It was quite a fascinating weekend in the Scottish Premiership. Celtic started the action by labouring before taking the lead and moving into cruise control against Ross County. St Mirren bookended the action by scoring a 95th minute winner at Easter Road. Motherwell rode their luck to earn a point at Dundee, St Johnstone continued to concern their fans by going down 0-2 to Hearts, while Aberdeen failed to make a single attempt on target in a 0-0 at Livingston. Oh, and Kilmarnock failed to read the script by beating Newco.
The excitement Kyogo generated two years ago, on his first league start for Celtic, against Dundee, was palpable. He scored a hattrick, causing us all to hope we had signed the real deal. Two years on and the evidence is overwhelming. His performance on Saturday was just as impressive.
Twice he dropped deep to create a chasm of space behind that he filled with two inch-perfect passes. David Turnbull should have scored with the first, Matt O’Riley made no mistake with the second. His goal was not an easy strike; placing a bouncing ball from 12 yards with enough control to keep it on target, but still managing to beat the keeper. Turnbull’s head-flick and Liel Abada’s early cross both contributed to an excellent move. He is without doubt in the top two Celtic players of this century.
Maik Nawrocki showed enough to indicate why we spent so much money bringing him to Glasgow. His first involvement was a choice to concede a corner within 15 seconds of the start. It’s what we would expect in a Champions League encounter, less so against County, but the player was right to take no chances.
For two years I have lamented the infrequency our central defenders break the lines and carry the ball forward – as Kris Ajer did. Maik took one opportunity to do this, hopefully we’ll see it again.
We are a few weeks shy of two years since Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers teamed up in central defence. In that time, they have not lost a single game over 90 minutes to Scottish opposition. Carl took the more difficult left-sided role, despite being right footed. If, as likely, he moves on this week, he leaves a big jersey to fill.
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Sevco nil, and no anomaly?
Sevco were that bad,they even took Collum out of the game,nothing for him to play with, although 6 minutes added was a joke
Turkeybhoy
Totally agree re Bisgrove comments.
As they have done since 2020 and our league win.
They seek to deflect and appeal to the lowest common denominator in their support in order to galvanise. The oldest trick in the book but judging by their social media Beale needs the energy of their support this next few weeks.
Only caught the second half but impressed by the Aussie women’s quality and workrate ……..standards are rising year on year, though, still a long way to go.
sheilas csc
Tom McLaughlin
You were not the only one espousing Engerlands great performances in this competition.
In that respect though I personally feel you are wrong.
In 3 out of their 4 games, against much lower ranked teams, they have scored 2 goals and looked very poor.
All the other teams I mentioned have performed better and looked better to watch. In my opinion.
Engerland may well win it but in reaching the final it is possible they may not even have to beat a top 9 ranked team, or at worst only France ranked 5th.
If you don’t think this is extremely fortunate then that is your opinion.
On all evidence I have seen I can’t see Engerland as being this best team so far and further I don’t think many pundits would. I am guessing you see my comment on the thuggish behaviour by their star player as overly harsh also ? I stand by them 100%.
As for ashes comments being purile that is interesting. Broad ‘the superhero’ has won 7 out of his past 25 tests v Australia in the past 10 years. 25% or so win rate….. it maybe purile to highlight that fact because as with rangers we never want to allow facts to get in the way of a good headline.
Re my anti English bias I should highlight my wife and daughter are both English and I lived there for a significant part of my working life. Maybe that explains it lol 😂
I watched the Kilmarnock v Newco game. It was jot one of those where you felt the zombies were being frustrated, or where it was a matter of time before they scored. Even taking the pitch into consideration, there was no evident plan.
When we go there and struggle we look like we have a plan even if the pitch slows it down. Better players with a better manager on a bad pitch are still better players with a better manager.
There were no green shoots of seeing what they were trying to do or flashes from players that looked like they will come good. Their chat about lammers looking like a find seemed somewhat fanciful in actually watching him. Dessers looks to have an attitude akin to Morelos. They don’t appear to have or want any wingers in the squad.
We could struggle at Pittodrie and drop points, but I’ll still be confident that we’ll cone through over the season. If I had watched half a team if new signings demonstrate all the pace, mobility and effort of a lamppost I’d be worried. I think even the staunchest of them are seeing that.
