{"id":17087,"date":"2021-08-08T06:52:20","date_gmt":"2021-08-08T05:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=17087"},"modified":"2021-08-08T06:55:55","modified_gmt":"2021-08-08T05:55:55","slug":"celtic-diary-sunday-august-8-dont-rock-the-boat-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=17087","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Sunday August 8: Don’t Rock The Boat, Baby!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The games continue to come thick and fast, with Celtic beginning their home league campaign this afternoon against Dundee.<\/p>\n

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In pre match interviews, manager Ange Postecoglou has been careful not to mix them up with local rivals Dundee united, as that sems to annoy Taysiders , as Steven Gerrard found out yesterday as they were beaten 1-0 by the Arabs, whose style of play was a little more combative than the Ibrox side were used to, largely down to Gerrard calling them Dundee in his press conferences.<\/p>\n

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DUFCCulture<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
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Dundee United ending The Rangers 40 game unbeaten run just like we ended their old club. Call us Dundee now Gerrard ya wanker. Fucking magnificent.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Oddly enough, being mistakenly called Rangers never seemed to upset Gerrard’s players.<\/p>\n

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Hearts continued their fine start to life back in the top league with a win over St Mirren in Paisley, and now might even be thinking of a title challenge themselves.<\/p>\n

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Aberdeen and Hibernian both play today as well, and could join them on maximum points, all of which makes for an entertaining and interesting start to the season.<\/p>\n

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Not as exciting as this frenetic chase though…..<\/p>\n

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But, of course, it’s what Celtic do that matters, and new bhoy James McCarthy could make his debut today, in front of a crowd of 25,000…..<\/p>\n

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He’s a Celtic fan, and the media are making a fairly big issue about that, but what’s equally important is he brings a little bit extra experience to the side, having been around a bit.<\/p>\n

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When combined with his Celtic mindedness, that could turn out to be very important indeed.<\/p>\n

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Regarding his experience, he told the Glasgow Times about the other managers he’s worked under… Robero Martinez, Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane….<\/p>\n

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Martinez was a massive influence,\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe took me down south and then to Everton.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201cHe was a massive influence on me tactically, every detail he’d go into on a daily basis.<\/em><\/p>\n

“I think [he made me a better player]. I went down there as a young boy and grew into a man within six or seven months, because I went down there when I was 18 and found it difficult to get in the team. By January I eventually broke in but at that time I was more advanced midfield, inside left where I’d play for Hamilton.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter a year or two I went to a deeper midfielder, so he changed a lot of things in my game and I am thankful to him. I still speak to him quite a lot. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago on text.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd having the likes of Martin O’Neill with Ireland has been a big influence. With Ireland, I loved my time playing under Martin. We had a lot of good times to be fair.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe got to the Euros and done well in that, getting put out to France was disappointing but I enjoyed my time working under Martin.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201cWith Roy, he would tell you what he thought but that’s just the way Roy is. You see him on Sky and he’s no different to when he’s in the changing-room with you.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cRoberto and Graeme Jones were maybe not shouting and bawling but would get their point across as well. That’s just different styles of managers and part and parcel of football.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Some have expressed doubts about his fitness, but he seems happy enough with how he feels….<\/p>\n

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\u201cI feel good physically and mentally. I am looking forward to seeing the lads, training with the boys. It’s a new challenge for me and one I am excited about.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to play as long as I can. I feel good, I have trained and done a few tests with the staff at Celtic and they are saying I look good physically.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s taking it a day at a time but I feel good and I am looking forward to as many more years. I am not going to say I’ll play to this age because you never know in football, but I feel good and why not?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Ismael Soro is everyone’s tip to be the fall guy, with McCarthy taking his place, but don’t be surprised if David Turnbull is given a wee bit of a rest , as he seems a little out of sorts at the moment.<\/p>\n

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Oddsone Edoaurd will be back in contention for a start, at least according to manager Ange Postecoglou who says the Frenchman was laft out against Jablonec as he wasn’t one hundred per cent fit.<\/p>\n

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He said;<\/p>\n

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\u201cNothing has changed for me. Everyone knows that Odsonne is in the last year of his deal and there is plenty of talk that he will move in this window.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I just treat it as something that\u2019s happening in the background.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI prepare the squad for the games and he\u2019s played in most of them.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe had a little knock after Midtjylland and didn\u2019t train every day \u2013 so I put him on the bench in midweek.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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There he goes, slipping back into his native “Strine”<\/p>\n

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Loosely translated back into English that means he’ll be on the bench again today until he starts to look like he gives a shit.<\/p>\n

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Celtic looked hugely improved against Jablonec, and we can expect that to continue this afternoon, and just maybe the defence, having worked out how to defend set pieces, will also cut out the basic errors that have haunted them for a while.<\/p>\n

