12 Jul 2025 12:54:49
Can’t say I was overly impressed with that. I know it’s early but would have thought we would have expected to have enough quality to get a win against that level.
12 Jul 2025 13:18:48
Still early days. I’d certainly struggle in that heat ?.
12 Jul 2025 13:27:47
It’s still early days but it shows that our fringe and youngsters have a lot more development needed to get into our starting lineup.
Last season Celtic had a 1-1 draw at Ayr and then a 6-4 victory against Queens Park in our first 2 games.
Similar to our first 2 games this summer.
Celtic then played our first match in America on July 20th and we basically ran riot over there with 3 good victories.
12 Jul 2025 14:08:12
It's definitely early days, but we have three tough games coming up that could build us up for a strong start to the campaign, or knock the confidence out of the squad and even the support.
Gone are the pre-seasons of 'shooting practice' bounce games that whetted the appetite and eased us into the business in hand.
However, it does help when we see encouraging performances and quality signings to help build some momentum for a new season. So far I'm still waiting and hoping.
12 Jul 2025 14:12:17
Defence is woeful.
12 Jul 2025 14:36:47
Only starts to count on the 3rd aug.
12 Jul 2025 14:59:13
Really need to get 2-3 quality first team ready signings in pronto.
We seem to take an eternity at this when we’ve had all year to plan, how many times have we heard BR say there’s loads of working going on behind the scenes when in reality it ends up being a deadline day scramble… still plenty time in the window but I thought we’d have been better prepared, particularly with playoff looming.
12 Jul 2025 15:44:09
Result don’t care …. but I’d expect to have seen more (even running ) but trust process.
12 Jul 2025 17:01:21
Any decent performers today? missed the game with footy training in this heat, honking!
12 Jul 2025 19:15:20
Oh no!
We lost a meaningless pre season game and people are starting panic, I guess the Pre-Season meaningless cup is lost.
13 Jul 2025 08:33:14
The concerning for me with BRs interview after the last game, is that he mentioned the need for replacements out wide and a striker.
No mention of the desperate need for an upgrade at CB.
Trusty, Scales and none of the young CBs are good enough to be regular starters.
I know people will say it's early in the season and give them time but the 3 goals we conceded in the last game were very, very poor goals to lose, even in a pre season match.
Even in the previous 2 games I don't know how many times our CBs allowed a high ball through to bounce before not controlling it or being beaten to it by an attacker, when they should have dealt with it by clearing it, even if it meant putting it into the stand.
That is basic defending, which none of our CBs have been able to do.
We look very slow at turning, unable to make quick decisions and not confident in our ability to deal with some balls played through.
It might even be a lack of confidence in each other yet as it takes time to build an understanding of how others play but it is a position I am really worried about, because at CL level we will get punished.
It is pointless being good from middle to front if you cannot do the simple things defensively.
Without CCV we do not have a decent CB imo, both Trusty and Scales have looked very poor when playing with young players at the back. They should be leading by example.
I hope they make me eat my words and turn it around but our CL qualifying game is not too far away and the next 3 friendly games, will up the anti and give a better insight into how our defence will cope at that higher level.
We need a settled pairing, which we do not have and didn't last season.
Fingers crossed 2 players put themselves forward in next few weeks or we invest in the upgrade we need imo.
13 Jul 2025 15:13:23
Maybe the reason BR mention the desperate need to strengthen at CB’s is because he doesn’t see the same need to change cb’s as some fans do .
3/ 4 years ago many fans were very loud and definite that G Taylor was root cause of all our goals conceded . As Greg’s time with came closer to an end, fans anger shifted from Taylor to Scales, now G T is gone he is virtually a star deserving a statue. Over in coming years another villain will come on scene and Scales will become a star centre back .
Our centre backs have a very big load to carry, 2 cbs covering from one side to other with sometimes neither full back to be seen in our half of pitch . As well as that our midfield and wingers move forward as a block so actually our cbs plus goalkeeper defend all of our half of pitch .
This is an exceptional coverage for our cbs to defend, but with the great pressure the rest of our team put on our opponents, we have a very good defensive record, at the end of last year we had a goal difference of 33 conceduing only 16 .
We don’t have consistency in winning 14/ 15 SPLs with a leaky defence . Success at any club comes about by whole team carrying its share of responsibility. No doubt our centre backs could be improved but so too can our fullbacks (/ even with Tierney back) midfield and wingers as well as attacking players . We cannot exclude goalkeeper because if we really want to be certain of improving our Champions League position, every position is desperate or in need of change. We can’t change every position in any one year and even if we did would our team be improved.
For a club playing in Scotland there is a ceiling which we can’t get through but we can try to reach it . All us fans can do is encourage and support all the players.