Summer of the long Copa

491

Canada face Venezuela overnight in a game which if the South Americans lose, will see the final Celtic player break for the summer.  Even if Canada are eliminated in the small hours of Saturday morning, Alistair Johnston will have a short break before picking up for the new term.  Venezuela topped their group with maximum points, so will start favourites.

Celtic’s first competitive game is four weeks away, while the squad head to the USA in less than a fortnight.  Brendan Rodgers could be tempted to start the season with Anthony Ralston at right back to extend Johnston’s break.

Alistair has played every minute of Canada’s campaign, whereas Cameron Carter-Vickers Copa America experience with the USA was limited to one substitute appearance.  Neither will be properly rested for the new campaign, no matter how much extended leave Brendan allows.

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491 Comments

  1. Fullname: Joseph Filippi

     

    aka: Joe Filippi

     

    Born: 3 November 1953

     

    Birthplace: Ayrshire, Scotland

     

    Signed: 4 November 1977 from Ayr United

     

    Left: November 1979 to Clyde

     

    Position: Right-Back

     

    First game: Motherwell 3-2 away 5 November 1977 League

     

    Last game: Hibernian 1-2 away 31 March 1979 League

     

    Internationals: None

     

     

    Joe Filippi was signed by Celtic in November 1977 in a deal which saw the full-back move to Parkhead from Ayr United with Brian McLaughlin and £15,000 going in the opposite direction. He had been an apprentice draughtsman, giving up an office role to train as a plater and welder, but football beckoned. He was one of twin boys and the son of a native Italian who had settled in Scotland become a headmaster at a school.

  2. TEUCHTER ÁR LÁ on 6TH JULY 2024 3:41 PM

     

    Ziggydoc

     

     

    Ian McWilliams?☘️

     

    ____

     

    That’s the guy. Was about 6’7″, that’s six feet seven inches for any young yins 😁. My recollections are selling Kenny (catastrophe) and wasting a lot (for us) of money on a smattering of players. Impossible to do that nowadays surely 😕

  3. Agree, frank munro was probably a decent player at one point and two stones lighter. I remember his debut and Willie garner’s also (wasn’t he at arsenal?). Best fat player, fat Pat was a good footballer

  4. I know it’s hard to compare players from different eras but wee Jimmy and Bobby would excel in any era. Remember Bobby at the end if his Celtic days, still the fastest at the club (and a great finisher).

  5. SCULLYBHOY on 6TH JULY 2024 4:20 PM

     

     

    Got them all, I think, apart from guy next to Jock

  6. Kelvinbhoy on 6th July 2024 4:42 pm

     

     

    SCULLYBHOY on 6TH JULY 2024 4:20 PM

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Got them all, I think, apart from guy next to Jock

     

     

    Fullname: John Gibson

     

     

     

     

    aka: Wee Johnny, Johnny Gibson, The Ghost

     

     

     

     

    Born: 23 December 1950

     

     

     

     

    Birthplace: Hull

     

     

     

     

    Signed: 7 December 1976

     

     

     

     

    Left: April 1978

     

     

     

     

    Position: Right-Wing

     

     

     

     

    First game : Sub v Ayr home 3-0 league – 18 December 1976

     

     

     

     

    Last game : Hibernian away 1-1 league – 30 March 1977

     

     

     

     

    Goals: None

     

     

     

     

    Internationals: None

     

     

     

     

    International Caps: None

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Me likewise. I had to look him up.

     

     

    HH

  7. SAINT STIVS @ 5th July – 1:50 PM,

     

     

    Apologies for the delay getting back…

     

     

    why do you think celtic will be better in europe ?

     

     

    what does success in the 8 game league format mean for you?

     

     

    ok with a few domestic defeats as long as we progress in europe ?

     

     

    what is it.

     

     

    Well that’s a good question but maybe go back a step.

     

     

    Can Celtic do better in Europe?

     

     

    Well last season we started our European campaign having lost half a dozen first team players from the previous campaign and had a few senior players injured or jaded.

     

     

    Ange’s 2022 UCL campaign was never seen as a highlight of his Celtic career, so, let’s say with the proper recruitment we can do better.

     

     

    Also a lot of our prospects and foreign players have got another year’s experience and development under their belt, so we should know how they can perform.

     

     

    My feeling is, we succeeded under Martin O’Neil due to fortress Parkhead and we had our best performances last season at Celtic Park.

