ONCE upon a time, Celtic bating an Icelandic team 2-0 in a European tie, first-leg, at Celtic Park, would have been cause for quiet confidence. Any reasonable observer of Scottish football, even a Rangers supporter, would confidently predict that Celtic would go to Iceland for the second-leg and complete the job.
Does this assumption still apply?
The fact is, Celtic will take a 2-0 lead into the return game; the belief is that the lead ought to have been greater - Leigh Griffiths missed a penalty, one or two other chances might well have been taken by a competition-sharp Celtic outfit. So, on the face of it, Celtic are in a good place.
But, and what a shame there has to be a but. Concerns persist regarding the soft centre of the Celtic team. An early Icelandic goal, perhaps conceded by some slip-shod defending and, the second leg becomes that bit more-difficult.
A 2-0 lead is OK, but, should 2-0 become 2-1, then maybe 2-2, and it will be squeaky bum time in the second leg.
Celtic are ranked 46 in UEFA's clubs co-efficient table, their Icelandic opponents are ranked 310, ergo, Celtic should win, But, there remains a fragility to this Celtic team, particularly early in the season, which is concerning.
I hope they complete the job in Iceland, I believe they can, but, something prevents me from being absolutely certain as to this outcome.
MEANWHILE, back at the ranch, preparations for the new season continue. In an ideal world Mr Warburton might wish he could rustle-up his new recipe for success for the RTA well away from public view.
Sure, high, thick screening surrounds Murray Park, but, because the main stream Scottish media simply must have a daily "Rangers" story with which to placate the masses, and, because people talk - the luxury of quiet preparations is denied the new manager of the RTA.
When Muhammad Ali had to recover from his occasional blips, such as defeat at the hands of Joe Frasier, he could retire to his training camp in the Catskill Mountains, where, well away from the glare of publicity, he could rediscover that articular mixture of self-belief and alchemy which truly made him "The Greatest", before coming out to again dazzle and bewitch us.
How Warburton and Weir must wish they could do likewise, except, the RTA is a long way off even claiming to be the Greatest in the Championship.
I see the journey back to even parity with Celtic being a long one, over a rocky road. Ra Peepul are not noted for their patience and understanding, don't forget.
I also note that the Sage of Donegal - who for all his faults, is usually the man to trust in such matters - reckons more financial storms are heading Ibrox way.
MEANWHILE, tonight, Inverness Caledonian Thistle take their first steps into Europe, the latest stage in that team's remarkable football journey.
It doesn't seem that long ago since Inverness was seemingly rent asunder by the row over the suggestion that Inverness Caledonian and Inverness Thistle should amalgamate, better to allow the Highlands Capital to persuade those stick-in-the-muds in the central belt that, allowing senior football so close to the North Pole was a good move.
This being Scotland, however, I am sure somewhere in Inverness, some bitter and twisted chap will be sitting - wearing his tattered and moth-eaten Thistle scarf and insisting: "Nae guid will come o' this".
On the other side of the city, an equally bitter and twisted Caley fan will be enacting the same scene. Meanwhile, John Hughes and his players will be hopefully giving those who bought-in to the amalgamated club something to cheer about.
Some of the architects of ICT will be looking down from the great pavilion in the sky. They should have been there, I hope those have been aboard on the journey into Europe and are present tonight, get to savour a debut to remember, for the right reasons.
Good luck too, to Aberdeen, in their European tie.
FINALLY, I commend to you an excellent piece on Olympic Games football which was printed in the Scotsman a couple of days ago. The author was former goalkeeper turned lawyer Derek Stillie. A right sensible piece it was too, proving, yet again, goalkeepers are the intellectuals and philosophers of football - more-so if they started off playing for big John Hunter at Cumnock Academy.
MEANWHILE, tonight, Inverness Caledonian Thistle take their first steps into Europe, the latest stage in that team's remarkable football journey.
It doesn't seem that long ago since Inverness was seemingly rent asunder by the row over the suggestion that Inverness Caledonian and Inverness Thistle should amalgamate, better to allow the Highlands Capital to persuade those stick-in-the-muds in the central belt that, allowing senior football so close to the North Pole was a good move.
This being Scotland, however, I am sure somewhere in Inverness, some bitter and twisted chap will be sitting - wearing his tattered and moth-eaten Thistle scarf and insisting: "Nae guid will come o' this".
On the other side of the city, an equally bitter and twisted Caley fan will be enacting the same scene. Meanwhile, John Hughes and his players will be hopefully giving those who bought-in to the amalgamated club something to cheer about.
Some of the architects of ICT will be looking down from the great pavilion in the sky. They should have been there, I hope those have been aboard on the journey into Europe and are present tonight, get to savour a debut to remember, for the right reasons.
Good luck too, to Aberdeen, in their European tie.
FINALLY, I commend to you an excellent piece on Olympic Games football which was printed in the Scotsman a couple of days ago. The author was former goalkeeper turned lawyer Derek Stillie. A right sensible piece it was too, proving, yet again, goalkeepers are the intellectuals and philosophers of football - more-so if they started off playing for big John Hunter at Cumnock Academy.
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