The return of the winter break to the Scottish football programme is welcome. There are a couple of physiological reasons for this. Players are never truly 100% fit during the season, they always carry knocks and scrapes. Allowing them time away from competitive action will allow minor abrasions to recover with less risk of a more significant injury.
The way a player can train during the season is also limited by impending football games. Endurance training requires lots of stamina-sapping exercise. This is possible in the early weeks of preseason but its’ simply not practical to push players’ endurance limits at the start of the week and expect them to play at the weekend. Even less taxing training is possible when a player has two games a week.
A three week break from games in January will allow training programmes to be implemented which simply would not be possible otherwise. A mid-season foundation layer of fitness can be laid down which will allow legs to appear fresher in subsequent months. This foundation layer should also prevent injuries.
Can’t believe it’s been 18 years since the League Cup final was played pre-Christmas. I’ve fond memories of the last one – against Dundee United, at Ibrox. The 90s brought us a Scottish Cup win in 1995 but that League Cup win came early in a season we believed we had a genuine title chance for the first time in years.
It felt like, and proved to be, a profound moment.
It was also our first League Cup since 1982 – the Hampden in the rain final, another great memory from a period we were so far out of the picture in Europe domestic competitions were always the ambition. For those to young to know, the Celtic end at Hampden was like a 90° ash park, with three inch wooden planks standing upright, which some decades earlier held back the ash to create long-gone steps. Good job we won.
I see Aberdeen’s inspiration, Jonny Hayes, is out for a month. As we know to our cost this season, losing your top players costs points. We’ll see how it affects Aberdeen on Friday.
Mangers Premium Seat Competition
Magners have offered us two Premium Ticket seats for the Jock Stein Stand on Saturday. To win you need to answer this question:
Which town do Celtic’s opponents on Saturday come from?
Put your answer in the SUBJECT LINE of an email to celticquicknews@gmail.com
The competition closes at 16:00 TODAY, so only a few hours to enter………..
…………. After you do so, you might want to donate a £1 to our Mary’s Meals School Kitchen Appeal, you know, to buy a child a meal for a year or so…….. You can do so here.
576 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 16
- »
A Loyalist pressure group is planning to march on Motherwell Civic Centre in protest at a vote to fly the Irish flag over council buildings.
The demonstration is set to go ahead this Saturday despite North Lanarkshire councillors making it clear they will overturn the controversial decision.
The Glasgow-based Regimental Blues also defended making public addresses and phone numbers of councillors who supported the request to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising in Dublin.
News of the 8-6 vote in favour at the corporate services committee was broken on the Motherwell Times website last Thursday.
Six SNP councillors joined two from the Labour ranks to push through the request from Irish republican group Cairde Na hEireann to fly the flag on council buildings on April 24.
However, the decision has to be ratified by the full council next month and on Monday the ruling Labour group agreed to vote against it.
Council leader Jim McCabe said: “Labour councillors recognise the tremendous contribution that Irish people and Irish culture have made to North Lanarkshire and Scotland.
“However, we do not support a change in existing policy which would go against guidance issued by the Scottish and UK Governments.”
The SNP group, which also met this week, refused to say if it has had a change of heart, but it’s clear it cannot now win the vote.
SNP group leader David Stocks admitted he had been “overwhelmed” by complaints about the committee vote, but slammed some objectors for their “shocking” level of abuse.
He admitted some members had been shaken by a statement from Regimental Blues which included the councillors’ contact details and promised they would be “remembered” for what they had done.
Councillor Stocks added: “We’re unhappy about that.”
A spokesman for Regimental Blues said the contact details were public knowledge and insisted demonstrations across North Lanarkshire will go ahead despite Labour’s pledge to vote against the flag being raised.
He stated: “Labour councillors defied the party line at the committee and it could happen again at the full council.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fy5CVALJuw
Alex O’Henley @OHenleyAlex
Proud moment for Scots youngster Donald Love, if as expected he makes his first start for @ManUtd tonight in the EL tie vs FC Midtjylland.
