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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FFS…not only are we now being told what topics we can and cannot post about, we are now being lectured on just how to type these views out on the blog…
Ok.
No more sleeps.
Unless I nap at my desk.
Perish the thought.
Roll on 7:30pm
If a post does not contravene the rules of the blog, ie personal attacks, foul language, racism or.homophobic comments, then surely there is no need for intervention?
Good morning all! – I don’t know if this video has already been posted but it’s absolutely brilliant! The Bilbao Bhoys CSC from the Negresko Bar in Bilbao.
I can personally vouch for it as we had a fantastic day with them for the Derby match at Celtic Park back in April.
Great crack, singing, tappas and beer – they were outstanding! … and a title winning result! What a day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L_s309n8NI
So if you see them tonight say Hola! Que son muy machos!
Thanks for sharing the Bilbao Vlog.
I do hope we get a decent crowd tonight.
For James and for the general positive mood we want going into the start of the season.
40,000 should surely be achievable for a night like this.
I like the Celtic Ultras mural shown around the internet yesterday and if it’s been done at the Standing Section with the club’s permission then all’s good. Brings to my eye the new 3rd kit for this season.
Disco walls alongside our disco lights. Celtic Park is party town central.
——————————————————————————————————-
What is there to say about the lessons the blog Moderator was delivering to us through the night?
It’s English, Jim but not as we know it.
JOCKODEE
Lovely post!
Thanks!
JOCKODEE
Thanks for posting that
I have to pass a fitness test for tonight’s game. My right foot bandaged up and have a special protective soft boot to allow me to walk with a walking stick.
My mate says he’ll pick me up at the door and drive me to the supporters bus. At the stadium it’s a short walk from the bus to the turnstile so all good.
Will see how my foot behaves in the next few hours.
Hail Hail.
Good morning from a damp and dreary North Staffs.
Eliza – the huns do nothing but lie to their own.
Hope all goes well, Tom. A couple of halfs might help :-))
ELIZA NAOMI
Does your `phone/pc only do one sentence at a time?
Jockodee
Thanks for the Bilbao video. HH
Absolute belter
Huns don’t lie to their own…
I have 99 log ins for yer man
Might have missed some
The
Moderator
Is
Quick
With
The
Deletions
These
Days
😜😁😂
Celtic’s trip to Dublin should be the beginning of an Annual trip to the Emerald Isle
By James French 31 July, 2023
Couldn’t agree more, but I would avoid All Ireland weekend.
https://icdn.thecelticstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/imago1032668885h.jpeg
Gastro Celtic …
Given the amount of @@@@ thrown at Jota and Ange about loyalty… I’d have expected a bit more respect from people about James Forrest, considering the loyalty he’s shown and the numbers he’s racked up…
Jockodee 8.20am
Cheers for that video … great start to match day
🍀
Of the two key videos shared in this thread…
My affection for Celtic relates so much more to the 2nd one outlining the Bilbao affection/connection.
The ultra one expresses a very different – yet somehow generic – way to show support of the/a/any club.
Most of this type of uber-fan we see following clubs all over the world (are they sort of evolved casuals??) have a quasi-military, pack mindset about them – and often anonymise themselves with masks or pixels – just makes that brand of support sort of ultra-generic to my eyes. Just different to how I’ve always enjoyed supporting and watching football.
COULDBEMYAGEKINDATHING CSC
BRRB – Match Day and you’re still not up and about yet. Is your itinerary still on?
Meeting Brian M in the Crystal Palace tomorrow at 3pm before heading to the Drovers, Wee Man’s and the Sports Bar. Please join us for wee drinkie en route to Paradise. 👍🍻
GFTB – Thanks for the reply last night. Will hope to make Almore’s Café, but depends on what time daughter number one finishes work.
btw *machos=majos – Oops! Getting my Gaelic and Spanish mixed up! lol
There is a THREE Year old RACE Horse in Canada.
It finished 2nd in a Race yesterday, but it has won a previous Race in Canada.
It is a ” FILLY”.
Its Name ?
Wait for it…..
” PENALTY TO RANGERS” !
LOL
Magic name. I will try and look out for it running again on my Bookies Website.
HH
Scaniel
Up and away before you is BRrB
HH
Quadrophenian
Totally agree re the kinda Uber fan thing.
It’s not an age thing I don’t believe. My kids feel similar.
Sure they do a lot of good for which they get respect.
The faux anarchy shite is pathetic and is replicated by Union Bears and literally hundreds of others around the world. Even the player tunes are copied and rarely original.
As for the repetition of torturous reb chants for 60inutes of most games…… personally I would rather they supported the team……
I guess we would need to accept the fact that without this ubiquitous type of self appointed ‘ ultra’ fan the place would be a fair bit quieter.
Quad
Totally agree on the merits of the Bilbao connection vlog.
Big Jimmy
‘Penalty to Rangers’
Love that.
Wish it was racing at Hamilton sometime soon.
I had a bet on ‘Penalty to rangers’ and it fell at the first…….. (chance)
BURNLEY78
Yup. Downunder there are groups of comparable groups following A-league and state league sides often wearing the same clobber – some, more than a few have right-leaning sympathies.
Sure the colour and noise they tend to generate is brilliant (am sure huns would feel/say the same).
Not so much the costly teenage antisocial damage. HH
ANDMEANEXPUNKTAE CSC
Scaniel
Probably be in the Sports bar about 4.30- 5ish. St Tams and GFTB should be there. Troublemakers. 😆
new article posted.