My takeaways from Celtic’s chaotic 3-3 draw with Dundee at Dens Park last night which saw Celtic concede three goals for the third time in a month…
A horror show of a performance from to start to finish for Celtic’s £6m centre-back. Struggled to deal with the aggression and physicality of Simon Murray all evening. It culminated in Trusty being outmuscled by Murray for Dundee’s quick response in the second half after Cameron Carter-Vickers diverted the ball into his own net for the second time this season.
And for the Dundee’s third, I’m not quite sure how 6ft1 Aaron Donnelly can somehow manage to beat 6ft4 Auston Trusty in the air. A calamitous night for the American all round. Not dissimilar to the way Lyndon Dykes physically outdone Christoper Jullien a few years ago. Trusty will need to learn, because that was a concerning display from the 26 year-old.
It’s becoming more apparent by the day that signing Adam Idah for £9.5m was a complete blunder. 552 minutes without a goal in a Hoops jersey. Passed up a massive opportunity in the first half to extend Celtic’s advantage. No aggression or edge to his game and the Irishman should have no complaints about not starting when Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn are fully fit again.
It may be a confidence issue, but that should not be an excuse when Celtic are so far in front in the league and cruise majority of their domestic matches. Since arriving in the summer, Idah has made no impact – which is surprising given how well he performed in the second half of last season.
Supporters feeling relaxed and joyful about the league position is fine, but the players and manager can’t. That is now the third time in Celtic’s last nine domestic games they have conceded three goals. There are glimpses of weakness and defensive deficiencies despite the fabulous clean sheet record.
Restoring confidence with a performance on Saturday in the Scottish Cup against Kilmarnock should be a priority before heading into the BSC Young Boys game a week today. Celtic must progress to the knockout playoffs of the Champions League; it would be a disaster if they did not considering the teams Brendan Rodgers’ side have faced in Europe’s elite club competition this season and the position they have put themselves in.
Last night is worrying given the lapses of concentration on several occasions. Celtic cannot afford to perform like that versus the Swiss champions or the chances of progression will become slim.
Conor Spence
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Some big news coming in this afternoon is suggesting that Chelsea have now agreed personal terms with RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons. This has been a big story all week and the rumours have turned into solid news and now that solid news looks like it could soon turn into a done deal! Sources: Chelsea close in on two massive DONE DEALS this week! Yesterday, it was finally confirmed that Chelsea and Leipzig were now in club-to-club talks regarding a deal for Simons to head to Stamford Bridge and since then, it’s heated up even more. Apparently Bayern Munich ‘keep calling’ for Simons as well, but Chelsea are in the driving seat here and the players seems like he really wants to join them. Personal terms agreed! And now, it’s advancing even more as our colleagues from Caught Offside are reporting that personal terms between Simons and Chelsea have now been agreed. They state after having consulted figures with close links to the agents industry, they have learned that Simons’ move to Chelsea is edging closer and an agreement has been reached on personal terms. There seems to be a lot of other interest in Simons but it also looks like he is most keen on joining Chelsea, which is fantastic news. Chelsea moving mad Chelsea have really improved their attack this summer window and it seems that this was the priority for Enzo Maresca and the club. With Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, and Jamie Gittens coming in, Chelsea could still add Xavi Simons to those new names on top of the ones they already have as well. That is a very tasty looking attack now. Chelsea are moving mad in the attacker market this summer but I still think they need to get some moves done at the other end as well, with another new out and out centre back needed as well as a new goalkeeper.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the sports news cycle throughout the 2025 offseason. It has been an extremely busy time for general manager Omar Khan and the rest of the front office. Moves have been made on both sides of the ball, which has fueled excitement in a city that has not seen a playoff win since the 2016 campaign. One of the more intriguing pieces to the puzzle as training camp gets underway isn't necessarily any of the new faces, but rather, a group that returns its core from 2024. The offensive line is expected to play a crucial role. Offensive line coach Pat Meyer is on the hot seat for what seems like the third year in a row, and his training camp got off to the wrong start when the most experienced member of his unit, Isaac Seumalo, was placed on the non-football injury list. This will provide a challenge during team development, as offensive linemen need to build rapport with one another and be in unison once the regular season kicks off. Another storyline is the presence of 2023 first-round selection, Broderick Jones. The Steelers traded up to pick him out of the University of Georgia, but he has yet to live up to the hype. In all fairness, he was drafted to be a left tackle, but hasn't gotten the chance to play there permanently. He will have the opportunity to do so in his third professional season, and he has a fifth-year option to consider that could be declined in the 2026 offseason if he underperforms. One of the most team's most respected insiders, Gerry Dulac, appeared on the "Steve Jones Show" on Wednesday, and when the left tackle came up in discussion, it wasn't all positive. The Steelers apparently believe he can be a phenomenal lineman, but they aren't convinced he is completely bought in. "They really really think Broderick Jones is immensely talented," Dulac said of the third-year offensive lineman. "They would just like to see him mature, kind of professionally, personally [and] take his job and his performance just a little more seriously." This is certainly a concerning comment from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter. Jones was looked at as a raw prospect coming out of college, but he always possessed the size and talent to be a great player in the NFL. If he isn't taking his job seriously enough, it would suggest that he is trying to rely on his skills alone, which is never good enough at the highest level. The offensive line has the ability to determine how the Steelers' 2025 season goes. With a 41-year-old quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, the big men up front will need to keep the guy under center upright. The team will also want to run the ball effectively, so it will be imperative to create holes and win the line of scrimmage on a consistent basis. Pittsburgh isn't necessarily starting off training camp on the right foot with Seumalo unable to participate in team activities, and now the comments from Dulac surely will be cause for concern when it comes to Jones, who has yet to convince the fan base that he was worth a first-round pick in 2023. If he wants to remain in the Steel City long-term, Jones should be preparing to be the most serious individual in the locker room. Steelers should have one clear advantage on the offensive line Zach Frazier was selected in the second-round back in 2024, and he was one of the most important rookies in the NFL. Entering his sophomore season, he is expected to not just take a step forward, but play like a Pro Bowler. While there could be some questions and inconsistencies in certain spots, Frazier should be the No. 1 guy that the group can rely on week in and week out.
