Young talent will shape the future at Crusaders, insists Declan Caddell
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STV News
15 minutes ago
- STV News
Schmeichel in no hurry for contract talks but loving every day at Celtic
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel says he is in no hurry to talk with the club about a new contract at Parkhead because his focus in on enjoying football and dealing with the challenges ahead. The Danish keeper arrived in Glasgow as Joe Hart's successor a year ago and enjoyed a successful first season with Premiership and Premier Sports Cup success, as well as a run to the knockout stage of the Champions League. He signed a one-year contract extension in January that takes him through until next summer, with no certainty about what the future holds beyond that. Speaking to STV ahead of his side's Champions League play-off against Kairat Almaty, that will decide whether Celtic get another crack at the League Phase fo the elite competition, he said his own situation was far from a priority. 'No, that's just not how how we operate right now,' he said. 'There's a massive game and all focus is on that. 'I can't imagine that's important to them or to me, at the moment. 'I've got a contract and it is what it is at the moment. We'll take that at some point.' Schmeichel will turn 39 this season, playing well beyond the age that most professionals reach, and just over a year away from what would be a real landmark. He says he's not contemplating either retirement or a definite push towards football at 40. Instead, he takes the view that he should enjoy every day doing a job he loves. 'The way I've looked at it, football is very, very unpredictable,' he said. 'You take nothing for granted. You know, one big injury could finish your career at any point of your life. 'So you take each and every day on its merit. Each game on its merit. And you enjoy every single one of them.' He added: 'For me, I don't think in limitations. I don't think 'I need to get to there' or 'I need to get to here'. 'Every single day it's 'How can we get better? How can I get better? What can I do to to improve not just myself but the people around me? Are we giving enough?' All those kind of things, that's that's how I measure it.' After a sunny day preparing for another European night under the lights at Celtic Park, the veteran international reflected on seeing his dad Peter end a long and decorated career and said it made him appreciate just playing for as long as he can. 'I know if that passion and that love and desire one day starts to starts to wither, then that might be the time to to finish, but I can't see that happening anytime soon. 'But you know I'm just enjoying every single minute of playing. 'I'm very lucky in the sense that I've had a father who's gone through that process. 'I've seen it close up first hand so I haven't gone through, but I feel like I've gone through it. 'So for me, I'm in an incredible position to just enjoy it and there's a long, long, long life after football, hopefully. 'There's a long life after football, so while you're a footballer, I don't think you're ever gonna find a better job in the world. 'It's just about enjoying it, you know. You've seen today, a sunny day with the pitch watered and the Champions League balls out, diving around. 'I mean it's never gonna get better than that.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
33 minutes ago
- Scotsman
New signings, Hearts tactics, the stutter at St Mirren and what comes next
Premier Sports Cup exit in Paisley was tough for the Edinburgh club to take Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Call it a reality check, a defeat by the narrowest of margins, or just a plain old bad day at the office. Regardless of your perspective, Hearts' Premier Sports Cup exit at St Mirren on Saturday was a stutter in a flow of victories under Derek McInnes' stewardship. Six wins from six preceded the trip to Paisley, but losing on penalties after a 1-1 draw hit hard. Tynecastle management had designs on ending the club's long wait to lift the League Cup. Instead, a 63-year delay will extend to 64 years by the time next season's tournament comes round. There are various reasons behind this year's ousting at the last-16 stage, not to mention plenty frustration at how the 120 minutes panned out. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Several issues arose during the first half of the regulation 90 minutes with Hearts in a 3-4-3 formation after starting both Premiership games against Aberdeen and Dundee United in a 3-5-2 system. New signings Pierre Landry Kabore and Tomas Magnusson made their first starts in maroon, while fellow summer recruit Alexandros Kyziridis made only his second. All three newcomers toiled for different reasons and were replaced at half-time as McInnes made a triple substitution. Kabore lined up on the right of the visitors' front three, with Kyziridis on the left and Lawrence Shankland the central striker. Magnusson partnered Cammy Devlin in midfield. As the game settled, it was clear St Mirren's aggression, physicality and high press were unsettling their guests. Energy, desire and sheer strength are non-negotiables against any Stephen Robinson team, and Hearts looked off the pace. Saints set up in their familiar 3-5-2 and took command of the central area, where the imposing triumvirate of Killian Phillips, Keanu Baccus and captain Mark O'Hara enjoyed both a physical and numerical advantage over Devlin and Magnusson. Hearts midfielder Oisin McEntee would have helped combat that problem at 6ft 3in tall, but he was shunted to right wing-back for this fixture. The Irishman was asked to step into midfield when Hearts had possession, however out of possession he was out wide and St Mirren therefore dominated the middle of the pitch. There is no doubt McEntee is more effective in central midfield, witness Hearts' opening Premiership victories against Aberdeen and Dundee United. He was badly missed in there at the weekend with Magnusson caught on the ball several times and appearing to lack sharpness in a frenetic Scottish Cup tie. The Icelander was cautioned after five minutes and struggled thereafter. