While the World Cup is a nice summer distraction, the serious business of Champions League qualification gets underway for Celtic one week tomorrow. Right now, the temperature in Yerevan, Armenia, where we will face Alashkert, is an egg-frying-on-the-patio 38°C. It’s to be higher-still at 7pm.
Brendan Rodgers may consider it wise to send his players out to pace themselves for the first 89 minutes or so. Playing in heat warmer than body temperature is not something you can acclimatise to in a few days. PLayers’ bodies will react in a way they will seldom, if ever, have experienced before. I would bite your hand off for a draw and no remedial medical attention required.
Best of luck to Dedryck for Belgium’s round of 16 tie against Japan tonight, although I’m beginning to cross-reference World Cup Champions League dates. You would not bet against Belgium remaining involved until the last weekend.
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Sorry, forgot to add in my recommendation for a stunning seafood restaurant in Cascais. Has a very star studded guest list, too many to mention however if Peter O’Toole had a few nights here, that was good enough for me. Top end pricing but very premium cooking and service. Excellent place to have Avery lesuirely lunch.
Time Out Market in Lisbon is also great quality,but full of mouthy Yanks who love to hog the table whilst drinking no beer, but that is a personal gear grinder of mine. If you want to enjoy good food, go to either of my recommended places. Over and out from Rick Stein.
http://www.restaurantepescador.com/en/
GORDYBHOY 64-just reading back mate,sorry,but it goes without saying thoughts are with Joe and the family from myself and Tracy.
Alas poor Dedryck, I knew him well…..
It’s incredible how often mccoist says ‘unbelievable’….
WBC
That’s because he’s been working with Kris (unbelievable Jeff) Kamara
No bhoyatta – what,s that about
Dedryck dropped?!
Shocking!
Hope it disnae come back to haunt Marti Nez!
…or Vince K.
HH!!
With Kompany’s fitness record I would not be surprised to see Dedryck at some point tonight.
Terrible shame for the man – I believe he would be up there with the all-time greats if his body allowed it.
‘keeping the goalkeeper honest’ what the heck does that actually mean
Paddy replacement?
https://talksport.com/football/393955/transfer-news-celtic-brendan-rodgers-steven-gerrard-rangers-liverpool/
Would rather see Mikey Johnston give s more of a chance
AngelGabriel @ 3:41 pm,
”The whole episode is farcical. Your last post shows it’s actually worse than a farce , it’s a fix…
Yes, it seems that way and the same fix that they ran with SFA Inquiry and the SPL Commission…
Auldheid @ 3:51 pm,
”I think there has been an attempt at exclusion of an important period, a bit of negotiation at play as in “we will cough for breaches under CW regime as long as you don’t examine closely what happened under the old regime.”
Something that would reduce the consequences of foul play at end of March being confirmed that the SFA as a whole would want to avoid having to deal with.
However questions have been raised and Celtic alerted to possibility of another LNS job, so lets wait and see what happens in coming week.
Either the reasons for the exclusion are made public or given to Celtic to explain to shareholders or the end of March activity is part of the JPDT.
In the interests of restoring trust the latter should be the choice. ”
Auldheid @ 3:58pm,
”Those are all the factors at play. I mean even HMRC thought what the old regime had done was tantamount to fraud and they were close to the action.
Put like that it’s incredible the level of wrong doing that the SFA turned a blind eye too.
Isn’t it ironic that they try to argue that Charles Green’s Club is the same as Sir David Murray’s while trying to intimate that Sir David Murray’s Club and Craig Whyte’s Club are legally different…
How does that work?
The application the issuance and the monitoring of the UEFA licence is one process, it is a continuing process – the idea that Sevco Rangers get to decide (for their own convenience) when the non-compliance took place is laughable.
Here’s the facts…
Rangers owed the Tax from the WTC in October 2010
Rangers owed the Tax from the WTC when it went into liquidation in October 2012
That at some random point while kicking this can down the road it becomes an overdue payable is ridiculous.
They try to suggest SDM’s Rangers dealt in technicalities, while (according to the SFA’s JPDT Determinations) CW’s Rangers’ “engaged in scandalous business activities”.
