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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“I’m John MaKay – this ‘Old Firm’ clash will be the first in three years sinc eRangers were put into administration…”
LIQUIDATION, ya pathetically staunch prick.
7-0.
Sunday. 7-0.
Lee McCulloch talking about a match against their “nearest rivals”. What?
Starry Plough. Im not in a position to be a fattest as im a fat bloke myself but I have an intense dislike of all things hunnery. H.H.
The analogy that I think Pedro posted…no plagiarism here. :))
thank you for your post.
Big Jock did what you recounted and changed the attitude of not only his players, but, of equal importantance, the attitude of the fans.
One advantage Jock had was that he had previously worked with the core of his team, as reserve team manager.
Ronny had to start from scratch, with players entrenched in a outmoded style of play.
stebhoy
17:52 on 30 January, 2015
a wee note for all you short sighted celtic fans. When Jock Stein took over Celtic , he completely changed the attitude , culture and demands of a celtic player/team. He told each individual their role and what was expected within the team formation. He set very high standards and it took even Jock Stein time to implement , but the signs were there early.
RD is doing exactly the same. He demands effort , he demands fitness levels required for professional football 24/7 and he demands technical attacking football the Celtic way.
He came along at a time when Celtic were going through the motions – Despite Martin O’neill spending millions and millions the standard of football depended HUGELY on a select few players/match winners and the football was not always pretty.
I back RD long term vision for the club and the culture should be imprinted on the dressing room door – Playing for Celtic needs to go way beyond Scottish standards otherwise we will never ever progress beyond the suffocating expectations of short sighted supporters.
I hope we tear them to shreds and the NEW celtic come to the fore from the confidence – just like a certain game did for Jock Stein!
Dublinbhoy
Cheers for the info
I can’t find it listed either. I think the game kicks off around 08:30 there time so as you say best option will be online if the internet is decent.
HH
!! Bada bing!!
I echo your sentiments,
I think Stv missed a old deid club player scoring against us !
Chas Bhoy.
Market Inn at back of the railway station in
Ayr will be a safe place to watch the game.
A gathering point for local Tims.
Some even post on here. :-))
Jorg Albertz ‘The Spanner’ interview on STV about Sunday – refers to Brazil-Germany in the World Cup a san example of how anything can happen in football.
That was 7-0.
That’ll do me, Jorg.
7-0.
BBC National News………………………Rangers were liquidated
About 10 – 2 to Rangers on STV going by the old video they’ve shown.
BRTH
One of the spellings for
LIQUIDATION in german is LIQUIDATION:)))))
Dead is TOT
Google say CSC
Syd
No attempt to be impartial.
Roy Keane in trouble again.
Two Glasgow R******, there’s only two Glasgow R******…
except there isnae
there’s only wan and it’s deid
Syd Negakev. If you listen to that lot on STV Celtic would be as well not turning up. H.H.
oldco newco naeco
bournesouprecipe
Absolutely!
Wouldn’t the last game we had against them be more appropriate? Let’s see now…what was that score?
Fiona Bruce on BBC News sayin Rangers a were liquidated, reformed and started again in the 3rd division
Then goes on to say its the first Old Firm game in 3 years
Half right i suppose
Switched from STV to BBC, then switched both off. Can not be bothered listening to that OF nonsense. It cannot be other than a deliberate attempt to continue to counteract the Advert. But the truth is out there, however not for the so called journalists in this “No” land.
Robin Bhoy from 15:06 said….
“Unibet, the Official Celtic Park Wifi and CelticLIVE Betting Partners, are pleased to offer all new customers a Super Enhanced price of 4/1 for Celtic to beat Rangers within 90 minutes in this weekend’s Scottish League Cup Semi-Final (single bets only and maximum stake of £10)……”
Thanks for that. I’ve opened an account and wagered a tenner. There is a wee catch though. Whatever you ‘win’ at the enhanced price (so in my case I’m hoping it will be £40) you need to subsequently place bets totaling double that amount (so £80) before you can withdraw any funds from your account. In theory the easiest way to do this is along the following lines –
> Place £10 in account and bet Celtic at 4/1
> On Monday you’ll have £50 in your account
> Bet say £40 on a dead cert* (say odds of 1/10) – expectation is you’ll win £4 and so then have £54 in your account.
