Celtic and AEK’s contrasting preseason preparations

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Every week, every game, counts at this stage of the season, when players are fighting for full fitness.  Hibs’ remarkable comeback last night after going 0-2 down to Asteras Tripolis will have their Greek opponents wondering if three preseason friendlies was sufficient preparation for a game of that importance.  Hibs have played five games in total.

AEK Athens, who lie in wait for Celtic or Rosenborg, have also played three games since losing the Greek Cup Final on 12 May.  They play a fourth on Tuesday against Galatasaray, their final match before the Champions League third qualification round.

By contrast, Celtic have played five friendlies and are in their second qualification round.  If they overcome Rosenborg, they will face AEK having played 10 games, including the league opener against Livingston.  The difference between four and 10 games is significant.  Four games is nowhere near enough to get a squad ready to perform at their best.

I know no one at Celtic Park or Lennoxtown likes having to come through four qualification rounds.  It provides unnecessary hazard and denies the club access to lucrative friendly competitions, but there is nothing like a competitive focus to get players in shape.

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374 Comments

  1. Turkeybhoy yes indeed I have. But hey you never let the facts get in the way of your opinion so why start now.

     

     

    And everyone knows that the answer to life etc is 42.

  2. Mahe the Madman on

    General Sports Questions

     

     

     

    1,,,Which of the following earned the most caps for their country ?

     

    Packie Bonnar

     

    Frank Rijkaard

     

    Aiden Mc Geady

     

    John Barnes

     

     

     

     

     

    2,,, Who finished the Golden Boot of the 1982 World Cup ?

     

     

     

    3,,,How many points wins a game of Badminton ?

     

     

     

    4,,,How many players per side in a game of Waterpolo ?

     

     

     

    5,,,Which boxer is known as “ The Pocket Rocket “ ?

     

     

     

    6,,,Who did Mike Tyson beat to become the youngest heavyweight champ ever ?

     

     

     

    7,,,The last manager to win the EPL with 2 different clubs ?

     

     

     

    8,,,Scotlands most capped rugby union player ?

     

     

     

    9,,,Famous racehorse that was stolen by the IRA ?

     

     

     

    10,,,Who won the 1985 World Snooker Championship on the final black ball ?

     

     

     

    11,,,The origin of the word “golf” comes from the acronym “Gentlemen only, ladies forbidden.”

     

    True or False

     

     

     

    12,,,In horseracing which derby is the first leg of the American triple crown ?

     

     

     

    13,,,Kasparov is known for his genius in which sport ?

     

     

     

    14,,,The manager who lead England to their only World Cup ?

     

     

     

    15,,,Diego Armando Maradona won the golden boot in 1986 World Cup with how many goals ?

  3. Taranis I applaud your sensitivity but last time I looked making an analogy was not the same thing as condoning bad behaviour.

     

     

    And are you asking me out on a date?

  4. Neganon 2 – using such an analogy does say plenty about your persona. Let’s not leap to say you were condoning bad behaviour but you definitely look to use inflammatory language – why ?

     

     

    I would love a date with you darling.

  5. Mahe the Madman on

    sorry guys last question should say how many goals did LIneker score . Apologies. Shattered.

  6. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Barnes

     

    Rossi

     

    13

     

    6

     

    Manu Pacho

     

    George Foreman

     

    Kenny Dalgliesh

     

     

    Gavin Hastings

     

    Shergar

     

    Denis Taylor

     

    False

     

    Kentucky derby

     

    Chess

     

    Alf Ramsey

     

    9

  7. `The rules of the SPFL call for ‘reasonable’ provision to be made for visiting supporters, `

     

     

    Begs the question: What is `reasonable` for he Huns?

  8. 1,,,Which of the following earned the most caps for their country ?

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Aiden Mc Geady

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2,,, Who finished the Golden Boot of the 1982 World Cup ?

     

     

     

    Paolo Rossi

     

     

     

     

     

    3,,,How many points wins a game of Badminton ?

     

     

     

    11

     

     

     

     

     

    4,,,How many players per side in a game of Waterpolo ?

