Champions League pitfalls

717

Having the first leg of our Champions League qualifier against KR in Iceland instead of Scotland, as initially drawn, ticks boxes for both clubs.  Without being disrespectful (well, maybe a bit), if the first leg was in Scotland KR could find themselves trying to sell a dead rubber second leg to TV companies.  With their home tie starting level, this could be their biggest windfall of the season.

Despite KR’s lowly coefficient, Celtic are stepping into the unknown and would infinitely prefer the second leg at home, a week after competitive cobwebs are blown away.  If we encounter a Karagandy-goat-sacrifice-type experience in Reykjavik, we would still have the chance to resolve things at Celtic Park Murrayfield.  The only surprise is that it took the clubs this long to confirm the change.

Now all we need to worry about is the goat-sacrificing habits of Scotland’s rugby types.

News from Nyon that Celtic’s share of last season’s Champions League bounty was £14.1m, plus £1.8m for participating in the qualifying rounds, on top of ticket sales, reiterates how important the competition is to the club.

We’re now trying to qualify for the third consecutive season, a feat we’ve never achieved before.  After the chastening experiences of last August, and the changing of the guard, I’m taking nothing for granted this season.  By my reckoning we cope without reaching the group stage two years in five without significantly downsizing.

I got a bit of banter for saying I was still raw from Georgios Samaras penalty miss four seasons ago.  Why shouldn’t we be raw, it was the last time Celtic failed to win a Scottish championship.  Ever!  Those who celebrate that miss will be clinging onto it as a highlight for the rest of their days.

Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his book, All the Best.

[calameo code=0003901719d82038831a9 lang=en page=126 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

717 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. ...
  4. 8
  5. 9
  6. 10
  7. 11
  8. 12
  9. 13
  10. 14
  11. ...
  12. 19

  1. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    NatKnow

     

     

     

    We ran the Wallace Celtic supporters club from the Barnyard / Bradys.

  2. Tommy Gemmell said he would have sorted Suarez out

     

     

    Jim Craig would have been the man for the job

  3. McDowellcelt god bless wee oscar on

    Kris Boyd agreed terms with sevco on a 1 year deal. Will undergo medical 2maro.

     

    Looks like them muppets are gony re unite and unleash the lethal dream team strike force on the Scottish 1st division.lol.. Miller and boyd.

  4. Jude, young Josh bhoy, he is cqns talisman everyone hoping he makes it.

     

     

    Some achievement all ready.

     

     

    Tell him to keep it lit.

     

     

    Switched on.

  5. jude2005

     

     

    Saw your post on the Bhoy getting signed-up – delighted for him and you.

     

     

    Remind him – eat, drink, sleep football…………….

     

     

    ……… forget; tattoos, x-boxes and WAGS!!!

     

     

    H!H!

  6. Watching the pundits.

     

     

    Getting to the stage I think martin and Gordon are the only guys who know what they are talking about.

  7. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    Congrats to young Josh……and his granda, from whom his talent sprung.

  8. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    Thanks Bhoys I will pass ur advice on to Josh.

     

     

    ttt Twas in ma jeans. H H <:0)

  9. Delaneys Dunky on

    Marty

     

     

    Would love to see wee Jay walk on to the pitch holding Sammi’s hand as mascot.

  10. McDowellcelt god bless wee oscar

     

    22:59 on

     

    26 June, 2014

     

    Kris Boyd agreed terms with sevco on a 1 year deal. Will undergo medical 2maro.

     

    Looks like them muppets are gony re unite and unleash the lethal dream team strike force on the Scottish 1st division.lol.. Miller and boyd.

     

     

    …………………………………

     

     

    A couple of the sevconians that i work with were made up when Miller singed.

     

    Seriously.

     

    Their happiness will have been cranked up a notch by that news!

     

    A 1 year contract?!

     

    Will they be able to honour it?

  11. All I said was ,IMO,Bradley has played very well,I thought USAs best player in the 3 games.

     

    Then again,what do I know.His team are in the last 16,and he is their playmaker.

  12. Just saw the Ghana keepers celebration after saving a Ronaldo point blank header. Brilliant !!

  13. Any green fingered Gardner’s out there.

     

     

    I’ve tried a hundred times now to grow morning glories in my south facing sunny, pH OK soil, garden.

     

    Just never ever take, and I really would like to have those sky blue giant flowers up the trellis.

     

     

     

    So I’ve moved on to a packet of “handsome huns”.

     

     

    I hope I can get them to grow in the navvie turned over garden in Bishopton.

  14. Commentator remarking on more than one occasion that in 1982 Germany and Austria deliberately played out a1-1 draw resulting in the ‘deliberate’ elimination of Algeria.

     

    What a load of tosh. Germany v Austria is like Scotland vs England or similar.

