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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Have a feeling we are over confident. Hopefully Celtic have developed out of inferiority complex and can show we are the dominant boss of Scottish football.
NegAnon2
10:34 on
1 February, 2015
I will be honest, I feel strange today, I had 2 tickets and passed them on to others, but I am still apprehensive/excited for the game which I will watch with my Dad on TV.
I dislike everything that they stand for ( for many reasons), even if they have now morphed into this latest incarnation. So I hope we pummel them today even if they are a new club, which I hope also dies. The problem with the undead is that they are hard to keep dead.
However, I do not crave for this game, so my feelings are strange. Perhaps it is down to continued MSM same club lie, that makes me feel this way. So I respect every Celtic fan that goes today that want to support our team.
I would not have gone into the MSM lions den one on one with a zombie under the “old firm” banner as Paul did, but he did for his own reasons. I have listened to the broadcast and I think you are being harsh on him. He was polite and respectful as I would expect of him. I am not sure I would have been.
You have said your bit on it and I have made my point as well above. I think it is wrong to continue to push it, as it could be perceived as an agenda, which I know that is not the case.
Anyway, enjoy your day today!
HH
CRC
Right big chap away to the game and no WI-FI see you soon
Up the republic
Vin..,
No bothered about the game, might, might no, see what happens its no like its a big game or anything, know
Well the day has finally arrived and we play the new club ,
Firstly want all our Bhoys to get to and from the game safely , which is sad to have to think this and is why I haven’t missed it.
But it’s a semi final and I want my team in the final so today is all about winning against a lower league team
COYBIG
Vin,
Don’t get caught shouting things like that, you’ll get the jail
Kenny McDowall arrives early at Hampden
Brilliant tennis range of shots and energy is superb
Andy 2nd service still mince – only won 2 points from his 2nd today
Novak on top now
But Andy holding on – seems like each game taking about 20 minutes
Celticrollercoaster. Enjoy your day too. I hope the game goes our way but believe it will be loaded against us.
I will simply await Paul’s version of events….
C’mon the Hoops. A win is a win and that’s what we want.
Canamalar, in the earlier round, sure, but when it gets to the semi?
Our support would demand a win first and foremost, regardless of the opposition.
If we did play our kids, we would still expect them to win.
Would you like to see Celtic lift this trophy against Dundee Utd?
I’ll take it you would, so we have to win today and the team needs supporting, so that’s what I’m going to do.
Enjoy Eastenders:-)
The P67 thing has passed me bye – what was said?
canamalar
10:31 on 1 February, 2015
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.
———
But surely you’re just doing the same thing. The difference is that I actually know many who go home and away and I can back up my assertion because I know that they’ll be there today.
Anyway, enough on this from me mate. It’s all about the Celtic.
Unlike Neil, Ronny has put his best 11 out for both LC ties so far, scored 9 conceded 0. He will do the same with the SC.
The lesson of Morton has been learnt, thankfully.
6 5 Andy wonderful game, wonderful match
Andy serving better now – but only 2nd ace
Now 6-5 Andy
Novak serve
Doc,
Enjoy your old firm game, you made this
Who would win in a three way fight between wee Amélie Mauresmo wee Kim Sears and wee Judy Murray?
I expect Celtic to go out and do a professional job.
Go to work Celtic
Hamilton Tim
Enjoy the game today.
It is the finest of pleasures goin to see Celtic,
Hail hail
Enjoy the game all, as they say doon the borders
Safe oot
Safe in.
Hail hail to all
Mind u if the tennis goes on like this I might be Kate for kick off
Any chance the game will be shown on the big screen !
C’mon Andy
DougC- Middleton?
Bournes
Without a shadow of a doubt.
Matheson, have you seen the muscles on her.
Dough
Are you having an operation? Snip, snip.
6 6 Tie break
Stupid text
Should read Mauresmo.
HT,
All m saying is you don’t know so can’t be sure. Insisting you know means nothing and is not factual. Pure supposition like mine.
Dough???
DougC
Goldstar10
Wouldn’t mind :)
Late not Kate !!!
Jimmynotpaul
They say Andy needs a man coach?
Bournes
Judy would boot their baws
Good luck to Ronny and the bhoys
Safe journey to all going along.
Murray has to take this set or its curtains.
Murray being very aggressive.
2-1 Andy with a break
H.T.
Standing room only on bus today.
Make sure Paddy keeps you a seat.
an tearmann
I just want it over with. Sitting here neither up nor down about it.
That’s what comes of playing a team for the first time.
4-1 Andy
4-1 murray
4-1 Andra
Novak to serve
….pfayr supports weeoscar
10:32 on 1 February, 2015
Sandman
Cheers …
Good luck to them with some of the customers in there :-))
===========================
Had that thought myself.
Desperate criminals choose suicide by cop.
Desperate Huns choose suicide by Tim.