Some tasty teams dropped into the Europa League knockout stage last night. The Salzburg (2018 semi-finalist) keeper had a nightmare against Liverpool, ensuring a defeat occurred where a win was required to prevent the Austrians slipping from the Champions League.
Inter, who are second to Juventus is Serie A, also finished third in their CL group after losing at home to Barcelona. Still, only three points separate them from Lazio, who have won their last seven domestic league games and are clearly the form team in Italy, despite losing home and away to Celtic.
Benfica (2014 finalist) thrashed Zent 3-0 but finished their CL group third, a point behind Lyon, while last season’s Champions League semi-finalists, Ajax (2017 finalist), blew it at home to Valencia, losing 0-1 on the night and managing to be eliminated on 10 points.
All four will fancy their chances of reaching the semi-final. Whoever we face in the first knockout round has reached that stage on merit, but they are unlikely to be stronger than Lazio. There is a lot of work to do between now and 20 February, when the competition resumes, we’ll see what shape we are in then.
Tom Rogic signed shirt raffle for Celtic FC Foundation
The Celtic squad wore a special shirt for last month’s league game against Motherwell, bearing the Celtic FC Foundation Christmas Appeal logo instead of the normal Dafabet logo on the front, and the words “Christmas Appeal” on the back, instead of the Magners logo.
Tom Rogic’s signed shirt from that day is available for raffle. Each donation of £10 or more will be entered into a draw, which will take place on Friday 13 December. The shirt will be posted on Monday 16th (or available for collection at the Hibs game on Sunday 15th).
The Celtic FC Foundation do incredible work throughout the world all year round, but their work with those most in need in the winter months, and for children and families coping with chronic poverty, can give warmth, nourishment, self-respect and human compassion that some people struggle to find. All donations go straight to the Foundation.
This is why Celtic exists. You can enter here at JustGiving. Good luck and thank you!!
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Inter .
Top of Serie A . They have improved under Conte . He’s probably frightened them into getting their finger out . Well beaten by a full of squad players Barca lineup last night . That said the big lump Lukaku missed 3 great chances . The Argentine striker Lutaro Martinez is way too good for Inter . It wouldn’t be a surprise if he is sold to one of the genuine Big Boys thus giving Conte the money to buy more grunt and grind .
Atalanta would be good — a team which plays attractive attacking football.
Napoli have sacked Ancelotti . Rumored replacement is Gattuso . Saw an interview with a big cheese Ultra earlier –
” We didn’t want Ancelotti and we certainly don’t want Gattuso .. That squad need a psychiatrist “
Anyone heard from big Jimmy? Are ye oot there Jimmy?
🍀⚽️
For what it maybe worth …..
After Thursdays game we have 4 games to get our best team fit and ready for the 29th…
To me the most difficult game will be against Hearts away with their new manager….No more experiments ..please Neil… get your best eleven fit and ready and playing together to the system employed at Ibrox in September..resting only anyone who may need it…
My strongest squad selection would be : Forster, ElHamed Jullien Ajer and Taylor
Frimpong Brown McGregor Christie Johnson Edouard….
Where Jonny Hayes, Olivier Ntcham and Tom Rogic ready replacements…for Taylor, Brown and Christie/ Calum
Subs From: Gordon, Bauer, Bolingoli, Bitton, Forrest, Griffiths, Elyanoussi
Sadly James Forrest just does not appear to be up for the big ones…I would play Jeremie on the right wing…so far he’s been our best attacking wide man since Pat Roberts …Lenny should try moving him forward with Elhamed behind him..let’s see how the wee man performs as our right winger….reminds me of JJ…
Nice to know Sepp Blatter is living in peace now… :o)
Bhoyfromsky…wee James has been up for plenty big ones…
BHOYFROMSKY on 11TH DECEMBER 2019 2:14 PM
Sorry did you miss the game in Rome?
James has 13 goals and 13 assists this year. French Eddy has 13 goals and 12 assists.
Re JF ..agree James has produced plenty and certainly in Rome…However he has also been inconsistent …A challenge, in the form af Jeremie, might well be what James needs …on Sunday he was sadly missing as were others …on the 29th we can not afford ANY passengers…
James Forrest is a winger. Wingers are consistently inconsistent. Paddy Roberts was also inconsistent…and JInky too…However, when they are on their game….
Btw…we had so many passengers on Sunday but we still won…however, point taken.
