Chill your jets, excuse to fail

849

Chill your jets.  Far better to win and score five goals in a preseason friendly than to lose, but these games are all about improving fitness, the score is the least important aspect. Notwithstanding that, I’m pleased Teemu Pukki showed some form in front of goal. I don’t think Celtic would stand in his way if he found a potential new employer, but if he remains with us this season, his pace is likely to sit comfortably with the Ronny Deila model.

After missing the bulk of the last two Champions League campaigns through injury and Brazilian diving, news that Scott Brown will miss an extended period as a consequence of his hamstring injury is a blow to club and player.

It could have been worse. Celtic lost Scott for the bulk of last season’s Champions League on 1 October, when they were unable to compensate by tweeking the squad. Expectations are we will be without the player until October and we are only nine days into the transfer window. Lots of time to ensure we are at full strength when the meaty part of the season starts.

Brazil players and Phil Scolari turned up for yesterday’s semifinal wearing Naymar caps in the absence of their star striker. Their Excuse To Fail – emblazoned across their foreheads. Literally!

Add to the mix what can only be described as inappropriately enthusiastic anthem singing, while holding up the no. 10 shirt of, let’s remember, another player, not a fallen war hero, and you have all the ingredients for cloudy and unstructured thinking, instead of focus and awareness.

I don’t doubt this was all well-meaning but it was amateurish naivety. Players should turn up to a stadium with their game plan dominating their minds, not lamenting the loss of their best hope, having been consumed by national pride, one of mankind’s enduring fallacies. The Brazilian FA should immediately sack Roy Hodgson Big Phil.

Has all this Tour de Yorkshire business put you in the mood to get the bike out? If you why don’t you sign up for the Cardenden Cycle, which this year takes place on 6 September. You cycle from Celtic Park to the grave of John Thomson in Cardenden, Fife, a 64 mile journey. Full details are here.

If your cycling days are over, they are looking for drivers and stewards… if you’re available.

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  1. Rwe

     

     

    Survived the bike ride without incident. No thanks to you mhate!

     

     

    StabilisersCSC

     

     

    Argies for me tonight please. Messi deserves a crack at WC glory, they have a good mentol national anthem and Robbin is a hugely talented but diving ba$$a!

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  2. I’d like a Dutch German final, but think Messi will do the damage tonight. Going for a high scoring game again.

  3. jamesgang

     

     

    See if I fill the fuel tank themorra, I’ll get 580miles, will I get there :-)

  4. Cowiebhoy

     

     

    I’ve got a jerry can. Just to be on the safe side!

     

     

    MwaowCSC

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  5. balornock bhoy on

    tv has no reception in villa in algarve! anyone know where i can see holland v argentina game on line?

  6. Hrvatski Jim on

    Bjm

     

     

    Yes. We have a signed Letter of Intent from our German partner to move forward with a global service to support their client base.

     

     

    So I can now look to finalise expansion plans and funding based on more solid ground.

     

     

    I will call you soon.

  7. Gene's a Bhoy's name on

    So if it’s argentina v germany on sunday, which pope will God favour

  8. This UTT result has put me on a real downer. Another victory for the Orcs to claim they didn’t cheat.

     

    With that decision goes probably any hope of the LNS decision being reversed.

     

    I clung to that hope.

     

    What are we not getting here?

     

    It seems easy to me.

     

    Deid club got a porn star to advise them on avoiding paying tax to their highly paid players.

     

    Said porno star sold them the EBT scheme.

     

    The scheme gave players loans which were not taxable and never repayable.

     

    Side letters were issued to agents to confirm the loan was not repayable .

     

    The players then signed, their income supplemented by a tax free loan.

     

     

    Is this wrong?

     

    How can these payments not be liable to tax. A blind man could see it was part of the players remuneration .

     

     

    Subsequently, players signed who otherwise wouldn’t as they couldn’t have afforded them .

     

    Titles and trophies followed.

     

     

    We were cheated.

     

     

    Simple.

     

     

    Why can’t learned men see that?

     

     

    Totally totally scunnered.

  9. Gene's a Bhoy's name on

    balornock

     

    just google the game -foreign language commentary will be better than andy townsend

  10. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    If any of u business men need a man who speaks several languages including russian english and polish I know a man who would be grateful for an opportunity.

  11. Cowiebhoy

     

     

    Jerry Can. Jerry Did!

     

     

    Hope you’re in grand form mhate.

     

     

    Where’s Doc of late? You locked him in your shed?

     

    :-)

     

    HH jamesgang

  12. “There’s been some drizzle and some rain in Sao Paolo.”

     

     

    Andy Townsend.

  13. I need some help purchasing CelticTV, If there’s anyone in the know it would be greatly appreciated. CelticTV has rejected my credit card due to my reluctance to sign up to WorldPay; Can anyone tell me what kind of voucher you can purchase it with – UKASH, for example?

  14. iPaddy McCourt on

    Burghboy

     

     

    HMRC will not let this drop. It’ll go to the Court of Appeal in London and justice will be done in the end.

  15. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    Can be a bit fiddley but if you get a picture in the back ground click on full screen and the adverts shld disappear

  16. TBJ says Wee Oscar Knox is in heaven with the angels on

    Tally

     

    Thought it was ” theres been some drivel “

  17. ‘Chance’. Townsend. ‘Big chance….’

     

     

    Yeah big chance of a fractured napper!

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  18. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    bt

     

     

    Yes last Thursday Met Ronny & Jonny too. Gobsmacked him and his dad.<:0)

  19. Doe’s any else get the feeling that the English commentators favour players who have

     

    played in England………………………………………………………naw? It must be me :O)

  20. remember some names have been referred back to the FTTT including Murray for termination payments so not over

  21. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Jude

     

    I know Robyn, small world..

     

    well done to young Josh, on both fronts..8)

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