Celtic 1 Parma 0

"Ah...it's great to be hame" said a fellow traveller to the day's game, slugging a half bottle of buckie- sad i know, very stereotypical of a hoops fan-, as we turned into the London Road. A new season brings new hope and fears but the tingle of excitement when you see the dear old place for the 1st time again.

Not that the majority of he crowd felt the same. The hum of conversations, people catching up with their football pals, friends who you only see when watching 11 guys chasing round a ball or, like me, making new football pals as i have moved seat, was the loudest the crowd got all day.

The game had a pre-season feel, one team a week from the start of their season the other 3 weeks away from their big kick off, with pace rarely getting above training match. It was enlightened by a few tasty tackles a stramash involving Scott Broon and the Italians trying to mane wee Aiden after he had terrorised a full back to the point that he didn't return for the second half.

Again, Aiden played with bomp and brilliance but was infuriating in equal measures. When will the consistent final ball come? Still his 1st half performance when he destroyed the aforementioned full back was worth the admission money, even though it was a freebie i did have to pay ma bus fare and club membership, oh also a cola to drive away the hungover taste of ma mouth feeling like a bears arse, so it did cost me, and he wasn't the only player you would gladly pay to watch.

Scott Brown was Scott Brown. He put in the type of performance that will endear him to us. Full of energy, full of twists, turns and no small measure of skill. He will be a big player for us this season. Was shunted out on the right, to accommodate oor Zico Hartley, who again put in the type of performance that makes me wonder why we spent over a million quid on him. The only thing that has impressed is his ability to grow a beard very quickly.

He won't get a central berth, or he shouldn't anyway. Celtic played a sort of diamond midfield with Donati impressing as the anchor. This bhoy is a player. He is in the Pirlo mould, a regista, a quarter back, a conductor. He directs traffic always see's a pass always on the look out for a forward ball. In fact he is everything i thought the Grav was going to be.

I think he played deeper than he has been. Not bombing forward like i have seen. Maybe oor Gordon has looked at the Newcastle game and seen the flaws in his vision. One midfielder needs to sit. Donati looks like he is it but it wouldn't surprise me if Hartley somehow wangles that role or Caldwell for certain games.

Still, i saw nothing really that made me think that we are in for a goal feast. Still toothless in attack, with Magic and the increasingly frustrating Jvoh, who stormed up the Sally Gunnell when subbed, were poor. They were easily reigned in by a defence that nearly got relegated last season.

Where is the big Dutchman who terrorised defenders with such ease at the start of his hoops career? He is no threat anymore and maybe should no longer be considered as an untouchable undroppable.

Also the full backs need competition. Naylor had a mare again. He looked like a journeyman from Wolverhampton, a white Mo Camara. After his performance against Newcastle most players would have been dropped from the tyne brig not played the following game.

Wilson was more steady, JFK and Mick the same but the nagging doubt remains that we won't get the best oot of that back four unless quality competition is bought to challenge and push the full backs and no Doumbe is not it.

More worrying for me is i really didn't see any sign of urgency or enough to say this season will be any different from last. Now i know, unlike some who think winning a pre season game, with two late goals to send their fans bouncing wildly, getting booked for an OTT celebration and lording it as if they had won the European cup, means nothing and when the real stuff starts we should step it up. We now have the players to give us more energy from the middle.

Can the manager get them to do it though? The jury is still out on that one.

Forza

No Case For Defense

Now, I was looking forward to last night’s game. Unforeseen circumstances meant that I missed the 1st half but It was ok I told myself, oor pre season games are always crap, I won’t miss much.

Joined the game 43 mins into the 1st half, as I switched on the telly I was reminded aboot the days I used to leave the London Road Tav to go into the home games around that time, I was also looking for a wee bonus in the scoreline.

I wished I had stayed in the pub that was floating around in ma mind when the scoreline became clear. 3-0. 3-0 to a team that are no better than a middle of the road EPL team, but with bigger ambitions, and one, apart from Martins, that I wouldn't swap for any of the current hoops 1st eleven.

See as a fan it’s the hope that kills you. When switching on the Tv it was hope of a decent scoreline, which set ma heart a pulsing. Now, I was watching blankly as Rob McLean and Gary Pallister talked us through the 1st half.

The highlights had hope. We had created chances but the goals we lost were shocking. Poor defending in wide areas, not cutting out, or putting enough pressure on the player playing the final baw was the problem. But the highlights did have hope. I took to the well honed mantra lets win the second half and sat doon, i had been standing in front of the telly for the whole of half time in a sober drunken daze, to watch the second half.

My hope was justified, as the half progressed the hoops had the toon on the backfoot. Right, we weren’t creating much, but oor midfield play, esp Donati, Broon and McGeady were doing enough to suggest to me that we are in for good things this season.

