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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COYBIG
Ok….I know that some believe that a defeat today will see us out of Europe…..
But, nothing matters until wednesday.
Not that I will be remotely happy if we don’t play well.
Context…..
Weeton
These are only training games. Mean nothing
Weeton sorry meant weeron
If I had a dog called Kodi. And for arguments sake, let’s say he’s a sausage dog. And wants to watch Celtic.
What would be the best place for him to go?
He’s already able to watch all the live TV and movies and box sets. But he just can’t find CTV.
Just in from shopping … Nice seafood dinner for the better half … But until then, it’s Ronnie osullivan on TV, and the boys on the computer …. Damn! Life is good!
Noticed no VVD … Hope he’s not away, as has been rumoured.
If we don’t get a result tonight I’ll be sending my Komi box back, oh wait :)
Wits,
I will look for it online. Thanks again.
Clogher
And the kodi stuff too
Alasdair MacLean
19:17 on 10 July, 2015
I’m no fan of St Johnston but,
“You only have to travel through the hills to Perth to realise that pocket of Scotland, with its tractors, knitwear and wellie boot shops,……”
Petty, Paul67, very petty.
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Annoyed at the Desperation to be a Money Monster.
The tone has been seriously Bad, IMO.
I got 15000 hours out of my last phone, technically, maybe I didnae deserve to have that.
Are we talking Shareholders or Celtic?
Obviously my SAMSUNG screen fecked up…..
Ron Bacardi,
Apologies for butting in, and giving my age away at the same time. Dumbarton Harp to the best of my knowledge played on a park known as Meadow Park, situated close to Dumbarton Central station an d very roughly around where aggreko have their premises.Played on the pitch in my youth, not sure when the Harp went out of business, but the name lives on in the local Celtic Supporters club.
Big question for tonight
Is there enough space on the Paisley bench for all our Suns?
Teams on the park in front of a capacity crowd.
Well the Celtic commentary team said so, therefor it must be true.
New all green strip looking good as the Bhoys stride onto the park.
I just love Scottishfitbaw
Bobby Madden is the ref. why do we award these cretins?
COYBIG
LG offside early with a nice touch.
Celtic KO – come on you bhoys in green !!
Craig makes a save after poor defending
weeron
19:35 on 10 July, 2015
Ok….I know that some believe that a defeat today will see us out of Europe…..
But, nothing matters until wednesday.
Not that I will be remotely happy if we don’t play well.
Context…..
______________________________________________
Some Dudes just like to Bump their gums.
That last leg will be the toughie.
Ronny Deila, Johnny C and Johnny K. Noone really knows how deep the meaning is.
y2k.csc
Griffiths still wearing no 28 – sack the kit man !!
Supersutton
Download Sportsdevil imo
Its worked for me ;)
Good touch over the bar by Gordon
Was a very good save by Gordon
GG
Good point, nice wee earner from us ….for a cretin to shafts us at every turn
Good quick move down our right.
LG earns a corner. Lines person disagrees.
Hello this is WEE BGFC. In the car in France. Where can I get the stream for the game?
HH
WEE BGFC
C.O.Y.B.I.G.
HH
Quonno, Petec, think you are right, was the Meadows. On left as train went from East to Central
ML heads a dangerous cross from a quick FK. Corner Real
Real FK drifts wide
Wee big george….,
I would definitely look for cricfree things
Corner number 3 to Real
corkcelt
The National Crime Agency are now to lead an investigation into the £1.3bn NAMA sale of proprerty in the North of Ireland. Only on Wednesday the PSNIsaid there would be no investigation.
I think that the police involvement will mean that the Finance committee at Stormont chaired by Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay will not be able to discuss the matter.
The PSNI work very efficiently. My niece’s husband was shot by RUC in 1986. No inquest has been held as PSNISAID need to check out files before they are handed to coroner but they say they are understaffed. This affair will be allowed to wither on the branch and will be forgotten.
Oops, I would not look because it might no be halal
Real shot off the post
12 mins in and RS have 4th corner. Knocking the ball about well and comfortable in possession. We look a bit nervous.
canamalar
19:55 on 10 July, 2015
Wee big george….,
I would definitely look for cricfree things
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Hello this is WEE BGFC. Cheers I’ll try it.
HH WEE BGFC