When Stuart Armstrong tested positive while on Scotland duty, Ryan Christie and two others in the squad were forced to isolate, missing important club games. Christopher Jullien’s diagnosis led to the most extraordinary day in a Test and Trace lab in Scotland, resulting in 13 players forced to remain at home during the decisive stage of the season.
John Fleck’s diagnosis on Scotland duty resulted in no one being told to isolate.
I heard what happened in the lab when Jullien came in positive – the extraordinary focus on interpreting potential exposure. I have seen photos from inside the plane journeys there and back – the extraordinary distances some forced to isolate were from source.
With media chat full of ‘Fergal Harkin for Celtic director of football’ speculation for months, you (and I) would be forgiven for thinking Man City’s Partnerships and Pathways (don’t ask me) manager was a serious candidate for the job.
Not so, I was assured last night. And yes, I did let it be known that while getting the cream of the world’s talent to pitch up in sunny Glasgow can be a challenge, staying ahead of the game on persistent stories like this is easier.
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SCULLYBHOY on 2ND JUNE 2021 3:48 PM
Is there anyone on the blog who has actually been coached by John Kennedy?
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Not me directly but know 3 juniors at Port and Greenock took coaching badges with him at Largs , and all rated him highly.
Saint Stivs on 2nd June 2021 4:09 pm
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Good stuff. I just don’t know why certain posters state things as if they are somehow common knowledge. I have never even attended a Celtic coaching session, never mind been part of one. Yet some come on here and claim that JK only puts out the cones. Now I am as desperate as anyone to see a top coach come to Celtic, but could people suggest a few realistic targets.
Lambo
the contrary, what Rodgers done leading up to Lawwell going to Chris McLaughlin should have seen the opposite to what you suggest, whereby you wanted him sacked.
Rodgers confirmed that Lawwell had signed a player he didn’t want.
I will always be thankful that Rodgers confirmed what Lawwell was like, rather than just hearing the rumours.
Notice that Lawwell would never state he signed players, not the manager.
Big yellow streak up his back Lawwell knew how the fans would react.
That is when he went to the BBC, because he had been rumbled, and he didn’t like it.
And you wanted him sacked!
For finding out the truth!
Are you for real?
Remember that was the summer of the lowball bids for weeks and weeks for John McGinn, when Lawwell finally made the required bid….when McGinn was sitting in Villa Park!!
Remember too, that we were sitting with over 30 million in the bank after Rodgers instigated a double treble.
Lawwell should have been sacked at that moment for gross incompetence as Rodgers had had enough of him by then.
——
On the contrary …. I’m afraid your mistaken on every point , why would anyone want Brendan sacked up to him taking the huff (ok Crazy open tactics in CL to one side for now) ?
Brendan undermined the team on the day of the game you could tell at the game all was not well on the pitch , your eagerness to find a scapegoat is getting the better of you …. Celtic Board instead of binning Brendan took the long term view and not the huff and kept Brendan on until he inevitably ditched us … fairly straightforward parting of the ways did my matter who was ceo Brendan was off
SCULLYBHOY on 2ND JUNE 2021 4:15 PM
Saint Stivs on 2nd June 2021 4:09 pm
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A few years ago now, my pal that ran Maryhill Juniors U16s was invited to take the team to Largs as the demonstrators for the coaches taking their badges.
He invited my two nephews (15 + 14)as well, I just had to deliver them to Inverclyde Centre.
There were about 20 pros and juniors taking the badges, over the course of the week.
Donald Park took the events with 2 others. McFadden and Russel Osman were the most famous of the participants. There were Spanish, Portugese, German, Danish and Nprway coaches in the groups as well.
I hung about with my mate to watch the first part of it.
I was mightly impressed at the quality of everything being done, the intensity of the learning , the drills, , exercises, then putting it into practice in a game setting. A lot of course paperwork to complete.
Donald Park was quite excellent at what he did, and the new coaches soaked it up.
Ended up I stayed that day and went the rest of the week.
The boys learned so much, and you could see improvement as the week went on.
I know several Juniors managers that have since taken their badges, and several more boys clubs coaches (including another nephew) who progressed through the courses.
The only person I ever heard really criticise “the largs mafia” is Davie Provan, who ironically coached us at the Port High youth club several times along with Mick Conroy.
