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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…wtf.. Wanamaker??… effin iPad Wanyama….!!
Off oot to buy a carry oot .
Elderly Inter supporting neighbor coming to watch the game . He’ll bring lots of his ” Nero D’Avola ” I will politely decline !
Spoke with him on the phone earlier [ more accurately /listened to him shouting ] He told me that Inter have played Barca 10 times and beat them once [ the year that Mourinho’s Inter won the thing . No idea if he’s right ..
He doesn’t care who wins but is hopeful that Milan and Napoli get stuffed .
Fearing the worst, hoping (wae a wee prayer) for the best. No matter what, we are playing host the world’s finest.
What does the future hold for those down Govan way, given the accounts? Nothing good, I do hope and pray.
Oberschmidt looks like a young Oliver Kahn.
Paul McMullen is a smashing wee player.
HH!!
maestro-number8
12:24 on
1 October, 2013
Why I love Celtic. And why you do too.
We love Celtic for many reasons.
Because of Brother Walfrid.
Because of Willie Maley.
Because of Jock Stein.
Because of the Lisbon Lions.
Because of Danny McGrain.
Because of Roy Aitken. FEED THE BEAR.
Because of Johnny Thomson.
Because of Johnny Doyle.
Because of Tommy Burns.
Because of Phil O’Donnell.
Because of Neil Lennon.
Because of Martin O’Neill
Because of the reason why we were formed in the first place on 6th November 1887. ‘’ A football club will be formed for the maintenance of dinner tables for the children and the unemployed ‘’
Because of our first match when we beat Rangers 5-2 and Neil McCallum scored our first ever goal.
Because of our first major trophy in 1892, the Scottish Cup.
Because of our 1st time as Champions in 1893.
Because of the 6 in a row that we achieved from 1905-1910
Because of the 9 in a row that we achieved from 1966-1974
Because we know this team off by heart : Simpson,Craig,Gemmell,Murdoch,McNeill,Clark,Johnstone,Wallace,Chalmers,Auld,Lennox…… and not forgetting Fallon, McBride, Hughes, O’Neill, Gallacher,
Because of all of the special entertainers, such as Patsy Gallacher, Jimmy Johnstone, Lubomir Moravcik, Charlie Tully to name a few.
Because of all the amazing goalscorers, men such as Henrik Larsson, Bobby Lennox, Stevie Chalmers, Kenny Dalglish, the great Jimmy McGrory, Dixie Deans, Jimmy Quinn, John Hughes, Sandy McMahon, Jimmy McMenemy, Adam McLean, Willie Wallace, Tommy McInally, Charlie Nicholas, Jimmy McColl, Harry Hood, Brian McClair, Bobby Collins, Johnny Campbell, John Hartson, Neilly Mochan, Frank McGarvey, Joe Cassidy, Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Murdoch, Alec Thomson, John Divers, Patsy Gallacher.
Because of the amazing Celtic support, never more inspiring than in Seville.
Because of the great one-off victories in winning the Empire Exhibition trophy, the Coronation Cup, The Victory in Europe Cup, the St.Mungo Cup, the Alfredo di Stefano trophy, the 100th Scottish cup in 1985, the Double winning centenary team in 1988.
Because of the famous 7-1 victory in the 1957 League Cup Final ‘’ oh Hampden in the sun……’’ Beattie, Donnelly, Fallon, Fernie, Evans, Peacock, Tully, Collins, McPhail, Wilson, Mochan.
Because of the famous Hoops – world famous, unique and beautiful.
Because of the 1979 4-2 victory when Johnny Doyle was sent off and 10 men won the League.
Because of the 1986 victory at Love Street in the Lime Green strip.
Because of the demolition of Sporting Lisbon in the Lime Green strip.
Because of the 6-2 game. Big Chris Sutton became a Celtic man that day.
Because of the Treble in 2001.
Because of men like Fergus McCann, Wim Jansen & Harald Brattbakk. Thank you for 1998.
Because of Paradise itself and that feeling of pride and togetherness when you walk into Celtic Park on matchday.
And because of Paul McStay, my all time hero.
Remember for all those going along tonight.
We need to do what we do best. SUPPORT the Bhoys.
It is going to be very difficult and we need to back the team all night.
They need us all night. No criticising anybody for a pass that does not reach it’s intended target.
