After two preseason games we have Bristol City tomorrow, Preston North End on Saturday before Midtjylland in Champions League qualification one week today. Midtjylland have played one more game then us since their return to training last month and start their league campaign on Friday evening.
Our only consolation is the Danes look as ill prepared for a fixture of this magnitude as we are. There are only two group stage places available in the non-champions route of the tournament; you would be forgiven for thinking this possibility was not worth hoping for, but we are in strange times.
By ranking, those two places are earmarked for Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk. Shakhtar have not played a competitive game since March and Benfica’s only competitive game in that period was a cup final in May (they lost). The Euros is another complication for preseason regimes.
There is a clear opportunity for a well-prepared team to punch above their weight in these qualifiers. Ange has a lot of work to do if he’s to take advantage. We will learn more against Midtjylland.
291 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- »
The qualifiers are a bit of a lottery. Even more so this year as we try to put a team back together. It’s not going to be a smooth start to the season, but hopefully the bhoys find enough cohesion and organization to somehow fight our way into Europe – CL or Europa. I disagree with Paul that we are going to learn a lot from this first game. We’ll see what we already know, that this is a team in transition and it’s not going to be pretty. We should however have enough to get over the first fence.
While the friendlies tell us very little, it would help the confidence to secure another couple of wins before next Wednesday.
RC
In my opinion Kenny is the worst Right back we have had for the last decade,
Ralston is better than Kenny
Now whether Ralston is good enough is a different question and hope we sign someone who is better than both.
Ajer is better than both but is needed elsewhere
Celtic trying their hardest not to win anything. Every year peole write ‘Wait till end of the window..’ by that time we are out of Champions league. this year looks like they don’t want to travel to EL either
HOT SMOKED on 13TH JULY 2021 1:16 PM
I know exactly HM – it is my utter contempt for all that the SNP stands for, nothing more, nothing less. They’re modus operandi is similar to the Cybernat.
SNP supporters are of course entitled to argue their case, so too am I. Respectful disagreement is healthy but anonymous insults hold no value – they’re worthless – I ignore them.
Midtjylland start there new Season on Friday and ended their preseason games last Saturday – my feelings are they are going to be much better prepared than us, we haven’t seen anything close to resembling a starting eleven take the field.
Having said that I’m totally comfortable with it – since Brian Quinn left Peter Lawwell has tinkered with every aspect of the Club, to the detriment of every area, if function hasn’t been broken it has been greatly diminished in that time.
Dom McKay comes into an unprofessional organisation, devoid of any meaningful structure and true sporting culture.
It took the Board the best part of fourteen years to get us in this mess, it will take time to rebuild our once great Club, Rome wasn’t built in a day and Celtic won’t be rebuilt in a season…
For the current Celtic supporter, patience is a necessary virtue.
Hail Hail
HOT SMOKED
Sorry, not HM, HS of course.
Go shopping alone.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1413991208859303940
WITS- a well known hack told me AP was recommended by Mark Lawwell, name sound familiar?
The game against the Danes has been n written off by Celtic already.
A wee signal for you is that every other team in Scotland have a better goalkeeper than us… The guy Motherwell just signed is far better than Barkas by a long way.
The Danes will have around 10 shots on target over the 2 games and that will be enough to win the tie.
Edouard, Ntcham, Christie and Ajer should be training at Lennoxtown… The lessons of last season haven’t been learned.
This is going to be worse than last season.
Well run club Vs LawWell run club…..
General consensus seems to be, that we get behind our new manager – all of us. Players, fans, coaches and board. All have a role to play.
Not mutually exclusive is that we are not as far into the rebuild as we’d like to be.
We don’t appear to be much stronger than the squad who finished 25 points behind in the league a few months ago. Indeed, there’s an argument to say we’re weaker.
In conclusion – we can only hope to get gradually stronger and hope that all around us have a shit season.
That’s what I’ve taken from the posts today
For God sake stop moaning ,we haven’t played a competitive match ,and all the usual moaners are on about things are just the same,you lot are quite happy when everything goes right ,We should be happy that we eventually he got rid of a incompetent manager in Lennon who should have got the bullet last September or October,instead through lawell being good at the club on a financial footing but on transfers a complete disaster,so that’s 2 away hopefully a few in the boardroom will retire ,paving the way for young forward thinking men or women Celtic Supporters to have a better vision and future for our club,Stop moaning back Ange and Dom .
TIMHORTON on 13TH JULY 2021 12:59 PM
BADA
We should hire Dudu as a DOF.
================
Already did.
ALMORE on 13TH JULY 2021 1:15 PM
ConeyBhoy: I asked in the Celtic Store in Dublin would they be honouring the £50 certificate and, if so, for how much?
They are and they are giving €56.
—————-
That’s good news; x rate is pretty mean at 1.12 when the Celtic site does 1.3 to convert the price to Euro. Takes the top to €85 . JD in Dublin are selling away top at €90. I’ve effectively got mine for €65
Hope you are enjoying the hols and the remote teaching wasn’t too bad this year!
