Of course, it happened in our ’67 anniversary season. Celtic were drawn away to Albion Rovers in the Scottish Cup, as the Rovers dumped Queen of the South out of the competition last night. The tiny Lanarkshire club (arguably the smallest in Scotland) don’t have an illustrious history, but Jock Stein played more games for them than any other team. In Coatbridge, that counts.
I’m sure it makes sense for Kieran Tierney to have a shoulder operation while he’s out with an ankle injury but it’s very unwelcome news that the player needed the work. Despite upbeat reports I’m sceptical the op will not further delay his return. For a start, any notions of getting upper body work done are no longer valid.
Uniquely in European football, Celtic’s season is skewed to the start, not to when the prizes are given out at the end, which have become a meritocratic formality. With no European football after Christmas this season, the remainder of the campaign will be about getting ready for July and August, when the really important stuff takes place.
Kieran will miss three Champions League group stage games in total, last Sunday’s cup final and some atmospheric games to come; this will be the source of some regret to the teenager. In compensation he can look forward to picking up a league winner’s medal at the end of the season, and hopefully being in top condition for the qualifiers.
To be fair to Robbie Neilson, even when he was a success at Hearts he wasn’t overwhelmingly appreciated. This season it looks like the party’s over, so I understand why he would take a job at MK Dons which, on the face of it, looks like a dangerous step.
Dons are two points above relegation (to the fourth tier), without a league win in two months. The club has serious structural issues which any new manager would find difficult to compensate for with little more than a few fresh tactical notions. But at least Neilson can’t be blamed for relegation, should it happen.
He’s next year’s Jackie McNamara.
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Good Afternoon!
I hear Warbo is under threat of having the chequebook taken away! https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2016/11/29/confiscating-the-chequebook/
Where’s the Dele Alli money gone?
Chairbhoy on 30th November 2016 11:50 am
Our PLC only care about retuning a profit and risk aversion and in that order. Hence no stone will be left unturned to keep the Old Firm alive and thriving. No UCL no money for Celtic PLC without Rangers.
HH
I heard the Celtic Shops might be selling the home jersey (green..),of the Brazilian team who were involved in the plane crash,to help raise money for them,great idea if true…..
Mon the Hearts
Lucky 7??
AWE_NAW_NO_ANNONI_OAN_ANAW_NOO on 30TH NOVEMBER 2016 12:16 PM
That doesn’t make sense though. Our best chance of year on year UC is to win the title. Realistically the only team that (properly run) would ever generate the income to do that is TRFC. So ensuring they’re either not there, or are in no position to challenge is in our (and PL’s heated driveway’s) best interest.
weeminger on 30th November 2016 12:23 pm
AWE_NAW_NO_ANNONI_OAN_ANAW_NOO on 30TH NOVEMBER 2016 12:16 PM
That doesn’t make sense though. Our best chance of year on year UC is to win the title
Not for ever .. will soon be a closed shop
Realistically the only team that (properly run) would ever generate the income to do that is TRFC yup see Risk aversion comment above
Yes agree a wounded Sevco for a few years while we can still manage the occasional CL qualification was the most profitable path for us to take.
HH
Afternoon all
well done the wee rovers last night.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
So the PLC would want some form of Rangers challenging Celtic for the one and only CL spot? The CL spot that opens up far greater revenue streams and brand exposure than the Old Firm?
The board only care about returning a profit and risk aversion, but would be willing to potentially sacrifice greater levels of profit by increasing the risk of not accessing the CL?
Btw, I’m not disagreeing with your view on how the board has acted thus far. The point I am making is that a board acting in the interest of profit and risk aversion would try to mitigate the risk of not having the CL spot by ensuring that achievement of the CL spot in SPFL is as difficult as possible for competitors, and that isn’t just limited to the team we put on the pitch.
It remains to be seen if that will be done.
AWE_NAW_NO_ANNONI_OAN_ANAW_NOO on 30TH NOVEMBER 2016 12:27 PM
Imagine we can get access to the closed shop. The caveat is we need to keep the OF going in order that other clubs don’t suffer more than they would if we don’t.
Worth it?
ernie shows his human side by going for a podium!
JJ
weeminger on 30th November 2016 12:32 pm
Yes. Dont get me excited. Bad Bhoy :-) Why not Hibs or hearts ?
