Footballers often play two games a week but their peak fitness levels are achieved when the play once a week. More often than that and the muscles don’t recover quickly enough. Top players’ muscles are finely tuned to deliver 90 minutes of exertion. To reach this peak, they NEED games as well as training. It appears to be beyond the ken of sports scientists to create a training routine which matches actual matches.
Apart from a 25 minute run-out against Hearts two weeks ago, newco’s players will not have played a football game in 22 days when they line-up against the champions on Sunday. If the boot was on the other foot, I would be concerned.
Celtic watchers will note that they score more goals late in games than early. Ronny’s team try to win the battle for territory, the ball and energy before running over the top of opponents. Whatever happens in the opening 20 minutes on Sunday I would expect Celtic to be far more effective in the final 20 minutes of the game, when their superiority will be most effective. There’s a chance newco will crumble early on, but I don’t expect many chances at either end until later in the first half.
While we all know how Celtic will play, it’s harder to figure out how Kenny McDowell will line-up tactically. If he was Ross County manager he would defend his 18 yard line for 90 minutes and hope for a breakaway, but I’m not sure that’s a viable strategy for Sunday. Lose an early goal and he would be caught between damage limitation and attempting to get back into the game. It could get very messy.
My hunch is that he’ll play a conventional 4-5-1 and attempt to find space out wide behind Celtic’s full-backs for Kenny Miller to run into. The full-backs will play forward, there will be space, we’ve just got to be faster than the 35-year-old ex-Celt now plying his trade in the lower leagues.
Despite their form against Hibs and Hearts this season, newco have an excellent record against Premiership competition in the cups. Three wins, against Inverness (only one point behind Aberdeen on same games played), St Johnstone and Kilmarnock, without a goal conceded, is a measure of what they are capable of, when they put their minds to it.
The wins against Kilmarnock and Inverness are particularly noteworthy, as both Premiership clubs enjoyed the majority of possession, but were frustrated in attack and hit with sucker-punches. This is what McDowell will seek to do at Hampden.
Ronny, get the job done. Very, very, very, thoroughly.
A reminder for North American readers that the Annual Celtic Supporter’s Féile is on in Philadelphia this weekend. The events include live music each day, the US premier of The Asterisk Years, with a Q&A with Paul Larkin and Graham Wilson of Beyond the Waves podcast, as well as live coverage the semi-final. You can find out more, including how to book, here.
Have you booked for the CQN11 Str Patrick’s Dinner on Friday, 13 March? We’re hoping to raise enough money to build Mary’s Meals a school kitchen in Malawi. Mary’s meals emailed an hour ago with a report on one of the kitchens we built last year, in Kholoni, where they are now feeding 1245 children each day, a considerable increase in the roll-call since the availability of kitchen facilities, see the photo above.
Email me for tickets, celticquicknews@gmail.com (to the Dinner, not Malawi).
2,618 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- ...
- 69
- »
tom mclaughlin
16:19 on 30 January, 2015
I heard ronny told them he would tell the team to keep it to 5 but was unsure how many we would score in the second half :-) HH
nctim
Good luck to you both.
Personally, I pity the quack.
:o)
Tom McLaughlin
It must be a real concern for them, if it turns into a humiliation.
Although I think the officials will do their best to prevent that.
I suppose bookies are never far wrong and 7/1 for a sevco win says what they think about their chances.
Really getting sick of all this talk about “14 men,players sent off,penalties,dodgy decisions,MIB,”all going against us.A load of bollox at this time.Never heard as much pessimistic crap in my life.We have beat far better teams than this shower with some shocking decisions against us.There are shocking decisions every week,all over the world.Get on with it.
If there is talking points regards decisions,then after the game is the time to vent your anger.Doing it on here today is a total waste of your time,and anyone reading it.
Give it a rest,for gods sake.
Bournerecipesoup
We played in all weathers too. Nothing kept me indoors except illness or homework.
I loved playing football in the snow, the street lights illuminated the snow covered pitch and we played past 10 at night.
In fact I remember missing CP one night to play a game with my mates on snow. My old man came home and told us we’d missed Jinky’s greatest performance ever. The match was 7-2 v Dundee United 1968-69.
Anyone there?
Turkeybhoy
Well said mate.HH
Sips
Stuff that getting hit by one of them
Phil
Why did we do that? Along with stealing wee green inedible crabb apples from posh folks gardens?
SO
Sad dreadful way for a hero, also starring Rick Jason as Lt Hanley ( he took his own life )
I for one would not put anything past the Hun Benefaction Society.
sorry mr Dallas , will you be back for a chat on monday lol
Marakesh
Ditto. Mind the ball used to get bigger and bigger :-)
Off now to the airport.Everyone enjoy the “Humping”.I have seen them all since the 5-1 in 1965/66 Neerday game,,4-0 cup final,5-1 Lubo game,4-0 Lennox hat trick game,6-2 MON game.I was actually at the 7-1 game but too young to remember anything.
I aint going to miss another one.
Jetting in,and jetting out.Ala ,Sir Minty style.
