AEK Athens are a far sterner test than Celtic or Rosenborg would want in the Champions League third qualification round. Last year they despatched Brugge 3-0 on aggregate from the Europa League qualifiers before drawing home and away against AC Milan. They left the tournament in the first knock out round on the away goals rule to Dynamo Kiev.
On the positive side, they are preseason and the third round will be their first competitive games since May. Although they are a famous European name, last season was their first domestic title in 24 years, when the interrupted Olympiacos’ domination of football in Greece.
Should we overcome Rosenborg, this would be a big task for Celtic. AEK will be favourites, no matter who they face.
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Surely the time to judge our strategy is at the end of the transfer window when :
1. We’ve come out of the window stronger – keeping talent, promoting talent and buying / borrowing talent. Losing those with little or no contribution or at the end of their cycle with us (for good money).
2. Achieving ECL qualification as our first target.
All this mid-window review stuff is a bit lacking in the proper end of term facts needed.
MIT
Seen it on the lunchtime news glad you n mum are safe HH ????
Mad Mitch
“The ghosts of BR’s Scouse past seem to catch up with him every July.”
What you mean the twice he’s already led us to the CL group stage??
Torontony
You and I are long overdue for a catch up. Hopefully soon.
Navanbhoy … Toronto is changing … I dont know, but I would speculate that we are now having more gun trouble than Glasgow, but overall, I would still say that I feel much, much safer in Toronto than in most cities (including Glasgow)… so, I hope I haven’t put you guys off visiting as Toronto is a lovely city…so multicultural … it is like you can do a mini-world tour in one city!
There’s a common myth that gets peddled out that buying a new player is the only means of demonstrating progress for the team and as a support we are very quick to forget about the development of yesterday’s boo-boys ot .
As a year-on-year review who would argue that we now have better players in previous whipping bhoys Brown, Ajer, KT, McGregor, Ntcham, Forrest, Dembele and Eduoard to name a few.
Who forgets about keeping the core together as a plus point, something we used to bemoan ?
Hold yer nerve csc
SP @ 3.05
He is still struggling to get to grips with CL football — qualifiers or groups.
Number of comments out there regarding his inability to make the tactical jump from domestic to EU football.
Regarding the past two years qualification — they were exciting to say the least.
I don’t want excitement — in July and August — I want progress, stability and some good results.
2016 was scary.
2017 was ridiculous — 5 goal lead and the sofa was required for the second leg.
No matter what happens there will be 4 teams going through from our route — we need to be one of them.
We score goals away from home.
HH. ?
Lets just quote BR shall we
We need to improve the first team (paraphrasing, think he actually said quality players that can start) not the squad, as Lennybhoy pointed out we expect DB and JS to go, DB hasnt played so its not like we’re missing him and well as for Jozo, whilst i think he was unfortunate he puts himself in precarious positions (esp in front of a rabid bigoted linesman).
So for all you Balance sheet templars i think ill go with BR, its those in charge of the other side of recruitment that need to do their job (not saying they arent just they always seem very slow at it)
MADMITCH
Earlier on you said CL qualification must be our target, so which is it.
CL qualification is a lottery for the clubs outside of the top leagues, ours just got more difficult this year and no amount of Gullane Sands wishful thinking man up attitudes will change that.
What will change that is Brendan keeping his squad together and developing the group.
Not much bling in that except breaking the club transfer record and signing up exciting French talent especially when Sevco are singing Liverpool legends:))
We try to qualify whilst being in pre season and yes BR is inexperienced in Europe but either you trust the man to do his job and improve the group or you don’t either way 8 games in qualifying is always going to be a rollercoaster..
My old boss said you can’t take a % to the bank.
Operating expenses up 33%
Income up 74%
Operating expenses £76
Income £90m
That’s a different story
£76m obviously
SP @ 3.22
My main point stands — CL qualification is our priority at the moment.
Unfortunately we are making it difficult for ourselves — same as the previous two seasons.
As noted earlier it is all about risk management — reducing the risk of achieving our goals.
We should have learned from the two previous seasons and been better prepared.
Not as if we did not know the WC was scheduled for June and July.
Not as if we didn’t know JS is a bit of a loose cannon.
We have had 6months to work out MC has his challenges”.
And all we have is the JMcG variety show.
MADMITCH
We were told that we would do most of our business at the end of the transfer window by the manager.
We are better prepared, our results show that. If you can’t see the difference in the team from last summer then again that’s down to you!
Everything else is just what if land which is where a lot of the posters on here seem to live.
AS to JS being a bit of a loose canon you just making yourself sound daft now…
Nothing Celtic do has ever seemed make you happy you’re own here every summer with the same stuff, maybe it’s you who needs to up his game and let the professionals get on with theirs?
HH
We need a CB anyway, he should be in by now.
January Window is where we’ll do our business, remember that ole chestnut.
Our Achilles heel is and always was our defence
@ MADMITCH on 23RD JULY 2018 3:00 PM
Some good points, however we are struggling most seasons to even spend £5m net.
We have received circa £15m for sales of Sviatchenko, VVD and Armstronmg and only invested in Edouard. We have money in the bank to spare.
For some reasons, it appears as if some individuals on here treat qualification as an act of god and that we have no input or effect upon it. In addition, CQN is unique in that the “general premise” (note, exceptions permitted) that the greater the value of a player, the better quality, does not apply and, consequently, Celtic would be throwing away money by increasing their spending.
Of course, out of all the players Rodgers has spent money on the most successful have been the most expensive signings (Edouard, Ntcham and Sinclair). *I believe Dembele was a pre-contract and not in fact a signing, although we did pay compensation.
SPFL board changes:
IN: Peter Lawwell (Celtic), Alan Burrows (Motherwell), John Nelms (Dundee).