     

    Reminds me of the ‘treatment’ of Michael Schumacher (bad egg, tried to ram Hill off the road blah blah), slated in the UK for years- best driver in F1 of all time, never any award or recognition for his achievements.

  15. tictaewin

     

     

    23:19 on 26 June, 2014

     

    Commentator remarking on more than one occasion that in 1982 Germany and Austria deliberately played out a1-1 draw resulting in the ‘deliberate’ elimination of Algeria.

     

    What a load of tosh. Germany v Austria is like Scotland vs England or similar.

     

    Reminds me of the ‘treatment’ of Michael Schumacher (bad egg, tried to ram Hill off the road blah blah), slated in the UK for years- best driver in F1 of all time, never any award or recognition for his achievements.

     

     

    Sadly the commentator was spot Algeria had played the day before so both teams knew what they had to do, it was disgraceful to watch. I believe that is why all teams in the group now kick off at the same time in the last group game

  16. Celticrollercoaster luvs his luminious lime boots on

    *****CQN World Cup Update*****

     

     

    And the provisional* results are in, with those qualifying (Q) for the World Cup Premiership League denoted. The rest are dumped into the World Cup Championship ” Zombie Nation” League.

     

     

    Well done to all!

     

     

    *positions may change if teams are disqualified for non-payment by the payment deadline

     

     

    Group A

     

    BhoyWonder84 222 Q

     

    jeez_I_thought_blinker_was_pants 207 Q

     

    Republic of Fudgeland 203 Q

     

    Bayern Bru 196

     

    BADA BING 159

     

     

    Group B

     

    jamabhoy 216 Q

     

    hmack 214 Q

     

    Murcia Super XI PaddyBhoy1888 213 Q

     

    FC Cortes 212

     

    angelGabriel 156

     

     

    Group C

     

    Jonny The Tim 191 Q

     

    MurdochauldandHay 190 Q

     

    Touched, by the hand of God 187

     

    Stpatricksbhoy 168

     

    Marspapa Clique 144

     

     

    Group D

     

    The Kidd’s 219 Q

     

    Evergreen 196 Q

     

    Stevenage Bhoy 196 Q

     

    TLK Deilaghts 183

     

    Angola CSC 171

     

     

    Group E

     

    Celtic Rose 212 Q

     

    Lennybhoys Lions 211 Q

     

    BK Champion Elect 209 Q

     

    Clueless89 205

     

    Dr Mengele’s Brazilian Beavers 204

     

     

    Group F

     

    googybhoy 199 Q

     

    dim sam 192 Q

     

    Giffnock Past(it) Masters 170

     

    Team Rocket 164

     

    Beenies beach bums 156

     

     

    Group G

     

    Bognor hoops 186 Q

     

    celticrollercoaster 185 Q

     

    Sponsored by Cheetah 181

     

    Ard Ri 167

     

    Vmhan’s Dunderheids 156

     

     

    Group H

     

    Kolncelt 220 Q

     

    praecepta 219 Q

     

    Slabhoy – The only Way is Up 216 Q

     

    Dougies Donkeys 196

     

    BringBackBoruc 184

     

     

    Group I

     

    Minx 1888 221 Q

     

    BlantyreKev 189 Q

     

    Bobby Evans Superstar 179

     

    Martybhoy59 179

     

    Celtic 1967 172

     

     

    Group J

     

    MrsCRC knows her place 192 Q

     

    Kelvinbhoy’s EK Green and White Army 189 Q

     

    Setting Free the Bears 187 Q

     

    GuyFawkesaforeverhero 164

     

    bognors chosen few 159

     

     

    Group K

     

    HT’s Heroes 193 Q

     

    Jobo Baldie 187 Q

     

    Token Tims Mwepu Illunga’s Free-kick Army 168

     

    TravelBhoys From Brazil 167

     

    uruguayforme 161

     

     

    Group L

     

    Cowiebhoys A B E 211 Q

     

    Geordie Munro 205 Q

     

    Doc 180

     

    Bradbhoy 176

     

    Hearthan 127

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  17. Delaneys Dunky on

    Borgo

     

     

    My bhoy was a mad goalie, who used to act the same when he made a great save. It struck a chord wi us. :))

  18. jeez_I_thought_blinker_was_pants on

    Fantastic gesture by the Greek FA to send Jay and his family to Brazil in time for the Costa Rica game………………………………..I’m away to study the rules for the next round of the predictor…………………………………..

  19. Celticrollercoaster luvs his luminious lime boots on

    Saint Stivs

     

     

     

    23:29 on 26 June, 2014

     

     

    Shut it Jack! :-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    Victor Sands CSC

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. ...
  4. 8
  5. 9
  6. 10
  7. 11
  8. 12
  9. 13
  10. 14
  11. ...
  12. 19