Greg Taylor was my man of the match on Saturday. He brought urgency and authority, two qualities which were absent elsewhere on the field. Despite being unable to agree a new contract with Celtic, I hear his attitude has been excellent, so much so, some were wondering what he had up his sleeve. With the season now over and talks ongoing, it appears nothing is up his sleeve, he is just a good professional.
The player will have options. The world is always looking for a left back and there are few with Champions League experience at their peak and available on a free. He is also Scottish, so helps with our European squad challenges. There are good reasons Celtic want to keep him.
What Greg does not want is to spend his peak years watching Kieran Tierney from the bench. Backfilling for Reo Hatate, another role mooted for him, might earn him more gametime, but it is not Greg’s core competency.
There is a flipside for Celtic too. If Celtic are to thrive, they must be a club which prioritises player development. Signing 27-year-olds with no resale value, like Kieran, runs counter to that. Signing 27-year-olds like Greg, to be understudy, even more so. Understudies should be on the upward career trajectory, preparing for a starting role.
Prioritising player development is not the only path. Michael Beale was a bad manager, but his 2023 signings were largely at the peak of their careers and Philippe Clement came close to delivering a title with them, as Celtic stuck to their development model. It is a legitimate strategy.
Greg Taylor is the consummate professional and if he signs on again, will be welcomed by us all. Would it be better for us than signing a 21-year-old prospect? I’m not convinced.
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Sure you all know this but in case you don’t. . .
Real Betis adopted green and white stripes, influenced by the colors of Celtic, after one of their founders, Manuel Asensio Ramos, studied in Scotland and became a Celtic fan. This connection is further reinforced by Real Betis wearing a special green and white-hooped kit to mark Andalusia Day and acknowledge their Celtic roots.
DeniaBhoy
A few years ago there was a video and story on social media about the Celtic and Betis link. The video showed an elderly Irish woman being presented with a plaque. Her brother was Patrick Connelly who managed Betis to their one and only La Liga win many decades ago. The woman wax carrying an Irish Tricolour and to the commentators great surprise she was accompanied by the Irish Rugby Legend Willie John McBride who I believe belonged to the Unionist community.
Brilliant first half. Betis should probably be 2 up. Chelsea not out of it, of course, I’m sorry to say. Betis fans are excellent
Sorry his name was Patrick O’Connell and he won the Lesgue title with Betis in 1935 and went on to manage Barcelona and save them from extinction during the Spanish Civil War. He had been a Man Utd player and was involved in a match fixing scandal which he escaped censure but others didn’t. He seems to have been a bit of a rat towards his family whom he left behind in poverty while he pursued his career in Spain. A flawed character who died destitute.
Cheers for that, funnily enough the Irish bar here in Denia is called Paddy O’Connells
TOSB
No.
I can’t make the game but I looked at the sale before the season ticket holders deadline and none of our seats were available to buy.
Seats seem to have been sold to season ticket holders on a first come, first served basis.
Tough ask now, Chelsea score twice. 20 mins to go
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 28th May 2025 9:06 pm
Sorry his name was Patrick O’Connell and he won the Lesgue title with Betis in 1935 and went on to manage Barcelona and save them from extinction during the Spanish Civil War.
*he finished his professional career at Boghead
GaryGillespiesHamstring
Thanks for the reply. I wasn’t sure.
Tontine
As a player or manager?
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 28th May 2025 9:35 pm
Tontine as a player or manager
*Patrick O’Connell (also known as “Paddy” or “Patricio” O’Connell) was an Irish football player and manager who played for Dumbarton FC in Scotland from 1919-1921. He made 31 league appearances during the 1919-20 season and played twice in the Scottish Cup.
Tontine
Thanks for the info. He must have gone on to be a manager after playing for Dumbarton. He seems to have been a bit of a character.
10 sectarian marches on the one day,,fine,but no protests about a genocide.
“Public safety. We have had some complaints about. the band appearing” Scotttish. Police..
No complain ts about the parades then?.
Disgraceful,shameful, hang your heads.
Thanks again for the birthday wishes…
Up the Hoops
No great week for in cup finals for the clubs in green and white….
Real Betis go down 4-1
Not sure if I heard it right earlier on Radio 5, …..that if Chelsea won, it would end a nine final losing run for English clubs against Spanish clubs in Euro Finals….dont know if true though….
Turkeybhoy
I suspect you are barking up the wrong tree there.
TRNSMT is a commercial venture and so policing is chargeable. It is likely that the foolish utterings of the young lads from Belfast (for which they have expressed regret) has increased the bill for the bill due to the likelihood of unrest in the crowd, many of whom will not share their political beliefs.
