It’s not just about genius

655

“People don’t realise how hard he trains or how much he works at it” – Kieran Tierney, talking about Leigh Griffiths. Therein lies a story. One young player, who has worked enormously on his development, recognising the efforts of our other clear success story from this season.

Anyone who believes there is a consistency in the application at training of professional footballers is misinformed. Some are there early and/or stay late to work on their own. Some breeze in at the last minute and never hang around to run, lift or practice with a ball after formal training ends.

The club provides players with breakfast and lunch, but can’t monitor their evening meals or snacks. Or more. Some don’t need to be monitored, others do.

In three months we’ll watch thousands of dedicated athletes, swimmers and sportspeople of many disciplines, pretty much all who work on their development 24×365. Some live lives in the margin of early rises and hermit-like lifestyles. Most footballers live a different reality.

Things are changing at Celtic – and have been going on since before the Ronny era. Players like Kieran Tierney have been brought up to understand the importance of lifestyle and hard work. For years, young players’ attitude has been a major factor in determining if Celtic will retain their services.

Success is not just about inherent genius.

CharlietrailerSTATIC

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

655 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. ...
  11. 18

  1. Hi Kevjungle,

     

     

    IMO the board would be really kidding us on if they gave the keys to big Mark McGee. Well everybody bar 1.

     

    Can’t see us shifting many ST’s or filling the seats with that appointment.

     

     

    Realistically, can you?

     

     

    HH.

  2. dr ramesh and the love potion on

    Dr. Damesh’s Top 5 Possible and Vaguely Realistic Manger Picks

     

     

    1. Brendan Rodgers

     

    Still at No1 but beginning to have doubts as to whether his passing game is what we need. Has football moved on?

     

    2. Paul Lambert

     

    Straight in at number 2. Worked wonders at various English clubs, is a winner and has loads of European football experience including the big cup! Would he be up for it in the long haul? Can’t speak properly but I suppose that’s not too important!

     

    3. Alex Neil

     

    Exciting young manager. Would he be able to make the step up?

     

    4. Roy Keane

     

    Dropping down from number 2. It’s bound to go pear shaped but we might go places before it does. If he were to fail he’s not going to get another chance to manage at a high level. Big stakes.

     

    5. Steve Clarke

     

    Another in the last chance saloon. Can he bring all that knowledge he has gained over the years and make it work at Celtic?

     

     

    Just outside the top 5 but gaining ground:

     

    Alan Stubbs

     

    Can he win promotion and a cup at Hibs, the greatest bottlers in Fitba? If so he deserves to be considered.

     

    The Heid

     

    Caldwell is an intelligent bloke. A leader. Too early probably.

  3. An Teach Solais on

    Kev’s is entirely to his dreams, surely. If Mark McGhee is appointed he could demolish the North Stand and replace it with a cowshed, standing only, and with holes in the roof for the rain to fall through. Ah, happy dreams, HH

  4. Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on

    See Steve Clarke’s name mentioned a few times, in the past he was clear he does not want to come to Scotland, why would that change ?

  5. Canman

     

    I seem to recall him saying he didn’t want to put his family through the crap they would have to endure if he went to the club.

     

    Amounts to the same.

     

    HH

  6. Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on

    amazin what a wee spell on the bru will do to principals eh

     

     

    off oot

  7. Dr Ramesh

     

     

    As long as he can build a midfield befitting the Celtic engine room then it will go a long way to making me happy……throw in an eye for a striker and its pretty much utopia.

  8. mike in toronto on

    ONe thought about next season …. and why, perhaps, I will miss it less than I might otherwise…

     

     

    they have always thought of themselves as untouchable … cheating, singing, marching …. they did pretty much as they pleased ….

     

     

    but now they KNOW that they have been caught red handed (if you will pardon the pun), and their cheating has been unmasked ….. but they also know there are very few consequences to their actions., so they just look people in the eye and deny they did anything wrong …. now, they can add lying to their list of things they can seemingly do with impunity ….

     

     

    .. just imagine how bad they will be next season…

  9. MiT

     

    In a sense they have won and we are tearing ourselfs apart.

     

    Had our support done something four years ago instead of gorging on jelly and ice cream things might have been so different, as it is………

     

    HH

  10. The general consensus among the Scottish media circus according to Roddy Forsyth on Irish radio in a recent interview was they would love to see Roy Keane take the manager’s job at Celtic. I can see why – plenty of copy. He has already worked as assistant to Paul Lambert at Villa and left because he was not happy with the attitude of the players there. Could it be Paul and Roy on the way?