     

     

    4

     

     

     

     

     

     

    5,,,Which boxer is known as “ The Pocket Rocket “ ?

     

     

     

     

    dk

     

     

     

     

    6,,,Who did Mike Tyson beat to become the youngest heavyweight champ ever ?

     

     

    Michael Spinks

     

     

     

     

     

     

    7,,,The last manager to win the EPL with 2 different clubs ?

     

     

    Clough

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    8,,,Scotlands most capped rugby union player ?

     

     

    Chris Paterson

     

     

     

     

     

     

    9,,,Famous racehorse that was stolen by the IRA ?

     

     

     

    Shergar and every other one I backed

     

     

     

     

     

    10,,,Who won the 1985 World Snooker Championship on the final black ball ?

     

     

    Dennis Taylor

     

     

     

     

     

     

    11,,,The origin of the word “golf” comes from the acronym “Gentlemen only, ladies forbidden.”

     

     

     

     

    False

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    12,,,In horseracing which derby is the first leg of the American triple crown ?

     

     

     

    Nowadays, Kentucky Derby

     

     

     

     

     

    13,,,Kasparov is known for his genius in which sport ?

     

     

     

     

    Chess is not a sport

     

     

     

     

    14,,,The manager who lead England to their only World Cup ?

     

     

     

    Alf Ramsay

     

     

     

     

     

    15,,,Diego Armando Maradona won the golden boot in 1986 World Cup with how many goals ?

     

     

    5

  9. Mahe the Madman on

    General Sports Answers

     

     

     

    1,,,Which of the following earned the most caps for their country ?

     

    Packie Bonnar

     

    Frank Rijkaard

     

    Aiden Mc Geady

     

    John Barnes

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Aiden Mc Geady

     

     

     

     

     

    2,,, Who finished the Golden Boot of the 1982 World Cup ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Paolo Rossi

     

     

     

    3,,,How many points wins a game of Badminton ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,21

     

     

     

    4,,,How many players per side in a game of Waterpolo ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,7

     

     

     

    5,,,Which boxer is known as “ The Pocket Rocket “ ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Wayne Mc Collough

     

     

     

    6,,,Who did Mike Tyson beat to become the youngest heavyweight champ ever ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Trevor Berbick

     

     

     

    7,,,The last manager to win the EPL with 2 different clubs ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Kenny Daglish

     

     

     

    8,,,Scotlands most capped rugby union player ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Ross Ford

     

     

     

    9,,,Famous racehorse that was stolen by the IRA ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Shergar

     

     

     

    10,,,Who won the 1985 World Snooker Championship on the final black ball ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Denis Taylor

     

     

     

    11,,,The origin of the word “golf” comes from the acronym “Gentlemen only, ladies forbidden.”

     

    True or False

     

     

     

    Answer,,,false

     

     

     

    12,,,In horseracing which derby is the first leg of the American triple crown ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,,The Kentucky Derby

     

     

     

    13,,,Gary Kasparov is known for his genius in which sport ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Chess

     

     

     

    14,,,The manager who lead England to their only World Cup ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Sir Alf Ramsey

     

     

     

    15,,,Gary LIneker won the golden boot in 1986 World Cup with how many goals ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,6

  10. Mahe the Madman on

    Celtic Questions

     

     

     

    1,,,Which of the following made the most appearances for the club,,,

     

    Shaun Maloney

     

    Didier Agathe

     

    Charlie Mulgrew

     

    Gary Caldwell

     

     

     

    2,,,Which of these former managers has the most international caps ,,,

     

    Wim Jansen

     

    MON

     

    Lenny

     

    Ronnie Deila

     

     

     

    3,,,Which club did Adam Matthews play for before he joined the Hoops ?

     

     

     

    4,,,Which Arsenal player joined on loan in 2005 ?

     

     

     

    5,,,Massimo Donati joined which club after Celtic ?

     

     

     

    6,,,He scored the only goal as Celtic defeated Liverpool in a pre season competition in Dublin against Brendan Rodgers Liverpool side ?

     

     

     

    7,,,Which former winger made his Dutch international debut against San Marino in 1993 ?

