We arrived at Celtic Park yesterday with an anticipatory bounce in the step. A full house for flag day with the usual summer noise from elsewhere hushed by the harsh realities of the Scottish Premiership. St Mirren were not there to make up the numbers, though, and withstood 76% possession and wave after wave of attack without looking overwhelmed.
Genuine chances were few with the visitor’s two banks of players (defenders and auxiliary defenders) parked in front of the box. Celtic mix it up by playing the long ball to Adam Idah, but he was well marshalled throughout.
Kieran Tierney was back and immediately dispelled any concerns we had about how effective he would be. His touch, timing in the challenge and industry were first class, but for me, it was his forward passing that was most impressive. Fortunately his retirement shortly after the hour was a planned change.
You and I have discussed deflected goals often. When you are up against a packed defence, a deflected shot from the edge of the area should be something you work on. Against the likes of St Mirren you will seldom get enough space for a free shot, but a shot is still worthwhile. Fire in enough of them and you will leave the stadium with a smile as wide as Luke McCowan’s yesterday.
Post-match, Brendan Rodgers said, “I’m fed up talking about transfers. We’ve got until the end of the window. We concentrate on what’s here, a lot of work going on behind the scenes to improve the squad.”
I let his comments to Sky Sports on Friday go; we had a game to prepare for, which some of us take seriously, but we will pick them after we discuss the European draw. Nothing has changed since Friday, though. “A lot of work going on behind the scenes” is not something which somehow appeared over the weekend.
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Podium? 20 mins till the CL draw,
Buzzing for the draw.
Pafos or Kyiv with second leg at CP my preference.
Slovan or Almaty next
Qarbag or the Macedonians
Basel
Sturm G
My preference. All with 2nd leg at home
scullybhoy on 4th August 2025 10:41 am
https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2025/08/04/8/08/21439577.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=9800
scullybhoy on 4th August 2025 10:43 am
Two new signings.
https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2025/08/04/8/23/21439388.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=9800
scullybhoy on 4th August 2025 10:45 am
https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2025/08/04/8/47/21439382.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=9800
Good thing about the dons up next week is they will be as rusty as we are.
First home game for them.
Win that and we have Livi home game 3 when our Glasgow rival goes to St Mirren. We could be putting some clear water in place pre the Glasgow derby.
Despite not being that good.
Am surprised you let Tony ‘The Lizard’ Blooms comments go, Paul.
As we all ken, he’s your ideal of what a modern progressive club domo should be.
Bloom telling the meeja that we should be able to hear the diet huns coming any decade now.
God, I really hope Aberdeen give the jambos and their data-driven selection a boot in the haw-maws tonight.
Well done Celtic on a doggedly dug out trois pwans! HH
Re-sent from Previous
Some nice stories about Fergus on the train to the game
I don’t know the circumstances, perhaps Fergus just wanted to get involved with the fans
But I hope we offered to send a car for him – show the man some respect
I cant believe our Board just let him get the train
FFS he saved our club
67ECW
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 4TH AUGUST 2025 10:51 AM
When Fergus was Chaitman/owner he used to take the train to the game.
67ECW.
Fergus is a pretty down to earth guy. When he first got involved with us he was living in Pollokshields. I used to regularly see him doing his messages in the Safeway at Crossmyloof.
BURNLEY78 on 4TH AUGUST 2025 10:48 AM
An exciting hour or so in the cricket this morning. Should en an exciting watch or listen
Is “the work going on behind the scenes” Rodgers attempting to get the Board to part with their next bonus.
The forward line needed strengthening prior to Kuhn going, now we’re starting two of last years substitutes as first choice players.
I’ll let others decide if that is acceptable.
As for Tierney, that he is a better defender than Taylor I accept, can he play the inverted role, clearly not. It will be interesting to see how that progresses. On first viewing, his first touch has improved.
There were similar stories about Fergus when he wasn’t as popular as he is now
Almaty or Bratislava
Good draw – avoided the more difficult teams.
Klamath or slovan
Almaty
But I’d rather it was them complete unknows Klamath 🙄😋
BB – Klamath??
It’s the only team I ever wanted to play for.
That will do us
God Almaty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!would you look at that draw.
He’s doon with a dose of the Klamath.
They avoided Benfica.Mon the Brugge.
You’ll let BR comments go for now, what influence do you have if you’re just a punter or maybe you’re on the Board.
So I asked myself why autocorrect to Klamath ?
Every days a mystery , school day, I mean school day …
Mr Google.
Klamath (Tolowa: Taa-chit)[2] is an unincorporated community in Del Norte County, California, situated on US Route 101 inland from the mouth of the Klamath River. The population of Klamath is 1088 based on the 2020 US Census.[3] For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Klamath as a census-designated place (CDP). Klamath is at an elevation of 30 feet (9.1 m). Klamath is located within the Yurok Indian Reservation.
Didn’t realise we are home first.
Would prefer the other way round.
Work going on behind the scenes since January.Every time they come up with a player,they find out his club wants money for him.Bugger !!!!Back to the drawing board.
If either of these 2 teams are better than St Mirren then it’s going to be a worrying time.
Or we could spend some of the £100m…………..
celtic40me on 4th August 2025 10:58 am
timmy7_noted on 4th August 2025 10:59 am
Wouldn’t surprise me if Fergus refused a lift and just took the train
67ECW
I prefer a home tie first. We could have a very long flight. Being home for the second gives you a return trip before you play it. Pity the Huns never got benfica.
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 4TH AUGUST 2025 11:45
I don’t see any reason that he’d dislike the Board of thats what you mean
I think we go to Ibrox the weekend after the away leg, so Bratislava not Kazakhstan for me
Leave the gun take the Cannoli
Paul67
Nice bit of deflection there 👍
https://cdn1.67hailhail.com/uploads/18/2025/03/GettyImages-674767392-1536×1056.jpg
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thescottishsun.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2017%2F02%2Fnintchdbpict000004807030.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=66c47aaab131cf7326929d432743c5b146fc92683e28dcca7e9dbaee6400968d
Scott Brown picks his favourite Celtic moments including iconic goal vs Rangers
Brown scored 46 goals in 618 appearances for Celtic but there is one goal that sticks out for him against Rangers that the legendary former Hoops captain admits to Kenny McIntyre is his favourite.
McIntyre asked, “Favourite goal that you’ve scored?”
Brown told BBC Sport Scotland, “Against Rangers with [El Hadji] Diouf. That’s just for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=desvHf5G5Sg
Favourable draw.
Not a gimme.
You don’t get gimmes at this level.
I see the pessimism positioning is being updated regularly.
“ah but … if we struggle against the likes of St Mirren …”
I think Brendan and his staff will have us ready for the play-off.
I’m sure Luke’s shot deflected off Daizen. Anyone else see it?
Klamath Falls is a city in Oregon. Been there twice through work.