Then we had a 20 minute spell when the scoreline should have been reversed. Broon- my new favourite nark- could have scored four goals, he only scored one. We looked ok at the back, not Naylor right enough he had his worst game in a green shirt, and my aim for us to win the second period looked a sure bet.

They went doon to 10 men and had brought on a goalie to play up front. I thought, right we are not going to turn it round but the second half has positives, which I will cling too for dear life.

Then came the boot in the nunchucks. The blow that takes away the hope, makes yer class half full and makes you feel like you lose a tenner and find a fiver. Hartley, powderpuff and slow- at fault for two goals, allowed Millner to cut inside and score. 4-1. Bloody 4-1. The scoreline lost some of the respectability it had gained at 3-1 and losing 4 goals is embarrassing and unforgivable.

We deserve abuse for losing four goals. We deserve to be questioned why this happened. The press will have a field day with this and rightly so. Already the English based media are laughing at their take of the Scottish League being poor being shown to be correct. My thoughts this morning are with English based hoops who have to listen to workmates crowing this morning.

So why is it then I, during a sleepness night, the thoughts going round in ma mind were mostly positive. I was only taking the positive things I had seen, while remembering the bad but thinking it was not all that bad.

Every so often I would think of the poor defending, reminded me of the Motherwell 4-4 game a few years back, and say how can I take positives oot a 4-1 defeat. I’m I that deluded I think a defeat, an embarrassing scoreline but one I really feel flattered the boys from the big market, like we have just suffered bodes well for the new season?

As I say it’s the hope that kills you.

Forza

Celtic FC @ Chicago Fire : 07/22/07

A Time For Some Questions....

Another pre season tour of the USA ends, again, with the hoops winless. Now, while it is hard to do a spot on, on the ball review, concerning games you haven’t seen, apart from the snippets posted here and of course D’s review, one question jumps out to be asked.

Is it not about time Celtic forgot about pre-season in the States?

These jaunts only seem to breed doubt, worry, anguish and woe amongst the fans and the media love to feed on this. Another poor performance against the Fire of Chicago- who in EPL terms are Watford- has seen much wailing and gnashing of wallies.

Right from the off, well after the MLS all star game, the players started their time honored, now a yearly occurrence, no matter who the personnel, only an excuse routine of altitude, long trip, heat, humidity, opponents fitter, sharper- don’t get me wrong these are factors- and the good old we will benefit from this line.

Now, history has proved this too be correct. Poor form in pre season has not hindered us, well last season our lack of goals pre-season haunted us big style, and we have went on to have successful seasons.

Thing is while pre-season for the players and management is about getting the fitness and sharpness correct with the later games in the program used as more of a guide to future tactics and team selections, us the fans, want to see hope in these games.

While we got it at QPR and the second half at Peterborough, the trip to the states has put our mindset back to square one. More questions than answers, and questioning of the ability of the managers signings.

Having watched a few pre-season games not involving the Hoops, Liverpool, Chelski and Spurs, while the aim of these games is clear the fact has not been lost on me that no matter what stage of fitness the teams are at not one has lost to lesser opposition. This was obtained using numerous subs and, ahem, experimental lineups.

The hoops looked sharp against Basle, were caught out by two late goals against Young Boys, found their feet against two lesser English teams then went to the states and treated it with contempt.

I understand why we go to the States. Our visit to Niketown and participation in the All Star game shows our profile. The fact, as it has been pointed out, that Nike have a big push on us in the States means these jaunts will continue with full backing of the board who smell the Yankee dollar.

Thing us, how long will the stateside Hoops stand for being mugged off with performances like the two produced. If we go we have to do it right. We have to get used to the surroundings play a tour of at least 5 games. Start off against college selects, MLS 2 teams then take on the big boys. Chelski played three games with the last one the biggest of the lot; we played our biggest first after being there two days against a team full of internationals.

If the players are just going to treat these trips as an inconvenience, a hindrance and only see themselves as part of a money-making machine results like the last 2 pre-seasons in the States will continue. We would be as well going to the arse-end of Germany to play amateur mobs.

Something’s got to give.

Forza

MLS All Stars vs Celtic FC

MLS All Stars 2 Celtic 0

Match report by D of DCentres fame...

When the Hoops come to America, they bring the rains of Glasgow with them. One year ago I was in Washington, D.C.'s RFK stadium as the rain poured, and there I watched D.C. United dismantle Celtic 4-nil. Tonight I am on my couch, dry and warm, but the Bhoys are in Denver, Colorado and there the rain is coming down. In a way, it pleases me to see the rain. Somehow, this is the right weather for a match with Celtic.

ESPN is bringing us tonight's match between the MLS all-stars and the Celtic Football Club on the television. However, since this is the all-star game, there is an extended amount of pregame filler, and all of it is about David Beckham. Number of distinct moments Beckham is mentioned in the pregame festivities? 23. Mentions of Celtic? 5. Something is amiss.