     

     

     

    8,,,He wore the number 7 and scored 4 goals against Dunfermline in Feb 2006 ?

     

     

     

    9,,,Which player joined West Brom in June 2006 ?

     

     

     

    10,,,Big Jock managed which team for 44 days ?

     

     

     

    11,,,Which former player managed Aberdeen to victory in the Scottish League Cup in 1996 ?

     

     

     

    12,,,This former defender counts Barnsley, Lyon, and Man City among his former clubs ?

     

     

     

    13,,,When Paul Lambert won the European Cup who was his manager at the time ?

     

     

     

    14,,,This former player joined Bali United last week after just 9 days at Dunfermline?

     

     

     

    15,,,Which former midfielder is currently playing for Vancouver Whitecaps ?

  11. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Shaun

     

    Wim

     

    Cardiff

     

    Alialidere

     

     

    Baked

     

    Blinker

     

    Full team

     

     

    Leeds

     

    Aitken

     

     

    Hitzfelt

  12. 1,,,Which of the following made the most appearances for the club,,,

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Charlie Mulgrew

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2,,,Which of these former managers has the most international caps ,,,

     

     

     

     

    Wim Jansen

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    3,,,Which club did Adam Matthews play for before he joined the Hoops ?

     

     

     

    Cardiff

     

     

     

     

     

    4,,,Which Arsenal player joined on loan in 2005 ?

     

     

    Lljunberg

     

     

     

     

     

     

    5,,,Massimo Donati joined which club after Celtic ?

     

     

    Parma

     

     

     

     

     

     

    6,,,He scored the only goal as Celtic defeated Liverpool in a pre season competition in Dublin against Brendan Rodgers Liverpool side ?

     

     

     

    Amido Balde

     

     

     

     

     

    7,,,Which former winger made his Dutch international debut against San Marino in 1993 ?

     

     

    dk

     

     

     

     

     

     

    8,,,He wore the number 7 and scored 4 goals against Dunfermline in Feb 2006 ?

     

     

    Magic Zurawski

     

     

     

     

     

     

    9,,,Which player joined West Brom in June 2006 ?

     

     

    John Hartson

     

     

     

     

     

     

    10,,,Big Jock managed which team for 44 days ?

     

     

     

    Leeds

     

     

     

     

     

    11,,,Which former player managed Aberdeen to victory in the Scottish League Cup in 1996 ?

     

     

    Willie Miller

     

     

     

     

     

    12,,,This former defender counts Barnsley, Lyon, and Man City among his former clubs ?

     

     

    Mick McCarthy

     

     

     

     

     

    13,,,When Paul Lambert won the European Cup who was his manager at the time ?

     

     

     

    Otmar Hitzfeld

     

     

     

     

     

    14,,,This former player joined Bali United last week after just 9 days at Dunfermline?

     

     

    Riordan

     

     

     

     

     

     

    15,,,Which former midfielder is currently playing for Vancouver Whitecaps ?

     

     

    dk

  13. Mahe the Madman on

    Celtic Answers

     

     

     

    1,,,Which of the following made the most appearances for the club,,,

     

    Shaun Maloney

     

    Didier Agathe

     

    Charlie Mulgrew

     

    Gary Caldwell

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Charlie Mulgrew

     

     

     

    2,,,Which of these former managers has the most international caps ,,,

     

    Wim Jansen

     

    MON

     

    Lenny

     

    Ronnie Deila

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Wim Jansen ( 65 )

     

     

     

    3,,,Which club did Adam Matthews play for before he joined the Hoops ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Cardiff City

     

     

     

    4,,,Which Arsenal player joined on loan in 2005 ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Jeremie Aliadiere

     

     

     

    5,,,Massimo Donati joined which club after Celtic ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Bari

     

     

     

    6,,,He scored the only goal as Celtic defeated Liverpool in a pre season competition in Dublin against Brendan Rodgers Liverpool side ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Amido Balde

     

     

     

    7,,,Which former winger made his Dutch international debut against San Marino in 1993 ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Reggie Blinker

     

     

     

    8,,,He wore the number 7 and scored 4 goals against Dunfermline in Feb 2006 ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Magic Zurawski