No moaning and groaning. We might go a goal down, we might go 2 down but keep SUPPORTING the Bhoys.
It might not guarantee us a draw or a victory but it will help the players in their quest to achieve this.
We can inspire them. We’ve done it before…….let’s do it again.
Enjoy the occasion and sing your hearts out like never before. It will be magical if we do it again.
If we don’t, then we still be Celtic SUPPORTERS faithful through and through.
It is magical being a Celtic SUPPORTER.
Something inside so strong.
Come on Celtic.
Well said maestro-number8
That’s what makes our Club so colourfol and unique, in more ways than one.
I will be @ CP tonight singing and cheering on our beloved Club.
Hail – Hail Everyone & God Bless The Hoops.
Into the last 15 and still holding Young Barca to 1:1.
If we ever lose Forster, I wonder if Oberscmidt might be tempted to try the same route. He looks very well drilled.
Big Barca no.9 from Paraguay is a player
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS forza Oscar and Mackenzie
You just enjoy it enough for the three of us then my friend:))
There will be other years and I am where I am meant to be tonight but 3 tues home games :((.
Lucky fitba socks looked ooooooot
cannyfailcsc
Ps when Efe scores think of me :))))
Till tonight all enjoy every moment of your experience watching the game tonight whether you are fortunate enough to make it into celtic park or watching somewhere else on the planet
Y.N.W.A
and remember and look out for the Miki67 tribute on the big screen.
like many before him gone but never forgottenas someone posted after the Karagandy games they felt the spirit of those that have gone before us in the ground with them.
Looks like I may have another spare ticket having been let down at last minute.
Premium seat in Jock Stein stand with access to lounges, free programme pie etc
Face value £100 o.n.o. Heading to Merchant city so can meet there or ground
desertbhoy – good player when she was younger was Zoe.
1-2
Wonderful free kick, from a soft award, from Sanabria- the number 9. Now 2:1 for Barca
Hard luck on the young bhoys
I,m sitting waiting on young acgr getting out of school before heading to meet my brother for the game. The old nerves are starting to jangle a bit, or maybe its butterflies at the prospect ahead. Good luck to our bhoys in green tonight and to all Celtic men and wummin.
Also, thanks to everyone I met at the hootenanny on saturday, you all made the day out a cracker.
Glasgow’s Green and White.
HH Celtic
My son is going to his first Champions League game proper tonight. He has been at qualifiers but this is the real thing. And what a debut. Pity no Lionel but still a wonderful array of talent on show.. Georgios, Kris, Adam, Virgil, Efe…..
Come on You Bhoys in Green!
Hail! Hail!
That boy Sanabria is going to be a great striker, only 17 and definitely knows where the goals are.
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maestro-number8
Your list of positive reasons for being a Celt is so uplifting after seeing the nonsense at the weekend from across the city which saddened me so much.
We will add another positive tonight, irrespective of the result just by being Celtic.
tomtheleedstim…. she’d be the playmaker, then.
1-2 FT
Just saw that the free kick winner was a deflection
Just finished. 2:1 to barca
Deserved on balance of play but the good news is that the gap at this level is not huge but it is there.
SFTB @ 15 40 .
Sanabria .
Heard a radio thing re Udinese’s much vaunted scouting system recently . Guy in charge said what frustrated him most was missing out on real exciting prospects. Example he cited was scouting a 13 year old Sanabria and him opting to sign for Barca.
Surely this is two more World Records for a team playing in the 4th tier of any domestic League Competition –
The £14.3 million losses, along with their £33 million Operating costs?
Also, does anyone know how much their Operating costs have increased from the beginning of September, when they signed their Platoon of Mercenaries?
ACGR Supporting Big Nan’s Reveal the Masonic Judge Petition @ 15:42
That was a real beauty that ended up in your bed after the Big Day Oot.
desertbhoy what channel is the game on Al Jezzera tonight,tell me it’s not 9 or 10 as they are the 2 channels i don’t have. She who must be obeyed will be delighted at the thought of me going out at 10:45 on a school night.
Afternoon Bhoys and Ghirls,
Good effort from the Celtic youth,
Looked good for a point for a while
but a strong final 10mins from Barca wrapped up the points
Johnston took his goal well, and Sanabria impressed for Barca
A good run around for the bhoys.