However, at 9:21 PM Eastern Time, Celtic takes the field, and they're in the hoops. This is good, one of the things I missed in their previous visit to our shores. We want to see Celtic in that kit, we want the hoops. Not that the international kits weren't stylish, but they weren't the team we longed to see. When you only see a team once every few years, these things matter. We want the entire experience, and tonight they oblige. Your starting line up is

...McDonald - Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink Gambolputty de von Ausfern- schplenden... (I'm sure that's been said before, but hey...) Jarosik - Donati - Brown - Hartley Naylor - McManus - Pressley - Wilson and Boruc

The game starts slowly, but MLS earned the first chance of the night when Ricardo Clark broke between Naylor and McManus before sending the shot right at Boruc. Wilson seemed to have difficulty with the speed he was seeing from Juan Pablo Angel, and Celtic does not seem to congealing while MLS is starting to find their rhythm. In the 12th minute Celtic could have sparked a nice counter but Hartley couldn't settle a difficult switch.

Pressley starts establishing the tone of his night as he clears out a Ronnie O'Brien cross in the 12th minute. For this, he is excellent, as MLS found no favor in attacking from the flank. As for things up the middle... well, not so much. Still, Naylor shows good pace joining the attack in the 15th minute, but again Celtic gets bogged down with some physical defending. This will also set the tone of the night. Celtic's touch and passing were generally fine, but they showed the most rust in how they handled physical play. For almost an hour no one on Celtic seemed to know how to fight through a tackle or handle the pressing marking being applied by Jimmy Conrad and Shalrie Joseph.

Celtic earned the first corner of the night in the 19th minute. It sailed on Hartley, the thin air of Denver exaggerating a ball that was probably only slightly over hit at lower altitude.

In the 21st minute, Eddie Johnson makes some nifty moved and sends a cross over to Juan Toja, who's beaten Wilson and is alone with Boruc. Boruc makes himself huge and earns his second big save of the night. Still, MLS is starting to establish their advantage now. In the 27th minute Pressley shows the weakness of his game, fouling Dwayne De Rosario about 5 yards out of the box and picking up a caution.

Pressley all night couldn't figure out how to make a clean tackle on a player running at him, but as I said before he was excellent in the air. Regardless, the free kick starts a sequence that ends with an MLS corner kick. The corner from Ronnie O'Brien finds Eddie Johnson, who is fouled (and he sells the foul, but is fouled none-the-less) by Scott Brown. The referee awards the penalty, and Eddie Johnson steps up to take it against Boruc.

Boruc has come up huge twice early, and now he does so again, diving to his right and deflecting Johnson's shot out for another corner. Surely this would change the momentum of the match? For a moment, perhaps, as Donati starts to get into the game with some nice touches, McDonald earns a foul for a free kick, but Hartly's crosses in the run of play are ultimately a shade off, and MLS keeper Matt Reis cuts them out easily. I also note that by the 35th minute, Brown is largely invisible, and JVo'H has also found little room to maneuver.

In the 36th minute, Shalrie Joseph finds Dwayne De Rosario from midfield, and DeRo sends a nicely weighted through ball into Juan Pablo Angel. Angel splits McManus and Pressley to get in on Boruc, and then dribbles poor Artur who sprawls on his right side. Angel easily finds the net.

Goal, MLS 1 : 0 Celtic F.C.

McDonald gets the first shot off the night for Celtic in the 41st minute, a scorching low beast from about 25 yards. It beats Matt Reis but clatters off the far post, and it would be the closest Celtic would be to scoring in the first half.

In the 44th minute, Pressley again fouls DeRo and sets up a free kick opportunity for MLS. The kick is poorly taken, and pings off the wall.

However, Celtic seems unable to clear, and either Brown or McDonald end up touching the ball directly to Juan Toja, who take one touch and fires the shot from eight yards past Boruc.

Goal, MLS 2: 0 Celtic FC. And a minute and change later, the half ends.

Celtic in the first half were not dreadful, but not especially frightening either. The main problem was them consistently surrendering posession to only moderate physical contact. While MLS defenses tend to be physical, they don't hack that much more than your average Scottish League team, and this seemed to be the area where Celtic most needed to find their form. They were unable to either elude or fight through tackles, and multiple promising attacks on the wing would die out due ot this. Brown seemed mostly ineffective, Taylor showed well, and Jarosik showed great pace and ability to track back on the ball. Donati and JVoH (I fear the carpal tunnel syndrome that awaits the poor hoops bloggers who type this name out) were largely ineffective, with Donati being a particular disappointment in his inability to manufacture anything in a forward direction.

The rest of the game went mostly quietly (by which I mean my handwritten notes are becoming more illegible at this time.) After 34 distinct mentions, David Beckham is interviewed during the interval. Apparently his ankle hurts, and he may not play against Chelsea. I should not take any amusement in this.

