Ahead of today’s visit from St Mirren, manager Ange Postecoglou gave us an insight into how he picks his teams…
“It was a pretty punishing game against AZ but everyone has come through okay.
“I’m sure there are a few who are still a bit sore so I’ll leave my starting line-up until today.”
He’s making it up as he goes along….which perhaps means he trusts whoever he plays to do what he asks.
This notion was strengthened when he added…
I’ve been through these periods before when as a manager you feel like you’re not doing a lot of training, so you can’t get out there and work with the players.
“You have to find other ways to get information across, and rely on other people to get the players back up in terms of recovery.
One of his strengths is clearly communication, as the players have readily bought into what he wants from them, and maybe another is that often ignored managerial trait, delegation.
We did hear that Celtic have signed up with zoneai7, a sports science analytic group that have worked with “rangers “, among others, in recent years. they must be good, especially given the lack of Covid infections last season over at Ibrox.
This could be what he refers to when he says he has to
rely on other people to get the players back up in terms of recovery.
With both Christie and Abede taking longer than we’re used to to recover from knocks, maybe this is the paradigm shift in policy we’ve been hoping for.
Out goes the magic sponge and the cortisone injection,and in comes proper medical care. It’s incalculable the difference this could make, and when one remembers how Keiran Tierney spoke about the difference between how Arsenal treated his hip and how Celtic didn’t, it’s not a moment too soon.
The high intensity of the Angera means there will be a few battered bodies out there, so it’s important to look after them. Though in fairness, it should have been done a long time ago.
It’s surprising, that given the value of these assets, the club has allowed a level of what could be called neglect, but then again, they aren’t exactly feted for their knowledge of the game.
But , as with everything else this season, let’s just be thankful the changes are being made.
St Mirren have only one point from their opening two games, and manager Jim goodwin has tested [positive for Covid, so they might not be at their best today.
Celtic are on a bit of a roll, and are expected to keep the pressure on the early trio of leaders with a comfortable win.
I’d be happy with 7-0, which as a long time Diary prediction would, if it happened, show just how far ahead of its time this particular page is.
There seems to be a little problem with the capture of the Greek striker Giorgios Giakoumakis. The clubs have agreed terms, or haven’t, and the player is, or isn’t happy with the personal terms.
As usual, the board are getting it in the neck for not paying what he wants, as at just £2.5m , the man who was top scorer in the Eredivisie is surely worth a gamble ?
Chuck in wages , bonuses and signing on fees, and that £2.5m becomes closer to 5m, and with none of the top dutch sides interested in the man who topped their charts last season, then maybe we’re right to be cautious.
You could cite others , such as van Hooijdonk and Samaras , who were ignored..if they were…by Ajax et al, but let’s be honest…van Hooijdonk was a pain in the arse and Samaras was at best inconsistent.
Virgil van Dijk is an exception, but he wasn’t a striker, and thus didn’t get the same attention.
There’s another factor here as well.
Giakoumakis won;t replace Kyogo, and if no one wants Edouard, then he’s immediately third choice. Factor in Ajeti and Griffiths, then even though we know he’d still be third choice, he might not think that, and it may just be that he’s weighing up all his other options.
Even the board can’t be blamed for that.
It’s also worth remembering that Ange has said sometimes he hums and haws, and that also might be why we haven’t pushed the boat out to get him. Though if we did push the boat out to bring in a foreigner then Nigel Farage and Priti Patel would be furious, so on that basis alone we should sign him.
However, as a Dutch football fan on Twitter pointed out… regarding the lack of interest from the top Dutch sides…
That’s not true. Groningen technical boss Nijland confirmed Feyenoord inquired after him, but it did not work out. Probably a money issue. We never have any. Same with Giakoumakis. There have been talks. I am sure most of us at Feyenoord would like to have him.
So what the dickens do I know ? (the square root of fuck all-Ed )
In other news, the first Glasgow derby of the season looks set to take place without any Celtic fans present, as the Ibrox club/company have decided to pull their offer of 750 tickets as they claim Celtic couldn’t guarantee reciprication in the New Year game.
Peter Cassidy of STV framed it;
There will be no Celtic fans at Ibrox for next weekend’s Old Firm game.
The Parkhead side were due to receive 700 for what will be the first Glasgow derby of the season a week on Sunday, but that offer has now been withdrawn.
It comes as Celtic were unable to guarantee Rangers the same allocation for the return fixture in January if Covid restrictions remain as they are today.
Thus setting the narrative, presumably in case anyone wants to ask the real reason.
Which is obvious, given the current financial issues at Ibrox…
I’m sure that they will sell them for more to their own support, a notion that terrifies the players who tend to fall apart in front of them.
They were also planning to unveil the league title flag, and so no doubt there will be plenty of merchandise on sale…55 this and 55 that.