No way has big Ange written off any game in my opinion.
The trust in Eddie Howe has badly affected our timescales and Ange has a difficulty with these early ties, Although Celtic are not the only team with challenges,
However, the team is clearly under new Management and Ange will handle the motivation element
TIMBHOY2 on 13TH JULY 2021 3:11 PM
Thanks for the break from the near constant doom mongering… much appreciated
James Forrest –
Your cheap and nasty words directed at our host might have carried more weight if you weren’t so quick to remove from your own site, comments that are critical of your own point of view. Something that “Brennan” never has and never will do.
At the start of last season there was a strong argument here that we had a stronger squad than the opposition (Big Wavy was right about the centre half problem though)
The general view is that we are much weaker now
So who has left and who has come in(not including in-season loans and injured)
GK: no change
FBs: Out- Frimpong, Elhamed, Bolingoli. In – Bolingoli
CHs: Out – no-one, In – Urhoghide
Midfield: Out – Brown, In – Liam Shaw
Forwards: no change
simplistically, if no-one leaves and no more singings are made; we have pretty much the same squad as last year for 1st quals with a clear issue at RB and a worry at CB cover. Not having Moi is a blow as we lack wingers but he was a loanee. We need to stop doing that
Team for Norway team for me is
Barkas
Ralston Welsh Ajer Taylor
Forrest Soro Turnbull McGregor
Ajeti Edouard
For the away game
Barkas
Ralston Welsh Ajer Taylor
Soro Ntcham
Forrest Turnbull McGregor
Edouard
Although the last 2 matches were tricky to follow and judge plus the standard of the opposition looked a bit basic … a few strands emerged … being careful that often the 2nd level perform better than the 1st eleven at this stage of the season …..
.. there is less tip tap
.. there is more forward passes
.. centre halves and keepers looked OK
… Karamoke looked as though he’s put on a kilo or 2 and held the ball up well
… Adam Monty looked up for it
… young Hedjle at the back if he keeps taking his porridge will be a player , left side as well bonus
… problem at RB Tony R is painfully slow in recovery , probably needs to be our first signing in this area
… on the down side , Ryan was hopeless still not reading the new script
… Mikey J needs to release the ball or I suspect Ange will release him , I’ve no idea what the other forwards are supposed to do when he takes the defender on for the umpteenth time
…. Ollie see Ryan …. Very clumsy possibly very rusty as opposed to not giving a toss
…. Jury out on Albie and Eddy just a run out for these lads and avoided getting kicked
In summary , if we want to play fast quick stuff , we are short at the back centre halves and RB to provide us with any certainty or solidity at the back , going man for man at the back could be scary …. Back 3 Welshy , Bitton and Kris , Jamesie and Mikey on the wings midfield David T , Wee Soro and Calum , Ed and Albian , barkas net minding
Predictionscfc
No signings in time and ill-prepared for a Champions League qualifier; our Israeli “super-agent” cashing in on the Israeli league; some unknown “projects” to go into the colts; wantaways stinking out the dressing-room…..we’re even signing someone called “Lawal”.
Meet the new boss….same as the old….
I just dont get it, they know who they are
“This is the worst Celtic site ever, Paul is nothing more than a puppet. Im appalled by the content of this Celtic site,,,,,,,,and ill be back tomorrow to say exactly the same thing again”
James Forrest I actually agree with broader point that you are making .
To refer to Paul67 as Brennan isn’t classy.
It’s downright rude.
Paul67 shows his class and even temperament by ignoring you .
The fact that he allows you to continue to post on here makes me think that he is allowing you the publicity to show yourself up.
He needs posters for this site to survive .
You are helping him succeed.
I’m sure the irony isn’t lost on him .
As he silently laughs up his sleeve at you.
TT
CONEYBHOY on 13TH JULY 2021 3:34 PM
===========
Couple of changes maybe to shape and personnel:
Team for Norway team for me is
Bain (Barkas looks to have no bottle whatsoever – first goal he lost in the pre-season game was just like last year – he saves nothing)
4 – Forrest Welsh Ajer Taylor
3 – Turnbull Soro McGregor
3 – Shaw Ajeti Edouard
Not thought about the away game yet – appreciate the above lacks defensive ability, but we don’t have any :-))
HH
BGFC
JAMES FORREST on 13TH JULY 2021 12:16 PM
‘It reads, more and more, like the PR arm of certain Celtic directors.’
###
No more than it’s always been. It’s just more obvious because things aren’t going well.
#####
‘absolutely shocking that this “Celtic site” spends more time ranting about the Scottish Government than it does analysing what goes on inside our own club.’
Not something you could ever be accused of. It’s not a cult though, no siree. Definitely not a cult.
SQUIRE DANAHER
@2.27
I wouldn’t assume that.
I’m sure that’s what he intended.
