There was an unusual reaction at full time last night. Some attempted to boo, but the applause from the majority in the crowd soon drowned them out. Not all defeats are the same, this one came after one of our best performances of the season, against an undoubtedly better team.
It was important to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League. Bereft of domestic competition, Celtic need to test their abilities against top teams, they need to be stretched, forced to defend for long periods, parts of the game which simply never happen in Scotland.
It’s also important to see tangible signs of improvement. Those four weeks of summer, which saw defeats twice to Legia, to Maribor and Inverness, were signs of a team in crisis. They cost us Champions League football, and revenue, but finishing our Europa League group in second place behind Salzburg is the top end of where we expected to be three months ago.
I’m not happy with this morning’s line that we qualified thanks to the result in Romania; we qualified because we collected eight points from our opening four games, including a highly respectable draw in Salzburg. Win, lose or draw last night, the qualification work had been done. We can now start planning for the second half of the season.
Those three months since the summer crisis passed with only one defeat, an ultimately costless, if embarrassing, reversal at home to Hamilton. We can afford a similar episode on the next three months, but not this Sunday. The visit to Tynecastle is our most important game in the next two months, considerably more so than last night’s.
Commons and Forrest return to full fitness will be closer, while it would be good to see Denayer and Lustig available again.
It was kind of Rangers International to publish their accounts as a pick-me-up for us when we got home last night. More tomorrow, if we have time.
Shocked and stunned at the news Roy Keane has chucked it at Aston Villa. No way did I ever see his appointment as assistant to Paul Lambert looking like a pointless distraction so quickly. Next time we appoint a manager, cut the lines to Barbados and keep Martin’s mobile engaged!
Pre-orders are being accepted for the 2015 CQN Annual, which will be posted week commencing 8 December. Get your orders in now…
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Calmed down since Thursday, but each time I felt ready to post my take on things Celtic, I was beaten to the punch. But I need my catharsis, so I’ll cut to the chase:
Q – am I happy that we are in Europe After Xmas?
A – absolutely – helps greatly with essential signings in January
Q – am I happy with team performance?
A – absolutely not – not enough pace and players who can press plus defend
Q – Current players not first choice picks?
A – Mulgrew, Stokes, Commons (all not enough pace) McGregor (too lightweight)
Q – important January signing window?
A – at least 4 quality players needed to placate long suffering fans. Guidetti a must !
Q- Players moving on?
A- JG / VvD to stay (LC semi / Europa League after window closes!); KC ???
Q – will we win domestic treble?
A – League – yes ; Scottish Cup – yes , if we win tomorrow; League Cup – yes, if we still have 11 players mobile after semi!
Q – is Ronny the man to manage Celtic?
A – Jury still out, but needs to temper idealism with reality of managing Celtic FC
Q – Do I want Sevco / The Rangers back in Premier League
A – absolutely not – won’t attend any match against them even on ST
Q – What about Sevco / The Rangers status ?
A – new club as we all know, but need CFC to categorically state same – silence can be construed as complicity
That’s better, so off to see my local team Spartans v Morton in Cup this afternoon – handy when CFC have no fixtures. Hoping they can reverse their 1-0 defeat in Greenock earlier this season in the Petrofac Cup – possible pairing with CFC in Monday’s draw? Xmas present !
Also one interesting statistic from the teams in second place in their groups with the same record as us i.e. 8 points from 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat.
They are Villareal, Torino, Sevilla (the holders) and PSV, who are one of our Gran Canaria break mini tournament opponents along with old foes Shakhtar Donetsk .
A good win tomorrow against the minis and I can really enjoy my pint in the Roseburn Bar afterwards !!
COYBIG !!!
Flatten ibrox
Whytey took their Arsenal shares out of the framed picture and flogged them making off with the cash, not quite on the St Etienne bike but it is a nice wee image.
Minty was told by his board about Whytey pre-sale so decided to proceed – uttering away to himself no doubt.
None of this is featured in any way in the third edition of CQN Annual which is available to order now at http://www.cqnbookstore.com – copies will be posted out on 8th December.
Expectation management
A ridiculously positive spin put on a sound beating by a mediocre European team
Applauded off for what was an utterly inept first 30 mins
Nevermind PLs bonus is in the bag
3 reasonable teams played …Salzburg ,Legia and Maribor …..four defeats , two draws…..
Planning now clear …football is second to economics
Poor wretched Celtic…with cash in the bank
If fraud is suspected you can be arrested and charged .
If uttering is suspected you can be arrested and charged..
If Mala fides is suspected you can be arrested and charged..