As well as the new season tat, under the tag line “Going for 110 “.
Then again, should they lose tomorrow, it might not be the flag that is hoisted on a pole…..
Songs for players have been a bit of an issue recently, but there appears to be a clear winner as far as one for Kyogo goes….
Today….
Caption
Schizophrenia a new symptom of COVID
Caption: FUD.
Winner
What an absolute fanny, a mean who the fe k walks about wi a hairdo like that ?
Ah yes, the new Partick Thistle away top
Would you look at that. As if the front wasn’t bad enough there’s a pic on the back of someone polishing a turd.
James Corben trying to be funny…..fat Dick
Caption – Latest Castore kit cockup
Your just a fat Kenny Miller, fat Kenny Miller!
That’s Castore’ eh!
Caption: Ryan Kent in another kit shocker.
Funnily enough I have a great memory of a 7-0 home win against St Mirren but that was way back in the early eighties when McGarvey scored a hat-trick – his second in that game is still one of the best goals I’ve ever seen (extended highlights of this game are easily found on Youtube).
I don’t think we’ll have it quite as easy as that today as although Saints still haven’t found their rhythm, they’ve been a fairly potent force in Scottish football over the last couple of seasons and have a solid enough defence featuring the likes of Joe Shaughnessy, Conor McCarthy and ex-Celt Marcus Fraser. Recent Ireland cap Jamie McGrath is the playmaker and by far their best player, full of energy and creativity with a goal in him.
Saints have a few recent signings who are familiar names to us like midfield hatchetman Alan Power (who could forget that horror challenge he made at Rugby Park on wee Frimpong a couple of seasons ago) as well as strikers Eamonn Brophy (ex Killie) and Curtis Main (ex-Motherwell and Aberdeen). Both can be quite a handful on their day. Don’t know who’s refereeing this one but I hope he keeps a grip of things, especially keeping tabs on that fkn animal Power.
I hope our own good run of form continues and that there’s no serious fatigue lingering from that entertaining battle on Wednesday night. There could well be slight team rotation and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Christie back operating on the left. Young Adam Montgomery could turn out to be a wee gem as he’s very competitive and has the ability to make things happen when going forward. It could be interesting to try him out as LB instead of Greg T but maybe Ange prefers to deploy Monty further forward on the pitch.
A house can only be as good as its foundations, a rock band can only be as good as its drummer just as a football side can only be as good as its goalie. Joe Hart, what a difference you have made. Had a great game the other night and his confidence seems to be flooding back. This guy has everything – shot stopping abilities, good distribution, excellent communication skills and much, much more. I’d expect Saints to dig deep and defend desperately but I don’t see anything other than a comfortable win for the Tic and, hopefully, a competent and entertaining performance to go with it.
Hart
Ralston Welsh Starfelt Montgomery
McGregor Turnbull Rogic
Forrest Furahashi Christie
3-0 to the Tic
COYBIG
Caption:
“That haircut is a pure riddy.”
Caption: Half kit wanker
Caption
Still be
Investors in 55 do not realise they are being sold a pup. Guy at the back has just noticed the bird poo.
There is real panic in the media about Ange as the mighty Sevco are shown to be a team of journeymen. They hope some mug is coming to pay wads of cash for these journeymen.
Caption …
Half and half scarves sellers new product raises eyebrows and blood pressure…
Caption – Declan MacMason’s parents were the world’s first couple to be married via a telephone call; his father, Billy, was in the Pastor Jack Glass Memorial Church, Larkhall, and Theresa, his mother, was in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome.
I’m 2 quarters a fuckwit
The first fan from Schizophrenia has arrived in Glasgow to watch his team play with themselves.
Fat fvck with stupid hair……Lawwell’s vision becomes reality.
Welcome to Celtic Josie.
Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that it has reached agreement with Legia Warsaw for the transfer of Croatian defender Josip Juranovic, subject to the satisfaction of usual conditions and international clearance. On satisfaction and gaining clearance, Josip will sign on a five-year deal.
As well as playing with Legia Warsaw, Josip also played for a number of seasons with Hajduk Split in Croatia.
He will be the eighth new signing to join our first team squad in the current window, following Osaze Urhoghide, Liam Shaw, Liel Abada, Joe Hart, James McCarthy, Carl Starfelt and Kyogo Furuhashi.
Josip is due to join up with his new team-mates at Celtic early in the coming week.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou said: “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing Josip to the Club and we are sure he will be a great addition to the squad.
“As I have said before, everyone at the club has been working hard to add to our squad and we have made good progress. I am really pleased to bring Josip in to support the rest of the boys.
“We have so many challenges ahead of us and Josip will add important quality and depth. I am really looking forward to working with him.”
