Fortune favoured fixtures

303

For you and me, August is often a challenging month.  We have Champions League qualifiers and the persistent dramas of recruitment, while the business of league and cup football is underway.

That being the case, fortune favoured us with the opening league fixtures.  Dundee away, Kilmarnock at home, St Johnstone away, Falkirk at home, games against clubs who finished sixth or lower last season, is just about perfect.

There will, of course, be more difficult times to come, hopefully during a Champions League campaign, but getting there is the first priority.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

303 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8

  1. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    “getting there is the first priority.”

     

    ————–

     

    Belter, Paul!

  2. ADVERTISEMENT
  3. Paul The Spark on

    Getting there is the first priority.

     

    Signing players to get us there, not so much.

  4. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    And remember, no Champions League Across The City this season, so it’s probably better if we’re not in it either. Imagine getting too far in front of them and damaging the old firm…..

  5. This blog, is coming like a ghost blog

     

    All the traffic has cleared from the feed

     

    The comments sections are lonely

     

    No new readers to succeed

     

     

    Ghost blog!

     

    Yeah, it’s all turning into a ghost blog

     

    No comments anymore

     

    No banter anymore

     

    The forum is falling down

     

     

    Remember the days of the high stats?

     

    We were in the MSM every week

     

    stealing our thoughts on Scoreboard

     

    Now the analytics look bleak

     

     

    Ghost blog!

     

    Yeah, it’s all turning into a ghost blog

     

    No likes anymore

     

    No shares anymore

     

    The servers are shutting down

     

     

    Good blogs being closed down

     

    No insights to be found

     

    Great writers leaving town

     

    To look for a paycheck that is sound

     

     

    Ghost blog!

     

    Yeah, it’s all turning into a ghost blog

     

    No replies anymore

     

    No debates anymore

     

    The traffic is slowing down

     

     

    This blog is coming like a ghost blog

     

    Why did the community divide?

     

    A daily article sits there in silence

     

    With no one left on the inside

     

     

    Ghost blog…

     

    Just one man posting alone…

     

    No notifications on the phone…

     

    Where did the hundreds go?…

     

    CQN is fading out…

  6. (with great respect to Jerry Dammers, the Specials lyricist, whose wonderful song was just played on the radio and made me think of this dear place.

  7. glendalystonsils on

    Glad we’re prioritising getting to the CL . Hope we’re not unlucky enough to find one of those CL giants like Kairat in our way this time .

  8. ADVERTISEMENT
  9. Great to see the oustanding work of the board to negotiate with the police and sfa to kick off our season on monday

     

     

    giving our new signings and extra few days to bed in

     

     

    right????????

  10. We could well be minus Johnston, Nygren, Hatate, Maeda and Engels if by some chance we get into the CL.

     

     

    Without replacements of equal ability and a couple more good signings, I dread to think how some of our games in that competition would go.

  11. Prestonpans bhoys on

    PeteTheBeat on 19th June 2026 1:20 pm

     

     

    There’s a good chance they will be sold before we even get to the qualifiers 🙄

  12. given the concerts are evening what stopped celtic having a noon kick off either day ?

     

     

    are the orange marches cancelled because tranmit is on ?

  13. ADVERTISEMENT
  14. Where is our outrage?

     

     

    A Monday night to unfurl the flag as Champions of the country is outrageous and insulting.

     

     

    It’s a complete kick in the teeth to fans and completely shatters the much desired match day experience.

     

     

    The match day experience enhancement must be up there with our club aspirations and this unwanted and unwarranted timing is put bluntly:- A kick in the baws to everyone associated with Celtic.

     

     

    Does anybody take a kick in the baws without retaliating?.

     

    No is the obvious answer so we must retaliate. Retaliate with actions not words which nobody pays any attention to.

     

     

    Firstly, unilaterally declare that we will accept no huns into Parkhead and all the tickets will be going to Celtic fans.

     

    Let the TV companies cry.

     

    Think carefully about freebies etc. Judge wisely.

     

    Think carefully when accommodating Scottish establishment figures.

     

     

    We know GCC wants to reset relations with Celtic. They stated such, stating they want to show Glasgow in a better light.

     

    Let the reset be on our terms or more specifically the fans terms.

     

    Think carefully when we pay our bills to the establishment. Timing can be everything.

     

     

    I’m sure we have many levers.

     

     

    Football is currently on a high displaying supporters “soft power”. Boston and Glasgow twinning for example with tourism benefits etc.

     

    Let’s not forget we are a massive tourist attraction.

     

     

    If we take this insult without any retaliation then we deserve sitting at the back of the bus.

     

     

    HH.

  15. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Finding match sharpness for 18 August will be the challenge.

     

     

    Energy wise, Vil, Scales, AJ, and CCV should be fine.

     

     

    KT, Ralston and Trusty might need more time to recover from World Cup.