LIONROARS67
Scoddland eh.
Despicable politicians with no principles or backbone.
Loyalist threats….as per usual.
Horrible wee racist country.
Makes me sick.
HH
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 18th February 2016 4:53 pm
When you say “Horrible wee racist country” what do you mean?
Are you tarring all citizens with this brush? That seems a little erm bigoted to be honest.
The Green Man does your Scotland extend outside the Central Belt, specifically Lanarkshire? Sure there are problems but keep things in proportion, I resent you tarring me with that particular brush. H H Hebcelt
Assistant manager John Collins expects players to leave Celtic at the end of the season as he admitted the difficulty of keeping a big squad happy.
The former Hoops and Scotland player was speaking a day after it was confirmed that Norwegian midfielder Kristoffer Ajer will join the Parkhead club in June on a four-year deal following a January trial.
The 17-year-old will provide added competition in an area which looks particularly over-stocked already, with new additions Scott Allan and Ryan Christie struggling for game time and Patrick Roberts, on loan from Manchester City, yet to make an appearance
Ahead of the visit of Inverness on Saturday, Collins was asked how close the Ladbrokes Premiership leaders, who have first-team regulars Charlie Mulgrew and James Forrest out of contract this year, were to having too many players.
“Come the end of the season there will be players who will move out,” he said.
“But at this moment in time it is a big squad, everyone is fighting to be in the squad and that’s a good problem to have for the manager, myself and the coaching team.
“It is always the challenge. Better having too many good players than not enough.
“You can’t keep them completely happy. I would be telling a lie, everybody would be telling a lie if they think everybody is happy at a football club.
“You have 11 starters who are very happy, the substitutes who are a little bit unhappy, and you have ones who are sitting in the stand who aren’t happy.
“That is the same the world over, every club in the world.
“It is difficult for players when you are not playing, we understand that.
“They are human beings as well as footballers but you have to make sure that they take that disappointment in the right way and stay focused.
“The most important thing is that the players realise that to get into the team they have to train well, stay focused and remain positive.”
Asked about Ajer, back with Start in his homeland, Collins said: “Young Kristofffer did very well last month, 17-years-old, he fitted in very well on the training pitch and showed lots of composure, calm on the ball – a good football player.
“He will have to come in and prove himself like any player.”
Collins insists that 19-year-old Roberts, who signed an 18-month loan deal in the transfer window, is getting closer to a debut appearance.
“Closer this week than last week,” he said.
“He has trained very well and scored a couple of goals for the development team and made one so he is closer. Good news.”
WEEMINGER
What i said earlier…was that the OB act was a justification for anti-Catholicism and anti-Irish racism.
The social fabric and culture of Scotland has been historically racist and sectarian….it still is.
Im not personalising it….im talking about the historical culture of Scotland….and what it entails.
HH
HEBCELT
See my reply to weeminger
HH
Institutional racism and sectarianism….is that clear enough?
HH
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 18th February 2016 5:05 pm
It’s yet another failed SNP policy then because I think Celtic fans make up something like 20% of arrests under the OBFA and even less convictions.
TGM
Your amended comment helps. That there is racism in Scotland is not in doubt but over egging the pudding does not promote the argument. You, as I said, rephrased your view and, for me , made your point more effectively by so doing. Many CQNers could learn from that. Well done.
JJ
WEEMINGER
It doesnt matter what party.
Tory or Labour unionists, nationalists.
The racism is inherent in the system.
Check out the post by LIONROARS67….Loyalist mobs threatening councillors who dare to defy their bigotry.
Its as clear as day to me.
Any cursory glance at Scottish historical source material will confirm what i have been saying.
Check it for yourself….dont take my word for it.
HH
Angela Haggerty’s column being reinstated in the Sunday Herald.
Weeminger
No, it hasn’t evened things up as Christine had hoped it would. What it has done though is to criminalise Celtic supporters for singing songs which would not have been deemed criminal prior to the introduction of the Act.
