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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Livibhoy,
There will be other games.
I just think that his lack of experience and top team football, make it’s big more of a risk.
El maestro,
I agree re Charlie.
The only thing Mulgrew has over the boy is experience.
I would consider Mulgrew for left back, with Izzi in front to him.
I think Izzi would do well there, as he is nifty in nicking the ball and carries a bit of penetration going forward.
We must play our tightest back four, which,I think, would be Amb, Lust, V vD and CM.
High balls ans all that.
C’mon Bhoys just give us something to fight for in the second leg.
Then bring on the Green Brigade and get the place rockin.
No excuse, but Murrayfield ain’t Paradise.
Hail Hail.
timbhoy2
11:27 on 20 August, 2014
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.
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I think the ole playing-the-ball-out-of-defence as opposed to the ole get-it-tae-feck is a tactic that RD and JC are trying to encourage. As other, more gifted and knowledgeable CQN-ers have pointed out, we can expect to lose out a few times while the players become comfortable with this.
davidopoulos-you got me :))
STEINREIGNEDSUPREME
Of course the MSM are gonna crucify us for requesting we cancel a home game at the start of the season.
The proper way to go about things is to demand cancellations at various points in the season,then a couple if extensions too.
Get those out of the way and hey,presto,you can demand the postponement of the Scottish Cup Final too.
Fed up with our amateurish board,they never learn…
TTT,
Just reading back to up your post there.
I didn’t appreciate how much you know about the game.
I could have written your post myself! : > )
Fred C. Dobbs 11:29 on 20 August, 2014
“No excuse, but Murrayfield ain’t Paradise.”
As a side issue, I would point out the catering at Murrayfield is much better though.
Some of the posting of the players who should be playing tonight is fine as long as you are guessing at the line up and not demanding that should be the line up, so far this morning about Maybe nine or ten have posted what the think should be the team, that’s fine, but what if all of them are wrong? And Ronny picks his team (only because that’s what he gets paid for and sees them on a daily basis) now if your doing it just for fun and seeing if you where on the same wave length as Ronny fine, BUT, I’m wondering if some in here are doing it as an I telt yi wut would happen if he played him? You know the ones I mean, the doom an gloom brigade, and lurking Huns, well if it’s the former then fine have fun with it, if it’s the latter then GIRFUYs, oh and enjoy the game latter ones, because we WILL get a result tonight and you won’t be in here, where as I will. HH
Key is tightness. All over the pitch.
Think all of here can at least agree on that!
Gordon.
Backline
Effe RB
VVD
Denayer
CM
Defensive mids
Lustig right
Izzie left
Mid
Johannsen
Kayal
McGregor
Lone 9
Berget
Want to see Effe and lustig and CM and izzie playing as teams within a team.
CM covers izzie’s lack height. Izzie covers Charlie’s lack of pace.
Lustig covers effe’s lack of concentration.
Concern is middle of the defence. VVD needs to act up into the role of senior partner. Denayer needs to make sure the several wee slips from Saturday are minimised or eliminated if poss.
I could actually see denayer ending up as makalele with the energy and speed of the Duracell bunny. Or NFL at triple speed of you will!
Berget. Run, run, run till you drop.
Then Griffiths on to do the same.
Fingers crossed!
HH jamesgang
!!Bada Bing!!
11:32 on 20 August, 2014
davidopoulos-you got me :))
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When I say something serious and actually worth your time reading a klaxon will sound. The klaxon will sound a lot like all of the Neil Young songs mentioned yesterday played back to back over a 3 hour period.
Apologies in advance.
STEINREIGNEDSUPREME
Most of the fans didn’t arrive in time to sample the catering!
beatbhoy
It’s all about the players. If they practice a back 3 then that is what we go for.
I would not be adverse to Mulgrew as a sweeper. He can sit behind the back 4 and mop up and allow VVD to stroll forward whilst providing cover.
I think Biton would sit in front as well to provide more cover and keep the ball moving. I would prefer to see Johansson further up the pitch as he is not suited to the holding role. The Bhoy is a goal threat he is also very fit and can go box to box.