  16. spikeysauldman on 19th June 2026 1:19 am

     

     

    yep – the PLC rubbing their hands at the thought of more cash reserves…

     

     

    *and why NOT that’s our modes operandi and has been for many many many years wtf do you think we can entice good and sometimes great personnel to our mickey mouse league and operation and by that I mean the incestuous SFA.

  17. Prestonpans bhoys on

    If you want to be cheered up a wee trip to Ibrox Noise always promises to succeed.

     

     

    “Rangers are officially ready to sell Youssef Chermiti. A pricetag of £25M is on his head ”

     

     

    A belter 😂🤣😅

  18. ADVERTISEMENT
  19. bournesouprecipe on

    Prestonpans,

     

     

    They can’t afford to sell before they buy with credibility very nearly ‘marooned’ can they? The“ we intend to come out of every window stronger than we went in ” mantra was binned a long time ago. We used to block big sales till after the qualifiers VVD, Boyata, etc, etc, .

     

     

    Brendan Rodgers wanted replacements when big players were sold he didn’t get them see the sacking of the HFO ahem 6 months ago. Dread to think of MON’s miracle attempt had BR not blocked Daizen Maeda’s sale, or produced free agent Kelechi Iheanacho – what a pair they turned out?

     

     

    “ We tend to do our business towards the end of the window “ is a line used, but not followed at most big clubs where business is conducted early because plans and targets were already in place.

     

     

    But then how can you recruit when there’s no recruitment team or process, and good value bargains are the policy, you have to rely on miracles.

     

     

    Cash reserves? – We really are a club like no other

     

    🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮

  20. BSR @ 2:53 pm,

     

     

    Watching the World Cup last night, I noticed an experienced footballer and pundit state, the unexpected happens and never take anything for granted in football…

     

     

    He could of course have been stating the bleedin’ obvious – yet according to those ITK, Celtic PLC Board, while still finishing off the player trading window, were confident “we had enough” last August.

     

     

    Hopefully, the accountants, lawyers and traders in our Boardroom will have learned a lesson and ask the sports orientated folk in football dept (when we finish procuring one)* what we need to be prepared for this August.

     

     

    *BTB – GHF is always asking for an org chart for the football department, so I’ve done one for him.

     

     

    ………..Martin O’Neil…………

     

     

    Hail Hail

  21. KT, Ralston and Trusty might need more time to recover from World Cup.

     

     

    —–

     

     

    No problem; they will be home before the postcards. ;-)

  22. bournesouprecipe on

    Chairbhoy

     

     

    Moneyball – Football Manager verse PLC bean counter,

     

     

    According to the statement delivered on behalf of himself and his father, the key pledges were that the club would continue,

     

     

    Improving recruitment processes

     

    Investing in data analytics

     

    Upgrading club facilities

     

    Enhancing the stadium

     

    Strengthening Celtic “in every way” through gradual, sustainable development

     

     

    Ross Desmond 21/11/ 25

     

     

    No dates, no deadlines, no updates, no plans, – empty rhetoric?

     

     

    Let’s wait and see CSC

     

     

    HH .

     

     

    P.s the new 3rd kit is out

  23. ADVERTISEMENT
  24. bournesouprecipe on

    THE BADA BING on 19TH JUNE 2026 3:45 PM

     

    Saracchi been told to find a club

     

     

    —————

     

     

    Bring him home 🏠

  25. bigrailroadblues on

    “The hun wanted me to paint the blue room but they couldn’t even pay the face painter”.

     

     

    Hieronymus Bosch 1690.

  26. like a dog chasing cars..... on

    53,000 season tickets sold out probably.

     

    And then people wonder why nothing ever changes.

     

    Move season ticket renewal day to one month AFTER the summer transfer window closes and then you might start to get taken seriously.

     

    How do you get the date for renewals to change?

     

    Get the collection of useless easily sorted out [by the board] cliques to inform the board that if the board don’t move the renewal date to bring a shred of fan accountancy to the club, then it will be pay at the gate.

     

    Or even better – non renewal until 40,000 unneeded seats that do fk all for safety and everything for soul sucking boredom, and keeping tame gutless fans in line and under the boards thumb.

     

    All seating is a Thatcher induced spirit removing illness which spreads onto the pitch which is why players have to keep turning to the fans and gesturing to them to sing, get this anti Celtic spirit replaced by football terraces, not safe standing terraces with stabilizers, but real atmosphere driving terraces, like the Green Brigade proposed for the Jock Stein stand, and the GB were snubbed by the majority of the tut tutting 53,000 PLC dupes.

     

    If you continually by a pig in a poke, don’t blame the PLC.

     

    Getting away with being one horse league supremos suits the easily deluded.

     

    The nothingness old firm hamster wheel keeps turning to keep the stadium full, and the Sevco are Rangers myth alive and kicking, by the fake rebel pretenders.

     

    Fans calling off the protests/boycotts last season merely pulled the PLC out of a ditch, which demonstrated that fans are too emotionally weak to be taken seriously.

     

    Thems the apples.

  27. the Bada Bing on

    The definition of a hurting hun.

