Celtic assistant manager, Chris Davies, met Harry Brady of Celtic Underground, PaulT from ByTheMinute Celtic and myself in dressing room at Lennoxtown on Monday. Harry recorded the interview for podcasting, which you can access here.
The overreaching observation from the conversation is that Chris Davies is not an assistant manager who is there just to put the cones out, or be some kind of go-between, sorting out frictions between manager and players. His primary responsibility is to get tactical aspects of the team plan right.
You don’t stroll into a dressing room and expect your subject to tell you he has learned from Professor Steve Peters, author of The Chimp Paradox, but Chris explained this is where he, and his mentor, Brendan Rodgers, have been in their quest to put players on the field in the best possible condition, physically and mentally.
He talks about building a player and about the team collective, “11 players, one brain”. How this approach gives the coaching staff a structure to rehabilitate a player who is out of form, something we have seen markedly with Dedryck Boyata and Craig Gordon.
Player feedback is also an important aspect of management at Lennoxtown. Every training session is videoed and the coaches are in before 7am to get the day’s preparation underway. In the afternoons they discuss each player, his metrics and what they should speak to him about. Players are expected to “be their best every single day in training”.
I got the feeling that the Shankly adage that players need their brains to be in their feet doesn’t apply to this Celtic team. A big part of what players are asked to do is improve their decision-making.
There are lots of gems in the inverview, “The (5-1) game against Rangers was a statement game; we blew them away”.
One of the critical parts of the season was the second half away to Hapoel Be’re Shiva. Celtic were 2-0 down on the night, playing poorly and a single goal away from elimination from the Champions League qualfiers.
Chris talked about the pressure of that occasion, how the players and he fed off Brendan Rodgers’ experience and got the job done.
The interview (available here) gives a great and rare insight into what’s going on behind the scenes at Celtic, you’ll enjoy it.
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The Battered Bunnet
Others would call my work base…
BMCUW .
The Golden Vision .
Thanks for the link . Much appreciated . I will watch it tonight .!!!!
“11 players, one brain”
——-
Think I have played in a few of those teams, Paul :-)
Seriously though – good to hear about that kind of insight into the work Chris and Brendan are doing.
Interesting point re decision making – definite improvements in Boyata and Forrest in particular.
I’ve read ‘The Chimp Paradox’.
It’s a good sequel to the superior original ‘The Hun Monkey Protocol’.
Ironically, the forces in Scotland most likely to have strong links to this shameful past are not found in the independence movement, but rather in some voices that favour the union. The Orange Order still looming large on Glasgow’s streets is allowed to parade its religious extremism and bigotry by a Labour council. The Scottish Tories and Labour throughout the independence referendum dismissed ideas of reflection on the place of Scotland within an empire. Solidarity, a British commodity, was withheld from refugees, British minority ethnic people and EU nationals who now find themselves abandoned by a Labour party granting ease of passage to a Tory hard Brexit.
Paul 67
Just listened to the podcast with Chris and Brendan, we have won a watch with this management team and I am much more optimistic about the future in terms of team success and development than I have EVER been.
TBB 12.42
No it’s just Jus.
TT
Having just dipped in to CQN I’m dipping back out for the horse radish and more bread.
South of Tunis, I saw the goals from the Rubentus Napoli match last night.
Rube’s first penalty looked dodgy. The second leg could be tasty or if the Napoli director’s threat to play their youth team is followed through , it could bring more attention to the officiating in Rube’s games.
I never liked Rubentus prior to our last games against them but their behaviour in the first leg, particulary the horrible , Lichsteiner, increased my dislike of them.
Scots
What do you think of Independence offered to the people of Scotland without any guarantee of which currency we would be using to live, and an Independence where we continued to have a Monarchy living in Buckingham Palace?
Did someone mention the monarchy?…
Queen Elizabeth and Dolly Parton die on the same day, but only one can get into the pearly gates.
St. Peter asks Queen Elizabeth what makes her special enough to enter Heaven. Elizabeth takes out a douche bottle and douches herself.
St. Peter asks Dolly what makes her special enough to get into Heaven. Dolly opens up her shirt and flashes her chest.
