Yesterday was the fourth time in four games this season Celtic have won without having to leave second gear. Kilmarnock and St Mirren were both stretched by European qualification ties, while Hibs have had a humiliating start to the season, even for them. Still, there could hardly be a starker illustration of the chasm between our domestic and Champions League challenges.
Scotland’s other leading club made it eight wins on the bounce this season, as Aberdeen continue to provide the main competition to the champions. The first showdown between the clubs does not happen for another seven weeks, a game that could go a long way to determining the title.
Credit to St Mirren for dominating the first 140 seconds of the tie; unfortunately for them, Celtic scored the first time they got forward with the ball. A trademark Celtic passing move opened space for Callum McGregor 24 yards out, who fired low into the net. St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson’s plans to get stuck in early became unstuck before many fans had got to their seat.
Reo Hatate doubled the advantage 33 minutes in with the goal of the game. Alistair Johnston pitched a high ball into the box for Daizen Maeda to run onto. The Japanese winger headed back and down into space for Reo, who struck the ball on the drop-volley, clipping the inside of the post on the way in. Johnston removed any doubt about the result with a goal midway through the second half.
Paulo Bernardo showed lots of tidy work in the central midfield role normally occupied by Matt O’Riley, who travelled south for a medical over the weekend and should compete his move to Brighton today. More on Matt at a later date.
As the deadline looms, players and clubs across the continent have sharpened their options. Barcelona agreed to a new-contract-and-loan-to-Celtic deal with 20-year-old left back Alex Valle. The player is expected in Glasgow today for a medical. At the end of this season, he will have one year remaining on is Barcelona deal, with a buy-out figure which is greatly reduced from where it was a week ago.
Goalkeeper is the only area of the field we are not looking to add to this week. This is not your first transfer window, so usual caveats, but it should be an interesting few days.
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My take on Brendan’s Sun interview.
Club Aspirations & Commitment To Supporters.
“As a football club, we want to develop, we want to improve. We can’t be happy just to make money because the bottom line is on the pitch and we have a duty to the supporters who pay their money to put the best team on the pitch. Looking back to Covid times here, Celtic supporters sold the stadium out with season tickets and they weren’t allowed in it.”
In essence there must be a new balance between running the club properly and the desire of the supporters to see development and advancement on the field of play.
The Recruitment Process – Putting It Right
“It’s taken a bit longer than I would have liked as a manager, that’s my brutally honest answer on it. However if we can strengthen the squad by Friday we’ll be in a really, really good place. There are a number of things I won’t go into here, but there is definitely something, having come back in and gone through three windows now, we have to put right as a football club. We shouldn’t be getting into this last week in the position we’re in.”
Interestingly he does not mention the sums of money involved, rather by implication that the people and processes charged with operating in transfer windows are not fit for purpose.
Optimism & Determination
“We’ll get the players in that we want. We don’t need to manufacture our own stress. So, we’ll be calm this week and look to get the players in who can strengthen us.”
Gives the impression that he has made his point forcefully to the club and is confident it has been taken on board and is being actioned.
If someone was intent in making mischief it could be inferred that there is some kind of ultimatum woven into Brendan’s words – I don’t think there is, however there is no doubt that he has unequivocally articulated his views and feelings at this importatnt juncture.
“spikeysauldman on 27th August 2024 2:19 am
any new signings this week wont be ready to start the Hun game”
Nor will they be needed.
ONIL
I’m confident we’ll beat all 13 of them . Even if the mib’s put on a performance to outdo Tynecastlegate.
Taurangabhoy on 27th August 2024 10:22 am
An Tearman Lisbon is on my bucket list. Maybe not this year. How am I going to sell it to Mrs Taurangaghirl . My daughter went last week but not to Estadio Nacional.
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Portugal’s Estádio Nacional set for revamp
By
Bradley Rial
| 17 July 2023
2 minute read 4,606
The Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal is set to undergo renovation work after an agreement was signed between the Municipality of Oeiras and several national sporting bodies.
The stadium, which is also known as the Jamor Sports Complex, has a capacity of over 37,000 and hosts the annual Portuguese Cup final. It is also used to host rugby union and athletics events, as well as music concerts.