No changes after the half for Celtic. Hartman subs for Reis as the MLS Keeper.The opening moments of the second half see Celtic looking better than they did the previous 45. Did GS really lay into them? Brown starts to be more active, and earns a foul of Shalrie Joseph by fighting through the contact. First moment of hope for Celtic. Second moment of hope comes in the 51st minute, when McDonald easily puts a rebound off of Hartman into the net. However, it is called back for offside, and the replay confirms that at the time of the initial shot, he is indeed well and truly over that line.

52nd minute. Miller in for JVoH, and he provides some nice speed. McGeady in for Jarosik, and he provides some spark as well. Both do well in their roles as subs, with Miller settling a ball nicely in the box in the 85th minute (before he surrenders it with no help around him) and McGeady making some really nice moves in the 62nd, turning his marker around with an excellent change of direction and sending a smoking cross into McDonald who just puts it wide. Balde comes in for Pressley, Gravesen for Donati, and Magic for McDonald round out Celtic's subs, but none of them make a real impression with the time remaining.

MLS starts to make its subs in the 65th minute, as Landon Donovan replaces Eddie Johnson, Brian Ching comes in for Juan Pable Angel, and my boy (and DC United's own) Christian Gomez subs for DeRo. Donovan has some nice runs (and a beautiful 40 yard outlet pass for Brian Ching) and Gomez has a goal of his own called back for the offside infraction (barely, but correctly called). From the 65th to the 85th minutes, the MLS side is clearly in control, though Celtic would find occasional moments. Boruc pulls out one more classy save when he stoned Ronnie O'Brien in the 79th. More substitutions for in the 80th minute, with MLS giving Eddie Pope and Cobi Jones a chance to take a farewell bow as they near their retirement. Classy move by Steve Nicol, running them separately to earn their ovations.

Celtic's last chances came after the 85th minute, as Miller nearly gets sent in. After Naylor has a dodgy moment with his knee while he tried to settle a ball, he and McGeady combine to force some pressure on the MLS backs. A corner in the 87th sees some nice pressure from Celtic, but then it breaks and the three minutes of stoppage are a tired, easygoing affair.

Full time.MLS 2 : 0 Celtic FC.

Boruc was excellent, despite giving up two goals (one was impossible for him to do, and the other was clearly a case of Juan Pable Angel outpacing him). I was also pleased by Taylor, McGeady, McDonald, and Miller. Pressley and McManus weren't in sympatico, and I'm not sure who is more to blame. Brown and Donati were disappointing and ineffective.

For MLS, Toja and Angel did what the should have done, with Toja really making a strong case for MLS Player of the Year at this point. Eddie Johnson was more creative than I recall him being. Shalrie Joseph and Dwayne DeRosario combined well, and the back line seemed fairly poised. Each of the subs made before the 80th minute got a chance to show something, and it was nice. Ronnie O'Brien was disappointing, as his crosses lacked their famed precision and just regular passes started to desert him at the end. All in all?

What we expected. Celtic has some things to work on and correct before competition begins in earnest, although it isn't what I expected. MLS looked fine for a hastily assembled team of the best talent in the league, and did what they should do in this situation. Not the greatest night of soccer I've seen as a neutral, but if you can't smile when you first see those emerald hoops take to the pitch then I fear for your soul. It does the heart good to see that.

The DCenters: http://dcunitedblog.blogspot.com

Because really, the internet is one giant bar argument about US Soccer.

Think we will all like to give D, a big YNWA and much kudo's for that match report, which he kindly agreed to do for us since the 2am start and limited availability of coverage on the net. A lot to discuss but it just seems the hoops reverted to the same old friendly fire, lets not tackle or be tackled mindset.

Forza

QPR 1 Celtic 5

Born in the USA

As the hoops boarded their long haul flight to the guid ole US of A, news that oor Roy Keano has taken leave of his senses and bid over eight million big ones for, the sometimes hapless, against us anyway, Craig Gordon got me thinking.

If that is the going rate for a decent goalie what is the going rate for a guid goalie? A guid goalie that won a MOTM award against Germany in last years World Cup and has played and excelled in the topper most of the top club competition, that’s the Champs League for you at the back not the CBSPL.

Also he is as mad as a hatter and as complex a character as Carlos Tevez’s contract, lads we have a 15m player on oor hands taking the lanky jambo as the bench mark. Enough dough to make a WOW signing…

But ye dinny need to shop at the top end according to Darryl chief sports lackie at the Herald. Seemingly oor friends in the west have been shopping at Pre Mark but getting designer wears. I would say shopping at the barras for designer knock off’s mair like.

I digress, the hoops have returned to the land where last season oor buttocks were well and truly felt like an attendee at a Will Young concert. Thing is, us taking part in the showpiece game of the MLS mid season we could be in for the run around again.

