Being stretched preseason is often a good thing

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St Mirren, who Celtic play in our opening Premiership fixture two weeks on Sunday, do not have the luxury of preseason friendlies against top European opponents, but they will have four competitive League Cup games under their belt as well as three friendlies before they arrive at Celtic Park.

Celtic have one fewer game, but the considerable benefit that tomorrow, we will be tested against Newcastle United, St Mirren have to hope that Annan Athletic are suitable preparation.

Preseason is not about the results, or even the performance.  Indeed, Ange Postecoglou’s memorable first season was prefaced by a 2-6 home drubbing by West Ham.  The objective is to elevate player fitness and work on tactics.  It is a time for risks without consequence, and gives us a chance for an early look at the new arrivals.  I would take another drubbing tomorrow if it better prepared us for the challenges next month.

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565 Comments

  1. bournesouprecipe on

    Burnley78

     

     

    I thought it was pretty obvious to the discerning reader – beg your pardon.

     

     

    You’re right nobody could have been that stupid to do what appeared to do.

  2. Game over. Tipperary win by fifteen points. Cork were favourites but just didn’t show up in second half. Well done Tipp.

  3. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Stinkbomb and disappear time again,looks more and more to try and get hits for the site.

  4. bournesouprecipe on

    Leftclick

     

     

    Yes, I read that.

     

     

    I can see what he meant in terms of wanting to play for Newcastle they’re not exactly Celtic.

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  6. Cork people will be scratching their heads for years to come trying to figure out what happened in that second half.

     

     

    Well done, Tipp.

  7. Parkheadcumsalford

     

     

    My dad lived in a street called dunning st which was directly in a line between the Celtic Supporters bar on London Rd and the old St Marks school. Tommy was in my uncle Paul’s class actually and they played in the same team at school. Apparently the entire Docherty clan used to go watch. My dad had 14 siblings although 1 was adopted. Crazy to even think about that now.

  8. Bournesouprecipe

     

     

    All I want is the best for Celtic. I want us to do the best we can each season and set ourselves well for the next.

     

     

    I was concerned end of last season and this has not gone away although maybe a few green shoots showing.

     

     

    I would love you to be right and me to be wrong. I don’t fully understand why the manager has not signed a generous contract extension he has been offered since spring. Not even negotiated on it.

     

     

    As I say I do hope you are right and I am wrong and that the football is better this coming season than last for most games.

  9. Sorry if I can’t join I. The Brendan and Rory love in with everyone but I hope one of them is successful and ensures this place really is happy all season.

  10. Burnley78 – as per my earlier post, who do you think have been the top couple of Celtic managers since Jock?

     

     

    And regarding your post at 5.41pm, how do you know about Brendan being offered a generous contract extension? It would not surprise me if you are correct but I would assume only a very select few would know of such an offer. Pretty sure Brendan said he would talk to DD about it in the summer. Or did I miss the story?

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  12. bigrailroadblues on

    I met a few Newcastle fans before and after the game yesterday. No interest in the hun and were decent people. My preconceptions about them were incorrect. Mind you, they did have scum chanting the usual hun keech.

  13. lets all do the huddle on

    have to say the whole conversations about players and managers not getting offered, or not signing extended contracts is a bit meaningless these days.

     

     

    managers come and go, so do players, and even fans!!

     

     

    i just cant get worked up about it

  14. lets all do the huddle on

    the yanks seem to have mastered this links golf carry on no bother, looking at that leaderboard

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  16. bournesouprecipe on

    Burnley78

     

     

    Poor me, woe is me, all I want is good for Celtic, that’s the sound of you reversing quite common round these parts.

     

     

    If you wish to enter the debate start by addressing and evidencing any contrary

     

    responses.

     

     

    I know it’s only the internet, but it’s hardly your first day.

  17. Whats the difference between a kangaroo and a kangaroot?

     

     

    Ones an Australian marsupial and the others a Geordie stuck in a lift.

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  19. bigrailroadblues on

    Geordie to me yesterday. “We’ll have your jap left back, the two centre backs and the big Irish boy Kenny or summat. In fact just give us your fookin team”. He was a nice fellow rather pissed off. 😂

  20. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Burnley78 on 20th July 2025 2:37 pm

     

     

    Re Maeda.

