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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Our last trip to Kazakhstan we lost 4-3; but we were up 5-0. I still got a bit nervous when we were 3 down i think.
The one prior to that was Karagandy. That was exciting, the Ayrshire Superstar show
“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”
Genuine suggestion Paul.
Instead of picking them up?
Don’t pick them up. Just forget about it.
A constituency of supporters ….
(minority? / majority? – how would I know?)
… were irritated at Brendan’s very public calling out of the situation.
I was one of them.
If Brendan is indeed “fed up talking about transfers”?
Why don’t we show him some respect, take him at face value and not look that gift horse in the mouth?
His motivation?
Bad week, just sounding off after Playoff signing deadline passed?
Maybe he got a call from the headmaster?
Who knows?
More to the point, who cares?
Let Brendan have the last word and draw a line under it.
You’ll let them go. With all due respect Paul, who do you think you are letting them go. Laughable.
Cheers Tom 👍
Luke McCowan has been a great buy for us. A gallus tim with bags of skill and heart. And cheap! Always looking for the cheap!
Good draw in the ECL and we should be confident. However, we’re not at the same level as last season and I take nothing for granted. It should encourage this pathologically tight Board to part with some shekels but knowing their logic it’ll probably be the opposite (“guys, could we sell Daizen and still qualify?”).
At the current rate of accumulation they’ll be buying Daniel Levy out soon.
I’d rather be facing Slovan or Kairat than Salzburg or Brugge but judging by the huns’ reaction on FF they’re predictably irrationally confident. Our odds of knocking Brugge out over two legs would be about 35% with this current team. Their odds would be closer to 5%. Still, that old supremacy culture is hard to shake.
I didn’t realise there was a signing deadline prior to the playoff.
So even if we sign a winger tomorrow he can’t play in either leg and Yang will probably start?
I think August 14th is the deadline for CL signings as squads need to be registered with UEFA by then.
Maybe yesterday’s type of game and squeaky bum outcome was better (in some ways) than a stylish 4 or 5-0.
To see , played out before us, how badly we need wingers and goalscorers is more effective than Brendan having to say it a hundred times .
Assuming the board didn’t fall asleep during it .
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
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Is the Maestro tearing up in that photo?
Seeing him yesterday – and that photo – just reminded me how much I loved seeing Paul in the Hoops. One of my all time sporting idols.
That Scottish Cup win was the only time I’ve ever found myself greetin’ at the full time whistle. I wasn’t the only one. All round me grown men were in tears – tears of joy ( and relief) , of course.
Shortie pundit Leanne Crighton confirmed as the Hunesses new manager.
Yesterday they had Ian McCall in the studio with Steven Thompson and Scott Allen on co-comms with Liam McLeod.
Even their useful idiot Pat Bonner was nowhere to be seen.
Blogger @ 1:31pm.
Ho ho ho.
CLEAR evidence of revolving door employment practice between BBC Sport Scotland and Ibrox.
Polite suggestion to all – next time a rabid, hard of thinking type shouts about bias, dont take the bait.
Two words needed only
“Revolving door”
A tactical among the click baiters noticeably being used more often.
“[INSERT NAME] told”
“told” is doing some INCREDIBLY heavy lifting here.
In 100% of cases, the facts are – some no mark expressing an opinion about our club, player, manager, director …
… during some stuck in a broom cupboard or attic recess Teams call being recorded.
These idiots should look at the meaning of “tell” in a dictionary.
Hey, idiots ….
“told” is the past tense of “tell”
Begins with a T.
The one that looks like a flying bird with a long body.
A “dictionary”? Ach, forget it.
Brilliant series of test matches there
Slogan are playing their game today at 4 pm.Trying to find it.
Do we still get UEFA payout for this qualifier.They got it last year.Either£3.5 or £5 million ,depending on who you read.
Slovan play on Wednesday (away). I hope they go through, as Almaty is almost in China 😮
Slovan,🙂
I let his comments to Sky Sports on Friday go; we had a game to prepare for, which some of us take seriously
—
Paul, I fear you may be overestimating your importance.
A good CL draw. We need to strengthen. It would be an abject failure not to get past this play off draw.
What a clickbait.”Georgio Giomakis in sensational Celtic reunion”On,Celts Are Here blog.
Turns out he going to Greece.Same team as Greg Taylor !!!.Wee Buggers.
I will let your comments go Paul.We have a couple of wingers to sign,which,I hope ,most of us take seriously.As should you.