We are up against the cream of the MLS and even though we have had a decent run oot against Peterborough and QPR this is a step up make no mistake. While I’m not going to claim I’m up on the MLS, I do take time to read the fantastically, in depth, witty and well written, all things this is not, DC Utd blog which is linked on the side bar.

Now, this morning after buying Pravda, I read the article on the game and two names mentioned sprung oot like a sair thumb from the all stars team. Christen Gomez and Juan Toja. Two names I have read aboot very often.

Gomez plays for DC Utd and is the reason Freddy Adu is pitched up in Salt Lake City, oh that and the fact he didnae like DC’s ex coach making him run in training- makes you wonder how would he fair in the infamous beep test at barrowfield.

Gomez is an Argentinian playmaker in the mould of all Argentinian playmakers. The kind of player they produce like oor climate produces rain. Toja is a Colombian midfielder who is on loan to FC Dallas from River Plate. When Dallas played DC the other week, the DC boys called his performance a masterclass. I think it’s not like us saying a journeyman from Inversenkie had a guid game against us.

Also in the midfield is Evander Sno’s cousin Shalrie Joseph who has already impressed the watching hoops. This I going to be hard shift in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park wie GS already talking aboot the heat slowing the temp doon that we are trying to play at.

A tempo found at the weekend. Scott Browns v QPR goal showed something we have missed since Stan left. Aiden came in from the flank and where last season no runner would be forthcoming from the middle, Brown was charging like a March hare giving him an option of the pass.

Even though some hoops are still feeling a bit detached so far this season due to the far flung nature of the pre season games and lack of coverage on Tv, that small moment on 20 seconds highlights made me think it’s not long until the 29th July and Parma at home.

Forza

Ssssh…It’s All-Quiet In The East End

Now, most teams have no returned to pre-season training and managers have had time to have wee conflabs wie their chairmen, chief exec’s or dodgy new owners. These conversations, especially in the EPL and the other assorted English clubs, will be aboot wonga, spondolicks and how to pish it up against the wall.

Sixteen million for Darren Bent, where’s ma cheque book. Over five million for Jason Komas, nae probs, here give him thirty five thousand pound a week as he will need a sweetener to park up in the Lancashire oasis of Wigan.

Wie the top order, breaking record transfer fee’s on a regular basis, the middle order and the have nots in the EPL have raised the bar, for all, by paying OTT fees and wages for, on the face of it, very average players. Before the lure of the Champions League, 60,000 fans and the chance to win honors, not the cash for kind, and the chance to play for one of the biggest clubs in Britain would attract players.

Chris Sutton, Neil Lennon and Alan Thompson, if they were available now- at the age and height of their powers at the time we signed them- we wouldnae have a hope of attracting them to the SPL. A Fulham, Wigan, West Ham, Villa or a Portsmouth would pay a massive fee and give them 60,000 reasons a week to fight relegation or stagnate in mid table nothing-ness.

Perfect example this week is Craig Bellamy. When Bellars was on loan at the Hoops when it came to signing permanently, the rumored stumbling block, was his insistence that a clause was inserted in his contract that allowed him to leave if a Champs League club came in wie six million. Rumors this close season were off that Bellars said he had unfinished business up here and money widnae be a problem.

But money was a problem. The money Liverpool wanted ruled oot any notion that the Hoops would even be in the running to sign him. The money Liverpool asked for him was deemed too much for a lot, Villa especially, of potential suitors and thus Bellars principals that European fitbaw is a must gave way to I’ll take a massive wage, a downward step and make noises aboot the Irons having European potential to convince maself that I’m here for the long haul in a team that is going places.

I’m disappointed Bellars didnae return but I fully understand, dinny accept mind you, why it didnae happen. A player of his ilk and the fact he knows what the club is aboot made him ma perfect WOW signing, as long as he stayed off the karaoke and didnae take his golf clubs on pre-season wie him. Thing is players like Bellars are at the top end off oor market. A player that we would need to go oot on a limb for. A budget-blowing coup that would steal he summer headlines, like Skoosh Broon his close season.

But he is not top drawer enough for the big teams in England, as his spell at Liverpool has proved, they are looking to a different level and Bellars is not of that quality, but any other club in the EPL and wie us, he is the bloody star and he is he dugs bollocks.

Thing is players wie Bellars experience and reputation that has been honed after years and years of scoring in the EPL and CL are now longer on oor shopping lists. The fee’s and wages are oot oor control and even if a player decided he wished to further his career at the Hoops, cause let face it we are surely a better fitbawin option than a Wigan or Fulham, we widnae even be able to sit at the table show oor hand.