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 7TH AUGUST 2023 1:04 PM
“For two years I have lamented the infrequency our central defenders break the lines and carry the ball forward – as Kris Ajer did. ”
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I have been lamenting the lack of a Stuart Armstrong-type of midfielder to break the lines at the other end, making runs beyond the striker and scoring goals. Maybe O’Riley and/or Turnbull can be that player.
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Think that’s a team set up thing? Kyogo dropping allows space for that.
I was thinking of putting a few quid on O’Riley, Turnbull and, if he stays, Hatate, to score at least ten goals each this season, based on the way we played on Saturday. Kyogo amd Oh, depending on game tine, might end up with a hatfull of assists too.
What happened to the floating pitch money?
Nice to see if rangers do progress that they will likely travel to PSV for the second leg a few days before they play us.
I get there is a few days prep from Thursday to Sunday but every wee advantage will maybe help.
Surely if it is PSV not Sturm Graz that they play they won’t make the same mistakes again ?
Morelos ate it.
Why did they not bring on Morelos?
Oh wait CSC
Tom McL
you wouldn’t happen to have a link on that vote re the plastic pitches taken? What year? Had a dig can’t find anything mate
Hh
PSV stronger than last year,and surely can’t be that inept in Holland again.Had a good pre season,but I don’t even want that mob to get by Servette.
BURNLEY78
I did not at any time comment on England’s good luck or lack of it, so don’t assume. It’s hardly their fault if they’re in what you describe as “the easy side” of the draw. Isn’t that disrespectful?
Similarly, I made no comment about the Lauren James red card so again, do not assume. She let herself and her team down with her thuggish assault on the Nigerian player and the red card was fully justified.
Finally, you say your wife and daughter are English. Might I suggest that you ask your daughter how to spell England?
Navrocki looks like he likes to invade the opponent midfield.Really think we have a good un here.His ex manager bemoaning his loss already.Two footed as well.Priceless.
I have no fears at all about Pittodrie .So far ahead in quality.Play well,we win.Full week on the training ground.
TURKEYBHOY on 7TH AUGUST 2023 2:20 PM
PSV stronger than last year,and surely can’t be that inept in Holland again.Had a good pre season,but I don’t even want that mob to get by Servette.
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If it is PSV, i can’t see them being as complacent as they were in last season’s qualifiers. They will definitely want to make amends from a year ago. They beat Feyenoord away to win the Dutch Super Cup last week.
THEBHOYFROMU.N.C.L.E on 7TH AUGUST 2023 1:33 PM
Only caught the second half but impressed by the Aussie women’s quality and workrate ……..standards are rising year on year, though, still a long way to go.
sheilas csc
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Too true bud. 76,000 fans watched that in the stadium. Great boost for ‘soccer’ downunder.
They’ve yet to hit their best form – and great to see Sam Kerr get a wee cameo.
Overall, there’s an honesty about the womens’ game that’s refreshing. Very little play acting and improving skills.
MICKDUNDEE CSC
If anyone is interested,PSV on TNT tomorrow night v Sturm Graz,7.30.
AN TEARMANN
I can’t find specific details of the 2014 vote but the below link refers to the vote when discussing the introduction of plastic pitches.
https://www.scottishsupporters.net/research/synthetic-pitches-in-scottish-football/
TURKEYBHOY on 7TH AUGUST 2023 2:20 PM
PSV stronger than last year,and surely can’t be that inept in Holland again.Had a good pre season,but I don’t even want that mob to get by Servette.
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I think they will be two very close games. Servette are a few competitive games ahead and won’t be mugs. Not getting into the next round would be very costly, to the tune of a few £million. Not to mention the fallout.
TURKEYBHOY
It was nothing short of a miracle that PSV lost to Sevco in Eindhoven a year ago. Surely they won’t be so complacent this time, if Indeed it’s the Ibrox mob and not Servette.
My last word on plastic pitches. The SPL and SFA should call the shots here, not the clubs
It’s a jucking foke
KINGLuBO
kinglubo
As stated earlier the problem is the (re) creation of the SPFL in 2013. It is not clear exactly what the motivation for this was, but I suspect it was to keep the new Rangers (RIFC) within the same football structure as, well for the sake of argument, Celtic FC.