It’s been a busy summer for New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, having watched several pitchers and the team’s primary third baseman fall victim to lengthy IL stints. Cashman has at least three holes to repair, but who can the Yankees deal to land some worthwhile replacements? Among New York's trade chips that have been frequently mentioned as of recent is outfielder Spencer Jones. Whether for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez or Pittsburgh Pirates' Mitch Keller, several rumors have suggested a package involving Jones, the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect and purported “left-handed Aaron Judge.” Up until this season, Jones had struggled to live up to his monstrous expectations, which made him rather undesirable in prior trade discussions. But whereas many teams and writers saw him as a hard pass in trade talks over the offseason, Jones has now become a hot commodity. Off to a scorching start in Triple-A (.408/.470/.901 with 10 home runs in just 17 games entering Wednesday), Jones has compiled a head-turning .313/.412/.683 stat line with a career-high 26 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 246 at-bats across Double and Triple-A this season. With his awe-striking power finally producing some results, Jones has become a top-of-the-line trade chip. However, this doesn’t mean the Yankees should consider trading him. Why not? Center field-related uncertainty Yankees’ center fielder, Cody Bellinger, has played well in pinstripes this year which raises the topic of his player option for next season. In addition, since he is getting paid more than his option is worth next year, chances are he decides to try the free-agent market. If Bellinger does leave, center field will be wide open as Trent Grisham will also likely test free agency after this season. Unlike Jones, neither Judge nor Jasson Dominguez have displayed the aptitude necessary to capably play the position. The Yankees’ shallow depth will also prove to be a challenge for finding a replacement. If Bellinger does stay, he can slide into first base while Jones takes over at center. But whether he decides to stay or go, Bellinger will be a free agent after the 2026 season. Trade value Jones’ numbers are on fire, but his trade value has yet to catch up, due to his unstable track record. Nonetheless, using a prospect of Jones’ caliber (along with others) to land someone like Keller (career 4.43 ERA), for example, or any similar player would equate to mismanagement. Given his torrid stretch this year, there is a good chance Jones lives up to his stunning potential. Selling him for a fraction of his future worth would be regrettable. Yankees’ current situation The Yankees are without Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt for the year and many others sit on the IL alongside them. This deficiency could be offset by acquiring some rentals, namely Suarez. However, as the risk with all rentals, Suárez will likely test free agency at the end of the season. Unless the Yankees extend or sign him, he won’t share the same side of the field with Cole or Schmidt (while active). If they can land Suarez without trading Jones, all would be well for the Yankees. If not, this could be a case of mortgaging the future to improve a very gloomy present. In the end, it may be better to have Jones’ bat backing Cole over the next three years rather than Suárez’s bat backing Will Warren this year. If the Yankees are dealing for rentals at the deadline, it’s best to leave Jones out of it.
Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young delivered a Catch of the Year candidate with a spectacular grab he made on Wednesday. Young’s Nationals lost 5-0 to the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, and the score could have been worse if not for Young. Will Benson was batting for Cincinnati with a runner on third base and two outs in the top of the eighth inning with his team leading 3-0. He belted a first pitch 96 mph fastball to deep center, but Young climbed the wall in center field to rob Benson of a 2-run home run. Here is a slow-motion version of the catch that shows Young climbing the wall to make the catch. What a catch by Young. Although Benson gave that pitch quite a ride, the metrics suggest it would have been a home run in only five MLB ballparks, so a flyout was an anticipated outcome. You just wouldn’t expect that ball to become an out in the manner that it did. Holy cow.
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