Caption, Football realignment. Billy is transitioning, from a Hun to a Tim, after 8 years he’s only half way to Paradise. Next year he will be fully deradicalised, fitted with bigger balls and will become a fulltime Tim.
Working at the local agricultural show, where the Clydesdale’s look magnificent, the Nat-Wests, not so much. Good luck to Ange and the team, welcome Josip. COYBIG.
Super, lovely, that’s great, it’s a Cinch to win the caption comment, nothing beats a bit of Bully.
Talking about Cinch Ralphy, the SFA’s gone very quiet about the Cinch sponsorship, as you know Murdoch McGifty passed it over to Doncaster, who quickly passed the parcel to the “Quiet Man” Ian Maxwell. That’s the first parcel of fun, the second would be paying back the loan to Scot guv, then came the news of the Bhoycott. The deflection of Cinch put’s the whole sponsorship deal under threat, it’s as if they have a second death wish, or suicidal tendencies. Is this shit-fest all that they bring to the table and if so, is it worth it? asking for a friend. All the best.
Caption
Laurie on his way home to phone Radio Clyde
Laurie from denistoun?
Yes
God the BBC trying to justify thuggery, Powers tackle shocker, at least Gollum red carded him, Abada taking over
Absolutely luvvin’ this. Not just the classy stuff on the ball and the finishing but the speed and intelligence of movement off the ball and the way the bhoys hunt in packs to retrieve it. Roll on Thursday night.
And Shane Duffy nets for Brighton. How quickly things change. Feels a million years since his erse was getting skelped under Lennon.
Celts were as good today as they were as bad last season.
Collum just poor ref.
Bit concerned with the slackening off in the 2nd half
🙂 🙂 🙂
I know you’d think they had two big important games coming up or sumfin……#inangewetrust
Good grief Christina .. I know I always knew. I was drunk forgive me
Anyone else think we need two centre backs? I keep reloading the daily scribes to see whether there’s interest in buying one or two
Caption: Half deed.
To the tune of McNamara’s Band
Kyogo Furuhashi he’s the fenian samurai
Scores a blinding hattrick in the blink of an eye
He slices through defences like sushi on plate
Kyogo Furuhashi the Celtic number eight
One flew over the cuckoo’s nest
Caption
Richard Foster in rapid weight gain shocker!
Caption : ‘Who the f**k is KYOGOHAGI’
Caption: Bipolar guy looking to become quadrafenian WLTM woman with hairdressing experience. SSOH. Partly solvent.
Why is it wrong to be racist about a Japanese guy but ok if he’s Irish? They are all over the place.
Sickening. HH!
Their excuse is that they don’t see Irish as a race so it’s fair game to them. Heard this from one of my In Laws from the dark side.
He actually tried to rationalise it on the basis of the word race. I asked I’m if someone made fun of his accent, pyuir Glesga like, he said it would just be a joke. I said what if they made fun of his red hair, again he felt it would be just in fun. I said what if you went for a job interview and the interviewer said no I don’t like your accent or your red hair and that his customers would not approve. Would you think it funny then? Ah but that’s different he says . Irony, lack of self awareness, lack of self respect not sure which defines his outlook. It’s, sadly, the Kultur he was brought up in. He actually said that like a lot of his fellow ‘supporters’ it was just banter and at minimum they were 90 minute bigots with a small ‘b’. He actually said “ a small ‘b’ in the belief that that excused it.
Typical knuckle draggers, posted self-incriminating vid themselves so they could share what they feel as funny with others just as stupid. Luckily, the international fallout and sheer embarrassment should ensure something is done. HH!
We are the peepul also have no leisure.
sevco variants of racism FC.
“Jim fixed it for me”
I’ll get me coat…
just seen video of penalty Ross County didnae get FFS these masonic f@cking refs at it already.
We are gonny have to beat Sevco by about 3 or 4 next weekend as these refs are gonny gie us
a hard time again this season,just hope big Ange is ready for the c#nts.
Once a Hun, alway’s a Hun, their club may be gone, but it’s characteristics, traits and behaviour of its support, remain. Good to read that the club has called them out, for a change, is there a fundamental change in Celtic’s response to the racist’s bigot’s, now that Lawwell is no more? who nose, but at least it’s a start. Now, what we want, no demand is to hear is the governing bodies “Call It Out”. No club or person should be allowed to investigate itself, the evidence is there in plain sight, SFA – SPFL – Police Scotland, do your duty. Another obvious sign of change is the new, more experienced players coming into the club, but with longer term contracts, experience – longer contract’s sounds much better, it gives the players and the club more security. So, we seem to be moving in the right direction, just cut the ties entirely from them and isolate them, the scabs of Scottish football. Hello, is that Liam Scales, where are you? looking for Liam Scales.