For all the people I know who attended all said it improved them as coaches and their understanding of the game. Sport sciences, rehabilitation, phycology, fitness & diet even technology are all delivered at night time as extra work, and for sure it is not a jolly boys outing.
So my point is, people go on about the standard of coaches we have, without ever seeing or knowing what is actually involved. These guys have to qualify, they have to put it in to practice, they have proper skills development.
JK and dare I say it, Dominic already , are the new targets.
If he stays on it is because he is good at what he does, not because of favouritism.s.
SCULLYBHOY on 2ND JUNE 2021 4:15 PM
Saint Stivs on 2nd June 2021 4:09 pm
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Good stuff. I just don’t know why certain posters state things as if they are somehow common knowledge. I have never even attended a Celtic coaching session,
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ps,
you will be able to attend one now with the super duper value add benefits when you renew your season book.
Brian Wilson used the riots in George Square to attacke the SNP… Defended the behaviour because SNP didn’t let them into Ibrox…..
JK and dare I say it, Dominic already , are the new targets.
If he stays on it is because he is good at what he does, not because of favouritism.s.
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Sadly, people seem to get obsessed with a person and destroy them in every way. They seem to need a whipping bhoy. I am of the mind that Celtic will struggle to attract players and staff because of the league they are currently stuck in.
HH
It seems that there is a definite shortfall of Managers and Coaches who want to come to Scotland. If as it appears, Eddie Howe gave his word and shook hands with Dermot on the job, to turn round and pull out after a long negotiation then this reflects badly on Howe. He will have also made an enemy in Dermot who is a bad man to cross. Dermot will go out his way to poison the water everywhere Howe goes.
I was on the opinion that Celtic had multiple options to cover every scenario. Plan B and Plan C and so on.
Well I reckon Ange is one of the so ons. I reckon apart from Howe then we had at least 2 more candidates at least who had turned us down. This is the strategy followed by the club for players and has been mentioned before.
I reckon we need to revise our strategy as the current strategy has failed, We need to have options even if Postecoglou signs up.
I dont know that we will struggle to hire, it is just whoever we do hire be that directors or coaches or players, they are often written off before they even get their working boots on.
SCULLYBHOY on 2ND JUNE 2021 4:45 PM
The main attraction for players in coming to Celtic is access to the EPL . If they have the talent and application , the standard of our league shouldn’t hold them back .
Tim Horton
I’m not clear on that tbh.
Not even sure of the post he was meant to be discussing with Celtic although the suggestion was director of football. Also no information or opinion on his suitability for the post.
Only point I was intending to make was that he could have been under serious consideration for a position and then a decision was taken at some point not to proceed further.
HH
John Kennedy??? Unbeleivable .. had a chance to at least show he cared,… he didn’t even give AF
BIGBHOY on 2ND JUNE 2021 4:50 PM
I believe Maresca was plan B but we paid a heavy price for waiting so long for Howe…
Guys JK had 10 or 11 games to make a difference.
He didnt.
His time has came and gone.
D :)
CL qualifiers are already gone.. no chance. we will be lucky to have any players available. League can be saved if we bring in a top manager with lots of players that he knows to bring in….. otherwise forget next season and bring in someone who can change the club around for next few seasons. AP and we are done next season and probably after as well unless they bring in a DSOF with LOTS of contacts
They knew Lennon was done by October… so have had then to find a manager. kept him in job to spite fans…see DDs comments
MARADOMINIC on 2ND JUNE 2021 5:07 PM
They knew Lennon was done by October… so have had then to find a manager. kept him in job to spite fans…see DDs comments
Exactly. 👍
DAVID66 on 2ND JUNE 2021 4:56 PM
You got there before I was about to type that👏👏
Moreover if the team had enough of Lenny’s tactics, if they existed, then you thought they might have reacted to JK in charge. That didn’t happen either.
MARADOMINIC on 2ND JUNE 2021 5:07 PM
There were two trains of thought after NL was sacked.
1) Bring in the new manager straight away, give him time to assess the squad, implement his style, decide who to keep/let go and hit the ground running for the CL qualifiers.
2) Let Kennedy see out the season so the new manager won’t be associated with a poor season, let him watch behind the scenes then announce the new guy once the season ended.
Both valid points but how many would have gone for 3) Head into the second week of June with no idea of who’s going to be the new manager?