In my line up I wouldn’t play McGregor but it’s hard to leave the Bhoy out as he has scored as many goals as Stokes in Europe in 4 games.
It’s a tough selection headache for the gaffer tonight and it would appear that he doesn;t have to play a settled line up. He will change the players he feels best suit his game plan. I also suspect that his subs will be used early. I have praised Ronny already for his use of subs this week. The more games I have seen Ronny’s Celtic the more his subs make an impact. I would expect no difference tonight. He likes an early change if things get stale.
We must keep 11 men on the pitch tonight European away match priority is not to lose a man for a red card.
We must keep it tight for the first 15 mins. We have a tendency in recent years to lose early goals.
We would like to score a goal. I think Ronny will see that as a priority. He will want an away goal and will probably push for it which may be his downfall. Hope not! It certainly was in Warsaw. We scored and went to sleep.
The players must listen to the managers instructions. In Warsaw Ronny said the players were not doing as instructed. I think Ronny has now proved if they do what he says they will get results. He has set the players up in their positions with his game plan in mind and if the playrs don’t follow that it falls apart as shown in Warsaw.
Warsaw was a freak result for me. The referee was certainly more dodgy than your average home decision maker in Europe and gave two very soft penalties to Legia. He also sent Efe off for a challenge that could easilly have been a yellow card offence.
The team is in a more positive frame of mind after Saturday and our keeper is now settled after a few games which will help.
We are still badly lacking leadership and someone must step up to the plate tonight and fill the void left by our captain. Brown is a huge loss in our team. He may not display the same leadership qualities of some of our previous captains but it is evident that he is a leader on the field and galvanises the team. Someone must take up that mantle because I have not seen any leadership so far on the pitch in any game this season and would even think about Craig Gordon as captain tonight as our most experienced player in big matches. Maybe not a domestic European campaigner but certainly played enough big games for Scotland.
Lastly Celtic have the element of surprise. We have all tried to 2nd guess what the line up will be but if we are being honest from the 14 players who will probably be involved at some part tonight any of them could start and a number of them could start in various positions. I reckon Ronny will play a wild card. A shock inclusion whether that be in a specific position or a player that hasn;t featured much this season so far.
It will be very interesting just getting the initial line up. I am positive for this evening and reckon we will nick a score draw. 1-1 and beat this mob at Paradise. I just hope Ronny gets the backing in the remainder of the window to stregthen in key areas. I would like an experienced CB and a star striker brought in. I have also changed my mind on Hooper. Norwich won;t have paid for him out right and if he wants to come back I reckon we should try and work out a deal. Looking at the players we can sign Gary is proven at the highest level and does score goals.
My ine up for this evening not that it matters but it’s fun having a go at it.
Gordon (Captain)
Mulgrew (sweeper)
Ambrose
Deyaner
VVD
Izzy
Johanson
Biton
Commons
Berget
Stokes
Mon the Hoops
LB
TTT,
haha I just read your post and thought the same.
It would appear that we share more than just the same initials then :-)
Or are we just trying to confuse Livibhoy with his TTT’s??
;-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Biggest game of the season tonight and not just for all the obvious reasons – our CL aspirations, Rd’s progress etc.
In addition , and whether we like it or not , the eyes of many will be on us to see whether we “deserve” to be here.
If we get done over again we will be mocked. A decent performance and result will assist in having the whole CL farce fade into the distance.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS 11:32 on 20 August, 2014
The real trick is to get an unprecedented extension and then claim you were refused an extension when you failed to get an unprecedented second extension…
Really looking forward to tonight
Usually im nervous and dreading away matches in Europe
Hopefully a good sign
B-)
tonydonnelly67
11:34 on 20 August, 2014
Some of the posting of the players who should be playing tonight is fine as long as you are guessing at the line up and not demanding that should be the line up, so far this morning about Maybe nine or ten have posted what the think should be the team, that’s fine, but what if all of them are wrong? And Ronny picks his team (only because that’s what he gets paid for and sees them on a daily basis) now if your doing it just for fun and seeing if you where on the same wave length as Ronny fine, BUT, I’m wondering if some in here are doing it as an I telt yi wut would happen if he played him? You know the ones I mean, the doom an gloom brigade, and lurking Huns, well if it’s the former then fine have fun with it, if it’s the latter then GIRFUYs, oh and enjoy the game latter ones, because we WILL get a result tonight and you won’t be in here, where as I will. HH
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LOL! Simmer down TD – still hours to go before the game starts! Don’t want you “peaking” too early mate…! :-))
Bobby,
Most fans were out on the street sampling other refreshments;)
Like bairns at Christmas so they wur.
