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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!!Bada Bing!!
16:43 on
19 August, 2014
davidopoulos
16:38 on 19 August, 2014
Tallybhoy
My favourite song in the CSN/CSN&Y catalogue is Southern Cross (i.e. without Young) but agree overall as an “ensemble” Young took them to another level.
Favourite Neil Young songs anyone?
I have an hour left at work to kill…
Mother of Mine…….
————————————–
The original or the Little Jimmy Osmond version?!
North Country Blues…but covered by Martin Simpson.
HH
I’ve got a new hat, to cut a fresh dandified image, first day trial passed with flying colours.
geordie munro
14:59 on 19 August, 2014
Jamesgang and bankiebhoy are above average too imo.
-/-
What – in the name of the wee Mhan – am I getting accused of now?
Height?
Appetite?
Likelihood of running after innocent egg fermers and giving them a big hug?
HH jamesgang
Favourite CSN is ‘Wooden Ships’ ….I know but there you are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv7FNyckr7w
Favourite Neil Young from a very high standard of entry would have to be “Old Man” or maybe “Don’t Let it Bring you Down”.
Both songs start with the words “OLD MAN” so maybe it is how I feel…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_pru77ZsGE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jzhLtt_pGQ
HH
This music stuff’s a wee touch oldie poldie for me.
How about some 80s and 90s stuff?
Tinseltown
Lump in my throat every time I hear it!
;-)
HH jamesgang
Just Another Tim
Good ones also. Embarrassingly, I hadn’t heard Cowgirl in the Sand until a couple of years ago. Don’t know how I managed that!
Cortez the killer….fab track
CSN “Helplessly Hoping”
So fine…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doIEwzc6k_k
HH
lct
Im shocked if Tom Clark stood alongside this person.
Bournesouprecipe. I thought Cameron Jerome was off to Norwich City ? are we still in the hunt for him ? H.H.
RWE
17:02 on 19 August, 2014
CSN “Helplessly Hoping”
So fine…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doIEwzc6k_k
HH
——————————————
MAGNIFICENT!
cant beat the ol Cripple Creek Ferry…
All alone the captain stands
Hasn’t heard
from his deck hands.
The gambler tips his hat
and walks towards the door.
It’s the second half
of the cruise.
And you know he hates to lose.
Roger Waters and Jeff Beck
What god wants.
Awesome guitar from Jeff.
The Green Man
Love the song….great call
Heard Neil play that live at the Reading Festival in 1995. Pearl Jam backing band for him then.
This clip is from that performance but it is long. Go to 1hr 3mins 45secs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGCvfUDqvvc
HH
Though Forever in Blue Jeans will now also always bring a year to my eye cos of the Phil O’D tribute match.
TB had only just been taken away from us. Henke was there. I cried and cried and cried some more.
My kids first ever time at Celtic Park.
Roasting hot day. My 4 year old daughter entered into the spirit of Scottish football fanhood by vomming all over her own feet back at the car.
I think the lurid red liquid was ice poll rather than Buckie-related.
HH and God Bless each and every one of you, as a great Mhan once said after winning the Cup!
Jamesgang
Though Forever in Blue Jeans will now also always bring a tear to my eye cos of the Phil O’D tribute match.
TB had only just been taken away from us. Henke was there. I cried and cried and cried some more.
My kids first ever time at Celtic Park.
Roasting hot day. My 4 year old daughter entered into the spirit of Scottish football fanhood by vomming all over her own feet back at the car.
I think the lurid red liquid was ice poll rather than Buckie-related.
HH and God Bless each and every one of you, as a great Mhan once said after winning the Cup!
Jamesgang
Rwe
Straight three chord song…but when yer man lets rip on the solo.
Brilliant
HH
TBB
“There are myriad groups actively campaigning with/for Better Together who represent Ms Hama’s social attitudes,”
Name one. (BTW- I like the sleight of hand involved with minimising the difference between with and for. Except it is a pretty see-through sleight of hand.
“These groups are held at arm’s length by Better Together”
What? The ones that are actively campaigning, how did you put it?….with or for BT. This point has been answered. Bill Walker is actively campaigning for independence. Is he doing so for or with the Yes campaign?
“Better Together it seems, are content to take their support, but appear rather concerned that the prospect of an independent Scotland antipathetic to such views would be a vote winner.”
” You mean we should refuse to accept their vote because they do not share the same values? Are you going to disown or discount every xenophobe that votes Yes? Every McGlashan?
An independent Scotland will be antipathetic to those views will it? The same one that is keeping the Queen? Are they all going to move down south along with all our 6 counties refugees in Ayrshire?
I think Big Jock used to say, when confronted by reporters with such wild illogic, “Get Away! There are grown ups talking here”
Paul67 et al
Celtic seven….
“Wait a minute the other team seems to have disappeared…..”
Though Forever in Blue Jeans will now also always bring a tear to my eye cos of the Phil O’D tribute match.
————————————————————-
Erm….eh….don’t know how to say this…..
Joe Filippis Haircut
Drat, – was trying for another Conn and Doyle.
Besiktas v Arsenal and a lesson on how to play away from home in Europe beckons.
Jamesgang,
A big boy said it and ran away :)
We jamesie sais “sciatica hammy every time a run fast”
geordie munro
;-)
HH jamesgang
I liked ‘Wherever I Lay My Hat’
TBM
Some fav Neil Young songs – in no particular order:
– Only love can break your heart..
– Country home…
– Ohio…
– Winterlong…
– Deep forbidden Lake…
– Harvest…
– ….
I’ll stop there – for the time being.
HH!!
Davidopoulos
:o)
The Green Man
Are you raiding my CDs?
Fortunate Son/Comfortably Numb by Bruce Hornsby is one of my all time best.
HH
Jamesgang
mini bt first game also, still going…she is a fanatic
BT
I was worried cos my wee ghuy wasn’t as keen on going last year. To the point that his mum had a quiet word cos he didn’t want to disappoint me….yikes!
But I think now he’s gone Timtastic! Saturday helped. Both the game and meeting some of the players afterwards.
Thank Ghod for that!
HH jamesgang
Guitarist that I am….I saw Martin Simpson.recently again.
Brilliant musician.
Id also suggest…..amused to death by Roger Waters.
Great album
HH
Neil Young is Awesome, First got into him at Reading 1994 when i was 17, He played in the evening back to the crowd playing the Piano and the red sun set going down, It was amazing, He played Harvest moon. Never looked back since. Talented man.
KLV
‘Like a Hurricane ‘ was on’ Stars and Bars’.
My favourite NY song is ‘ Helpless’, and ‘Four Strong Winds’ was voted Canada’s greatest ever song; even better than ‘ You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet’.
Also liked ‘Every Time You Go Away’
TBM
Auldheid @ 12.28 hrs.
While I agree with much of your post, I cannot agree that building a team for the future is a thing of the past.
We now invest ( both in time and financially ) heavily and nurture of youth. We rightly proclaim our successes and take pride in players breaking through to the first team.
The very concept of having youth academies and facilities such as Lennoxtown is to build from within.
If we are not to build for the future then we would be as well scrapping the youth set up and signing 6 or 7 loan players, to play for today and forget tomorrow.
I hope and trust that this is not our evolving policy.
HH.
Funny.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=693536954035150&id=100001365565456
SFTB
Me: “There are myriad groups actively campaigning with/for Better Together who represent Ms Hama’s social attitudes,”
You: “Name one”
I named 3. I’m hurt that you didn’t read my reply to you.
Tight for time, but you are using the legerdemain, not me old fellow, as you discretely sidestep the difference between the individual and the collective.