On his third appearance back after injury, James Forrest pulled-up in the dying moments of Saturday’s game clutching his hamstring. The player will be devastated but the mood was no better among those walking away from the stadium minutes later. Just as James was back and planning for what looked like an important season in his Celtic career, fundamental questions were being asked about his fitness viability.
We’ve seen this before. Shaun Maloney was forever breaking down, sometimes minutes after returning from injury. Shaun was a different type of player from James, he had a speed on the turn which made him a valuable asset, but likely contributed to his fragility.
The other pace player in the squad at the moment, Derk Boerrigter, has similarly fragile muscles. I hear the same about Aleks Tonev, currently injured. One of England’s greatest hopes of the last 20 years, Michael Owen was another member of the Fast and Fragile club. There seems to be a link between speed and injury.
There’s good news for James, and Derk too. After leaving so many regrets on the Celtic treatment table, Shaun’s limbs matured and stabilised. Michael Owen can tell a similar story, both players found their bodies vastly more robust from the middle part of their careers onwards.
James has to stick with it, continue to work on strengthening his muscles, and try to find what’s causing the problems, which can often be obscure. After a run of inexplicable injuries, AC Milan discovered that poor teeth were afflicting their athletes. Apparently your bite affects your running gate. Owen eventually found that his choice of cars (more specifically, sports clutches), was putting enough regular strain on the wrong muscles to leave him exposed to tears.
James’ and Derk’s bodies will continue to mature, to the benefit of the second half of their careers.
Not that Ronny is short of cover for James, having signed wide players Jo Inge Berget and Aleks Tonev we now have Ghanian Walaso Mubarak going through a medical.
The squad is becoming wing-heavy. It remains striker-light.
Greatest Irony
Do you know what would produce the greatest irony in sporting history? If Efe Ambrose came on as a late substitute tomorrow night, and we later discovered a rule deep in Uefa’s Articles that forfeit matches don’t count for suspensions. Forfeit matches are so rare no one will be familiar with the rules concerning them. Should we check? Oh yes.
James Alexander Gordon
It was the way he told them. Every week the man would uniquely intone the football results, you knew the outcome of each game, home win, away win or draw, before he read second number.
Maestro Match
Really delighted Celtic FC Foundation have nominated Unicef and War Child as their beneficiaries from the Maestro match next month, where we will “assist in their humanitarian work in a number of current Middle East countries”.
Foundation cheif exec, Tony Hamilton, said, “From our living rooms we have all witnessed some of the terrible vivid horror of conflict in recent days and the particular effects that these events have had on children.
“The work of UNICEF and War Child takes no sides but simply cares for all the innocent victims of conflict on a humanitarian level. The match in September will bring together some great names in football who want to make a difference.
“We hope as many supporters as possible can join us to assist children and their families who so desperately need our help.”
I know Celtic fans will want to support this enormously important cause. Read more and book tickets here.
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Kojo. You are right. Never panic NEVER buy a striker.
Man hat a philosophy.
Almost zen like.
http://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/local-news/football-fans-prosecuted-in-scotland-for-offence-in-england-1-3513209
Margaret the clock ticks and credibility questions…….a little more ime will reveal all.
Then we have many choices to make.
hamiltontim
22:26 on 19 August, 2014
Cannot argue with any of what you say but like you, my Heart wins hands down.
As for ….pfayr’s comment, less said the better…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
So after Maribor what?
We’ll let me tell ye
Huns are Huns
And to our board shine so hard
Now you spit out the sky
Because it’s empty and hollow
All your dreams
Are hanging out to dry
Cards are played
And the clocks real heavy
Say you’re numb ale another day
Ale= make
Kojo,
Davie Dodds could score (in both senses) for Celtic domestically.
We need a Don Juan for Europe though. The female defences are more formidable out there as opposed to the loose ones domestically.
No disrespect to British females
.
Or Davie Dodds.
Good night all
Tomorrow night
We’ll see
Wouldn’t have wanted any new faces playing.
Go with what we have and hopefully make the best of it.
Hope Ronny learns there are times to shut shop and take what you have though.
My hope for tomorrow is we have learned from the Legia away game and are still in the tie at full time.
captain beefheart
22:39 on 19 August, 2014
Yeah I like it
The first European shagger Celtic get and we can gigolo him out……. Nice
It’s difficult to predict how this will go tomorrow. Our away record in Europe is pretty dire and Warsaw was frankly traumatic. However, I don’t think Maribor are really up to much and if we get right into them and press them hard from the first whistle then we can get a result that will set us up for next week. An away goal ought to be achievable as they are suspect at the back.
To some extent, the pressure’s off as we know that we will have European football until Christmas no matter what. A season in the Europa League certainly wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Still, I’ll be watching it from my usual spot behind the sofa
Wan Don Jaun does not a season make por cierto :)
paddy gallagher
22:09 on 19 August, 2014
Some plant seeds of hope – other plant seeds of doubt!
Feck – I don’t believe I joined in on this.
