Alarm bells ringing as qualifiers kick in

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The most striking aspect of yesterday’s games came from Pittodrie and Tynecastle.  Aberdeen scored twice in second half stoppage time to secure a home win over Fola Esch from Luxembourg (good grief).  Hearts came from behind with the assistance of a penalty and an own goal to secure a narrow win over Estonians, Infonet.

Infonet finished fourth in the Estonian league last season, well below possible Celtic Champions League qualifier opponents, Flora, and will fancy their chances of knocking Hearts out.

None of this means that Aberdeen, Hearts of Celtic have an equal in Estonia or Luxembourg, but it’s a testament to how bizarre playing football before you have completed preseason is.  Even very well-run clubs like Southampton, who were humbled a year ago by Erik Sviatchenko and his Midtjylland pals, can find themselves out of Europe before they realise they are in a competition.

Celtic are likely to be playing the Estonian champions in 11 or 12 days.  If they overcome that they will face a vastly stiffer test in three weeks time.

Yesterday’s exercise in Slovenia will hopefully blow some cobwebs away but FC Flora are 17 games into their league season, that fact alone should give Brendan Rodgers plenty to consider.  Aberdeen’s toils in particular disturbed me.

Many thanks to all who contributed to the fantastic raffle competition yesterday, you’ve raised £375 already.  A reminder……

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

We have a £5-a-ticket raffle to win the chance to appear in your very own team photo, alongside the Celtic players and management at the preseason photocall for 2016-17.

You will then meet treble winning captain, Tom Boyd, who will give you a personal tour of Celtic Park.

Celtic will provide you with a strip, which you will retain, and you will receive your team photograph, framed and signed by the team, on a specially prepared mount.

Your donations go to Celtic FC Foundation, to support their work in Health, Equality, Learning and Poverty. The Foundation deliver often life-changing support and opportunities to children and adults in Scotland, Ireland, the rest of the UK and in many needy areas of the globe.

Buy your ticket at MyDonate here. You can enter as many times as you like, but only donations of £5 or higher will be entered into the raffle.

You.  The team.  The management.  Getting your squad photo taken.  And getting a strip!

You’ll have had worse days.

CmRadJqXYAAOR0k

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556 Comments

  1. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    HH Wullie Currie.

     

     

    A great flag,a daily reminder of a great man.

  2. saltires en sevilla on

    Gordon

     

     

    I’ve had a txt from techie advising it’s ok

     

     

    But I’ve to use the old one for now…

     

     

    Cheeky bassa :-)

  3. Anyone know how much it costs to restore a church roof?

     

     

    sitonfence says:

     

    July 1, 2016 at 7:10 pm

     

    News just in that there are some serious concerns apropos 3 of the Ibrox stands. Worst case scenario, if all three had to be lifted Rangers would have to ground share for a season and raise some serious loans. Think church roof restoration fund and then multiply it by King’s number of tax evasion convictions.

     

     

    Interesting comment from the political fudwit!

     

     

    MWD

  4. saltires en sevilla on

    MWD

     

     

    Sports Division do a ramge of natty golf brolly…. Oh Hang on a min….

     

     

    Anyway We had about 80 seasons with no roof at poundland – quelle problem?

     

     

    :-)

  5. SydneyTim says sack Lawell now on

    Paul67. I don’t think the results by Aberdeen and hertz are showing the level of the European competition , but is showing the poor level of Aberdeen and shows up the dreadful sackable project that Peter Lawell has been running over the last 4 years

     

    Peter Lawell has downgraded our club and been rewarded with huge bonuses

     

    Is he still there and if so why

     

     

    Maybe resolution 13 should start

     

    Ie get that failure out of celtic park

  6. BABASONICOS71 on 2ND JULY 2016 12:27 AM

     

     

    Head is gone big time ?

     

     

    give me big Tam

     

     

    HH

  7. Bobby Murdochs Ankle supportin Oscar Knox on

    St, gie it a feckin break, we’re signin players and look to be pushin on an aw you want to do is have a go, if you get no enjoyment out of Celtic , fuck off, go play golf, flower arrange or fling shite at the moon, same auld shite every post.

     

     

    Bma

  8. Sorry

     

     

    Tom big time .

     

     

    they had a PLAN.

     

     

    Alan Shearer, was a star called in right

     

     

    HH

  9. The Inane Rambler on

    Wales……

     

    Well played lads. Superb

     

     

    Possibly the most animated I’ve been over a non Celtic game in quite some time.

     

     

    Anyhoo, I’m away back oot tae the fishin’

     

     

    Peace x

  10. GuyFawkesaforeverhero on

    SydneyTim says sack Lawell now on 2nd July 2016 12:17 am

     

     

    Resolution 13? Don’t start me, oh you did.