Now let’s see what the senior teams can do…
I hope Sammi has had his Weetabix…
Mon the Hoops!
Quick bite to eat then pub, then taking no1 son to his first champions league game. Told him he might need some ear plugs.
I believe ;-)
HH to all the bhoys and ghirls going tonight and those unable to be there, hope we enjoy another night like last year…..
The youth team must be avenged! COYBIG.
Saba and I are off to The Merchant City. The only way to contact us now will be on my old Nokia or by smoke signals.
Scratch but don’t bite!
Torres gets off – no 3 match ban.
Don’t really want to talk about the Huns but someone earlier was suggesting they made a profit and had “loads of money” in the Bank. They are losing in excess of a million a month. They lost in excess of 14 million in a 13 mth period and they just revalued the book value of their assets to create a small profit. This “profit” is worthless unless they sell their assets i.e. Ibrox & Murray Park for their new book value and lease them back. They had over 11 million in the Bank on 30th June but that included a fair chunk of this years Season Book money. Its almost certain that they have less in the Bank now, with very little to come in over the next 8 months. The million a month loss might get paired back a bit but the coffers will be empty by the end of this season.
A wee story for the bhoys and ghirls heading out early for a wee refreshment before the game –
My wife had a dinner party for our entire family and everyone was encouraged to bring all their children as well.
During dinner, my four-year-old great niece stared at me sitting across from her. The girl could hardly eat her food for staring. I checked my shirt for spots, felt my face for food, patted my hair in place but nothing stopped her from staring at me.
I tried my best to just ignore her but finally it was too much for me. I finally asked her, “Why are you staring at me?”
Everyone at the table had noticed her behaviour and the table went quiet waiting for her response.
My little niece said, “I’m just waiting to see how you drink like a fish.”
AKBW1888
Good post.
Jimmy Curran, the old guy I went to the games with back in the day would get all nostalgic after a few pints following the game and when in his cups would recite, Shaw McNair and Dodds, Wilson Lonie and Hay etc. as his boyhood heroes, then he would recite the team that won the Coronation Cup of Bonnar, Haughney, Rollo, Evans, Stein, McPhail etc.,as being the best since Kennoway, Hogg and Morrison, Geatons, Lyon and Patterson, but even he was forced to admit that the Lisbon Lions were peerless. Those names are etched on every Celt’s brain.
I envy today’s youngsters experience of big matches like tonight, because Old Jimmy (probably 20 years younger than I am now) and I would make our way from work and go straight to the game without anything to eat. Sometimes we would be lucky and get a supporter’s bus but sometimes they were full and we would have to thumb or cadge a lift.
Today the young and not so young supporters make a day of it and spend time in Glasgow before the game, soaking up the atmosphere, having lunch and then on to the game and home in comfort. That’s the way to do it.
My brother had to wait for the Bilsland’s Bread van to get home after the Leeds game. Changed days, but the glamour of the Celtic is still the same. That never changes, when the bhoys run out in the hoops, as Billy Connolly said: It’s like a wee party starts in my head.
COYBIG
H.H.
Might have been covered before,
But…
Anybody know what the script is with Matthews?
Is he good to go for tonight?
andy corr
15:57 on 1 October, 2013
desertbhoy what channel is the game on Al Jezzera tonight,tell me it’s not 9 or 10 as they are the 2 channels i don’t have. She who must be obeyed will be delighted at the thought of me going out at 10:45 on a school night.
“……………
Hd6…
AKBW1888 @ 15:31……hopefully you will be a bit hoarse tomorrow morning. After a famous victory. Hail Hail
Hrvatski Jim @ 15:50…very good point, I’ve not actually viewed the going-ons at Ibrox on Saturday but by all accounts it was shocking.
Proud to be a Celt, enjoy the match.
Glad work is over…
Hh
Strange turn of phrase there from talksport…
“in the next hour we have bobby petta in the studio as we look forward to Celtic’s exhibition match tonight”
Wtf?
Just heading out to pick leaf junior up from after school club. He is going to his first champions league game proper tonight as well.
TET – mail sent :-)
Cannot wait to be in paradise tonight. Lets put on an another amazing show and get another famous victory!
COYBIG
desertbhoy thanks i don’t have that channel so its the dubliner for me.Hope you and everyone else enjoys the game wherever they are watching it!