St. Peter lets Queen Elizabeth in instead of Dolly. When Dolly asks St. Peter why Elizabeth was let in, Peter replies, “A royal flush beats a wild pair.”
Various
______________________________________________________
Folks – your gravy puns have spiced-up an otherwise dull day
Muchos gravy-ass
Seems Phil has found out that Sir Cardigan of Legned is the mysterious stranger advising the huns U-20 coach.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/an-equestrian-collective-to-assist-mr-murty/#more-8907
And suggests that it might be fun if his part is revealed in forthcoming Glorious 12th.
(Me,I’ve got a mental image of him sitting in the posh seats trying to get a phone to work. And him bitch-slapping Durrant)
http://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/cheltenham/no-antiirish-bias-british-racing-chief-speaks-out-as-row-erupts-ahead-of-cheltenham-35493405.html
http://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/cheltenham/mullins-insists-the-show-must-go-on-with-his-secondstring-festival-team-35488490.html
Please, can anyone tell me when wee Jamesy and Paddy will be fit to play.And Rogic too for that matter. We really need them fit.
Thanks
KINGLuBO
JFH … glad to hear your better half is on the mend.
VFR and Babasonic … thoughts and prayers.
Just scrolled back quickly, so apologies if I have missed anyone.
there was a discussion last week about the TV show about Bobby Sands. It was 36 years ago today that he started his hunger strike. I cant believe how quickly time has passed.
One poster (sorry, I cant remember which poster, at the moment) used to post excerpts from his blog … always appreciated the posts.
Good Afternoon.
Here’s a brand new humourous and topical piece…
“Giving Up Rangers* For Lent”
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/03/01/giving-up-rangers-for-lent/
SOUTH OF TUNIS on 1ST MARCH 2017 1:14 PM
Is his wife not meant to be the Girl From The North Country?
One from the Comments Section in Phil`s latest lest we forget what this Legned was really like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb0qRuBYiIg&app=desktop
JJ
SOUTH OF TUNIS on 1ST MARCH 2017 9:52 AM
Alex Young -The Golden Vision .
Ken Loach did a tv thing for the Beeb’s Wednesday Play thing in the late 60s . A dramatised documentary re Everton fans / Alex Young . .Titled – The Golden Vision . . It was good !!!!
*Good, that’s an understatement, it was great. Reminds me of another BBC “Play for Today” about a referee whose hero was the original Dixie Dean and scores the winner with a heider while reffing, does the proverbial lap of honour and refuses tae chalk the goal off.
Back tae the Golden Vision, I believe it came out about the same time as another Ken Loach “play” called “Cathy Come Home” although that one was a real tear jerker about homelessness which may reflect on today’s society.
As for the GV I watched it one dreich Wednesday night and although I knew who Alex was I had no idea how revered he was down at Goodison Park.
For those that have never seen it, it’s about a group of Evertonians going down tae the big smoke on the back of a lorry tae watch their team. Lots of typical scouse humour through it unlike the other “play” I just mentioned.
Alex Young only got 5 caps for Scotland while his cross town rival “the saint” amassed 21. St John won 2 titles and 1 FA Cup and was part of the Liverpool side that was outplayed but still managed tae cheat us in the semis of the ECWC while Alex had 1title and 1 Cup winners medal at Goodison to go with the 2 titles he won down Gorgie Road, unfortunately he was left out of the ’68 cup final which the Toffees lost. He was also part of the only side in Scotland to finish the season with a goal difference of over 100, 103, in fact they scored 132 goals that season.
A far far better player than Greavsies oul sparring partner.
TT
That play MIGHT have been called : Another Saturday and Sweet FA.
JJ
ERNIE LYNCH on 1st March 2017 2:58 pm
Ernie, Girl From The North Country was written about Suze Rotolo who was also pictured with Zimmerman on the front cover of Freewheelin’. I don’t think she ever married Wavy Gravy.
An apposite discussion seeing as we have puns about gravy!
KTF
TT
Indeed it is and here you are:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Another+Saturday+and+Sweet+FA
JJ
VFR
Freewheelin` was my introduction to Bob D. On hearing it, my mother, aware of my unmelodic approach to singing, remarked that there was hope for me yet !
