Material gap in preparedness for new season

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I was pleased when the league fixtures were announced, and we learned Newco would start their season on Kilmarnock’s plastic pitch.  Already four competitive fixtures into their season, Killie present a randomness of a challenge at home.  For Newco’s sake the pitch is unlikely to be dry on Saturday.

Killie will have completed six competitive games when we face them at Rugby Park in the League Cup next month, while Celtic will have faced only Ross County and Aberdeen.  That is a material gap in preparedness and surely the rain will have stopped by then, so the pitch could be bone dry and bumpy.

For seven years now Celtic have been imperious at Hampden, only once (after extra time) leaving without the win in 24 visits.  They have what it takes to get the job done on the big stage.  Cup competitions, therefore, are about the draws we get in the earlier rounds – five games a season across two competitions.  It was a tough draw.

Preseason so far has been far from ideal, with players missing across central defence and at right back.  Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Nawrocki, Johnston and Ralston is a concentration of missing talent that will soon start to bite.

Tomorrow’s game against Athletic Bilbao, our first at Celtic Park of the new season, takes on greater importance than it should.  We are not as ready for the new season as I would like to be.

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  1. Melvin Udall on

    AN TEARMANN on 31ST JULY 2023 8:19 PM

     

    —————

     

    😂😂😂

     

    It takes one to know one.

     

     

    The pot calling the kettle black now.

     

     

    One man’s graffiti is another man’s art.

     

     

    No cliche’s here pal!

     

     

    What you see is what you get with me!

     

    😂👍

     

     

    P.S. What has a pint with BRRB (which I’ve still not managed to date) got to do with the price of cheese? 😳🤷🏼‍♂️😂

  2. bigrailroadblues on

    Uncle Jimmy 8.44

     

    You may be right. Georgic and Tennents Bar were other notable pubs.

  3. MODERATOR

     

     

    I take exception to your slur on BRRB!

     

     

    I can assure you he is handsome, intelligent, witty, generous and err, sorry BRRB, I canny read your writing!

     

     

    Hehe!

  4. MODERATOR1888 on 31ST JULY 2023 8:30 PM

     

     

    An Tearmann

     

     

    Much of what you say in your reply to Melvin Udall

     

     

    Applys to yourself!!

     

     

    #clichecentral.

     

     

    Behave Mod.no need for you to step in or comment at all ,am answerin a cliched response,other posters can scroll by good sir

     

     

    Thanks anyway

     

     

    HH

  5. Moderator1888 on

    No worries PHILBHOY

     

     

    But he has not told us any secrets

     

     

    Not even one

     

     

    I can’t get to go for a pash for more that 5 mins and I get complained at for being too long lol

     

     

    AN TEARMANN

     

     

    Much of what you say is banging

     

     

    Much of what you say is too much

     

     

    As in you’re trying too hard to put too many words in your arguments

     

     

    You have it

     

     

    And then you let yourself run away with it in 500 words

     

     

    You get me>>

  6. Melvin Udall

     

     

    You keep it anonymous,that’s what is clear.

     

    What you type is what you get you really mean,

     

    as we see nothing of you,or will

     

    Now carry on with the outrage,thought you’d have the polis phoned by now! .

     

    Yawn

  7. Buzzing for tomorrow … “away” in not so sunny Helensburgh for a few days … one of my mates says to go into the Station Bar to see if a bus is running but probably just jump on the train …

     

     

    Hoping to hit the sports bar BRRB … but MissGFTB is seemingly wanting to meet her pals from school

     

     

    Delighted to cheer wee Jamesy Bhoy on and welcome the prodigal boss back …

     

     

    I think Brendan mk2 is going to be even better than the original … delighted Brendan is back nothing against Ange who was brilliant but think BR is an upgrade (certainly hope so)!

  8. Moderator

     

     

    Behave Mod.no need for you to step in or comment at all ,am answerin a cliched response,other posters can scroll by good sir

     

     

    Thanks anyway

     

     

    Is all I can repeat Mod.

