Every week, every game, counts at this stage of the season, when players are fighting for full fitness. Hibs’ remarkable comeback last night after going 0-2 down to Asteras Tripolis will have their Greek opponents wondering if three preseason friendlies was sufficient preparation for a game of that importance. Hibs have played five games in total.
AEK Athens, who lie in wait for Celtic or Rosenborg, have also played three games since losing the Greek Cup Final on 12 May. They play a fourth on Tuesday against Galatasaray, their final match before the Champions League third qualification round.
By contrast, Celtic have played five friendlies and are in their second qualification round. If they overcome Rosenborg, they will face AEK having played 10 games, including the league opener against Livingston. The difference between four and 10 games is significant. Four games is nowhere near enough to get a squad ready to perform at their best.
I know no one at Celtic Park or Lennoxtown likes having to come through four qualification rounds. It provides unnecessary hazard and denies the club access to lucrative friendly competitions, but there is nothing like a competitive focus to get players in shape.
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Things you’ll hear in Glasgow the morra;
” Oh we needed that wee bit of rain – Jessie…. Jeannie…. Agnes etc etc etc “
Clydebank is under water now. Dumbarton Road flooded. That rain was mental.
Wet Wet Wet ??
Surely the best Pogues song ever
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q97IfBOIR5Q
Which reminds me of my Pa’s advice, immortalised later in film – never ever ever fight a Tinker
The Pogues stuff reminded me of going to the Irish Club on St George’s Road(?) in the 60s. I used to go Saturday nights with a few bhoys from Drumchapel…don’t think I remember ever coming out of there sober…and it could get….exhuberant at times, especially if we had won that day (when fitba’ was played on saturdays)…changed days indeed!
Still the rains come in Clydebank. Everywhere flooded. Where is Noah and his ark when you need him?
Sevco Marquee Signing
So, no joke.. today I wander up the river vez – its clear bell -. about a mile up where nobody has gone in 2 thousand years… in my bag i have ma music, a bottle of wine (1.65 euros), and a doobie like a russian submarine… i get all commando, get into a wee natural rock seat in the river, uncork the bottle and light up…
JQB
Rainy Night in SoHo. Probably my favourites Pogues song. And one of the great love songs of all time
Thunder and mental lightening flashes illuminating Clydebank. Never seen weather like it. Magical end of times weather.
YNWA
Im about 10 mins in, and hear voices… two Danish wummin turn up, and they want to talk… in English, which by this time I can barely remember.
Anyway, Im sittin in the river watching wee seamus dance in the river… and they unfold a wee picnic table and proceed with a full blown international negotiation… or friendly talk as they called it
Round Midnight
BSR…that will be remembered in ‘The Banter Years-the dead funny death of the hun.’
An of course, a couldnae come out cos ma chunkies were oan the bank… an they fekrs knew it
Ah should say, before ah go any further, that they werent yer viking godesses, maybe their mothers.
I spent a full 30 mins in there, and was beginnin to think – they have leeches here, where exactly can they go?
WeeBobby
Ahh – where the journey began
Luckily the adders have killed most of thum
Heavy Rain?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHPJMvg-Ktc
MIT,
Couldnt agree more, a beautiful tune…. the mans a genius
Ahhhhh! The Hedge…the baw oan tap ae thon hedge eh?
Jimmyquinsbits…is that no a portuguese polisman sneekin up behind ye? “Stand back from the doobie.” :-)
This storm is magical. Biblical.
Clydebank is Green and White and Flooded.
Thunder AC/DC CSC
Feckin rain and thunder just hit the Garngad…
there will be a lot of depressed people now that we have the rain back, we have had a brilliant summer. Reminds me of when I was a nipper.
HH
D. :)
WBC,
Well – not that its a problem here anyway – but twas why I chose the location. It was ever thus, you think youre in the middle of nowhere and a couple of vikings turn up.
By the way watched Goliath on Amazon, if anyone is looking for something to watch it’s worth a watch.
Now I thought I would give Sons Of Anarchy a go.
HH
D. :)
D66
Sons of Anarchy is very good. The Wire is still the best TV I have ever seen
MIT. The wire is that the one with Martin Compston in it?
HH
D. :)
https://youtu.be/s836K9d3f4Y
This is the original takeover of the Royal Albert Hall by the Irish.
Written by Brendan Behan and featuring just about everyone that has ever been worth listening to.
This is magic.
As an interesting aside – well to me anyway – I took one of those DNA genetics tests. To be honest I was hoping to find a bit of a wildcard in there…. but no, 80% boghopper with a bias to Mayo.. and the rest between Ulster and Scotland.
2% traces of scandinavian and iberia – so I guess we ate a few in the past.
Taking it all with a pinch of salt to be honest – but it does confirm where the short legs and long back cam from
David66
I was born in 1970 had this conversation with ma good lady earlier… we only remember the good summers :-)
Selective memory us 40/50yr olds have…. am turning into my Da when checking the weans saying this wouldn’t happen in ma day…. although 10 & 21 with 30 @ side did happen …. still think the best smees were 1986 & 1988 from my memory the sun was always shining in those summers (much like these days :-)
The Thunder
Going to Downpatrick along with Jamesie next Month.
Christ is so Amazing.
Cannae wait to see Downpatrick again. My kind of relaxed World.
DD 12.27am
Had to put factor 50 on the wee yin at 12pm yesterday and at 10pm picking her up from ma sisters had to bring a jacket with a hood for the rain (still roasting) canny beat our country for the weather at times :-)
God bless Canon White and the parishoners of Saint Alphonsus,Saint Mary’s and Sacred Heart.
The parishoners of Our Holy Redeemer, Saint Margaret’s, Saint Eunan’s, Saint Stephen’s, Saint Joseph’s, Saint Mary’s and Saint Patrick’s parishes are united in support of our East End Glasgow brothers and sisters.
YNWA
Clydebank is Green and White.
D66
I am trying to remember if he was in it. It starred Domininpc West and Iris Elba.i remember The Irish boy, Aiden Gillen, was in it. About drug trade in Baltimore. Brilliant stuff.
Neils first gig Celtic.
Brendan learning as much as possible.
The Future is Green and White.
Celtic have so much against it. I know I am wrong on a lot of things but right on so many. Thats the way the World is. Cue a song.
Neil Tommy and Brendan is just my thinking without any structure.
AMAZING
Pete
Could be wrong.
I could be right.
John Lydon CSC
Peace and love to you Pete.
Snooker in Dumbarton Harp club soon?
YNWA
Petec 12.56am
Craig Gordon has tasted the premiership
Scotty Sinclair also been to the EPL promised land
Brendan has found his home like Craig & Scott…. let the EPL flash their nickers hopefully our young team want to make their own Celtic history… our young French bhoys on the bus heading back ti Celtic Park after the Treble Treble was achieved the smiles on their faces was majestic as well as the Griff leading the procession …. great times ?
DD,
It would be good to Njoi the jibber jabber of the Great Jamesie and hopefully the TCR in Downpatrick alongside yerself.
I’ve got a flight early Sat 25 Aug and returning Evening 27th.
There is likely to be less rebels sung than last Time.
Or is there?
;))
Double Treble …..
Predictive text or maybe just a sign ?
Pete
Mmmmm.
Sounds good. Just spent a weekend wi Jamesie fae the ‘Murph in Belfast. Crackin weekend wi 16roads. Top bloke. Love him.
YNWA