  11. Saddens me to say it but it looks like our club are in the “they’ve been punished enough” camp.

     

     

    Hope I’m wrong although I don’t think I am. Big decision to make when these renewals come in.

  12. mike in toronto on

    TET … you are right. It is sad. I believe that this was a unique opportunity to bring about some real change… and, sadly, I think that chance has been squandered.

     

     

    And worse than that, I dont think it will be back to status quo …. it will be worse than ever, as they seem to be able to act with impunity. It was always suspected, but nothing done as we didn’t have proof … now they have been caught dead to rights, but there doesn’t seem to be any appetite to hold them accountable, or even ensure that the playing field is close to level.

     

     

    Sad.

  13. Dear John Paul

     

     

    I wrote to you recently to express my concern about reports that Celtic were not minded to play a proactive role in supporting the objectives of Resolution 12, namely to establish proper corporate structures within Scottish football to ensure a level playing field for all clubs.

     

     

    The tone of your response was disappointing and, in truth, quite condescending. Effectively telling me that the Club didn’t comment on Internet gossip. I take no personal offence as I know you were delivering a poorly, but carefully scripted message. And I’ve heard only good things about you in your most challenging of roles. I would also note that online discussion is a reality of our age, and testament once again to the dearth of effective Comms and Media from our Club.

     

     

    I stated my clear support for a Club that would stand up to protect its footballing and business interests. A Club that would respect its supporters and not presume it would receive our hard earned monies. A Club that would always defend the ethos that binds so many of us into the ‘Celtic Family’. A Club they I hoped to pass on to my Son through the purchase of our season tickets in recent years.

     

     

    Since then we’ve endured the Scottish Cup debacle on the field, the most Damning confirmation of a failed footballing strategy. And deafening silence from our Club on the issues of mis-governance and almost certain corruption that cost us titles and millions of pounds of income over a sustained period.

     

     

    The now apparent business plan to await the return of the ‘Old Firm’ is fundamentally flawed and devoid of integrity.

     

     

    At present my Club is failing miserably to match my levels of bravery and ambition. We are not More Than A Club, it’s an empty boast. A banner now used to cover empty seats. What a heartbreakingly fitting metaphor.

     

     

    So as things stand I cannot commit to renewing my season tickets for season 2016-17. Fundamental changes throughout the Club is my prerequisite for my return.

     

     

    Yours sincerely,

  14. Hearing only a small number of tickets for the Celtic v Barca at the Aviva in July available at €40. The rest will be priced €60 & €80.

  15. Hunderbirds are Gone on

    I am a few pages behind and just read Mike in Toronto’s post at 2.59.

     

     

    Maybe writing letters to Celtic won’t have any effect, but there you have it Celtic. The whole argument condensed for the choice facing you in one post.

     

     

    Whoever the board spies/collaborators are on here are, make sure the board read that post.

     

     

    He is not alone.

  16. DBBIA,

     

     

    Would you remember a Dr John Thompson, who became a Fr? He was a gerontologist, I believe. Lovely man.

     

     

    Apropos Paul Lambert, wasn’t he the player whose wages we paid while he went to Germany to get his coaching badges and then said he didn’t want to manage Celtic, while his star was rising in England? Didn’t he also say he didn’t want them to be stripped of their league titles. I imagine he sees himself as a future manager of Scotland and doesn’t want to blot his copybook. Not for me.

  17. mike in toronto on

    Jamesgang

     

     

    A good letter …. but it is a shame that you were forced to write it. I hope you will post any response you receive.

  18. An Teach Solais on

    JAMESGANG @ 5.58

     

     

    Good letter, sir. One for us all to write in similar terms but not copy word for word as that gets treated as just one letter.

     

    Those who have access to our “suits” please alert them to the depth of feeling amongst us – they should already have deduced that but helps to burst their euphoric bubble. HH

  19. MiT

     

     

    Baseball bunnet doffed right back atcha for your earlier post my Fhriend.

     

     

    I wasn’t born into a Celtic family. But I was born into a family that detested bigotry, lived justice and always fought for the underdog.

     

     

    There can be only one team for me with that sort of upbringing.

     

     

    If it comes to it Celtic will have left me, not the other way about.