If playing fast and loose with the requirements of The Companies Act is suspected you can be arrested and charged.
Embramike
Accurate assessment
the glorious balance sheet
10:12 on 29 November, 2014
TurkeyBhoy 1000-
I`m with you on this, I`m struggling to see why Whyte is in court on these particular charges.
The Lloyds debt belonged to Rangers. He went to Ticketus – an outfit that thanks to Minty Rangers had had prior dealings with – and got an advance on season ticket money from them to clear the Rangers debt to Lloyds. Borrowing against Rangers future income to clear their historical debts racked up by Minty.
Borrowing funds in Rangers name to clear off debts that were accrued in Rangers name.
Didn`t the Glazers borrow against Man Utd`s future income to purchase the shares that enabled them to take over the club? That sounds more shady to me than what Whyte did viz a viz Ticketus.
Minty is the one that should be on trial here. But then we all know that but the Huns can`t and won`t see it……..
———
Hi, I believe the problem is that it is not legal to takeover / buy out a business with its own money , in Rangers case future season ticket revenues. So Craigy’s lawyer agreed a deal with Ticketus should Whitey succeed in buying the club, Ticketus forwarded the money to a holding / escrow account , which the aforementioned lawyer then “illegally / allegedly ” moved to one of Craigy’s accounts.
This is not allowed, you can buy out a business with the businesses own money , despite the odious nature of the said business.
Duff & Duffer either new this or are being “allegedly ” charged with breaking money laundering rules as they did not query the source of the funds.
The whole firago will settle on was the conservation about future ( I.e. Post takeover arrangements) or funding the takeover …… enough wriggle room I suspect for the likes of SDM ……
All conjecture which the courts will sort out in due course.
On Man Utd, the Glazers themselves took out a mental size loan
Oops
This is not allowed, you cannot buy out a business with the businesses own money , despite the odious nature of the said business.
Correction
Ekbhoy
I think that’s the issue too
Buying a company with its own money
EmbraMike/PFayr
Shhhhhh!
Not on page guys.
We have a lovely walk way though. Probably the best in Europe.
WaeeeerHaeeeeeyyyyyy
MWD said AYE
Shoooooor I read somewhere(here) Minty put Whyte in touch with Ticketus.
Someone will have a record of this….gaun yirsel Whytey
Meant to say it was a pleasure to meet two more members of the CQN family, Corkcelt and An Tearman before the game on Thursday.
I think we need a bigger Corner ! HH
….pfayr supports weeoscar
10:55 on 29 November, 2014
Ekbhoy
I think that’s the issue too
Buying a company with its own money
——
Yep, fairly straightforward , all the stuff on the Clyde website is just a load of old rubbish.
HH
Pfayr, I left a question for you on the last page.
ACGR
Freedom of info ….ask Crown Office…they should have info on this
Noticed a headline this morning …..
“Three point turn set to be dropped”
… and thought the SFA were reviewing the 2-0 hunfest result last week !
Sorry for posting this again but…
2nd last day of Movember for Downs & Proud Plz donate
https://www.justgiving.com/Tommy-Melly
Thanks
CQN Beijing Hootenanny postponed indefinitely…
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/28/china-media-watchdog-bans-wordplay-puns
Bundoran Bhoy –
Lookin’ good Mo Bro! One more sleep… ;-)
Jobo cheers buddy
Hopefully we both raise few quid for our charities
HH
.
MacJay MacJay Wherefore Art Thou..?
Tony Abbott takes a Absolute Hammering in Victoria..
Victoria is Red Again..
If only Scotland’s Labour Party was as Strong as Victorian Labour l would be Looking forward to visiting The Republic of Scotland next Year..Time the UK to go Federal it Certainly works in Australia..
Summa
Jobo / Bundoran Bhoy…. dunno what you are patting yourselves on the back for ? My Mammy has had a moustache since the 70’s and has never tried to make any money out of it….. apart from the time in ’85 when she applied to the circus…. :)
Well done to both of you bhoys.. I hope your efforts are well rewarded !!
Hot blooded Latins .
Catching a ristretto and a cornetto in a Montalbanoland bar .
Young couple holding hands and whispering sweet nothings in the corner .
Up pops the Miley Cyrus -Golden Lady Rocks Your Legs advert ———— he switched his attention to the tele and she shouted ——— Bastardo Sporco / slapped his face hard and stormed out..
Cue laughter in a busy wee bar.
Good Morning fellow Celtic fans.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/30/tottenham-new-stadium-fury-regeneration
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30195756
I am so glad and proud to be a fan of Celtic Football Club.