     

     

     

    9,,,Which player joined West Brom in June 2006 ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Big Bad John Hartson

     

     

     

    10,,,Big Jock managed which team for 44 days ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Leeds United

     

     

     

    11,,,Which former player managed Aberdeen to victory in the Scottish League Cup in 1996 ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Roy Aitken

     

     

     

    12,,,This former defender counts Barnsley, Lyon, and Man City among his former clubs ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,,Mick Mc Carthy

     

     

     

    13,,,When Paul Lambert won the European Cup who was his manager at the time ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Otmar Hitzfield

     

     

     

    14,,,This former player joined Bali United this week after just 9 days at Dunfermline?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Willo ( the Wisp ) Flood

     

     

     

    15,,,Which former midfielder is currently playing for Vancouver Whitecaps ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Efrain Juarez

  14. Mahe the Madman on

    BT scored 9,,,,total score 21

     

    SFTB,,,,scored 9,,,total 28

     

    Turkeybhoy,,, still on 5,,,,( it wasn’t just tobacco in that hooka was it ) smiley thing

  15. Mahe the Madman, my fat little 65 year old fingers could not keep up, but hail hail and god bless.

  16. Taranis your reaction against my analogy says a lot about you. Guys like you would shut down any free thinking or thought.

     

     

    The irony of you calling being super sensitive and then wanting to have a fight shouldn’t be lost on anyone.

  17. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Hercules speedy Gonzales Duiff mr ed

     

    Roland rat lassie bagpuss chucky

  18. Mahe the Madman on

    Famous Animal Names from left to right one row at a time,,

     

    Gentle Ben

     

    Speedy Gonzales

     

    Spit the Dug

     

    Mr ED

     

    Roland Rat

     

    Lassie

     

    Bagpuss

     

    Gizmo

  19. fergusslayedtheblues on

    regarding the 800 tickets given out for the game at Ibrokes .

     

    IIRC if the away crown is less than 1000 then you save a great deal on police costs .

     

     

    My memory in’t the greatest but I’m sure they pulled the same stunt before , just another cost cutting measure by TGASL and it got the bigots on his side ,so a win ,win situation for squinty

     

    HH

  20. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Wonderful news yesterday about Danny McGrain unfurling the league flag before the Livingstone game. Like Sean Fallon.unfurling the flag , its long overdue . Danny , like some of my generation, is my favourite Celtic player.

     

     

    A brilliant man and footballer.

     

     

    There are many ex Celts , John Clark in particular, who are deserving of this honour but Danny is my Celtic superman after all the health problems and injuries he had , to come back and play his heart out for us.

     

     

    One of Danny’s daughters was a midwife . She helped look after my wife during her last two pregnancies . when I was told she was Danny’s daughter , I knew my wife was in great hands.

     

     

    Like all of us , I was delighted with our performance on Wednesday after James and Calumn changing position. Our work rate and play were excellent.

  21. Mahe the Madman on

    Final Scores

     

    Blantyre Tim,,,scored 6,,,,final score tonight is 27

     

    SFTB,,,scored 6,,,final score tonight is 34

     

    Turkeybhoy,,,scored ( it seems ) smiley thing

     

     

    Thanks Bhoys . Well done. Sftb,,you’re lucky I’m quizmaster. Give you a run for your money ;)

  22. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Thanks Mahe

     

     

    Sorry I didn’t give SFTB a run for his money

     

    Well done T

     

     

    KTF

  23. Mahe the Madman on

    BT,, you gave him a run indeed . Was poorly worded on my part. I would love to take part some night I meant ,perhaps some good poster will do the honours. Have a good night partner. Hail Hail

  24. !!Bada Bing!! on

    The huns trying to pass off their training kit from last night as a 4th kit,their creativity is from David Icke

  25. fergusslayedtheblues on

    May I also suggest that police Scotland make sure there is enough vans available to accommodate 800 law breakers who will not be able to sit through a 90 min football match without fouling the air with racist and sectarian bile

     

     

    Remember all those excuses about how there were too many to arrest well surely this will be the best chance they will ever get to actually do their duty and uphold the law

     

     

    HH