Neil Lennon took his players to the vast open spaces of the Camp Nou last year, took the lead and held onto a point until the fourth minute of added time. It was an enormous and disciplined achievement. I feared we would suffer a backlash when Barcelona visited Glasgow.
What we experienced instead was more of the same. Barca played some of the most mesmerising football we have ever seen, but it took them until the 92nd minute until they managed to beat Fraser Forster, this time, too little, too late.
Barca have the best Plan A in football but they were unable to effectively change when making no progress and unable to cope with Celtic from set pieces, while their own concentration was called into question.
While our visitors will be keen to make up for their disappointing result in Glasgow last season, Celtic have their own disappointing result to avenge. The heroic tales from Milan last month count for nothing. Celtic need to show they have the necessary edge.
We are the team with something to prove. We are the only team who can leave Celtic Park tonight with any material achievement; a win would do nothing for Barca, whose place in history is already acknowledged. The only prize in the game worth having – professional honour – is only available to Celtic.
Tonight we have a rare opportunity. Take it, Celtic.
A good day to bury bad news
Rangers International FC PLC accounts, released this morning, curiously report “First team wages/turnover ratio at 43% while total staff costs are £17.9m, or 94% of turnover. I’m not convinced this is evidence of a vast and unnecessary filtering of cash out of the club. While the board and management will take a slice of the extra wages this total figure is not unusual, or unexpected. It takes several hundred people to run a football club with an average attendance at 39k. There is not a whole lot they will be able to do about this figure.
DM Hall, who produced fabulous property valuations for Ibrox and Murray Park when Sir David Murray was in charge, are back, this time valuing the assets at £65.2m and £14m respectively. This is vastly more than was paid for them last year but still a fraction of what DM Hall valued the properties at in 2005. The combined existing use valuation recognised in the accounts is £42.5m – a tidy sum, if achieved by sale and leaseback.
The club has operating costs of £33.6m while income is £19.1m. They are clearly spending more than necessary. When looking to cut costs there will be some low lying fruit (or Greggs pies) but cutting into the player budget, or back office staff costs will be difficult, while cuts to policing, rates and utility costs are unlikely.
Cash at 30 June 2013 was £11.198m, so, before cost cutting and after exceptional costs are removed, they are looking for circa £18m cash to fund operations until 30 June next year. There are several established ways to achieve this, including ticket securitisation, used by both previous owners of Ibrox.
A significant uplift in season ticket prices is also likely to be necessary. Charles Green set initial ticket prices low. An appeal could surely have been made to fans to step forward and offer support at a higher price, but Green was under pressure from Paul Murray’s various attempts to win control-while securing fan support for his Blue Knights group.
If Murray hadn’t run his ultimately-doomed campaign, Green’s need to over-promise and under-price, in order to sell any tickets, would have been different. As would the operating deficit reported today.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgomX3qD-iA&feature=youtu.be
delaneys dunky
13:40 on 1 October, 2013
TOSB
This is Paradise, would be more appropriate.
Getting really excited now!
…………………………………………………..
Now that you mention it so it would. The TV prog this morning showed the Northstand with words This is Park or could it have been This is Par ..? It was obviously a work in progress at the time. Your suggestion makes more sense.
https://www.causes.com/campaigns/34939-stop-irish-government-from-violating-human-rights-of-adults-with-downs-syndrome
.
Nou Firm..
Summa
Outcome?………..anything is a positive against Barca. anything can happen in this game……we can win…lose…..draw…..or get hammered
It will be curious to see how they play without Messi
The important thing is we are are at the top table……everything else is a bonus.
One point is very doable
Three points if we are cute and lucky
Hammered if the real differential in quality shows through
Heres hoping………..
May our Gods go with us
Andy Bhoy Lytham
Good shout! That would work as an anthem. Welcome, as long as you are no a zombie :)
La Gazzetta Dello Sport says [ for what it’s worth]
Celtic 4 4 2
Forster/ Van Dijk/ Lustig/ Ambrose / Izaguirre /Brown/ Matthews/ Mulgrew/ Commons/Stokes/Samaras
Barca 4 3 3
Valdes/Adriano/ Bartra/ Pique/Alves/Iniesta/ Busquets/ Xavi/ Neymar/ Fabregas/ Sanchez
I had a walk along to the merchant City at lunch time and things are hotting up.
Hi granny macs bhoy. My email is boomer3df.jb@gmail.com
Podeu veure l’equip sota-19 jugar contra el Barça a Cappielow al canal de televisió del club – Celtic TV – a la Zona Seguidors.
TooFar CFC
SoT
How many of that barca team would get a game for us?
8-)
Came past the Raddison and wee Nacho is in the lounge arm in arm with Fabregas .
Now, I’m not one for starting rumours.. but.. .just saying like.
kitalba@13.24
Very funny line about magnanimity to Barca fans- helps me relax on the run up.
Chairbhoy@13.15
“To my way of thinking it was wrong minded, coming from the Rangers ’67, 9iar complex, our achievement had to be bettered.”
I believe our ambition to get to last 16 CL stemmed from a wish to better our own Euro achievement of 2001/2 and made no reference to Rangers achievements. We felt this way before they ever achieved last 16 status and it was only downsized as an ambition, by some of us, because they got there first. I believe we were guilty of showing sour grapes to Alex McLeish’s team achievements. However, we were not reflecting Rangers achievements in trying to be first to get there only in replicating their achievement and then surpassing it.
“The first Scottish Club to make the last sixteen while certainly showing progress was hardly a historical feat, although once again I accept it was viewed as a huge accomplishment.”
