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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ONCE UPON A LONG AGO….. on 23RD JULY 2018 9:21 PM
—————
Most parishes has only one or two priests or reverends in the place if worship.
Their job is hard enough although they do a lot more than most.
Your post has a basis though, maybe the government could help financially and security wise.
As there has been a problem of late of churches being attacked.
NavanBhoy: left in ‘89? You had a lucky escape?
Only taught there for a year and then sold my soul to the devil and emigrated (work only) to the posh south side.
ProudnortsiderCSC
DELANEYS DUNKY on 23RD JULY 2018 8:58 PM
Saw CC on the practice putting green with MK last Tuesday. He had his yardage book in his back pocket, just sticking out enough to see it. It read across the top ‘Celtic FC’.
Working with Murdo MacLeod’s daughter in Helensburgh today, lovely girl
ALMORE
maybe YOU got a lucky escape too ?
Northside still the real Dublin alright
Up D Dubs
DAVID17 on 23RD JULY 2018 9:39 PM
DELANEYS DUNKY on 23RD JULY 2018 8:58 PM
Saw CC on the practice putting green with MK last Tuesday. He had his yardage book in his back pocket, just sticking out enough to see it. It read across the top ‘Celtic FC’.
Sponsorship opportunity, get the club crest on the bag
DD
Dont know if you saw but left message on Sat night
BBC iplayer WALENSA Man of Hope
It expires tonight
D17
Craig Connolly is becoming a Clydebank legend. Did he have his green, white and orange clothing on?
Who would win in a fight wi Clydebank caddy Craig Connolly and Castlemulk Caddy Dave King? ??
Bada Bing,
I have zero information, much like 99% of people posting here.
Celtic do their business privately.
I trust those employed to run the club to do so.
The Hand,
Rather than conduct our conversation online, why not not meet at the Gazebo, top left of Celtic Way on Wednesday? I’ll be there from 7pm..
If only i could spell LECH name correctly
: > (
JC2
My daughter is studying Polish language. She has it on recall for me. Thanks bro.
Forza Polska Solidarinosc
RIP Paul Madeley Leeds United legend HH
Navanbhoy
My familys estate was a Corpo house in Cabra
We had delusions of grandeur though or ideas above our station
Long post- please scroll by if not interested.
I sometimes wonder at the mineshafter’s evaluation of Celtic FC in Europe.
Especially in this post-Bosman, big league & TV dominated era, where a new elite has emerged exclusively from within the Big 5 Leagues and, even there from around 20 potential contenders for prizes. Spain have 5 clubs with potential to get to Q-F and beyond in the CL (Real, Atletico, Barcelona Sevilla and Valencia) plus a couple who could do well at Europa level. England too can provide 4 or 5 qualifiers who may achieve this (City, United, Liverpool. Spurs and either Chelsea/Arsenal though both are on the slide). Bundesliga have their big 2 in Bayern & Dortmund but Schalke and others might do relatively well in the EL though they would be surprise winners). France has PSG & Monaco with Marseilles and Lyon as potentials for bridging that gap. Italy have Juve, Napoli and Roma plus the 2 Milans but, increasingly, only Juve have pretensions to win CL.
Outside of these big 5 Leagues, we only have outlier teams like Basel, Olympiakos, Shaktar Donetsk, Porto, Benfica, Galatasaray and a couple of Russians vying to be the one team that breaks through to CL Q-F stage.
We, as the big team in a peripheral league, fulfill the same function as similar comparator clubs (Anderlecht, Ajax, Sparta Prague, RB Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb, Copenhagen, BATE, Maribor, Ludogerets, Cluj, Legia and Qarabag etc;) competing to fill 3 or 4 of the available pot 4 spaces which aren’t usurped by EL level teams from 2nd tier leagues.
Scotland is a 3rd tier or, excluding Celtic, a 4th tier league in Europe, if we realistically judge on 21st century results.
Where do we find a comparator club, amongst that group I cited that consistently outperforms Celtic on the European stage?
Where do we find the gall to describe AEK as a pub team?
It cannot be based on any neutral or professional evaluation of merits- just check the oddschecker site which has AEK at the most common odds of 500/1 to win it with Celtic most often priced at 1000/1 (our range of odds is from 250 to 1500 whereas AEK vary from 500 to 2500 if any of you are tempted by such a mug bet). The point is that the neutral and the professional do not share our fan’s evaluation of how good Celtic are or could or should be.
