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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Mrs EKBhoy asked if there are any other Scottish teams in the draw …. Really
Ekbhoy
Saturday
so, that for me is a great and fortunate draw.
the expanded format and no real glamour ties at home, surely we have a chance.
come on celtic plc, price it accordingly and dont over charge the kids and the concessions, spread our fortunes keep it real.
MELVIN UDALL on 29TH AUGUST 2024 5:58 PM
Only Scottish club who have won the trophy! Brilliant. Huns will be eating.
They would have been eating already at the draw we got. The mention was just the icing on the cake
So nice not to be drawn with some of the power houses. We couldn’t have asked for any better.
mcginn finally gets to pull on the hoops ……………………. when the shirts are swapped
Our draw.
https://x.com/antearmann1967/status/1829202809348317281?s=19
HH
new format feels good
Battle of Britain hype coming our way 😩
I think we can get something from that one.
Instinctive response to draw.
We’ll finish with between 3 and 13 points.
(He said hedging his bets)
Test
surely we can beat GREENOCK dYNAMO
Some talk that ten points should see progression. If that’s the case then that draw has given us a great opportunity to get at 9 or more points from our home games alone.
An excellent opportunity.
Home:-RB Leipzig, Club Brugge, Young Boys Berne, Slovan Bratislava
Away:-Borrussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb, Aston Villa
Let’s get a team now 🤣😂👍⚽🍀😎💯💪🏆
Only a decent draw if we do our work before the window closes. Our European record does not allow us to be arrogant in anyway, shape or form.
I might phone clyde and ask them who rangers got in the draw.
ps, the execs are there for the horse trading of fixturs order,
Delighted with draw…
More incoming
Not a bad dayCSC
AN DÚN on 29TH AUGUST 2024 6:05 PM
Some talk that ten points should see progression. If that’s the case then that draw has given us a great opportunity to get at 9 or more points from our home games alone.
An excellent opportunity.
In my experience, playing it on football manager 24, 9 points is enough for a play off, with 13 earning automatic qualification
evening
Villa an unwanted sting in the tail at the end but overall can’t complain. Home games look winnable. Leipzig less so but Zagreb away gives us a chance to make up for that.
mazzy
which outstanding positions do we need to cover to compete in the champions league ?
remebering the squad rules for only 17 non-association players , who drops out to lewt us register another centre half for example ?
do not be scared of the villa, they will be more feart of us.
Berne went to Istanbul leading by the odd goal on aggregate and won, good side, home ties hopefully give us a chance but it is high level football, great to be in it hopefully we can compete.
I may be getting carried away, but 13 points is not ridiculous from that group – we should be looking for 12 points from our home games alone.
GENE on 29TH AUGUST 2024 6:00 PM
Ekbhoy
Saturday
…
Indeed once you retire you loose track of the days
HH
Sorry, talking mince. 9 points from our home games is possible IMHO.
For a good run in the Champions league we still need another quality signing in the defence ,will be there be more signings come tomorr. ow
SAINT STIVS on 29TH AUGUST 2024 6:07 PM
I might phone clyde and ask them who rangers got in the draw.
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You could ask Mrs EKBhoy.
She sounds as knowledgeable as the most of the callers to that show
;-)
https://x.com/888MumbaiMagic/status/1829179201666384185
The last sentence of the captured post.
Celtic board need to get their finger out.
I want the chance to have a MyCelts gold status.
Ekbhoy
I’m retired so every day’s a Saturday
TIMBHOY163 on 29TH AUGUST 2024 6:17 PM
For a good run in the Champions league we still need another quality signing in the defence ,will be there be more signings come tomorr. ow
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Anyone else heard that Trusty is now a done deal?
The squad is fine as we have 6 home grown players – bain, Welsh, taylor, Ralston, mcgregor & forrest.
When can we expect match dates ?
SAINT STIVS on 29TH AUGUST 2024 6:12 PM
do not be scared of the villa, they will be more feart of us.
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Not according to anyone on or calling in to Talksport they’re not.
3 points against us is , apparently, a given for them
saturday for fixtures release
Package details a week today
Trusty deal close. Could turn out to be a very good week 😊