Armchair managers face decision tonight
While we waited so long for these games the chances are tonight will see another pre season defeat, meaning the prevailing ‘not looking good’ mood will probably linger a while yet.
Not good for the opTIMist while familiar territory for the glass half empty viewer, as usual there’s nothing like few reversals to see all sorts of viewpoints get expressed.
I suspect only a few decent league victories will begin to swing the supports mindset. Taking a decent scalp while playing good in the qualifiers would certainly bring some much wanted confidence to a possibly nervous and worried fanbase. Many would argue the fanbase would always have been nervous this year, they may have a point.
All of us have some point or why else be here, that’s the beauty of the beautiful game and blogs in general, the number of different viewpoints. If you’ve posted any sort of opinion on football at all you can consider yourself an armchair manager to some degree, that’s not disparaging believe me. As the game is constantly changing, so will opinions, the names involved, trends, plus fans themselves.
Defeat inevitably brings criticisms, but other opinions are there to be absorbed and learnt from, dissected and debated.
Each of us has a lifetime of viewing experience tucked under the belt, some vastly more live than televised, for a few the opposite is true.
Whilst no one is proclaiming to be the next Nagelsman it would be foolish to believe nothing that has been said is valid, whether it be beautifully expressed poise or a cutting single sentence.
Tonight we face one of the globes elite teams, and in Mbappe and Neymar they have two players who may well fill the void when the current best out there retire.
While its unusual to be facing such prestige this early, its there to be enjoyed or not and learned from or not, both on the coaching and fans side.
Those wondering how this can help the players may have a point, but if the players were offered PSG now or another Dundalk style friendly , I think they jump at the chance to play the French despite the obvious quality gap.
Not sure the fans would rather watch a trouncing than an easy romp though.
Perhaps we need to find a little bit of the players mentality, and use this game as a learning opportunity only.
PSG are boulevards ahead of us on the park, this is one defeat that needn’t sting badly.
The above is by Mahe. Consider mailing your opinion in to be the lead article please
sentinelcelts@gmail.com
MAHE
I suspect that few of us will use tonight as a pointer to the season ahead! As I said the other day,the level of competition for these pre-season friendlies is a cut above our usual,but the upside of them is that we have had a look at some of the younger players and some of the squad players while blowing away the cobwebs.
And more importantly,we have a decent break from now till a week on Sunday to build on that.
We don’t do Close Season Cups. We save our efforts for the ones that count. We’ve done not bad at that recently. As an example,Wes Foderingham just left Sevco to join Sheffield United,and his hello to the fans apparently included a comment that it was soul-destroying to start every season knowing he was gonna win eff all.
Now,I don’t know what he expects to win at Sheffield United-an FA Cup,maybe?-but its cheering to know the mindset from Ibrox.
They know it. We know it. And now we know that they know it. Which is just peachy.
Morning guys . Looking forward to tonight’s game and another chance to see the hoops . As Mahe rightly said I don’t expect to see a win but I would like to see a performance from the bhoys . Presently we have a few players still to find there feet at the club , these games are for that reason to get especially our new bhoys up to speed and ready for the push for the ten . I hope to see some quality new faces in soon as I feel we have some areas that need improving , but that’s up to the manager and the suits to sanction that , we will never be in this position again aiming for a record ten titles in a row , so I sincerely hope the people who matter recognise the challenges we face both on the field and off it and meet them head on . HH
I am looking forward to the game tonight, always have a spring in my step, on days when Celtic are playing. I enjoyed watching our two previous French friendlies, unlike some folk. I do not see these as season defining matches, and more as glorified training sessions. A good game with a few goals scored later, would be good. Still looking for us to sign a goalkeeper and centre half for the competitive action ahead.
CELTIC have informed supporters two of their retail stores will be shut for refurbishment until August.
The Hoops’ outlets at Celtic Park and Argyle Street in Glasgow’s city centre will undergo an adidas makeover.
https://news.stv.tv/sport/football/scottish-cup-final-to-take-place-five-days-before-christmas
Final on a Sunday ☝️
PSG play St Etienne, in the French cup final on Sat, so I’m not sure how strong a team they will put out tonight.
Pre season friendlies regardless of the opposition in my opinion are not comparable with a match where there is something to gain for our players, yes, there’s competing, there’s pride, trying out of new formations etc it’s only the business end that really matters, getting points and winning trophies. If we get scudded tonight by the sheikhs money team it won’t ruffle me at all. As supporters we scrutinize every game, every performance, but that’s just football. PS…i’ll be raging if we get beaten.
