I believe this is BBC2 Scotland tonight so make sure you tune that in.
Think full capacity will resume in Scotland from Mon the 9th August. The EL qualifier is not just a pilot event.
Huns first home full league capacity game is the derby, convenient that. Wonder if we will even get the 800 in the corner
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Ange
Ange
Ange
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I have to say Bhoys that Abada has been a huge surprise for me so far.
I kind of had a feeling Kyogo would be a star, it’s only one game but it was so impressive. I was a bit dubious about him through the middle but it’s probably where he’ll play now which would mean we probably need another wide man - preferably Lovric.
But Abada, at 19, 5ft6, coming from the Israeli league, slight frame and not blessed with blistering pace I thought would really struggle. He’s been excellent though, full of energy, clever movement, good end product. Early days and I hope he can keep it up.
The player that has struggled most is Taylor so far. He’s looked the one player who isn’t going to fit into the system. Ralston just offers so much more going forward and I think if he keeps his current form up will be hard to displace but Taylor has been really poor, he’s not a brilliant defender, doesn’t have the pace or will to get past people and drive on.
I think left back is probably a more pressing concern, we definitely need one. I think Scales if he arrives should be considered a centre half and we need a new left back. I wouldn’t be adverse to throwing Montgomery in against Jabolnec or Hearts.
It was interesting that Ange’s first sub on Sunday was Montgomery for Taylor. I think the squad is going to be a real meritocracy under Ange, you’re not there on reputation or experience or favouritism, you’re there because you deserve to play - much like it was under Rodgers and I think Taylor is the guy under pressure.
Welsh came back in at the weekend and I think he’ll retain his place if he keeps the performances up.
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Abada has been really good. Inevitably he’ll have spells where it doesn’t work for him. He’s very young and has plenty of physical development to do. I can see some less cerebral footballing minds writing him off when his form drops but he looks very good. Pacy, direct and gets into great positions. Looks a great signing.
Kyogo looks so good as you say. The finishes for thr first and third goals are probably underappreciated. Lovely idea on the first to use the outside of the left so he didn’t risk steering it wide. And we’ve already seen two nice lifts over the keeper. But it’s his movement that is so impressive and will create chances for everyone.
I agree on Taylor being the weakest link so far but I actually think he’s been ok on the ball. He’s been playing a slightly more complex role than Ralston I think (he’s inside a bit more) and he’s clearly trusted to some extent because that’s an important position. But would certainly want to be improving there, especially with Bolingoli nowhere to be seen so far.
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Kyogo’s movement and game intelligence really stood out yesterday. The runs for the goals were all different but each was clever and sharp. I really liked the way he feigned driving towards the front post before going the other side of the defender for his second goal (first in the Christie assist hat trick clip below).
Abada also has excellent movement. He seems very good at arriving into the edge or middle of the box on the full back’s blind side from his wide starting position. He’s scored goals from this in 2 or 3 games already (Midget Land at home and Jablonec away to name a couple). He also appears to have good composure to put away these shooting chances (he should score from cut backs regularly).
I haven’t been too impressed with Starfelt so far but early days. He was meant to be conservative on the ball but fast, aggressive and a strong one v one defender. His passing has been ponderous enough alright but those apparent strengths haven’t really been visible. He’s been a bit uncertain.
If we take care of Jablonec, flop against AZ Alkmaar and drop into the Conference League thingy then I think we could win it.
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Jaysus the defence was absolutely brutal now you look at it.
Fucking Strachan coming back.
Gordon Strachan is on the verge of a sensational return to Celtic as a key cornerstone of the club’s massive summer rebuild.
Record Sport can reveal the 64-year-old former Parkhead boss could be back at Lennoxtown as early as this week after agreeing to take on a new Godfather style role in control of the club’s strategic planning and youth development.
Since leaving the hosteat in 2009 Strachan has remained a close friend and confidant of major shareholder Dermot Desmond and has often been relied upon by the Irish tycoon as a trusted sounding board over the subsequent 12 years.
But, following his sacking as Scotland manager in 2017, Strachan returned to football at first club Dundee where he has been working as technical director at Dens Park for the last two years - where he has been in charge of an overhaul of the football department.
And now Celtic’s new chief executive Dominic McKay looks set to hand him a similar blank canvas back and a return to Glasgow’s East End.
Strachan’s son Gavin has been part of Ange Postecoglou’s managerial back-room team since the Aussie swept into power earlier this summer.
But it’s not believed the former boss will have any remit over Postecoglou’s first team affairs.
Rather, it will be his job to examine the coaching culture at Lennoxtown and implement his own radical ideas on player development and come up with an overarching strategy for the club moving forward.
It’s understood Strachan and McKay have been in close dialogue about the new position for a number of months but that his appointment was put on hold while the CEO prioritised player recruitment for the first team squad.
FFS
Hopefully Ange tells him to GTF.
His work at Dundee was shown at the weekend.
“We have a responsibility to the supporters, to this club, to the badge, that every time we set foot on that pitch we give everything. That’s what I want from the players.”
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Reminder Lennon was doing his best to punt him last year.
Has he been on Talksport lately. Say it’s tough on him to spin recent performances.
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Hopefully he puts these rats to the sword on Sunday
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That’s unbelievable. Scottish media journalists, chaps.
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