TINYTIM @338pm
Apost delivered with a hint of steel even Zorro would have been proud of.
Hail Hail
Stay Safe
Vinniethedog @ 1:48pm
Genuine, spontaneous, loud Lol.
😆
Mercifully I was on mute on Teams call.
ERNIE LYNCH @ 3:44 PM,
No more than it’s always been. It’s just more obvious because things aren’t going well.
That’s very true, no old firm competition for several seasons and the Rodgers hiatus obscured how bad we were being run. It absolutely defies logic that some are still defending articles like this and Peter Lawwell.
The only logically conclusion is these posters are commenting out of friendship or some misplaced loyalty. The Lawwell project failed big time* and the concrete evidence is there for all to behold.
Hail Hail
*Unless the sole purpose of said project was to make Peter Lawwell very wealthy.
Just read reports of the FM’s latest update.
Credit where it is due (even if that credit is relative rather than absolute).
Unlike that privileged shyster down south – mandatory face masks is sensible and clear.
Less clear for me though ……
…. does anyone on here know what the pathway from 2,000 to 60,000 in our stadium looks like?
Almost 2 weeks ago (4th July weekend) I was “working” at a Farmers Market in North Carolina: a busy friendly market in a small town with a well known liberal arts university/college.
My Celtic radar is never off & I spied a man wearing an old short sleeved Umbro Celtic top. As Mrs C groaned out loud I abandoned my station and spent 10 minutes talking to him. The story of how he came to be wearing the top is worth the telling.
He was from Pennsylvania & just visiting family for the holiday. When asked about the top he started talking about Scotland in the Euros. I reminded him that Scotland are rubbish but asked again about the top. His eyes lit up as he told me.
“I got this shirt from my friend & he got it in Scotland when he went there for his honeymoon a couple of years back. He & his new wife were travelling around a lot on public transport to see the country & one Saturday they found themselves on a train with a bunch of football fans. They were singing & chanting a lot & soon they were chatting away to my friend and his new wife who were really enjoying themselves. Soon the train came to their station and my friend & his wife had to get off. One of these football fans pulled off his club’s jersey & handed it to my friend & said ‘Your wife is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.’
He brought it home to the States & gave it to me.”
Celtic fans are very often kinder to strangers than they are to other Celtic fans or even to fans that provide a free forum for other fans to moan on.
HH
Best wishes to Old Tim on his birthday.
Hope you make it to the golf to see all your pals🥳
SHOCKEROONY,
Celtic sign PLs son,and a Soppy Boy from Dads Army,
Who saw that coming.
What has happened to this site? Bunch of winey old ladies panicking that the sky is falling and infighting when someone dares a different opinion. James F is an attention seeker who has lost sight of what he fights for and Paul seems to have lost his way as well, money over the team is always his under current now in the leads.
Neverwrestlewithapig. Csc
KLV
KLV
HOT SMOKED @ 3:58 PM,
Peter Lawwell failed and left our Club in a total mess. Using the fact that most of us posting would likewise have failed as an excuse is a nonsense isn’t it.
Akin to folk who have never been or worked in professional football can’t have an opinion on it. If that was the case football would have a very small following.
Pedro is 20 million richer because he said he could do the job – we aren’t. He is Not above criticism by the hoi poloi, far from it.
Hail Hail
Coneybhoy – Decent team on paper, what worries me is keeping wantaways and not signing replacements until the wantaways are goneaways. This strategy hasn’t always served us well in the past regarding CL qualifiers, and leaves us with a squad which looks stronger than it actually is.
I can’t dismiss the experience of AEK Athens, when Boyata and Dembele were reported to be unfit to start both ties (Dembele was on the bench for one). Nor last season when Edouard developed a niggle which kept him out of the Ferencvaros game, only for it to clear up as August turned into September.
Both those ties were late in the transfer window, so this is probably something which will become more pronounced as we get closer to the transfer deadline.
I saw PhilBhoy mentioning Julien earlier. Anyone know if he is remotely close to being able to play? That’s 6-7 months now since he hobbled the post.
CORNELIUS on 13TH JULY 2021 4:03 PM
Thanks for the story. I have a friend who says much the same about the scots – can be very welcoming to outsiders but complete bastards to each other :-)
CHAIRBHOY on 13TH JULY 2021 4:08 PM
HOT SMOKED @ 3:58 PM,
`Peter Lawwell failed and left our Club in a total mess. Using the fact that most of us posting would likewise have failed as an excuse is a nonsense isn’t it.`
Who used that fact ?
`Akin to folk who have never been or worked in professional football can’t have an opinion on it. If that was the case football would have a very small following.`
They can have all the opinions they want but that does not make the opinions any more worthwhile.
`Pedro is 20 million richer because he said he could do the job – we aren’t. He is Not above criticism by the hoi poloi, far from it.`
I would guess he had more to offer than a claim that he could do the job !
Hail Hail
I agree with that bit !