That’s some statement from the huns. Having to defend their players from their own fans, extraordinary.
I am getting concerned about our goalie situation. Less than a fortnight from our first competitive match and we have no sign of a new goalie. We are an injury to Scott Bain away from a disaster. I don’t get it.
Noel
The huns basically telling their racist supporters to stop being racist. Not before time. The mask eventually slips. They are being exposed for the racist scumbags that they are, and don’t like the light being shone on them. Good.
Good morning all & Packy.
Garry, t’was ever thus! regarding signings.
JTT53
Good morning Jim. Glorious sunny morning in Dalmuir. All we are saying is give us a goalie. Makes no sense.
Garry, We’re getting a mixture of sunny & grey!
Our board are more comfortable selling players than buying them. I think it’s got something to do with the bonus scheme.
JTT53
Surely, the signing of a top class goalie, gives us a greater chance of qualifying for CL group stage and the £30 million prize money? Why the reluctance, so far, to do this?
PSG will also be using tonight’s game for similar reason as ourselves. The obvious difference is that their team “B” would in all circumstances, skud our “A” team virtually every game.
For us we need to see where the gaps are and how best we fill them with a purchase/freebie/repositioning of an existing player. The two obvious areas for me are the goalie and striker roles. Doohan and Hazard need to be pushed but are we comfy to let them loose had tonight’s game been a CL qualifier? We only have 2 fit strikers so we either get creative on that front (no pun intended) or we find that gem that is out there , currently without a job , remembering that this pandemic is affecting every league and therefore there must be a plethora of really good players whose contracts are not renewed or need to be sold as quickly as , in order for their club to survive. Hammond MUST know about these players or is he waiting on the de facto , director of football to tell him to look for them.
Anyway all that said , another run out for the squad against a further step up in class can only be a good thing , which is then turned into aspirational and positive direction by the management team
HH
Garry, that’s been part of the talk on here for the past few days. Why the seeming reluctance. It’s as if they have a very negative view of us progressing in Europe, even if we spend!
Spend to accumulate is not in their vocabulary. Besides, the only thing that matters is domestic success and The Old Firm. Maybe I’m too cynical but that is what’s shouting out at me.
Garry,
that light should be the equivalent of a super nova, but hey, it’ll be cool to indulge in a bit of anti-Irish racism week in week out. Only in Fair Caledonia.
RIB, Garry and JtT,
maybe achieving 10 in a row is all that matters for some folk and it is important, but, it would be footballing myopia as we need to improve in European terms as well.
Noel Skytrot, I agree, It’s thankfully not politically correct to be racist against black folk nowadays. But it hasn’t quite developed yet towards Irish/catholic racism & sectarianism. Not in Bonny Scotland. Just wait for the songbook at Ibrox soon.
Good Morning all
IIRC, was there not something recently saying that no decision would be made on Fraser until after the EPL finished at the end of this week? Also, not much will happen transfer wise until their window opens.
HH
https://fixtur.es/en/team/celtic
I heard Neil state that he would have preferred to have a few easier warm up games before being exposed to the likes of Nice, Lyon and PSG but this is not a normal pre-season and he will just have to go along with it. Tis a pity that the Dundalk friendly has not yet been confirmed, as the Irish Government has concerns about the Dundalk boys coming to Scotland/UK. I would think that an alternative friendly will be arranged if Dundalk are not allowed to travel and we will have one more, at least, realistic game for preparing for Hamilton.
There is no way of taking the angst out of this season, just as there was no way of taking the angst out of the last one. Many predicted that Sevco would not drop another point till they met us again, when they headed out to Dubai last Winter. But, somehow, the superior Ibrox tacticians failed to prepare their team as well as the inferior NFL and team did, so we, somehow, fluked the league through that period of angst.
This season coming is a different challenge.
After 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 year’s history of predicting doom and failure, some people will be proven right eventually, if we lose the 10th, 11th 12th or 25th, but the one thing they won’t have proved, is that they were right all along.
Today’s result, good, bad or indifferent needs to be parked straightaway. It is as relevant as the Veolla Cup in determining how we will do this year. The first 10 league games will give us a good indication but, even if we are behind after the first 2 months, we should know better than to write us off.
I am looking forward to it and I am as nervous as the rest of you.
