Celtic will face their first Champions League qualifying opponents on either 31 July or 1 August but heartbeats among the scouting staff will quicken tonight and tomorrow when every potential opponent will play in the second qualifying round.
A number of potential opponents from eastern and northern Europe are mid-season but all will benefit from successfully coming through two qualifying games before tackling seeded opponents two weeks from now.
It is crucially important that Celtic are ready for this tie.
The final qualifying round, scheduled to take place during the last two weeks in August, will offer a greater challenge on paper but European qualifying games in July are notorious for catching better teams unprepared.
After a credibly, though ultimately unsuccessful, Europa League group campaign last season Celtic’s domestic form clicked into place and we looked like a team capable of becoming champions. There was some regret that we didn’t hit form early enough to make the most of our European adventure. Neil Lennon will also be keen to avoid the anaemic performance against Sion, who beat Celtic on aggregate but were subsequently awarded two 3-0 defeats for failing to observe rules.
These Celtic players found hidden depths last season but they have a point to prove in Europe. There is also the nagging suspicion that this Celtic team is more talented that the two Gordon Strachan took to the later stages of the Champions League.
Bring it on.
Get your season ticket and saddle up for the ride.
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Paul67:
There was me thinking Armageddon had arrived…Mmm
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
it was only a pre season friendly FGS….. o)
Paul67
Glad to see we are back, I have your CQN badges mate. Need to arrange beers to sort badges with you and a few bhoys
HH
wee james mcfadden dae a joab for us
6 mumfh deal????
The board and PL and p67 have asked the fans to rally round and buy season tickets
Neil has said he has no money to buy
Well done to the board in supporting the team and our manager
The squad has been trimmed significantly, cutting cost
Not much to ask for 4 to 5 million for one quality player
Shame in Celtic PLC
You should have a look at De Stefano’s rap sheet on wiki
first name should be Reggie
It would seem from tonites match comments that patiently perusing big FRASER was a wise move
bigphil47 on 17 July, 2012 at 21:59 said:
We are working our way down the list. A very Looooonnnnng list!!!!
Get to you soon, assuming that you are on the list. Just checked you are :-)
Wee update on Oscar for all.
Not been a good week for the wee CQN star!!
http://oscarknox.blogspot.co.uk/
Keep the prayers and donations going
HH
CRC
Only 2-1 ?
I cannot wait for Di Stefano to team up with bomber Brown.
NOW, that really would be a dream team.
The best part of the video is when Di Stefano is commenting that a lot of blokes have been slagging him on twitter for his ‘success’, or lack of, in defending Saddam Hussien.
He says, (and I paraphrase) “In the end, Saddam was very nearly not executed”.
Brilliant, “very nearly not executed”, or to put it another way, “executed!!!”.
Brilliant.
Brown and Di Stefano must join forces. They would be irresistable.
Bundoran Bhoy – RAISING AWARENESS OF NEUROBLASTOMA (GOD BLESS WEE OSCAR) on 17 July, 2012 at 22:02 said:
What is this “beer for badges” deal?
HH
CRC
SydneyTim on 17 July, 2012 at 22:03
===================================
Patience ST, patience!
:-)
SydneyTim
For once I agree with you :>)
Lenny has been asking for a CH for quite a while now, he has stated he wanted one in for pre season for the CL qualifiers.
Only this week he has had to say that he will go with what he has if he can’t get one in.
He has been badly let down by the suits imo.
sydney tim,
not arguing with you cause i dont know,
when did Neil say he had no money to spend
Would would your team be for qualifier mines would be 4-5-1
Forster
Mathews ,rogne ,wanyama ,izzy
Forrest ,brown,kayal,ledley,sammy
Hopper
celticrollercoaster supporting wee Oscar on 17 July, 2012 at 22:08 said:
Just beers when badges are paid for n handed over boss ;-)
HH
Very nearly not executed
saddam hit the post(or the floor)
classic comedy gold
Bundoran Bhoy – RAISING AWARENESS OF NEUROBLASTOMA (GOD BLESS WEE OSCAR) on 17 July, 2012 at 22:10 said:
All I get is envelope burn :-)
HH
CRC
CRC no probs thanks
Lenny says…..
“Look Ped…Jist keep yer haun in yer poaket fur noo. If I think I need anither body,…. doon the line,..I’ll gi ye a chap….awrite Big Chap.”
I think it was General Melchett that prevented the news
of a reprieve for Saddam getting through
celticrollercoaster supporting wee Oscar on 17 July, 2012 at 22:12 said:
All mines are in envelopes to make me keep track of who I’ve gave to lol
HH
Did we win?
BTW 67 me ole mucker, why does the log-in page have a picture of handsome, no, frankly he’s never been a hun, Mulgrew only to cover his boat race???
Whats the big idea?
You would have thought that De Stefano would have used a couple of better examples than Saddam and Bamber.
One is serving a life sentance, the other is dead, just like the club he loves so much………..
The bould Tommy been bearbaitin again, I see.
And ole Minty at that……
:)))
bigphil47 on 17 July, 2012 at 22:12 said:
You have mail
HH
CRC
got to admit, this whole rangers fiasco has brought out the crazies more than a full moon ever could
loving it
No Lamb Here
Celtic close Germany tour with victory
By: Laura Brannan on 17 Jul, 2012 20:17
17 July 2012
Friendly
Sholz Arena, Aalen
VFR AALEN 1
(Hubner 4)
CELTIC 2
(Hooper 64, Stokes 77)
ANTHONY Stokes slotted home the winner as Celtic came from behind to beat Aalen 2-1 in their final pre-season match on German soil.
The home side had initially taken the lead after just four minutes when Benjamin Hubner bundled the ball over the line from a free-kick. But a persistent Celtic came back in the second-half, firstly from a Gary Hooper tap in before Stokes slotted through the keeper’s legs to take the lead.
