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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AN TEACH SOLIAS
UEFA, just like Google, wiping Palestine off the map. I disagree with political statements at Celtic Park. I no longer have a season ticket, but when I did I went for the team, not anything else. However, the fact that Uefa allow Israeli teams to play in Europe is as big a political statement as they come.
Are Palestinian flags banned at all UEFA games or just those involving teams from Israel?
It’s Friday, it’s 24 minutes after 5 to 5 and it’s time for the gym!
Di Matteo says the experienced centre-back could not thrash out personal terms with Rangers.
He told a press conference this afternoon: “Joleon didn’t agree personal terms with Rangers, so it’s fallen through and he’s back with us now.”
At last Broony seen the sense in pacing himself physically.
Makes sense for his career, Celtic and ultimately most importantly his aches and pains later in life. That hip is going to need further treatment post playing days.
I’m beginning to suspect the fact it refers to ‘illicit banner’ singular is important and it may be something like the ‘FCK NZS’ one that is being referred to.
HAMILTONTIM on 19TH AUGUST 2016 5:19 PM
It’s Friday, it’s 24 minutes after 5 to 5 and it’s time for the gym!
____________________
Ok Leslie, I want my Crackerjack pencil! (or are you more Peter shaped?)
Good evening, friends.
Being fined by a morals and ethics committee at UEFA is wee bit like Dennis the Menace giving you a telling off for playing chappie.
Pay the fine and move on! then follow that crowd funding idea and send the equivalent sum to to Palestine Refugee charity and see if the MSM report that.
Hail! Hail!
ERNIE LYNCH on 19TH AUGUST 2016 5:19 PM
Well since St Johnstone got a fine for one vs a Slovak team, it would seem so. (unless they had an Israeli player are the time, or something).
Hamilton Tim
I can assure you it is not pouring down in Tenerife!
All credit to Brendan for his man management skills.
The ramped up professionalism in the Celtic camp was evident from the off.
I’d also like to add a word of praise for his two assistants, who are ever present with their clipboards.
Both seem simultaneously engrossed in their work, while content to remain out of the limelight.
No gym for three days for me! Back strain due to gardening duties put paid to that. However back on the treadmill tomorrow….
HT,
Steady. You’d have to buy me a drink first :)
I must admit I thought the line of questioning was genuine enough at first, Barton was classless and many of us were just a bit over sensitive.
Then I came to my senses and realised it was an attempt to draw a Rodgers says Barton has no class headline and ignite a problem that just isn’t there.
HH
need the clumpany on this one
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37132034
ERNIE LYNCH on 19TH AUGUST 2016 5:19 PM
Just checked, no Israeli links at all as far as I can see. So it seems the Palestinian flag is entirely forbidden by UEFA.
Rotten.
watched the game again last night and thought we had all the players playing 7/10 or above
I must admit that was not the case to often last term .
Whether it’s down to tactics ,better positioning or players attitude at this moment I could not care less ,as long as it continues I will be one happy BHOY .
HH
Oh and well done to the colts in the cup ,great result
HH
HENDRIX67 on 19TH AUGUST 2016 5:18 PM
“the fact that Uefa allow Israeli teams to play in Europe is as big a political statement as they come.”
————————-
That really is the crux of the matter.
The most effective demonstration we can offer is to pump them again and deny them any validity.
Anyone else think de Vries will start tomorrow?
HENDRIX 67
I agree. The whole position of UEFA is at best illogical, discriminatory and unfair. It is alsoo, IMO, a corrupt, self-serving organisation which requires root and branch reform like its counterpart in Scotland. I would like to see a European movement to seek the necessary changes. Hopefully, someone more erudite and skilled in politics than I can ask the necessary questions at our AGM to set the ball rolling.
However, if we are in it, to win it ( or at least progress as far as we can) we have to recognise that it has fairly draconian powers. Would they exercise those powers against the likes of Barcelona? Or, perhaps, Celtic? Who knows. In no ways is it handringng to calmly and dispassionately weigh up the options. As the old saying goes, there is more than one way to ring a cat.
Out for the night. So the blog gets a rest. HH
****Last Man Standing 8 update****
Thanks to the 90+ of you who have already registered o take part in LMS8, a fun, easy competition that helps support our wee hero, Shay. The prize pot is cyrrently just over £2,000 and rising daily. And a few of you have decided on our own Board’s favourite approach (not) – speculate to accumulate by putting in 2 or 3 entries, no doubt influenced by the fact that the prizepot will be unlikely to be ever this high again!