We were elite class from 1966 to 74 only. We then had over a quarter of a century losing to Zwickau, Innsbruck , Timisoara, Partizan, Neuchatel, and Zurich. In this millenium we have had the Seville run and 3 last 16 CL places (the last being in 2013 when we lost 5:0 on agg. to Juve). During that 18 year period, where we have retrenched to being in touching distance of being a 2nd tier team, we still contrived to lose matches to Rosenborg, Anderlecht, Artmedia, Copenhagen, Aalborg, Hapoel, Braga, Utrecht, Sion, Karagandy, Legia, Maribor, RB Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb, Malmo, Molde, another Hapoel, Astana, and Anderlecht again.
You can attempt to explain away this level of performance away by asserting the untestable hypothesis that we are just scared or lack positive psychology but the sorry realistic truth is that, in sport, the results don’t lie. This is our level – these are our achievements. There is no hiding place from them.
In presenting this to you I am looking at my club soberly and wishing it was different, but I do not take my frustration out against this reality by asserting that, if we spent a couple of million here or there, during this retrenchment period, we would have altered our stars by any significant amount.
I search in vain for an example of a club where I could say- Celtic should do that!
We cannot import mass Brazilians like Porto and Shaktar have done. We cannot even get some of the benefits that Ajax and Anderlecht have enjoyed during this period of having a golden generation of players who got their country to the final stages of the World Cup.
We have enjoyed the cream of players from a semi-skimmed country in Scotland and have had to persuade others to join us who look on Scotland and Celtic as a stepping stone.
Eveytime I post this form of rejoinder to those with high hopes but limited strategies for achieving them, I am accused of sayimg that “nothing can be done”.
That is far from my view. In fact I am saying that we have done relatively well to have achieved what we have and that many of our true comparator clubs (in the real world where we know that AEK is not a pub team) look upon Celtic as an example of a club who have been growing and consolidating quite well.
However, I fear that even our admirers have got it wrong. The challenge is getting harder, as I predicted it would several years back. Those elite rich clubs from the elite leagues want to maintain their position and are not happy with the existing level of monopoly and success they enjoy. They fear the freak result and want to guard against it by excluding the chance of other clubs from reaching their level. They may not bother too much with plucky old Celtic as they see us as cannon fodder anyway but there is genuine fear that Russian clubs, Portuguese clubs, some Dutch ones and maybe a cash rich Austrian or Swiss team could deprive one of the Big 5 league teams of their “rightful” position.
We are operating in a glass ceiling and distorted sporting environment. Without access to a more competitive league with more routine cash rewards, we face a future very similar, if not worse, than our recent past. Good players will be asset stripped as financial reality demands and their own wishes (KT excepted possibly) make inevitable. We, in common with all other peripheral leagues then try to replace with other projects (they are ALL projects) and go again. The much vaunted Ajax model gas shown us how difficult this is to repeat. Even the Porto route, which is hard for us to replicate anyway, is struggling as the big 5 league clubs have now got less lazy about their scouting and will plunder S. America directly.
So I expect my message to be dismissed, yet again, as a message of doom or a recipe for making do and mend.
I regard it as an unflinching look at the realities around us. Yes, we can do better- we always can, but I cannot be persuaded that we can significantly change our position in this pecking order without a change in our competitive environment.
You can only stop being SPFL flat -track bullies and European cannon fodder when you play regularly in a setting that provides you with regular hard competition, forges your competitive play towards the elite standards, and gives you the financial rewards for success which allow you to better resist your advantaged “competitors” from the big leagues.
Otherwise, it will be groundhog day of “blame the suits” every transfer window from here on in. We sound like the Dixie Remebrance society that believes that, if only Robert . Lee had not gone doo-lally at Gettysburg, the South would have won, and then go on to asser if we just recreate the spirit of Stonewall Jackson, with his Presbyterian virtues, we can still win the last war.
WHAT IS THE STARS
Ha ha one of my very best friends is from Cabra (just across from the main church on cabra road) he’s my son’s godfather!
know him through playing football in Home Farm a LONG time ago
Feel genuine pity for those on here for hours moaning about how bad Celtic are run.
My Celtic are aiming for treble trebles and treble CL qualifications. All record outcomes.
Not one single recomendation from anyone as to who would realistically come and strengthen our hand in terms of playing staff. Please do seek help if you feel moaning ( with no suggested solution) for 6 hours about the best run club in the UK is the only way you can feel better about yourselves.