     

     

    He is as good a player now as when he arrived though.

     

     

    —–

     

     

    B78 – Are you serious?

     

     

    Maeda is no Isak … but he is a much better player than the one we signed.

     

     

    That improvement is likely down to lots of people, three of which are, comfortably, the player and the two managers he has worked with in his time at Celtic.

  21. bigrailroadblues on

    Last reminder

     

    Shipbank Shipwrecks Friday 25th July at the Old Ship Bank, Saltmarket 12 onwards. If you can’t make it fair enough. Send cash.

  22. fanadpatriot on

    How does anyone,outside Brendan and the Directors of Celtic Football Club have the inside knowledge of negotiations about the manager proposed contract.

     

    I find that very disturbing.HH

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  24. Unless he’s a board member or has close links to one, that wouldn’t surprise me.

  25. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    From earlier.

     

    Burnley 78 three from four good shout.

     

    Scullybhoy full house good going.Thanks Kieran for kind words.Take care.

  26. Chaos over at the Big Lavvy,as teams from all over Europe and,erm,other places,fight for the signature of Hun reserve,Igamane.Some wee buggers are even trying to”Hijack” other teams bids !!!!!!.Its chaos I tells ye.

  27. Prestonpans bhoys on

    Turkeybhoy on 20th July 2025 8:00 pm

     

     

     

    According to the nutjobs within Ibrox Noise they have raised the starting position from £15m to £20m.

     

     

    What planet are they on…….

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  29. Prestonpans bhoys on

    Clunks

     

     

    Very true especially as their accounts are scribed in Delaware and the actual amount will never be disclosed to the public….

  30. celtic40me @ 11:16 am,

     

     

    That’s a very pertinent point and obviously we have assessed the associated risks and have a plan to manage them.

     

     

    My thoughts would be KT for Europe nowhere near Livingston and assess other matches on an ongoing basis.

     

     

    BR&CO were keen to get in another left back, we’ve gone a bit quiet on that* maybe the fact our development prospect Hayato Inamura is looking like the real deal has put that on hold.

     

     

    Back to Basics – Glass Half Full @ 12:47 pm,

     

     

    Take your point it was quite some time ago and water has flowed under that particular bridge.

     

     

    Yet personally I was relieved to hear KT being so positive about John Kennedy, our Manager, the current Club set-up and a genuine pleasure to be “home”.

     

     

    Agree on KT’s quality, and it was exactly the lack of strength and depth in that department that meant 24/25 was a great season, rather than a Historic one.

     

     

    * Of course the manager has suggested he is still looking to bring in several quality additions but outwith a striker hasn’t been specific on positions.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  31. bigrailroadblues on

    Chairbhoy

     

    You are up far too late young fella. Do you get the Glasgow Fair holiday in the Chilterns?😂😂

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  33. Back to Basics

     

     

    I understand your point re improvement. I just don’t have any alternate objective assesment reference points than NT selection.

     

     

    He was a starter for Japan NT when we signed him. He is not now.

     

     

    I do accept other Japanese players may have improved even more and that Maeda may have improved in areas which don’t align with how Japan plays.

     

     

    I simply don’t have any other objective criteria to use.

     

     

    I always thought he was a terrific player from day 1. I also thought away in Europe through the middle he would be a revelation. He hasn’t quite shown us that yet. Hopefully this season.

     

     

    Happy for you to provide any better comparison data though. I just can’t think of any better way of showing it.

     

     

    No doubt he will have learned something in 4 years under Ange and Brendan.

  34. More interesting than the 2nd round qualifying games this week, where there will be few upsets I would think, the most interesting thing to watch out for is tomorrows 3rd round CL qualifying pairings.

     

     

    Not just our Glasgow rivals who will likely draw Nice or Servette or Fenerbache or Salzburg but more importantly for ourselves who although not in the draw will get a sense of who our likely opponents could be with easy draws and which will have a tricky tie to negotiate to even reach the play off stage.