     

    You keep on keeping on with your task.

     

     

    HH

  9. kevinlasvegas on

    I always thought moderators were anonymous and only waded in when things got out of hand.

     

     

    Just goes to show you.

     

     

    New definition of the word moderate.

     

     

    KLV

  10. Bhoy From The Boyne on

    The recruitment team has earned my trust this past 2 years. Not worried about net spend, breaking transfer records etc.

     

     

    As long as our weaker positions are addressed and strengthened – GK, left back competition and a creative midfielder to replace Jota/Rogic’s creativity.

     

     

    Watching our middle to front movement up close 1st half last Saturday was a real joy at times.

     

     

    Strengthen in those 2-3 areas already mentioned and we go again this season 👍

  11. BRRB & GFTB

     

    Where is this mystical place you call the Sports Bar? Be it the Kerrydale Suite? Be it open for plebs like me?

  12. Moderator1888 on

    kevin in the vegas

     

     

    Am here to communicate

     

     

    Not just moderate

     

     

    Welcome to the new world

     

     

    I am a person with a personality

     

     

    If you want me to nuke the comments

     

     

    and the commentators

     

     

    then hide behind the silence

     

     

    You aint been listening

  13. BRRB

     

    Tennents, I was aware of. Not so the Georgic. To be honest, it’s been years since I was in there. Only ever a handful of times and I was a little wee bit burlin each time.

     

    Wisnae even sure there was a gents toilet. Another thing I’ve learned today. Thanks for the education!

  14. My friendsinCeltic,

     

     

    “Celtic listed among top 50 most valuable brands in world football with only two clubs from outside the top five leagues ranked higher than the Scottish champions.”

     

    ————–

     

     

    European football refreshes the parts domestic football cannot reach.

     

    We are building a squad to compete in Europe and domestically. We have a top class manager and our business model and financials are sound..

     

     

    For those that say the financial gap is now too big in Europe then ponder the fact that we are closer in ratio to the wealth of Liverpool than Livingston are to us.

     

     

    Our ambition and aspirations must lie in a more challenging environment and European football provides that platform.

     

     

    I’m really looking forward to competing in both arenas.

     

     

    HH, the journey continues.

  15. Scaniel

     

     

    It opens tomorrow at the 3.30pm, think it only holds about 800 so once it’s full it’s one out one in

     

     

    As far as am aware it lets anybody in even BRRB & St Tams

  16. Bhoy From The Boyne on

    GREENPINATA on 31ST JULY 2023 10:34 PM

     

    My friendsinCeltic,

     

     

     

    “Celtic listed among top 50 most valuable brands in world football with only two clubs from outside the top five leagues ranked higher than the Scottish champions.”

     

     

    ————–

     

     

     

    European football refreshes the parts domestic football cannot reach.

     

     

    We are building a squad to compete in Europe and domestically. We have a top class manager and our business model and financials are sound..

     

     

     

    For those that say the financial gap is now too big in Europe then ponder the fact that we are closer in ratio to the wealth of Liverpool than Livingston are to us.

     

     

     

    Our ambition and aspirations must lie in a more challenging environment and European football provides that platform.

     

     

     

    I’m really looking forward to competing in both arenas.

     

     

     

    HH, the journey continues.

     

     

    ——————

     

     

    Huge changes in global club football coming over the next decade.Domestic games across the Euro leagues will be reduced to allow for the so called super clubs compete against the Saudi’s.

     

     

    Qatar, UAE & other oil reach nations will look to the Saudi league as their model and inevitably these countries will lobby Uefa/FIFA for access to international club competitions, not to forget the ‘Super clubs’ in Europe wanting their piece of the loot.

     

     

    Uefa will be the big losers out of this and FIFA will get their club World Cup competition at last across all continents.

     

     

    Celtic will be primed when this eventually happens. Think of the Celtic/ex Pat/Irish disporia in North America & Australia.

     

     

    Competition organisers and other clubs will want our involvement.

