In days of yore Celtic would rattle nine goals past the Finnish champions on European Cup duty. That was never going to be on the cards last night but there remains a clear gap in quality between the teams. HJK Helsinki are no better than Hearts, but were clearly sharper.
The tie remains very much in the balance, a ‘Big Dan moment’, similar to what happened away to Sion last season, and the odds would stack heavily against Celtic progressing, and although HJK didn’t impress much, neither did Utrecht, who lost 2-0 at Celtic Park two years ago before wiping the floor with a disorganised Celtic a week later.
I have a few concerns.
Last season it worried me how dependent we had become on Charlie Mulgrew to create goals. His delivery from the left back position, not to mention his runs to the back post, were significant in Celtic overcoming the early season deficit.
Today we are a few central defenders lighter, if not any worse off in that department, but without Charlie galloping down the wing we are immeasurably less potent. Emilio is an able left back, but his performances are several degrees below his Player of the Year form and he is categorically not a goal creator. A double jeopardy is that when Emilio is behind Georgios Samaras on the left, instead of the more defensively minded Joe Ledley, we seem to have a real weak point.
If we are to start with a lone striker and five in the middle next week we’ll need Charlie on the left. This will stiffen up our weak spot and give HJK more to worry about.
The video moment for the players to study must surely be Georgios Samaras cross for the first Celtic goal. In case you missed it, the cross evaded the first defender. In this respect it was quite stunning and contrasted markedly to what was going on across on the right wing for most of the evening.
Early Player of the Year tip: Adam Matthews. Usain Bolt must be relieved our man is not a sprinter almost as much as Victor Wanyama is relieved he’s a footballer.
Our three raffles end at 19:10 TONIGHT! For the sum of only £1 you stand a chance of winning a painting of Henrik Larsson mid goal celebration, Scott Brown inventing the Broony or a print of our manager in his playing days.
It has never been easier or cheaper to contribute to the concept of what our club is all about, go buy a ticket.
Martin Chambers of the Ecuador Trust was in touch this morning. He said, “If you are able to help, the money will be used to fund the Soup Kitchen that we run each day feeding 150 of the poorest children in the shanty town – kids who would otherwise go hungry. Hope to hear from you soon” (he means you).
Feeding kids who would otherwise go hungry. Where have you heard that idea before?
The four beneficiaries are; The Haven, Cancer Respite Centre, Blantyre, Oscar Knox Neuroblastoma Appeal, Martin Chambers Ecuador Trust and Aberdour Primary School Parents Association.
For £1 you can win:
A celebrating Henrik Larsson painting.
A painting of Scott Brown in classic pose.
A Neil Lennon print.
What are you waiting on, do it now, there are only a few hours left! And after you have clicked on ‘buy a ticket’, DON’T FORGET TO PAY, as some people have. Just like social taxes, paying for your raffle ticket is NOT optional!
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Well I’ll shut up with my tips as I typed he dropped a shot !!!
The SFA / SPL know FIFA /UEFA are closely monitoring all this… Remember oldco also shafted teams across Europe. With their cheating….
“Death by Inquiry”. This is always what the ‘establishment’ does when it wants to obfuscate and whitewash.
As soon as I heard about this I thought : well that’ll be them off the hook,then.
Recommendations will be made,a lot of tut-tutting will be heard,various peepil/bodies will be censured/wrists slapped and then, and only then will the lawyers be allowed to feast at the carcass.
As soon as some European teams wake up to the monies they’ve been duped out of then we’ll see some real action.
All other Scottish teams seem to want to stay behind the parapet for fear of enraging ‘the thems’ from Govan whose violent wing seem to hold sway and dominate…..and I don’t care what the ‘honourable’ rfc(defunct) fans say,that is the cold reality of the situation.
And the msm will keep right on cheerleading.
And so, Scottish football becomes the twisted version of a video console game.
It’s pathetic. They’ve waited for the imminent start of the season to drop this one into the mix and they will think they’ve done well.
How utterly pathetically corrupt and cowardly.
Was it just me or was Delahunt being a bit naughty raising the hopes of listening huns by mentioning Celtic had a player with ebts? In fact I think he gave the impression there was more than one when only Juhino has been the subject of a discussion done to death on the internet, something Mr D must have been well aware of.
Of course what it will do is prompt calls from frantic huns desperate to play the only card game the know – Whatabout?
Auld Neil Lennon heid on 2 August, 2012 at 20:29 said:
Spot on…
Damn ……1-1
Evening Bhoys & Ghirls
Delighted to meet so many CQNers at the game last night, who were collecting their brand new CQN badges. Many thanks for your support.
