A few hours of optimism

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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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449 Comments

  1. SAINT STIVS on 29TH AUGUST 2024 5:50 PM

     

    we will get villa i think

     

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    Would rather avoid them tbh.

     

     

    Let’s hope our luck in this draw so far continues and we get the lesser teams from the next two pots.

  2. Here we go! We’ll know all our opponents when we get drawn out. 😃🍀👍⚽️🏆🇮🇪💰👏🍻

  3. Leipzig (H)

     

     

    Dortmund (A)

     

     

    Atalanta (A)

     

     

    Brugge (H)

     

     

    Young Boys (H)

     

     

    Dinamo (A)

  4. Leipzig (H)

     

     

    Dortmund (A)

     

     

    Atalanta (A)

     

     

    Brugge (H)

     

     

    Young Boys (H)

     

     

    Bratislava (H)

     

     

    Aston Villa (A)

     

     

    Dinamo (A)

  5. Only Scottish club who have won the trophy! Brilliant. Huns will be eating. 😂😂😂

  6. Bratislava home, villa away. Great draw and we can certainly take points home and away (if we sign another couple:)