___________
Ach, worry it will grow on you bud….:)
Turkeybhoy……. Question just for you…
What non paid executive Celtic board member is a Zionist?
por cierto-van Dijk was happy to sign and double his wages,loads of good players out there who would do the same, another fallacy for me.HH
squire danaher
22:31 on 19 August, 2014
murdoch mcgrain larsson
22:20 on 19 August, 2014
If your team is correct and Mulgrew and izzy both start – Mulgrew should be given orders not to move any more than 10 yards off Izzy
Izzy should be threatened with death by a thousand cuts if he at any time finds himself ahead of Mulgrew and/or the ball
I agree that neither Griffiths and particularly Stokes are good enough to play a lone striker. However you cant say Berget isnt unless you have been an ardent watcher of Cardiff reserves or Norwegian league,
FWIW I would say he’s got a bit more fitba intelligence than the Buster Brady twins, has a bit of physique about him but looks unlikely to either win a ball in the air without committing a foul or be able to hold a ball up
He does look as if he could work a channel better than the other pair.
———————–_
Agree re Berget / Stokes / Griffiths. Do not think that any of them are good enough at this level as lone striker. So, take your pick.
Charlie – do not cross halfway line.
Izzy – do not go in front of Charlie.
Every opposing team is onto long, high diagonal against Izzy.
Much as it pains me, I think Izzy’s time at left back is over. Let’s see if he can play midfield.
Neganon/Lennybhoy/Kojo
I agree, we should have had a striker in pre-season. Hooper was bought in July 2010 and this helped for the forthcoming season.
HH
CRC
A don’t missing there.
…but having said that Pukki should be well prepared then!
Bada Bing
I am not against us signing a quality striker, how could I be? What I am saying is that some folk on here seem to think that we are not trying to do that, of course we are. VVD and Big FF came to us and increased their wages, in Big FF case maybe not, but I bet they both had and have a clause in the contract that if a certain amount of money is offered then they and their agent decide if they leave and not the club. This is what we are up against in trying to bring in a bit of quality, and not anywhere near the cream at that por cierto
Europeanly speaking Maribor are as shite as Celtic. It will be all shite on the night. Trust me
Hamiltontim
22:26 on
19 August, 2014
You are right about the frailties displayed on Saturday.
However, the fact that we have now played 6 competitive games is important.
I think it takes 6 games to get match fitness. Once that is achieved it is all about ability.
I will be very surprised if we are as bad against Maribor as we were against Legia.
At this stage of qualification for the ECL, match fitness is vital. Without it, elimination by a poorer team is very probable.
p.s. I dont think Legia were a poorer team than us; we have been lucky.
Just caught the latest Downfall / caption generator vids
whoever writes the scripts is -in my opinion-the funniest guy in Scotland
rarely do i laugh out loud the way i did tonight
thankyou-whever you are
Hail Hail
C. Gordon
Ambrose Denayer Van Dijk Izzy
McGregor Biton Mulgrew Johansen Berget
Stokes
I reckon Ronny D, will be going with that….. will put ma hoose on it
As close as it gets…. my only doubt, is Ambrose over Lustig at right back…. a 50/50 decision that one.
Catchy wee tune!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHrLPs3_1Fs
captain beefheart
22:40 on 19 August, 2014
No disrespect to British females
.
Or Davie Dodds.
________
I wouldn’t worry about Davie Dodds, he’s thick skinned.
Bhrutus
Where can I view said comedy??
Sips…….
;)))))))
Celtic are in talks with Cardiff City over a deal for South Korea international Kim Bo-Kyung.
The 24-year-old midfielder was a target for the Bhoys prior to joining Cardiff in 2012.
Bo-Kyung has made nearly 60 league appearances for the Bluebirds since signing from Cerezo Osaka two years
Sipsini
He’ll never forget you said that!!!
Fecksake mags, here was me looking forward to the game tomorrow.
Let’s see what happens, hopefully a result to clamp the smsm.
Jude2005-Daily Record (i know but its worth it)Football-Ally n Barry article
theres a list -take yer pick
under -Bill Zee
I’m surprised some guys are going for a kid who has played one game for us,( against a shitey Utd side) in the most important game of the season so far over an experienced international who has just played in the World Cup…mmmm at centre half as well…mmmm…
Canny see it myself…
Imagine if the internet was around years ago….CQN 1977 On the day that Kenny Dalglish is sold to Liverpool…..
Selected comments……
“The board have done the right thing here…..Desmond White just earned his wages for the last 10 years by getting £440,000 out of Liverpool, we`ve definitely got the best end of the deal here”
“I`m no that bothered, what did Dalglish ever do for Celtic in Europe?”
“We couldn`t break the wage structure for him, and quite right too, before long we`ll have John Dowie and Alan Sneddon on the manager`s door demanding a pay rise.”
“We can`t compete with Liverpool and the big English teams, nor should we try to”
“He wisnae interested in the last 2 years, and he`ll no win anything in Europe down there”
“Dinnae go fashin aboot the Dal-gleeesh going…………..
Fuh-geddabooot it!
Fur ma wee pal, Collie the dug has telt me……
That thur is a much better prospect coming through at Parkheid oan the Clyde…..
A wee goalscoring brammer by the name ay Jim Halpin! Remember the name! The pookah and the rest ay ma spies tell me that this Halpin laddie is a goal machine and he will put the G.A. and the rest of Europe tae the sword!
Dalglish is yesterday`s man an ah`m still laughing!”
We lose 4 against Legia.
Should have been 6.Maybe more.
We lose 2 in Edinburgh.
Striker would have made all the difference,then.
Deila.Just close the back door in Slovenia,son.
And hope that 60.000 drag us over the line at Celtic Park.
THEN,get a striker if poss.
Was that Paddy Gallagher posting abt 9ish?? How you doin Paddy??