The competition kicks off on the first weekend in September, so still 2 weeks to join in. Of course, family, friends and work colleagues are welcome too.
To expres an interest in participating just drop a very short email to cqnpredictor@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you, usually within 24 hours. We’ll then explain clearly the rules, payment instructions and fixtures to choose from.
Hail Hail!
Celticrollercoaster and Jobo
cqnpredictor@gmail.com
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/last-man-standing-8-rollover-pot-starts-at-1555/
Jmccormack…… Would it surprise your good self to know that the original Dennis the Menace was based on my x brother in law…..lad called Bob Fair…..
Interstingfactscsc..
Braw ..
https://t.co/fANNqIEVne?ssr=true
The truth is out there. Penny pinching. Probably offered no holiday pay either.
Passed medical. This is only about terms
#naemoneyfc
Hail Hail
Mike
HENDRIX67
Is he fit? I thought he arrived with an injury that would keep him out for a couple of weeks
I’VEHADTOCHANGEMYNAME
Sorry for the delay in following up had to nip to the shops.
I did Business and Languages at Strathclyde which included a year at a French university. It’s a fantastic experience but studying at a French university is pretty tough, I’d been studying French at school and university for a combined 8 years by the time I went to study in France and it was still a very steep learning curve. So I imagine doing a full degree would be extremely tough at the start but by the end of it his ability in the language would be excellent. If he’s up for it then more power to him!
Thunder Road…those of us who were there are becoming like the old 1st WW veterans…you know- every 11/11 they roll them out and ask them about their recollections…
So it will be with us…every 25th May…”So weebobby, what do you remember of that day?”
“Eh?”
“What do you remember about Lisbon?”
“Who?”
“The Lisbon Lions”
“Och aye, big Tommy Gemmell, Stevie Chalmers, aye…did I ever tell you aboot a young guy, Carlos was his name, jumped oan oor bus at the traffic lights and then……..”
“Yes…well, back to you in the studio.”
“…..and he wrote his name in pencil…but this guy on CQN told that………”
HENDRIX67
CONTACT ME
;o)
sixtaeseven@gmail.com
HENDRIX67
Not for me ,I think his first game may be the alloa cup game ,don,t see BR dropping CG before the CL tie
with all the speculation that’s been going around
HH
thanks davidopoulos – did you rate the year in France? It’s definitiely an option .
De vries was stretchered off against Burton a fortnight ago but when he was signed Brendan said he had a slight knock.
I don’t think I’d start him until the cl game is done, even if fit.
HH
Chat= cat
Braw wee word…..oh no I,ve cat ma self….. Again…….
Smiley thing
Braw.
Shocking treatment for disabled olympic athletes as they are reduced to 2nd class status
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/37135083
Any Celtic news today…….I am FLEGGED OOT………??……HH
If it’s not pouring down in Tenerife, it can only mean one thing…
…it’s ElDiegoBhoy’s round.
Weebobbycollins
Never looked on you bhoys in that way but i guess there’s similarities.
Its brilliant that you’s have sites like this today to perhaps express your feelings and memories of how it was.
Have you ever been back over to Lisbon since?
Was hoping to visit next year myself for what will be our very own hajj.
I’VEHADTOCHANGEMYNAME
Absolutely, taught more about life and standing on my own two feet (and partying) than anything else in my life.
I’d recommend doing a year abroad to any student regardless of whether they are studying a language or not.
NEUSTADT-BRAW
It does surprise me , then again the tentacles of this blog spread far and wide..
Cheers
Lescott
So now it seems that all the SMSM headlines were to distract from the fact that the Celts were playing CL fitba!!!
Jeeeezus!!!
Can’t we PLEASE get a petition together to get the DAILY RECORD and others rags banned from Celtic Park !!!
How many “human” hours and days are wasted reading/commenting on a pulp press.
Just think folk could all be listening to current, recent or Mozart & co, admiring the impressionists or rgartists , or simply sightseeing in nothern, western or eastern Europe. and elsewhere…
I’ve been away from Scotland for40 years – wsy is there so much hatred still ???