Our prodigious striker looks like he enjoyed his return to his homeland on under-21 duty. Odsonne Edouard used the Europa League stage well in previous seasons, a trip back across the Channel to face Rennes next week presents his biggest stage yet. He will be able to make his mark on a team currently joint-top of Ligue 1 – above his old pal’s team, Lyon.
Attracting attention to your talent is a double-edged sword. While clubs will be alert to Odsonne’s success, hopefully others across French youth football have noticed his progress, and that of Moussa Dembele and Olivier Ntcham. Scouting done in these months makes the work in July and August a whole lot easier, unless your chief scout bails out in May, of course.
Do not assume that we simply got ourselves into the right place at the right time to sign Odsonne and Moussa. We transformed the careers of both. Youth players know there are clubs who can develop your talent and others that will ruin it. Celtic need to be making their case to aspiring French talent.
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Oo La La !
SIEMPRE CELTIC (FORMERLY TRADITIONALIST88) on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 12:05 PM
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 11:54 AM
A couple of days off training doesn’t address that.
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Rest is rest. Our training is high intensity, so much so that there are injuries picked up regularly during it.
Roy Keane famously said of his time at Man Utd some of the training sessions were tougher than some of the matches. They’re not for the faint hearted.
Like Rodgers if Lenny thinks CalMac is up to playing I am sure he will play.
HH
Vive la France 🇫🇷
TIMALOY29 on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 11:42 AM
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Ferguson rotated mainly in the cups. Liverpool and Man City will pick their top players if fit.
You’re talking about putting Bayo and Griffiths in. Let the manager decide if they are ready and up to it.
We’re not even in the middle of September. As Paul67 often alludes to…give players an excuse and they’ll take it.
Lets transmit energy to the team and not continually tell them they should be tired 12-13 games in to the season.
No one is in desperate need of a rest right now. That may change as Europa games kick in or at the end of December but there will be rotation through necessity due to injury and suspension anyway.
These are young athletes chomping at the bit to play football matches. Its what they train for.
Try and tell them they’re not playing! If anyone has to, Lenny will. But only with good reason.
HH
TIMALOY29 on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 12:09 PM
I said Ferguson *mainly* rotated in the cups.
Our manager and fitness staff will monitor the players and if they think they are good to go then its laughable than anyone on a blog thinks they know better.
Our young players are top athletes and cover 9-11km per game depending on various factors which is very doable with recovery time in between.
Of course over time fatigue can become more of a factor, particularly for players in their 30’s, but can be managed on a case by case basis.
Its not one size fits all.
W’re not even mid-September.
Lets try transmitting energy to our team instead of talking about tiredness of players like Edouard who is on fire at the moment.
We’ll be a long time without Edouard when he leaves. Lets enjoy him now and not rest him for resting sake.
HH
Der Hun must feel like a wean having had a week off at school for in service days.
I remember playing on Junior Football grounds in the West of Scotland which were black ash (old times) and (latterly) red ash.
I have two questions for the Junior Fans and players on CQN:
1. Are there still red ash parks in Junior Football?
2. Are there any artificial surfaces in the Juniors?
Dont be getting too excited about Edouard
He isnt half the player Morelos is….or at least isnt half the player Morelos will be if he keeps eating dem aul hotdogs
From l’Equipe this morning:
“Edouard shines again”, you can guess the rest, the young boy was magnificent, and the article ends “There are already whispers in Scotland that Edouard is better than Moussa Dembele…”
So, la meche est vendue (zee cat ees out of zee bag…)
In the modern game, squad rotation is about more than just resting top players. With the additional games that we have to play in Europe these days, we will require to use the bulk of the squad at some stage. Even this year, when we have failed to qualify for the CL, we will play a minimum of fourteen European ties, for reference, we only played nine games to win ‘ole Big Ears in 1967. It is preferable that squad players, have first team experience, before we are forced to play them. Given that we are now a selling team as well, the churn is increased and more players will pull on the Hoops.
It would be remiss of the Manager if he did not rotate the squad. How would New players ever be first team ready otherwise?
Circleoflife CSC
🍀⚽️
Bigyinmilan,
I know Carluke Rovers Juniors play on a plastic pitch, that pitch is also hired out to the local community.