If you are just on for a wind up then fine.
SFTB
very sensible and rational post.Thanks for taking the time and effort .
However one question..what happened to the Seville money
Actually 2 questions, how can we afford heated driveways and no centre halves
Actually 3 questions, do you think people who take the time and effort to make serious rational well thought out posts deserve to be asked stupid questions like this.
SFTB
Brilliant balanced and realistic post.
Thomthethim & An Tearman
Do you have any recollection of these people?
I don’t remember any Donegal Screamers
SFTB: I think you may break the bhlog with a reasonable post like that.
SFTB
I remember the Screamers from Donegal
Back in the 80s I think
Strange cult
Spisini
Can you book a stadium tour on the day in the superstore or do you need to pre book online?
Goooooood Evening CQN – ???????
Not posted for a couple of weeks, so can I start by
Once again thanking all those who supported my daughter Laura, for her trip to Ghana
She is home now, over the moon with her trip
And wishes you all to know, you fully clothed over 280 Ghirls in new school clothes/ outfits including underwear and sandals P1 – 3 all got 2 full outfits.
The full senior Ghirls all got a Celtic top, thanks to a few of the Bhoys from CQN
The full school got a back pack, with pencils, pens, paper and a personal drinking bottle.
Finally, the school now has a new, and well stocked library
Awesome work and thanks to those whom have supported from CQN ???
Alternative Sipsini
Now what next for FtSFA and an honest and fair game ??
Wonder what punishment The Edinburgh Huns will get for playing an un- registered player – I know what would happen to most other clubs
And finally
With regards potential Celtic signings
Maybe just me ? But does it not make sense for Celtic to await the closure of the English transfer window then see who is available, better price, and potentially not getting into the premiership squads ??? Always some very decent players become available
Oh, glad all our Toronto Bhoys are good
And welcome (back ??)
Hellbhoy ??
Alternative Uxbridge dictionary words from today’s episode:-
Pergola- someone who steals garden trellis
Cubic- bring on the biro!
Brexiteer- Selective deafness
Litany- “I’ve set my leg alight”
Feckless- Irish Virgin
GP- A bit like a jeep
Fecund- 16th century runner up
Good Evening Bhoys
Just a wee update on “Our Mate Mick” campaign which was kindly supported with the majority of proceeds from LMS10 and indeed the separate “MMM Celtic Easter Goal Challenge”. We recently transferred an amazing amount of £1900 across to the family from CQNers in this respect. This money, together with other generous donations received will go along way to support Mick and his family at a very difficult time.
The good news is that Mick has started back at work part time. He is not pain free by any means and was very lucky to be alive after this horrendous accident . He is now taking this (second) chance in life to re-train at night school in IT project management, so that he does not have to continue in welding. I can only imagine the physical and mental scars that this must have caused him and those close to him.
So thank you one and all for your amazing support as always. I still have a raffle to draw for all those that took part in the Easter Goal Challenge. Hopefully, I can sort this out over the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your patience in this.
Anyway. if you didn;t manage to catch it earlier, Mick logged onto CQN today as “Hellbhoy”. I have copied some of the banter below
HH and God Bless you all
CRC
HELLBHOY on 23RD JULY 2018 8:46 AM
Just want to say on behalf of my family and me a massive thank you for the fundraiser to all on CQN,
We were blown away by the gesture and also the amount raised, it’s been a tough few months recovering from the accident but Thankfully back to work part time initially.
Again I can’t thank you all enough here’s to 8 iar
HH
Hellbhoy
NAVANBHOY on 23RD JULY 2018 8:47 AM
good morning all from a cloudy but dry & warm Roscommon.
not good news about Toronto, will be there for a few days in October, the wife’s getting a bit edgy about it now but sure it can happen anywhere, hope those injured are able to fully recover.
in better news Our Mate Mick in Oz, is doing well with his recovery & had the pleasure of a visit from his in laws in the last few weeks to help them all along. he is in the middle of trying to log on & post a message to all on CQN as a first time poster!!
be nice to him and no he’s definately NOT a Hun!!!
Hail Hail
NAVANBHOY on 23RD JULY 2018 9:01 AM
Hellbhoy is the artist formerly known as
Our Mate Mick!
that’s why he picked that moniker after the burning he got from the accident!! & it’s one if the reasons why he is so well liked & why he is getting through the ideal well with that sense of humour
HH
SFTB
Good stuff.
