Three seasons of direct access to the Champions League Group or League stage has isolated us from the anxieties of the qualification rounds. Risks come in categories. There are sides who are far stronger and always progress (such as Arsenal). Scandinavians who are midseason, with a vital fitness advantage, and tiny clubs who get everything right for a season or two in the sun (Malmo), some of whom are also midseason.
In seasons 2012, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 we entered Champions League qualification in the second round. That was bad enough. In 2018, 19 and 20 we entered in the first qualification round. This distorted preseason, denied us money-spinning trips overseas, and brought an unhelpful urgency to squad development.
Getting appropriate preseason games was difficult. Every strong club in Europe was either at a lesser fitness than Celtic, or were midseason and not interested in playing friendlies. There was learning throughout this process, but outcomes were disappointing.
This season starts with a league game against St Mirren on 3 August. By then, we will have played six preseason games, three against strong opposition (Sporting, Newcastle, Ajax). We will have two league games under out belt before the first Champions League playoff round game. There can never be too many, but eight games will move the fitness dial to some degree.
By then, Celtic will hope to have further strengthened the squad. The learning mentioned above will be beneficial. Never underestimate the importance of stability. I mention that to give some context to Newco, who have only one preseason game before they play Panathinaikos in Champions League qualification next week (the Greeks have four games).
There is so much change at Newco right now, ownership of planning and decision-making will still be bedding in. Clearly, the last guys did not leave them much in the way of a structure for the new season.
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The meeting between Brenndan aand DD,Celtic style.
” Come away in Brendan.Ye’ll have a wee cuppa”.Aye thanks sir””.Now what was it you were wantiing to talk about,another contract,perhaps,or wanting me to tell the rest of them useless fekers on the Board,to do one on the transfer business”
“Not at all,your worship,I just was passing,and thought I’d stop by”
“Ah,did you now,safe trip back”. Well now,cheerio Brendan.
We are supposed to believe this drivel.No discussions on anything !!!!!!!!!!.
Are we fekin .clowns ?????????????
Idah wont get us 20 spl goals a season (and hasnt yet so far – 8 for 23/24 and 16 for 24/25)
Last year was his big chance and he fell short
Am not sure he will get the games this year
If Idah is our first choice striker this season,we are struggling
Better read back and tonight and good to hear positive feedback on the team – seems like there’s some hope after all.
Pollyanna CSC
Great to see the YT vid of the goals: short as they were, Kenny made a telling contribution.
Great to readback that we looked sharp an that the new bhoys Nygren and Inamura stood up well.
If Luke got book for a moustache-related offence, mibby it was over a bit of lip ! Wull get ma…
Coneybhoy on 16th July 2025 3:25 pm
quadrophenian on 16th July 2025 2:11 pm
I’m not feeling any angst over our manoeuvres off the park.
————–
orchestral?
Well played CBhoy !
If Luke got book for a moustache-related offence, mibby it was over a bit of lip !
Ahahahahahahahaha
Cheers CLUNKS !
Good Morning Celts…
Good Performance Last Night.
The team really coming together.
The pleasing thing was when there was wholesale changes after 67 minutes, the desire and quality didn’t drop off, we got another well deserved goal.
I’m really not seeing what our concern is over the new signings, KT and Nygren among the top performers on the night with their obvious quality.
Inamura once again looking confident and assured when he came on, definitely had a bit of dig about him.
Also the concern over the Manager and football staff – seeing the opposite, that group of players transformed in ten days by top tier coaches, trainers, physios, tactician, etc etc
If you compare Dane Murray’s performance against Estrela da Amadora and Sporting Lisbon, you can see how quality coaching can really affect a player prepared to listen and learn.
Thought all the youngsters, especially Kyle Ure gave a good account of themselves when they came on – liking young Colby Donovan.
Worth a mention of the formation, Brendan Rodgers said he was pleased with the performance as Sporting play a difficult system.
Outside the high press, I thought it was interesting we went 4-4-2 when defending.
With Reo and Adam up front, followed by two banks of four.
Very effective against a very good team.
Another tough test awaits against the Geordies at Celtic Park.
Hail Hail
SPORTING LISBON – 0 v CELTIC – 2.
That was much better from Celtic, although ADAM IDAH missed those TWO SITTERS in the 1st Half.
He MUST and SHOULD do much better. He can NOT continue to miss such easy chances.