Neil Lennon had made several changes to the side which lost to Stuttgart Kickers at the weekend and introduced two of the late comers to the squad, Victor Wanyama and Mikael Lustig, from the start.
But it wasn’t the best of starts for Celtic who went behind to a goal in the fourth minute. It came two minutes after Fraser Forster had blocked a shot with his leg and this time it originated from a free-kick. Despite the keeper blocking the initial shot from Hubner, the Aalen defender managed to bundle it over the line and Celtic’s cries for offside were ignored.
The Hoops didn’t let their heads drop, though, and showed good movement in midfield. There was a clear improvement from the previous two matches on German soil and they pushed forward in an attempt to find an equaliser.
But after a good spell from Celtic, the home side came back into the game on 24 minutes when Mulgrew was forced to make a sliding block inside the box. Wanyama then thumped the ball out of play shortly after and Kelvin Wilson headed the resulting corner clear.
Aalen striker, Marcel Reichwein attempted a glancing header just before the half hour mark but it was an easy one for Forster to clear. And the keeper followed that up three minutes later with an excellent block from the same player, this time hitting it onto the bar.
James Forrest, who was looking one of the quickest and sharpest in the hoops, made a break away from an Aalen corner on 38 minutes and made a good run down the wing. Kris Commons couldn’t make the most of it, however, and sent his cross into the stand behind the goal.
Aalen had one more attack before the break but Forster came to the rescue again, this time blocking it with his legs. Wilson followed through by clearing the loose ball and Celtic went into half-time one goal down.
But they returned fighting and in the opening 15 minutes Celtic tried to push deep into Aalen’s half. Their persistence paid off on 64 minutes when Hooper scored the side’s first goal of pre-season, tapping it in at the far post.
The two substitutes, Paddy McCourt and Dylan McGeouch, linked well to send the ball into the box and the striker converted it from just a few yards out.
And the goal seemed to breed life into the Hoops as they charged forward in search of another. Substitute Mo Bangura looked energetic and eager to impress, and he was involved in the build up to Celtic’s next chance.
This time McCourt unleashed an effort from the edge of the box, but Daniel Bernhardt in goal, blocked the shot. Hooper attempted to latch onto the loose ball but was ruled offside in the process.
The Hoops continued to dominate and found a second goal on 77 minutes, this time from Stokes. The Irishman had initially dummied the ball when Brown had played it into the box. Forrest collected it and played it through to the Irishman where he duly converted it though the keeper’s legs.
With Celtic now in the lead they looked confident and in control. Aalen couldn’t find an equaliser at the end and the Hoops closed the German leg of their pre-season tour with a victory. Next up for the Hoops is Ajax in the Amsterdam ArenA on Saturday, July 21.
VFR AALEN (4-5-1): Bernhardt; Traut, Hubner, Kister, Buballa; Dausch, Hufmann, Grech, Kampl (Haller); Reichwein, Lechleiter
Subs: Wehr, Barth, Valentini, Bergheim, Junglas, Klauss, Ruiz, Weiss, Zimmermann, Silva
CELTIC (3-4-1-2): Forster; Lustig (McGeouch 62), K. Wilson, Wanyama (McCourt 63), Mulgrew; Forrest, Ledley, Kayal (Brown 46), Commons (Bangura 65); Stokes, Hooper (Murphy 73)
Subs not used: Zaluska
Website man of the match: James Forrest
THE EXILED TIM on 17 July, 2012 at 22:16:
You would think a Dundee fan would have more interesting things to get involved in.
But, at least I’ll say this for De Stefano, he is the first anti-glory hunter I have ever came across.
He is leaving a team who have just entered the SPL to give his attenntions to one in Division 3.
The Di Stefano letter:
Warning! More comedy gold from RM.
I think Green has a point (tin hat on) in complaining about punishments, Sevco are not Hun PLC the latter will be liquidated soon. They don’t exist, Sevco have no history, have no bills outstanding. So how come the SFA and UEFA are after them for sanctions etc.This only gives the stupid huns material to argue that they still exist.
Hun PLC should be punished for EBT’s which resulted in titles won, they should be withdrawn and given to us but Sevco should be left alone to explode in the lower divisions :)
The Comfortable Collective on 17 July, 2012 at 22:07 said:
“He says, (and I paraphrase) ‘In the end, Saddam was very nearly not executed’.”
He will now be saying “In the end Rangers were very nearly not liquidated”
Kojo
The high rise flats in Pollokshaws are being demolished. Get oot quick!
THE EXILED TIM on 17 July, 2012 at 22:08
and
SydneyTim:
With the dead club gone we along with every other Club will have to cut our cloths. It is a simple fact of life unfortunately.
We will most probably sell Ki, for probably around £7 million. Some of that will be used to purchase a CH. We will pursue a Striker and somebody to replace Ki.
I hear that the Forster deal was done and dusted a few weeks back. It was delayed in being announced until Juarez cash was brought in.
I am as frustrated as you that we have not brought in our Striker and CH, both of which Neil has publicly stated we need. Remember we had our CH lined up, signed on a precontract but unfortunately the Pole got a bad injury.
Do not be negative or blame the Board, they are managing the finances, look what happened to the dead club.
Patience my friends, once we sell, we will strengthen.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Mark Hateley says being very nearly not executed is just like a new signing
HH
I wonder if Minty and Whytey will be calling on De Stefano for his services shortly
What is not to like about that track record?
and what a legal team for Bomber (I’ll open a bank acoont fur yees) Brown
de stefano and findlay
a match made in carstairs
Lennybhoy
we sold Aiden for 11m because we had to balance the books…
we have lost plenty of players therefore reduced plenty from the wage already…