After giving his players a week of rest and recuperation Brendan Rodgers will have his best opportunity of the season to work on tactics and systems this week. We watched our passing game disintegrate in recent months culminating in the reversal at Tynecastle.
The manager can talk to his players for hours, but time on the training field is limited with rest days, game days and recovery days. Any tactical work also needs to be balanced with the need to maintain endurance and speed training.
The squad are together in Dubai and will put hours into working on positioning, decision making and set plays. For me, the critical outcome of this winter break will be in central defence. This area of the field is pivotal to what the manager wants to achieve in possession. Our central defenders are also subject to more transfer speculation than anywhere else in the team, a fact which may have contributed to recent decline in performances.
I have not watched Marvin Compper (try to avoid highly selective YouTube videos) but suspect Brendan could end the month with his new German recruit partnering Kris Ajer.
NEW! The CQN Podcast: A Celtic State of Mind (EP28) with former Celtic director Tom Grant
Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Celtic’s ex-director, Tom Grant, who offers a fascinating insight into the running of the club in the 1980s and 1990s.
Tom Grant explains exactly why Celtic refused to complete the Mo Johnston transfer in 1989, and lifts the lid on audacious efforts by Billy McNeill to recruit Peter Beardsley and Steve Bruce.
Grant also dissects his relationship with Fergus McCann, and the impact of the ‘Celts For Change’ movement in overturning the ‘family dynasty’ board in 1994.
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Jimmynotpaul, I was at a funeral today with my St Mirren supporting brother in law and his son today.
They are not happy with Lewis Morgan going to us , as they think he will rot on our bench like , in their words , we constantly do to Scottish players.
They threw Gary Mackay-Steven at me. I explained Gary had played a good number of games for us but due to a mixture of not being in top form and bad injuries, this had curtailed his appearances.
Reading back after day at golf(slightly less mince than normal) and note posts re school trips and 1966 cup final……
My school trip consisted of a week at West Linton and a priest in charge who lifted you up by the neck/ears for misdemeanours,otherwise known as f-all….1949.
The 1966 cup final stands out because the 4 of us were attacked by the mad mob on the way back to the car and scattered as best we could.
Myself and mate Harry were ‘rescued’ by other ‘Gers supporters who surrounded us and calmed down the heidbangers,my brother Jim burst in the front door of the nearest house locking door behind him and bro-in-law Tommy,the oldest of us was nowhere to be seen.
We went to car Jim was there but no Tommy.Off to Victoria hospital to look for him etc etc then gave up and headed home sh.tting ourselves about him and the earache we would get back home as Tommy had only been going to the games since early ’65.
Anyway,get home and the old bugger was in the house!
He had melted into crowd and walked to station and got a train home!!!!
Didn’t know whether to hug him or punch him!
None of us went to the replay.
For the benefit of the younger readers no phones in house never mind mobiles.
Those were the days my friend…………
Someone said wee Barry might be on tonight ?
Hmmmm
TV that is…
Hmmm. Bookies commenting on a betting market? Would think twice before treating that as meaningful news or an indication that admin for Sevco is imminent. Basically, it’s totally in the bookie’s interest to drum up as much interest in gambling as possible…
Having said that, it does look like some money has been put on this outcome, which in itself is interesting. Ultimately it’s simply not a bet anyone would place unless they had knowledge that it might – might – be a possibility.
Interesting times.
Dallas.
Cumbernauld United, Hat Trix, the social club, is virtually alongside the pitch.
Sorry to hear you were at a funeral today, hopefully it went as well as a funeral can.
My nephew and his Dad are big St Mirren supporters, he was visiting on Sat, he was fairly relaxed about it, as long as Lewis helps them get promoted. He reckons Lewis well take J.Fs place. I told him, I couldn’t see it in the short term.
Hail Hail
PHILBHOY on 8TH JANUARY 2018 8:22 PM
TONTINE TIM
Ingemar Johanson (Sp)
*absolutely, Ingi John Hanson lol
TONTINE TIM
My earliest boxing hero was Floyd Patterson.
He fought Johannson 3 times winning the 2nd and 3rd fights.
In the first fight Johannson decked him 7 times (or so) in the first couple of rounds. Stopped by the ref in the third.
JIMMYNOTPAUL
Interesting chat about pubs and clubs near the junior clubs where
supporters could nip out for a pint at half time, when i played for the
Ants ( very briefly ) it was the players who nipped out with them, back
in the day of course.
H.H Mick
ITALIABHOY @ 8:48 PM,
Aye but it’s always good to look for input from the Ibrox fans… The Sun did just that…
“And fans took to Twitter to disclaim all doubts about a similar process happening again.
@hugelavvy said about the possibility of administration: “It’s only a 15 point penalty and 11 games till the split.
“If they get to that split the worst they could finish would be sixth so I don’t see the sense in the relegated bet.”
Is it, aye… begs the question… Why were they relegated after their “last” Administration???
@sneddon38 said: “Some group of Celtic fans are having a laugh lumping money on us going bust, there is no chance we will enter administration.”
Exactly what they said before their “last” administration. Well worth a fiver on 5000-1 though;)
@rfc_novo said: “If that’s the case I doubt we would be buying players do you?”
I’m going to leave that one just there….
Hail Hail
PHILBHOY TONTINE TIM, remember my uncle taking me to the kelvin hall mid 60s to see sugar ray robinson sparring, just unreal.hh.
