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Wright within rights, Ciftci running upstairs caveat

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

I was disappointed for St Johnstone at their exit from the Europa League last night but not for Scottish football, or our coefficient points.  Saints are a provincial club in a very rural part of Scotland.  You only have to travel through the hills to Perth to realise that pocket of Scotland, with its tractors, knitwear and wellie boot shops, has no God given right to beat a team from any municipality anywhere.

They have done very well for the last couple of seasons, from a tiny catchment area, but managed to reach Europe by pipping Dundee United, who ironically were good enough to have key players poached midseason.

St Johnstone don’t have potential superstars, they are also the oldest team in the league, which gets you through a long campaign but they are never going to sparkle.  Or earn Scottish football a hatful of coefficient points.

Dundee United were decimated by the loss of those two players midseason, and were done no favours with the shadow of uncertainty which enveloped backroom and boardroom for months, but they, Aberdeen and Celtic are the only Scottish clubs capable of getting their act together to the extent required to reach European group stages.  For everyone else, Europe is strictly a July pursuit, so don’t stress about it, and Tommy Wright is well within his rights to talk up his own club.

If Scottish football wants to get all introspective about last night, we should concern ourselves with concentrating resources on clubs who are independently financially viable: Dundee United, Aberdeen, Hearts, Celtic, Hibs and maybe Dundee.  If more of our sponsorship and TV money went to Aberdeen and United and less to the thirty-or-so hangers on, they would be better placed to consolidate their development work and compete in Europe.

Celtic are five days away from their opening competitive game of the season, so I would think tonight’s friendly against Davie Moyes’ Real Sociedad will be the last strenuous exercise the players go through after what will have been a taxing first few weeks of preseason.  After this workout it should all be about recovery before the visit of Stjarnan on Wednesday.  The usual caveats apply to Nadir Ciftci, if he looks like he couldn’t run upstairs, he’s about where I’d expect him to be right now.

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  2. fan-a-tic on

    bgx@22-15

     

    No one said the officials where trying to get Celtic beat.

     

    Bit of a stretch from you and embarrassing to borrow your words.

     

    People merely pointed out the officials were poor an got many decisions wrong.They were very consistent though.

  3. 'GG on

    clog her Celt

     

    Everyone is easy

     

    Yap

     

    Shoosh

     

    A wee minute

     

    Cheers

     

    Tell tale tit.

  5. Margaret McGill on

    roy croppie

     

     

    22:48 on 10 July, 2015

     

     

     

    I’d rather be a Hunner than a taegue

     

    Yes I would

     

    Yes I would

     

    If I only could

     

    Chap wood

  9. Dexter says PAY THE LIVING WAGE CELTIC PLC on

    Help?!

     

     

    I’m a CTV subscriber and in holiday in the States.

     

     

    Itrurd unsuccessfully to watch via android mobile but no stream available. Is it possible to use ur CTV subscription abroad??

  10. 'GG on

    MIT

     

    And it’s far too complex for my simple ageing brain.

     

    Keep fighting the good fight against the midgies.

     

    Deer is your best friend.

  11. leftclicktic on

    Celtic Football Club

     

    @celticfc

     

    Following tonight’s game Ronny Deila spoke to the media about his side’s win over Real Sociedad.

     

    —

     

    RD: “The last game was wild but this game was more balanced and played more defensively as a team, we were compact.”

     

    —–

     

     

    RD: “We grew throughout the game and in the end we created chances. We need more sharpness but that’ll come on Wednesday.”

     

    ——-

     

     

    RD on Ciftci: “I’m very happy to get him. He showed today what he can add to the team. He’s going to be an important player for us.”

     

    —

     

    RD on Stjarnan: “We have things we can do from the bench and we have a strong squad and everyone is looking forward to the games.”

     

    ——

  12. fan-a-tic on

    timboy 3

     

    you are hun no doubt.

     

    Where does mentioning lodge make anyone a bigot.

     

    Stick to your campaign s and letter writing on land deals and making hun a banned word.

     

    Lodge was a tongue in cheek reference to the linesman Hodge who got many decisions wrong against only one side.

  15. What is the Stars on

    Clogher Celt

     

     

    I can translate that Ulster Scotch

     

    It means “No Fenians need apply”

  18. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    TET,

     

     

    Best wishes to your Boss Dog and to the rest of your ménage.

  19. Bhoylo83 on

    BMCUW, Clogher and Dena

     

     

    Thanks, it has made my year as well.

     

     

    Now its time to get drunk

     

     

    B-)

  31. Margaret McGill on

    Eight goats high and when you touch them

     

    You’ll find that it’s stranger than known

     

    Hooves in the street that say where you’re going

     

    Are somewhere just being their own

  32. clogher celt on

    Wits,

     

     

    I am putting you forward for the Advanced A Level in Ulstur Scotch.

     

     

    How do you think the oral will go?

     

     

    Clogher

  41. calibhoy on

    Hail Hail from Drought Stricken California,

     

     

    I think Sandman asked the question, but nobody answered. Why are we playing

     

    the first CL qualifying game at Celtic Park when we are seeded?

     

     

    And I see the Stjarnan lost to Valur 2-1 tonight. They have not been in very good form as

     

    of late. A good sign.

     

     

    CaliBhoy

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