     

     

    So, we should aim to get a result in our home games and a couple of our away games.

     

     

    That would give us enough for a pop at Europe after Christmas.

     

     

    As far as the domestic season goes, we have no serious opposition, although consistency is key.

     

     

    I’d like to see the squad utilised in the domestic fixtures especially at home, where 90% of our games should be guaranteed three points…

     

     

    As has been mentioned, if we can be competitive in the UCL, we will be flying domestically.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  8. garygillespieshamstring on

    McWilliams was a free from Queen’s Park as he was an amateur.

     

    But he was a giant and hopeless.

  9. chairbhoy,

     

     

    they are good thoughful answers, i live in hope we can perform better in europe, or maybe just get points that sometimes our play deserved.

     

     

    all last summers write offs, as you say another year under their belts, maybe some break through,

     

     

    a few good players in, a way to find kyogo in the games, and hopefully we can compete.

     

     

    i do think getting into that 24th place of 36 is still a huge taske, really will depend on who we draw,

     

     

    cheers.

  10. GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 6TH JULY 2024 4:57 PM

     

    McWilliams was a free from Queen’s Park as he was an amateur.

     

     

     

     

    But he was a giant and hopeless.

     

     

    ——————————————————————————————————————–

     

     

    I’m sure I remember the NOT THE VIEW magazine doing an article called THEY EMBARASSED THE HOOPS were Ian was one of the ex players chosen. They finished the article something like this.

     

     

    Ian finally got his reward with a transfer to London zoo were he replaced Victor the Giraffe.

     

     

    KEEP THE FAITH

  11. The not the view contributors were on the celtic exchange podcast for the 94 takeover interviews.

     

    very very good listen.

     

     

    with maturity and time, they regreted the “they embarrassed the hoops” series, and said it was unfair because, all things considered, these players did pull on the jersey.

     

     

    i had forgotten also, it led to a rift with the board, when jack mcginn refused the bust of jock that ntv had commissed, and this in fact was then displayed in the peoples palace instead.

     

     

    quite interesting. malcontents then …. and now

     

     

    ——————

     

     

    https://www.thecelticwiki.com/media/fanzines/not-the-view-fanzine/

  12. I must be watching a different game from the pundits in the studio.This game is dire,England and the Swiss are dire.” Pickford has not had a save to make”,.Neither has the Swiss keeper.Utter crap being spoken here.

  13. Fullname: Ian McWilliam

     

    Born: 19 Mar 1953

     

    Died: May 2004

     

    Birthplace: Malta

     

    Signed: 2 Aug 1977 (from Queen’s Park)

     

    Left: 22 Apr 1978 (free); 3 Aug 1978 (to Seiko (HK))

     

    Position: Central Defender

     

    Debut: Celtic 5-0 Jeunesse Esch, European Cup, 14 Sep 1977

     

    Internationals: none

     

     

    Sadly, Ian McWilliam died prematurely in 2004 after a long battle against leukaemia. May he rest in peace.

  14. Shocking entertainment.No idea who this English media are trying to kid.This is dire.No shots on target,and all the pundits are ” Delighted”.

     

    Oh ur ye,Aye.

  15. Yes, St Stivs, the draw will be everything…

     

     

    On Roald Dahl, back in the day he was in Wycombe Hospital when my mum was a telephonist there, he loved her Scottish brogue, so chatted to her a lot.

     

     

    Anyway…

     

     

    RD: So you have children

     

     

    Mum: Yes Four

     

     

    RD: Do they like to read?

     

     

    Mum: Yes, they love reading

     

     

    RD: Why don’t you bring in some books and I’ll sign them

     

     

    Mum: Oh, I don’t think they have any of yours….

     

     

    Hail Hail

  16. Turkeybhoy

     

     

    I was puzzled too by the half-time chat.

     

     

    There is no doubt that England are a little better today, in terms of progressive passing and attacking intent, than they were in their group matches, but the panel seem desperate to portray this as the team being back to their best when it is only a slight improvement from a previously dire level.

     

     

    I still expect them to sneak it but, so far, the Swiss have had the slightly better chances

  17. 44 touches for the swiss goal.

     

     

    only bit of football in this whole sorry game.

  18. Football’s coming home again ….well maybe. Such a poor quality game this.

  19. bigrailroadblues on

    Which is just as well. I’ll probably get another doing when I roll in like a bag of laundry.