That Kenny Millar is another retired Sevco Player,who is getting looked after with the media up here ,I just wish Celtic would bar the whole lot of them ,they are no friends of us ,I think I asked this question a few times,who appoints the likes of Millar and Boyd at Sky Sports a email would do .
While it seems that it is impossible to get rid of the plastic pitches, surely we can demand that each and every one of them meets UEFA standard. I doubt Kilmarnock’s does.
that was good research Tom, ta for sharing.
I am also in that camp of the professional top league should all have the same type of playing surface, ALL GRASS or no entry.
I hadnt realised so many of the lower league clubs have plastic hybrid, they should set up the plastic league for themselves to play on.
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TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 7TH AUGUST 2023 10:57 AM
BADA BING
The vote to allow plastic pitches in Scotland — all divisions — took place before season 2014/15. The proposal was voted through with the stipulation that it could not be voted on again for 5 years.
As things stand, only 9 of 12 Premiership clubs need to agree for another vote to take place. However, 75% of all SPFL clubs would need to vote against plastic pitches for them to be banned.
Currently, of the 42 SPFL clubs, 17 have plastic pitches, leaving 25 with grass. 33 SPFL clubs would need to vote for a change. That means we’d need 8 clubs with plastic pitches to vote against plastic pitches.
All of which explains why there has been no appetite for a vote to ban plastic pitches in Scotland. Even a change in the voting rules to ban plastic pitches in the Premiership only would need a 75% vote of all SPFL clubs to ratify it.
So we’re stuck with plastic pitches unless something dramatic happens.
All of which explains why there has been no appetite for a vote to ban plastic pitches in Scotland. Even a change in the voting rules to ban plastic pitches in the Premiership only would need a 75% vote of all SPFL clubs to ratify it.
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Further evidence why other countries laugh at our game up here.
The only reason I want the ” Lionesses ” to lose is I just cannot stand all the blawing and bragging that follows on, sickening. FFS, we’re still hearing about ’66
Please no more
KINGLuBO
whoever our scout is – can they be given a couple of bottles of buckie bonus – getting nawrocki in with CS leaving is excellent.
Oh well,
that will be thems out –
Hibs v Villa should be interesting,
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Hibs land Aston Villa as Hearts draw Hajduk Split or PAOK if they reach Europa Conference League playoff round
Hibs must beat Luzern while Rosenborg stand between Hearts and the playoff round.
Kinglubo
We still go on about 67 😁
An artificial playing surface was installed in the summer of 2014. This was later replaced by an artificial hybrid surface during the 2019 close season.
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16 April 2023 Kilmarnock 1–4 Celtic
14 August 2022 Kilmarnock 0–5 Celtic
2 February 2021 Kilmarnock 0 – 4 Celtic
The SPL previously banned plastic pitches. The SPFL enabled them.
Cannot see any evidence re Tom Mc’s five year rule, but there was a memo sent out December 2022, email only, to the effect that any artificial pitch installed before 2015 (ie to a previous standard) would need to be replaced after the 2022-23 season. Killie’s pitch is only four years old, but looks like they take it out to the back garden every year, and give it a good beating.
GNE,
We may indeed go on about 67 but when did the SMSM last highlight it?
It may not be 66, but both BBC and ITV midday news programmes led with the Lionesses winning. After the game was analysed , even more time was given to interviewing their supporters. If it were Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland do you think these National newscasters would devote even half the time? I very much doubt it.
PCS
The MSM aren’t on about 66 but they do go overboard on reporting of England in any sport.
I’ve lived here for 53 years, Mrs Gene and my 3 kids are all English but I can’t stand them winning anything for the reason mentioned.
smallmindedCSC
Paul Fraser, regional business director from FieldTurf, says in 2019 , “Killie’s new surface is currently the highest level of artificial turf that you can get.”
Well if that’s the case then they can’t be maintaining it properly. The surface looks terrible and the bounce of the ball frequently unnatural!
Next time I speak to my Killie loving cousin will ask him how come, he knows the ground staff.
Is there no end to this folly?🤔
In regard to the Lionesses –
the reporting on them is just the same old typical over the top England shire BBC led jingoist nonsense, it is brilliantly though for when they fail.
As an aside, a new item on REPORTING SCOTLAND was England womens Netball team getting to their first world cup final, why was that a news item for here ?
And, in the modern world, is there such a thing as mens netball ? if there is where is the reporting of it ?