Oops.
Weans. Not bairns :)
Like everyone else I’m hoping we get a result that gives us a decent chance to go through at Celtic Park. 2-1 defeat would be OK. Not sure what to expect the night, have a feeling we’re going to be very good or very bad !
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS 11:35 on 20 August, 2014
“Most of the fans didn’t arrive in time to sample the catering!”
They came round during the match selling chips (salt and sauce optional) at the bit we were at.
Very nice they were too.
Livibhoy gets it ;)
Steinreignedsupreme,
Other than catering what has Murrayfield ever done for us? :O).
STEINREIGNEDSUPREME
Aye,but try getting them to even realise it,much less admit to it.
No wonder Murray pulled the wool over their eyes for so long.
Snake-oil salesmen thrive on the gullible.
Hence the arrival of Whyte and Green,of course. Rich pickings to such experts in their field.
Shame,innit?
Steinreignedsupreme
11:40 on 20 August, 2014
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS 11:35 on 20 August, 2014
“Most of the fans didn’t arrive in time to sample the catering!”
They came round during the match selling chips (salt and sauce optional) at the bit we were at.
Very nice they were too.
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The food was good quality, however the queues put me off. Maybe they didn’t realise how many people would be getting their dinner at the game! One thing that did completely hack me off was that I was unable to buy a bottle of water.
The Token Tim
Takes less than that to confuse me!
LB
STEINREIGNEDSUPREME
If it isnae a spam roll fae a cardboard box,forget it.
I’m a traditionalist.
For what it,s worth Craig Gordon has played in this stadium twice, 3-0 win 1-1draw. I,m an omen ghuy!!!! Hail Hail Hebcelt
I am totally relaxed about the game tonight given the circumstances around our participation.
tonydonnelly67
Read your post after I posted and was glad I inserted my disclaimer at the team line up!
LB
NATKNOW. 1143
Aye,the staff all said ‘You’ll have had yer tea?’
Livibhoy
Nice footwork ;)
tonydonnelly67
11:08 on 20 August, 2014
-——
Seriously McInnes said they were tired after their Europa exertions. SPFL rules allow a match to be postponed within first fortnight of league starting.
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I think it’s vital we score an away goal tonight. It takes a huge amount of pressure off for return game.
As we saw young Calum’s strike turned out to be vital in our eventual fortunate progress to this stage. I’m going for 3 away goals tonight. 0-3.
Up the Celts!
Afternoon gents.
Yeah, we need to eliminate the Slovenians. More loser talk about the EL. That would be a disaster and humiliation which would attract me to the idea of chopping off the UFH and replacing it with a new hand.
Celtic to prevail though against Maribor/Barcelona.
“Other than catering what has Murrayfield ever done for us? ”
Fred c.
Underzealous(is that a word) policing and stewarding;)
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
11:45 on 20 August, 2014
NATKNOW. 1143
Aye,the staff all said ‘You’ll have had yer tea?’
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LOL! Actually they were complaining about not being able to sell water too. Restriction imposed by the police apparently to stop people sneaking alcohol into the game. I pointed out that buying a bottle of water from a chip van INSIDE the stadium was unlikely to resolve that concern. I hate Capri Sun too…
I would not start Declan tonight, Ronny should do what he did at murryfield, bring him on for the last ten minutes, with that pace speed and accuracy he has and put this mob to the sword ;)
Livibhoy
Thorough analysis! Does Ronny lurk?
Your sweeper idea is interesting, but when I see just 2 in central midfield, it looks a bit open, especially if they play 3 in there.
Whatever permutation RD comes up with, he should deploy the players in positions where they feel comfortable with what they’re being asked to do.
That didn’t seem to be the case in Warsaw.