When results from preseason friendlies are discussed, I always think back to Sachsen Leipzig. 24 years ago, Martin O’Neill took his new Celtic team to face the fourth-tier German club, fielded a team with Sutton, Larsson, Mjallby, Stubbs, Lambert, Petrov, Moravcik and Boyd, and lost 2-0.
Problem was, we also had Rafael and Tebily in a disjointed team which included a young trialist called Thomas Hitzlsperger, who did not sufficiently impress to win a Celtic contract, but would subsequently become a mainstay of the German national team.
Preseason is not about winning games, but losing them can still smart, ask anyone who saw West Ham at Celtic Park three years ago. So with all those caveats acknowledged, the goals scored against Manchester City overnight were encouraging. Nicolas Khun in particular appears to be growing into his role at Celtic. We missed a really commanding winger last season, let’s hope Nicolas can deliver this term.
Martin O’Neill rapidly recovered from that loss in Germany and led Celtic to their first treble in 33 years that season. There was no Sachsen Redemption, though. The Leipzig club went into liquidation in 2011. Kids, liquidation of football clubs was more common than you’d think, back then.
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slow news day
Tremendous game for a friendly, fantastic support in the US for both sides. Kaspar Schmeichel had a great debut, saving twice what looked like certain goals. At the other end Nicolas Kuhn clearly benefitting from his pre season in the fittest of Celtic sides. Sweeping fast movement and passing, on a bowling green like surface saw Celtic ahead 3-1, in an end to end encounter.
Pep rang the changes at HT and drew level with their brand of attack of the EPL attacking, but BR’s subs matched them and time again broke through City’s high press. Whatever James Forrest, unleashed like a coiled spring is taking with his cornflakes lord only knows, but the best winger at the club nearly eclipsed his German team mate.
MOM Nicolas Kuhn
May the pace of liquidation of football clubs quicken…especially one of them.
Sorting out the Greg Taylor contract should be one of the easiest tasks. Surely regardless of who else we are bringing in there is value in a strong known commodity such as Greg ?
scullybhoy on 24th July 2024 12:06 pm
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/89b066c47d58e9ea084322b230a1914e
Who is that Bhoy?
Burnley78 on 24th July 2024 12:17 pm
Sorting out the Greg Taylor contract should be one of the easiest tasks. Surely regardless of who else we are bringing in there is value in a strong known commodity such as Greg ?
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Totally agree.
scullybhoy
Could it be Paulo Di Canio?
Things looking positive on this tour. Definitely better than fixing up games against “unknown opponents”. City well under-strength but we are showing signs of what we could achieve with a bit of ambition.
Headlines you won’t see in SMSM,
“ Celts win seven goal Battle of Britain thriller “
Marc Crosas?
Paulo Di Canio?
Marc Crosas?
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Sorry bhoys, no.
Good research in digging up the Sachsen result (and West Ham- though I must confess I don’t recall it even though I must have watched it and still can’t bring the result to mind).
It is great that we won our 2 US tour matches and played some fine stuff. But the results are deeply, deeply unimportant and rarely committed to my memory. I would be hard put to come up with an answer to “What was your favourite pre-season match?”
As the Sachsen result showed, a poor pre-season is no predictor of a bad season and conversely, our unbeaten start to this pre-season is no guarantee of a successful domestic season or Euro campaign.
It was nice- I enjoyed it- but it will soon be forgotten by me.
We had a good shape for the majority of the game,and kept possession pretty well, a really good workout, BR spoke well after the game
https://youtu.be/9HEY8GvaBYA?si=GpCMKcTCKAzlufjX
Pre season friendly
Celtic verse Arsenal 1-5
Centenary Celts 👍
Mark Burchill?
Mark Burchill?
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Sorry, no.
BURNLEY78 on 24TH JULY 2024 12:17 PM
Sorting out the Greg Taylor contract should be one of the easiest tasks. Surely regardless of who else we are bringing in there is value in a strong known commodity such as Greg ?
It depends on what Greg Taylor and his agents value his services at. He’ll be 27 soon, you cant blame an ever present in a treble and double winning team with champions league experience to be looking for a decent wage from the last big contract in his career
BSR – agreed re Forrest.
I thought most of the Man City young players showed up OK.
But the guy they brought on at left back in the second half who was up against James?
Absolutely schooled by JF.
The lad Fox. The short-lived left back, Scullybhoy ?
