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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MICKBHOY
Big Orange won yesterday. 25/1.
An investment of 65p would have got you a nice return(!)
BMCUW
Are you celebrating something today??
Good morning CQN
this tweet sums up today’s events elsewhere perfectly
Barry McColgan @BarryMcColgan
Orangemen are Irishmen who in order to be thought Englishmen march dressed as Scotsmen in honour of a Dutchman to suggest they’re Ulstermen.
A Celtic XI lost 3-0 to La Liga outfit Levante this morning.
The match culminated an extensive training period for the Celtic squad which was largely made up from last season’s u-17 side which lifted the Glasgow Cup at Hampden.
In contrast Levante had a number of La Liga regulars in their side with experience of playing Barcelona and Real Madrid on a regular basis. Last season Levante completed La Liga in fourteenth place.
Valencia based Celtic fan Toni Ponce tweeted that the young Celtic side acquitted themselves well but found the going tough as the game wore on.
After beating Real Gardia 5-0 in midweek playing against much stronger opposition will have provided invaluable for the Celtic side as well as coach Stevie Frail.
The build up to the new season continues on Monday night against Morton at Cappielow although that match is likely to feature players such as Luke Donnelly, Jamie Lindsay, Joe Thomson, Eoghan O’Connell and others who have been working with the first team in pre-season.
It’s likely that some of those players will be going out on loan when the season starts with Stuart Findlay (Kilmarnock), Paul McMullan (St Mirren), Conor McManus (Alloa), Michael Duffy (Alloa) and Calum Waters (Dumbarton) already out on loan.
After the match at Cappielow on Monday Celtic travel to Turriff United (July 18), Raith Rovers (July 21) and East Kilbride (July 25).
LEVANTE: Rubén, Navarro, (35, 21), Juanfran, (38, 16), Pedro,
Nikos, José Mari, (27, 6) Víctor Pérez, Xumetra, (29, 11), Morales, (27, 33), Casadesús (30, 26), Roger.
Read more at http://videocelts.com/2015/07/blogs/younghoops/young-celts-lose-out-to-levante#uJGwGX4yID38F2iO.99
Hi Exslaemuirbhoy
The video on the Sevco YouTube channel says they got the bus to airport otherwise I would have really believed they got the Megabus to London!
Good turn out last night, good game for a friendly. Going to be a massive season for Nir Biton I can see him being poty this year . That’s player of the year, no sh*t.
Good Morning!
Ever thought that the BBC was two-faced?
Read on…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/the-two-faces-of-the-bbc/
And finally, here’s a link to this morning’s piece about Sevco’s epic trip to London. Well, North London…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/a-different-sort-of-journey/
Enjoy the rest of the day!
TheClumpany
11:23 on
11 July, 2015
“Megabus” it was then. I never saw the usual pictures in any papers of them “jetting out”.
Had a wee look at Hun Media there.The lawyer Gary Allen,has filed for bankruptcy.You remember him?.One of the guys Cheekie Chappie demanded to know the name of,leaving the guy open to threats and intimidation to himself and family.One poster wrote,
Guardian
Dave King
Club Legend
9,681 posts
Gender:Male
Location:Glasgow
Posted Yesterday, 03:26 PM
He will have transferred all his assets beforehand just leaving the debts.
After walking away leaving his creditors with nothing he gets a clean slate and can carry on.
Bloody ridiculous state of affairs.
Now I know we should be used to their stupidity,gullibility,lack of irony,but sometimes my jaw still drops .
DELANEYSDUNKY
NAW!
Well past that,mate. I just drown my sorrows now.
However…..
HAPPY HOOOOOOPY BIRTHDAY
to
BHOYLO Snr.
Yer lad is a fine Fenian fella.
TheClumpany
11:28 on
11 July, 2015
And finally, here’s a link to this morning’s piece about Sevco’s epic trip to London. Well, North London…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/a-different-sort-of-journey/
Enjoy the rest of the day!
I did post about this yesterday.Hilarious.Its like something the local Scout group would organize.One idiot on Hun Media said
“I walked past the Enfield complex and from what I could hear coming from inside,we were all over them” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
“I walked past the Enfield complex and from what I could hear coming from inside,we were all over them” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Cracking!
Who would benefit more, Celtic under 17’S losing 3-0 to Levante or Spurs under 17’s beating sevco 3-2
I suspect our club are going the right way, these young guy’s will never get a better opportunity to make the grade.
DD, if you enjoy the company of gigantic wummin mra acgr and her coven will be just the ticket for you:_)
Off to slap a few sclaffbaws roon the man’s course at crawsnestie.
Best 45 mins of sport I’ve seen for a while – Tic excluded of course!
HH jamesgang
Morning all.
Hearing reports that the bounce game at Spurs training complex yesterday that sevco took part in was actually against Tottenham Ladies.
