FM Offside – Celtic
6 Comments
Pendrey tells me after a week of training his views on my team. And surprise, surprise he’s got left-back pegged as weak spot. Anybody who’s watched Celtic for the last two years could tell you that.
The fool also mentions that we are weakest in the midfield and tosses up some Italian no-user as an alternative. I’ve got, at last count 9-10 central midfielders (and Donati, see Italian no-user). Give me strength.
So I might be breaking my own rules almost right away LOL, because I can’t accept the former Wolves man at the top level. LOL.
Click to enlarge.
Second friendly must have been a Pendrey special, because it’s home to Rochdale for God’s sake. Might as well just have a kickaround in the park.
The following first eleven take the park, with Hartley out and Crosas in.
Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Naka, Broon, Crosas, McGeady; Mcdonald, JVOH
And we belt them 6-0 playing a standard 4-4-2. Goals from JVOH (2), Naka, Mick, Samaras, Skippy and an OG complete the rout.
These games are useless to try and analyse, everybody got 7s I think, so that should keep morale up until I give Nails his marching orders.
Just peaked at the regular season fixtures – ManU at Celtic Park to start the season. Happy Days!
2 Comments
Well I’m nicely settled in with the lads up and training like demons. I’ve used TT Training for this, including separate pieces for the Youth team and the rest.
Interesting that despite the much vaunted Academy and Youth set-up at Lennoxtown, the number of coaches for the first team is less than optimal to actually get anything resembling 5-star, never mind 7-star training running.
That said I’ve asked Daniel Fergus McGrain to come and join me in the first team, and taken him off youth team duties. I’ve got a bad feeling about the conveyor belt of young players at Celtic, but that’s the topic for another post.
Tactics are still a few weeks away to really hone them, so I’ve gone into my first friendly match with a basic 4-4-2 Strachan copycat effort. No thought on anything other than picked the “pick-itself” mob that currently turns out for Celtic.
Off to Hillsborough then where I should at least have a decent run with the following first eleven.
Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Naka, Broon, Hartley, McGeady; Mcdonald, JVOH
Eleven subs so everybody else will get a game, including wee ratface Mark Brown unfortunately. I’m hoping he gets sick of the bench and moves on, LOL.
Unfortunately things didn’t quite go to plan, as Scott Broon had another one of those “moments” and got sent off early doors for chopping some Wednesday guy in half. Skippy off, Robson on and we coasted after that.
O’Dea, Robson and Maloney all scored second half goals, mainly from deadballs and crosses. Hmmm. Might see how the second team goes in a friendly game against the first before the season starts actually.
1 Comment
Quick update kids, Dr John Reid tells me he’s fully supporting this new English adventure.
And he’ll pay me eighteen and a half thousand pounds a week to get thrashed off Fat Sam and his ilk. Good stuff, I’ve chucked the day job, working in me jammies has always been a dream.
I might enjoy this.
9 Comments
Managing: Celtic
Date: July 17, 2008
Status: Pre-Season Jitters
So farewell Gordon Strachan, moany-faced wee ginger genius. Farewell Rugby Park, Tannadice and the windswept Tulloch Cally Stadium in Inverness.
It’s hello to the bright lights of the EPL and the megabucks that go with it.
Dermot Desmond convinced the SKY money gods to let Celtic into the Premier League, and as everybody knows, we’ve been saying it for years, give us a chance with that TV money and you’ll see who the biggest club in Britain really is.
So sadly, it’s back to the Championship with Stoke and off to the SPL with Swansea. The English have been telling us for years that the SPL is the Euro-Disney League, let’s see how the Taffies get on up north.
Whats new? Celtic supporters will be paying an extra 4 quid a week to watch them get humped off Liverpool, but all existing players come with the team. I’ll be keeping a light touch on the managerial tiller to see if the current crop are good enough to compete in the EPL, no Pog or other “wonderkids” like Daryl on FM09, just the same old blokes who won 3 SPL titles on the trot and two last 16s in the CL. The thing is, there’ll be no CL money this year, or magic nights at Paradise to keep the punters happy.
I’m assuming Pendrey and the rest of the coaching staff will stick around, will be interesting to see where wee Gordon pops up during the season won’t it?
More than that, wonder if I’ll make it past Christmas…
Next Up: Return of the Prodigal
Home 
