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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por cierto- you have highlighted a good selling point as well,if guys like FF & VW perform in the CL ,they can move on, unfortunately that’s where we are.HH
Bhrutus
Ta.
Captain Beefheart
Hiya,pally?
Nice tae chat.
Yes..You are Correct..
The Next Striker ,which we get.. Should..
IDEALLY.. be fit fur Facing Toap class European Competition
Otherwise..
if we canny get wan .. who fulfills the Above Essential Requirements.. fur the Money which we hiv Available..
Then..
We should Save oor Money.. n…well…. Open a Savings Account..
fur, We wull Need accumulate… Awe the Money which we kin Afford, if we wanna Go oot an
Buy.. the Kinda Striker ,the Like of which… Ah am ATalkin aboot.
A Guy who Kin Face Toap Euro Competitors… withoot Fear or Discomposure.
Kojo
Still,Laughin
tom molach
I agree that match fitness and sharpness are hugely significant factors.
I think I’m more concerned with the team selection and the tactics that they’re going to be asked to employ.
Ach I’m sure these pre match nerves will have diminished somewhat come kick off time!!!
try the Bra n Knickers cup
Anyone know what channel the game is on tomorrow. ….. Please
HT,
My mates wife worked in the Swallow hotel years ago and that ugly bassa tried to fire in.
Don’t know what upset my mate the most, another bloke sniffing about his Mrs or because it was a bloke that played for the huns and slept in a Zoo….;)
G67- there was a rumour Stokes was going to Cardiff in a player swap……
talkin’ of plants……………the Carlow Rose gets my vote….
Lustig for me imo. If I was the Slov coach I wd tell one of my players to stand close to Efe.
Hugely concerned over the Ambrose situation. Can’t help feeling karma will bite us if he plays.
Starry plough,
Agree Denayer on the bench. Efe will play and hopefully Lustig too.
Gordon
Lustig, Efe, Virgil , IZzy
McGregor, Biton, Kayal, Johannsen, Mulgrew
Stokes
Sipsini
He should have tossed him a bun, that would’ve distracted him :-)
tgbs….
Made me laugh…very good and thought provoking :-)
However King Kenny was a bad example to use…that day EVERYBODY was in mourning, no exceptions!
….or shouted……
“Haw! Davie – who rattled your cage……*slash* enclosure…?”
;)
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
22:57 on
19 August, 2014
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.
================================================
Thats about the sum of it……..!
latchford
Maribor know they need a result to take to Glasgow and our midfield and defence will have to support each other maybe through periods of pressure, I think we need guys who have been playing together for a while and it’s up to the players to draw on their experience to get us through, nothing against young Jason but I wouldn’t risk him in a huge game like this, Efe and Virgil need to lock it down.
If we could even nick a goal which I think we are capable of I hope it’s not all hands to the pump if they score!!
Feck canny wait to get home from work the morra..
Mon the Hoops.
Jude2005-did you try the Bra N Knicker Cup?
what did you think?
No worries over Efe. He didn’t play in 3-0 win.
The game was played. The score was 3-0.
Latchford
Agreed team selection. Got a feeling though Ronny will go with Berget LM, and not Kayal, with Chaz shifting back inside
HH
Ps would definitely play Lustig
Hope Celtic have the Efe situation in bold black print from Eufa.
No Kayal in any starting 11 for me.
You may want to look at the 2nd half of game from Sat again, we lost forward momentum when he came on, and have another look at the goal we lost, ball passed straight by in front of him.
Yes he done better than usual, bit still a long way short for me
Hail Hail
i am neil lennon e el juarez bravo
23:03 on 19 August, 2014
Hugely concerned over the Ambrose situation. Can’t help feeling karma will bite us if he plays.
_________________
Going with what I’ve read, effe is clear to play but I don’t trust anyone ;)
Remove the doubt and don’t put him on the team sheet.
Would appear the Hun is struggling with policing costs……Max of 1000 away fans.
http://www.qosfc.com/new_newsview.aspx?newsid=2437
Without getting into politics
I’m over in NI, never seen so many Israeli flags before, guess what type of area I’m in :-)
Hail Hail
greendreamz
23:08 on
19 August, 2014
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
22:57 on
19 August, 2014
Yes. That is what is needed. We need to get to 26th August with a good chance to go through.
.
Bhrutus
Vespers in 5 will read it after them. And efter this lovely malt!!! H H
Jude2005-the text is a wee bit quick-i hope you enjoy it
I see the EPGs are on the blink again
sipsini
23:00 on
19 August, 2014
HT,
My mates wife worked in the Swallow hotel years ago and that ugly bassa tried to fire in.
Don’t know what upset my mate the most, another bloke sniffing about his Mrs or because it was a bloke that played for the huns and slept in a Zoo….;)
…………………………………………
mmmmm the elephant man …guest at St Fergus when he played for D Utd….chatting up my 2 wee sisters in the kitchen …sisters playing him along…then are you for real says sister 1 …sister 2 you are just ugly….go home whilst it is dark ………….braw
justafan 2306:-
Cheers, agreed Kenny Dalglish was an extreme example to use but you get the drift!
Hail hail
cowiebhoy,
The Jewish sector….;)
neustadt-braw
23:19 on 19 August, 2014,
Is any of your sisters single?
Like their patter…joking mate.HH
Sipsini, will give you one other guess :-)
Hail Hail and night night all
The Philly Rose wins it……………
I’m taking it as a good omen.
G’nite.
aye the sisters were the biz…..my mates were frightened to death of them …..braw
just the way I liked it ! awfy braw
Cowiebhoy
Every city has its Chinatown.
NI obviously being super progressive with its ‘Israeltown’!
Whenever I’m there and the place is lined with union jacks I always think they can smell I’m a Tim! A fragrant whiff at that!
HH jamesgang
No issue over Efe apparently.
‘Celtic manager Ronny Deila confirmed at his pre-match news conference in Slovenia on Tuesday that the player had been left behind because he believed Ambrose was suspended for the play-off round first leg.
But it has since transpired that, after seeking confirmation from UEFA, Ambrose’s ban has been served and he will link up with the squad in Slovenia on Wednesday.’