I think there are more.
I can certainly see the benefits of alway playing our strongest team but, overall, I feel we will reap more benefits by rotating. We really do have a very strong squad so using it sensibly — for instance, do not `rest` Brown, Calmac and Christie at the same time –hardly weakens our team.
JJ
Paul67
Too right, Moravcik Lambert Larsson Petrov Wanyama Van Dijk Edouard Dembele yada yada yada all symptoms of the FAILED Celtic transfer policy.
You know the one that you read about on here, but only when Celtic get beaten.
Tumbleweed CSC
Bigyinmilan,
Long time since we spoke. hope you are keeping well,
When I played football 50/60 years ago we always played on sandy pitches.
I played Boys Guild football and the referee in our first game in our first season was the now notorious Frank Cairney, We were playing St Columba’s Viewpark in Mossend and the referee did not turn up.so Frank being in charge of the away team refereed the game.
One of their players was a wee red headed winger called Jimmy Johnston.
Without any help from the ref he destroyed us on our ash park.
Martin42
BYM
By and large, ash parks are gone in Glasgow and surrounds, generally built upon for new housing or retail/industrial parks – Molls Myre for instance is now an ASDA, while 50 Pitches is the Hillington industrial estate. Same all over the country.
There are a handful of legacy blaes pitches still hanging on, generally attached to the older schools in the big housing schemes, but are rarely used.
Different councils have different approaches to facilities, some seeding old blaes pitches (Brancumhall in East Kilbride), others replacing large blaes pitch sites with one or two “3G” pitches which are used day and night.
Many junior clubs still play on grass, but the ubiquity of artificial surfaces changes the economics, and that is a major factor when running a club – it can be rented out when not used by the club, and allows extended youth/ community/ grass roots programmes to be hosted. Barring snow, it’s also playable year round.
These days pitch quality is one of the licensing criteria, and I can’t imagine any junior club being allowed to use an ash park for fixtures. The game’s hard enough without digging broken glass out of yer arse after each match.
The only black ash pitch I ever recall was a tiny wee one at OLM primary school in Cathcart, and that was a ‘little while’ ago.
There are assorted retro blogs on the topic, this one for example which claims; “As recently as 2002 there were only 50 grass pitches out of 577 in total in Glasgow, while last year, 41 primary schools in Glasgow still boasted a blaes pitch as opposed to one of the ‘multi use games areas’ or ‘MUGAS’.”
Ten out of ten for the title: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/football/blaes-pitch-project-memory-pitches-15947441
TBB
BigyininMilan, more Junior clubs have astroturf pitches now as it reduceste numberof games postponed due to waterlogged pitches and for added income when used by the community.
West Dunbartonshire Council recently invested in an astroturf pitch and general upgrade to Holm Park which is now home to both Yoker and Clydebank Junior teams.
Bellshill, Petershill, Largs , Benburb and St Anthony’s are others I know who have astroturf pitches.
Pollok’s pitch at Newlandsfield is the best grass one I have seen. Its generally in good condition as it its built south to north causing it to get plenty of daylight.
I’ve been screaming from the rooftops about this one for years..
France has an incredible conveyer belt of talent and we should be reigniting the relationships with PSG and others to give their ‘reserve’ players game time. We should be targeting the France U19 team currently to replace Eddie with the Moussa / Odsonne pitch.
Although like what we are doing for forward planning with wee Dembele, Okoflex, Frimpong and others so thumbs up there…
SIEMPRE CELTIC (FORMERLY TRADITIONALIST88) on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 12:29 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/may/13/alex-ferguson-rotation-manchester-united
“Not everyone agrees and there are some fans who want me to play my best team every game,” says Ferguson. “But if I could sit down with them and explain the number of miles the players are running in every match, the intensity, the speed, the number of times they have to sprint, they would maybe realise how difficult it is.”
Ferguson, instead, has made rotation his forte, using a combination of computer analysis and his judgment. He has used 34 players this season, with Ronaldo, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic the only outfield players to have started 40 or more games. Veterans such as Ryan Giggs, with 14 league starts, and Paul Scholes, with 13, have been deployed with strategic care, as has Edwin van der Sar, routinely left out of domestic cup ties.
