\u201cIt\u2019s not that we owe anyone a better performance We turned up [in Georgia] and played as well as we could on that day. What we did didn\u2019t come off. But everyone worked their socks off, so it\u2019s not about owing people anything. But we want to get to the Euros for everybody.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n He was asked about his commitment, and whether or not he will walk away from the national team now that he is thirty. \u00a0Which must have riled him.<\/p>\n He replied, rather more diplomatically than I would have;<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cNo, I enjoy playing every week and I will keep training for as long as I possibly can,When I don\u2019t enjoy that, then it will be the time to hang the boots up. It won\u2019t be one or the other \u2013 it\u2019ll be when I don\u2019t enjoy both of them. Unless I don\u2019t get picked, of course.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Strachan has said he will change thngs for tonight, which hopefully means less dependence on journeymen such as Steven Fletcher and James Morrison, but he does have his favourites, so expect more of the same.<\/p>\n He’s even talking about bringing in Chris Martin, -you’ll spot him in the line up, he’s the one with the surprised he’s playing international football look on his face-and he gave his reasons.<\/p>\n Which must make sense to someone, I suppose.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cMartin gives you an option as well. He can stand in there and take the ball in.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHe can\u2019t run about like other people, but he has the strength to get the ball under control and bring people into the game. I think his goalscoring record is as good as anybody\u2019s over the last two years. In a more competitive league as well.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n He can’t run about but he can stand there.<\/p>\n Fuck me, Gordon, I’ll bring my boots shall I?<\/p>\n He added: \u201cMcArthur has been great for Crystal Palace. If anybody is in the form team just now it\u2019s James.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo it is getting a balance between the height, the strength, the patience and still have enough to go forward and cause a problem. I want height and how do we counter attack and pass. The Germans can look like men against boys because they are so good at passing and physical as well.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo I need to get height, strength, patience and intelligence – and how do we counter attack and attack them and take players on? I love to see players taking players on. How do we put that in the team? We have the system, it\u2019s trying to get the names and bodies in there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Steven Fletcher has played in 386 games to date, and scored 108 goals. Martin 303 and 103.<\/p>\n Leigh Griffiths is scoring every time he plays of late. It’s what strikers do.<\/p>\n The table doesn’t make for great reading for Strachan, but two wins out of three could still see the scots progress, depending on other results;<\/p>\n Strachan has stuck with the same players throughout the campaugn, but even he must be seeing that one or two are simply not up to it. He will have to stick with them for now, but should the Scots finally make a summer tournament, things will have to change.<\/p>\n I don’t even need to put down my can of superlager to see that.<\/p>\n In the Jock Stein Memorial game yesterday, Celtic lost 2-0 to Dunfermline, but it seems the real winner was fun.<\/p>\n And, of course, charity.<\/p>\n The money goes towards \u00a0Syrian Refugee relief, something even Germany are heavily involved with. They are setting up a massive refugee camp in the countryside, known as the Black Forrest ghetto, and it’s nice to see that someone in this country is doing their bit.<\/p>\n Britain, of course, is sticking to it’s usual customs check;<\/p>\n The game itself featured hollywood stars such as James McAvoy and Vinnie Jones, and everyone seemed to have a good time.<\/p>\n Neil Lennon wore the captians amrband for the day, something he is more than used to doing, but there was another flashback to another game at East End Park…<\/p>\n 41 A melee in the box and the referee blows his whistle for an infringement just as Neil Lennon was preparing to pull the trigger. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n I’m assuming he wasn’t carrying a gun, despite any feelings he may still harbour for Scottish officials.<\/p>\n He still has feelings for Celtic though, and offered consolation for the players who didn’t make the champions League, as he looked ahead to the Europa group.;<\/p>\n “Celtic have Ajax, Fenerbahce and Molde are no mugs either. So, yeah, the group is mouth-watering. It will be good for Ronny and the players.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMaybe they are just a little bit short of the Champions League at the moment because basically over the last there or four years they have sold their best players to keep the economic side of things going.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo maybe that will be a good yardstick for building for next season \u2013 and hopefully for the Champions League.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI found the Europa League beneficial for the Champions League. We had Udinese and Athletico Madrid, Rennes and that was a very good group.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAnd you could start seeing the fruits of what was to come that year against those teams.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cUdinese were one of the top teams in Italy and I think Athletico Madrid went on to win it that year.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo that was an excellent building process, if that\u2019s what you want to call it, for what was to come the following year.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n And he stressed it’s not the end of the world;<\/p>\n “Look, it\u2019s always difficult to qualify.<\/em><\/p>\n “In 2003 we got knocked out by Basel and went on to the UEFA Cup final. Whether this team can go on and do that I don\u2019t know. But you can go on and make a run at it.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt just adds to the experience that they\u2019ll get playing against the quality of sides they\u2019ll come up against.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s a group that Ronny and the players will think they can get out of.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAjax maybe aren\u2019t as strong as they were, Fenerbache have spent a bit of money and Molde are certainly beatable home and away.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was more , unexpected, \u00a0laughter \u00a0yesterday as a Second Rangers supporter, perhaps a little carried away with his teams great start to their fourth year of senior football, decided to share his assessment of the players values…<\/p>\n When will it dawn on them ? They haven’t got anything worth a fortune, and if they had it would soon be cashed in. Or perhaps they really did get lucky, and all these superstars were just overlooked by teams that could offer them a signing on fee and wages.<\/p>\n Mind you, old Magic Hat Warburton, the manager who was on standby to replace Roy Hodgson had England failed to qualify for Euro 2016, sounds just as deluded;<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t tempted to spend at all on Tuesday, ( The last day of the transfer window )We\u2019re pleased with our early permanent signings.\u00a0<\/span>The plan was always to get them in before going to the loan market. Thankfully that\u2019s worked out really well.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Our focus is now on January and we\u2019ll look at how the squad shapes up over the next few months. We\u2019ll have players lined up as and when we need them.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Any manager has to have the trust of the board. So why spend money when you don\u2019t need it? The unity is good and one bad apple can upset that.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>You have a better chance as a coach now if you show prudence and seek value. If you\u2019re wasteful with the money it will come back to haunt you.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>If we thought there was a seven-figure player who was available, and who would add value to us on and off the pitch, we\u2019d go and ask the board.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n A few weeks ago, Gordon Waddell highlighted the amount of players breaking through to Celtic’s first team from the Academy. Based on research from Miguel Delaney, things aren’t that good in England either.<\/p>\n 5<\/strong>\u00a0Aston Villa<\/em> Something to think about. The article is worth a read, as it’s very well presented, and gives food for thought. And hopefully, someone will pick up on it, as it shows the damage being done at grass roots level to the game by Sky TV.<\/p>\n![\"Group](\"http:\/\/c.files.bbci.co.uk\/966C\/production\/_85380583_groupdtablepostmatch.png\")
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<\/p>\n@<\/s>celticfc<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a018h<\/span>18 hours ago<\/span><\/a><\/small><\/em><\/div>\n![\"Embedded](\"https:\/\/pbs.twimg.com\/media\/COO3GxUWUAAGVi0.jpg\")
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YOUTH GRADUATES TO PLAY 25 GAMES SINCE 2010-11<\/em><\/h4>\n
\n3<\/strong>\u00a0Tottenham, Newcastle, Southampton<\/em>
\n2<\/strong>\u00a0Arsenal, Liverpool<\/em>
\n1<\/strong>\u00a0Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leicester,<\/em>
\nMan United, Stoke, Swansea, Watford, West Brom<\/em>
\n0<\/strong>\u00a0Chelsea, Man City, Norwich, Sunderland, West Ham \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
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