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
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13 comments:
Well, of course, I have an obvious bias in wanting to see the trips to the USA continued. Poor bhoys is better than no bhoys. And perhaps the trips serve as a good check for the mind: Don't get too cocky kids, you just got served by what is, according to the UK press, a glorified retirement league. It ain't going to be easy. So there's that to be said. But, as I said, I'm biased.
D- i would rather you saw good hoops..our hoops that give a damn rather than the fare that has been served.
maybe i'm harsh on the players, but you call the uk press right..i don't think the scottish press even call it an old foggies league..sure i read pub league somewhere this weekend..
Chicago..Watford about right?
the all star team we played would have troubled most teams, right enough but preperation is the key.
i want the tours to continue.only if they benefit the playing staff..at the moment i don't think they do...
watched the re-run of game tonight and we were pretty poor.
looked slightly better in 2nd half when donati, mcdonald and riordan came on.
i agree in a sense that these games for the playing staff might not do much good but as a brand i think they are very important for us.
hate to see us not win anytime but not too concerened at the minute.
hopefully couple more signings yet to come as well.
I think we have to face the fact that the American teams are better than the opposition that Bhoys face in the SPL.
I read in the Metro (my paper of choice! :-)) that Artur thought that the 1st half display was `embarrassing` and that sums up what I believe to be the feeling among participating (ie people who care)Celtic supporters.
What was wrong with a few games in Ireland before a big friendly? No money raised!
I know that being on holiday can put one on the wrong foot, can I ask if Caldwell and Sno are still with the club. If so, where are they? :-/
Perhaps we ought to face facts, Celtic`s signing policy is not guaranteed to raise standards or hope. :-(
One of the biggest Celtic supporters at my work has told me that him and his son are taking a year away from Celtic Park and he has received a text message from Celtic on a daily basis asking him to renew his ticket. His decision is based on his view that the fun has gone out of home games.
I don`t know if it`s based on prejudice but I think we can do better than Pressley at centre back. No pace, lacking in stature and apt to make rash judgements, however the loss of Lennon does suggest that an experienced leader on the field is required. I may have to sit on my hands for a while yet. :-)
Ciao ciao
seven- do you not think turning up half arsed does the brand any good? You can only lead a horse to water for so long before it finds another watering hole itself.
man u can turn up half arsed as they have wow players, we have kenny miller and elvis
agree, most pre-season games are pants, the most important one is against killie next Sunday but we need to get something out of every game we play.
ian- we have been going to the usa for a few season now, we should now the standard we are to face by now. Going by results the mls teams get against us midway epl maybe be a good guide.
these are good workouts if our preparation is done correctly.
arfur speaks as a fan, he understands oor feelings.
i think caldwell and sno are injured..sure sno is going for scans on his knee.
oor signing policy is restricted by our budget, which means we take chances on players. Some are successful some are pants. The manager hopes he calls it correctly more often than not or he gets his harry potters.
your impression of elvis is nuthin to do wie prejudice..it’s yer view of a fan who has seen cb’s come and go for years. He is one of the signings that fall into the fail to excite and puzzling catergory.
i completely agree wie your assessment of him.
I see that the reserves are doing a wee tour of Ireland after a match against Airdrie tomorrow night. That`s a traditional pre season!
Just remembered that Ajax are at the death star tonight.
Must avoid!
if we think back too old pre-season, before it was decided that they should become pr exercises, when the celtic view was paper and not a mag..tours to the emerald isle where the norm.
as were trips to germany to play teams wie the names like admiral whackers and such...sure this practise stopped round about the burns era.
sure we used to take a trip up to the highlands as well..sure we played the well named Buckie once...
i agree it might be better to plan it better by playing a few weaker teams as well but wot as fans or even the players does anyone learn if we beat admiral whackers 8-0 or beat a lower standing american team by a few, probably a lot less than everyone does management included by playing a higher standard team.
its a question of time as well trying to fit everything in as we normally go to another country and england as well as the usa.
i think we just have to except the reason the pre-season's are used as pr exercises is that tv money is tight in the spl as is money in general and because we now are run very well the board try to utilise this time to make the most they can which is understandable in the current financial climate.
obviously if we didn't have to knacker everyone by travelling all the way to america,japan etc and could still play the amateurs of germany and a nice wee trip to ireland and achieve the same we would but sadly this isn't the case.
it was interesting to hear gs say the other day when asked about any future signings he said we need cover at full back which is fair enough but he also said we now have a vacancy at right-mid as if someone had left but anyone any ideas why this vacancy has suddenly appeared.
i know naka will be back to play there and i would say we have ok cover so was a bit puzzled.
by the way sno is going for scans on his knee and scott brown broke a bone in caldwell's foot in the last game of the season. he did come on in cup final but since then had clear up op but is just recovering.
reg elvis i thought he started very well for us but agree he looked poor towards end of season esp cup final.
bring back bobo thats wot i say!!!
big, strong, fast, good in the air, can't pass the ball more than 5 feet.
sounds to me the ideal centre half for life in the league we play in.
seven- will reply in full this evening but the right mid space....it's being primed for a sad killie player.....
wots your thoughts on that.
i think he is good but at the price being quoted im not sure we need him or couldn't get better elsewhere.
Baldy- you’re correct, we need to get all areas singing from the same page and at the moment for me the football side don’t take these jaunts seriously. Now while seven says we learn nuthin beating admiral whacker 8-0 we also learn nuthin losing without trying a leg.
Interesting to see you think that it is our fanbase that attracts players. I also think our fanbase attracts the current marketing strategy we are seeing put in place. I think this will be reflected in future deals. Celtic are explioting us for gain but as u rightly say the fly by night fans will soon turn elsewhere if the product is poor.
We may see that in the usa.
The Newcastle game, in today’s Pravda GS admits that they tried to give Shearer a pen cocked it up and ended up losing the game.
Under no circs should we be involved in things like that.
Dropping numbers of the fair-weather fans disnny bother me..if only they would disappear from CP…
Seven- yes, we learn nuthin humping teams but these should be used to hone fitness and sharpness before taking on better opponents.
Pre-season is a pr exercise for clubs like us and also bigger clubs wie mair money- see Liverpool, Man U and Chelski. It’s part of the game now.
Bobo may be moving closer to getting a 1st team plot, but as someone said GS likes Beardy McFud….
Now poor wee naisy. Shunned by the forces of evil and now could be subject to a bid from us. Do we need him? The answer from me is a no as I feel we have better already in reserve. He can play a number of roles, up front, right handside, but up front we have a full quota until someone takes miller or magic off oor hands so right hand side it must be.
What he has to look at if deek canny get a game why should he?
Read a match report from lst nights game at Airdrie...take it Deek, Barny, Bobo, O'Brien and Grav won't be travelling doon the toon.
Hint of their future roles maybe?
oh, i forgot Killen.
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