     

     

    So long as domestic leagues are retained albeit reduced to 30 per season for example, then all good!

  17. Greenpinata.

     

     

    Re my 6.21 answer to you.

     

     

    I asked you near the end what makes feel uncomfortable with the expressions of Celtics irishness? Celtics history,or for that matter most things green white and gold.what exactly do you want that would quell your unhappiness.

     

     

    I ask as when watching the clip I knew you would respond with a politely shaped question as you did

     

    You and I had the same debate at the time of the PaddyB tifo(the boy(lifelong Celtic fan who died prev week) with the gas mask on in bogside riots of 1969)

     

     

    HH

  18. Bhoy From The Boyne on

    I would hope that in time the SPFL premiership would be reduced to 16 teams / 30 games per season with Scotland’s participating clubs in any new Euro/World club competition required to reimburse the rest of the league for lost earnings.

     

     

    If it would give Celtic 15-20 international club competition games per season.

     

     

    I can dream 👍

  19. If any of you bhoys have serious influence, get the Club to keep Rocco Vata. Big rumours about him leaving as his contract is up next year.

     

     

    Give Rocco a new contract CSC

  20. AT,

     

     

    I watched your link to the GB video.

     

    I deliberately did not comment.

     

     

    I merely asked the question :-

     

    “May I ask, do you think it reflects well on Celtic Football club and the greater support ?”

     

     

    Now I know the GB are involved in charity work, foodbank collections etc. But so are the Masons .

     

     

    The question I posed was purely about their video which mainly focused on spray painting and pyro.

     

     

    Again, to reiterate I make no comment.

     

     

    HH.

  21. Aipple

     

     

    Think 50k tickets sold …

     

     

    Hardly any tickets two seats together left at all

  22. GREENPINATA on 31ST JULY 2023 11:13 PM

     

     

    AT,

     

     

    I watched your link to the GB video.

     

     

    I deliberately did not comment.

     

     

    I merely asked the question :-

     

     

    “May I ask, do you think it reflects well on Celtic Football club and the greater support ?”

     

     

    Now I know the GB are involved in charity work, foodbank collections etc. But so are the Masons .

     

     

    The question I posed was purely about their video which mainly focused on spray painting and pyro.

     

     

    Again, to reiterate I make no comment.

     

     

    ======================

     

    My friend in Celtic your English is so shaped and contrived.

     

    It was not my link

     

    It was Celtic fans called the green brigade link

     

    I am not part of their group.

     

     

    Yup you deliberately did not comment°

     

    But you did deliberately as you do my friend try shape your question for a definitive answer,without defining exactly where you are coming from,I chose to highlight the all stadia tifos like at the end of last season,you went for pyros.

     

     

    Putting any charity work Celtic fans do alongside “but so do the masons” is just shoit as a comment but shows the nonchalance and your inbuilt bias towards Celtic fans who differ from you so I will repeat above question @10.54 👇

     

     

    I asked you near the end what makes feel uncomfortable with the expressions of Celtics irishness? Celtics history,or for that matter most things green white and gold.what exactly do you want that would quell your unhappiness?

     

     

    Your friend in Celtic :-)

     

     

    HH

  23. That’s a general question. Greenpinata

     

    Because as you know you are unhappy with a group of Celtic fans.

     

     

    HH

  24. Moderator1888 on

    “But you did deliberately as you do my friend try shape your question for a definitive answer,without defining exactly where you are coming from,I chose to highlight the all stadia tifos like at the end of last season,you went for pyros.”

     

     

    It’s like throwing magic mushrooms into a scrabble board with a grenade mate

     

     

    You got the ability to get your point outfaster and more decisive than that matey

     

     

    When you can figure that out, I hope to see your blog matey

  25. Aipple,

     

     

    Yes good choreography. No argument there . it illuminates what Ultras do.

     

     

    As for the charity aspect, possibly the Union Bears would have been more apt. They also do charity work, like pyro and love spray painting. .

     

     

    HH.

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