     

     

    Derek McInnes has provided Hearts Standard with a statement to Heart of Midlothian fans following his exit from Tynecastle Park.

     

     

     

    To all connected with Heart of Midlothian. It was an incredible privilege to manage the football club for the last 12 months.

     

     

    When I was appointed, there was great delight and personal pride in being in such a position, a position that had appealed to me for a long time. It’s such a special football club and we had such a brilliant season together.

     

     

     

     

    I’m well aware I haven’t spoken since the last game of the season. I totally understand the frustration from fans around the lack of communication, both from myself and the club, considering the manner in which the season ended. The frustration is justifiable.

     

     

    I was so angry and devastated at how it all played out for us after putting so much effort in. The decisions that had a huge impact on the outcome were hard to take. Trying to process it all was part of my thinking as to why I didn’t speak.

     

     

    When I arrived, I said I wanted to make Hearts something. A team that resonated with the supporters and a team that fans were excited to watch on a Saturday, no matter where and when. I believe we achieved that.

     

     

    I also wanted to make Tynecastle Park a place fans wanted to come to and a place opposition teams didn’t. I felt Tynecastle was even more special than it normally is and I had that feeling every time I walked out the tunnel and into the home dugout. An unbeaten home record was a brilliant achievement.

     

     

     

    ADVERTISING

     

     

    Hearts came so close to completing one of the greatest seasons in the club’s history. Despite how the season ended, it was still hugely successful and memorable. A record points total, Champions League qualification, three derby wins and so many more highs and memories along the way.

     

     

    Unfortunately, the team didn’t get what they deserved in the end.

     

     

    I want to thank the players and staff. I’ve spoken to every single one of them over the last few days and wish them only well.

     

     

    A big thanks to the support I received from the board, particularly Calum Paterson, and also Graeme Jones for a brilliant, strong working relationship.

     

     

    I’d also like to thank Clare Cowan for her huge support of me, Alan Archibald, Paul Sheerin and all the players throughout the season. She is as good a member of staff as I’ve ever worked with.

     

     

    And, finally, the Heart of Midlothian support. I felt like one of you. The backing you gave me and the team was incredible and helped create something so special. I can’t speak highly enough about the Hearts fans. Thank you.

     

     

    I wish I’d got to Hearts sooner and that my time at the club was more than 12 months.

     

     

    It was only a short time, but it was a brilliant time. I wish Hearts only good things going forward.

     

     

    GIRUY

  28. ADVERTISEMENT
  29. Looks like he’s taking the bitterness with him, I hope hearts got compensation.

  30. Prestonpans bhoys on

    Bada

     

     

    Like this bit “The decisions that had a huge impact on the outcome were hard to take”

     

     

    Like a player crawling in the penalty box, then attempts to head the ball and collides with the opposing players foot as he attempts to clear the ball.

     

     

    Law of the game says dangerous play foul to defending team. Scottish rules say penalty, yip those decisions 🙄

  31. AuroraBorealis79 on

    Mcinnes knows how to work the corruption. He knows he had that backing until the rangers resurgence when those favorable decisions stopped & the zombies got the backing of their bretheren in black.

     

     

    Will he be rightly charged for his comments? He is the hun of hun managers

  32. ADVERTISEMENT
  33. It’s the middle of June and we’re presented with an article which qualifies “… fortune favoured us with the opening league fixtures…” as the best and most important news in the context of next season.

     

     

    #SMHCSC

  34. The club continues to dither with Maloney and Fozzie contracts. News is circulating that it is done, but we are now 8-days past when MON was announced.

     

    Let’s hope that this unnecessary delay does not harm our preparation for the season.

     

    Equally, let’s hope that the lads got deals they are happy with, and are not left resenting the club and the process in any way.

     

    At least the club saved a few quid and demonstrated to all those pesky football agents out there that we’re tough negotiators!

     

     

    #SMHCSC

  35. BSR @ 3:53 pm,

     

     

    Yes, it’s interesting that weird moneyball misdirection, they got away with it, at least partially, for years.

     

     

    As far as Ross Desmond goes, they have been grifting us for literally a generation now.

     

     

    They will tell us anything if they think it will placate us – world class club, every pound goes back into the club, we are in tge business of developing UCL player, yada, yada…

     

     

    As for the promises at the AGM, they’ve had the money, they’ve had the opportunities, they have a huge fanbase prepared to support them in these endeavours.

     

     

    So

     

     

    If they haven’t delivered it by now, they are not going to do it without external compulsion, even then, the pressure on them this season wasn’t only ignored, it brought retaliation…

     

     

    As PLB stated last night, they are acting as if they have no f..s to give, whether that is a power play or genuine is a gamble for the support…

     

     

    For me it’s genuine, they really have little skin in Celtic football club and the fanbase and other stakeholders have so much more to loose…

     

     

    Noticed the third kit launch – do our merchandising guys miss a deadline or a kpi – seems not…

     

     

    Hail Hail

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8