Oor predicament is highlighted by oor posturing at the moment. It’s so quiet at CP that I would take any rumor at the moment no matter how outlandish it is. We still require to buy, a striker and full back cover, while getting rid off the proverbial deadwood. The fact of the matter is the SSM and GS should be pouring over offers for oor players, as getting rid is now paramount to us recruiting.

While, I think the fees for players are gathering interest in the bank, the problem is paying the wages. A three million deal means the same in potential earnings for the player, which means a three million gap, or a Tommy G or a Jaro, the suits must find.

Celtic can’t be seen to be desperate. Oor public statements declaring love for all oor squad is only rouse to allow us to charge top dollar for the not wanted. But the other suits in other clubs are not daft. Look at oor neebours in the west dealings this summer. Desperation means paying inflated fees, while a cool as cats demeanor leaves business partners sweating on oor hand and commitment to he deal.

Problem is everyman and his dug knows that us removing the Grav and his massive pay as you play incentives is oor main aim. The fact that clubs have been sniffing means that we have an asset who is generating interest but an asset whom is in a strong position wie regards to getting paid off.

The closer we get to the deadline for signing players to participate in the CL, the mair fraught oor dealings will be. If Grav canny be moved, then others may have to be sold to create the wages gap, or we pay him off weakening oor offers for others and oor long-term targets clubs may get jumpy wie the threat of money being withdrawn for unsettled players.

Unless this game of poker changes soon, I don’t expect any movement, rumors or bullshit to hit oor screens or backpages until close to the August D-Date. This taking care of business in oor world takes a lot longer than in the money laden English leagues.

Forza

BSC Young Boys 4 Celtic Glasgow 1

So it’s probably time to sack the manager, sell the entire team and sack the board. Donati is pants, so is Virgo and the quicker we send JFK on loan the better. Is that the current feeling amongst the Hoopy hoards on the tinternet?

I would hope not. I have abstained from looking at Celtic sites since 8.20pm on Saturday night. Ye see, the supports reaction is strangely expected and worrying. It has been that way since we have been blessed wie success and landed wie a manager that rubs, certain people up the wrong way.

Thing is, oor trip to the land of the cuckoo has served it’s purpose. All fit players in the squad given a run oot against opponents who were up for it and further on at this stage of the pre-season. A victory and a defeat, not as heavy as the scoreline suggests, is not the end of the world. In fact the second game ended exactly wie the type of performance i expected.

Ye see, two games in three games along wie hefty training sessions are only conducive to improving stamina and sharpness. Against teams who are up for it, see the meaty challenges that went unpunished by the homer of the ref in the second game, and who were fitter and sharper the last 20mins of games were always going to be a fly by the seat of yer pants case.

Basel couldnae punish us, fact is the backline that finished the Basel game looked a lot more solid than the backline that finished the Young Boys game, but Young Boys did wie two goals in the last two minutes when the hoops team were trying to get themselves back into the game but the legs, touch and sharpness just weren’t there.

We were stretched at the final two goals, which gave the scoreline a flattering look to the average Swiss side. Hakin Yakin no longer looks like a yeti but still proved to leave the bhoys wie thorns in their sides after two easy shootie in chances for him.

From the start the Hoops play was slack. Passes going astray, passes short we just looked oot of sorts from the word go. We looked heavy legged and weary. Young Boys were up for the Urehin Cup while the fact we used 20 players probably belittled their enthusiasm.

Oor two best chances, one was the goal and Balde’s free heider, came from set plays. The other night we created chances through decent fitbaw and wing play from the full backs. On Saturday Barney played full back, to great aplomb but he is a midfielder, and this shows the lack of options we have in this area. Fullback is a position that is paramount to GS tactical vision but the lack of attention getting paid to it is worrying.

In the second half, after 8 changes at half time, we looked mair disjointed as the game progressed. The Swiss got fitter and the Hoops got weaker. Apart from flashes of skillfull wing play from Barney- the only bright spot and player too get passmarks- and Aiden we created nothing. We had a wee spell when we kept the baw for a period but oor final baw was non-existent and at no time did we look like scoring.

The maist annoying thing aboot Saturday was listening to Jock Broon gloating over the abject second half. He was enjoying it and he could hardly contain his joy when “former r*ngers target” Hakin Yakin scored two late goals.

It’s pre-season ye div. Has history not told you that the hoops, historically in pre-season have been pants and in fact that we have scored two goals in two games means that this pre-season oot-shines last years pre-season?

When we roll up to Peterbourgh on Friday we will have another week of pre-season under the belts. The players should by then be aiming for at least looking sharper and lasting a lot longer in games before blowing oot their arses after 60 or 70 mins.

Stage two of pre-season starts today and maybe now we are back on home soil GS and the SSM will be hammering their mobiles trying to offload and recruit. Maybe oor Swiss trip will be the last time we see some in the Hoops.

