You and I will miss our football this weekend but the winter break came at an excellent time for Celtic. They get to rest after an arduous nine game December on the back of handing Newco a lesson on their own pitch. Having to sit for three weeks, unable to get a defeat out your system, would have been torture.
Celtic have already played 36 competitive games this season (only one against lower league opposition). That’s close to a full league programme concertinaed into a little over five months. Add in the fact that almost the entire squad is involved in some form of international football and you realise the players have been on match duty twice a week since preseason.
This is exceptional and not conducive to delivering top performances. By comparison, Aberdeen have played 30 games (two against lower league teams) and Newco have played 28 (five against lower league sides). That’s eight and 10 times we’ve played two challenging games a week more than our direct opponents – neither of whom are particularly burdened by international football.
The second half of the season will be more balanced. We only have three midweek games scheduled, including our game in hand – so you can be reasonably confident our “slump” will end soon………..
We all remember the days when someone talking about putting in a £20m offer for a Celtic player would be held in a locked room until a deal was signed. We’ve been on a long road since, but the financial stability we’ve earned through many tough years affords us the ability to keep players who have several years to run on their contracts.
As for Moussa, I hear if we can arrange for him to play against the Target Practice Torags every week, he’d extend his contract until 2027.
Really enjoying the dissonance in some places over the anticipated approval of Kouassi Eboue’s work permit. Play by the rules, work inside areas you are allowed to and pay your dues. It’s not difficult.
By now you should be aware of The Road to Lisbon project. 28 cyclists will set off from Celtic Park on 11 May, arriving in Lisbon in time for the 50th anniversary of the Lions’ triumph. It is an immense project which is expected to raise tens of thousands for Celtic FC Foundation, Solving Kids Cancer and Children in Crossfire.
An opportunity exists for corporate sponsorship of the project. If you would like more information, look here, or email, theroadtolisbonmay2017@gmail.com
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Hunderbirds
I think SA has been magic and hope he keeps it going I think him & Broony are working well, Broony is a magnificent influence on the bho
AOW not a problem I don’t do PayPal or internet banking but LMS is one of my dedicated debtors will get that done on Monday just give me a shout
Owen
You might well be right when it comes to the senior players but unless or until someone breaks ranks we won’t know for sure. I was also alluding though to some of the very odd signings of the second season which did not seem to fit Ronny’s ‘philosophy’. Did he really want Cole and Kazeem Richards to give two examples
But some of the disappointments in cup football- and some dismally insipid league displays cannot be blamed on senior players or interference from above (alleged)
But I wish him well and hope that in the fullness of time a fuller picture and appreciation of his two years as first team coach will emerge.
Jimbo67
GFTB-10:20pm- you say dembelle and griff.a say stretch:-))
If my memory serves me correctly, Ronnie Simpson says in his book “Sure its A Grand Old Team to Play For” that the Estadio National was hand weeded by convicts to keep the surface in perfect condition.
Any time that I watch the final it is noticeable that the ball runs very true.
HRVATSKI JIM
What are prices like for eating out and beers/wine?
Melbourne Mick
NOT your 3 best players, the THREE most influential players since Brendan’s Reign ….
Sometime when “Oue God Reigns” is bit g out in the chapel I think of our Brendan’
Fairhill Bhoy
LeighGriffithsCSC
A LIGHT INSANITY-10:09pm where is it :/))
Gerry, you’re a star! Will come find you Monday.
Used to do a ‘last man standing’ thing when i drank in the Lincoln – 80’s run by a guy called Fat Frank. You were given a number which was taken from the pools coupon, it ran each month. All huns vs me. Won it a couple of times.
Am sure they stuck the cash in the urinal before presenting me with the winnings. Still smelt good!!! :-)
AoW
Four of my grandweans are Saint Ninian’s Knightswood pupils. Great wee school.
Trevor Sinclair on Match of the Day, he loves the Celts.
GFTB- the grif was awready there and to be fair hasn’t realy been a 1st pick for Brendan:/)
GFTB- our god rains is my fav song in chapel,it was sung at my first wedding:-))
Fairhill Bhoy
Whit ????
I think SA and 95% of the team were already there, if you want to be pernickety Leigh has suffered with this Brendan guy !
AoW the only hassle will be trying to get my cash line card out of the bosses purse :-)
TTR
Everybody wi a fitba brain loves the Celtic.
My PTFC supporting mate is raving about us just now and mocking the huns. :)
DD- all i remember about St Ninians is that i was the ‘fastest’ and always got stuck in defence at fitba by the teacher cos of my height and covering speed.
Always won British Bulldog anaw. :-)
Funnily enough, i walked past it recently with my boy and pointed out BB wall you had to reach.
How’s maw? Any improvement?
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
Sorry about the confusion, it’s difficult to answer when
your trying to open a glass decanter with Amoretto thats
been lying at the back of a cupboard since my wedding , i
think, but needs must.
Brown
Sinclair
K.T.
H.H Mick
Fairhill Bhoy 10.52pm
Our God Reigns was always my favourite but around March 2008 I wasn’t sure if I liked it any more, the hymn we took my mother out of the chapel, my daughter was born September 2008…. her favourite hymn “Our God Reigns” I now love it again. :-)
owen on 7th January 2017 9:43 pm
In other news.