For those badge wearing CQNers going to the golf, tomorrow remember to show them off!
Delighted to say that the amounts raised (net of gift aid) for the new CQN badges now stands proudly above the £2600 mark.
http://www.justgiving.com/CQNbadges
A big thank you from Bundoran Bhoy and myself to you all who have helped to make this happen.
HH
CRC
ps Still a few badges left and indeed perhaps a few more becoming available after the Aberdeen game.
“the msm attempts to down play the significance of this scandal is breathtaking.
it is the biggest scandal in the history of sport in Britain if not Europe.
der hunnes and their friends are in for a rude awakening”
We really ought to starve the DR, theSun, sunday mail,sunonsunday,the daily mail, and the rest of sales and website hits.
Only noticable exceptions have been Ewing Grahame in the Telegraph and some stuff in the Scotsman. I think Jim Spence has played it pretty straight all the way through.
If one of us is so desperate to hear themselves on a phone-in they whould limit it to calling the panels a disgrace if the usual subjects are on it, and for me Traynor only merits being laughed at, he’s a joke.
Hamiltontim.
The only reason I asked was I’m taking the choo-choo,and I’m loaded up with a parcel that’s 22″hx19″wx9″d light, but awkward, plus a bag that’s got three changes of gear in it.How’s lennybhoy getting to Arberdour.
Good evening fellow Celts I have been reflecting on last night’s game. Taking in to account what I expected to see, what I thought I saw and what my fellow Celts saw.
I sense we are better prepared than last season and our young team can make a decent impact in Europe. Some of our performances last term were a joy and we have substantially the same squad.
The one thing that screams out as a must fix is lack of penetration in the final third… We can appear static or dareisay disinterested sometimes.
I am not a fan of broony I think he is a Gas Meter Grant throwback … Big on facial expression and noize but offers very little to our mid. I get the broony culture… but really he does not have it …he is not a class footballer and he is not a Celtic captain! Move in Vic67, Joe Ledley or Kayal and he is 4th choice.
Commons plays when it suits hum and his fitness levels are suspect. I watched him give the ball away three times on the bounce in late first half ..we got away with it but would be trounced by a good team.
Sammi must be greeting at the lack of movement up front… Eventually Ghoops made a run to back post and he had the simplest conversion … Where was he for the rest if the game? .. He was moping about .. That’s what he does.. He looks over weight and slow with a crap attitude.
I think we can win this tie but worry about the lack of movement up front… The time it takes us to move the ball front to back and lack of Ariel threat
Having says that I feel a couple of decent breaks and some adjustments can lead us to a season to remember.
Lenny is the kind of guy who has two things that really count: tenacity and the ability to reflect and learn.
Bring on the Dons!
HH
auldheid
Delahunt needs to keep up the listening/calling in numbers. He well knows we’re clean on this. They’re really toiling.
The teams TFOD put out of UEFA and CL league. Would it be worthwhile contacting their forums to make them aware of this investigation. A wee bit more pressure wouldn’t go amiss eh?
oldtim67
Well I see you are back online so I am assuming you got the computer sorted out. Any luck with the memory?
lazydynamite, 20:05
tell him to stop this enforced holiday mularkey and get back on the case. And that he owes me a drink
Just wondering if the Radio Scotland were as enthusiastic / excited last night ? ….LOL
Celtic Mac
As of last night oldtim’s computer was as was.
ElDiegoBhoy on 2 August, 2012 at 20:58 said:
Absolutely …… Toiling badly, and pathetically…….
I hope everyone who’s going to the golf day has a great time.Don’t get too drunk now!
I saw the back of the evening times in the supermarket tonight.
It seems that Edu do walking away.
He has told FPLG he will be looking for another club.
Since the huns only agreed the name change to The Raankers after the Brechin game, who were Brechin’s opponents the other Sunday?
Were they appear in the record books as oldco or Sevco as The Rankers did not exist at the start of the competition?
Ggh
2-1 Utd …..yes …….eat your heart out, Sevco / pundits……. We don’t need your bigotry / bias / colluding / cheating ……..’ We rest our case’ for integrity and justice….
The only reason I watch the women’s beach volleyball is for the sporting integrity on show during the games. The use of the Benny Hill music when the sand rakers are on is an inspired choice.
miki67, 20:48
I read it as the opposite.
They have had a whiff of what’s there and the stink is so strong they know that they need to pull back.
