Celtic have point to prove in Europe

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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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940 Comments

  1. CultsBhoy loves being 1st forever & ever on

    watching a documentary on Glasgow contemporary are – The Grit and the GLamour.

     

     

    Alan Yentob – was excellent – Glasgow Graduates leading the world – but best of all was footage from early 90s of them playing 5s – wearing CELTIC tops – now that was class!

  2. lochgoilhead bhoy on 17 July, 2012 at 23:26 said:

     

    hmmm………

     

     

    Compare

     

     

    Scotify

     

     

    with

     

     

    Masonic Symbols

     

     

    I guess I’m paranoid.

     

     

    share on F’book or Twitter

     

     

     

     

     

    Apple does have some ties with Freemasonry. Stephen “Woz” Wozniak co-founded Apple Computer, Inc. (now Apple Inc.) with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne. Although Wozniak permanently ended his full-time employment with Apple on February 6, 1987, he still remains an employee (and receives a paycheck) and is a shareholder.  He also maintains connections with Steve Jobs.  Wozniak is reportedly a sworn member of the Freemasons, initiated in 1980 at Charity Lodge No. 362 in Campbell, California.

  3. CultsBhoy loves being 1st forever & ever on

    watching a documentary on Glasgow contemporary art – The Grit and the GLamour.

     

     

    Alan Yentob – was excellent – Glasgow Graduates leading the world – but best of all was footage from early 90s of them playing 5s – wearing CELTIC tops – now that was class!

  4. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    crc

     

     

    Balblair. If you hold on ill go and read the label. lol o))0

  5. Bundoran Bhoy

     

     

    Sorry! My bad memory.

     

     

    How do I pay if they’re posted?

     

     

    hh

     

     

    B

  6. The Comfortable Collective on

    There is nothing like watching a wee clip of Mr Whyte on youtube just after he has taken over to make you chuckle.

     

     

    God love the wee google eyed fud. A true hero. And naebody has worked out how he has rattled £10-15 Million out of the corpse of rangers. I don’t know how he has done it, but I know he has done it, somehow. Most probably off the taxman, but given he was willing to see the FOD go right down the swannie to get his dough, well, God love him.

  7. cmon rebel, there a good bhoy, never you mind them hopeless service providers at CQN, they are bad boys and your a good bhoy.

     

     

    i remeber that time you jumped out the car windae , well you didnae it was the orignal rebel, but your still the same dug, so you are , my little bundle of joy

  8. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    TET,

     

    yer chucked :o)

     

    Landry is needed here, never ever seen anyone (bar Bobby Murdoch) “how did he get that” tackle and the opposition is still on his feet, the bhoy done it at every level with us, and I still dont know how he done it, the foot is faster than the eye, now you see it now you dont.

     

    Landry N’Guemo in a minute :o)

  9. Dead and Loving it on

    Is anybody on speaking terms with anybody at the big hoose?

     

    What more can they give

     

    Walter suing Aly

  10. CultsBhoy loves being 1st forever & ever on 17 July, 2012 at 23:46 said:

     

    watching a documentary on Glasgow contemporary art – The Grit and the GLamour.

     

     

    it was a good watch , agree.

     

     

    i dont normally do arty farty rubbish, but it was obvious there wasnt a hun amongst them.

  11. JimmyQuinnsBits on

    Bundoranbhoy/crc,

     

     

    Can you put me down for a badge, i’ll square up wen i get back from holidays, first week in august?

  12. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    crc

     

     

    Got pen & paper?

     

     

    Its Balblurr2000002nd released? Ok? HaiL HaiL

  13. The bould bhoys..... Tá ár lá anois on

    canamalar

     

     

    Are you serious about wee Landry…? …I loved that wee man,… A battler that contradicted his frame.

     

     

    Iposted the 1970 World cup final earlier. To me that is the benchmark right there imo. We have still to see a team grace the field that is anywhere close….[well mibbees Barca…..?] to the skill level throughout that Brasil era.

     

     

    Every one of them in that squaad, incl keeper, possessed more than the basics of ball control.

     

     

    42 years ago and Scotlands Premier league players [from mid to fwd] still don’t know how to take a touch without looking at the ball.

     

     

    Wretched hun fitba philosophy has put the Game back Decades….!!!!!!

  14. canamalar

     

     

    I remember Paul Elliots firt season, if the manager had listened to the support he would have been hunted, or shot :>)

     

     

    Big Kelvin, had a stuttering start to his time with us, injuries haven’t helped, but obviously Lenny has faith in him, as he does Sammi, who has won most of the support round.

     

     

    Aye, hypnosis would be worth the trying, it worked on the wife, she thinks I am good looking :>)))

     

     

    Just a tad crabbit, the heat is relentless, getting the vino at th right temp is a job and a half, beer is so hard to drink these days…….

     

     

    Time to retire, have the grandweans here on thursday for 6 weeks, she is going spare getting things ready, doing the head in, much to do.