“They want to play every game, of course, but it’s impossible,” explains Ferguson. “Rotation is a part of the modern game. It’s got to be. Look at how fast the Premier League is and the intensity of the matches. The speed of the game has changed and somewhere along the line I have to make changes.”
Clairefountaine is the French National academy and takes players from all over France. It has 302 Beds and 10 pitches. it has produced Hundreds of top players Henri, Mbappe, Griezman as well as countless others. They take boys from 13 -15 and also there are 12 more regional centres. Both Dembele and Edouard went there.
Top French clubs snap these lads up but there is big difficulties getting a game at PSG etc. Dembele went to Fulham then Celtic to enable him to get a game for Lyon, Eddy was on loan at Toulouse and then we signed him. He is on target to step up to the National squad as is Dembele.
We should be targeting more of these players by pointing out we give them the chance that Ligue 1 teams don’t give them. There are 3 young Under 19 strikers from the French team who are on Loan or in the reserves one at St Etienne, one at Lyon, one at Monaco. If we move quickly before they are playing for their first teams. Using the route for Dembele, N’tcham and Edouard as a carrot we can only do well
Clairefountaine is the French National academy and takes players from all over France. It has 302 Beds and 10 pitches. it has produced Hundreds of top players Henri, Mbappe, Griezman as well as countless others. They take boys from 13 -15 and also there are 12 more regional centres. Both Dembele and Edouard went there.
Top French clubs snap these lads up but there is big difficulties getting a game at PSG etc. Dembele went to Fulham then Celtic to enable him to get a game for Lyon, Eddy was on loan at Toulouse and then we signed him. He is on target to step up to the National squad as is Dembele.
We should be targeting more of these players by pointing out we give them the chance that Ligue 1 teams don’t give them. There are 3 young Under 19 strikers from the French team who are on Loan or in the reserves one at St Etienne, one at Lyon, one at Monaco. If we move quickly before they are playing for their first teams. Using the route for Dembele, N’tcham and Edouard as a carrot we can only do well
For Calmac see KT,long term injuries, due to being overplayed, Celtic should have told Clarke he was unavailable.
BIGBHOY on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 1:36 PM
Great point. Eddy was keen to point out the experience playing for Celtic. It must be more fun to play for a club of this profile than a loan to a smaller french side.
TBB
I as still picking out bits of black ash from the old Cowlairs from my knees from over 30years ago
Sir Stevo Timothy
@SirStevoTimothy
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Man up by being a real ::::::: man. Real men talk. Real men share. Real men accept a weakness. Your brain is the most complex system in your body. Sometimes it breaks. There is no cast or splint but there is help. Reach out, shout, cry.
Somebody’s been googling well today.
BOGNORBHOY on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 2:19 PM
Sir Stevo Timothy
@SirStevoTimothy
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Man up by being a real ::::::: man. Real men talk. Real men share. Real men accept a weakness. Your brain is the most complex system in your body. Sometimes it breaks. There is no cast or splint but there is help. Reach out, shout, cry.
==================
Great and VITAL message – speak out about what’s troubling you – although sometimes difficult to get quickly, there is help in our NHS and charities.
HH
BGFC
TIMALOY29 on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 1:31 PM
Yes, “somewhere along the line” he had to make changes.
These *mainly* came in cup matches.
Leave the team selection and fitness concerns to those tasked with the job.
We are talking about young athletes who are well capable of running 9-11km twice a week 6 weeks into a new season with 3-4 recovery days.
Rotation will happen a)when the manager/fitness team decide and b) through necessity due to injury/suspension.
No player at CP is running on empty. Quite the opposite.
HH
!!BADA BING!! on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 1:44 PM
For Calmac see KT,long term injuries, due to being overplayed, Celtic should have told Clarke he was unavailable.
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Being a target for hatchet men of Scottish football hardly helped.
Something that Calum has avoided, at least so far.
HH
SC- I would rather Callum had a break than play internationals….
THE BATTERED BUNNET @ BIGBHOY
I have black striations on both knees and one thigh from Plantation Park, which was off Gower Street in Ibrox, and from Greenock High School’s black ash park. And this was after scrubbing with a nail brush and Savlon almost 50 years ago. I have distinct memories of the two tackles that resulting in these scars every time I have a shower. Those were the days!