The lassies won 3-2!
HH!!
ACGR
Got a new sport for you.
Involves a Stickie march, you, a big bucket of golf balls, a driver.
Fancy it?
HH jamesgang
Noticed discussion overnight re trying to access info about “Kitalba rescue” presumably with reference to the audacious rescue of Irish prisoners from Australia
Try CATALPA, not Kitalpa
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalpa_rescue
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-most-audacious-australian-prison-break-of-1876-1804085/
How did the Mulgrew and Boyata partnership work last night?
The life of wee Shug (Hugo in Ulstur – Scots) the Dug.
Picked back up from the Vet this morning, after he had the Golf ball size lump removed from his throat yesterday, and another smaller lump on his neck just behind his ear, ( both connected) all in relation to that Snake bite, so it’s now recovery mode
And he celebrates his 2nd Birthday today
Hail Hail
HT
It was ok.
Nothing scary but really missed the VVD and Denayer combo for working it out from the back.
VVD looked different class when he strolled on, cigar in hand.
Fisher was good at RB in 2nd half.
Could allow us to push lustig inside to centre of the defence.
HH jamesgang
Hamiltontim
11:49 on
11 July, 2015
A lot better than last Saturday, Boyata looked more switched on. Charlie needs a nother couple of games
cowiebhoy
You shouldn’t be making yur dug drink snakebites mhate. Keep him on the Stella.
All joking aside where the hell did this take place. And please don’t tell my daughter there are snakes anywhere close or she’ll be licking herself in her room till she’s 24!!
HH jamesgang
big-cup-winners
Just back in …
Cowie Boay….
Thochts an’ e’en pree’rs furra pair wee beastie……
a amaun’s maist freen eftir aw’s said ‘n’ dun.
Aye!
JAMESGANG 1147
I think ACGR would prefer a baseball bat,tbh.
Btw,my Dad and his mate say thanks for the pleasure of your company last night. Jim was faffin astounded at the size of you,felt he could burst into The Soldiers Song in an orange club wi you beside him!
Hamiltontim
11:49 on
11 July, 2015
How did the Mulgrew and Boyata partnership work last night?
Yes it looked solid, coped reasonably well against a slick Real Sociedad side in the opening 30 mins as we struggled to retain possession, Lustig struggled throughout the first half defensively as the Spaniards main success was down that flank, Charlie had a fine match, his experience and composure was evident throughout, why he was sidelined last night on dead ball situations is a mystery, Johansen was very poor last night kept taking dreadful free kicks should have been hooked
Jamesgang
Did both Boyata and Mulgrew go off?
I like Fisher. He has a good engine and he relishes tackling, I like that in defenders.
It is not BMCUWP’s birthday until 2350 tonight. Was I sweating that night:):)
hamiltontim
12:03 on 11 July, 2015
Fisher did, indeed, look very good all round….
Bobbio
It was lovely to meet them both. Was just sorry I couldn’t have waited longer but had to meet my own big Fenian papa and didn’t want him standing waiting for me.
I was the first Tic fan to arrive. Seeing a guy with a red hand on his polo shirt (not that ulstr skots are eek owner polo players!) didn’t bode well.
My new ambition in life is look as handsome as your Da when I’m your age!
;-)
HH jamesgang
My opinion, Charlie will be a first team regular , young Fisher has a chance hope he grabs it . Biton , luv him superb player in there.Keeper, what can you say ? The 3 “Amigo’s” , what a bit of business that is. I don’t see any weaknesses really.
exslaemuirbhoy/Lionroars
Thanks gents.
BMCUW
Happy hoopy birthday auld yin!
:-)
HH!!
Hamiltontim
12:03 on
11 July, 2015
Jamesgang
Did both Boyata and Mulgrew go off?
I like Fisher. He has a good engine and he relishes tackling, I like that in defenders.
Fisher was big improvement on Lustig in the second half………….big fella has some way to go in terms of fitness and match sharpness
Thought Leigh Griffiths looked sharp fit and hungry last night worked his socks off as they say…………very impressive
HT
Lustig did indeed struggle under high diagonals and came off at half time for Fisher. What’s happened to Fisher. Looks a stone of muscle stronger but about 3 inches taller too. Looked good.
When biton came off Charlie pushed into midfield. Boyatta played almost all the game with Efe coming on with a few mins to go. VVD had a majestic cameo.
Sadie looked good in his brief soujourn and he and fisher could be a magic combo on the right. But will I ever get used to a Tic star being called Sadie – with Apols to tosb!
Joe Hanson was poor
And Armstrong for me looked like he was playing out of position as something the auld timers might call an inside left. Pretty anonymous for long periods.
HH jamesgang
What about this 1 up front though , I know we dominated the league last year but I’d like to see more goals, can put up with losing a few more but want more goals. 2 Up front especially at home in league matches