JJ
PS I will be picking up a copy of the ££££££££ article tonight.
PPS Anyone know anything about Moussa having an irregular heartbeat? As far as I know, this is not serious but I am curious an ex-pro footballer told me this morning that a journalist had passed on this information.
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 1ST MARCH 2017 3:40 PM
Mibaes aye, and mibaes naw.
‘Dylan biographer Robert Shelton makes the case for a later girlfriend, Bonnie Beecher, whom Dylan met during his brief tenure at the University of Minnesota.’
http://www.bobdylancommentaries.com/freewheelin-bob-dylan/girl-from-the-north-country/
‘Girl from the North Country’ …. one of my favourite songs from one of my favourite artists …. Queen Jane Approximately is another fave ….
although I still believe that I suffered brain damage from trying to make sense of Tarantula when I was younger ….
I recently read the Robbie Robertson autobiography …. a really good read in its own right….. and, if you are a Dylan fan, a good complement to chronicles…..
JJ,
I have no idea about Moussas condition neebs.
But one things for sure, if he’s on fire a week come Sunday, there’ll be huns having palpitations :)
HH
I want Chimp Paradox to get the Sevco gig.
VFR
Freewheelin` was my introduction to Bob D. On hearing it, my mother, aware of my unmelodic approach to singing, remarked that there was hope for me yet !
JJ
PS I will be picking up a copy of the ££££££££ article tonight.
PPS Anyone know anything about Moussa having an irregular heartbeat? As far as I know, this is not serious but I am curious an ex-pro footballer told me this morning that a journalist had passed on this information. Have the same condition myself , was advised by my consultant that it wasn’t an uncommon condition amongst leading sports people,said it gave them a little extra something…………which basically means I can get to the bar really,really quick lol
HOT SMOKED on 1ST MARCH 2017 3:40 PM
TT
That play MIGHT have been called : Another Saturday and Sweet FA.
*yip that was it, excellent
ERNIE LYNCH on 1ST MARCH 2017 3:50 PM
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 1ST MARCH 2017 3:40 PM
Mibaes aye, and mibaes naw. ‘Dylan biographer Robert Shelton makes the case for a later girlfriend, Bonnie Beecher, whom Dylan met during his brief tenure at the University of Minnesota.’
*makes a bit of sense, especially the line “Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline” since Hibbing Minnesota is close to the border of Thunder Bay Ontario. Sitting in my wee room up the Haldane could never really understand that until I emigrated out here.
BTW big Rod does a good version of this.
Bhoys
This looks great and worth a wee donner along
Professor Willy Maley..Martin McCardie and Paul Cuddihy…The Lions of Lisbon: The Story of 1967
http://bit.ly/2jmQo4Q
Kikinthenakas
MIKE IN TORONTO on 1ST MARCH 2017 3:59 PM
I recently read the Robbie Robertson autobiography …. a really good read in its own right….. and, if you are a Dylan fan, a good complement to chronicles….
*Just read it MIT on your recent recommendation BTW, it was absolutely excellent, an amazing group who apart fae Levon all came from south west Ontario. Always though Robbie was fae six nations but he’s actually a scarberia boy at heart.
Traderbhoy … I cant recall where I heard it, but I do remember hearing that, prior to joining Celtic, Dembele was supposed to be joining Spurs, but didn’t pass the medical…
I dont know how much truth there is to that, or even if true, if the medical issue was related to this heart thing….
but, just putting it out there ….
James is in the squad for this afternoon’s game, Paddy not in the squad – expected to be back training on Friday. Rogic out for the season as Australia don’t expect him to take part in qualifiers in June.
Mike,
I believe Dembele to spurs broke down over a loan back to Fulham deal. Nothing to do with medicals.
HH
Tontine … I was a bit apprehensive about reading it, having read Levon’s bitter book (he seemed like an angry unhappy person) …. but, my sis had to read it for an interview with RR, and said both he and the book were funny, and charming and interesting, and she highly recommended ….. I was glad she did as it brought back a lot of old musical memories. I really enjoyed it, and am glad that you did too.