The life of a professional athlete varies enormously depending on what sport you participate in. Swimmers and runners train every day in life, with the exception of rest days immediately before an event. Footballers have rest days every week and for over a century rested for several weeks each summer.
Rest is an important part of any physical activity but I’ve never been convinced by the need for footballers to allow their fitness levels to drop so dramatically during the summer. This is a different question from taking a break from injury-stressing contact activities – like playing football. The summer weeks should provide a break from playing the game but presents a unique opportunity in the calendar to put intense work into other areas of fitness or physical development, without the need for travel or games.
As such, I’m glad Celtic are back at Lennoxtown, and that they have Champions League qualifiers in the middle of July. Unlike the Barcelona players currently in Brazil with Spain, and who get one summer in four off, Celtic players have had the opportunity to rest any strains, and reinvigorate appetites ahead of the new campaign.
Have you registered for 1254125 yet? Tom Conniffe has. He is walking the Leeds-Liverpool Canal in five days, which measures in a tad over 125 miles, all for the campaign. It is this simple to participate; find something you can do, register online and get going. You can support Tom here.
Last call for tonight’s special Lions Roar event. Watch the 1967 European Cup final on big screens in the Kerrydale Suite followed by a Q&A with the men who made history (including Willie Wallace, Heart of a Lion available below). See you there.
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the spirit of arthur lee
13:34 on 21 June, 2013
Welcome to Celtic Virgil van Dijk
Nuffin’ on the ‘fishal website yet?
starry plough 13:38 on 21 June, 2013
Has anybody ever seen BT and Kev J in the same place…
Hmmmm strange
——–
I have – they were talking to each other at time … or was it a mirror?
In my late teens and early twenties I would play three full games every week – Saturday for the junior team (plus training in the week), Sunday for pub team, and midweek for works team in league against navy and army teams. Fitness was no problem, looked forward to every match.
I like the new strip.
So does my daughter, which is more to the point.
How much are they?
Ouch!
Natknow
FC Groningen heeft met Celtic een akkoord bereikt over de transfer van Virgil van Dijk naar de club…
Paul, many thanks for the mention of my 1254125 walk in your article today. I am privileged to be a member of the Celtic family and pleased to be doing my bit for the cause.
DBBIA, sincere thanks for your kind and generous sponsorship. Totally in keeping with the ethos of our fine Club.
HH
Tom – Chilterns Celt
And as a civilian have been a ‘ringer’ and represented the navy and the army
Steinreignedsupreme
The Blanur Bhoys..
For all non dutch speaking tims
FC Groningen has reached an agreement with Celtic on the transfer of Virgil van Dijk to the club …
lOVE
I’ve been playing football non-stop for 22 years pausing only to change boots when the old ones wore out. The modern player doesn’t know they’re born.
Paul67,
I like the way you always look at the positives about our situation this Summer.
Hopefully, when we are not facing so many qualifiers in the future, the suits will realise taking the squad here, there and everywhere, all in the space of a few weeks is the worst possible preparation for a real go at doing something in Europe.
I’m all for taking the team to far off places so the many Tims get to see their heroes but no more globe trotting for the money, unless we really have to. I think we are on an upcurve now so it shouldn’t happen.
weeminger
13:55 on
21 June, 2013
I’ve been playing football non-stop for 22 years pausing only to change boots when the old ones wore out. The modern player doesn’t know they’re born.
That must be a world record! Non stop!!
On reflection, I don’t think that a move to a club like Soton or Hull, etc., would be bad for Vic.
He seems to me to be a sensible lad, who will have planned his career moves carefully.
Going from the SPL to a top club, in a top league, would be a gamble, at this stage of his development.
He is still a player with potential.
As we all recognise, he still has much to learn.
A good place to develop would be at a mid level EPL team, where he will play against top players regularly.
The half dozen or so CL games that he may get with us showed that he has the potential to step up.
However, until he has the maturity to perform at that level consistantly, then the big clubs won’t come near him.
a couple of years honing his game, then at around 24. or 25, bring it on.
Something similar from Mc.Carthy stepping up to Wigan and now…….who knows?