Rat’s, sinking ship.
We’ve reached the stage where it can only play out one way.
Stripping of titles.
Major fraud.
Jail.
Oldtim67
Lennybhoy has it sorted. He’s going up on the bus I believe.
oldtim:
Going up on the CQN Bus, Sannabhoy driving.
Mrs. LB kindly agreed to go to Tesco, the only driving I do, is driving her round the bend…:)
Anyway, two twelve packs of Bud have been secured for you and will accompany me on the Bus.
By the way you and hamiltontim owe Mrs. LB a box of chocolates between you…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Enjoy the golf one and all.
Remember that old golfers never die, they only lose their balls.
Ggh
Old Tim
What,s this three change of clothing all about your only away for one night
And just in case anybody gets the wrong idea We are staying in the same hotel not in the same room (HaHa)
Hamiltontim / Oltim67 –
I’m on the same bus as Lennybhoy (I believe) so I’ll make sure that any seals remain unbroken …
Hamiltontim – what time do you expect to arrive? I’m out in one of the later groups and could do with a caddy…
Utd and Moscow fans been battling in the stands.
Obviously Chelsea fans…
O.G.Rafferty on 2 August, 2012 at 21:21 said:
That is how I see it now.
There must be some banking executives with squeaky bums, as well as International Steel Moguls, football managers, fat ones, beasts, and the cardiganed types will also be feeling uncomfortable.
In the football world there is more to come as well.
The SPL/SFA will have to deal with this, they will not want to, but the footballing public, as they have already shown, will not put up with a whitewash.
Good luck to all CQN’ers tomorrow at the golf whether you are playing or not.
Sorry i can’t be with you this year.
I will miss the company, the craic and ,err, the prizes!!
Hope the weather is good and you all have a fabulous day.
God bless!
Evening all,
I think the bell tolls for those who were involved in the failure to register full details of the contracts with the SPL. Remember too, that clubs are meant to register the details concerning the contracts of key backroom staff— so managers, youth coaches, etc etc — if their details were not fully disclosed then these too are breaches of the SPL rules.
As Auldheid Pointed out earlier– look out for the comments about how any such breaches escaped the beady eyes of the SFA etc who are meant to do an annual check of all docs as part of the European Licencing function– there is a mystery to be solved?
Moving on.
Canamalar— your conscience is yer conscience. I sent two season tickets back many years ago because there were elements I never liked and which I thought the board did not do enough about. History now, but I remember at the time it was my way of registering a wee personal protest. Probably made no difference in the great scheme of things but I felt better about it. Just the kinds thing i did and still do.
I supported in other ways instead and bought the odd individual ticket to cup games— but on a Saturday you could often find me at Holm Park Yoker instead.
As I said, I don’t have shares. I have a problem– a daft one I know— of “owning” part of Celtic. I can’t own that. I can participate, I can support, I can put money in, I can buy merchandise, I can take people to the park and talk to them about the club but I can’t own any part of it.
However, I recognise that someone has to and had to stump up money for shares at the time of the initial subscription. It was obvious that it was going to be oversubscribed and that Fergus would hit his target.
Had that not been so then I would have subscribed. I recall precisely where I was and to whom I was on the phone in the last hour before the option closed as I was still checking the position.
I know loads of people who subscribed and who subscribed again later. Some hope that one day the share price will rise and that they will see a profit on their investment… and that is their right and is perfectly fine– but on a personal basis it is just not for me— it is not something that I am comfortable with.
However, I agree wholeheartedly that the club — or the PLC I should say—- should never become the play toy of some megamillionaire. That would be very hard to stomach– no matter what money was spent or what success it brought.
To me I would feel that Celtic– or at least a part of it had been stolen– from me– and from everyone else!
On DD– for me the jury is out. Anyone who has made the amount of money that Dermot has is a guy who sees the main chance. He has been very clever in business, and whilst I may have some doubts about someone with that business acumen and some of the businesses he has invested in etc you have to acknoeldge his success.
That obviously makes you suspicious about what he wants with Celtic? He says it is an emotional investment– maybe it is– yet he obviously stood to make a fortune if Celtic had gained entry to say the EPL.
Yet to whom would he have sold the shares. His shareholding just now falls short of the quantum of shares which automatically triggers the provisions that forces him to make an offer for all the other shares– and without successfully doing that he could not gain over all control of Celtic PLC– and gaining the controlling interest is always going to make the shareholding more valuable– in fact for absolute outright control any meglamaniac would want to hold at least 80% of the shares a la Minty!
