Sporting likely to deliver firm insight

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Celtic’s preparations for the new season kick up a gear this week when they face Sporting at Estadio Algarve tonight, before facing Middlesborough at Celtic Park on Saturday. With so many players involved in the World Cup, work for the official kick-off has been restricted. There is only a friendly against Milan to come before Dundee’s visit a week on Monday.

My general rule of thumb is that good ‘results’ in preseason are unwelcome. Ange Postecoglou’s 2-6 hammering by West Ham five years ago was a welcome tonic in this respect. Kyogo, Jota, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Juranovic and Joe Hart would soon arrive to kick-start our current five-in-a-row run. I expect my rule of thumb will be facilitated by Sporting later. Maybe for the best.

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271 Comments

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  2. Looks like at least Paul is getting his wish. A pre-season humping to trigger transfer activity . . . somehow doubt it

  3. DUSHANBE BHILLY BHOY on

    Who is the Irish commentator on Soccer Box? Having problems with his past participles.

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  5. DUSHANBE BHILLY BHOY on

    clunks on 14th July 2026 7:15 pm

     

    DUSHANBE BHILLY BHOY

     

     

    Was thinking that??

     

    ——–

     

     

    Sounds like an educated Tom English.

     

    Low barrier, I will admit

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Defo a hun

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  7. like a dog chasing cars..... on

    No Maeda and the team becomes a shadow hiding up a close!

     

    53,000 nodding dogs will NOT provide any answers.

     

    4-3-3 needs to follow MacGregor to Arabia ASAP!

     

    What a time to be alive!

  8. PeterLatchfordsBelly on

    Looks roasting out there.

     

     

    Pre-season kickabout with the B team. Won’t read much into it.

     

     

    One thought – maybe Despot’s long held ambition for us to move league was to the League of Ireland.

  9. “Ange Postecoglou’s 2-6 hammering by West Ham five years ago was a welcome tonic in this respect. Kyogo, Jota, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Juranovic and Joe Hart would soon arrive to kick-start our current five-in-a-row run.”

     

     

    Hope tonights (and against middlesborough huns) pumping results in similar

     

     

    Tho I doubt it

     

     

    Sleeping at the wheel

  10. PeterLatchfordsBelly on 14th July 2026 7:19 pm

     

     

    Looks roasting out there.

     

     

    Pre-season kickabout with the B team. Won’t read much into it.

     

     

    One thought – maybe Despot’s long held ambition for us to move league was to the League of Ireland.

     

     

    —————

     

     

    As long as that league is close enough to whatever golf club he favours

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  12. Not long to the main event tonight.

     

     

    Fingers crossed for Spain to edge out France and keep the locals happy.

  13. glendalystonsils on

    Well , there’s yer humping as per Paul’s leader , good to know it’s the precursor to the six top signings coming in as in 5 years ago.

     

     

    No tittering at the back , please !

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  15. Jackiemac

     

    First time I have seen him, quite impressed.

     

    We really need serious incomings, going by how we are going about things so far, really not holding out too much hope for the coming season sad to say.

  16. comedy capers at the back , we are totally devoid of half decent defenders , total clear out required.

  17. vinniethedog on

    Problem with Kennedy ( as with an awful lot) just not a lot of pace ….the physicality will come as he’s got the size …but I honestly don’t think he’s athletic enough…..ic he had Donovan’s engine he’d have a real chance

  18. glendalystonsils on

    This could be the year the ‘pre-season cup’ actually means something unless our custodians get serious about improving the squad . Pronto .

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  20. why bother going to the algarve in high summer .

     

     

    you can sweat it out here or ireland easy enough

  21. I’m sure our head of recruitment is just about to spring into action…..oh, wait…

  22. we knew we needed a clear out – we knew we lack physicality and quality in key spine areas – but this celtic board is utterly deplorable. I’ve no doubts we will sign players but we wont get them in time to gel and bond – it wont be primary targets – the board is not fit for purpose – where is the sporting director , where is the CEO , we are a joke and will get our comeuppance !

  23. glendalystonsils on

    southside on 14th July 2026 7:55 pm

     

     

    What he actually said was ” i’ll get into action next spring ‘ . (Mibbe)

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  25. glendalystonsils on

    Someone posted earlier along the lines that Desmond and his staff (aka the board) actually don’t want CL football and are actually planning in such a way as to avoid it .

     

    My initial reaction was to scoff at this but as days go by with total inertia I’m beginning to wonder .

  26. and to make a bad night shit

     

     

    they have dragged mcmoist onto the commentary for the france v Spain game

  27. the Bada Bing on

    Montgomery and Murray still getting a game…..we should close the Academy, anyone decent at 16 -17 moves on,it’s a total waste of money