     

     

    In good faith I took one of the last of the original t-shirts knowing that I’d picked up good advice on the blog about customising it to the perfect fit; washer/dryer, 120 degrees, four hours.

     

     

    Imagine my consternation four hours and a minute later, my, fresh from it’s bag, never been worn, XXL Res12 had shrunk beyond redemption to an XXL Res 9. I’m now walking the institutionally racist streets of Scotland in support of our auditor’s remuneration.

     

     

    How could this happen to a rebel like me? Wish I could be like you or Dave Dee. Zabadak!

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNQV0mboKg8

  11. Well Done Wales.

     

     

    The difference between the SuperStars of Real Madrid, is that Gareth is playing as a Team M8. WGS.CSC

     

     

    Ridiculous the way Ronaldo is Domineering a whole Nation like he is doing. Total twerp of a Dude, awesome player but as I say a twerp.

     

     

    Good Luck to Zlatan @ Man United – he will need it. A stepping stone to Celtic no doubt. One year contract huh? ;))

     

     

    C’mon the Celtic Kids ready to hit the First Team.

     

     

    Kieran is the first of so many, well as Time allows, IMO.

  12. The Inane Rambler on

    Petec

     

     

    After we signed our first choice in Dembele, it was obvious that Zlatan would have to settle for second best. I wish him well.

     

     

    He was clearly holding off

  13. SFTB, My big (really wee) Sister Corinne, she reminded me Thursday evening about the Rememberance of the Somme.

     

     

    TBH I didn’t realise. I shed a tear watching the BBC news last night. Most people don’t want to think about things like that these days.

     

     

    I am so looking forward to seeing the Celts this Season. Every Club has been given impetus to go out there and Make it Happen. Leicester and Wales are quality Examples. Money is Nothing really, well obviously it is Something, eventually it will be Virtual. o_O

     

     

    I’m hoping that Hearts/Aberdeen/Ross County/ ICT and many others start to Believe in Miracles, especially through Hard Work.

     

     

    WillieMcBride.csc

  14. bournesouprecipe on 1st July 2016 10:53 pm

     

     

    Ole Jason Denayer got roasted tonight -time to bring him home.

     

     

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

     

     

    I said that to ma Son.

     

     

    He is a Celt, ffs, he never experienced the Celtic the way he should have.

     

     

    I hope his olde Fella is giving him Good Vibrations.

     

     

    Signing him would be Guid, obviously depends on the Pat Rice.

  15. The Inane Rambler on 2nd July 2016 1:00 am

     

     

    Petec

     

     

    After we signed our first choice in Dembele, it was obvious that Zlatan would have to settle for second best. I wish him well.

     

     

    He was clearly holding off

     

     

    ………………………………………………………………………

     

     

    You might be on to something there, the Conspiracy Theorists (and I’m a mega member) will likely say that Big Zlat is waiting for Leigh to go to RM or Barca before he makes the move.

     

     

    I reckon as Zlat is getting older, he should dropkickback to Midfield. Oh Wait Brendans biggest Conundrum is the Midfield. I’m really looking forward to the Development of a proper Celtic Midfield. ;))

  16. Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on

    “there is a light that never goes out”

     

     

    wullie currie,

     

     

    keep it lit

  17. Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on

    no players assaulted then ?

     

     

    ——————–

     

     

     

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-36683491

     

     

    Another four arrests for cup final violence. Note the addresses. Total now 38, of whom 34 are Rangers supporters and 4 Hibs supporters. Won’t be reading that in the red tops either.

     

    Player assaults , one guy pleaded guilty to gesticulating at the goalie, and there is one attempted assault charge related to a player that has been denied. Neither of these actions should be in any way condoned. Players do not deserve any abuse especially after a game played fairly and in a sporting manner throughout.

  18. SydneyTim says sack Lawell now on

    Bobby. It’s great now. But really shows up how bad Peter L had run the club down

     

     

    and!!! He is still there

     

     

     

    Not a cloud in the sky today and going to blue mountains

  19. The Inane Rambler on

    Petec

     

     

    Brendan comes north……then Messi retires from international football??

     

     

    The stars are aligning!

     

     

    Tongue only slightly in cheek!

     

     

    Joe Deadly was indeed a hunskelper

  20. SSSSTB,

     

     

    They got beat, they couldnae handle that.

     

     

    Well Done all the Celts @ Hibs

     

     

    The whole of Scotland despises them.

     

     

    I said that Brexit would win when Tony Bliar went oot walking for Remain.

     

     

    The Daily Hun went all in with the ridiculous backing of PlungeMcSturgeon.

     

     

    Paul McStay.csc