P.S. Did people spot the news that Turnstiles has created a Beer Garden?- provided a good laugh this morning.
Jock Brown got death threats during his time at Celtic according to BBC. There is informative coverage of his time at Celtic in @StephenODauthor book “Fergus McCann v David Murray” to be published on 27th, reflecting the amount of research done.
Tonight we will face a team with a superior squad of players.
Our formation, tactics and use of personnel will determine wether we neutralize or enhance their superior skillset.
Should be interesting viewing.
Auldheid
Surely not as the ever vigilant MSSM would have been all over it?
Or was it just classified as banter?
Had a quick read back whilst waiting in the queue for the local tip. Must say I cannot wait for tonight. You cannot beat the prospect of going to watch your team getting scudded and not worry about it because well, their better than us. Surely there is always something to learn and setting us up not to get scudded would be a good start.
AFTERNOON ALL and JIM,, why oh why dont we arrange friendly games against a lower class of opposition, and we can play the kids and see what they are made of, what will we learn tonight, we will learn we need a keeper and at least one decent defender, listen i dont like to see my team outclassed and getting gubbed, what does that do for morale ,sorry mbappe and neymar running at our defence tonight frightens me to death, will i watch it yes of course, ffs ive been to the bigotdome in the sixties and watched us get gubbed ?
Afternoon all, I hope you’re all well!
No professional footballer should never approach any game scared of the opposition or scared of defeat! Likewise, supporters should approach these games with a sense of excitement and belief that their players are ready to give everything of themselves to prove themselves capable of competing! We know the reality is far removed from the ideal at times but to be your best, collectively and individually, you need to compete with the best!
You can choose to remember Brendan’s games against PSG or Barca and approach these games with intrepidation…or remember Lennie’s Barca 125!!
C’mon the ‘Tic!!!
MCAFF, hi buddy you know i luv ya to bits, but disagree ,celtic should not be put in this position, its lawell trying to get brownie points, we are nowhere near psgs level, and a humping or gubbing aint going to do the morale of the players any good ?
Big Jim Packy, you’ll no be the only one to disagree and I get that but for me there’s nowt better than the anticipation of a game at Parkheid against a team fill of superstars! We can see St Mirren, the Jags, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and the like any week of the year but it’s not very often you get the chance to compete against some of the best players in the world!
Anyway, how are you and lovely Joan doing? When does the grooming business restart, I’ve got a wee customer lined up, I might leave her with you for a few months…just to you get her in a sleeping pattern!! ????
BP
I have to agree with McCaff. I have never once looked ahead to a Celtic game, and thought we would get humped. Not once in my life. I am not starting now, and happen to think we will win in Paris tonight. I couldn’t watch the game if I didn’t expect or hope Celtic could win.
MCAFF, hoped you would take that in the spirit it was intended, the builder will be starting to renovate the garage in the next week or too, then we should be alright for grooming end of august, will book you in fee of charge ?
GARRY, dont get me wrong, i want my team to win tonight, but how long have we wanted a good goalkeeper, im afraid bain is not the answer, KTF buddy?
Gerrintaethum Celtic. ?
BP
I actually hope we play Hazard in goal tonight. An injury to Bain would be disastrous just now. We definitely need a new goalie soon.
BRRB im in govanhill at the moment do you know any tim pubs around here?
BP, not the Star Bar anyway. Ya rascal. ?
Hi Garry, how’s things with you mate? Cheers for the Radiohead tune last night, superb tune!
Big Jim Packy, we all look at Celtic in a different way with different ways of managing our own expectations of them…but at the end of the day we all want the same thing!! I’ll see you when the garage is ready…get your padded protection looked oot for this mad dug!!!!???
McCaff
All good here mate. Looking forward to watching the game later with my 2 sons. Just opened a Magners for a wee warm up. ?
Big Jim Packy… Renfrew’s only a couple of miles along the road…but there’s definitely NAE Tim pubs here! ??
?????
BP
Avoid Renfrew, cross the Clyde. Tim shops aplenty in Clydebank ????
BRRB ?
GARRY ?
MCAFF ?
I agree, avoid Renfrew…some unsavoury characters doon here…???
An early start, Garry, like it mate!!???
Pa Lurkin, are you about mate? ?
JIM, are you lurking, get on here im having to put up with mcaff, garry, and brrb a fate worse than death ???
Aye JtT, take him away fae us, he’s no entitled to a Nighshift allowance!! ??