It has also resulted in the Celtic support being scrutinised, to an unprecedented level, for any signs of political expression whatsoever.
Hebcelt and Weeminger are you denying that Scotland is an institutionally racist society?
The story around the furore of putting up Irish flags on the anniversary of the uprising is no surprise to anyone. It’s insidious. Compare and contrast the treatment meted out to Celtic supporters who light a flare or sing an Irish song with the threats issued to elected officials by loyalist groups and you can see the truth.
Or how about thinking about th South African flag being raised at council offices on the anniversary of mandelas death? It would embarrass the nation. But for the Irish flag? That’s ok then.
Time and time again this sort of thing happens in Scotland. We are so ennured to this it hardly even registers anymore.
And why don’t the Celtic board publicly take the police to task of saying Celtic fans were singing sectarian songs when they weren’t. But Scotland loves the word sectarian because it can hide its racism beneath its obscure blanket.
But hey Scottish Patriots will live with any paradox or any ailment because, how dos the song go again, for the love of ones country is a terrible thing.
Jungle Jim. Err can you explain what pudding has been over egged please?
Do you agree that Scotland is an institutionally racist country?
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 18th February 2016 5:18 pm
I’m not denying it exists. I’m questioning the current level of it. Are there any countries at all that don’t have a dubious history? I reckon you’ll struggle to find one. I’m more interested in the here and now and how we get beyond the past.
It’s probably arguable that morons like the group above are becoming more headstrong not because they feel secure to be so but because precisely the opposite is true. Their position is being weakened and they fear it.
5,10, 15 years ago would a Scottish council commemorating the Easter Rising even have got as far as this? I very much doubt it. So what does that tell you?
I’m a white collar worker, I’m lucky enough to never have had the discrimination in the workplace some of you have and in fact I can only recall one place where Celtic fans were in the minority. That was on Edmiston Drive *cough*
Listen to the pouring rain
Listen to it pour,
And with every drop of rain
You know I love you more
Let it rain all night long,
Let my love for you go strong,
As long as we’re together
Who cares about the weather?
Listen to the falling rain,
Listen to it fall,
And with every drop of rain,
I can hear you call,
Call my name right out loud,
I can here above the clouds
And I’m here among the puddles,
You and I together huddle.
Listen to the falling rain,
Listen to it fall.
It’s raining,
It’s pouring,
The old man is snoring,
Went to bad
And bumped his head,
He couldn’t get up in the morning,
Listen to the falling rain,
listen to the rain
A lot of people maintain that the team plays better when Scott Brown is out injured.
That is doubtful, it would be interesting to see what the statistics were though.
Heavy pitches, gale force winds,sleet – these conditions are not conducive to playing good football – It’s as simple as that. All you have to do is watch the horse racing at this time of year – It’s shambolic.
The only people who win during the winter are the bookmakers.
Summer football is the only way forward – especially for a club like Celtic – we have footballers, not cart horses.
Here we go 10-IAR.
Magical.
HH.
When i use the term sectarianism.
I dont mean the two-bob hun construction….where Celtic supporters are equally responsible.
Celtic fans are not equally responsible….thats a hun myth.
HH
I was in Embra this afternoon. Pub on the corner of Leith Walk/Iona Street displaying large Irish Tricolour in it’s window.
Hamiltontim on 18th February 2016 5:20 pm
Which is why I’ve always argued that the law is totally flawed and needs scrapped.
I know you’re on top of this but what songs sung by our fans have resulted in a conviction. I know that only tells half the story in terms of the disruption for those wrongly arrested but it’d be good to see it clarified.
16 roads – Celtic über alles…Don’t you start talking about football when the constantly offended are on a roll bringing it back to their favourite subject.
The Earth is flat….
Weeminger.
Like i said….check LIONROARS 67 post.
Loyalist mobs.
Wouldnt that qualify then?
It is happening right now….like it always has.