Davidopoulos on 30th November 2016 12:31 pm
yes because to get there you need to qualify to you need to spend and it´s becoming a closed shop
HH
Davidopoulos on 30th November 2016 12:31 pm
And again
yes because to get there you need to qualify and to do that you need to spend money without guaranteeing qualification and it´s becoming a closed shop
HH
HH
I see Peter still upset at Jackie
HH
A spell on the sidelines could prove ideal for Kieran. It eliminates burnout and gives him an opportunity to view things from the outside looking in. Emilio has proved very able in any case.
HOT SMOKED on 30TH NOVEMBER 2016 12:34 PM
ernie shows his human side by going for a podium!
JJ
VG
As far as I was aware,The Champions Route would still be open to Celtic.Also the seeding would change,which would be another help to us.Also,as far as I am aware,these were what PL fought for alongside others,and won.
You know,it really is a fact that some on here can never be happy.All I can see is a wonderful future ahead for us,not even Xmas yet and the league is won,first cup in the cabinet,a fantastic manager ,the best team we have had in donkeys years,which will be strengthened,to give us our best chance ever to qualify for the CL and all they want to focus on are the negatives.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-38155008 Very moving report from Chapecoense.
Growing up and hearing about the Munich disaster, I always had this fear that it would happen to a Celtic flight during one of our European adventures. I still get a sense of relief when I know that a team flight has landed safely.
While Kieran is out, I don’t who is available to provide cover for Izzy at leftback. All the other senior defenders are rightfooted and Calum is an unconvincing fullback despite his willing effort there.
McIlduff and McCart have had some hard times this season playing against tough adults mostly. Maybe Gamboa can play across the other side but I don’t fancy that as a solution. Situation unresolved.
Makes sense for Kieran to get his shoulder fixed while he is out anyway. Get him ready for the key games at the end of the season and start of next.
Good to see Albion go through to set up a Jock Stein derby!
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
But the closed shop is a fact is it? The restructuring of the CL takes effect from Season 18/19 and will be in place for 19/20 and 20/21. So any closed shop is 5 years away at least.
Yes, you have to qualify. But as we have seen this season taking a risk to employ a top quality manager and bringing in good quality players can pay off and get you through to the group phase. In other words, being in the qualifiers is preferable to not being in the qualifiers. And if you drop out of the Play-Off round there is still a safety net of the EL group stage (which will have increased prize money from 18/19). So why risk that 1st place spot just to sustain a rivalry that generates less money than the prize of CL group stage?
Moreover, the loss making Newco will need to start cost cutting in order to satsfy FFP, which means a worse team and no credible title challenge for the next 5 years. If they go down this route then it will undoubtedly lead to dwindling crowds, and therefore the OF will lose its appeal well before the CL closed shop ever comes to fruition.
*isn’t a fact
that league win, everyone is forgetting, 2nd rangers are only 10 or 11 players short of putting a real challenge in.
mind the gap.
Davidopoulos
So any closed shop is 5 years away at least
Agreed
So why risk that 1st place spot just to sustain a rivalry that generates less money than the prize of CL group stage? because then you have to spend on CL quality players and wages with Rangers you don´t
in 5 years from now no CL entry and no Old Firm … nah canny see it
HH
Mcgregor could play left back or Sinclair could play left wing back in a 3-5-2. Does it matter, we are so far in front anyway.
AWE_NAW, I usually give a good deal of credence to what you post, but not this time.
I think you are letting your Old Firm (sic) fixation cloud your judgement. Our UEFA co-efficient next season will most likely see us in Pot 3 WHEN we qualify for the Group Stages next year.
With investment in the team and our existing players continuing to improve under Brenan’s tutelage I firmly believe we will improve year on year. I can see us being at least in the Play Off round by right (if not further up the rankings) within the next 3 to 5 years when the seeding fully change and we are not hampered (and others don’t benefit) so much from the national co-efficient.
Add to that that there are signs of creaking in the £Billion EPL contracts – viewing figures are dropping consistently – and maybe there are signs of the bubble bursting!
If it does become a closed shop, I reckon we will be in a good position for inclusion if we keep out stock high as a regular participant between now and then.
As BMCUP says, I’m not fully rejecting your argument, but I feel that mine is just as (if not more) plausible.
KTF
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
So why risk that 1st place spot just to sustain a rivalry that generates less money than the prize of CL group stage? because then you have to spend on CL quality players and wages with Rangers you don´t
———————————————————————————————–
So why hire Brendan Rodgers? Why sign Scott Sinclair…actually, why sign anyone?