> Same again – bet say £40 on a dead cert* (say odds of 1/10) – expectation is you’ll win £4 and so then have £58 in your account.
You have now placed bets with stakes totaling £80 which is double your original winnings from the Celtic game. You can then withdraw anything from your account.
Obviously you don’t NEED to back such short odds but this is the theoretical explanation!
Only bet what you can afford to lose (in this case £10!)
Jobo
* – no such thing, of course!!!
Joe Filippis Haircut
Och Joe there goes my imagination of you as a svelte youthful guy still wi’ a crop of thick Celtic hair…
Bhoylo
Not even news let alone national.
Have you read this on CNN?
The head of the Scottish Professional Football League, Neil Doncaster, stated in a BBC interview earlier this year that he agrees with the latter assessment.
However, the organization declined the opportunity to respond to requests CNN made to its public relations representatives about clarifying whether this position related solely to SPFL rules or to the stricter court of Scots Law as well.
Incredible! No so sure of yourself now Mr Doncaster!
Now if I could only find that email from the SFA…
If you haven’t read http://www.cqnmagazine.com today please do…
connaire
Just said to EC67, if I watch it there’ll be no TV commentary.
Starry plough. Fella I wish. H.H. :- )
Interesting to see the debate on here about probable Sevco tactics on Sunday and surrounding the efficacy of the current Kenny Miller. I have no doubt that they will attempt to launch high balls for Daly to knock down to Miller and try to find space behind our attack minded footballers. I agree that, Kenny Miller who is an excellent professional has also lost his speed, although his threat to us should not be underestimated. I have watched Sevco against Hearts x2, Hibs x 2 and Alloa. They can’t cope with a team pressing them, especially in their own half. In these games they conceded possession easily and got frustrated. They also could not handle the passing game of their opponents and as these games progressed, any semblance of organisation that they had fell apart. This was particularly evident in the Hibs and Alloa games.
Since the Kilmarnock victory, I have noted that our pressing game has been very strong and our passing has been very sharp for lengthy spells in the games we’ve played. An early goal would give our players the confidence to go on and secure a good victory. I think Sevco FC have more to worry about than us.
starry plough.
That mix is great.Will stick it on a Cdr..
Big thanks for the heads up .
bhoylo83
We have been discussing the use of the term demoted with BBC News for several months!
The ole bill didn’t visit Auchenhowie as they regularly sing the their songs.
any country fans –
check this out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC57z-oDPLs
saw them at Newcastle city hall last week – very special
South Of Tunis
I haven’t had a chance yet to here it SoT, Friday night is mayhem here till about 9pm:))
He’s not bad the ole Jazzcat:))
weeminger
17:58 on 30 January, 2015
Not a lot. Lose a cemi final to that lot will be different once again if you believe different you are seriously deluded.
Just for the record I don’t want RD sacked if he loses Sunday’s game.
Sadiesbhoy @ 18:36
I agree that if we play the game the way we can – spreading the ball around – they will get frustrated. And the best passer on our team, and the guy who will be MotM on Sunday …. Nir Bitton.
Angelgabriel
Thanks – I’ll wing my way to the Market Inn. Jaiket collected.
TOSB
Agree – the only chance for regular lower division sides like Sevco would be if they parked the bus.
They don’t have one, and Dundee Utd moved Daly eons ago from CF to CB, because his legs ‘had gone’.
If they score it’ll be from a penalty.
Hooptastic
18:19 on
30 January, 2015
Dublinbhoy
Cheers for the info
I can’t find it listed either. I think the game kicks off around 08:30 there time so as you say best option will be online if the internet is decent.
HH
————————————-
Not a problem. If you get desperate, I live about 15 miles south of West Palm Beach in a city called Boynton Beach. I will be watching the game at home on Celtic TV but you are more than welcome to drop in. Just contact me at dublinbhoy@live.com
Hail Hail