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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  1. viewfromthestand

     

    Channel67 is now Celtic tv.

     

    I don’t think you can watch live matches from inside the UK – but you will have access to delayed games, library of the old games, the huddle and player interviews.

     

    Teuchter ár lá

  2. Celtic FC ought to do something about Novo’s slanderous statement – From a Marketing and Branding perspective , these types of comments do the clubs reputation enormous damage , particulalrly coming from a source with global reach.

  3. Terraces will remain a fixture in German grounds after a security summit of all professional football clubs in Frankfurt today decided against enforcing them to have all-seater stadia.

     

     

    The German Football Association (DFB) and German Football League (DFL) invited representatives of all clubs in the top three tiers of German football for discussions on the best way to deal with the issue of crowd violence, which has been on the increase.

     

     

    The use of pyrotechnic devices is becoming a serious issue while violence outside grounds has also started to escalate with several incidents reported last season.

     

     

    Eradicating standing areas was one suggestion to deal with the problems, but the clubs have unanimously decided against that proposal.

     

     

    “German football is a model of success and it should remain that way in the future,” said DFL president Dr Reinhard Rauball in a statement.

     

     

    “We can be proud of our fan culture of standing terraces, which is steeped in tradition, and moderate ticket prices.

     

     

    “We want to protect this situation.”

     

     

    Stricter punishments will be introduced and it will now be up to the individual clubs to identify and sanction any troublemakers within their own grounds.

     

     

    Anybody seen lighting flares or fireworks can now be banned from attending any future matches and blocked from buying tickets.

     

     

    The captains of each club will read out a statement before the first matches of the upcoming season reminding the fans of their own responsibilities and that violence and pyrotechnics will not be tolerated.

     

     

    “Anybody who is in favour of football is against violence,” said DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach.

     

     

    “The huge masses of peaceful fans should be able to succeed over the small groups intent on disturbing things by being violent.

     

     

    “Zero tolerance for any form of violence will remain our way forwards.”

  4. Paul67 et al

     

     

    Not convinced that this team is better than the one that beat AC Milan at Parkhead but would concede that it has more potential for progress. The real question is whether we have in fact strengthened the team since the end of last season. Well we haven’t signed a centre back, and we have let go three of them, four if you count Mark Wilson who occasionally played there. Missed out on Matt Mills, which was a pity, and do not seem to have many targets. Okay Barcelona, and Spain play with two at the back, and eight across the middle, so maybe that is Neilly’s plan.

  5. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    DBBIA 1644

     

     

    My understanding of history has come late in life.

     

     

    There are some truly fascinating anomalies between what we were taught,and fact.

     

     

    As has been said before,history is written by the winners.

     

     

    Or to put it another way,every subject is worth a wee delve into dissention.

  6. stevenagebhoy on 17 July, 2012 at 14:50 said:

     

     

    I think it was Wilton Felder played on that track, later of the Crusaders, there is a very nice remix of I Want You Back on the Motown Remixed album from 2005, bass in the place!!

     

     

    Starry

  7. Nacho can rant all he wants.

     

     

    At the end of the day, in the battle between the bigoted mob and our all inclusive club WE WON THE WAR!

     

     

    Division 3 Nacho, how do you like them apples…

  8. viewfromthestand on 17 July, 2012 at 16:40 said:

     

     

    I don’t think anyone has answered Miki67′s question regarding viewing Channel 67 on ipad. I would also like to know, if anyone out there can tell us. I signed up for Celtic TV last night as a way of giving a bit extra and because I was bored down in London, but I would be more likely to watch it on the ipad back home in Glasgow.

     

     

    Yes you can within the boundaries you sign up for, works fine on the iPad.

     

     

    RobinBhoy

  9. The Scottish FA has confirmed it has the power to transfer existing punishments to ‘newco’ Rangers.

     

     

    A year-long transfer embargo and fines were handed down to the previous incarnation of the club.

     

     

    Rangers sought a Judicial Review at the Court of Session, which set aside the embargo and referred the matter back to the SFA’s appellate tribunal.

     

     

    However, the SFA has revealed it can attach discretionary conditions to Rangers’ application for membership.

     

     

    Rangers received the embargo and a £100,000 fine from the SFA in April for bringing the game into disrepute.

