AEK Athens have played only four friendly fixtures since losing the Greek Cup Final on 12 May. They failed to score in three of those games, beating Galatasaray 3-2 at home in the more recent game. The fixtures have been spread out: with 6 days, 8 days and 10 days between them. There will be a gap of 8 days between the Galatasaray game and their visit to Celtic Park tomorrow, so there has been no intensity to their efforts.
AEK needed to prepare an entire squad, not just a starting 11, during these games. This is not appropriate preparation for one of the most important ties of the season. It feels like an inexplicable oversight, I would be livid if this was Celtic’s preparation for this tie. Such complacency deserves to be punished.
By contrast, Celtic have played five competitive games and five friendlies since our 12 May Cup Final. The fitness strategy contrast between our squad and AEK’s is stark. As a consequence, we have to make tomorrow’s game a multi-ball, unrelenting, occasion.
Even if the game is tight at 80 minutes, how we finish the match could have a significant bearing on who progresses. This is when you would expect AEK’s lack of fitness to be most telling. Players lose concentration and coordination when tired. This is when we should look to push the tie over the edge.
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Ask supporters their view of BR and id expect overwhelming support
Ask supporters their view of PL (and the board) and there handling of transfer windows, what would you expect the result to be? Regardless of the strategy it isnt wise to piss off the support ad nauseam
Who’d win a long post fight: SFTB, Mahe the Madman or BRTH?
Almore…
What nae Auldhead ??
Massive game tonight, and the crowd will have an important part to play…as always.
Imperative to keep a clean sheet.
COYBIG!
HH!!
@ THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 8TH AUGUST 2018 10:00 AM
Strange that it is Brendan that goes down in your estimation.
The club is a separate entity from the board/CEO, the players and the manager. The latter three may change over time, the club (provided it is not liquidated (unless you are Sevco)), remains.
Brendan now seems on the face of it to be dissatisfied with the executives approach to transfer dealings. Now, while Brendan might not be bigger than the club, the club’s success over the last 2 years can (almost) be solely placed at the feet of Brendan. After all, aside from Brendan coming to the club, what has changed in the way we operate between the Ronny years and the Brendan years?
GO TELL THE SPARTIM on 8TH AUGUST 2018 10:15 AM
Ask supporters their view of BR and id expect overwhelming support
Ask supporters their view of PL (and the board) and there handling of transfer windows, what would you expect the result to be? Regardless of the strategy it isnt wise to piss off the support ad nauseam
*
Well,not all of the support are pissed off.
Surprisingly. Or not,as the case may be.
But,regardless of the support,regardless of whether the strategy has universal support amongst the fans,if Brendan isn’t happy, then we have problems.
All of which were and are avoidable.
The Hands…….can you help me by writing a couple of sentences on the following:
‘The Executive are sitting on a pile of cash and are refusing to sanction transfer activity because……….’
I’d really like to know what it is folks who are constantly critical of PL and the Board think is going on.
Thanks.
Ultimately we need to judge the business as where we will be at the end of the window
Arzani, Izzy, Roberts, Denayer & McGinn are all still possibilities at this stage
Forget about paddy Roberts,he has stated that he wants to go back to England and find a premiership club,also if I was Brendan Rodgers I would say to Peter Lawell I think it’s about time the next media. conference is due,for him to tell them all the updates on players coming or going,now that shouldn’t be too hard.
I think PL may be feeling a bit delicate this morning
Petrie is playing poker with McGinn, Brendan is not feeling the love and £9m has just passed through his fingers with Boyata – poor Peter
I have often defended PL on here and I am still delighted he is our CEO but I am as frustrated as most today
How many times in our history have we failed to improve from a position of strength
And this is what is pissing me off
PL is in a poker game but its not his first
If I was to give PL the benefit of the doubt I would suggest Petie’s ego, arrogance and hatred of Celtic make it difficult for him to do the McGinn deal
I also think the EPL shutting on 9 Aug is good for Celtic as we have 21 days without without over inflated prices – so maybe Peter is waiting for that “window” before showing his hand
But in the meantime we have CL Qualifiers
what a fu–ed up complicated business we are in
Feeling a bit nervous about tonight our last game away to Rosenberg did nothing for my confidence and now Brendan is pissed off MD is injured again BUT we are at home and I think the players know tonight is the night
Peter will certainly be hoping so – fingers crossed Peter
67ECW
Hooooooooooooooooopy Birthday to Praecepta
Arzani passes medical, deal should be confirmed later today (SSN Breaking News)
The international appeal of Celtic Football Club and the high regard those overseas have for this outstanding institution:
We had a young couple stay with us here in Italy for a couple of nights earlier this month. They hail (hail) from San Sebastian in the Basque Country, but have been living and working in London for the last three years.
Just received a message from them thanking us for our hospitality.
The end of the message reads: “You’ll never walk alone! Come on you bhoys in green!” …followed by three four-leafed clovers!
Delighted to receive this message, even ‘though we never talked about fitba’ and I did not tell them that I was a Tim!
…but they obviously picked up something!
Cheerio for now!