Why not enable the Newco to compete for the title this season?
!!BADA BING!! on 30TH NOVEMBER 2016 12:19 PM
I heard the Celtic Shops might be selling the home jersey (green..),of the Brazilian team who were involved in the plane crash,to help raise money for them,great idea if true…..
***
I’m sure most will agree with you but I can’t get my head around why a shirt manufacturer getting a boost on their over-priced merchandise is the best way for Celtic fans to show sympathy and respect for those devastated by this disaster. Surely a quick focussed donation is better? But then I’ve always seen the whole shirts for fans thing as a massive ripoff by parasitic companies like Nike, Adidas and the rest. We show respect to these capitalist parasites and their media cousins (Sky, BT, etc.) while they they collectively hold Celtic back from the level playing fiels as we have the wrong media demographic.
VFR800
Our UEFA co-efficient next season will most likely see us in Pot 3 WHEN we qualify for the Group Stages next year. …. okay but Neo Liberals don´t think like faithful tims
With investment in the team … see what I mean ?? give me a fixation over sporting integrity over YOUR old firm denial any day … history will tell us that this is not always forthcoming … in fact rarely and only to dig us out of a hole (see Dermot Desmond tenure especially under PL)
can see us being at least in the Play Off round by right (if not further up the rankings) within the next 3 to 5 years when the seeding fully change and we are not hampered (and others don’t benefit) again a successful neo liberal would consign this to wishful thinking
but I feel that mine is just as (if not more) plausible. and so does the board and that´s the rub.
There is more chance of Brendan Rodgers walking away after 2-3 years
HH
Two very different questions 0:-))
Did anything come of Darlington Nagbe`s visit to Celtic Park?
Has anyone heard a rumour that Leigh Griffiths is going out with Gordon Strachan`s daughter?
JJ
Davidopoulos on 30th November 2016 1:32 pm
To avoid Sevco winning the league at their first attempt
HH
Timgreen- I only posted what i heard,would be a nice gesture if the jersey makers were onside, I agree about the pricing of jerseys btw.
AWE_NAW, we will let history be the judge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEwix-Zi0zw
KTF
For all the media bluster about how good Moussa Dembélé is, here is an interesting fact:
In 11 Celtic games played during October and November, Moussa Dembélé has scored 2 goals from open play. Other scorers in those 11 games were Tom Rogic & Scott Sinclair (3 each), Stuart Armstrong (2), and James Forrest, Leigh Griffiths, Patrick Roberts and Scott Brown (1 each).
Celtic’s other three goals were scored by Dembélé from the penalty spot, but I would expect any professional striker or attacking midfielder to score virtually every time from the penalty spot, so whoever took those ought to have scored them.
Is 2 goals from open play in 11 games really the rate of return of a (allegedly) £25-40M striker? He’s had one good month thus far, capped off with that attention grabbing performance against Man City in the Champions League. Since then he has flattered to deceive, and I would proffer that a fully fit Leigh Griffiths would have been more prolific.
I’m not having a go at Moussa per se, just highlighting that the meeja can’t see the reality of the situation due to their excessive salivating…
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
Bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut, is it not? That’s not the action of a board looking to maximise profit and minimise risk within a purely SPFL operating environment.
Marrakesh/Bada/HT/CowieBhoy/JMcCormick,
re the Boro game and the fighting etc. That game was big Mogga’s Testimonial game in early Aug ’92.
We stayed in Stockton the night before the game and had a great night. No problems at all. Bumped into a mate on the way to the game who stayed in Redcar the sat night. Told me it was basically a battleground with running battles all down the sea-front.
Boro badly underestimated the size of our travelling support (doubt they were the first and they certainly weren’t the last to do that!) and opened up the terracing next to our end to accommodate some of our overspill.
Mind when it all kicked off, one of my mates was off like a greyhound, as it was not unknown for him to enjoy a scuffle or three! The funniest part for me was when the guy in their end straddling the fence as if he was directing the fighting, was too busy doing the usual “come on then” gestures that he didnt see the wee celtic supporter – who was clearly blootered – stoated towards him on his blind side and threw a hook that he could have swung from Glesga Cross it was that wide, and caught the guy a beauty and knocked him clean off his perch. Much to the enjoyment and hilarity of us lot in the Celtic end who saw it happen.
The fighting apart, we had a great couple days, but it was clear to me then, and has been confirmed several times since, that Boro are no friends of ours.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token