But the big issue– and the big barrier that Fergus put in the way of the meglamaniac owners– are the ordinary fans. What number does it take to prize your shares away from you and your family?
In short– in the corporate world of share values– what price Celtic?
For me, I genuinely hope that there are more than enough who will say ” No Price- & No Sale ” but they have every right to disagree with me for many reasons.
So back to Dermot– and to an extent Peter Lawell.
If I am right, Dermot subsidised the share issue and provided financial assisstance that lead to Lennoxtoun– and remember Celtic own land there that can be developed for a variety of uses which could bring substantial income to the club in the future.
Re the triangle– well we know the plans are there, we can see the roads and infrastructure being built all around the area, and no doubt in time the Triangle will become a reality. I am not privy to the plans and the timescale but both of these projects augur well for Celtic and offer opportunities to increase income in areas that are away from the “football department”. Is the time and the financial climate right for those developments now? I don’t know the answer to that as I don’t know the detail of the proposals– so can’t form a view– yet.
Hopefully the football department will get a big share of that income when it comes.
I have been told of some conversations that others have had with DD and from what they report back then he would seem to be a real Celtic fan with Celtic at heart. He could invest his money elsewhere and get a far better and far quicker return– yet chooses not to.
Sure he does not throw in hundreds of Millions of pounds on players etc– I am glad that he doesn’t– but he has stuck up money to make Celtic money in the future and constant income at that for the long term rather than a one off set of players.
The big shaker for me in the next few years will be media rights.
Yes there is a new Sky deal for the next 5 years. It is a dreadful deal– when you consider what Sky gets out of Scotland it is a disgrace. Yet who else is there?
Further, the rules say that the SPL gets to negoatiate media rights in the UK for the league as a whole– so Celtic can’t cut their own deal– at least not yet.
Beyond the UK they can do their own thing, and so they have Celtic TV which as you recall at one time was a separate SKY package. I know that Sky wanted to buy into Celtic and were shown the door.Thank God– as they are another of my foibles– I don’t subscribe to Sky and don’t want to in the future.
However,the whole of broadcasting will change over the next 5 years– it is already happening– with more and more people tuning into Internet Broadcasting as opposed to normal terrestial or digital channels– and I am not sure that the SPL can argue that they can negotiate any deal involving that medium on a cumulative basis.
The best that they can do is ask for a levy– say x % of each clubs broadcasting revenue in that idiom– and it is there that Celtic could really REALLY be like a greyhound that has been let off a leash.
There we gain a march on the Chelsea’s, the Valencia’s, the Athletico’s and a whole host of teams who are above us in the football pecking order right now because we– win or lose– Peter L or no Peter L– Dermot or no Dermot– have the fans– and believe me– with no happy clapping at all— those fans– you– me– yer da, yer ma, yer weans and yer neighbour– they are Celtic’s greatest asset.
Not for their emotional value but because of their monetary value.
Monetarise that support and you have an almighty financial weapon which few can match. That weapon is hemmed in right now because of the league we play in and the TV rights that are available.
But change those rules– without necessarily leaving the Scottish league and on a business basis you bring out the guns of Navarone, the Big bertha, the big Howitzer.
The 2003 invasion of Seville unleashed Millions of Euros into that Region and associated regions of Spain and Portugal. After Seville, Cities all over Europe hoped that their team would draw Celtic– partly for the football but being honest partly because the Celtic fans and their money would come in droves.
Barcelona early 2004 expected 12,000 for the leg at the Nou Camp– well they got miles more than 12,000. It was a major economic blow to Gothenberg when Celtic lost in the quarters to Villa Real. While Valencia and Marseille provided a crowd– how many more do you think Celtic would have taken across the see to Sweden?
The club gaining greater control of its own media rights will release far bigger bucks than you can imagine– there are ways to monetarise those rights right round the world and the club are slowly but surely becoming aware of it.
There are moves in the charities division which are coming. These are designed to get everyone involved as I understand it– right across the globe– and from what I have been told there are some very very clever- some very very good — ideas involved in that.
In pure business terms I think things are very exciting for Celtic. The Club has the potential to take a huge leap forward in the income stakes in the years to come– potential that few others have– partly because of the support, and partly because they are not mentally geared like Man Utd– and definitely because they are not a throw away toy like Abramovitch’s Chelsea. Who will buy that from him at anything like the balance sheet figure– or with that balance sheet?
