Berlin to Lisbon

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A game against Union Berlin, from the second tier of German football, four days before our Champions League qualification campaign gets underway sounds like perfect preparation.  Union will be better than any opposition we have or will play since defeat in Turin last month and they will be miles ahead of our Champions League second qualifying round opponents.

Having to play six instead of last season’s four games to qualify for the group stage has cost Celtic ‘lucrative’ preseason friendlies.  I am sure those charged with the task of balancing the books at Celtic Park (we always pay our bills) will be less than entertained by this, and for many supporters, if feels important that we face Real Madrid or Inter Milan preseason, but the summer time is all about qualifying for the Champions League.  There are five weeks between Celtic’s opening qualifying game and the first leg of the play-off round.  This extra preparation time should ensure we are fitter and ready.

Legend has it that competitive football in July inevitably leads to a drop in form late in the season but legends are not always reliable.  Last year Basel entered Champions League qualification at the same stage Celtic will next season, and next week they become the first Swiss team to play competitive European football in May ever.  Apoel Nicosia entered at the same stage in 2011 and became Cyprus’ first qualifier for the Champions League quarter final last year.

The Champions League final of 2014 will be held in Lisbon, the first time the city has hosted Europe’s top game since………. you know when.  There are 1730 miles between Berlin and Lisbon, or 10 months, if you prefer.  Preparations are already underway.

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829 Comments

  1. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers

     

     

    12:25 on 30 April, 2013

     

     

    Fully agree…..Joe Ledley is a great player……

  2. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    I see HATEley still has his head in the sand……typical bhun……

  3. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BADA BING

     

     

    Me too.

     

     

    Very good prospect,IMO.

     

     

    Presumably too many ahead of him in the pecking order.

     

     

    Very best of luck to him.

  4. glassford03 @ 8.32 –

     

     

    With your report being 2 hours after mine are you really that surprised that the weather conditions had changed. As Neil Finn once remarked, “EK inspired one of my greatest songs”.

     

     

    Back to working and lurking…

  5. What is this latter day obsession wi’ zombies?

     

    TV series about them, big budget films about them, console games abound with them.

     

    The premier establishment fake football club in Scotland actually becoming zombies.

     

    Maybe we’ve been wrong all along.

     

    Perhaps sevco are merely the face of the future.

  6. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    67 HEAVEN

     

     

    Playing catch-up?

     

     

    A long way from there,mate. If you still have the Real v Dortmund game to watch,stop at 1945,or we’ll be telling you the plot…..

  7. I think Joe Ledley is a good player. And a team player.

     

    I’d like too see him tried out at right back, linking up with and covering for Scott Brown. Especially if James Forrest were to improve his backtracking and tackling.

     

     

    Another thing I like about Joe is he doesn’t let anybody knock him about. A bit like his namesake Calzaghe.

  8. I’m surprised, too, that Keatings has been let go. Comes under the category of wtf?

  9. !!Bada Bing!!

     

    09:55 on

     

    1 May, 2013

     

    Surprised to see young James Keatings getting freed.

     

     

    He’s 21 now, been out on loan twice and hardly got a game, the likes of Watt, McGeouch and maybe George have moved ahead of him and with the U21 rule will get into squads before Keatings

  10. 31003 and others,

     

     

    I noticed that celticquicknews.com has disappeared and access is via celticquicknews.co.uk.

     

     

    Maybe you were trying to access the former.

  11. Bada bing at 9:55

     

     

    Where did you see that James Keatings has been freed?

     

     

    Any other frees announced?

  12. TwoMacaroons on

    dontbrattbakkinanger

     

    10:29 on 1 May, 2013

     

     

    In the morning its Weatherquicknews

  13. Hi BT.

     

    Glad to hear that your pain is lessening and I hope you are out and about soon. I couldn’t make the drinkfest on Saturday as events at my own earlier family do overtook me.

     

     

    I will, however, be up for the next one god willing.

     

     

    Hx2

  14. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    DBBIA

     

     

    Slight difference-this site is still top drawer!