Evening All,
the end of a mad week and it just gets even madder.
Anyone going to be in and around Bar 67 at about half six?
If so I will be in doing a wee interview for the German state broadcaster about Sunday’s game and all that surrounds it.
Any Florida boys on?
Im flying out tomorrow for a month. Staying in West Palm Beach. Anybody with local knowledge of where to catch the game? Is it on tv that would be on in the hotel?
HH
Good evening friends
Bourne
It’s that time noo!
http://youtu.be/GktZgeOQWUk
Bournerecipesoup
Why was there always a stray dug running on to the pitch and the first thing it did was sink it’s gnashers in your frido/celtic /world cup baw .
They steered clear of mouldies though but Alsatians could rip a reggy to bits.
Must have lost hundreds that way. Then we’d chip in 6 and 8 to buy a new one.
Evening Jobo, happy Friday!
BSR
Best faller – is that not the Sevco plan for Sunday.
Turkeybhoy
That was my first one too.
I get the distinct impression that a few posters on here have missed the huns.
Their prerogative, I suppose.
Going to be in Ayr on Sunday.
Would appreciate any advice on where to watch the game.
Re the Flag bollox-was there a policy in place for outside and inside venues,when the Commonwealth Games were in town? You can treat certain materials with an intumescent spray,which i have seen used on blinds,curtains in nursery type premises,which aids fire resistance.But i’m sure Plod would be looking for the COSHH info to go with it.Never heard such nonsense,but we really shouldn’t be surprised at anything remotely humourous we fire at the sensitive wee lambs.Re the huns singing on Sunday,it will be played down as ‘misguided’ or ‘unfortunate’.
Bournesouprecipe/South of Tunis
Regarding your conversation about Combat.
I am currently watching an episode most nights.
Sooperb,a bit dated,but Vic Morrow is Sooperb in this programme as the sergeant and Rick Jason as the wily lieutenant.
HH.
jonny the tim
16:00 on 30 January, 2015
westies
13:23 on 30 January, 2015
Unfortunately Sunday’s game will define Ronny’s time with Celtic. Lose and he is finished with the majority of fans. Win, things continue as is. Win by a large margin….he will become a legend !
Just my opinion.
__________________________________________________________________________
Those are exactly my thoughts too.
————————————————-
By far not RD biggest fan. Wouldn’t want him to lose his job on the back of this game. I go on 2 supports buses and majority think this is make or break for him.
lennon’s passion
17:18 on
30 January, 2015
This is the league cup we’re talking about against a new team. In cup games sometimes the smaller team wins. Ask Chelsea. Of all the competitions we’re still in this by far the least important.
Evening Timland from a very windy hun free mountain valley.
Thank eff this game is nearly over, OF this OF that, sick of it all, just hump them and get back to reality.
HH
Vincenzo
Ole Stewpot ;-)
Marrakesh
That reminds me. Dogs used to go about in gangs in schemes, nobody took their dug for a walk, they were allowed to roam free just like us.
Zico
I still watch it as well, every single episode still available, black and white lately in colour.
A SELMAR production CSC
Zico-phone you later,after my 2 brain cells have stopped knocking 7 shades out of each other,after my Nebosh Course….
chasbhoy
AYR – MARKET INN 2 CASTLEHILL RD, BURNS STATUE SQUARE, KA7 2HT (Tel: 01292 280391)
AYR – HORSESHOE BAR 81 GEORGE ST, KA8 0AQ (Tel: 01292 266034)
celtic.bars.com
Ernie Lynch
No me bud.
Not for a minute.
Ticket passed on.
Mass on Saturday night .
Batton down the hatches for Sunday.
Doors looked.
Blinds and curtains drawn.
If I never hear that vile support again it will be too soon
ernie
I think it’s just as accurate to say that the prospect of playing them (in any incarnation) shows why some of us never want to play them again, ever.
marrakesh express.@ 16 49.
Yes – December 69. Home from Uni for the holidays and about to start work as a Christmas postie. A world class performance from Jinky .He didn’ t score but thumped one off the post from a long way out .Small crowd – I assume due to the proximity of Christmas.
Nctim- 16:12
:) That’s my cover blown. Hope you and yours are doing well.
A wee bit of help for our older posters ;))
OLDER AGE TEXTING CODES:
ATD -at the doctor.
BFF -best friend fell.
BTW – bring the wheelchair .
BYOT -bring your own teeth.
FWIW -forgot where I was.
GGPBL -gotta go, pacemaker battery low.
GHA -got heartburn again.
IMHO -is my hearing aid on?
LMDO -laughing my dentures out.
OMMR -on my massage recliner.
ROFLACGU -rolling on floor laughing and can’t get up.
TTYL -talk to you louder!
HH
RWE
If a Sevconian manages to get into the Celtic penalty box, – a sniper is sure to get him.
Ernie –
Elitist!
Good Evening Timland.
BRTH…..German state broadcaster,ya ole meeja whore :)
Bournesoup recipe
Thanks for that information.
What kind of soup?