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
- ...
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- »
SFTB
I’m the same. I’ve only got the typical excitement that I always get when going to see Celtic, nothing more.
west end of east end
Ye had seen that earlier mate.
Andy going 2-0 third set
Andy consolidate sbreak to love 2-0
bankie / sftb
Agree, – it’s just like the tennis, – wee Judy Murray isn’t there.
Great comeback fae Andy
Saltires, BBC Sport tennis page, then click on the Australian Open link, then “Scores & Stats”.
2-1 Andy
Judy Murray’s sitting in the Celtic end at Hampden with her ipad.
BigChips
Cheers.
Superb – keep them coming
2-1 Andy in 3rd 1-1
Andy serve
g g
cummon the mint…..;-))
not even excitement / butterflies for todays LCSF…..we’re too classy…..nuff sed…..;-))
H.H.
PS it’s been hors now & my right eye is still blurry…..wtf…..scratched lens? ;-))
Hun free:
hahahahaaaaa http://i60.tinypic.com/qzj19u.jpg
3 hour shift completed and knackered watching this tennis epic!
For those heading to the game – heed these words:
http://youtu.be/Jmg86CRBBtw
H!H!
Will the chumps from Show racism the red card be in attendance today?
NegAnon2
10:59 on
1 February, 2015
I hope your team wins!
HH
CRC
Andy needs to sort this out now!
He is allowing Novak injury stuff to mess his heid
Jeezo he just dropped service
2-2 novak to serve
Andy loses service 2-2
All Scottish final, Jockovic and Murray, one set all.
Andy blowing his big chance.
2 hours to kick off
Be safe and enjoy the drubbing lhads and lhassies
Sheriff fatman @ 11.11
Thanks so much, give it a try, on my way there shortly
3-2 Novak
Back on serve 3-2 Jocko
Ooh I say!
Well we’ve all been told that today’s game is good for Scottish football and that the country really needs this game etc etc.
I wonder, if Sevco get humped and there’s offensive singing and maybe even a mini riot, will they still be saying the same thing?
More likely they will just blame it all on Celtic!
Be safe everyone.
3-3
Novak to serve
Getting ready for the off.
Quick question for anyone that has set the tivo box for todays game.
If the tennis goes to 5 sets will the bbc switch the tennis or the Fitba to bbc 2 .
Enjoy the game guys and lets skelp the new huns on the block.
Johansen for a brace and my usual 4 v 0 would be nice
And the same in the second half please Celtic :-)
H.H
COME ON YE CELTS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhkdy0AOpaM
Boca 5 River Plate 0.
Pre season friendly in wowee atmosphere.River Plate lost the plot – 3 sent off
Inter 0 0 – ten minutes un.
Want one of these.
50 shades
Methinks they will Move tennis
bournesouprecipe
Styler..
How long have the huns been telling us they will take Scottish football down with them, and here we are…..,
COYBIG !
4-3 Novak 3rd set
1 set all
Andy to serve
No worries Breeny, hope it works out.
Wish I was there myself to be fair, bit bleak on Lewis the now! ( though the peat fire and guinness is helping)
HH
hamiltontim
09:17 on 1 February, 2015
I said it months ago mate, to some on here supporting your team is a crime.
A wee scuffle on Rutherglen Main St for starters….
Saltires.
Hope so mate but I have taped bbc 2 as well.
Never trusted them since the 4 v 2 game in 79 against the long deed.