IniquitousIV
SIEMPRE CELTIC (FORMERLY TRADITIONALIST88) on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 2:34 PM
Yes, “somewhere along the line” he had to make changes.
These *mainly* came in cup matches.
____
You keep saying that with no basis. That article makes it clear he rotated across all competitions.
“Leave the team selection and fitness concerns to those tasked with the job.”
___
I guess we should all log off and never talk about team selection or tactics….
Paul should stop blogging as well.
“We are talking about young athletes who are well capable of running 9-11km twice a week 6 weeks into a new season with 3-4 recovery days.”
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It’s not about that. I am sure Callum McGregor is capable of playing 90 minutes against Hamilton & Rennes. Doesn’t mean that they will be 100%
The will be competing in a sport against players similar age and physical capabilities. Getting that 1% advantage matters.
Cluj rested their own whole team prior to the 2nd leg against Celtic. Scoring goals in the 80th and 97th minute.
Rotation should happen throughout a whole season. All the top coaches and clubs know this. Hamilton are a team that fights relegation every year on a tiny fraction of our budget. Part of the reason we want to rotate against them is to avoid having to do it against Hearts away.
Why risk French Eddy on that surface.
!!BADA BING!! on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 2:38 PM
SC- I would rather Callum had a break than play internationals….
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You could argue he did ;)
HH
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-team-news-rotation-16063539
Man City players told to accept Pep Guardiola rotation for Premier League title charge
Manchester City players have the defence of the Premier League in their hands with just six games remaining.
Manchester City’s substitutes have been told to make the difference in the Quadruple chase.
City’s coach has already said that he will rotate for Cardiff – and all players are expecting to be left out of the starting XI before the end of the season.
Bernardo Silva, often declared undroppable by his manager, explained the reality of life at the Etihad. “When you play at a club like Man City and there are so many good players in the squad, you have to fight for your place – I have Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane in my position, when I play in the middle there Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne – you know you are not going to play all of them.
“All the players deserve to play with the way they are training, everyone is working really hard so you have to accept it.”
However, Gundogan says the challenge for the whole squad is to expect a lift from the substitutes whenever they are brought on to influence the match.
“Everyone will have a rest. I don’t think a single player will play all the games. It is good when we as players are able to have some gap, because obviously we always want to play, but that is not possible.
“We have to learn as quickly as possible that when we are not playing, and only come in for five, 10, 15 minutes, we have to come in and make an impact on the game. We have to be there to help the team to win games. That is crucial in this period and especially when these big games are coming. That feeling has to be in ourselves and we have to show that.”
Correction. Nearly 60 years ago. DOH!
It’s not about that
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Its what it boils down to if you want to look at specifics – this is what you are saying they should be rested from.
Getting any advantage matters. If our coaching and fitness departments think there is negligible benefit to resting players at this stage of the season then Lenny will pick his team accordingly.
We have the momentum now we’ve been searching for for a while. Shaking things up unnecessarily isn’t going to help that.
Cluj didnt get late goals against us because we were tired, you know that. So a bit pointless trying to use that as an example.
You were talking about putting Griff and Bayo in specifically. I’m not sure if Griff is quite ready and if Bayo is good enough. Ultimately, its the managers call.
I’d go with Edouard until we’re 2-0 up and then we can think about letting guys have a rest. Once the job is actually done.
You don’t get more points for beating Hearts away than you do for beating Hamilton.
But disrespect Hamilton and you might get found out. Sometimes the goals end up flowing but its a tricky venue, especially for players coming in out the cold.
HH
TIMALOY29 on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019 2:50 PM
Foden is breaking through and trying to establish himself, De Bruynne is regularly injured. Plus they have a billion euro squad apparently.
Lets see what our manager decides to do with our team and concentrate on transmitting positive energy to our team instead of telling them they’re tired.
As Paul67 has pointed out several times, give players an excuse and eventually it’ll be used.
HH
Away to Hamilton… early on a Saturday morning… on that pitch…
I actually can’t think of a worse place to go after the international break
Play the strongest team possible
Tell you what ,Scotland maybe not the best place to live,but I’ll tell you this much it’s far better than staying in some of these community’s in Northern Ireland,some just don’t want peace,