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  20. An Teach Solais on

    PARKHEADCUMSALFORD

     

     

    Fr. John (Jack) Thompson, White Fathers, went out on missionary work in Africa but had to return due to ill-health.

     

    Knew him well. Fine doctor, fine priest.

  21. mike in toronto on

    James … I hope I never have to write to Celtic to cancel, but if I do, I may steal some of that post, if you dont mind.

     

     

    I may have asked you before …. where in Paisley are you from? We were on Linnwell Crescent by St. Peters (although I think you might be a few years younger than I am … )

  22. MiT

     

     

    I was brought up along beside Barshaw Park. Oldhall

     

     

    Born in the summer of 69!!!

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  23. Stevie Clarke, Stevie Frail or Stevie Wonder, I don ‘t care who it is as long as they can see what’s wrong with this group of players and get it fixed.

     

     

    Btw, I believe Lambert’s family have always remained in Glasgow. Not that it means anything.

  24. Stairheedrammy on

    The warning shot from the SFA brief suggests that they are keen to stop the light being shone into their dark corners.

  25. mike in toronto on

    Jamesgang

     

     

    We had family that area …. cousins would have been about your age, or maybe a bit younger …. Deans and Gallaghers.

     

     

    Summer of 69 …. you are still a pup!

     

     

    Winter of 65 myself…

  26. South Of Tunis on

    MIKE IN TORONTO @ 2.59.

     

     

    I could do a ” adopted as holograph ” with that post.

     

     

    The lack of public comment from Celtic re the ” accommodation and facilitation ” of the Zombies will see me ditching Celtic TV..What is the point of having “Rules and Regulations ” that are ignored when it suits.?What is the point of financing that vile Old Firm thing ?

     

     

    Scunnered – way down south

  27. MiT

     

     

    I’ll have a think. Don’t remember the names.

     

     

    I was a wee quiet thing!

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  28. An Teach Solais on

    On a matter of tactics,could I advise not to copy a letter word for word or use a template letter as these are often treated as ONE response. Judicious rewording but making the same point(s) tends to be more effective and forces the recipient to treat as multiple letters. HH

  29. mike in toronto on

    Jamesgang …. probably a good thing you didn’t know them … St. Mirren supporters! the shame!

     

     

    SoT …. I am not sure if I am pleased or saddened that that post seems to have struck a chord with a few today. It is all so unnecessary. Sadly, those in charge, and who are in a position to do something about it, dont seem to share our feelings.

     

     

    But life goes on…. it is treating you well, I hope.

  30. MIT

     

     

    Re Paisley…my wife is from Paisley and her aul da was aplarently one of te main stalwarts in getting St Peters hall built.

     

     

    Coyles

  31. Lambert?

     

     

    We payed for his coaching badges. He scored a goal against rangers i’ll never forget. He is a master midfielder. Has plenty of midfielders to work with. Is well connected around europe. Has won a european cup. Has plied his trade with positive results. How would he do with a dominant team?

     

     

    Its one of those ones where i’m not inspired but something deep inside say’s it could work. I’d definitely love his as a number 2 OR as a partner with Henrik!

  32. mike in toronto on

    BMCUWP ….. I was going to say that, but, after having lost 20 lbs on Fatbhoys, I am now a tiny 6’3″ slip of a thing at 210 … so was afraid I’d get a hammering! :)

  33. mike in toronto on

    Adi … my old gran was at the club every weekend with the girls having a drink and a dance … if you were ever there, you would know Mary and Wullie Deans…. lovely people. I miss them dearly.

  34. I agree with an early poster, Paul Lambert, not for me.

     

    We already have an out of touch board, adding an out of touch manager at this time would be madness.

     

    His, ” the titles were won fair and square on the park” comments when the players should have never been on the park as they were not registered properly or wouldn’t have been there if they had to pay the same tax as competitors, rules him out and makes him unsuitable.

     

     

    Aidenbhoy

     

    Hope you’re good pal.

     

    Our board expected Sevco to be admitted in the second tier, so it looks as if they think they have been punished too much.

     

    Really scary how anyone could think that a liquidated club would be admitted to the second tier.

     

    Or would that just be a club that plays out of ibrox?

     

    I’m of the opinion that these board members must be removed.

     

    I’m not even sure these guys would want to win 10 in a row, the trust has gone. HH

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. ...
  11. 18