OUT: Stewart Robertson (Rangers), Ann Budge (Hearts) and Les Gray (Hamilton).
3 with Sevco/Oldco leanings out? Can feel a statement of paranoia, in about an hour’s time…
Compper, Hendry, Musonda and of course Morgan apart ;-)
AULDHEID on 23RD JULY 2018 12:39 PM
I think what we are witnessing here is natural selection, where only the strongest and fittest survive to play in the CL.
If we qualify for CL it’s great in prestige terms but not results, so whilst I think we are good enough to continue to qualify I’d not be unhappy at giving the EL a right good shot. Remember Seville. Who gave a toss it wasn’t the CL final?
*that’s the way I see it as well.
The above does not come from anywhere else but my attitude to life. Moan about what isn’t or enjoy what is. I choose the latter (after a wee moan)
mit
live in mississauga. we still have a lot of friends in the east end.
when we were first married lived on tennis crec, then pape and cosburn.
JS is a loose cannon.
It has been downhill from his part in peak CFC 2016/17 — the KM tackle.
12 months ago it was the plastic pitches and his “no-show” for one of the qualifiers.
Plus all the chit chat about him being close to signing a deal for another club.
Now we have the kick in the stomach to an opposition player 15 minutes into a game where we were in control. Consequently he is not an individual to build our defensive future on.
We must have some CBs lined up for this season — just a case of bringing one in earlier to suit our circumstances.
On your final point — why buy later in the summer?
Surely that will be closing the stable door after giving the horse a chance to bolt.
Some of BR’s comments have been a bit puzzling.
More so this summer than before.
Not sure why.
crec=cresc
MADMITCH
I didn’t say buy later that’s the whole point mate, I’m not advocating when Celtic should buy I just listen to what the manager says.
I would love Celtic to have everything in place so I didn’t have to listen to the same folk every summer complaining about why Celtic don’t have everything in place.
In an ideal world eh.
THC … @ 3.49
The £5mill net spend would be a target.
Use it as a stick to beat some VFM into the wages budget.
However I do appreciate that we have struggled to work at this low level over the past few seasons.
MM – On your final point — why buy later in the summer?
I guess the bit you’re missing in all of this analysis – what the incoming player wants and aligning that with what we can offer ?
Champions league exposure or only a few trips to some crap plastic pitch against some industrial hammerthrowers ? In competition with other offers with regards to money and better leagues.
Big Wavy
th .. I went the opposite way … used to live in Missussauga, but now live in the east end …. next time you are in the east end, let me know and we can say hello.
HELLBHOY
Great to see you posting earlier sir.
Best wishes for your continued recovery.
ohhhhh and welcome to the madhouse :))))
@BIG WAVY on 23RD JULY 2018 4:00 PM
“MM – On your final point — why buy later in the summer?
I guess the bit you’re missing in all of this analysis – what the incoming player wants and aligning that with what we can offer ?”
Why did both Edouard and Ntcham sign early in the transfer window if it is the case (as many claim) that players will only sign once we are in the Champions League? There is certainly a disconnect there.
The hands…
Different profiles to the ones I’m thinking of and unlike others I’m pretty pragmatic about the use of loanees from England to our advantage. Going to a club that hoardes young talent and offering something of value IF they are prepared to put the work in (Paddy was, Musonda wasn’t).
Big Wavy
Only 39 sleeps till the transfer window slams shut
Refurbishment of Buckingham Palace in a public spend of over £360M.
there’s a long walk from the kitchen he said “you have to feel sorry for the Royal family & their guests”.
Up the republic CSC
MIKE IN TORONTO
Don’t worry buddy we will still visit Toronto, we will be staying in Mississagua for the 1st day (close to the airport) as we are doing the bus tour to Niagra on day 2, then a visit into Toronto on day 3 before flying down to Arizona, so it’s a short enough visit
@ BIG WAVY on 23RD JULY 2018 4:13 PM
“Different profiles to the ones I’m thinking of”. Presumable you mean experienced and established players? Aside from Sinclair, when was the last time we signed a player that would be within this category? I can’ think of any in recent memory. So the whole argument that players only sign once we are in the champions league is effectively baseless.
” The SPL wis a two horse race and wan o’ the horses died ”
Kevin Bridges
There’s half 4 in the day, and still not a peep from Statement FC.
Dissapointing.
HH. ?
Waiting on a call coming in so had a few minutes to look up AEK Athens record against Scottish clubs in Europe.
They have won 6, drawn 1 and lost 1. Scored 14 – lost 5.
They have eliminated Rangers 3-0 (1994) Hibs 4-3 (2001) Hearts 5-1 (2006) and Dundee Utd 2-1 (2010)
Not to be treated lightly.
http://www.eurocupshistory.com/match/history_land/802-SCO/aek_athens_against_scottish_clubs
MADMITCH on 23RD JULY 2018 2:00 PM
AH @ 1.27
As a business if you don’t invest you will dimish, stagnate and then “die”.
Death for us at this moment in time would be the loss of the SPL.
=%============
As we aren’t stagnating or in danger of dieing then surely we must be investing?
We are now in an unusual position as result of a club over “investing” and dieing of not having to look over our shoulder as much as we had to.
The cost of keeping a safe distance has fallen so that allows money that used to go on players to match those cheating bassas to be spent elsewhere , hopefully providing a profit that then reduces the risk of spending on players.
It’s called sustainable growth planning.
I’m ok with it as generally speaking, when injury free (which was not the case last year) we are very entertaining to watch.
bournesouprecipe on 23rd July 2018 4:15 pm
Only 39 sleeps till the transfer window slams shut
————————————————————————–
In Scotland the transfer window judders shut without the grace and decisiveness implied by “slam”. Afterall, in Bonnie Scotland it’s an old Sash window…