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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Hi Ghuys, Salve salve;-
I hope we have a wonderful game of football tonight and the best fans in the world enhance their reputation. As ever all I would ask of the team is for each man to be brave on the ball. Let us hope fortune is with us.
Greenwells.
Per aspera ad astra
zimmerman
‘Cause it’s gonna be a show…………………….
Off to the Matinee in Merchant City before heading to the game.
Travelling in hope……………….. H!H!
andy corr
16:16 on 1 October, 2013
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!
……….
Might also be there as not sure if we get hd
It’s my birthday today.
All I’ve asked is that we win and Sammy scores.
COYBIG
Only a baker’s dozen to go for the supporters of Scottish Parliament public petition PE 01491 to reach 1400 from 33 countries.
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/GettingInvolved/Petitions/judgesmasonregister
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebB08n4pKHQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DebB08n4pKHQ&app=desktop
I’ve been so caught up in the above for the last few days, I forgot about tonight !!!!!!!!
C’mon the Banner and C’mon Celtic!!!!!
It’s great to read so many youngsters will be at their 1st CL game tonight. Celtic are getting something right.
Hopefully the first of many games.
Hope the Hoops give their all tonight and do their best. All I ever ask from them.
Wasn’t confident at all earlier in the day but the excitement is building and I think if Samaras has one of his incredible evenings we could be on the verge of another famous result for Celtic.
2-1 for Celtic and Lustig for the first from a corner.
COYBIG
LB
Praecepta
Agreed,
Didn’t mind the term,just found it odd.
I’d definitely go with Lustig at RB for tonight.
I just seen that Forrest might be back in contention.
Figure that if that is indeed the case, even if Matthews isn’t 100%
we should be able to accommodate right mid for 90mins using them both.
Shame ledley isn’t available,
So here’s my team…
Forster
Lustig Ambrose Virgil Izzy
Matthews Brown Mulgrew Samaras
Commons
Stokes
Pukki & Forrest given 30mins as impact subs.
Paul67,
You have mail.
Hail Hail
Had meant to ask my manager if i could just work until 7 tonight instead of 8 but i didnt get a chance.
Asked yesterday and hoped, despite it being short notice that she would say ok.
Got told no!
Asked again today hoping she would be in a better mood and even gave her my best sad puppy face.
Was told id need to wait and see how the work is, so i guess thats an improvement but i really am not a happy puppy now.
Its pretty quite here workwise and theres staff that could cover for me for 1 hour, yet she’s keeping me dangling.
Need to catch a bus home so im either goin to get home 5 minutes before the 1st or 2nd half kicks off.
I could put stv+1 on but whats the chance of getting back without someone saying its 1-0 to The Tic!
Someone posted an amazing video recently(think it was yesterday morning)but despite reading back, i cant find it to watch it again.
It had quotes from many of the players and managers who have absolutely loved their visit to Paradise and experienced the thunder.
Could whoever posted it, please post it again…..the goosebumps that it gave me are nearly away now!
Need to go look for my manager again.
As Big Billy says ‘ there’s a fairytale about this club’
I think we are about to see further evidence tonight that proves the Big mhan correct.
Bus leaves in an hour
Buzzing!!
Ps are Sevco still open?
estorilbhoy, Mrs. corkcelt got a great laugh out of your story, just as well your grandniece hasn’t met up with kikinthenakas.
Sipsini 23:24
Ta for your wee note last night on my moniker.
My name is Billy and I am a bhoy…I’m very happy with it. Why should the baddies get all the good names!
CQNrs
Attending the nou firm match ?
Look up at the big screens pre match and half time :
Our dearly departed pal Miki 67 will be looking down on us so give him a cheer
There’s something special about Celtic, a fairytale strength and quality that other clubs would love to have but can only dream, there’s something special about CL nights on CQN when you’re abroad, yes there’s something special about Barca and more recently about Celtic and Barca, a regular event between two wonderful football teams and cultures, there’s something very special about them being our rivals at this level, yes there is definitely something very special about Celtic and tonight is another one of those very special Celtic/CQN/Fairytale nights….
Good Luck Celtic…
tbj
I’m absolutely certain our CQN brother will guide us to victory!
Miki 67 never forgotten
YNWA
Estriolbhoy,
Had a right good laugh at your story, can imagine the reaction of those around you being similar to my own.
Heading out shortly in San Sebastián to find a small bar to watch the game and hopefully make a few new friends in the process.
COYBIG
Any cqners going tonight, do us proud. I was willing to be stoical about our chances tonight considering the class we are up against but after the condescending shipe I got in work today I hope we stuff the roasters
Just passing LARKHALL on the way to paradise big HAIL HAIL. To the cqn brigade in the merchant city l will be with you at the AJAX home game if GOD spares me
Not wanting to detract from the excitement of Cl nights at paradise . But am i correct in thinking no action is to be taken regards that debacle at snake mountain on saturday . Blooming disgrace what they get away with .
Did you expect anything different
Thunder Road
Just for you.
That’s Where The Lion Sleeps!!★ CELTIC PARK★ http://t.co/iCZjBzdYw1
Here we go again!we’re in our way to paradise!!
Wel on the way to the pub blackfriars to meet my bruv an nephew they’ve got tickets and i dont thanks to Celtic ticket office..still looking forward to the fame immensely,hope our bhoys can compete and maybe get lucky..a big miss without joe tonight but hopefuly Paradise rocking will be our 12,13 and 14th mhan lol..
Come on you bhoys in Green!!h.h
tbj praying for oscar knox
Lovely touch re the big screens and Miki 67, good stuff!