While I will not express undue admiration for that club, given their financial cheating at the time, it was, nevertheless, a major sporting achievement. Though we were the second team to do it, we have now achieved it twice more and can claim the bragging rights. Getting to the CL quarter finals is the next level now for us and will be massively difficult to achieve. However, we are alone in aiming there as they are now dead and their replacement will be in no fit state to trouble Europe for some time.
“Winning the UEFA cup would be an historic achievement, especially for Celtic who could join the elite band of Clubs that had won two of Europe’s major trophies.”
It would be a magnificent achievement and a difficult one to fulfill. The recent winners of the Europa include two previous CL winners and all are regular CL participants (Chelsea, Atletico-twice, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit, Espanyol, Sevilla, CSKA, and Valencia have all won since we were last there). It is a tough competition to win, just about as tough to win as getting to last 16 CL.
However, merely getting to the final and losing is a lesser achievement, IMO.
Hail Hail
Anybody know whats happening regarding the Kerrydale Bar this evening?
TOSB
Less than six hours to find out :)
Live feed of u-19s CFC v FCB http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt17oUdyqPI …
BSR
You working today? If affirmative…get your finger oot.
If working in the public sector……..just go with the flow.
South Of Tunis:
“The Mafia like it . They will give you a business …………..”
Now I understand, the huns are choking in hock, they’re bringing in the Greenock nutters to have it out with the east-end of London nutters.
My money is on Ticketus.
Afternoon Bhoys , wish I had taken the afternoon off as the old nervous are kicking in and work this afternoon is going to drag in.
Can’t wait to be walking up London Rd tonight with the buzz of another big Euro night in the air. The sense of anticipation as you enter Celtic Park , floodlights, with 2 of the worlds great clubs warming up in front of you. YNWA, The Champions League music, TIFO, the Huddle , mental noise, kick off . Then lets rip right into them and what will be will be
If you could bottle it, it would cure all the worlds sadness. Special Celtic Elixir guaranteed to make you feel good.
Big Yin says 5-0
hashadenough @ 14:03
The press and UEFA are using it.
2 hrs to finishing time,then along to BB’s. The belly is beginning to get the jitters, so it must be CL night.
It trully is amazing how important these nights are for both fans and club. To everyone going along tonight, enjoy the occasion, because these are special times to be a Celtic supporter.
Hail Hail
Not that I am a bitter person or one who bears a grudge you understand, but I am certain there are others on here who would be happy for us to lose tonight if huns were finished completely. A price I’d be happy to pay for them to go forever.
Sadly, that is not going to happen and we all know why, so come on Celtic, do what you did last year. After all, you are more than capable.
Canny wait
Hail Hail
KINGLuBO
C’mon the young Hoops.
Cheers Morrissey. Got in two minds. Leaving Bathgate 5ish possibly too late to hit merchant city and to early for the Charlie.
I cannot see anything other than a resounding victory for Celtic tonight over the Catalan debt-mongers.
COYBIG
paulsatim
Thanks for the link
A light insanity
Just emailed
HHS GMB
Love it when the Champions League Anthem starts, goosebumps.
Tell me this though, do they still play The Archers theme tune before Ramsden Cup games :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barwick_Green
I am not able to go to the game tonight for a variety of reasons, which I won’t go into at the moment.
Now , my intention was to have a wee nip every time we score tonight.
(You may not remember I said the same thing for the AC game having acquired a bottle of Ledaig.)
The bottle remains unopened.
My treat tonight is a bottle of Glenfiddich Solera Reserve, 15 y o, 40% proof.
A wee nip every time we score.
Pleeaasseee, Celtic, this time, please.
Or should I just go and drink the bloody stuff?
C’MON THE CELTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today and tonight are all about Celtic and all other issues are firmly on my back burner. I expect a repeat of last year’s game with Barca owning the ball and us defending for our lives and depending on break aways and set pieces. We can get something out of the game but a lot has to go right for us. FF will be called on to make a few super saves, we will get 3 or 4 chances we must make one or two of them count. Win lose or draw, we are at the top table, playing probably the best team in the world in what is probably the best Club competition in the world. Just think about that fholks, its great to be a Tim.
Midfield maestro 12.24 Is that all? lol
hail hail
Young ones are 1:0 down to Barca in Greenock. Both teams have made a good break but their player was more clinical in finishing than we were with our good chance.
corkcelt
You missed out on “the most atmospheric stadium in the word”.
PS Apologies for my outburst the other night, no harn meant.
Celtic FC – FC Barcelona A (LIVE, UEFA Youth League) LIVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt17oUdyqPI
Guys – up to my eyes in work and wasn’t gonna bother going to the game BUT….
I mate of mine on the train has just said there are a few tickets going for tonights game…
I will take any for any part of the stadium and I can be contacted on larssonse7en@gmail.com or Blantyre Tim and a few of the golf guys have my number if you can get it from them.
Thanks and HAIL HAIL
Never got anything G M B.
Paul67 et al
Arsenal managed to beat Barca once, at home but otherwise have came off second best. Chelsea have proved a tough match for them, whereas Manchester United were outclassed twice. Last season Barcelona had problems, with Celtic, Milan and PSG before running into last season’s Champions, Bayern Munich. Each of those teams played to their strengths and all were strong physically. We need to be strong physically without giving Neymar opportunities to gain free kicks twenty yards out. (nb Scott, take a look back to playing Brazil at the Emirates). Nor expect too much of Izzy who gets slaughtered on here after every game, every game, for trying to take the game to our opponents. Good news that Kayal and Forrest are available, both could be useful at some point in the game. Live on ITV, live on Radio 5, live from Paradise, you want a platform?
You got one!