The most striking aspect of yesterday’s games came from Pittodrie and Tynecastle. Aberdeen scored twice in second half stoppage time to secure a home win over Fola Esch from Luxembourg (good grief). Hearts came from behind with the assistance of a penalty and an own goal to secure a narrow win over Estonians, Infonet.
Infonet finished fourth in the Estonian league last season, well below possible Celtic Champions League qualifier opponents, Flora, and will fancy their chances of knocking Hearts out.
None of this means that Aberdeen, Hearts of Celtic have an equal in Estonia or Luxembourg, but it’s a testament to how bizarre playing football before you have completed preseason is. Even very well-run clubs like Southampton, who were humbled a year ago by Erik Sviatchenko and his Midtjylland pals, can find themselves out of Europe before they realise they are in a competition.
Celtic are likely to be playing the Estonian champions in 11 or 12 days. If they overcome that they will face a vastly stiffer test in three weeks time.
Yesterday’s exercise in Slovenia will hopefully blow some cobwebs away but FC Flora are 17 games into their league season, that fact alone should give Brendan Rodgers plenty to consider. Aberdeen’s toils in particular disturbed me.
Many thanks to all who contributed to the fantastic raffle competition yesterday, you’ve raised £375 already. A reminder……
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
We have a £5-a-ticket raffle to win the chance to appear in your very own team photo, alongside the Celtic players and management at the preseason photocall for 2016-17.
You will then meet treble winning captain, Tom Boyd, who will give you a personal tour of Celtic Park.
Celtic will provide you with a strip, which you will retain, and you will receive your team photograph, framed and signed by the team, on a specially prepared mount.
Your donations go to Celtic FC Foundation, to support their work in Health, Equality, Learning and Poverty. The Foundation deliver often life-changing support and opportunities to children and adults in Scotland, Ireland, the rest of the UK and in many needy areas of the globe.
Buy your ticket at MyDonate here. You can enter as many times as you like, but only donations of £5 or higher will be entered into the raffle.
You. The team. The management. Getting your squad photo taken. And getting a strip!
You’ll have had worse days.
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1-1 at H/T great game, Wales have been fantastic
after going behind,worried about my money.
Denayer has been poor. Looks heavy.
Robson Kanu.good player, could be a good acquisition for Celtic, giving Deynar a hard.time.
The_Huddle
Don’t under estimate the role of an effective manager.
Why do you think the Mourinho’s etc of the world, attract 20 million a year salaries?
Normally around this time the BBC will cut to the England camp for the latest…
Oh wait!
Jeez I hit post and they cut to Engerland.
Thought the Welsh were going to get hammered (they might still) but if Jason Denayer doesn’t cover himself in glory, does anyone think we might get him back on the cheap. He was tremendous for us before.
TIMBHOY3 on 1ST JULY 2016 8:51 PM
Robson Kanu.good player, could be a good acquisition for Celtic, giving Denauer a hard time.
Was about to post the same. Must be a pest to play against and creates the space for Bale and Ramsay to play in.
Thetimreaper
They are trying their best to keep it going longest inquest in history
ruggygman on 1st July 2016 8:52 pm
Don’t under estimate the role of an effective manager.
Why do you think the Mourinho’s etc of the world, attract 20 million a year salaries?
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Any player that needs geeing up from a manager while being paid handsomely for playing football in front of big crowds is cheating the fans.
Blaming the manager is such an easy cop out.
RUGGYGMAN, hope Celtic won the league.
Gerry, the amount of times I stayed in the Station Bar , when I had a better social life, after 6 o’clock on a Friday meant a lost Saturday for me. I was in there to shutting time.
Changed days me for me now.
The Wales Belgium game has been very enjoyable so far.
Is Denayer’s old man refereeing the game?
Denayer did well for us but I think Van Dijk helped him a lot. Virgil was and is an outstanding footballer.
Go the Waaaaaaalleeeessssss!!
Excellent half- time analysis of the
Errmm post Engerlund – Iceland game
Sad bassas!!
Joe ledley is a dead ringer for tom hardy in that film set in American depression.
Whits it called.
Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on 1st July 2016 9:05 pm
Joe ledley is a dead ringer for tom hardy in that film set in American depression.
Whits it called.
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Mad Max??
Saltires, the English Broadcasting Corporation in full flow at half time.
Dean Saunders looked a bit uncomfortable during the England chat.
Dallas
Dean is more worried about his car park bill …;-)
Belgium turning up the heat.
what a goal
yESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2-1 the bhoyos.
Goal robson kanu 2-1
Nice one Wales.
Brilliant!
Good goal
HH
Always at your most vulnerable when you are turning up the heat :-)
What a feckin’ gooooal
Bendigedig!!!!!!
great gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal for Wales
What a goal
Wooooooohoooooo!
The Bhoyo made the Belgium defence look very silly..
Great goal,I swear I’ll die poor.
Fellaini on? No wonder they are behind!
FFS, big Ronson-Gnu just put himself out of our price range.
Keep ball –
Make the ball do the work
Let the Belgians do the running