Celtic will host Icelandic champions Stjarnan on either the 14th or 15th of July. Or both. You’d think they’d at least know when the game would take place.
There’s the diary’s first moan of the season out of the way.
Reallistically, Celtic should have no problems putting the tie beyond the reach of the enthusiastic Icelanders, but there’s always a but. although sometimes you get the feeling that the media almost want to see Celtic fail, where really it shouldn’t even be an issue.
Stjarnan coach Brynjar Gunnarson
warns Celtic the pressure is all on
them against his amateur outfit
ICELANDIC minnows took out Motherwell and Lech Poznan in Europe last season and Gunnarson says the heat is now on the Hoops ahead of Champions League tie.
Coach Gunnarson said :
“Most of the pressure is on Celtic.
“Compared to us, they spend lots more money. In a way, we are a semi-amateur club at best.
“It’s the toughest draw for us but the players are very excited about going back to Glasgow.
“We had a good few days there when we played Motherwell.
“We were in Europe for the first time last year and had some great results.
“After Motherwell, we defeated Lech Poznan. Those results were unbelievable and we went all the way to face Inter Milan in the play-off.”
Coach John Kennedy perhaps unwittingly, adding to the nervousness
“There are no excuses this year.
We want to be in the Champions League. A club of this stature should be there.
“Last year’s experience will stand us in good stead. Now we know what’s coming along.”
The tone of the article is wrong, and instead of instilling a feeling of confidence, it induces a fear of failure.
Was it different when Motherwell played them, one wonders, maybe a change of tone ?
Er, no.
How about this, from the Scotsman, just before Motherwell faced Stjarnan last year… on the day of the first leg at Fir Park;
MOTHERWELL have yet to win a single European match so far under manager Stuart McCall. In fact, they’ve yet to even score a goal in three two-legged ties.
Do these writers not understand that players read their nonsense, and can have a fragile confidence shattered on the words of someone who has absolutely no idea what it feels like to have your whole years work ahead of you decided on whether or not you are on your game that evening. That’s a years work and a years bonuses.
Motherwell, of course, were nervous-to the extent they conceded t a 92nd minute penalty which proved ultimately to cost them the tie.
Using the same quotes from the Record ( for it was them ) article above, how about this instead ?
Celts Ready For Another Short Trip To Iceland
Coach John Kennedy was looking ahead to a return to Iceland last night as Celts were drawn against Icelandic part timers Stjarnan.
“There are no excuses this year. We want to be in the Champions League.
Celtic faced Icelandic opposition at the same stage last year in Reykjavik and ran out comfortable aggregate winners.
Stjarnan coach Bryan Gunnarson was more resigned about his clubs chances against one of the worlds best known clubs;
“Compared to us, they spend lots more money. In a way, we are a semi-amateur club at best.
“It’s the toughest draw for us ”
Now that’s not to encourage complacency, bearing in mind the earlier point that players read the newspapers, but it’s easier for a manager or coach to get a positive thought into a players head than to get a negative one out of it.
Sure, I’ve left bits out from Gunnarsons quotes, but that’s not important. After all, the press is very selective on what it leaves out…
You won’t see this anywhere today… well, in the SMSM , that is.
West Ham and Spurs pull out of race for £8million Celtic star leaving Sunderland ready pounce
The Evening Chronicle claims the £8million-rated start tops Sunderland’s list along with Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates and the pair could be snapped up by the Black Cats. Norwich and Crystal Palace have both been linked with bids for the Holland international too, but Celtic’s heft price-tag has put a number of clubs off. Arsenal had been long-term admirers of Van Dijk, however their interest has gone, with West Ham and Spurs also currently looking elsewhere for summer recruits.
That’s all the London clubs declared no interest this summer in van Dijk. Wonder if it’s because they have been told he’s not for sale yet, ?
The first leg being in Glasgow, at Celtic Park should help. By then the game should be won.
In fact, there’s a lot of differences between this year and last year, and every reason to feel confident.
John Kennedy again;
“We are in a much better place to make an impact.
“Last year a lot of changes were going on. We had a new management team just getting to know the players. They were trying to understand what was wanted on the pitch and, at the same time, we were thrown into qualifiers with a lot of pressure on us.
“We didn’t make it. We didn’t deserve to. However, we are in a much better place now.
“The players now fully understand what we want them to do and what is required of them.
