed him, he was only a cheap opinion. But, was I wrong and apologise to Leigh for under-rating him. He has come on a ton. Hopefully, a goal or two or three today would be nice. HH
OOPS! option. Predictive text problems.
Celtic need to take much stronger action against knuckledraggers like Robert Grieve. One strike and your out—no messing about. We don’t needs rags like the Sun and Record or the Herald nowadays that Matthew Lindsay has taken it into gutter journalism too.
It shouldn’t be beyond Lawwell to execute this simple action.
Good morning friends from a light grey but dry and calm East Kilbride.
A splash through some ParkRun puddles, then the sqwerr sausage, then the Bhoys on the telly. What’s not to like.
Just caught up on the blog and it reminded me of a story told on these pages a while ago by an American based Jewish cqn’er cycling through a blizzard for miles to get to watch a Celtic game.
The messages by Palestinian people after the display on Wednesday was also very humbling to read,if you were given the chance to convert a stranger into a fan of the club I’d bet everybody would do it.
It seems the organisers and participants of the display have brought swathes of new fans to this good ole club.
opentoallcsc
Really Looking forward to the game in less than five hours. Will BR play a team to save us for our season defining game next week. I hope so, and I thnk there maybe a couple of surprise name on the bench.
It seems the flags debate will not go away ( On CQN anyway ) but guys keep it civil. I have seen Celtic supporters called, scum, a cancer, cowards , parasites, idiots to name but a few insults.
Personally I don’t really mind colourful language that usually surrounds the insults, but I thought that CQN had certain rules that set us apart from hun sites.
Maybe not, and anything goes.
HH, handwringerscsc.
Happy Birthday to Leigh Griffiths, hope he celebrates with a hat trick :))
Any Horse tips for today gratefully received.
HH
Onemalloy
The birthday bhoy is 20/1 for a hat-trick, although if I bet him once he gets two and game is safe BR will put him in cotton wool for Tuesday (and so he should)
Although 1-0 win and no injuries would be good today
AoW
I’ll keep your mammy in my thoughts and prayers mate.
I expect a tough game in Perth today so if we head down the road with any sort of victory I’ll be delighted.
A wee reminder for those who forgot or refuse to accept. A wee song that is played loud and proud over our clubs PA system at every game.
Let the People sing
For those who are in love
There’s a song that’s warm and tender.
For those who are oppressed
In song you can protest.
So liberate your minds
And give your soul expression.
Open up your hearts,
I’ll sing for you this song.
Let the people sing their stories and their songs
And the music of their native land
Their lullabies and battlecries and songs of hope and joy
So join us hand in hand
All across this ancient land
Throughout the test of time
It was music that kept their spirits free
Those songs of yours and of mine
It was back in ancient times,
The bard would tell his stories
Of the heroes, of the villain,
Of the chieftains in the glen.
Through Elizabethian time
And Cromwellian war and fury
Put our pipers to the sword,
Killed our harpers and our bards.
Let the people sing their stories and their songs
And the music of their native land
Their lullabies and battlecries and songs of hope and joy
So join us hand in hand
All across this ancient land
Throughout the test of time
It was music that kept their spirits free
Those songs of yours and of mine
Ireland, land of song,
Your music lives forever
In its valleys, in its mountains,
In its hills and in its glens.
Our music did survive
Through famine and oppression.
To the generations gone,
I’ll sing for you this song.
Brother in Law, came thru a 14 hour operation to remove a brain tumour on Friday morning.
All seems good, so much so he is now out of ITU and on a ward.
Thanks for those who put in a word with the big ghuy upstairs!
Hail FHail
Just to funny for words
https://twitter.com/Khanoisseur/status/719384379265449984