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.
[calameo code=000390171ae033f39a0c4 lang=en page=120 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,046 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- »
Sydnegakev @ 10.35
That’s the worst post I’ve ever read. What utter rubbish!
God, that feels good!
I don’t think Denayer should start tonight.
In spite of his good debut, he looked short of the pace of the game, bearing in mind that most of his football has been in Development squads.
This affected his speed of thought.
It showed in him being caught in possession a couple of times
On the bench would be best, I think.
SOUTH OF TUNIS
Your addled old bonce is showing mine up again!!
beatbhoy
That’s good. I’m glad. Get it all out. :-)
thomthethim for Oscar OK
Don’t see the point bringing the lad in and then not playing him myself.
Back 3 for me and 1 up front.
LB
Both yer bonces are needing looked at.
Lb even gave ye a link. ;)
davidopoulos
09:50 on 20 August, 2014
Robert Snodgrass out for six months with a knee injury.
£6m well saved Celtic…
To think Celtic would pay £6 mil for a player is laughable mate.
Thomthetim 10.57
Agreed mate, however sad but true is the fact he’s miles ahead of Mulgrew in terms of pace and composer!
I ment to ask two days ago but got side tracked, anyone know why Aberdeen didn’t play at the weekend, ? There’s obviously a good reason, but must have missed it, oh! And good morning ;)
Hamiltontim
I agree with you. I think right back for Efe tonight as well, with Lustig in front of him. I feel that would give us a strong look on that side. A lot of Teams are targetting Izzy on the left though. Dundee Utd were at it on Saturday as were Legia before that. They try to lob the diagonal ball over his head. Izzy needs to have a big game for us tonight.
Marti
Livibhoy,
a 3-6-1?
Thats how to nullify a midfield! :-)
As for Denayer, like my fellow TTT (thomthetim) I’d have him on the bench. I think Satruday was a run-out to see how he performed, and whilst he did well, the 2 or 3 slip-ups he had are en ough for me to keep him on the bench for tonight.
You cant afford slip-ups like that in a CL play-off, especially away from home.
Ambrose – Lustig – VVD – Mulgrew, as the back 4 for me. With possibly Izzy on LHS of a midfield 5.
Charlie, much as he has a good touch, is not a midfielder for me at this level.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Tony67
The dons asked for the game to be postponed for a breather after their euro ‘run’
Buddies agreed to can it.
GEORDIE MUNRO
How do those new-fangled things work,then?
Us old-timers have to rely-ha,there’s a misnomer!-on our fading memories.
Davidopoulos
This may become a weekly tradition and if it works Anto may win the European Golden boot this year!
The Token Tim
3-6-1 would provide our new Bhoy with enough protection.
I don;t see Ronny dropping him.
LB
Livibhoy
Neville and Carragher were discussing the use of a back 3, ( at least I think that’s what Carragher was saying!).
Van Gaal used it in the WC, as he didn’t trust the defenders he had, according to them.
The advantage we would have deploying this is the fact that we’d have a left- footed player playing on the left.
However, Neville made the point that centre backs hate being pulled wide at the best of times, so why deliberately put them out there?
Tactically, RD is going to have a difficult decision to make.
Like most, I’d be using a pragmatic approach tonight.
geordie munro
11:12 on 20 August, 2014
Tony67
The dons asked for the game to be postponed for a breather after their euro ‘run’
Buddies agreed to can it.
_______________________
The above is a wind up right?
Preferred line up;
Gordon
Lustig
VVD
Denayer
Izzy
Biton
Kayal
Johansen
McGregor
Commons
Berget
I think RD will play Mulgrew in MF however.
Is Efe definately 100% ok to play tonight?
How many games was he suspended for and which games did he sit out while being registered part of squad?
MWD says AYE
!!Bada Bing!!
11:05 on 20 August, 2014
davidopoulos
09:50 on 20 August, 2014
Robert Snodgrass out for six months with a knee injury.
£6m well saved Celtic…
To think Celtic would pay £6 mil for a player is laughable mate.
—————————————–
Aye, it was just a wee joke, relax – like this guy says…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnpKUOAgWAU
Tony67
Would I wind you up pal??
Moonbeams,
1 game ban and sat out our 3-0 win @ murrayfield
geordie munro
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…….
beatbhoy
It can work if your left and right sided centre backs are also comfortable at full back. Now that works on the right with Lustig and Efe (ish) but on the left we only really have Mulgrew who is comfortable at left full (and even his pace is questionable for full back in the modern game). Don’t really know about Denayer but it’s a lot of pressure on a young kid.
Cavansam
You betcha!
But if it doesn’t work I take no responsibility for lost bets, kicked cats etc
Goooooooooooooood morning bampots.
Davidopoulos
No problem I might as well get in on the act while I’m here.
“Kris Commons is too slow for European Football”
That must be at least an assist for him tonight as well…..
Can’t say I’m a great fan of a back three. I’d prefer to see a four with a solid midfield shield. I’d play more of a 4-5-1 than a 4-2-3-1 tonight.
Morning, Beefy? It’s nearly afternoon here! :-)
Howdy,Cap’n.
Nice of you to join us. Enjoy yer lie-in?
cavansam \o/
11:23 on 20 August, 2014
Davidopoulos
No problem I might as well get in on the act while I’m here.
“Kris Commons is too slow for European Football”
That must be at least an assist for him tonight as well…..
——————————————————————
Put your house on it
No, wait, don’t!
Cavansam
They used the example of Richard Dunne playing on the left of a 3 for QP the R at the weekend.
Right-footed, he really struggled at times out there, especially with distribution.
Obvious point, but not giving the ball away needlessly, especially in certain areas, will be crucial to getting a decent result tonight.
Make them earn anything they get. No gifts!
tonydonnelly67 11:15 on 20 August, 2014
geordie munro 11:12 on 20 August, 2014
The dons asked for the game to be postponed for a breather after their euro ‘run’
Buddies agreed to can it.
_______________________
“The above is a wind up right?”
Under the Scottish Premiership rules Aberdeen are within their rights to ask for a postponement. Similar to Celtic last season when we played a friendly instead of the league game, against St Mirren as well, I think.
The big difference is you had to ask about Aberdeen, because it has not been mentioned in the media who made so much out of Celtic being allowed to cancel the game last season. Like Celtic were being granted a favour not available to other clubs.
That is who it works of course.
natknow
10:19 on 20 August, 2014
Absolutely ….!!!!! ……. In fact the smsm not only contributed greatly to the demise of derhun, they are also contributing greatly to the demise of this new club, sevco ……… Don’t you just LUV OUR MSM …. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha…..HH
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
11:24 on 20 August, 2014
Can’t say I’m a great fan of a back three. I’d prefer to see a four with a solid midfield shield. I’d play more of a 4-5-1 than a 4-2-3-1 tonight
—————————————————————————–
Works fine when you have the players with the ability and fitness etc. to carry it off. Question is – do we? Seems like a big game to be taking a risk on. But then, I’m naturally risk-averse in these situations. As Hamiltontim said earlier – just come back with a result that give us some hope!
A win would be great this evening ,but if we get a draw fine, my concern is our left back izzy, bit of a scare at times, his mistake of not kicking the ball out of play,at Murrayfield against Legia and not for the first time I may add ,the opposition go and score, so ronny and jc, see if there is a decent left back out there ,sign him,and put a bit of pressure on izzy, because he takes his position for granted,and that to me is not right. so win lose or draw I will still want Ronny and John Collins in charge.
who = how
Steinreigned,
Bang on the money mate.
Jim Goodwin awfy quiet on the subject this year.