     

     

    The statement issued by the SFA on Tuesday quotes 14.1 from its Articles of Association.

     

     

    It read: “Transfer of membership will be reviewed by the board, which will have the complete discretion to reject or to grant such application on such terms and conditions as the board may think fit.

     

     

    “The decision of the Court of Session to set aside the 12-month registration embargo was complicated by Rangers FC’s administration and subsequent request from Sevco Scotland for a transfer of membership of the Scottish FA.

     

     

    “Now that the club’s status has been confirmed by the SPL and SFL, we will consider the award of transfer once Rangers FC satisfy the necessary criteria.”

  10. My dear,dear,dear,friend.. Bobby Murdoch’s turned up WInklepickers..

     

     

    Pal.. You know too Damn Much, fur Ma Likin’!

     

     

    And ye Agree wi ME .. faur Too Much!

     

     

    This is No Much Fun!

     

     

    Let’s Chinge the Subject.. Besides, thur ur many oan here.. who

     

    Actually, Think. that thur Vote Coonts~or.. Thur Chosen Political Party is

     

    the Light and the Wey,

     

     

    Meanwhile, in anither Part of the Steamie..

     

     

    Tonight’s Game is more of less.. jist fur the Hell o’ it…

     

     

    It’s the Ajax wan that Ah am lookin’ forward tae..

     

     

    Hope,the Fur that wan. Neil his goat awe his Best Players in the Line-up.

     

     

    The Euro games are no faur away.. and It is aboot time that He

     

    Goat Serious Aboot.. assemblin’ his best Formation..and gien it a chance tae

     

    Meld intae .and Ustoppable Juggernaut..

     

     

    Still,canny.. figger oot…why.. Neil . Played…. Murphy.. ??

     

     

    If Murphy, ever gets anither game fur us.. then Ah wull Stop Smokin'( Don’t believe him.. Fur. He DISNAE EVEN SMOKE!..ed)( Clype!.. )

     

     

    Nice Chattin’ wi ye.. always a Pleasure..

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Yer pal..who likes ye a loater.

     

     

    Still, Laughin’.. Like Goodo.

  11. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    BMCUWP -if you [or anyone else on here] enjoys reading history then I thoroughly recommend ‘Hellhound on his Trail’ , by Hampton Sides.

     

     

    It’s the story of the MLKing assassination, but done as a real page turner.

  12. London 2012 is withdrawing half a million Olympic football tickets from sale but 200,000 for other sports are to be made available.

     

     

    Organisers are to reduce capacity at Hampden Park in Glasgow and Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

     

     

    Cariff’s upper tier of seats will be closed for some games.

  13. joe millers shorts on

    Just a thought.

     

    i was wondering why Sevco have not organised a friendly yet. Surely they need the money asap.

     

     

    Any ideas?

  14. Guess when this is from.

     

    Was posted on KDS by Barcabhoy.

     

     

     

    lord stevens might also want to have a look into the employee benefits trusts which have been heavily used at ibrox…..

  15. joe millers shorts – they can’t play any professional sides until they have their SFA membership and subsequently their league membership ratified

  16. joe millers shorts.

     

    They DO have several glamour friendlies lined up against Kelty Hearts,Beith Juniors and Hawick Royal Albert.

     

     

    Meanwhile we’ve got rubbidge auld Ajax,Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

     

     

    How jealous are you?

  17. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    You still need a team, even to play a friendly.

     

    They will be petitioning the SFL to allow a backie-goalie in Div3.

  18. thomthethim CQN (genuine) Badge Wearer on

    I find the copy and paste on the i-pad a bit hit or miss.

     

     

    Sometimes,you only have to touch the screen to achieve the copy part.

     

    Other times,you co

  19. thomthethim CQN (genuine) Badge Wearer on

    B…..,

     

    Other times,you could be pressing y ideas on allday and nothing happens.

     

     

    Anhow to effectively c&p on i-pad ?

  20. medtim on 17 July, 2012 at 17:07 said:

     

    Guess when this is from.

     

    Was posted on KDS by Barcabhoy.

     

     

    lord stevens might also want to have a look into the employee benefits trusts which have been heavily used at ibrox…..