     

     

    Take care and god bless

     

    HH

     

    KTF

  15. Canamalar,

     

    i thought i was the only one who rated Landry,

     

    everyone else i spoke to were glad to see him go

  16. In the heat of Lisbon on

    wore my CQN badge with pride tonight in my local. a few Orcs were present and were made well aware of CQN and its involvement in making public their misdeeds. I then explained the badge and the campaign to try and placate them. No mean feat i tell you!!

     

    Nice meeting some CQNers today

  17. Neil Lennon is ainm dom (nohunlover) on

    bjmac on 17 July, 2012 at 23:31 said:

     

     

    Any plans for a CQN golf day in the Republic?!

  18. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Buy Landry N’Guemo, that’ll do me, if we make only one signing this seaon and he was te mhan, I’d be happy

  19. @AllanRennie1: Draft legal document bearing names of SFA, SPL, SFL and Rangers Newco details wide-ranging sanctions over EBTs. #dailyrecord

  20. “An agreement has been reached and he (Ibrahimovic) will be having his medical tomorrow (Wednesday),” Leonardo said outside the Parc des Princes.

     

    “It’s a great year for PSG. That such a player is coming here is enormous, it can change everything.”

     

    PSG announced on the club’s official website that they would be holding a news conference at 15:00 CET (2pm British time) on Wednesday when the striker is expected to be presented.

     

    “It’s a deal. I can confirm that,” Ibrahimovic’s agent Mino Raiola told Swedish news agency TT earlier on Tuesday.

     

    Media reports suggest that Ibrahimovic will be paid in the region of £200,000-a-week in Paris.

     

    Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi announced last week that he had sold Ibrahimovic, top scorer in Serie A last season, and defender Thiago Silva to the big-spending French club who were taken over by Qatari investors last year.

     

    Ibrahimovic, 30, will join Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, who signed for PSG earlier this month, as the club from the French capital seek to play a major role in Europe.

     

    They finished second in Ligue 1 last term and will now play in the Champions League.

     

    Last season, they signed Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore as well as defender Alex and midfielder Thiago Motta.

     

    Attempts to sign David Beckham and Carlos Tevez failed, however, despite the presence of new coach Carlo Ancelotti.

  21. Neil Lennon is ainm dom (nohunlover) on 17 July, 2012 at 23:59 said:

     

     

    Would be great to do that next year, you put us all up? Seriously would love to sort something out, but could prove difficult going on my experience simply organising a wee day here and there in Scotland !!! :-)

     

     

     

    Bundoran Bhoy

     

     

    Yes could meet in town, but going on holiday either on Thursday or Sunday – Camping so flexible – but what it does mean is I can’t get into town before going away, so it would need to be when I get back or at the 1st game of the season. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!! Fantastic!

     

     

    hh

     

     

    bjmac

  22. !!Bada Bing!! on

    That guy fae G4S could get a gig at Poundland,how can he get a £300 mil contract for his company? £57 mil fee btw,he said he is keeping it.

  23. The bould bhoys,

     

    got pissed in Edinburgh a few weeks ago with the mrs,

     

    decided to have a whiskey,which i never drink,

     

    after some studying we opted for Glenrothes,

     

    ordered 2 halfs and got no change from £11,

     

    first and last time i drink that ;-)))

  24. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on 18 July, 2012 at 00:01 said:

     

     

    I thought we had the new Edgar Davids in Landry….shows what I know about football…agreeing with Canamalar….I need to lie down…

     

     

    hh

     

     

    bjmac

  25. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    N C

     

     

    He has scored 5 goals in his entire career and none for Celtic. Watch him go walkies when elbows scored and cost us a victory at D D!!

     

     

    You on the gas & milk?

  26. Neil Lennon is ainm dom (nohunlover) on

    bjmac on 18 July, 2012 at 00:04 said:

     

    Absolutely, though I’m not sure how many sets of golf clubs and players I could hold in a one bed apartment!!

     

     

    HH

  27. gordybhoy64 on 18 July, 2012 at 00:06 said:

     

    The bould bhoys,

     

    got pissed in Edinburgh a few weeks ago with the mrs,

     

    decided to have a whiskey,which i never drink,

     

    after some studying we opted for Glenrothes,

     

    ordered 2 halfs and got no change from £11,

     

    first and last time i drink that ;-)))

     

    ———————————————————————————–

     

     

    after all the advice you got on here about where to go an all.

     

     

    bloody eejit.

     

     

    ;-)

  28. The bould bhoys..... Tá ár lá anois on

    gordy64

     

     

    Only time I drank it was at a wedding reception in a bowling club in Clydebank..[classy eh?] Anyway at £1:50 a nip me and aul’ Uncie Arthur got teamed right into it.

     

     

    Poor aul’sod skint his knes gettin in the Taxi that nicht….

     

     

    :)

  29. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    t bb

     

     

    Shame on you U shld have been lookin efter old unkle Art that night. o))

  30. some say he base jumps off cliffs for fun, others that he loved to take the mick out the Hvns,

     

     

    We just know him as Victor Wanyama….

     

     

    Vic, if you’re listening, stick with us, your a diamond

     

     

    Hail Hail