  15. mickbhoy1888 on

    In the light of a wee rumour I have just heard this morning about Owen Coyle either having bought or is renting a large family home in Glasgow here are my predictions for the managerial merry go round in the close season

     

    Sir AF will step down at the helm of Man U knowing that for the forseeable European football will be dominated by the Germans and Spanish. The chosen one will choose Chelsea’s roubles rather than Man Us dollars in his pursuit of the Champions league trophy. Mr Moyes will take over the helm at Man U while Sir AF is still pulling the strings in the background. Meanwhile a wee bohemian blunderbuss from Glasgows west end will take over the reins at Goodison and his first signing will be the SPLs only £10mil rated player

     

    As I say only a prediction

     

     

    Btw Good on the lady on SS last night who brought to light the conduct of another few Aholes at Motherwell on Sunday who think they ARE the Celtic support

  16. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    Sevcocelticquicknews gets to keep the history- all the ole philvis podiums [podia?].

     

     

    All the flounces and departures for lurkerville.

  17. Zbyszek –

     

     

    Aye, he is very much missed by those fortunate enough to meet Stevie Reynolds, our very own Pablophanque.

     

     

    Hail! Hail! Pabbers.

     

     

    Curly

  18. Sevco share price down to 56p when there has been no activity so far. Someone knows a secret…

  19. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    Ylurc- I’ll be in Aberdeen next Wednesday evening.

     

     

    Do you fancy meeting up for an ole beer/curry/rowiefest?

  20. BMCUW.et al.

     

     

    I’ve been reading with amusement about your escapades when trying to navigate back to Kilwinning Station.

     

     

    I wonder if you will remember a local hostelry across the road from the station, which was a pillar of Kilwinning socieity and a beacon of morality.———The Winton Arms Hotel .Demolished cira 1992 I think.

     

     

    Working at the ICI Ardeer I naively popped in for a pint. Cue timewarp. I am aware that Kilwinning was the scene of a month’s violent sectarian rioting in 1907 and I felt I had stepped into this era.

     

    It was simply unbelievable and more.

     

    The hotel became infamous after a customer was banned for owning a green car. There are numerous similar stories. Some true; probably some not.

     

    The owner Lily hated the colour green so much it was suggested that she spent half the day punching Lawns.

     

     

    HH. Always in Celtic.

  21. spikeysauldman on

    mickbhoy1888 –

     

     

    the conduct was poor.

     

    they should have taken her child into consideration.

     

     

    however,

     

     

    were you ever young ?

     

    what do you do to contribute to the atmosphere at CP ?

     

    what exactly is your problem with the GB ?

  22. mickbhoy1888

     

    10:47 on

     

    1 May, 2013

     

     

    Whilst I think Lenny will remain for at least one more season, I am slightly concerned that Coyle is hanging around like a bad smell. Did all of our games on Radio Scotland and has been gushingly complementary (as is his way) on all things Celtic. When asked he kept saying he’s had offers to get back into management but is waiting on the right offer.

     

    Hopefully his about turn in 2009 when the job was his will not be forgotten by those in charge.

  23. weeminger

     

     

    22:20 on 30 April, 2013

     

    There are no audited accounts for TRFC to present to the SFA, they haven’t got to the end of their financial year yet and they don’t need to submit them to Companies House until December and therefore the SFA won’t be looking for them until next year.

     

     

    That’s one of the reasons they shouldn’t have been in the league without 3 years of accounts.

     

     

    Not according to STV Grant, he says they do.

  24. A bit of Celtic light relief.

     

    What player would you have loved to see in the hoops? Doesn’t have to be the most famous players just one you would have sold your granny to see at Celtic park.

     

     

    Marco van Basten for me.

  25. mickbhoy1888

     

     

    Your prediction lost any respect at SAF stepping down. The guy will work until he drops.

     

    Mourinho will go to Man City I reckon.

     

    Neil Lennon will get a new contract. Everton are a club punching above their weight and won’t spend big money on players. Any manager taking over from Moyes will have a tough task just keeping them at their current position.

     

    Owen Coyle for Celtic? No thanks. The guy was offered the job and knocked it back. I don’t believe he is good enough in any case.

     

     

    LB