Lastly– on the playing front– I said a year ago and probably two years ago– prepare for Europe and the SPL will take care of itself. That is more true than ever this year. Any signings that we make must be geared towards Europe.
To that extent I don’t agree with signings that are £2-£3 Million players– I am also not sure about the likes of Johnny Russell– who will be cup tied tonight just as Big Victor was last night.
Russell is a good player– but we really want someone who is a very good player and who makes all around them better players than they are just now. How do we finance that? Get as much money as you can in: Secure , if possible, Champions league revenue– more money and it is a lure for players. Sell a few ( partly done ) and free up wages– and then buy better– buy different.
We have a crop of good young potential big stars– but rather than buy in another 4 maybes— get one or two proven quality men– and maybe one or two others.
If there are any bargain basement Henriks, Lubos, Naka’s etc out there then seek them out and pursue like fury.
All of that is dead easy to do– but not so easy to attain– but that should be our goal.
Tommy Joad
Great post on izzy– a great footballing analysis.
Celtic Mac
Yip been called worse than a happy clapper! Was once called a Proddy B as I walked through the grounds of St Augustine’s in Milton by a wee scallywag– that made me laugh….. and once… but only once… I was truly insulted when someone shouted…… ” Away you go ya F…king Tory!”.
That was unforgiveable right enough!
Jobo Baldie:
Shoosh, that was a twelve pack each…:)
Using the phone tonight and low battery.
oldtim, hamiltontim, malorbhoy, Jobo and any other Golfers or non-Golfers like me, see you tomorrow.
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Utd 2-2.
Neil calamar absolutely nothing like a hunskelper et al
You are a deluded lot. Sanctimonious and patronising in the extreme. Your plastic facade of integrity is a mirror image of those formerly known as huns.
Why don’t you have the honesty to admit you can’t be arsed anymore? You were clearly intoxicated by the poisonous fumes permeating from those that drove your feigned passion for Celtic. Those who you claimed were your enemy but those whose death leaves you unable to function. Do us all a favour and have the decency to say that you relied on their very existence. Don’t hide behind grasping excuses. Surely you recognise that your every apologising utterance is music to their ears. Move on and leave the rest of us to prove that we rely on no-one.
Doc is Neil Lennon, 21:27
Two things have contributed to this.
The internet bampbots on here, and on associated websites, had the detail that allowed their arguments to be taken up outside the confines of the Celtic support and it found a home with the fans of other teams who brought the SFA and SPL back down to earth when they thought they could behave as they always had.
And the realisation from the start, by HMRC, that the only game in town was liquidation to allow them to dig deep, and deeper again, into the background of the Rangers corruption.
We have come very far in the last 6 months … and yet while the pace may drop, we have such a long, long way to go
No Apologists
You are wrong about Canamalar,very wrong
I seldom agree with him ( I am a pro board,back of the bus sitting,forelock tugging lackey) but he certainly isnt giving back his season ticket because of DoDo FC.
He is actually a very principled individual,grumpy but principled,probably too principled for me
As I say I seldom agree with him and no doubt he will come on soon to give you a lash but you have him all wrong
God Bless The Board
Foxy_1888 on 2 August, 2012 at 20:05 said:
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on 2 August, 2012 at 19:54
It’s obviously a personal decision you have to make.
However imo the money you pay goes to the club not any individuals specifically. Furthermore from what I can gather youre basing your assumptions on supposition and suspicion as opposed to any concrete facts
The money paid at the gate pays the dhareholders dividend
Regarding RC mentioning EBT’s and Celtic
You would think that by now instead of relying on whispers and insinuations, the people on these programmes would dig a little bit into the story for the truth.
If I was a journalist, and I was asked to sit on a panel for a phone in show, I would armour myself with answers to questions that I might be asked.
It’s like the political programme Question Time. You’ve got a fair idea of the questions your going to asked to comment on, so you then put together a crib sheet to deal with them.
How hard would it be to phone CP and ask to speak to the media spokesperson and put the EBT question to him?
Wiggy Smith was on RC a month ago and claimed that Celtic were a new club same as NewHunsFC because of what Fergus did with name of the company in 1994. Rather than spouting this garbage and embarassing yourself, would it not be better to keep shtum until you know for sure?
The thing was, no one challenged his on this assertion, because no one knew the correct answer, but the question was one that was possibly going to be asked at some time.
It goes to show what the actual intellect levels we’re dealing with here.
The people on these shows are not the brightest.
Thankfully, with the likes of CQN, fans are a lot more likelier to get the truth of these matters.
SPF (advocating CQN Radio)