What is issuing side letters to avoid paying Tax then lying to HMRC about their existence – then getting caught red-handed – isn’t that bringing the “proud football club” into disrepute.
(Interesting that the SFA NEVER pursued Craig Whyte for the (record breaking) fines they allege he owes. Is it because they wouldn’t like the defence and counter claim?)
It sounds like you guys are on the ball and playing about with selective dates and selective charges isn’t going to go down this time. Hopefully the patsy thing won’t fly again. Third time unlucky…
The process engaged in by Rangers Football Club to obtain a UEFA licence in 2011 was either legitimate or it was illegitimate.
We do not want a bit pregnant solution…
Hail Hail
Watching Belgium game – I think we are seeing a change in the game – the Competents have arrived.
These are teams who don’t park the bus but are ‘Competent’ at negating the possession football which has been king for a few years. These are very capable professionals who can block, make tackle, stick a toe in but are still capable of taking advantage of the small number of chances they get.
They present a new type of lock – only France, so far, have anything like the key.
JINKYREDSTAR
Interesting, I think that France having a forward who is 5mph slower than a Ferrari may be the key.
GARY67
Agree Mikey Johnson should be given the role as Forrests back up.
Don’t see the point of us grooming other clubs players while neglecting our own talented youth.
Had to endure half an hour of getting my ears bashed by Pedro the postie this morning, scathing of the Spanish would be an understatement, we could play for a week and still not score was the over riding factor.
He reckons France have it if they are allowed to express themselfs, pace, strength and directness, I couldn’t argue with him.
Matt Stewart 6.26pm, that must be the only occasion I have ever seen that place open, and pass by there regularly! HH
JMc
You have real point – a ‘roadrunner’ could become a very sought after commodity – re-writes the ‘Competents’ manual
Friesdorfer
Once owned (obviously when it was a pub) by the late great Johnny Bonnar.
I’m sure everyone got it but just in case I’ll update pic with pub name after the Belgium game.
Just having my Tunnock Time and will be working on my sculpture during second half.
Who’s gonnae be the lucky CQNr to have his name immortalised in a chocolate biscuit wrapper tonight then?
hail Hail
Matt
My son just told me that only one of the 5 winners of the last 16 ties so far have enjoyed more than 50% of possession.
That was Croatia who were fortunate to scrape through on pens.
If this trend continues, it augurs badly for Belgium
Ganbare Nihon!!!!!
Tha Auger just took a bad turn!
Oh dear!
HH!!
Never would have scored had Dedryk been playing, fools
Right footer at lhs of back 3 ??
THE EXILED TIM
I think France also.
Their 4th against Argentina was the best of the tournament in my opinion.Fast and direct from keeper to goal with3 one time forward passes.No tippy tappy crap.
Strangely enough i think going 2-1 down let them throw off their dull coaches shackles and be an attacking force especially Pogba who drove them forward incessantly.
That’ll teach them to drop Dedryck .
As Japan take the lead I must confess to being very disappointed by De Bruyner .
Has not shown anything like City form or even willingness to get involved.
Is Boyata on his way home? 2 0 Japan
Belgium Hibsing it but Japan well worth their lead.
Oh dear!
…again!
Bloody good team Japan.
High time Celtic had another Japanese player.
HH!!
Fantastic goal by Innui of Japan.
Kagawas touch in the build up was sublime.
2-0
Ganbare Nihon!!!!!!!
Yip, just proves my point :-)
Looks like Belgium’s decision to rest Dedryck for the Brazil game might have backfired a wee bit.
H.H
See what happens if you drop Boyata?
I wonder if Belgie are regretting dropping DB now. Thought Kompany was poor but the boy put the ball away brilliantly.
English commentators wetting their pants that another ‘big team’ could be knocked out of the WC thus making it all the easier for Engurlund to win the competition. And you know what I am starting to worry that they may have a point.
Fan-A-Tic
Very similar to what Pedro and I reckoned re France, they seem to have been playing with the fear of losing, the best thing that happened to them was Argentina taking the lead imo, I have no clue if they went against their coaches instructions but they totally changed and tore Argentina apart, it was a joy to watch.
But as everyone knows it’s the brits to lose :-)
HH