Football is slowly waking up. This time last year, we were talking about Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar beating Celtic 1-0 in the Champions League qualifiers. Quite possibly the most embarrassing results in Scottish football history (to add to an already long list) yet last night they were equalled by fellow Glasgow side Rangers when the fourth best team in Luxembourg, part timers Progrès Niederkorn, knocked them out of Europe. And closer to home, Brentford boss Dean Smith has been up in front of the Sky sports cameras.
Ordinarily these pages wouldn’t look at the Scottish game but Rangers have held a bit of a fascination in recent years, given the circumstances which saw former Brentford boss Mark Warburton both join and leave the Ibrox club. “You walk around the stadium, the first time for me this morning, and you smell the history” he said upon becoming their manager in June 2015.
I’m sure this morning they’ll be smelling something rather different North of the border and Warbs will be very pleased with his decision to resign prior to joining Nottingham Forest. Internet bookmaker PaddyPower have already declared Celtic as league Champions prior to a ball being kicked although, to be fair, most bookies have them as 1/9 on at best to lift that particular silverware.

Other bookmakers are also available
For all the ongoing talk about these two ‘giants’ of Scottish football joining the English Premier League, the totally one sided nature of their domestic league along with results such as those against Progrès or Lincoln show how out of touch they sadly are these days. A point made all the more apparent as after limping past the Gibraltarians last season, Celtic then endured complete capitulation in the group stages, failing to reach the Europa League whilst also suffering a 7(seven) goal bracketing.
Winning at home is nice, but to watch such consistently uncompetitive football must become a somewhat soul destroying affair. Where’s the genuine competition? Where’s the excitement? What’s the point when you win your league by a country mile or get kicked off the park the moment the competition hots up a bit. With your closest historical rival a shadow of their former selves, it really gives off the impression of going through the motions. Give me the Championship any day of the week.
Which is why the return to our own league campaign cannot come soon enough. Nobody could claim this division is one sided. Anything but, with Newcastle United’s title win going right down to the wire last season whilst Brentford have claimed more than their fair share of illustrious scalps over the last three campaigns. Three top ten finishes have surprised more than a few people outside of TW8 (most notably Ian Holloway) and I’m desperate for us to give this division another try.
The good news is that the Bees are now back in training and yesterday, ‘official’ released a video of head coach Dean Smith talking to Sky Sports News.

Dean Smith spoke to Sky
In the interview, which you can see below, Dean sounds über positive. He talks about having had lots of fresh ideas and sharing our own sentiments that its good to be back after a long break. He has confirmed his top six aspirations along with a desire to keep hold of last seasons squad. Moreso given our strong finish to the campaign.
Then, somewhat randomly, the interview changes tack with the second half being taken up with a discourse on penalties. The recent England – Germany U-21 game. Dean Smith’s philosophy on penalty taking. As a player and as a head coach. It went on. I was half expecting him to be quizzed on Marcello Trotta.
A shame really,, as this was a somewhat wasted opportunity from Sky to dig into our plans, our set up and mindset. To find out how Dean has continued the great work already done by Warbs, Lee Carsley and, of course, the team behind the team.
A missed opportunity?
Then again, I’m more than happy being the underdog. Being that unfancied, under the radar team. Catching the likes of Leeds United, Derby County, Aston Villa, Mr Holloway et al with their pants down.
Nobody can deny the likes of Rangers and Celtic have huge stadiums, even bigger fan bases and plenty of historical honours. Likewise that Griffin Park is still only a 12,000 capacity ground with a trophy cabinet that is emptier than Arsenal’s.
But who wants to be the one big fish in a rapidly stagnating pond of tadpoles? A fish that gets gobbled up the moment any invasive species appears from the continent. The Championship, and beyond, is where it’s all at. Where the real action happens. Where real football takes place.
It’s July 5th. This time next month proceedings begin in anger with out trip to Sheffield United. I really cannot wait. It promises to be even bigger and better than ever before.
Nick Bruzon
Do so research you clown!! CELTIC ARE ONE the BIGGEST CLUBS AND MOST ICONIC CLUBS ON THE PLANET WE HAVE MORE FANS IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY THAN YOU DO!! I LIVE IN SYDNEY IN WE BLOW ALL engurrland clubs and latib clubs away SEE WE HAVE REAL FANS YOU WOULDNT GET IT!! WE ARE EVERYWHERE!OH IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ONE YOUR TOP SIDES WHO INCIDENTLY HAD SWEP ALL BEFORE THEN COULDNT WIN AT PARADISE!! CELTIC PARK ! TO SOMEONE AS CLUELESS AS YOU! IN COULDNT BEAT US IN MANCHESTER EITHER APPART FROM THE BARCA RESULT WE HELD OUR OWN AND OUR CURRENT THATS RIGHT CURRENT TEAM BE TOP 6 NO PROBLEM IN THAT SET UP YOU MUG!!SO WHILE WANTING O BACK YOUR FORMER HOPELESS MANAGER AND SLAG THE POISONOUS TRIBUTE ACT THAT WAS ONCE THE FACIST, SECTARIAN, RIGHT WING rangers! Dont you dare mention CELTIC A CLUB YOU COULD ONLY DREAM ABOUT YOU IGNORANT LITTLE PERSON!! NOW OFF YOU POP! HAIL HAIL CELTIC A CLUB LIKE NO OTHER!1 EDUCATE YOURSELF YOU MUG!!
“Nobody can deny the likes of Rangers and Celtic have huge stadiums, even bigger fan bases and plenty of historical honours. Likewise that Griffin Park is still only a 12,000 capacity ground with a trophy cabinet that is emptier than Arsenal’s.””
My words
Although, to be fair, so are: “But who wants to be the one big fish in a rapidly stagnating pond of tadpoles? A fish that gets gobbled up the moment any invasive species appears from the continent. ”
Yeah, Celtic did so well the y finished rock bottom of the group and failed to make even the Europa league.
Thanks, that’s just brilliant!!
P.S. – I think you’ve left your ‘CAPS LOCK’ on
Celtic held man city in an absolute thriller. They walked all 3 domestic trophies and also went unbeaten.
Winning the spl is one thing. Winning it without a defeat is massive. No matter what league you are in.
It was Rogers first season as Celtic manager and he was in the midst of putting together a squad that at the time wasn’t at its best.
I’m a bees fan and enjoy a good few of your articles but to be honest this is bollocks.
I’m sure every single bees fan would kill to be sitting in a 55,000 seater stadium on a Tuesday night watching our team play European football.
The Scottish game is where it’s at because they are given literally nothing for winning trophies and little t.v money. The Scottish game has been left to stagnate whilst all the money has been pumped into the epl.
Celtic have been run on a shoestring for years and only now are they starting to spend. They are speculating to accumulate and I for one will be very interested to see what Rodgers does in Europe this year.
bloody hell Nick you certainly excelled yourself this time,there are some sensitive souls out there, poor things. they only pick out what they choose in your articles. I find them accurate and amusing, these saddos need a humour transplant
YOU CAN’T SPELL!
EDUCATE YOURSELF YOU IGNORANT MUG!
You cant… guess you’re right, I can’t spell. Enjoy your season. Please do come back anytime