Re. Jinky.
Today we have more than able subs. when one winger is having an off day.
Or even big Jocks trick.
Wingers swapping sides.
AN DUN
Thanks for clarifying my earlier question about VAR.
I saw Ajax Valencia and Leipzig Liverpool.
Om Sunday’s showing, it would be embarrassing if we played them – they’re still very good sides even though they went out.
Hope the seeded business is correct.
As group winners, we will be one of 16 seeded teams. The 12 group winners plus 4 top third placed teams, We ate unlikely to face teams with 8 or more points.
I love how all the ‘expert’s use a couple of frames from TV coverage stopped at just the ‘right’ time to prove their point. There is no room for the possibility that ‘their’ evidence is inconclusive and would NOT be ‘clear and obvious’ to allow a decision to be overruled.
The evidence is then accompanied with a narative that doesn’t even match the video e.g. Uncle Tom English describing a “yard offside” ….don’t take an inch Tom, when you can take a yard
Two mins research shows that VAR requires the following
“33 cameras are used in one match, including 8 Super Slow Motion cameras and 4 Ultra Slow Motion cameras with speeds up to 120 frames per second, in addition to normal speed cameras with degrees Ultra HD resolution”
Of course we won’t need that in Scotland…. just Wiggy Smith with his cine , a Polaroid,
and an agenda.
The Onlooker
Sorry to read that former right back Ian Young has died
I remember him as being a fine exponent of the slide tackle when I was a youngster watching him pla
Ian Young RIP
Fallon , Young and Gemmell proudly wore the green .
Should draft in Boerichter and big Ollie for Thursday. A quagmire on Sunday Would have suited John Divers. Just heard that his team mate ,Ian Young has passed away. RIP IAN , a steady right back. Celts were dire on Sunday and Mikey missed best chance of the match.
Going back to the Hamilton mstch, big FF made a tremendous save at 1_0.
Ian Young R.I.P.
Just seen the pictures of the team headed to Cluj. Overall not a surprise to see a lot of young faces like Scott Robertson, Karomoko Dembele & Barry Coffey.
First team faces: Bauer, Julien, Boli, Johnston, Morgan, Forrest, Bayo, Griffiths, Bitton, Sinclair
Very surprised to see that Forrest has travelled.
Also surprised we haven’t seen Shved, Ntcham & Taylor
Blatter said he was “an honest man” and had begun legal action against Fifa for the return of 60 personal watches.
Aye, yer time’s up Sepp…
TIMALOY29 on 11TH DECEMBER 2019 5:05 PM
Also surprised we haven’t seen Shved, Ntcham & Taylor
____
Should say, haven’t seen a final group picture so cannot be sure they aren’t in the final 17/19
https://www.footballseeding.com/european-cups/europa-league-seeding-19-20/
interestingly there is no seeding or country restriction from round of 16 onwards
If Var is not totally automated and open to run and report free from human intervention…then nothin’ much will change………………..if its some Blazered and Brogued Grimmond McCrummoch type with his (red) hand on the button, then we’ll always come off second best……………….
RIP Ian Young
Proud to say I saw you play in the hoops
HH
So sorry to hear of the passing Ian Young….May he rest in peace…thoughts and prayers 🙏with Ian’s family…Yet another of The Good Ghuys gone ..
Hail Hail Ian Young.
Forever a Celt.
RIP
Condolences to all those who have lost family members in recent times.
Sad to hear the passing of yet another Celtic favourite.
Ian, of course replaced one of my own favourites, Duncan Mackay
to be followed by Jim Craig, Davie Hay, Danny McGrain et al
A fine footballer at an important time in our history, who I think was there at Lisbon.
Right backs not always the most celebrated of positions but at Celtic we have been lucky to have had more than our fair share. Ian is right up there with the best of them, God bless him.
RIP Ian Young
RIP Ian Young
Sad news indeed!
RIP Ian Young.
RIP Ian Young YNWA
Gattuseless named head coach at Napoli…clock ticking already…
RIP Ian Young
I saw him play for Neilston Juniors and then the Bhoys. I saw him win the Cup in !965.
Yogi
The most significant win in our history
Atalanta are 2-0 up in Donetsk against ten men to go through after starting the group with three losses and then a draw.
If they qualify every team in the last 16 is from a top five league
Should read “needing a win to go through”
Well done Atalanta…rode their luck but deserve to go through v Shakhtar…