TF Preview - Celtic (a), Adidas Cup

United are back! And preview impresario Nick has stirred from his summer slumber to preview our 90 minutes in the green half of Glasgow.

Jul 18, 2025

Celtic, Adidas Cup, Parkhead

3pm, Saturday 19th July, 2025

Probably ‘live’ somewhere in Hooky stick land

After forty eight days, Newcastle United are back in action. The first proper pre-season fixture sees us travelling en masse to the east end of Glasgow to face wee philosophical Brendan’s Celtic.

Whether you’re catholic, proddy dog, agnostic or even an unarsed atheist, it’s clear that the Scottish champions are the biggest fish in a small pond. With one other big fish. Who are properly into flutes, marching and that.

Our hosts have pretty much dominated their city neighbours for a generation or so now, and are rather gleeful about the whole thing. I’ve always thought it must be a massive pain in the arse having to play the Kilmarnock Arms and the Dundee & Duck four times a season. However they don’t seem that bothered, as they have silverware coming out of their ears.

Whilst I’m mildly taking the piss, it’s worth noting that after years of getting pumped in Europe, the Bhoys have actually started getting a few results at Europe’s top table. This was beyond their reach for many years but more recently they’ve put the likes of Slovan Bratislava, Young Boys and RB Leipzig to the sword. Also only narrowly losing to Bavarian giants, Bayern 1-2 in a properly heartbreaking affair.

On the pitch, they have a number of handy players. Their stand out performer is probably Daizen Maeda, a Japanese forward, who ended the campaign as top scorer with 33 goals across all competitions. Irish international, Adam Idah looks a prospect. Captain, Callum McGregor is regular Scottish international and Kieran Tierney returned from Arsenal to good effect. It’s fair to say that awful injury has stopped him becoming a real star. They also have Kasper in goal.

One player that’ll be missing from their ranks is German winger Nicolas Kühn. He was a revelation at Parkhead, and someone whom Eddie Howe (supposedly) had an interest in. He’s however upped sticks to FC Como with Dele Alli. As an aside, having been to the Italian Lakes, I have a visit to this stunningly surrounded ground on my ‘to do’ list.

On to the Mags. Been a quiet time hasn’t it?

Ever since the season ended, most of a black & white persuasion have been balls deep into transfer talk. Social media has been a feeding frenzy. Any snippet of clickbait tossed around and swallowed like an unfortunate baby seal. In a week dominated by the recruitment machinations of the American cartel’s Merseyside branch, it’s gone into overdrive. If Alexander takes to the field in Glasgow, I think more than a few of us will let out a sigh of relief.

If we’re honest, the whole period has been more ‘frustration’ than ‘fun.’ Those nefarious bastards from the Kings Road have more than likely robbed us of a couple of ‘swoops’ with their ill-gotten gains. And, with just four weeks before we head to Villa Park, we look light in too many departments.

On the upside, there is still time, and after local hero Sean (probably) heads to West Yorkshire, we should have even more wiggle room for incomings.

Shagger Trafford will one day arrive, to give our papal custodian some real competition. A mobile centre half would be nice/is necessary, and we absolutely must invest in some more firepower. Today’s talk is of Brentford’s Wissa. Wrong age, but great talent. I’d more than live with this.

One place we are stocked superbly is on the flanks. The only breakthrough we have thus far made looks an astute one. I recall noticing Anthony Elanga for the first time in a ‘Super Sunday’ Leeds v Man U match a couple of years ago. Just like another Anthony (Gordon, at Rafa’s Everton) he looked a rare diamond in the rough. When they flogged him to Forest for £15M I inwardly asked the question ‘where the fuck are we?’ A few months later, he absolutely tore us a new one at St James’ as old flame, Chrissy Wood, ruined the Xmas atmos by becoming Messi for the morning.

To say I can’t wait to see this kid play would be an understatement. Pace, power, trickery, assists and a few goals are his trademarks. He comes across superbly, is nearly never injured (please look away, football gods), and looks to be the most obvious of Eddie Howe signings.

What will happen on Saturday? Who knows? It’s our first proper run out, and the Irish Jocks will treat it like Cup final.

I’m going with one of my lads, and my mate Bod with his two. Looking forward to a few bevvies, 10,000 Mags and a night out hunting real ales in Glasgow’s excellent city centre.

Now, about those signings……

Howay the Lads ✊️

Nick Clark

X : @Clark5Nick

Bluesky : @njc1892.bsky.social