My only crit of the board is why are we hoarding cash to the detriment of the team ?
We are probably one of a handful of clubs on the planet that makes a few bob, I am not advocating us to be stupid and spend for the sake of it, I know that we will never get to the level in the CL that supporters are screaming for, but what I do know is that if we scout well and spend wisely we will greatly increase our chance of reaching the pot of gold.
What it seems to me is that the board have settled for winning domesticly and an ocassional venture into europe.
I have agreed with the buying potential, and selling for hopefully mega bucks, but I have always said we need to inter twine this with experience, that costs money that we don’t seem willing to spend, if we do venture down this path, IE, Compper…..a disaster, who ever scouted him should get their P45, a total waste of money.
It will come back and bite us on the erse imo.
The balance sheet canny defend nor can it score goals.
HH
NORRIEM
Hearts punishment.
https://thecelticblog.com/2018/07/blogs/sevco-sniggers-as-hearts-are-deducted-two-league-cup-points-by-the-spfl-for-one-ineligible-player/
The greatest ever Irish band.
https://youtu.be/qLo7z50Tt2g
BMCuWP
Didn’t see that , not surprised it was lenient, and it is
Back to Celtic
Bada, I have heard same as you, Boyata agent has been ignoring Celtic calls to talk for over 6 months, tells me he is for the off
I just hope we have planned for this event
Hail Hail
SFTB @ 9.55
Thanks for taking the time and effort to put your detailed thoughts across.
Have some issues with the scope you are working to.
Basic point which touches on politics is that we do not as a nation take football seriously enough at the grass roots / children and youth team level. Iceland have shown how it is done with good indoor facilities and properly trained youth coaches.
We prefer as a society to leave our investment in the car park and get by with council pitches from the 70’s and a few dads trying their best on the sidelines. All we seem to bother about regarding coaching and quality control is that King Herod cannot get a child safety certificate — any zoomed can coach as long as they not an identifiable risk to the players.
We need to improve the raw material coming into the game.
We need to improve the coaching available to all.
Make it a career in its own right.
Then we need better governance and a view that extends beyond ourselves and the TFOD2.l.
For the past twenty five years all we have been is OF Football to the world.
Consequently the SFA has sold Scottish football to the world as the last battle of the Counter Reformation. Comedy act for a bit of colour and fury. Consequently we need the other ten SPL teams to up their game and the starting point for that would be a better TV deal.
The SPL needs a strong Sheep, Hertz, Hibs, Killie, Well, DUnand the rest.
It is in our long term interest for them to be thriving institutions.
For the record the TFOD are not that important.
Finally we need to broaden our horizons.
We need to get rid of the Scottish cringe and demand good performances in Europe.
All the usual excuses should be left on the sidelines — you name most of them as reasons why we should accept failure. I say we call them out so that we have nowhere to hide.
In the end it all comes down to resources.
If we cannot beat teams with less funding than we have then we really need to make changes.
What we are dealing with in that situation is organised theft from the support.
DD: my favourite Irish band:
https://youtu.be/2GEI1QC73wU
And to Jobo……. if you are sneaking a peak in. Thank you again for all your support in LMS10 and indeed all the comps that you helped to run when you took over from Doc many years ago. He was rubbish mind, so even Cowiebhoy would have been an improvement :-)
Was that LMS3 onwards? So including Goals Galore, that would be 11 comps in total raising a hell of a lot of money and equally importantly awareness in this time. I need to check back!
Despite what you say, I could not have achieved any of this without you. You underestimate how much the time and effort that you put into it made a real difference and the miss you will be.
Anyway, looking forward to catching up with my first game of the season on Wednesday and indeed a few CQNers at the corner
HH
CRC
TET
What it seems to me is that the board have settled for winning domesticly and an ocassional venture into europe.
———–
In which was the board are fully aligned with my thoughts.
I don’t hunger for more expensive players who, as SFTB has eloquently explained, will never make a blind bit of difference to our European escapades.
But will see the price of the season ticket rise to a level where the “ordinary supporter” can not afford it and will therefore be forced to a life on watching via on-line streams. Although judging by some of the shouts from the upper North Stand, which reek of entitlement, maybe we are already there.
Was = case
Almore
I remember the song well. I even remember “the wild christian brothers, sharpening their leathers ” in real life