HH!!
TIMBHOY2 on 8TH AUGUST 2018 10:45 AM
Forget about paddy Roberts,he has stated that he wants to go back to England and find a premiership club
——
English window is closing and he’s not had any offers
BAMBOO
The email I got this morning would suggest anyone trying to come
to game tonight from North of Celtic Park will have travel issues.
(never clicked on St STIVS post just after yours but presume it’s email)
My concern is traffic will be a nightmare tonight and we dont get
fear factor into Greeks at kick off
SO EVERYONE GET THERE EARLY
Stewart Gilmour (ex St Mirren) tweeted McGinn to Villa done deal. He seems quite happy Celtic got a ‘bloody nose’.
He was the F@nny who was on Sportsound saying PL ran Scottish football.
Game on Celtic tv for all subscribers tonight
BMCUWP
I wasnt speaking for all of the support, but those with the fairytale ambition for the team as i have, we can and should be better prepared. We know BR knows the situation but i think it could be fair to assume from his press conference and his indepth Q&A in the Herald (i know wtf is he doing with that bigoted rag), that he’s royally peeved.
Lets see what the suits do now.
Mark McGhee jets in for talks with Lawwell
Rodgers packing his bags
Doomed I tells ye doomed
Trebles.,Trebles we dont need no steenking trebles
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 8TH AUGUST 2018 10:57 AM
Game on Celtic tv for all subscribers tonight
I just looked at that – I was looking to subscribe £80 a year but it says game tonight is live video for overseas and audio for UK and Ireland
I would happily pay £80 for celtic TV but not sure if I get to see Celtic on the TV ????
67ECW
Seriously, has he really given the Herald an exclusive Q&A session???
The headline in the Herald article tells you all you need to know, Brendan may well be frustrated or even angry with our transfer window so far but to go to the Herald the Herald FFS and answer a load of loaded questions to be presented as “WE DESERVE BETTER” like feckin’ huns in my humble opinion wasn’t the wisest thing to do before a game like tonights..
Job done for every hun in Scotland willing us to fail every time we play in Europe..
Comes to a pass when a Celtic manager gives a press conference and we end up arguing over the connotes of his denotes.
“‘The Executive are sitting on a pile of cash……….’
First part is correct. Our current financials are unsurpassed in our history. We have net transfer gains over the last two windows and the value of our team must be over £100m.
“and are refusing to sanction transfer activity because……….”
The word “refusing” is conjecture of course, but on the face of it you have to ask why we aren’t spending to improve the team. Also, given our relative financial strength, our clear need to improve certain positions in our team and our manager’s vocal requests to strengthen, then surely the burden of proof is on people who are content with our current approach to fill in the gap.
Can you justify our transfer policy to date or provide a rationale for it? Auldheid has suggested that we are keeping monies in reserve in case we fail to qualify so that we are not forced to sell players. What do you believe is the reason for our current policy which, by Brendan’s own words, appears to be deficient?
The longer ( loangur?) this goes on ( oan?)
the better john Mctim gets and the wursur Big Peter becomes…………
……just what the sleekit(s) want ( waaant).
GOTELLTHESPARTIM
Totally agree. We annoy BR at our peril.
I don’t think John McGinn is anywhere near the player Olivier N’Cham is.
For this reason, I wouldn’t pay £4 million to get him. If we pay that for him, we are being screwed over imo.
If he really wants to play for Celtic, he won’t sign for Villa. If he wants big bucks, that is his choice.
If McGinn to Villa is a ‘done deal’ then Brendan would have known and maybe explains his frustration
No mention at all of McGinn/Villa on sky sports transfer centre website.
They say Arzani to sign later today.
67 ECW
My bad, sorry . I was actually on website this morning confirming tickets , seems to be a few remaining
Spoke to a girl this morning who is going to game with her Greek partner, about 13 of them really looking forward to it as he doesn’t get to see him team often. Well living in Bellshill it’s difficult getting to Athens
Website definitely saying live in celtic tv
Including Uk and Ireland
Excluding Greece and Cyprus
Was there no’ a “Villa Fan” in another “guise” used to troll here…….?
Always a big contorted spiel, then usual sleekit digs and mince.
Just (joost) had a peek on an AV blog and no mention of McGinn that I can see……..
My team for tonight:
Gordon
Lustig
Simunovic
Ajer
Tierney
Forrest
Ntcham
Brown
Rogic
McGregor
Eduard
Sorry, no space for John McGinn in tonight’s line up because he isn’t a Celtic player (*cough* and not good enough for this level *cough*)
People travelling from East shouldn’t have any problems
No2 bus which runs to Celtic park not on Argyle street today, most disruptions are high st and west end
Trains should be fine going through Damnuir ,Partick and on to Dalmarnock
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 8TH AUGUST 2018 11:34 AM
Website definitely saying live in celtic tv
Including Uk and Ireland
Excluding Greece and Cyprus
==============================================================================
It had better be available in North Cyprus! Think that I should get an e-mail off to them now.
HH
Where’s the money comin’ fae Tom…where’s the money comin’ fae?
Good question…