Greg is in a very good negotiating position. There is almost nobody at the club to take his place if he leaves
This ” City understrength” thing.Anyone thinking Pep would take mediocre players to the States,obviously knows nothing about him.Most would walk into EPL clubs.Try buying them.We had youngsters playing second half all over the team.This game went out to 130 countries.Most saw Celtic beat Man City.Massive boost to our standing with the football we played.Pep,fulsome in his praise,but still we get the Weary Willie’s,stinting.with it.
BR ,if he continues this style of play,is onto a real vwinner.
Luvved it.
Anyone think Greg is asking for exorbitant money?.I don’t.
Sometimes I have no idea what people at our club think.
Update today on Bernardo.Lots of paperwork to be sorted !!!!.Who are they kidding.Do we look like Huns.?.
Saving another weeks wages,more like.
At least BR has come out out and said,the Board have the targets.We have until the end of August to get them in.
Let’s see.
SCULLYBHOY on 24TH JULY 2024 12:17 PM
scullybhoy on 24th July 2024 12:06 pm
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/89b066c47d58e9ea084322b230a1914e
Who is that Bhoy?
_—-
A bit of sleuthing suggests Patryck Klimala?
Lassad Nouioui
quadrophenian on 24th July 2024 12:48 pm
The lad Fox. The short-lived left back, Scullybhoy ?
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Excellent.
Signed: 24 July 2009 (£1.5m)
Fullname: Daniel Fox
aka: Danny Fox, Dan Fox
Born: 29 May 1986
Birthplace: Winsford, Cheshire
Left: 29 Jan 2010 (£1.8m est)
Position: Defender, Left-Back
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 4
International Goals: 0
Pre-season matches in Germany provided some moments best not remembered
But who could forget the 6-2 mauling back in 2013 in at the hands of Spielvereinigung Greuther Furth somewhere down in Bavaria. Known locally as Die Kleeblatter, and unknown locally as The German Hoops, our shared history did not prevent a historic thrashing. The reaction of former resident Henry Kissinger, is not known, though I have not checked his memoirs on that score so to speak.
Think we also got hit for six by an Amateur side in East Berlin more recently by a team whose name I appear to have vergessen. Tant Pis as they dont say in those parts.
😊
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/gvMUI44Bc9oTLgdZ5McyVA58083
BBC lost 500,000 licence fee payers last year according to report published.
It’s news function has its head up it’s ass.
Headline story yesterday : professional dancers give non-dancers a hard time when trying to quickly turn them into dancers.
Today : horsey type treats horse badly. I’m shocked at this revelation.
To save money perhaps it’s time for BBC Sport Scotland to be disbanded.
Most of those relieved of their jobs as a result could find emotionally satisfying work just a mile away … perhaps in a construction project?
https://x.com/gastro_celtic/status/1815999009749692533?s=48&t=rp_RYt3YguDRk0y5HTpdeA
Extended highlights from Man City TV
You’re happier winning games than you are losing them, the pre-season appears to be going well and that’s great. It’s a shame though that BR hasn’t been able to integrate more arrivals into his squad prior to season starting.
He may have to follow Ange’s example and publicly call out our tardiness at getting deals over the line.
SCULLYBHOY on 24TH JULY 2024 12:19 PM
Burnley78 on 24th July 2024 12:17 pm
Sorting out the Greg Taylor contract should be one of the easiest tasks. Surely regardless of who else we are bringing in there is value in a strong known commodity such as Greg ?
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Totally agree.
………..
Wee GREG deserves a pay rise and a new contract.
I am pretty sure that he isnt asking for the ” Moon” ?
GREG has always showed great commitment and skill when playing for Celtic.
Lets NOT lose him for the sake of a few Quid !
HH.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 24TH JULY 2024 1:13 PM
Agreed, the news is badly dumbed down these days and the website is a very difficult read if you’re not interested in reading about standard popular culture crap.
There are so many poor presenters on the radio now I dont listen to it, even Today and Newsnight are being ruined by the lightweight presenters who dont seem to know very much about anything except how to make it all about themselves.
Good afternoon all from the Vogue. Another fun day in old Ruglen. 🍻
AN DÚN on 24TH JULY 2024 1:17 PM
Maybe he’ll change his tune but last night Brendan couldn’t have have sounded more relaxed about how much time we have left to get deals done.
Interesting that Brendan didn’t dismiss the Bernardo question,saying it’s ongoing and will announce when there’s something to say
On 13th July 2006 in a pre-season tour of the US, Celtic were humbled 0-4 by DC United.
2 weeks later at Celtic Park, Man U reserves battered a full-strength Celtic 3-0.
Within a few months, Celtic defeated Man U 1-0 at Celtic Park thanks to a world class free-kick by Shunsuke Nakamura to qualify for the last 16 of the CL with a game to spare.