Whilst watch BT sport score earlier this afternoon the host asked Chris Sutton “what is it about you ex Celtic players, you started the Huddle and ow everybody does it?” Sutton replies ” a lot of teams have been trying to emulate Celtic’s success ”
Didn’t agree with his treatment of Ronny Deila but he does get us.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
That programme is mainly centred on English fitba but Chris promotes Celtic in a cool fashion. Celtic is the place to be.
I watched the show as it is pretty good tbh, more so if you have a wee coupon on – some decent patter, especially when Chris was gently ribbing Big Bad John when commentating about an even bigger unit called Adebayo Akinfenwa at the game he was watching in the BT Sport studio.
Prices are very good. Not dirt cheap but the Croatian market is geared for the Swiss, Germans , Italians etc. Who don’t want eggs,beans and chips so the quality is high
Best lager beer is Karlovacko which will cost about £2 per pint in a bar. Pretty good wines will be about £1.30 per glass.
As always it is best to look at where the locals eat but a good meal should be at least 30% cheaper than in UK. Decline of sterling again the Euro has added about 15% to prices.
Melbourne Mick
Magic, just keep the posts of our future Celts coming, by the way not sure if it’s reached Australia yet but KT has been out for months :-)
(no wonder Peter doesn’t give them a shop although there is one in Coatbridge :-)
Gerryfaethebrig.
Maybe M.M. meant Kolo Toure.
He’s been a big influence.
AoW 10.55
British Bulldog ?????
We just called it knock the person in front of you out of the way
and get to the other side you can shove your bulldog where the sun doesn’t shine :-)
AoW
She got home today but I fear she is not ready.
Bed blocker, my mam was looked as. They couldnae get rid of her quick enough to free a bed for a more worthy patient.
GFTB- no sure what your problem is mhate, you asked me who I thought were my tap 3 players were , and they don’t agree with yours,no big deal, unless you’re making it one
JNP
I actually think that Kolo Toure has been a great signing, before his 2 mistakes on the BMGB game he was excellent, but I think he is more of an influence in the background, I think he has helped many of our players and for a couple of months he was the only player putting an arm around our captain, I think Kolo has helped Broony …. just my daft opinion bit its good enough for me :-)
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
Finally got the glass top off this decanter it was welded solid.
I should be able to give you a coherent answer soon. :-//
H.H Mick
Bed time
HRVATSKI JIM on 7TH JANUARY 2017 10:58 PM
Mate.
You should be in advertising.
Maybe you are . :-)
Tempted to go there myself now.
Fairhill Bhoy
No bother at all, but I thought you picked Stuart Armstrong for all three, maybe one , by the way it matters not and there is never a problem here, I just questioned your pick, still waiting on your best 3 players since June’16… no bother if you think Stuart has been the best since June
HRVATSKI JIM
Oooooooops. :)
Looks like we are at cross purposes here.
My Pula is on the Island of Sardinia.
Croatia is on our list though, so I may get back to you sometime in the future.
HH
DD – yep i believe they kick them out too quick. But she’s out. Which is good. You will always worry that it’s too soon but you have to step up to the plate and make sure that she has a decent level of support at home thru Social and family.
I wish you the very best with that mate.
Tough times but worth it. She’s worth it.
DELANEYS DUNKY on 7TH JANUARY 2017 11:05 PM
Really sorry to hear that.
I hope her G.P. is up to scratch.
MACJAY
never an untrue word passes my lips or originates from my fingertips.
P.s. – want to rent a villa with private pool and stunning views?
Of course another Celtic European/CL win trumps anything like 10iar but I didnt see too many takers. I guess we are in a new welcoming era of Scottish bigotry. Sheep everywhere not just in Aberdeen. On the topic of sheep any Tim criticizing Chris Sutton in any way shape or form is not a real Tim. In my opinion.
Gerryfaethebrig,
Perhaps Kolo will become a part of the Celtic coaching.
I have no idea about anything but he seems like a player you want in and around your Team. I think he has probably learn’t a bit about Celtic whilst being here and Loves it, even if he isnae playing as much.
I know his Brother Yaya complained about not getting a Birthday card or whatever, despite picking up $1Mill a month. So many ridiculed this but what if he was actually being serious?
HUNDER BIRDS ARE GONE
Sorry about the confusion. I had though that you were doing a tour via Pula in Croatia.
Hope that you have a great time when you go.
HRVATSKI JIM on 7TH JANUARY 2017 11:17 PM
MACJAY
never an untrue word passes my lips or originates from my fingertips.
=============================================================
In that case , you shouldn`t be in advertising.
Villa rent ?
Maybe someday.
Tontime Tim 1224 : interesting to read your recollections re St. Pats and the catchment area producing a good team. I was at St. Joseph’s High School in Kilmarnock circa mid 50s and there was only one RC school for 4th year upwards in the whole of Ayrshire! We had players in the same team from Largs to Muirkirk and we played in the Glasgow Schools League against such as St Mungo’s , Bellahouston , Govan ( I might have booted AF and didn’t know it!) Shawlands etc…
We all met up for the away games at the Shell in St Enoch’s station !! ‘Those were the days my friend…….