Orange parades, not being commercial, do not have chargeable policing. The comparison is not valid.
I am not condoning any of the above, merely pointing out the difference in the nature of each ‘event’ and the likelihood that money, not police decisions, is what has brought about this change
Maybe I’m being a bit cynical here but I’ve thought from the day the transmit appearance was announced that Kneecap were never going to be allowed to play near Bridgeton.
However if an orange band want to walk past St Mary’s, no problem.
I think the stadium is only partially open for the Newcastle game
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 28th May 2025 9:57 pm
Tontine thanks for the info. He must have gone on to be a manager after playing for Dumbarton. He seems to have been a bit of a character
*He moved on to a non-league side down south firstly as a player and then manager before heading over to Spain and a variety of clubs
https://www.celticnewsnow.com/hoople/
Got it in 5
Gene – hoople
Ty for posting
got it in 5
Peter Grant,,valuing. Reo at £10 milliion. today.??????????????????
And so it continues unabated…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1j5954edlno
Happy Ascension day
TT, a wee story from your neck of yhe woods.
——————–
Scott McTominay’s proud granny and grandad tell how football sensation honed talents in back garden
Scotland star Scott’s wonder strike sealed the Italian Serie A – and sealed his God-like status in Napoli. But grandparents Frank Mary McTominay tell how he regards Helensburgh as “where it all started”.
Scott McTominay’s grandparents speak of their pride at watching his success with Napoli
The Scottish grandparents of Europe’s hottest soccer sensation, Scott McTominay, have told how he honed his talents in their back garden.
Frank and Mary McTominay, who live in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, were beside themselves on Friday night when Scott’s scissors kick sealed the “scudetto” – Italy’s Serie A title.
he goal at the end of a stellar season sealed the Scotland international player’s God-like status in the football-mad city.
He was also voted Italy’s player of the season and has made the biggest impact at the club since world football legend Diego Maradona in the 80s.
And Scott’s proud grandparents beamed as they revealed that Scott, 28, has forever silenced all the critics who said he wasn’t good enough for Manchester United, who have sunk like a stone since selling Scott for just £25million last year.
WHAT A STRIKE: NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 23: Scott McTominay of Napoli scores his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
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Retired builder Frank, 90, said: “We’re extremely proud and after all that Scott has come through he deserves this success.
“We spoke to him on Sunday night and he was taking it all in his stride but there have been big changes for him since he went to Italy and he has dealt with everything like a champion.
“He’s found it a bit strange, as he’s not really able to walk down the street and he’s banned by the club from giving autographs because if you stop for a minute, you get mobbed.”
Frank revealed that Scott had taken his parents, Frank and Julie, and other family members to the Neapolitan Riviera to take in Napoli’s last match against Cagliari on Friday.
He said: “There was a few McTominays who got to go to the celebration and Scott got them all along to a beach club, where all the players and Napoli people were gathered.
“Then Scott took them all back to his home. It sounds like a big celebration and they were up late.”
Frank said Scott, who was brought up near Lancaster, has always told him that Helensburgh is his spiritual home.
He said: “When he comes to visit he always says, ‘This is where it all started.’ He could have opted to play for England but his dad – he’s Big Frank and I’m Old Frank – maybe had an influence and I know Scott always felt proud to be Scottish.
“McTominay is quite an uncommon name but there have been a few appearing out of nowhere in the last few months, all related to us in some way, which is nice.
“I can assure you that Scott is most certainly Scottish.”
Frank revealed that for years, Scott would get out the tatty old footballs out, to allow Scott to practise his skills.
Born on 11 January 1892 in Isla Cristina, Andalusia, Ramos Asencio was sent to Scotland at the age of 12, to complete his studies at the Catholic St Joseph’s College, Dumfries, which had been founded in 1875 by Brother Walfrid, who years later, in 1887, also founded Celtic in Glasgow.[1][3] During his stay in Britain, Ramos Asencio developed a deep interest in football, often travelling to Glasgow to attended Celtic’s matches, making several close friends at the club in the process.[4]
St Stivs
I believe Betis played in red shirts previously until Ascencio changed them to the green and white vertical stripes that Celtic wore until 1903.
18th July Shipbank Shipwrecks
tickets for the Newcastle game on the 19 July
Maybe worth flying back from Indonesia for that.
Oh I’ll probably see my family as wel
( aka Frankie Miller)
new article posted.
Lowkey on Kneecap, the uk zionist charities funding the IDF, and the uk citizens commiting genocide
Tauranga Boy – scroll on by
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5qr4EFeFKw