On Friday, the Municipality of Oeiras, where the Estádio Nacional is based, signed a cooperation agreement with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), which owns the venue, with a view to renovating the stadium.
The agreement was also signed by the Portuguese Institute of Youth and Sports, the Portuguese Athletics Federation and the Portuguese Rugby Federation. The federations will launch a competition to determine the architectural plans for the revamped stadium.
Isaltino Morais, Mayor of Oeiras, said: “We are proud that the Portuguese feel the importance of the Jamor Sports Complex.
“The Municipality of Oeiras has always been interested in having a more active participation in the management of this complex and, in recent years, there has been a great cooperation with the Portuguese Institute of Youth and Sports. Improvements in the management of this complex can only be welcomed.”
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If you plan to go, make sure it is before it gets a revamp. It really is a mystical place and you will love it.
!!BADA BING!!
Do you know if Greg Taylor has been offered a new (improved)contract?
Hopefully he gets one rather than it being allowed to run down.
As for Austen Trusty I think Lagerbielke /Nawrocki are just as good if not better .
36 years ago today we lost 5-1 at Ibrox.
So began a period of 11 leagues in 12 yesrs for our overspending Glasgow rivals.
Since the end of that period we have won 19 leagues out of 25.
Unlike Murray’s ego led project we have done this within our means and we are now well positioned for a second generation of total domination.
Why has this come to pass ?
The cheapest of the three options would be to add 1,300 seats to each corner of Ibrox at which a big screen is located, at a cost of between £3m (€3.48m/$3.8m) to £4m per area. Alternatively, Bisgrove said the big screens could be removed entirely, filling in the corners of the stadium adjacent to the Sandy Jardine Stand. This is expected to add around 3,000 to 4,000 seats at a cost of between £20m and £25m.
The potential of lowering the pitch, adding 4,500 seats, was outlined. This would cost between £15m to £20m, but would be logistically challenging. The work would need more than a close season to carry out, meaning that Rangers would potentially need to explore playing at another stadium while the project is conducted.
In November, Rangers was reported to be weighing up a potential expansion of Ibrox that would significantly increase the capacity of the stadium. The expansion could see the capacity of Ibrox increase from 51,000 to 70,000, according to The Herald.
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Why can’t we be as well run as that club?
“scullybhoy on 27th August 2024 11:04 am
Why can’t we be as well run as that club?”
Put some CQNers on the Board and we would be !!
Cheerio for now.
glendalystonsils on 27th August 2024 10:58 am
Totally agree. We should blow them out the water.
Games between us and our illustrious rivals last season.
Rangers 0 Celtic 1
Celtic 2 Rangers 1
Rangers 3 Celtic 3
Celtic 2 Rangers 1
Celtic 1 Rangers 0
I wouldn’t be expecting a huge margin this Sunday..
One goal will do
CELTIC40ME @ 8:07 AM,
‘“how much would we need to spend to progress in europe?“. Is a question that every sensible football club owner would ask themselves in our position. It’s easy to talk about how we need to spend it differently but setting a budget is a bit more difficult, putting a limit on spending isn’t a popular thing for a football club to do but it’s paramount (!) for any business that wants to stay solvent.
Well, not really, would Aberdeen be asking how much they need to spend to progress in Europe?
Aberdeen like 99% of Clubs look at what they can afford, set a sustainable budget, then strive to do their best they possibly can.
Of course some Clubs do this better than others.
It’s very convenient for our Board that Basketcase FC are in the same City as us
They are a Club with delusions of grandeur, their support has very little connection with reality and are brought up with a very unhealthy superiority complex…
What that’s got to do with the way Glasgow Celtic are run I have no idea…
On the 7-8 mn players and 90 mn return…
Basically you could look at any sort of figures
What the Manager seemed to be suggesting from my perspective.
If you spend 1.5 mn a Matt O’Riley is a one in twenty hit.
Where as if you spend more your hit rate is so much higher, plus you have a very useful player in your squad.
