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A few hours of optimism

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

You and I are both optimistic types.  So every year on this day, we remind ourselves that ‘these things even themselves out’, and after a run of difficult group stage draws, we expect Celtic to get a favourable Champions League draw this evening.

Pot 3 could make or break the draw.  Celtic are in this pot and it is undoubtedly weaker than Pot 4; Pot 3 has only one club from a ‘big five’ league, whereas Pot 4 has six.  Drop your cynicism and allow me a few more hours optimism before Uefa’s new computer system determines our fate.

Earlier this week we discussed that Matt O’Riley will become a case study in how to recruit, manage and sell a football player.  Within a few days, Matt is subject to another case study.  He was injured after six minutes football for Brighton.  Today it was confirmed the injury is serious and will require surgery.

This is football.  At any point, your biggest asset can be a second away from being finished in the game (not that Matt is in this situation).  When you are sitting on an offer for a player, but have a game to play against an ‘industrious’ St Mirren, the potential for things to go wrong is a consideration.

In 2010, Andreas Hinkel was subject to a £1m offer to return to Germany.  Celtic were keen to get him off the payroll and recoup some of the outlay on him.  Andreas suffered a crucial injury in a reserve game and was ruled out for the entire season.  That injury cost Celtic £2.5m (wages and lost fee).  Michael Nicolson would have been happy at fulltime on Sunday at more than just the result.

Best wishes to Matt, he will hopefully return for the Paradise Windfall Draw during his convalescence.  At least £4m of his fee is performance related; the chances of collecting this portion took a hit today.

I’m also sitting on a lot of optimism for what the next 35 hours will bring.  Looking forward to seeing Young Boys and Red Star!

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  1. connaire12 on

    St Stivs. Stayed on in Estoril for a week after the winning of the Big Cup. Went with a few others to watch the Gers game. While in the bar a very posh English lady told us she was surprised that we were supporting the Germans. Her words were, “supporting the Huns”. One of the lhads turned to her and said, “They are both Huns, Miss.”

  2. An Dún on

    P67 is spot on today. Playing someone after your transfer value for them has been met is incredibly risky.

     

     

    The idea that we’d play Matt after receiving our asking price for him is risible nonsense.

     

     

    Extending that logic, the idea that Augsburg wouldn’t have sold Engels weeks ago but would have continued to have played him had we met their asking price is equally as absurd.

     

     

    Let’s learn from this window and get a helluva lot better at identifying and getting key targets in far earlier.

     

     

    Here’s hoping for a kind draw later.

  3. bournesouprecipe on

    “Arne is one of the most exciting young players I have ever seen. He will be world class one day and I hope I never have to play against him.”

     

     

    Philippe Clement

  4. garygillespieshamstring on

    So was the polish guy a back up plan or a bargaining chip to make Engels’ club draw their horns in a bit?

     

     

    Celtic seem to have cooled their interest in him as the Engels deal neared completion.

  5. Big Jimmy on

    I have NO worries about who Celtic may get in the CL Draw.

     

     

    Celtic will face real tests in every game…no matter who we play against.

     

    Of course I hope that Celtic can win every CL game 3 or 4 Nil ?

     

    Thats not too much to ask…is it ?

     

     

    LOL

     

    HH.

  7. garygillespieshamstring on

    I don’t mean that as a criticism.

     

    I would say that if it is the case, it is a job well done.

  8. Hot Smoked on

    bournesouprecipe on 29th August 2024 4:00 pm

     

     

    Is that a genuine quote?

     

     

    Brilliant if it is :-))))

  9. bournesouprecipe on

    GGHS

     

     

    Bogusz was lying in his bed

     

     

    We were loving Engels instead

     

     

    Apparently CSC

  16. vinniethedog on

    The CL draw might bring me back down to earth with a bump !!…no English teams please…can’t be arsed with the drama….

  20. Darwin on

    Who said Celtic can’t do great transfer windows? In the past we have done many amazing individual deals, however this is shaping up to be a most complete window. We are reinforcing from a position of strength on the field of play because we are well run and financially strong. Let’s hope everything gels HH

  23. jackiemac on

    11m for Engels – on your marx, according to sky sports (the communist manifesto is a short, well written book, very relevant to the gig economy).

  24. bigbhoy on

    I remember when Brian Quinn was Chairman he answered a question at the AGM concerning the build up of profits in the PLC. He stated that there were no plans to pay dividends for Ordinary shares and that all monies generated would be spent on the club.

     

     

    I believe Peter Lawwell also repeated this when he was CEO that everyone of the supporters who were shareholders agreed with this policy.

     

     

    Now the PLC is in breech of this policy with a large surplus resting in our account.

     

     

    Do we think this is no longer the policy and we intend to return profits in future years.

     

     

    The ,£14 m spent on stadium and training grounds are being spent on the club but, what of the rest.

     

     

    I understand the fee due to us from the Frimpong sale will cover any Engles transfer fee.

     

     

    After this window we will again make a profit to add to the large profits we have retained

  27. Tontine Tim on

    Drambowie, around 30 year ago we decided tae take a trip tae one of our ancestral homes, Connemara, that entailed flyin hame and hiring a car in Helensburgh before leaving early doors for Cairnryan where we took the ferry for Larne, it was dark o’clock when we left the Bonnie Bonnie Banks passing the bigot pit enroute, which I actually enjoyed as my last job before leavin the country was the M8 extension to Glasgow Airport based on Helen Street, anyway the highlights of that part of the journey was seein Ailsa Craig shrouded in the mist, after boarding the ferry, we went down stairs for a bit of breakfast and lo and behold by the time we had finished we saw the mother country, well it was for both of us as 2 sides of my family were from the Black North, as my da called it, while one of Mrs. TT’s was from Derry.

     

     

    Once we got off at Larne we decided to take the rural routes, possibly on my brother’s advice as he had done the same journey as we were on often, it was fascinating as all the market towns are different, initially fae Larne they’ll seemed to be red white and blue but the closer tae Derry green white and gold, the only disconcerting site was an RUC constable on leaving his vehicle reaching out for an Armalite, the first stop on crossing the border, after the obligatory military post, was Letterkenny then on tae Ballyshannon where we stayed the night, just a wonderful memory still all those years later.

  29. Burnley78 on

    Imagine you support rangers and you are about to watch Celtic in the CL draw hearing they have broke their transfer record, knowing you might lose another £2m if Hearts win and you may have to play all your Europa cup games at Hampden. You are selling off all last years heroes who haven’t already left for bargain basement price to who ever will take them.

  31. TommytheTim on

    Tim Malone Will Tell on 29th August 2024 1:26 pm

     

    TommyTheTim

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Brilliant article. Now how the hell do we claim our game back?

     

     

     

    Thank You.

     

    It is an article my son wrote for his weekly column in the Irish Examiner.

     

    To answer your question, i thinkthat ship has sailed. All we can do is cherish and support what we have and thank God we are Celtic supporters. I am into my 75th season, first game 1950, and for me, even the bad times are good.

  35. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    £11m for Engels?

     

     

    Take it from me – this is a bargain.

     

     

    FACT !

     

     

    Actually- I’d never of him a fortnight ago … but if he is going to be a Celtic player he’ll get my support.

     

     

    Sell him for £29.4m in 3 years time and Augsburg and us will go exactly halfers on the transfer fees.

  37. Celtic Mac on

    Tommythetim

     

     

    ‘Even the bad times are good’

     

    There’s a song in there somewhere…..

  38. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    I knew we were looking for a trusty defender.

     

     

    Didn’t realise it was that literal.

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