You did watch our game?.
Turkeybhoy on 4th August 2025 2:07 pm
I watched it. yes to two wingers and a decent centre forward as well please
67ECW
Maybe Yamada is a decent CF.
So pleased with the win yesterday. As Paul states it is so difficult to break down teams who get everyone behind the ball. We created a lot of chances yesterday, maybe not clear cut chances, but we still played crosses in from either sides. Our midfield kept moving and probing to try and create space. Looking back on the disallowed goal and if thems the rules about handball then fair doos, but let’s see if it is consistent from now on. I tell you what I liked at the very start was when big Adam just ploughed through Gogic who was trying to block him. Adam needs to be more aware of his positioning and especially offsides. Our team will get better and I trust our manager to try and improve our team. As I said yesterday, how lucky are we as a club to have had a person/player like Paul McStay play for us. He is the personification of humble, dignified, kind, and as down to earth a person you could ever hope to meet. Listening to him and Peter Grant yesterday was a pleasure because they are and always have been, fans first and foremost. When I was a young apprentice, not from Derry:)), but Wishy, Paul gave me a lift home and I got him to drop me off at Wishy Cross as I knew it was lunch time and all my friends were up the street from St Aidans. Paul stopped the car right at the lights and I got out and my mates saw this and they were flabbergasted. To make it even better, Paul got out of the car and asked if he needed to come pick me up for training the next day and I said no it’s alright. He pulled away in his Audi Quattro, and that was one of the few times I saw my friends speechless. He talked so humbly yesterday and hates it when people praise him as he always says that he was and is a fan first. Seeing him walk out so nervous but proud brought a wee tear to my eye yesterday. You can take yer Messis, and Ronaldos and yer Rankin Raskins of the world, we had Paul McStay, Danny McGrain, TB, Feed the Bear, King Kenny, King Henrik, Wee Jinky, Hail Caesar, buzzbomb to name but a few.
How lucky are we my friends.
hail Hail.
Sean
In regard to our so called hand ball yesterday , showed it on Sportscene , they said by letter of the law it was no goal…..so a guy with his back to the ball… ball bounced up and hits his arm , fair enough…. ……No mention of Gogic’s handball in the box .Guy facing the ball..Arm out from his body , ball hits arm… no penalty!
Don’t get it 🥴
Our Champions League DRAW will ONLY be a GOOD Draw IF we manage to get thru the Tie ?
HH.
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM
I didn’t realise there was a signing deadline prior to the playoff.
So even if we sign a winger tomorrow he can’t play in either leg and Yang will probably start?
Where are you getting that from? The deadline for submitting play-off squad is 14th August. Even then teams can register a maximum of 2 new players 24 hours before first leg kick-off.
Had a great Scotch Pie at half-time yesterday. My guest said it was the best pie he’d tasted in years.
Tom
We’re you at the Killie game
Were
Good afternoon all from the Victoria Bar.
Or Arbroath they do smokie pies seemingly…
Bada Bing!! on 4th August 2025 1:49 pm
Brilliant series of test matches there.
……….
Was out at meeting, and just checked score.
Was sure England would have won as they only needed 35 runs.
Pleasantly suprisedCSC
That champions league income will come in handy for keeping us ahead of the huns. Lolz.
Teams like St Mirren are hard to break down. But you have agency over the tools you afford yourself for the task. Persisting with Yang rather than replacing Kuhn with quality is one such choice. Hopefully that will be remedied by 1 Sept.
On Paul McStay, I love the man. For the player he was and the person he has always been. Once left a cup final at Hampden and he was walking with his wife amongst the fans as if he was just another one of us. Not one of our greatest talents of all time.
My first memory of him was watching the Scotland schoolboys game at Wembley on my grandparents’ wee back and white portable. We won 5-4 and Rideout scored at hat trick for them. The Maestro was a standout in an unbelievable game and I knew immediately we had a great on our hands. Was really touched to see him raise the flag yesterday. Credit to the club for that.
Just started watching today’s ACSOM and they’re discussing fan boycotts. I kid you not.
Boondock Saint – The interview on CelticTV with Paul McStay was excellent. Paul comes across as a person you’d be proud to call a friend. You could see the bond between him and Peter Grant, and the love for everything Celtic from both those guys was obvious.
Celtic40me
Ref earlier apology for late reply.
Yes what a finish re the cricket. Great test match and great series.
Sevco sign Antman no chance they will let two wingers.go
From Go Ahead Eagles