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Consistency in selection will help, but there’s always the Biton Factor, and the sooner he’s left out the better. He’s not the long term solution, or even a possible long term solution, so it’s baffling as to why he’s being selected.<\/p>\n

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Having been sent off against Midyyjtland was bad enough, and then his own goal in Czechia are making him a liability, so maybe it’s time to bring in Stephen Welsh, and give Biton a bit of a rest. For say, five years or so.<\/p>\n

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One or two have commented on the inverted full back style, and Celtic by Numbers<\/em> on Twitter has analysed it in action, which makes for interesting reading.<\/p>\n

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celticbynumbers<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
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Many asked about inverted full backs and it’s a load of hipster nonsense, and what’s the point, right? Goal 1 from last night brought to life in a real example many elements of what Postecoglou is trying to instil. (way to go go course)\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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1. Taylor moves infield to the centre circle. Now 9 opponents are in frame occupying left and centre of their field. That means Forrest is isolated 1v1 on the Celtic left\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
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2. Forrest receives the ball, look at the space the full back inverting has created behind and to the right of the winger. Forrest has great options here and this is a really bad position for the defence\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
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3. Forrest could take the defender on, but Taylor makes an under lapping run from his central starting position. Because Forrest’s pass is in behind the exposed full back, this forces the right centre back out, and gaps start to appear centrally in the defence.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
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4. Taylor does not thrash a “cross” in. His pass is a cut back, low The opposite winger, Abada, has made a run to the centre of the goal, the optimal place to score Taking a shot on strong foot from a ground pass also easier than a shot \/ header in the air<\/em><\/div>\n

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Note, in picture three that is not a real arrow, although it’s unlikely a Scottish referee would deem it an offence even if it was.<\/p>\n

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It appears we have been working on things in training, and it’s beginning to pay dividends.<\/p>\n

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Today, a win would be good, a clean sheet would be even better, but what would be the icing on the cake is if the supporters didn’t meet up and 1pm and start moaning about the board.<\/p>\n

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Yes, we know they are culpable, yes we know they blew the ten, but if we are prepared to give Ange Postecoglou time to fix thngs on the pitch, we need to give Dominic McKay time to fix them off it.<\/em><\/p>\n

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At this point in time, the priority is getting the team firing.<\/p>\n

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Any other firings can wait….<\/p>\n

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Elsewhere, and Inter Milan, one of Europe’s biggest and most successful clubs has joined Barcelona on the financially fragile list, with stories from Italy claiming they will have to sell players to avoid liquidation.<\/p>\n

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Barcelona are also in deep doo doo, which could very well be the beginning of the end for ludicrous player wages and payments to those not directly involved in the game, but seem to do fairly well out of it.<\/p>\n

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Directors at both clubs will be looking at avenues to save their skins, and are believed to have contacted an expert….<\/p>\n

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The problem for Inter is that they can’t just sell their ground to another club as they don’t own it, and coming back as Internazional Internazional Milan would just sound stupid.<\/p>\n

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Barcelona have found out, somewhat embarrassingly, that they can’t afford to keep star player Lionel Messi, although this could merely be a ploy to get the Spanish league to ease their own financial fair play rules, but if that doesn’t happen, Messi could end up in England or France, as they don’t worry too much about the rules there, and until they do, and clubs and associations start to work together to curb player demands, this may well turn out to cause headaches for other clubs, except Celtic , of course, who are run by a bunch of tight arse tories who seem to think that the clubs money is their’s and would rather not spend any of it if they could get away with it.<\/p>\n

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Again, look at the bigger picture before you dig out your pitchfork and head to the car park….<\/p>\n

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Speaking of recruitment policy, the local side at the best little town in Antrim are looking for players, and if this is you, give them a shout….<\/p>\n

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Cushendall FC<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
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Are you a passionate footballer who wants strong competition?<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
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Do you enjoy hard work and training to improve your skills? <\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
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Will you commit 100% to your new club? <\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
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If your answer to these questions is ‘No’ then Cushendall FC could be the club for you! <\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
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DM us for more info\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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We hear they are in talks with Alben Ajeti……( oh, read between the lines )<\/div>\n
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\u00a0And don’t say we’re not good to you…although I’ve no idea if this will work…..<\/div>\n
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On Friday, we had this….<\/div>\n
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Cartvale 88\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
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\u00a0Green Brigade discover new Police Scotland Ketteling procedure\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
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\u00a0Today….<\/div>\n
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The games continue to come thick and fast, with Celtic beginning their home league campaign this afternoon against Dundee.   In pre match interviews, manager…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":15981,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/etims.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/707801a2d39ee8bbdb95e2606e7678dd.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-4rB","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17087"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17087"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17089,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17087\/revisions\/17089"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}