COSY CORNER BHOY on 8TH JANUARY 2018 8:41 PM
The 1966 cup final stands out because the 4 of us were attacked by the mad mob on the way back to the car and scattered as best we could.
*we usually took the train tae Mount Florida and then walked tae the game, waiting for the train at the Central all was quite calm until a mob fae the black north appeared and started “serenading “ everybody with their songs of hate, even the bluenoses in the queue looked quite uncomfortable.
So on the way home we decided tae go tae Kings Park Station, standing there quite nonchalantly when a train passed and an empty half bottle came flying out of the widnae, the flat side caught me on the side of the face, being the quiet and shy type I turned away, aye that’ll be right I ran after the train shouting out all accusations about them being tangerine and born out of wedlock, polis there told me to calm down as there was nothing I could do now, lucky he didnae lift me.
None of us went to the replay.
*Neither did I.
Phil you,
I too remember Floyd Patterson fighting Ingemar Johansen. Great name.
Is there any likelihood of sevco going into administration? Oh that it happens…
Philbhoy,
I too remember Floyd Patterson fighting Ingemar Johansen. Great name.
Is there any likelihood of sevco going into administration? Oh that it happens…
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
I loved the boxing buy mainly the heavyweight division.
In saying that, in my youth, I got to know a young lady by the name of Mary Maharg.
Her old man fought Benny Lynch.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
No chance of the huns going under, no chance!
I was just sitting here thinking in a Charlie Prickolas kind of way…
… wouldn’t it be really good to win the Europa League? Spend a… ahem…. wee bit in this window, prioritise that trophy, get lucky and hey presto… no pesky four rounds of Champions League qualifiers next season
Go on Brendan, you know it makes sense.
:)))☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
HEN1RIK
I notice in that link you posted photos of Senor Pena appearing to blow his nose on a pair of Sevco shorts.
I’m sure we’ll be told tomorrow that this is a South American ritual that is a tribute to the host club when one goes on loan.
NB the use of the word “tribute” was in no way accidental.
Melbourne Mick.
Good stuff.
Being originally from Govan, I remember The Ants ground well and of course the social club virtually behind the goal. :-))
Did you ever play against The Ben’s?
Hail Hail
For those of you with their ear to the ground.
Is there anything in the Joe Allen to Celtic rumours?
Hail Hail
PHILBHOY @ 9:14 PM,
Think some of that family are in this neck of the woods;)
Hail Hail
Kayal shoots…over the bar, where have i seen that before….
https://twitter.com/gibbygibbo1/status/950475985383763969?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eios%7Ctwgr%5Enet.whatsapp.WhatsApp.ShareExtension
Always worth a laugh…
JIMMYNOTPAUL
Interesting, but how much of a pay cut would he take to get the honour?
CHAIRBHOY
Mary was a friend of my girlfriend at the time.
The last I heard of her was about mid 70’s when she moved abroad with her husband.
A middle east country but canny remember which one!
A nice wee lassie!
Jimmynotpaul, I always thought it was compulsory for a Junior team to have a social club next to the ground.
It was my wife’s brother in law’s funeral. He passed away on the Saturday before Christmas . It was a lovely service and celebration of his life.
I’m probably wrong here but I have a feeling if Lewis is makes it with us, I really want him to , he might end up playing in a more central position due to his abilty with each foot.
PHILBHOY @ 9:26 PM,
Yeah! I’ll have to ask them. They definitely came from a boxing family, though I got the impression the best was a cousin that was not Maharg.
I’ll check it out… Dome great boxers from Glasgow in those days…
Hail Hail
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 8TH JANUARY 2018 9:19 PM
Melbourne Mick.
Good stuff.
Being originally from Govan, I remember The Ants ground well and of course the social club virtually behind the goal. :-))
*last job I had before leaving for the colonies was the M8 motorway extension to Glasgow Airport, we were based at the old White City. On a Sunday there was an employee whose task it was to tour all the drinking establishment in the area, as pubs were closed this was usually working men’s clubs. There was always room at the bens and edminston house but the Ants was jam packed and pouring out the door.
Melbourne Mick at 9.02 , that post made me laugh out loud.
Going by what former Junior players I know have told me , I would not put it past players to try and have a halt time pint.
CHAIRBHOY
When I met Mary her family lived in Dennistoun, not far from where I lived.
Good night all good Tims!
Wee prayer for MURDOCHAULDANDHAY whose treatment started today.
Best wishes to him and all our friends here who have health issues or have had a bereavement.
Take care and God bless.
Tontine.9.35.
Good memories.
Was The Fairfield bowling club going at that time, near Tinto Park.
You would have needed a funny handshake to get in there.
How is the weather where you are? A tad colder that MIT. in Antigua? :-)
Hail Hail
Ciftci to Motherwell, only on loan …..:(
PHILBHOY @ 9:36 PM,
Sounds about right – was Maharg her maiden name?
I know two brothers that came down south in the late seventies… a good friend of one of their sons.
Believe their mum was a Mary… but I’d have to check.
Hail Hail
Meant Sixties…
CHAIRBHOY
She was Jim’s daughter so maiden name was Maharg.
I remember her husband was from the middle east but no idea what her name was subsequently.
!!ada Bing!! –
Do you think for this loan Celtic might insist that he definitely DOES play against us??
Administration Rumours…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2018/01/08/administration-rumours/