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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So, what did Paul 67 say?
JNP
We’re going to get it at Abronhill so should be fine.
I’ll watch out for your Bhoy as best I can mate.
Breeny @ 8.21am
Try the UN Irish bar in Chang Mai, apparently they usually show all the games ( but unfortunately had problems with the feed the night I was there, v rangers march 2012, did wonder at that point if it was in fact the un-irish bar!)
Good luck
5-2 murray
5-2 Andy Grinding it out
Serves
Cmon the murray. Intae um
5-2. andy to Serve
–
Always thought there was somethin sleekit about yon…Paul 67
It was…the way…the sleekit way that he put ’67’ at the end of his name!
A pure fly-man if ye ask me…
6-2
6-2
Good luck to Celtic this afternoon. I hope we score early and score often.
Hail! Hail!
PS I don’t feel nervous for the first time ever. That must be because we are playing a lower league team we have never met before. Stay safe everyone.
It’s NOT the same tho’ is it….really?
Ok, some of the old feelings might be there, but this time is different, and thems will know it too.
There was a real element of theatre and high drama before, gut-wrenching anticipation – different now tho’…..eh!?……….Certaiinly is for me.
I suspect the seasoned hacks will also recognise the change, no matter the on-air hot air and bluster.
No amount of chuntering from The Ned and assorted Yesterdays Men can change that.
HH.
What a miss from Murray 6-3
Jeezo same volley error as last tie break
6-3
Novak serves
6-4
H.T.
Great you’ll get on no bother then.
Paddy is round at Jimmys just now.
He’s coming straight home after game.
I’ve spoke to him, that focus mob will do anything to arrest Celtic fans today.
1-1
Yesssss 7-4
1 set all
Murray levels the match
YES Andy returns to win set
Great great play from both.
Time for a wee break
Go on, Andy.
The Johnny Cash of tennis.
This could end up a 5 setter, well done Murray
JNP
Apparently they’re searching all the Celtic buses as they park up. That’ll be the start of it.
saltires
Ha – They’d refuse to fight wee Judy.
Andy’s Oul’ fellah better have 2 tellys
Haven’t watched a tennis match for many years. This game is unreal. Shame one of them has to lose.
Andy seems to have the edge now but who knows
Hamiltontim
The Polis are determined to be centre stage today..
Keep yer ears on the day buddy..
To all the bhoys going today , take extra care . Any young lads in the supporters buses .hope the auldheids have a word of advice for them regards there safety . I’ve seen to much with regards that mob . And today is even more dangerous . And lastly , I pray to God the the celtic we want turns up , if it does we won’t need to bother about Thompson and his brothers
HH.
I’m with bankiebhoy.
The real feeling is just not there.
Just want this over with and onto a proper final.
Bournes
No contest :-)
Hamiltontim – Also saw on twitter that buses are being pulled at Harthill…
Like their club, today is jist a kiddy on thing, we know it and more importantly they know it, I can’t bring myself not to watch Celtic but it’s with a heavy heart the day..
Bring on Utd..
86-85 to Muzza on points with possibly three more sets to go.
76-64 to Williams in the whole match of the women’s final.
The guys have already covered over 6.6km compared to the women’s less than 2km in their final.
Equality indeed…
And the quality of tennis on display is massively better in this match to boot.
Ah waant the huns back – so we can skelp them.
Ah waant the Jungle back – so we can properly celebrate skelping them.
Ah waant Murdo or, big Mark McGhee or, Willie Miller to be Celtic’s football director.
Ah waant 3:0’clock kick off’s on a Saturday.
Ah waant Jeanette Findlay and her ilk to be in control of Celtic FC.
Ah waant tae see GMS playing in the hoops v’s Inter.
Ah waant Kris Commons tae no roll aboot the grun in the games v Inter.
Ah waant tae see the club banning the ‘entire’ SMSM persona non grata(apart from Hugh)
Ah waant a SB when all the above has been ticked.
Wee Judy Murray was a tartan ice maiden who won 64 Scottish girls & ladies tennis titles.
Break for Andy first game.
Bigchips
Great stats mate – what source?
Andy playing a warrior match so far.