Thats my point.
HH
TGM,
It would be interesting to find out the names of that 43 anti catholic organisations to see how many still exist and what they have evolved into.
A few years ago Tom Johnston House, the then HQ of East Dunbartonshire Council flew the Irish Tricolour. The only problem was that they didn’t know they were doing it at the time. Apparently it was attributed to hi-jinks from some scallies from Kirkintilloch.
Neganon
Were you at the Stranraer game? My boy was there and confirmed that the ole Roamin in the Gloaman song was sung – not by many but it definitely was.
The Police acted out with the spirit ( if you pardon the pun) of the legislation when they stopped all those buses. They were supposed to have reasonable cause.
That set the mood for the day.
This was the first Celtic game after the 50,000 sectarian choir at Ibrox. Yet this evening BBC are opening their sports report on Celtic sectarian singing story with flares and five arrests.
They promise even more excitement with news expected from UEFA re flares set off in Turkey.
Incidentally Man Utd are playing a wee Moneyball team tonight. Founded in 1999 their stadium holds 10k and they are in the knockout stages of the Europa league.
Strategy seems to work for them!
CANAMALAR
I will have a dig further.
I suspect your instincts might be correct.
HH
Weeminger. I think it’s a cosy world view to claim it’s all better. In fact it may have eased for a while but Scotland is regressing at a rate of knots. It’s not just the OB its the intent behind it. That elected officials can get this law through a parliament speaks volumes.
That it’s okay for loyalist groups to threaten elected officials says everything. That its ok for wanton racism to be flouted on places like follow follow while Irish songs are banned speaks volumes.
But let’s take your own sample you have only worked in one place where Celtic fans were in the. Minority? I assume here you are equating Celtic fans with Catholicism and irishness. (That is a big assumption). Given that Catholics make up 16% of the population isn’t it worrying that you haven’t worked in lots of places where you are the minority. Now some of it may be the fact that the population is skewed in the central belt, but this shows that to some extent workplaces tend to be predominantly places of clusters of Catholics. The workplaces are in fact to some extent stratified. This is simply more evidence of institutional racism at work.
If JC is right then the following would be my cut
Darnell, Blackett, Izzy, O’Connell
Derk, Kris Commons, Jamsie, Callum.
Cole, Ciftci, Stokes and Scepovic
Ideally would like to keep Izzy and Kris but doubt they would get enough game time to justify wages.
EC67
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 18th February 2016 5:35 pm
I’ve to go but that’s one tiny group. Until I start meeting a majority of people that think like that then I’ll keep treating it as a minority problem not indicative of the country as a whole.
For the record I don’t generally socialise with ‘football people’, so this isn’t a case of surrounding myself with ‘Celtic minded’ folk and being shielded from it. It’s just not something prevalent in my area.
Been reading about the anomaly of sevcos penalty awards……wasn’t last seasons anomaly the amount of fouls allowed to be committed before a yellow card was received?
I kinda recall most teams averaged about 8 but sevco somehow managed around 16?
Change in tactics from the MIB?
End result is all that matters though eh?
Ole Eurochamps67 tough and ruthless, laughing at his mate who’s rough and toothless.
WEEMINGER
Lets refer this debate to later.
HH
Weeminger
The main one, with regards to both arrests and convictions, is Roll of Honour.
Official sevco statement – Gerd waghorn put for 6-8 weeks due to the unforgiving pitch at Rugby park
Ffs have they not been forgiven yet .. even the pitches have it in for them .
I think dodgy dave might sue killie
CelticFC Solo 5mins ago
There will be a pilot scheme on Sat for smokers located in the Lower North, JS & LL Stands, where you can get a pass out at HT for a smoke
Might stop smoking in the gents in the JS upper :)
Eurochamps67- Agree with almost all of the above apart from Callum, I would keep him based on his performances this season. I would also offer Jamsie a new contract just to get on St Stivs wick…
I think Commons might be offered some other role, coaching youths etc ….