“They are much more settled, have more peace of mind and go and attack games with no added
pressure or confusion over the gameplan.
“They know what is expected and that’s a key thing for us.
“We’ve got a very good squad. Making five and six changes every transfer window only destabilises things.
“You need consistency and we’ve got that at this minute.
“If one or two become available who are going to improve the squad and give us a better standard of player, then we would look at that.
“But we’re not desperate to bring players in at this moment. We have to just wait and see what’s available.
“Even if it means going into the Champions League campaign with what we’ve got I think we’ll be content with that.
“We’ve brought in Dedryck Boyata and also now have Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong. The latter two were pencilled in for this season but we were fortunate enough to get them a bit earlier. So they’re well integrated with the rest of the squad.
“So that’s three changes from last season and you don’t want too many more.
“Last year was just managing the situation as it moved along. I was getting to know the manager and still getting to know what he wanted.
“We had a lot of chats, spent a lot of time together. That takes time for coaches but for players that is tenfold.
“I was trying to understand what the manager wanted but it takes even more time for the players. Looking back, it was a tough time.
“It’s an experience that will certainly help us and give us an extra edge going into this game.”
He’s probably letting slip a little more than he wanted to there, if you read between the lines, though at least with the written version of what he says, the words “you know ” can be edited out.
You know.
Or , which could be more likely, he’s just leading the press on a wee dance.
What worries me is the constant referral back to last season’s campaign. The thing is, it’s done . We can’t change it, so there’s little point in looking back at it while we prepare for the next one.
So, let’s focus on what’s in front of us, and not what’s behind.
Otherwise things can go a bit awry.
Oh, has to be worth mentioning the song for the game, which was doing the rounds on social media yesterday, to the tune of a David Bowie hit from many. many years ago..
‘There’s a Stjarnan waiting in July, they’d like to come and beat us but we think we’ll blow their minds’
Might give the outfit a miss though.
So, what about Stjarnan ? Should we be worried ?
Recent form suggests that being midway through their season will probably more of a hindrance…
| 22.06.2015 | ICE D1 | Stjarnan FC | 0-1 | KR Reykjavik |  |
| 18.06.2015 | ICE Cup | Stjarnan FC | 0-3 | Fylkir FC | |
| 15.06.2015 | ICE D1 | Fylkir FC | 0-2 | Stjarnan FC |  |
| 07.06.2015 | ICE D1 | Stjarnan FC | 1-3 | Fjölnir | |
| 03.06.2015 | ICE Cup | Stjarnan FC | 1-1/p.6-5 | Leiknir Reykjavik |  |
| 31.05.2015 | ICE D1 | Breidablik | 3-0 | Stjarnan FC | |
| 26.05.2015 | ICE D1 | Stjarnan FC | 1-1 | FH Hafnarfjordur | |
| 20.05.2015 | ICE D1 | Vikingur Reykjavik | 2-2 | Stjarnan FC | |
| 17.05.2015 | ICE D1 | Stjarnan FC | 1-1 | Leiknir Reykjavik | |
| 10.05.2015 | ICE D1 | IBV Vestmannaeyjar | 0-2 | Stjarnan FC | |
| 03.05.2015 | ICE D1 | IA Akranes | 0-1 | Stjarnan FC | |
| 27.04.2015 | ICE SC | Stjarnan FC | 1-0 | KR Reykjavik | |
| 07.04.2015 | ICE LC | Haukar | 0-1 | Stjarnan FC | |
| 31.03.2015 | ICE LC | Stjarnan FC | 3-1 | UMF Grindavik | |
| 28.03.2015 | ICE LC | Keflavik IF | 0-2 | Stjarnan FC | |
| 24.03.2015 | ICE LC | Stjarnan FC | 1-0 | Thor Akureyri | |
Reading from the top down, in reverse chronological order, it appears the wheels are coming off their campaign, with just two wins in nine games, and one of them was on penalties.
The other Scottish sides won’t have it easy, but we can expect John Hughes on the phone with Celtic’s Europa opponents from last year, Astra Guirgi, being drawn against the highlanders in their first ever European campaign.
He’ll need all the help he can get , that’s a nasty draw for them, and it’s the same for the other sides, as Aberdeen face Shkendija, which , happily for them is an aberdonian phrase as well, meaning ” to keep a secret “
St. Johnstone, arguably the second most experienced European side in Scotland must head out to Armenia and they face Alashkert, who finished fourth in their league, which only has eight teams.