@celticfc: Celtic are delighted to announced that Dutch U21 internationalist Virgil van Dijk has signed a 4-year deal with the Scottish Champions. (PC)
My fear for the wualifiers is that we don’t draw a team who are in their mid season,
@celticfc: Celtic are delighted to announced that Dutch U21 internationalist Virgil van Dijk has signed a 4-year deal with the Scottish Champions. (PC)
Thunderbhoys Are Go…
What’s a waulifier?
An eejit that can’t spell qualifier!
Tom- don’t thank me, thank P.Lawell for discountin’ the ole S/Bs.
I’d only have spent it on Toilet Duck.
Where are the ole Chilterns, anyway?
Sopranos was quite good e1s1..a few to go
Welcome to Paradise Virgil van Dijk hope you get off to a flyer no pun intended..credit to Celtic where its due..not often we get our targets right away..nevermind TWO in !! h.h
Just a quick note on the old tennis v football fitness wise.
I’ve just seen a stat for Murray v Djok in the Oz open and apparently in the 4th set they’d run about 2.5miles each. So let’s say 3 miles for a 5 setter.
I recall once seeing that Nakamura, oft described as lazy had run 12km in one of our European games, which is about 7.5miles.
So given that tennis players usually only paly 3 games in a week and probably wouldn’t get to 5 sets in all of those lets say 6 miles total compared to say 10-12 miles total for a player doing two games in a week.
Weeminger- are you Weary Dave? ;/)
Running late now. Held up in the queue at Car Park in Buchanan St.
Some half wit paying for a £1 ticket with £20 note and shouting “I have won the jackpot”
Total clown and probably an Internet bampot.
Big Virgil 4 year deal. Welcome to the greatest football club on the planet.
KTF
HH
The Spirit of Arthur Lee .
1 ——–Portishead – Dummies .
Hotting up —–38 at noon -way down south.
Tennis players only play 5 sets in the Majors, 4 a year, and the Davis Cup.
Usually they play best of 3.
A pro baseball season is 162 games.
Welcome to Celtic big Virgil.
ron bacardi
13:52 on 21 June, 2013
And as a civilian have been a ‘ringer’ and represented the navy and the army
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Late 80s I was doing a training course in Bourmemouth at the same time as the RAF and Paras were in town for a display.
My mate,a fellow Scot,and I were seconded into the RAF one night to give the top Paras a darn good hiding at the bevvying-RAF types had tried all week and been found wanting.
Beat them the following night too.
Happy daze…..
Welcome Virgil!
http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=4174
Weeminger
plus training h.h
bawsman,
“Point stands that multiple, 5 set matches a week…”
The point is that very rarely do tennis players have to go through that. Most tournaments are played over a maximum 3 sets. As far as Im aware this is the case apart from the 4 majors, and even then how many players play more than say 2 x 5sets matches in a major? Not too many thats for sure!
As i said, and this point stands, it’s completely different muscle sets that tennis players and footballers use.
The stresses on a footballers body are different, and in my contention, greater than a tennis player’s, because the nature of the games are completely different.
Murray, Nadal et al are supremely fit guys, there’s no disputing that, so are marathon runners, but its as much to do with the stress on your body as how fit you are.
And whilst the game is not as dirty as it used to be, there are still plenty horrible tackles out there. Even if a tackle doesnt “clean him oot”, being rattled about the ankles over the season takes it toll, as Im sure guys like big Sammi, Broony, Hoops and co will agree.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
James Traynor@JimTranor19 Jun
I can now reveal this months winner of #rangers sexiest fan competition. Please congratulate Morag McClit from Govan
https://twitter.com/JimTranor/status/347400549588676612/photo/1
SofTunis -I liked Portishead; I thought wee Beth Gibbons had a good voice.
… and it saves you having to buy Goldfrapp as well.
Postie has delivered a very good Ace compilation of Dan Penn compositions, also Decemberists live album.
The Spirit of Arthur Lee @14:09 on
21 June, 2013
Gyads min!
A nearly spewed ma ring seein’ that :(
Welcome to Celtic Virgil Van Dijk!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Welcome to paradise Virgil!
Hail Hail!
Welcome indeed Virgil!!
Right!
Whose next??
TSOAL
Speaking of ringers,I reckon that’s a fella wi moobs.
Morag spends a fortune on looking like Traynor in drag.