     

     

    —————————————————————————————————————-

     

     

    2006

     

     

    Hats off to Barcabhoy

  21. NO-tamstered-sebcoe on

    how does this sound

     

    AJAX v CELTIC SPECIAL OFFER

     

     

    Hi,

     

     

    Finally, minds can be focused on football again and Celtic are

     

    looking to Europe this weekend with an important glamour friendly

     

    against Ajax in Amsterdam.

     

     

    Premier Sports is showing this game at 6pm on Saturday 21st July and

     

    3 hours of Celtic TV including all Saturday home games not broadcast

     

    on SKY & ESPN on a Monday night during the season.

     

     

    We would like to offer a 12 month season ticket to the channel for

     

    only £40 using promo code ‘CELTICFC’ online at http://www.premiersports.tv

     

    or by calling 0871 663 9000. This offer is only available using a

     

    credit card and please have your 9 digit Sky card number to hand.

     

     

    This is a massive saving of £85 over 12 months and not only will you

     

    see great Celtic content you will also get all our other live sports

     

    from the NHL to NASCAR.

     

     

    Sign up now enjoy the Bhoys in European action once more.

  22. thomthethim CQN (genuine) Badge Wearer on

    Sorry about themessy post.

     

     

    I’m looking for an efficient way to c&p on i-pad, please.

  23. Would it be fair to say that Sky have proved not to be in the wrong here? As far as I know, they are advertising this season’s SPL without thems.

     

     

    Most of the dis-information and scare-mongering has been generated by Doncaster and peddled by the msm.

  24. Over-Heard ,by Wee Fly oan the Wa’

     

     

    Lennie.. We wull hiv tae Stoap losing a Goal ,in the First Five Minutes, in

     

    Euro Games.

     

     

    Pierre.. Aye. we wull ,that.

     

     

    Voice Fae the Wa’…

     

     

    Ah Kin hiv a Suggestion tae fix That.

     

     

    Lennie and Pierre.. in Chorus..

     

     

    How?

     

     

    Disembodied Voice..

     

     

    Easy, Don’t Start the Game, until, the Second Five Minutes!

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still, Laughin’…of Course!

  25. Personal plea to a couple of lapsed season ticket holders – Paul M and James H (you know who you are) . It is time to renew your love for Celtic and show we do not need them to fill our stadium.

     

     

    ps it’s hot here in Spain but am looking forward to getting home.

  26. deekbhoy.

     

    Yep.4th October 2006.

     

    Good on ye Barcabhoy.

     

    So,the msm have had the thick end of 6 years to familiarise themselves with the issue and yet,even to this day,they still can’t or won’t.

  27. My Tip fur Celtic’s Player of the Year… in the upcoming Season

     

     

    James Forrest.

     

     

    He has Weathered the Dreaded Sophomore Year wi’ Distinction…

     

     

    and

     

     

    Noo. he Starts his Junior Year, with Over Brimming Confidence..

     

     

    Go tae it, Jamsie Bhoy.. Ye are Some kinda Player!

     

     

    Kojo

     

     

    Still, Laughin’…of Course!

  28. thomthethim CQN (genuine) Badge Wearer on

    RobinBhoy on 17 July, 2012 at 17:19 said:

     

    thomthethim CQN (genuine) Badge Wearer on 17 July, 2012 at 17:13 said:

     

     

    Sorry about the messy post.

     

     

    I’m looking for an efficient way to c&p on i-pad, please

     

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LUv4t12pCE

     

     

    This should sort you out.

     

     

    RobinBhoy

     

     

    share on F’book or Twitter

     

     

     

    ******

     

    Thank you. I’ll practise

  29. Celtic Football Club ‏@celticfc

     

    CELTIC: Forster; Lustig, K. Wilson, Wanyama, Mulgrew; Forrest, Ledley, Kayal, Commons; Hooper, Stokes (LB)

     

     

    Hoops for tonight..

  30. Celtic Football Club ‏@celticfc

     

    Subs: Zaluksa, Brown, McGeouch, McCourt, Murphy, Bangura. Kick-off 19.15 (18.15 CPT) and there is no TV coverage. Twitter updates only. (LB)

     

     

    Reserves for tonight..

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