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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pfayr
That would be my advice too mhate.
But I think he’s looking for actual horses to lose actual money on. Apparently that’s where the fun is to be had.
Switching to another of your sports did you see Jean de Villiers is set to make his SA comeback despite his knee being ripped back to front against Wales last autumn?
There are 2 videos online that record his rehab. Humbling and inspiring. Always thought he came across as a class act and it’s confirmed in these films.
HH jamesgang
PF
…..we aim to please!
:)
(on a serious note, how utterly appalling was his triumphal glee?)
Shameful.
no, i’m neil lennon “i’ll never walk alone” (fourstonecoppi )
09:49 on 11 July, 2015
Anyone still waiting on the new season ticket to be delivered……..?
a bit too close to wednesday!
Yup me, and yes it is, very.
CCB & James
Sorry I missed you. We got to the Caledonian at 7. Had two swiftys and a jog along Murray St to make kick off. Got seriously soaked in the walk back after the game. Enjoyed my Friday night in Paisley.
Hail Hail
bankiebhoy1
help ma jobies boaby por cierto
Bankiebhoy
Shameful indeed
Anyone still waiting on the new season ticket to be delivered……..?
a bit too close to wednesday!
Anyone??
delaneys dunky
But I had a present for you!
:-((((
See you wed?
HH jamesgang
Jamesgang
The Boks are proper tough guys …..JdV…excellent player …
I had the pleasure of attending a rugby do last month …was sitting next to Sean Fitzpatrick ..great craic…magnificent tales
Btw looked as if he could still play …
Cheers TD……..phoned ticket office, some have been sent out. If it doesn’t arrive by Monday i’ve to phone back!!!. Wonder if i can use the old one.
James
If you are in Barcelona on Wednesday, you will see me.
One Love big chap.
Pfayr
Here you go pal. 50 mins in total. I still look away when they should the incident.
https://vimeo.com/125892325
https://vimeo.com/132420053
Sean P is someone you’d politely pass the salt and pepper to at the first time of asking!!!
Right. Cricket time.
HH jamesgang
PFAyr
Mighty Mouse Ian McLauchlan used to coach me. Best teacher I ever had. A great man.
Fred Colon
10:23 on 11 July, 2015
The walk went down Dundyvan road thirty minutes ago .
Just saw the polis go past in the same direction , sirens blaring .
Oh dear
—-
Some wean will have come out the house wearing the Hoops ,
delaneys dunky
If I do see you I’m a stalker. Or a ‘creepy acolyte’!!!
HH jamesgang
Speaking of giant hunky rugger types, where’s MickTT?
HH jamesgang
Pf ayr
Nothing concrete for Hamilton but I posted last night about irish apprentice sean corby. Good young jockey, went to ayr last weekend and rode 3 winners in 2 days. Goes to Hamilton tonight for 2 rides, might be worth a look
Jamesgang
Thanks I’ll take a look at them later
Cheers
WITS
I saw that ..his mounts are decent
Anything can win some of those donkey derbies tonight
DD
I met him a few years ago at a do
He was pished ..great craic too ..again some amazing stories
I was surprised how short he was …
no, I’M Neil Lennon “i’ll never walk alone” (fourstonecoppi )
Try John Paul
I seen him answer lots of questions on STs during the week on Twitter
https://mobile.twitter.com/CelticFCSLO
http://www.celticfc.net/pages/supporterliaisonofficer
Pf ayr
Yes it looks poor enough fare
Leopardstown run a Thurs night meeting during the summer months. Usually good crack but some of the fields are very poor I like a big handicap, 16 runner plus,and 6 / 1 the field. Instead you 4 runner two year old maidens
Is there a bigotfest in the city today? Mrs acgr in glasgow with her pals and I dont want her anywhere near the orange scum.
HH
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/a-different-sort-of-journey/
ACGR
They’re all pished , lifted or both by midday
….pfayr
You may wish to clarify the subject of that statement!!!!!!!!
HH jamesgang
COSYCORNERBHOY
Bestaluck wi getting your Charles Patrick badge back.
If not,that’s yer Christmas present sorted!
TightwadCSC
Jamesgang
Haha
….pfayr supports weeoscar
But whit aboot the orange scum ;))
HH
PFAyr
MightyMouse was the shortest in our group of 13 year olds. About 4 times as wide as me and the hardest man I have ever known. :)
He taught us rugby and life skills. A hero to me.
Thought i would have a look at the teams for the Spurs v Sevco game, seeing as it was such a big game….
It seems that Spurs didn’t think so…
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/matches/
They didn’t even bother to list it in the Spurs second string XI fixtures and results.
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs-xi-fixtures-results/
Did they actually play?
Mrhenrik67
10:54 on
11 July, 2015
Just read the link for TheClumpany there, says they got the bus to the airport, I heard the got the Megabus tae London
Bognorbhoy
You still about ?
Just caught one of the middle aged zombies slinking back into the scheme,after seeing the bands away
Gone are the days of being draped in the butchers apron & deadco clobber,
A pair of black breeks and a light blue top.
just as he thought he had evaded me
GOOOOOOOOOD MORNING I called,
Where have you been this early ?
“eh eh Asda ,just thought I would get it over with” ,
I thoght about pointing out he had no bags ,but couldn’t be bothered
4 even 3 years ago he and his dregs would have been shouting their bile from the roof tops
Ashamed to say where they were now
ACGR
Send the ladies down to Clydebank. Nae Orange oudor here.
Me and my Republican pals will look after the girls. ;)))
LEFTCLICKTIC
You’re a bad man,wallowing in their pain. But then,if you canny mock the afflicted,who can you mock?
For aw youse bookies type of punters
Surely William of Orange I running in the 4:36 at York today is worth a punt of £16:90 at 4/1 due to the time of year
I din nae dae wee smilers
Leftie
So they’ve been reduced to windae shopping in asda!
For every fiver……
HH jamesgang