Anyone who has watched Celtic in recent weeks knows the impact Jeremie Frimpong has on the team. He alone has the ability to run at and past defenders, without him, Celtic are significantly easier to defend against. This has been clear from recent performances and his absence from the starting line-up against Riga was my principle concern before the game.
He did not start last night because when we go three at the back, it is Jeremie or James Forrest on the right. After the game Neil Lennon told us James has struggled with an ankle injury for a couple of weeks, leaving us with the classic ingredients for recency bias. James’ recent injury-affected form has been below the standard or Jeremie’s. But of all the occasions you could make a case to start James Forrest, European qualifiers will be the easiest. He scores and creates goals in qualifiers at a prodigious rate.
Also, watchers of Celtic in recent seasons will know that Injury is the Mother of Invention. Where would Ryan Christie be without Eboue Kouassi and Olivier Ntcham picking up first half injuries at Murrayfield? Jeremie is now likely to get a run at Hibs and Sarajevo. What happens in the middle of the park is more intriguing.
Scott Brown took a knock that will keep him under observation between now and the Hibs game. That clip on Scott’s Achilles’ gives the manager lots to consider. After Hibs, we have four hugely important games: Sarajevo, then after the international break: Newco, Aberdeen away and Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final. The roster becomes significantly trickier if we overcome Sarajevo, as we would have two Europa League games before next month’s semi-final.
I read many asking, why does Scott Brown play practically every minute of every game? It is clearly not that you have spotted something that escaped the manager’s attention, Neil Lennon does not have a blind spot that tens of thousands of Celtic fans can see through, so let’s not pretend otherwise.
You have been watching football all of your life, so you know by now that what you see on the field is only part of the story. Any team: footballers, salesmen, network engineers or shop staff, need a common culture and leadership to reach their best. What a boss gets from his or her line manager in frontline performance, in any walk of life, is not the entire contribution.
I have a friend who is also a customer. He tells me what I need to do with my staff and I tell him the same about his staff. Neither of us take the others’ advice, because I am using the resources I have to keep my team focussed on our objective and he is doing the same. I talk to him about practically every personal aspect of my life, but I don’t even go into the detail of this stuff with him, because it involves personal details about others. In very simple environments like mine and his, teams are complicated things.
I would like to see Jeremie start more games and I am really keen to see central mid re-jigged. From my seat on the couch, both are crucial to our outcomes this season. But I know there’s a ton of human dynamics in every team that outsiders are clueless about. The manager needs to keep this indoors while suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous opinion. It can be a tough gig. It is good that we have all ‘been there, done that’, when it comes to building a winning football team, so none of us exist in a fantasy that we are the true fonts of wisdom Neil Lennon really has to listen to. I mean, can you imagine thinking like that? Jeez.
Have a great weekend.
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Watched Vale v Harrogate on the VST – fair result at 0-0 but it’s the type of game we need to be winning to get promotion. Our formation was all wrong until the last 20 mins when we went 4-4-2 and could have won it – where have you heard that?
Anyway Scott Brown did ok and should still be ok for tomorrow ☺️
Gene
I take it that is made up ? 😂
Multi million pound players missing really good chances for chelski – who would have thought.
Sorry Frank lampard’s chelski
Adi – which part ?
GENE
I watched the match on Freesport and didn’t think we played as badly as I feared, based on Thursday’s updates on here.
Packed defence, away in Europe, a win is always good.
Concerned that Lennon played Jamesie knowing he had an injury.
Now worried Jeremie will be kicked off the park tomorrow, and the mib won’t care.
Mate has given me a vst, lookin’ forward to it.
I see Gareth Bale is out with a knee injury.
What are Spurs paying for his loan?
£300,000 per week?
Ouch!
Philbhoy
I’ve recorded it but the fact that one knows the score takes away the angst and allows s calmer assessment
Thought it was £500k – whatever it is it’s abhorrent.
GENE
I still jumped up when Moi scored the winner!
What energy young Jeremie has!
Wonder if he’s got a brother?
ADI
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Brown_(footballer,_born_April_1985)
West Bromwich go 2-0 up
GENE
I thought it was 50% of his weekly £600,000.
As you say, obscene.
Big mistake from the multi million pound defender – chelski quick news in meltdown.
Just finished a 3 hour session playing Pool in Reardons.
Having to wear a mask for 3 hours isnae good.
The externalisation of the hierarchy is happening now.
Eyes Wide Shut lets you know. You know dontcha.
Please Lord Jesus come quickly.
I would like to apologise to the Blog for my part in recent unpleasant exchanges.
I won’t respond to him again.
3-0 – chelski will be after Julien, Duffy and Ajer
GENE
……….and Lennon!
:-)
PETEC on 26TH SEPTEMBER 2020 5:57 PM
Just finished a 3 hour session playing Pool in Reardons.
——————
I take it young Aidan beat you again ? :O)
Chelsea have 75% of the play, 6 shots, 3 on target.
Gettin’ beat 3-0 after 27 minutes.
Statistics.
By West Bromwich Albion!!
Eh…100%
I’m on page 6 and without doubt PHILBHOY is ma man.😉
FAIRHILL BHOY
It gets worse!
Love ye!
How much have Chelsea spent 🤔
FB
Not enough 🤭
Is the game next Thursday on telly
Our Asian meal has just arrived so I may be a while!
St tams
Probably premier sports
VogueP,
I was winning 7-3 as well.
Great games as always.
I gave him a conventional granny this time, first against the wee guy. He never even said Well Done.😁
I hope you are Rocking like a Rhino Big chap.
HWGTTIAR
Changed name?
For what it’s worth, there was one post purporting to be from a South of Tunis a few weeks ago. Was quite non specific as I remember. Wish there was a way to search back and find a user’s posts to confirm.
It is possible to change your visible name as I have just done. So for whatever reason someone else could have changed their visible name for that one post.
my new pet hate,
while watching the Spurs v Gunners ladies match.
Some mighty fine football skills in there.
Why do footballers now hide their lips everytime they are gathered over a set piece.
do they think the opposition can lip read, and get a message to the team of what is going to happen.
Chekski pull one back
Back to Ron Bacardi
Ron
I’m sure some do just to argue with themselves 😉
I preferred the new Ron 🤭
St Tams
Think we both commented favourably about Brighton last week. Unlucky today.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVFdGeNUUAEpvrU?format=jpg&name=large