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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home to dortmund, ye ha.
Dortmund away
Dortmund away. Could have been much tougher from Pot 1
2 good draws for the celts so far
Liepzig home , Dortmund away
Boom! Great away trip and two of the lighter teams from Pot 1. 😃👍🍀
Next opponent pot 2
👍TT
och technical problems, the draw is suspended, they forgot to put the rangers ball in.
Psv got a tough draw
Prg
Tough draw for PAG. Yasss!
**PSG
huns watching on with their pot noodles..
GHOD IS LOOKING AFTER US BHOYS 🇩🇪 😍
So, no more german teams for us??
Dodged AM
Sevco fans watching Pointless
Atalanta
Yes, missed Athletico and their horrible manager 😄
Away
Away to atalanta
Come ahead McQuillan
atalanta
Let’s hope we can kiss one of the big teams out of this pot as well.
**miss
Atlantic away
Atalanta away
Bruggge
Home
Home Brugge , big Phil’s old mob
Club brugge
Kind enough so far
Hope we get this lot
Brugge home
A return home for engels
Atalanta (A) and Brugge (H) – Again, could have been worse from Pot 2. This is a good draw so far
Yass! Weakest team in the pot. This could be our year! 😃🍀👍🏆⚽️🇮🇪👏