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).
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Hampden crap.
Pitch crap.
Officials crap.
Opponents crap.
Tournament crap.
Media crap.
Singing crap.
I will watch though because Celtic are playing.
HT,
“Almost” being the operative word. You don’t know and can’t be sure but will use any ambiguities to fall on your side of your claim.
I won’t contradict your claim but I will say you leave plenty room to be wrong.
NegAnon
I avoided the Blog yesterday and haven’t read, or heard what Paul67 said.
Having spoken to him briefly face to face in the past, I’m pretty confident of his Celtic credentials and his position, I don’t seek any explanation from him.
I agree that today is about the safety of Celtic fans, there have been Orc outbursts, all over Glasgow last night, – before a ball is kicked.
It’s a game that shouldn’t be taking place, IMHO and it’s a sad day for sporting integrity, and not just Celtic.
I’ll be astonished if the game pans out the way it should that, they will take it, without causing some mayhem.
Disruption protest at Melbourne
A few Huns getting some pitch invasion practice
Security surrounding both players rather sharpish
Game restarts after a delay
Sandman
Cheers …
Good luck to them with some of the customers in there :-))
WC
First song I remember singing from the pope’s corner, standing on 2 beer cans, watching us beat Airdrie 9-0.
Along with “celtic cha cha cha”
Canamalar – Think you’re way off with your numbers, I would be going today whoever the opposition would be, that’s why I was at the Hearts & Partick thistle games in the previous rounds…
If you don’t want to go to the game today for whatever reason fine, but don’t give me a hard time for supporting my team…
Morning celticrollercoaster. Are you going to the game?
I don’t think I am being over the top regarding Paul’s media appearances. If cqn was for,ed to combat lazy journalism then what was that all about yesterday. If Asothers claim its misrepresentation then fair enough but given all that has gone on and all that was said I think it’s a fair question to ask. Don’t you?
In fact, these guys have already covered almost 2.5 times the distance covered by the women in the whole of their final.
Well I would have to agree there would be one less ticket sale if it was Alloa,but on the same note I wouldn’t feel as happy if we humped them
Good morning vin ya old firm supporter, how’s my ma n da ?
Police removing offenders
They have requested trials to be held in Dunedin
ASDA make a very acceptable Nut Genoa cake.
I am surprised Paul67 hasn’t mentioned that a rival SPl side asked for clarification about the standard of refereeing in Scotland. Curiously, the word paranoia hasn’t been mentioned.
To all the guys going to the game,keep safe.When our opponents go three nil down,and the Bhuns try to invade the pitch stay cool don’t take the bait.HH
Yes Andy breaks service 4-4 in 2nd set
bigchipsuk – honesty, integrity and fair play since 1887
10:34 on 1 February, 2015
In fact, these guys have already covered almost 2.5 times the distance covered by the women in the whole of their final.
——-
Aye but how many men have ever given birth to a wean. Equal pay for all! Aff oot to burn ma bra!!!!
Is bra burning covered by the OBA?
HH jamesgang
Bournes I am in no way questioning Paul’s credentials as a celtic man. But this blog has been trying to highlight the truth for some time and I firmly believe paul swept all that aside yesterday.
i agree that it’s a sad day for sporting integrity and I think especially a sad day for celtic, whom I don’t recognise anymore.
As for the game. They have nothing to lose, the pitch will be a leveller and the officials the deciding factor.
I fear for celtic supporters safety. I really do.
Morning Timland from a sunny hun free mountain valley.
Well it’s almost upon us, the OF is back, all for the good of scottish football, aye right.
HH
Doc,
“A major cup semi final” geez peace ffs, ha ha ha ha ha
Various team predictions posted over the last few days and it would appear that, from a CQN perspective, we are in agreement with 6 definite starters with debate around how we perm 5 from KC/JF/SJ/NB/JG/SS/LG/LH.
However Ronny decides, we should win comfortably and I bet that anyone of the players on our bench would easily get a start for the new club.
Andy rocking love game 5-4 to Andy in 2nd set
Novak to serve
Andy 1set down wearing slinky black outfit with neutral green Gloria Gayners
Andy Murray is fighting hard against the Serb and volley game.
Shocking factoid:
That Muzza is a pretty ripped fella, but comparing his average service speeds with those of that ever so svelte Serena Williams…
1st serve: Muzza 183kph Williams 184kph
2nd serve: Muzza 133kph. Williams 150kph
The oldyin is looking good and the old dear is still in bed
Vin,
He’s never looked good :)
You know, I’ve posted the words – stay safe – but I’m resorting to old me – fuk der hun. How dare they make us feel like vicTims…..if you can run…..n live to fight another day, if you can’t/won’t run…..then…..b merciless…..it’s the only language sum peepil understand…..lets hope it doesn’t come to that…..CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC
H.H.
Lovely tennis from Andy – soft hands and dragging Novak all over the court
Advantage Andy set point
Ach deuce
Knocked back the offer of a ticket for today because like many to me it’s not the same club plus Hampdump lives up to its name on and off the park
Hope that all going stay safe at the game and especially later in the day when folks are making their way home.
If the manager gets it right regarding team,tactics and motivation we will win easily
If we don’t it will be very disappointing but at least we get to find out about our players and management team
The zombies have the second biggest wage bill in the country by a distance so it should be a closer game than some think.
For me 3-0 would be a competent job done sort of score line!
No doubt like any cup semi final once it’s started – I’ll take any win going!
HH
Put them in their place, simple as that really, that new entity over the way will play to their strengths (elbows, fists and knees mainly) the MIB will let it happen frequently and without punishment, I want to see a strong and brave side today, not brave in the sense of over the top tackles but brave in repeatedly wanting the ball under the conditions set by the upstarts and MIB, a brave and strong Celtic today will win and win with ease.
Go out there and put the peasants in their place Celtic, stay safe troops and as many have said, we look after our own today because those b******s will be out for a scalp or two because they will receive no encouragement on the big green field today.
Hail Hail and god bless every one of you (even the idiots)
NegAnon
The Hampden divots won’t save the bigots.
I draw a line firmly before we cross into Celtic’s alleged complicity, or extent of.
As you say that debate isn’t for today, today is about winning a game and all Celtic fans being safe.
How sad is it that the priority is to get home in one piece? – from a football match.
Jamesgang, I’ve no issue with equal pay for people doing the same job, regardless of gender or which Glasgow football team they support. But I do not agree with getting the same pay for 1h 41m of effort as someone else gets for (probably) over 4 hours of effort.
And incidentally, Muzza and Jocko have given birth exactly as many times as Williams and Sharapova.
Canamalar, are you saying this isn’t.
It’s a cup semi final.
Some game this – crucial to both players and it shows
Novak holds to take it to 5-5
Andy to serve
Doc,
It wasn’t that long ago the general consensus on here was we use the league cup to blood the young bhoys into the team, a sentiment I continue to support. So naw it’s no a big deal and never has been.
Aye ok but he’s out his kip
How are you doing and are you watching the match or are you working
The latter stages of this set have been a real treat.