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kabore lacked nothing in appetite as he put himself about up and down the right side. Blootering the St Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George in a 17th-minute aerial challenge illustrated his determination to make an impact. He was booked in first-half stoppage-time and replaced in the dressing-room minutes later. Kyziridis also struggled to get into the game having been given little space to breathe by a combination of Jayden Richardson and Marcus Fraser on the right side of St Mirren's defence. McInnes identified the need for change, but Alex Gogic's volley from a free-kick routine caught Hearts out to give the hosts a 1-0 half-time advantage. Levelling the scoreline was a challenge against Robinson's well-drilled rearguard, and the Tynecastle side toiled to find a way through. They switched to 4-4-2 when winger Alan Forrest replaced centre-back Craig Halkett on 74 minutes and scored four minutes later. McEntee - now playing as a orthodox right-back - met Harry Milne's corner with a powerful back-post header. For the third game in succession, Hearts looked more comfortable in that 4-4-2 shape and scored whilst using it. The theme of starting with a three-man defence and flipping to a back four in the second half was present in many of their seven competitive matches this term. They won the first six but this time St Mirren held firm. Hearts pushed forward for the remainder of the game and throughout extra-time, but Robinson's side resisted and eventually won 5-4 on penalties. SPFL Premiership fixtures resume as Motherwell visit Edinburgh So what comes next when Motherwell visit Tynecastle on league business this Saturday? McEntee back in midfield would seem likely, and there is an argument for starting in a 4-4-2 formation if it permits more attacking threat. McInnes likes 4-4-2 but is, understandably, concerned about his team being outnumbered in central midfield against opponents who deploy three players in that area. The Hearts head coach also likes two strikers up front. He certainly got no joy from using three in Paisley, so a 4-3-3 experiment would seem unlikely. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Recent signings like Kabore and Magnusson will need more time to acclimatise to Scottish football. Kabore, the Burkina Faso internationalist, may be more effective as a central striker than a winger. That may become clearer in time. For now, Hearts remain a work in progress three months since appointing McInnes from Kilmarnock. They weren't supposed to be the finished article, the transfer window is still open, and nine new signings are at varying stages in terms of fitness and familiarity with the Scottish game. Defeat on penalties at St Mirren is hugely disappointing for Hearts, but not an outright disaster in terms of the direction the team is heading in. Had Saturday's match been a league game, then a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes would not have been viewed as a wholly unacceptable result for a team still gelling together after nine new signings. There are still tweaks and adjustments to be made, and there is no doubt McInnes' team will be stronger when the Scottish Cup campaign begins in mid-January. Between now and then, league prowess will be monitored closely in the absence of any European or cup adventures. Hearts and minds will therefore be focused on one issue only in the weeks and months ahead. If Saturday was a jolt, there is plenty time to use it positively and continue the recent improvement. READ MORE: Baningime wants more responsibility READ MORE: Candid reaction from McInnes
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
'We have to expect to win home games'
Glentoran manager Declan Devine says his side must become accustomed to winning their home games as they prepare to host Glenavon at the Oval on Tuesday Glens' home form was disappointing last term but they managed to follow up their 1-0 win on the road against Portadown with a victory by a similar scoreline on their own patch against Premiership new boys Bangor on signing Ryan Cooney scored the only goal of the game in the success over the Seasiders."It's a good start, but we've got to dust down and be ready for Tuesday," reflected Devine in an interview with BBC Sport NI after the match."Every time we play here [at home] we've got to expect to win games. That's something we have to look at now and is something we can do again on Tuesday."It's very early in the season. A lot of clubs, including ourselves, are finding their way. "We have to look to get better than Saturday. I felt that on Saturday we were better than last week and I hope that on Tuesday night we are better than today again."The Glens boss was satisfied with his team's performance against Bangor but expects improvement in attack."Really pleased with the application of the players and how we moved the ball and the control that they put into the game. Just looking for a little more in the final third but that will come."I would have liked a wee bit more penetration, especially the couple of chances we had in the first half. Their keeper made a wonder save from Jordan Stewart."For all the dominance we had I would have liked to add a couple of goals. But it's a new group playing a new way and I have to give every single player that played a lot of credit."Devine is happy with the make-up of his squad."We've assembled a squad but we've high-level players not available. We've a lot of competition, a lot of flexibility and a lot of quality players."I'm a greedy person and I want us to put teams to bed a wee bit earlier. At the same time if you'd have offered me six points from two difficult fixtures I'd have taken it."