Hail Hail
THEGLORIOUSBALANCESHEET
1042
Oh,I have so wished to draw the Cap’n Bob comparison.
Fair play to you for that one,bud.
Embramike,
Good post. I see Ronny was quoted as saying he has abandoned the pressing game he hoped to play. I hope some fans take note that what we have seen is not an attempt to play his way but a reasonable adoption of slow change. I wish he had taken that approach back in July. I also think that we could have beaten Salzburg had Neil Lennon still been in charge but the flip side is I don’t think Neil would have got some of the results that Ronny has away from home in Europe.
I have seen enough and heard enough to think that Ronny deserves the chance to re shape the team and get a cut at Champions League qualification. I have serious doubts that any lessons have been learned in our scouting and player recruitment. Sound bites in players like Andrew Robertson make my skin crawl. We have not signed a player over the age of 26 since Kris Commons. The side badly needs good experienced players the fans can connect with. If we continue to create teams just to sell them we will never give the fans belief that there is an interest in making us better. Some may decry the number of games played by the likes of Shaun Maloney and say he won’t improve the team but by god we need someone who wants to win and improve Celtic on the park, someone who can translate the coaches instructions into actions and celebrate goals with the fans as though they mean it. Our focus on volume projects rather than blending experience and previous success with this is causing a dramatic decrease in quality. The only way for us to gain success is to then play defensively and the old adage of it being easier to destroy than create permeates our playing style.
As I say, I hope Ronnys slow revolution works. The alternative is a Roy Keane style appointment and more of the same downward return.
As for Rangers, I find it annoying that no one points out that they did not exist and were effectively resurrected in July 2012 with no precedent in any written football rules. However, it is almost written in the stars that that club would set that precedent. No other club could liquidate and claim to be the same. Scottish football has created a poor precedent in sport by allowing this to happen. It sends a message that some clubs will never be allowed to fail despite their previous crimes. Clubs all over The World will be interested in this as a potential debt deletion method. There is comfort in the many voices who state they will not turn up for Rangers games but it fills me with dread that there will be a full house for the games against them when half our stadium is full for much bigger European games against much bigger European sides. The bigots still yearn for the return of the panto.
Embramike
Spot on re manager, performance, players and selection. If he persists in playing McGregor, the fans will soon turn against the lad. Young Henderson strangely off the radar.
Anyway..
Inverness at Paisley 11/10.
Add Burnley, Brentford, Luton, Stevenage, all around 1/1.
Throw in Charlton to draw again at 9/4.
6xfivefolds, and accum.
Good luck to the Spartans. HH
EKBhoy
“you cannot buy out a business with the businesses own money “.
=================================
How is that a problem for them ?
This is a group of time travelling newclub/oldclub, incubated, billionaire chasing desperados. Why would a wee signature and 2 minute chronological ownership issue worry Thems ?
If it suits the “same club” lie it’ll pass any scrutiny of football officials, Scotland’s Finest, our government, our “no commenting” (copy-write TD) media, and any esteemed, rubber stamping QC.
Surely he didn’t buy the club with borrowed money.
He must have had his own pound.
mullet and co 2 .. Your post is spoiled by your last line…. “The bigots still yearn for the return of the panto.”
I will go and support Celtic in any competitive game we are playing (if I can afford it) regardless of who we are playing. That makes me a supporter, NOT a bigot. You have the right to decide which games you go to but don’t claim others are bigots because we are exercising the self same right that you are.
PS – If you are meaning the use of the word Bigots only in reference to the hun then disregard all of the above !!
bigshuggy –
lunchtime treble (and doubles) for me – Dundee (19/10!), Ipswich (11/8) and Big Sammy’s West Brom (7/2).
mullet and co 2
I wonder (hope too) if Aiden McGeady would be available for a return ?
Dundee v Aberdeen on BBC 12.15
Replacing McGregor and Stokes with Forrest and Tonev would give us the pace which we are currently lacking. Easy peasy. As for holding midfielders we have two perfectly good Israeli internationals. I see it. Am I the only one.
My retired barrister mate used to love trials re fraudulent behaviour where the verdict was reached by a jury.
puffnstuff
Real merit in thaty suggestion.
I’d suggest Mulgrew to replace Tony Stokes. Izzy gets forward on the left and delivers most crosses, Mulgrew passes better than Tony and would provide more defence minded set-up on the left too.
!!Bada Bing!!
could you post that android link again ta
Last season I thought we were witnessing the emergence of a new star in Henderson.
The mid-field is desperatly in need of another quality player.
Very strange that Henderson doesnt to feature at all in Deilas team.