Several players played well enough. Young KENNY up front showed up well in the 2nd half, putting himself about like a Celtic centre forward should.
Im a bit happier this morning.
LOL
HH.
Good morning all from Govanhill.
Good morning from the Beach.,BRRB.
Idah may not have scored 20 goals in the SPFL but he scored one against Slovan Bratislava, two against Aston Billa and I’m giving him credit for the goal against Young Boys. Not a bad hall for his CL campaign.
He can’t score goals unless he is given the time on the pitch. If he plays regularly he’ll score 30 for us.
I hope those who are sticking up for Idah are proved correct. Personally, from what I’ve seen of him, and granted he has scored some very important goals, I don’t think he should be our starting CF in games. Bring him on if needed.
PCS,
Not sticking up for him.Just too many people write players off too soon.Whether you like his style of play or not,he does deliver goals.That’s his job.If he was not doing this,then complain.
Just seems a nonsense to me.His goals to gametime ratio,is very good.I fear he is just the latest “escaped Goat” for some.
BR made it clear last night in post match that he wanted a more developed striker brought into the club alongside Yamada.
I can understand that, as Brendan keeps reminding us, we’ve lost 40 odd goals in the absence of Kuhn and Kyogo. Expecting Idah and 25 year old who has never played outside of Japan to make those goals up was not something I had much hope in.
That won’t leave much room for Kenny or Osmond, but expectations need to be set. We need to win all domestic trophies and compete in the CL, we won’t do that if we’re developing too many within the squad.
Turkeybhoy,
Unfortunately, Idah passes up way too many easy chances to score. Way too often too, he doesn’t take up the position that should come naturally to him, if he were a natural goalscorer. All in imo, of course. I do hope he proves me wrong.
Re the players we’re scouting from Japan…
Inamura seems to be surprising and delighting fans and selectors whenever he gets a run; excellent !
I would wager that we’ll be (and BR will be) equally impressed should Yamada arrive as predicted.
We have a largely functional recruitment machine; it’s not failsafe but it ultimately does better than most.
CarryOnRecruiting CSC
Meanwhile, the country that insists it just wants peace because it it’s besieged among potentially hostile neighbours, bombs the bejezus out of a neighbouring country citing that it’s concerned for an arab sect, coincidentally just when the same ‘peace-seeking’ country’s leader was due to appear in court on corruption charges. Hmmmm…..
Selling your better players was just about palatable in the case of Nicolas Kuhn. Financial triumph sweetened the blow, in the German players ‘easy decision’ .
Daizen doing press ups for fun when he came off last night was a highlight of the night, which brought the curtain down on a trademark performance. Mercurial Maeda was unlucky not to score in the first half after a typical break and shot on his left flank.
BR has brought the best out in the Japanese player who arrived at Celtic as a winger that couldn’t wing it. Rodgers has been instrumental in developing the player who was wisely tied up on contract till 2027. He is on the same wavelength as his wideman, enjoying life by the Campsies.
I wouldn’t quite say you were going to have a riot on your hands, but If you sell Maeda, I just don’t think you understand.
MOM Benny Nygren
The new article will be up at noon.
BSR…”I wouldn’t quite say you were going to have a riot on your hands, but If you sell Maeda, I just don’t think you understand.”
I agree wholeheartedly. Daizen is an essential component of Brendan’s style of play.
Plus…he’s so easy to love. :-)
If Yang and Palma are leaving or out on loan,then I would keep Tillo to me he looks if he can be a tr
This phone is a problem, back to Tillo see what he can really do all he needs is at least a chance.
As for Kenny ,I Hope Brendan Rodgers keeps him for the up and coming season,thought when he came on he played very well,
In terms of goals scored in their first full season, Idah is pretty much where he’s expected to be. Kyogo, French Eddie, Griff and hooper all got low 20 goals. Dembele is the outlier hitting 32 in his first season.
Idah will never escape the scrutiny of his price tag.
Funny how we have different perspectives on the same incident.
At the young boys game, I thought Reo played a fantastic ball to put Idea in on goal. I thought Idah made a real arse of a very good chance to put us through to the knock out stages and was bailed out by the defender putting the ball into his own net.
I genuinely believed (and still do) that idah was the luckiest guy in the world that night that he wouldn’t be remembered as the guy who blew out chance to get to the knock out phase.
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