Forza The Hoops

Fc Basel 0 Celtic Glasgow 1

New season, new setanta coverage same old Scott “I’M JVoH best pal ye know” Booth inane ramblings. Wie Davie Hay in the studio giving his ying to Scott’s yang then surely we can hope for a more balanced view i thought but as it turned oot i didnae need to worry as Mr Booth was kind to us, well he had no reason no to be.

So the Celtic tour kicked off in the less than splendid surroundings of what looked like Glebe Park in January after tattie howking season. The hoops, lead oot by Elvis, contained another two ex-gers in the line up, and to tell you the truth, two oot of the three i widnae be too fussed if they got a joe le max oot of the club, but hey ho.

The team started as Brown, Naylor, Elvis, JFK, Wilson, McGeady, Donati, Grav, Barney, Miller and Magic. Numerous subs, too many for me to list ensured that 18 players were used, including Jaro and Balde, and all that played would walk into any team in the SPL. Canny read anything into formations and subs as it’s only a sharpening up exercise at this time.

Due to 5 a side commitments i only saw the 1st 10 mins and the last half hour but here is ma impressions

0-10 mins- The game starts off like any pre-season game, misplaced passes and players struggling to find the pace. Good interplay, after 53 seconds, between Barney and Wilson leads to a quality baw in the box where Magic connected on the half volley and crashes a shot of the crossbar.

From the start Donati patrols the deep midfield and takes up the regista role. He plays a number of forward but wayward passes. At least they go forward.

The Grav also starts off not to bad, first few touches and passes find their targets. McGeady looks to be struggling wie the park....but Wilson looks comfortable.

64mins to 90mins- By this time the fact Basel are two weeks and a game ahead of the Hoops was beginning to tell. But it was the hoops that created the mair clear cut chance.

The lean mean blonde streaked Virgo getting a run oot at RB swung in a Beckhamesq cross which was meet by Skippy. The keeper made a decent save but the heider didnae have enough power to trouble really.

Minutes later Balde falls asleep and losses his man, he is caught, again, wie a through ball in behind and the big man turns as slow as a ship in the Clyde. Only poor finishing prevents an equaliser.

It’s noticeable that everything guid aboot Celtic in this period is coming via Scott Broon. He drives the team up the park 20 yards every time he wins or receives position. Something we have been missing since Stan P left.

One such 30 yard run leads to him being brought doon at the edge of the box. Deek who is doing ok, decides to try and hit the guys from the Saltmarket bus wie the baw from the resultant free kick.

Lack of match practise means we hang on, withoot really being in danger at any point. We struggle to hold onto the ball in the final third but that should come.

Summary- Guid run oot wie all getting some leg time. The fact is this pre-season is already better than last, wie a goal and a victory.

Now the goal, i saw the highlights, Barney intercepted a shoddy pass, drove on, beat a man and slipped a baw that reeked of natural ability thru to Kenny Miller who still had a lot to do. His finish was also natural or unnatural for oor Kenny wie a wee dink over the on rushing goalie.

The kind of goal we expect the hoops to score. A goal created by creative thinking in the midfield. Something we want to see more off.

The Hoops will be sore this morning and tomorrow’s match will probably see more heavy legs towards the end of the game. Again we shouldnae read too much into the result, formation and performance but last night i think we saw enough to hope the hoops will be more dynamic next season.

Forza The Hoops.

Pre Season Hoops Are Top Heavy wie Questions, High Earners and Non Achievers..

and it’s time for them to shape up.

So, the players will be returning to a bleak Barrowfield today for the annual sweat fest. I don’t envy them at all. Two attempts this summer to play full side games have made me more, aware of the physical demands that are placed on these players. It’s a game now where the weak have nowhere to hide and at all times yer physical performance must be topper most.

We have a manager who knows this. A guy who played until he was 40, and boy does he remind us of it, and has appointed backroom staff from out the box thinking areas of expertise in fitness and nutrition. Oor players shouldnae be returning from their jollies, beer bellied, over weight or unfit. Those days are long gone or they should be long gone. Stamina and sharpness should be the main aim for a pre-season program, ensuring yer ready for the season ahead.

Will GS look over the green fields of Barrow and whether he likes what he see’s or is happy wie what he see’s is another question. For one i will be disappointed if he is happy.

We have arrived back top heavy and huvnae added the quality we were all hoping for. Money restrictions of course stop us adding the creme de la creme and the money being talked doon in the EPL are figures the SSM can dream of. But for an £8million spend- or a Torres left bollock- questions still remain whether we have got value for money and replaced the players sold over the last 12 months wie the same quality.

4 signings have come in, 3 from the SPL and one from Serie A. Now the risk in buying players from the SPL is written in the linage of players that arrived at CP in the last few years after impressing at others. Some have worked, Dider Agathe springs to mind, others have meandered along getting wages and not impressing when giving the chance, Sylla, Laursen, Fernandez, Pearo- at times- and recently Hartley and Elvis.