We wish them luck. Seriously, it would be great to have extended runs for all Scottish sides.
And the media, and the league, should be doing everything they can to help.
Elsewhere, Celtic’s glasgow rivals Partick Thistle have pulled off a master stroke in the PR game by changing their mascot…
Where did that come from ? It’s scary enough being outside the ground in Maryhill without having that staring after you inside it.
It’s all part of a deal with this american firm worth around £200,000 to the firhill club
It’s great to see a Scottish club employing forward thinking. with the gradual removal of the old guard of management on the field, maybe it’s a sign of new thinking off it.
Maybe the SFA and the MSM will take note.
It’s okay to have new ideas. They can bring in money and raise the profile of the game.
Kingsford Capital have played a blinder, and so have Partick.
Another Glasgow club , First division Second Rangers, are about to announce three signings as the push to dump over priced season books on unsuspecting fans continues.
Danny Wilson, rumoured to be a Celtic target for the purposes of joining Rangers, allegedly joined legendary striker Nacho Novo in the “I told Celtic No ” club when he supposedly chose the Ibrox club over Celtic Park, presumably to create a hero out of a zero , in much the same way as the media did with the talentless Novo.
By the way, Wilson has played for Hearts against Celtic a few times….
How did he do ? Hearts score first…
1-4 ,
1-3,
0-7
0-2
0-2
0-3
0-4
Impressive form. We heard Celtic were offered the player on a £5,000 a week deal, but when it transpired the club was to pay him, Celtic lost all interest.
Second Rangers, whose latest attempt to raise capital failed when one bank refused even to lend them a pen to fill the form in with, are struggling.
The same tired old cliches are being wrung out by the same, tired old hacks, and the end cannot be far away…
The theme seems to be that Warburton only wants players who want to play for the club, supporters who want to support it, and fucking idiots who want to pay for it.
Meanwhile, there’s not a lot to do when the footballs not on, so for those who are interested, here’s something worth a look at;
If you want to know a little more of the history , that is.
And not the history the media will spin.
Right, dig deep into your own history and tell us where and when….
And we’d like to ask for more memories… from this game..
By the way, we’d like to say how sad we were to learn of the death of ” Titanic” composer James Horner this morning.
It’s a small consolation, that as a donor card carrier, his heart will go on.
Good morning Ralph, from a hot n sunny Crete. Glad to see you back after your weekend in Dunoon-hope all went well. I missed my diary fix on Sat/Sunday so just had to make do reading Phil Mac’s two reports plus all those comments. He does seem to have upset some ‘peepul’ with his latest revelations. I see Monti was at his wind up best, with bowls on offer to all n sundry.
One of the very few games my brother Brian went to together. St Mirren 1982 , league champions that day a Monday holiday match 3-0 for the Tic. I remember another not so memorable game on a Monday against Thistle at Firhill. Won that one 2-1, crap game but it set us up for the 4-2 match.
HH
Excellent read as always Ralph.
Just traced my da’s side to Rathmullan just before “An Gorta Beag” in 1879.
Will defo be heading that way soon to take in the place.
That way I can find out if we were Ulster Scots or Irish.
Hoping it’s the latter 😉
was that the same day the sheep thumped a john greig is a bastard managed deidco 5 nil? they (the sheep)could have won the league if we lost.
BTW I was actually hoping that the CL quali home tie would be the 2nd leg on 21/22 July, as I’ll be in Glasgow that week for a wedding. My bhoy & I were looking forward to a trip to CP and avoiding the wummin’ folk driving us mental with pre-wedding nervous babble .. “ooooh I’m not sure about these shoes… does my bum look big in this?. etc etc. ”
Then again, if Celtic can go to Iceland with a comfortable lead then I’ll be more than happy.
That’s the day “we won the league for Doyle” after his untimely death earlier in the season.
Aye was at the game as well I thought it was a Saturday game tho?? In fact Im certain it was a Saturday game. Yeah the dandies were pumping 1st Rangers 4-0 at the sheepdome at half time whilst we were 0-0 at half time then George McCluskey got his shooting boots on in 2nd half & the rest is history!!
I’m also 99% sure it was a Saturday!