Everyone enjoy the game, l am gutted l am not well enough to get . Enjoy these are even better than normal times to be a Celtic fan.
For those taking their kids for the 1st tiime to a really big game enjoy and remember the light in their eyes and the magic in their heads.
Fame =game lol #bigthumbs
@ antipodean red
16:56 on 1 October, 2013
If you’re in the old town then I recommend the Perku bar
addy:
Perku, San Jeronimo Kalea, San Sebastian, Spain
It’s near the top of the street heading to the Chapel.
Take your Celtic top, great people who run the bar and if they can get the game will defo show it.
could someone take a photo of MICKI67 when he appears on the big screen and post it on here.thanks in………..
The live updates article will be up at 19:15, could someone leave a note here?
Thanks.
Derek,wiz Four Years old,when Ah Met him.
By the time he wiz Five.. he hid won Ma Hert.
He wiz the Kinda Kid that Ah wid hiv wanted..if ..Ah hid ever hid a Kid.
The Derek That Ah knew is gone noo.
Ah miss him.
Na, He’s No Shuffled aff His Mortal Coil..
He jist grew Up!
But tae gie ye a taste of whit Ah miss in Him.. here is A Wee Tale tae savour..that explains whit a Precocious ,but ..Nevertheless Lovable Kid , Little Derek wiz.
Wance upon a Time, a Long time Ago.. Ah wiz invited tae A Do.
It wiz in Celebration of Something or Ither, whit that Ither wiz Ah Furget, But the Somethin.. hid something tae dae wi ..well.. a Celebration!
Everybuddy who wiz anybuddy in the Wee Toon,where this Do Took Place ,wuz there.
And a Few Naebuddies ,tae..
But, Suffice tae say.. The Body of the Guest list ..wiz… August.
The Bishop of the Shire ,wiz there, as was the The Police Chief and several Ither Heid and Tail Bummers,tae boot.
Ye get the Pictur.
We wur awe hiving the time of Oor Lives. Staunin aboot.. trying tae look like we wur ..well.. Hiving the Time of Oor Lives.
Ye know the feelin’?
Anyway, at this Point in the Story.. Ma Cousin Aggie and her Child, Enters this Tale…
Through the Front Door.
As soon as the Child Saw me.. He Bee Lined, straight tae Me.
“HIya, Derek?? How’s Ma Favourite, Cowboy?” Ah Laughed.. Picking him Up..and gien him a Big Hug.
“Great, Uncle Kojo” He called me Uncle fur neether Aggie no Masel… could Figger oot.. whit wud be Derek’s official relationship tae his Ma’s Cousin.. and.. with That in mind.. Ah invite any of Ma readers tae Try.
Jist as Ah Lowered ,wee Derek tae the Grun.. Wan of HIs Flailing Feet. happened tae Land right oan the Toe of a Rather Pregnant Lady, who had Inadvertently Strayed into range.. of Derek’s Flailing Limbs.
” Ouch!” Yelped the Gal.. and. Ah didnae Blame her One Bit..
But, Derek, nonetheless..seemed tae Tak an instant Dislike tae this Interruption ..
Fur he Immediately. Cried Oot.. and In a Very Loud Voice.
As He pointed, Triumphantly … tae Her Overly Extended Corporation..
“Ach Ah Know Whit Ye hiv Bin Daeing!”
At this Point. a Sudden Silence befell the Room… and a Big Bunch of Eyes.. Swivelled
and Stoapped, and Zeroed, as wan… oan the Noo Quite ..Mortified and Embarrassed Pregant Lady.
The Party Chatter..had Ceased.. and the Room Became so quiet.. You Could Hear that Fly oan the Wa’ .. Tap Dancin’.
The Poor Lady,in question.. Burst intae tears.. and fled.
Where she went. Naebuddy ,knows tae this day.. But she wuz never ever seen Again,in the Village.
Some say. she wiz so embarrassed that she wished that the Grun wid Swally her up
and mebbe…it Did..
Ah know the Feelin’.
Anyway.. Meanwhile, back in that Room..
Aggie, wiz daein her best tae Shake the Life oota young Derek..
And Ah can’t say Ah Did Not Disapprove. So Ah wullnae.
“Why did ye say sucha thing,Derek?” asked Aggie. Between Shakes.
“But Ma.. You are the wan who Keep telling Me.. every time ye catch me daeing it..
That if Ah dinna stoap Sucking Ma Thumb.. Ma Belly wid Swell Up!”
Yep…
Noo Ye are beginning tae get the Idea.. why Ah regret that That Derek , that Ah knew..and still Luv..
Ever . Grew Up!
Kojo
Still Laughin’
Merchant Square getting into party Mode now. In Beer Cafe if anyone wants to say hello!
Listening to radio no team news as yet but Jim Forrest definitely in the frame
HH
In Orlando off to the lucky Leprechaun to watch the Celtic
Hail Hail
Off to Molly Malones in Münich tonight to catch the game. Anybody who fancies it and who is not a raging hun then say hello I´ll buy you a beer or two. Handsome young looking guy.
HH
Just popping out to the game. See you later :-))))))
The wife and I go to a Catechises class on a Tuesday night. The priest doesn’t like football and always cuts it a bit fine on CL nights. Think I’ll throw a sicky :-)
this is the time i hate before a match, that last few hours , the nerves kicking in.
do us proud celtic.
Aw-naw, with you in in spirit if not in body. Anybody going to Molly’s you’ll recognise Aw-naw as he doesn’t look a day over 39!