What we have to ask is will McDonald- Skippy as he shall be known- and Killen- eh, no nickname yet- succeed where others have failed? The bigger question is can they replace the goals lost after the legend of the Hartson left for the black country never to be seen again?

Those two arrive in an area where the Glesga taxi drivers would have expected to be fleein’ up and doon the Gallowgate like Lewis Hamilton bringing in arrivals and taking oot the chaff. While we have had arrivals the departure gate has been quiet.

Miller, Beats and Magic we all suspected would have been packing thier wears and looking soothwards or Europewards for new employers. The pleasures of Burnley, Colchester and Preston should be wetting the lips of the Beats and Miller, sure they will be well rewarded for taking their non-existent 1st touches roond these grounds, and Magic should be looking to the Turkish golden sands or improving German Polish relations. But only the Beats has attracted any sort of attention.

We still require another striker, a proven striker, a striker that can complement JVoH. Miller, Beats and Magic have had their go and failed. The importance of shifting at least two of these players can’t be ignored. Thing is, if ma arm was being subjected to a Chinese burn then Magic would stay.

He has something the others don’t. A first touch and the ability to hold his water, but last season the Pole wie the goals had a mare that was reflected in the fact he last kicked a baw for us around Jan. Maybe a fitter Magic would do the trick alongside JVoH. Proven internationalist, proven striker and looking at it ticks all the boxes we are looking for in a front man.

Wie rumours, this morning, that Ritgers is on his way, as we are the only option, will GS go wie 5 strikers though? Is going into the new season wie 5 strikers not a bit top heavy in that resource?

Our could we say we could have 6 strikers? Oor disco Deek, we class him as a striker, GS says he is a left handsided attacking midfielder. The fact that no other widemen have been linked wie us probably saves Deek from the heave ho in GS's eyes but in the players eyes he may see the new arrivals as a pointer to a sair arsed filled future on the bench.

Me, Deek would get the nod up front before Skippy to complement JVoH or a Killen. But only if Magic is not fit, Ritgers proves he is not ready-if he comes- or Bellamy decides to drop his wage demands by £80,000 a week. His best bet may be to show GS is can be a long term replacement for Maloney, add a goal and direct threat from wide areas- as the competition for places up front is crowded and when yer manager disnny fancy you as a striker yer onto plums.

The quest to replace Stan Petrov has continued and once again the major ootlay has came in this area. Oor top target, according to GS, was always Skoosh Broon. He came at a price as the money lading EPL clubs started sniffing aboot. One thing for sure Skoosh may replace the energy missing since the sulky bulgar left but still doubts over whether he will replace the goal threat that the sulky bulgar had.

Now, the signing of Massimo Donati has some all in a thither. An ex £10m player arrived in a blaze of publicity but a wee itch beneath the usual Italian moodiness, tattoos and unnatural dark guid looks- according to MrsG and her wee Sis- reveals a complex character wie mair issues than the average big brother contestant.

Massimo reveals that he has felt under pressure since his move to Milano, that every pre-season filled him wie dread as he didnae know where he was going to end up, the price tag weighed him doon and that only in the last few seasons has he recaptured some form. His biggest regret is that his potential is un-fufilled.

Wie this backdrop the fact that Italian successes in the Scottish game are as rare as a Craig Beattie injury free season this makes this outlay look like a massive gamble. In fact so much so that, whisper it, if they signed him i widnae be overly worried. Now all Italians can play fitbaw they cry, but i take it they have never saw Amo, Ricco or Sergio?

Reports suggest that he has got himself back on track in the last few seasons playing in the “regista” role so made famous by Pirlo. In fact, the fact that he didnae get a game for Milano as Pirlo played in the same area is no disgrace.

But, the rumour is GS see’s him as a more attacking midfielder contributing to oor goal for tally. An area that oor Italian has not shone in at anytime in his career. But then again, where did playing players in their natural positions ever feature in oor managers master plan eh?

Oor midfield is over heavy wie high earners. Well two high earners, one that is an enigma and the other who is a player who just didnae suit the Scottish game and was never given a run in his correct position, are ye listening Massimo?

Jaro and the Grav should be looking at houses in the suburbs of Kent, Wearside or the Midlands by now. Instead both will report back and go on pre-season not interested in working off those extra pounds gained over the summer.

On the defensive side of things, we have a lot of centre backs and a limited number of full backs. Again a wee nip and tuck is needed in the excess baggage area and the replacement of beefcake wie a doze of fleet footed fullback cover.

Oor pre-season of sliming doon and toning up must start gathering pace now. GS brought forward his operation to spend mair time on the training ground during this pre-season spell but since his hoops have returned slightly top heavy and bulging roond the waists mair time may still have to be spent on the phone rather than on the training pitch.

Forza The Hoops