Reports coming in that Yokohama compensation agreed…
EKBHOY on 2ND JUNE 2021 4:36 PM
Rodgers would have left eventually.
Lawwell’s actions speeded up the process.
Lambert14
All managers leave eventually
rogers intimated to DD the prev summer bout china
once thats done clock is ticking
hh
AN TEARMANN on 2ND JUNE 2021 5:43 PM
rogers intimated to DD the prev summer bout china
once thats done clock is ticking
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And Lawwell’s actions that summer just made the clock go faster.
Lambeg the fraud intimated he wanted tae leave shortly after we gave him 9m for Eddy, he left 8 month later, big Gas Meter must be a slow worker if it took him that long tae push him out the door.
Hail Hail
Stay Safe
Not surprised the blog is in turmoil just now – its a mirror image of the club. Until such times as the complete mess we are in begins to get cleared up its absolutely inevitable, show me one happy Celtic fan right now and I’ll show you someone who doesn’t care about Celtic. We are all upset of course we are, this has dragged on far too long and I think some of us have already in our heads written off next season already, certainly we can forget about the Champions League qualification, that’s simply not going to happen, a team full of strangers being managed by more strangers trying to gel together against serious opposition, expect a few thumpings.
So can well understand all the mud throwing thats rife on the blog at present even though I don’t agree with it.
The very least that should happen is the CEO and Chairman fall on their sword and OFF the board, no manoeuvring of the Titanic deck chairs.
Lambert14
what was it Peter Lawell done to make Brendan Rogers detail his offer from China?
zero
BR went into a review meeting with DD and told him of other potential job offers- china
Now i would suggest our largest shareholder took that as BR saying his coatpeg is shoogly
and that if the right offer came in he was a listener.
Your PL suggestion may be right,he used this/that journalist as did BR himself.
The club goes on and BR is a rich part of its history
hh
MARADOMINIC on 2ND JUNE 2021 4:44 PM
Brian Wilson used the riots in George Square to attacke the SNP… Defended the behaviour because SNP didn’t let them into Ibrox…..
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Is this your opinion, or, are you submitting it as a fact?
If it is the latter, please name the source of the ‘fact’, in order that we can all avail ourselves.
We will not be holding our breaths, as you will no doubt twig.
JHB
One post you laud our trophy haul under Lawwell, the next you belittle it buy saying we had it easy.
PL has had a torrid time between his forced retirement, the clubs failure to secure a new manager and the recent attack on his family home.I wonder if its fair to ask him to continue search for manager and if his heart was really in it to start with.i honestly wouldnt blame him if it wasnt
Brian Wilson who slagged the Scottish govt for not letting thousands of rabid huns into ibrox park during level 3 of the lockdown?
D66 & Big Jimmy
Wben are you huys getting steamboats now ur in level 2 ?
Huys….guys
Highest number of covid cases today since late march.. what could that be due to ?
New Zealand 217 for 3 at close of play
Cricket quick news
LAMBERT14 on 2ND JUNE 2021 5:39 PM
EKBHOY on 2ND JUNE 2021 4:36 PM
Lambo … Brendan legged it without looking back , nothing to do with the Board …. looking forward the Board are grappling with filling the suits in the football operation , so we have in future a joined up approach to putting out a team in the park …. goalkeeper that speaks English , no midgets at full back , left footed centre half , the usual stuff bread and butter of building a team
…. trying to attract the right people into a very different structure let’s be honest DD and each director will have a different take on what is needed … is clearly not an overnight job in Scottish terms ….
….. we need to strike a balance between having a team of ball players or being hard to beat , Neil lost sight of that and was complacent re the Hun , is Kennedy culpable as part of the mgt team , gut says yes , does that make him a useless coach , gut says no , should he hang around and help the new guy … sorry don’t know
… as each day passes we are a day nearer to the big reveal and then the real moaning can start
….. I keep thinking we’ve leaked the big Aussie name as he is a bit difficult for the media to door step but hey if he is the guy time to take a deep breath and cross fingers is my gut reaction
…. when Mowbray was appointed within a couple of games the midfield stop running back and that usually leads to trouble by the time clocks change … so we’ll see quite quickly whoever is in charge our new pattern of play and it’s chances of success on the bigger stage
… still lots of opportunity for moaning to look forward to and pissing on our lawn
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