Also experience is hugely important, Kasper Schmeichel might yet prove to be our best signing of the window
Hail Hail
Marspapa
The Sheffield fans share your estimation of Trusty. They are expressing genuine delight at the prospect of gaining Mikey Johnston for him. Strange world being a fan, isn’t it? Anyway, as always, I’ll wait to see if the rumours have substance and, if the player comes, I’ll give them a good few months to show what they can do before I would consider a strong opinion on the player’s worth.
https://www.s24su.com/forum/threads/auston-trusty.100512/
Calmac quoted in the Herald today, doesn’t see any war between fitba men & the suits:-
But captain McGregor is optimistic Celtic, who will play eight games in the revamped Champions League in the coming months, will bring in the reinforcements they need.
“When you lose two or three bodies, especially quality ones, then you have to try and replace them with, if not the same quality, players who can help the group,” he said.
“I am no different to anyone else. We all want to see the club and the group moving forward. We’ve lost a few so it’s important that we try and replace them.
“But I think we have to trust the people in the positions to do the job. That’s the one thing that the club’s been good at. We all trust each other.
“So from my end, there’s no worries. Hopefully when we get to the end of the week, then we’ll be where we need to be.”
McGregor added: “It’s an exciting week for sure. For the players there is the game at the weekend and the Champions draw as well. We’ll see that come in. But the full focus will be on the game. We as players just have to let everything else fall into place.
“We will train as hard as we can this week. What we can affect is the game next Sunday, so that’s where our focus will be. But, yeah, it’s an exciting week.”
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Unfortunately the Celtic men responding to the article in the comments section did not share Callum’s views:-
First Comment- When the manager and the captain should have all their attention focussed on the Glasgow derby they are having to get involved in touting the board to buy in players. The board shouldn’t need to have to be reminded of their part in the organisation. Get the effing money spent.
3rd comment- They will spend. Massive year end bonuses for the board at the end of this fiscal year.
5th comment- Nicholson: “Peter, when are the new signings going to take place?” Lawwell: “Dunno, Mike, but what do you think of my new Rolex? “
3 Celts named in Scotland International Squad today- Ralston, Taylor & Forrest
Taurangabhoy on 27th August 2024 10:22 am
An Tearman Lisbon is on my bucket list. Maybe not this year. How am I going to sell it to Mrs Taurangaghirl . My daughter went last week but not to Estadio Nacional.
Plenty of good hotels around Lisbon,also Porto to it North,Algarve coast to south,southern spain heading east,I wouldn’t try hide it,but for check dates if going as there is a series of renovations ongoing.Have a word with your lass,jeez no even a pic for her old fella!!
HH
To be clear if achieving qualifying for last 16 playoff is our benchmark eg 10 games proper in the CL then we need 2 wins and 2 draws out of 8 games. It is possible 2 wins and 1 draw or any combination getting 7 points but 8 points will be the hurdle.
Hence the draw is critical. Who we get in pot 3 and 4 in our home ties is vital.
SFTB
MSM reading clowns commenting.
Far from Celtic men who have a clue as to how things are run.
Maybe they go look at our financial reports and try having a think. Or is that beyond them. Just open their mouths and talk the same crap.
Their sheer blind bigotry reached its peak when they complained about Gollum and got him banned.The stupidity,breathtaking.We have always known he was no supporter of us,but they only see his job title.
Sundays selections of officials,looks like a GIRFUY,directed at us.Why us ?.What have we ever done to him?.Strange,strange wee man.
Turkeybhoy
I would rather have the Beaton Dallas combo at our place than theirs.
Someone has to referee the game..No matter who got it there would be complaints.
Dermot Gallagher regularly gets stick on here for “anti celtic” analysis…
Dermot Gallagher is a celtic fan…
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 27TH AUGUST 2024 11:29 AM
Don’t know a lot about Trusty but …..there were a lot of Spurs fans laughing gleefully at us taking CCV off their hands . Look how that turned out .
Burnley,
The draw is the most critical thing.No matter how much we could spend,a bad draw,out,or nearly certain of it.
Teams can sometimes hit a wee golden patch,get more than their share of luck,and do well,never lasts,.
We were seeds 1 a few years ago in Europa and got the toughest group possible.Luck,plays a massive part.
Witz,
Our Refs work for the SFA.Masons
Gallagher works for Sky.Old Firm,Hun droolers.
Both pay their wages.
You see the flaw there?.
new article posted.
Sheffield fans have not got much trust in austy