It’s been six weeks since Celtic have had something to play for: 1 May, a five goal win over Dundee. Since then we wound down the remaining Premiership games before cranking up a fortnight ago at our new second home in Paisley, but it all comes into focus on Wednesday at Celtic Park, when we are expected to humble apparent Champions League whipping boys from Iceland.
People at Celtic have complained for years about having to play such important games in the middle of July, but I’ve never bought that argument. If we have to face Legia-type opposition later this month, we can’t have an early enough test. The challenge is known, it’s the responsibility of the club to be ready.
Stjarnan are likely to be the least resourced team we will face this summer, but if we get a comfortable win on Wednesday, these two games, as well as the friendlies against Eibar and Rennes, should provide ample opportunity to physically and tactically ready for the real test.
A few weeks back we discussed the game of brinksmanship involving Greece and it’s analogy in Scottish football, “Those sitting at the Syriza side of the table know they may be marching their citizens off the edge of a cliff”.
8 days ago Tsipras won his referendum mandate but quickly accepted that you can’t play poker if you don’t have any cards, never mind aces. I wondered if he hoped to ‘lose’ the referendum. I wonder if others hoped the SFA would find ‘against’ them a few months back. As we mentioned, it was “one of the classic failures of leadership – telling people what they want to hear in order to gain power, without any way of delivering on the promises made”.
If the Greeks had said ‘Yes’ Tsipras could have capitulated, blaming the will of the people. If the SFA said ‘not Fit and Proper’, others could have declined to invest, blaming Peter Lawwell and his ‘cronies’ at Hampden. I’m sure you could write the script yourself.
Populism’s easy, until you are given control, then it’s harder than granite. We’ll see the same lesson played out in Scottish football in the months to come. You need five aces in your hand to play poker with a billionaire, even then, don’t make assumptions.
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M7
Sad but true. Hail Hail Aquinas! :)
typos r us :)
sorry – oot.
Sky Sports 5 Lisbon Lions
Clogher
Our hotel is 0.7 mile from Michael Collins bar. Reckon we will visit it. :)))
Cliftonville Celt,
I have just seen the video you posted earlier.
These thugs have been drinking all weekend. I think they have Monday and Tuesday off, because the 12th fell on a Sunday.
Anyway, hope to see you in Dublin next year.
Clogher
DD,
Have a great time.
Have a good break and don’t log on.
Clogher
Clogher
There are many lowlifes fae the Glasgow schemes in Belfast tonight.
Getting their yearly wash fae the water cannons. Scum!
voguepunter
23:04 on
13 July, 2015
Just back from Bette Midler concert…..highlight of the night
got a wee wave from the Legend that is Davie Hay….he’s looking well.hh
==============================================================
I was there as well voguepunter the Devine Ms M was simply classy,sassy & sexy as hell, plus what a pair of legs Woof :))
DD,
Where I am is a holiday kind of a place, you would not believe the number of people here from the north to avoid that nonsense.
Something has to be done about it now.
Why should working people have to leave their homes to allow this nonsense to continue.
BBC NI, had two programmes on today called ‘The 12th’.
Why should licence money be allowed to be spent, if there is continued rioting at these parades.
First thing, it should be taken off the tv.
I am sure the bhoys in the north have better ideas. Just my thoughts.
Anyone hear about Harper Lee’s has new novel “Go set a watchman” Has the turned the character that was Atticus Finch into a racist bigot who attended KKK meeting & believed in segregation.!! Harper Lee how could you another hero demolished.
Can we blame this one on Truman Capote :)
Clogher
Thankfully we don’t let the bigots walk through Republican Clydebank. They tried it once.
DD
Enjoy yer holiday bud.
DD,
I hear Sydney Devine is topping the bill, ya mad groupie
DD,
Fair play heading off now.
Enjoy Barca.
Night and HH
TAL
Thanks pal
Canamalar
Auld Shep. Classic :))
DD,
Have a ball, be safe and watch the pick pockets
Canamalar
Pickpockets? I’m sure he could slip a fiver in their pocket without them suspecting a thing☺
Canamalar
Thank you wise man. You know I will be out my nut on everything that is going as usual at these festivals. It’s a Partick thing. :)))
DD,
Take only the minimum cash each and good plankin place, the barca festivals attract them from all over Europe no that the barca tea leafs have many teachers, the take yer eyes and come back for the sockets and you won’t know they’re gone. Shit hot. Careful now :)
Right, aff oot to the beach for a couple of hours before our flight to Hanoi………………………I hear it rocks
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c3AkcL11YKo
Canamalar
Thanks for the advice from a fellow Saint Thomas Aquinas pupil.
My son is my carer. :)
DD,
Aye right, jist you keep an eye on him, dosh in the shoes, the old tricks still work unless you know some pick shoes :)
DD
Love the Bennicassim festival just down the road from Vinaros and up the road from Peniscola…where the last scene with Charlton Hestons most famous movie El Cid was filmed…fantastic spot. In Lagos with my bhoy and his pal and their family at the moment..nice wee spot.
Kikinthenakas
Kikin
Love that region. :))
DD. Enjoy Barca, but as others have hinted, be very careful
A year back in April I took a few days in the city and it was everything I wanted, Sagrada cathedral, meiavel art exhitions, Gaudi house etc. however, while a bit steaming and a bit toasted I got me watch stolen in about 3 seconds. No threat or violence, just a smiling young guy running up a close laughing. Brilliant city though.
HH
Vision
Vision it’s all about the long term Celtic vision!
I guess once the superlatives have all run their course we can all drop our kegs and wriggle our arses air wards in the unabated joy of how all us undying Tims took it up the jacksy for the cause
It’s what walfrid would have wanted
Maggie the Trick is To Keep Breathing…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcCHRW8G9yY
delaneys dunky,
Enjoy your trip to Spain, Barcelona is a super city.
AR
ThompsonTwin
23:41 on
13 July, 2015
Smile FFS when you are telling and or repeating big lies
Iceland people were the onlyones that were aware of how they were ripped off by bankers and their elected representatives and took appropriate measures…..
They are on the right path now….
All others have had their elected representatives bow to the bankers….. And signed up their constituents to generations of austerity…
For a myriad of reasons….
Most too unpalatable for this blog and other media outlets.
Politics is not Power. They are entirely different concepts.
And most people trusted their elected representatives to represent them, not the banks.
I thought democracy was a sham…but Iceland showed it exists….
If you have the cajones to do something about it.
Machiavelli 101
Dear Turkeybhoy.
Wow.
That was devastating. I am a bore? Ouch. Double ouch.
Coming from you that is really sore.
Except I can’t think of a single thing of importance you have ever uttered…..
Mr Declan McManus has been warning us….
the smoke-screen clique
hmmmm?
don’t be sucked-in by the poachery-game-keepers
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
L-O-V-E……..
….oot. LOVE the terracing Tims.
Morning tims.
Don’t think the blogs broke, just 3 in a row from KevJ and the nightshift all went to sleep :-).
2 more shifts till we see chift.
Was passing Celtic Park yesterday, fair makes you proud looking at the stadium and the immediate surrounding area.
Looking forward to seeing the team and who Ronnie picks to start the game.
A nice comfortable win would be good Celtic please.
H.H
P.s weather has been brilliant in EK since you know who went on his wee holiday :-)
Lesson learned. No point stating the obvious. Instead of repeating will just pity those so blinkered to take on other views. If you take out name calling & petulance the counter backs up my point but very little reasoning. Just bluster. Say it quietly. I’m happy with the way the club is right now. Oops silly sevconian me. Some just need a crusade to fill their empty lives.