The game was on a Saturday when we beat St Mirren 3-0 to win the league. We had the chance to win it against St Mirren the previous Monday but that game ended up 0-0. On the Saturday Aberdeen had to get, I think, at least a 4-0 victory over a now defunct team from Govan and hope that we lost.
I seem to remember we were 0-0 at half time whilst Aberdeen were 4-0 against deidco. However, three 2nd half goals brought the league back to paradise. I think George McCluskey got a couple of the goals. This was the first time I had been at a game when we won the league. Happy Days!!
BTW2 When Celtic clinched the title in ’82, I was playing in a fitba tournament in Enschede, Holland (The “World Cup” for company teams – don’t laugh!). Some British Army teams based in Germany were allowed in the competition, but all the Scottish soldiers in those teams were…. erm… animals.
However, I do remember celebrating the title with a couple of fellow tims who were playing for a team calling themselves “Ferranti Thistle”, who were actually mainly (the then) Meadowbank Thistle squad players. Afterwards in the town centre, there was a bit of agro when a small group of hun soldiers (< naw, not Germans) – who's team had been thumped 5-0 that day!) objected to our singing The Soldiers Song (we thought it was funny!. How times have changed – NOT!
I remember that game as my first pitch invasion as a 13 year old. I was in the Celtic End and climbed the barrier onto the ash running track, got about five feet , panicked when I saw a steward and ran back into the terracing.!
I remember boos ringing out from the jungle at the fans who invaded the pitc, heady days indeed !
I think that is Billy Thompson in goal for St Mirren – is the number 11 for Celtic Danny Crainie?
^ Affirmative. Also a couple of other notable names were around that day including Davie Moyes (unused sub) on the Celtic bench and Frank McAvennie & Billy Stark both playing for St Mirren
Sorry CJB. I commented before seeing yours. Did not intend pinching your glory 🙂
H H
Nae borra, PB – As my wife will testify, I don’t mind the odd pinch 🙂
SM
Spot on in both cases. Interestingly two future Celts were in the black and white stripes that day, Billy Stark and Frank McAvennie.
H H
So John Kennedy thinks were in a better place to qualify than last season,I must have missed the manager getting sacked,so were still up shit creek in europe
So there I am, couple weeks back, sitting on my sofa, in North Carolina, sipping a coffee and watching the news before heading off to bed.
At the end there was a roundup of local sports news, usually it’s basketball and shite like that but that night they said they were going to show the goals from the Carolina Railhawks game. Now, the Railhawks are not even MLS standard, I don’t even know what the league they play in is called but it’s full of teams that sound like the 5-a-side team names I used to see when I played many moons back.
Anyway, I’ve often thought about popping along to watch them so I thought I’d hang on and watch the goals from the game. I hadn’t heard of any of the guys playing that the commentator was mentioning until…right in the last minute..the Railhawks scored the winner when who popped up in the box to tuck it away but none other than….Nacho fuckin Novo!
I literally spat my coffee out, I was thinking did I hear that guy right, did he just say Nacho Novo scored for the Railhawks?!? Sure enough, after a quick internet check he does indeed…the little bastard is playing just down the road from me.
Their next home game is in July and am heading down there with Celtic shirt on….wonder which one in the car park is his 🙂
RSR
Class!!
H H
Hahaha, RSR get down the bookies first and stick a few bucks on the wee bastard getting a red card – right after spotting the famous green hoops on you!
Ralph
Great read today in spite of most of my pet hates being discussed. Somehow, I enjoyed reading about them today. It must be the way you tell’em 🙂
Everybody has the picture quiz game so my only comment is for San Miguel and those who were like him. Did you not realise how you messed up the celebrations for others by running onto the park? For many seasons teams were stopped from parading trophies because of pitch invasions. Not very fair on us holy, holy guys 🙂 Mind you, I remember the nervous tension, the sense of frustration and dashed expectations and an almost soul destroying resignation to losing it all for most of the game. Aberdeen’s challenge was not a fleeting threat like today and many of us feared the worst when that unbelievable score came in at half time, especially since nothing seemed to be coming off for us and Thompson was doing more saving than The Halifax. So, annoyed at the time but mellowed with age I now both understand and forgive your “atrocious behaviour” – quoted from Police Scotland!!!
H H
The 3 v 0 title winning game v St Mirren was played on sat 15th of may 1982 !
Saturday. St Mirren. Ah was there, Jungle. Oh happy days.
Hail Hail.