The elimination of Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund from the Champions League last night assures that the winner of this season’s tournament will already have qualified from their domestic league. As a result, Greek champions Olympiacos will automatically qualify for the league stage of next season’s tournament. This leaves one more seeded space open for Celtic.
Five teams will be seeded in the playoff round. Bodo/Glimt and Red Star have a higher coefficients than Celtic and will both be seeded. Ferencvaros have clawed back a deficit and are a point ahead in Hungary with six to play; I expect them to take the title. That leaves us chasing two seeded places.
The challenges from Salzburg (5 adrift, 7 to play) and Shakhtar Donetsk (10 adrift, 7 to play with a game in hand) and Dinamo Zagreb (7 down and 7 to play) do not look like they will materialise.
The most interesting European league this season could arguably be in Switzerland. You will remember Young Boys were 10th in their domestic table and bottom of the Champions League when we needed a late own goal to beat them in January.
That we struggle to much against a ‘poor’ side was a concern. It transpired that Young Boys had just got their act together and were about to embark on what looked like a run to the Swiss title. Two weeks ago they had closed the gap on leaders Basel to three points with eight to play.
A draw at home to 11th placed Yverdon popped the bubble, however. That was followed by a 5-0 battering at Luzern. The eight point gap now looks beyond them.
As it stands, we will be fourth of five seeds in the Champions League playoff round. The preparatory work should be well underway.
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Arteta seems to be a graduate of the hun academy. A thoroughly unpleasant individual, I hope his next shite is a hedgehog.
B78 – transfer dealings.
We have been very poor.
The millions in the bank is working capital.
We can afford to buy before we sell.
If Engels was the man, we could have bought him for considerably less before selling O’Rrilly.
If we really wanted the Scandi chap (forgotten his name!) in January, we should have bought him before selling Kyogo.
A loan-to-buy for Idah would have saved millions.
IMHO, in recent times those on the other side of the table have had us over a barrel.
Idah was lined up for a move to Verona on loan with an option to buy. He stalled on the move when his agent told him Celtic was a possibility.
The Italians had an option for a reported £3.5 million.
I will not buy the idea that we didn’t have time to pick up where the Italians left off and get the option on Idah.
Well done people of Ennis.
https://x.com/antearmann1967/status/1912639109648032206?s=19
HH
Given today’s ruling by the Supreme Court in London
it would seem that Rabbie Burns got it right when he claimed…..
“A Man’ s a Man for a’ that an a’ that..
For a’ that…and a’ that….
Good morning from a sunny North Staffs
https://www.celticnewsnow.com/hoople/
Last line
Gene, hoople
Tks for posting
Got it in 5
Just reading that rubbish and vermin are everywhere around the streets of Birmingham.
Same as in Bilbao !
Joes11
Should have got it in 4 but my spelling let me dwon 😅
Gene
Ha ha.
At least I knew who it was this time!
“quadrophenian on 17th April 2025 7:54 am
Just reading that rubbish and vermin are everywhere around the streets of Birmingham.”
What rubbish and what is happening in Birmingham???
Anyone know to what quadrophenian was referring?
HS:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-17/birmingham-bin-strike-sparks-rat-and-rubbish-nightmare/105185658
quadrophenian on 17th April 2025 9:20 am
Thanks. I assumed it was something to do with the Huns…..I wasn`t far wrong :-))
QUAD
Dearie me ! I have only just got your joke !!
Time for a bike ride to sharpen my wit!!
Cheerio for now.
I am obviously hoping for a Celtic Victory against St Johnstone in the Cup this Sunday, but I also like to think that the Celtic players will be even MORE Determined to hammer the Perth side, in retaliation for beating the Celts 1 – 0 a couple of weeks ago in the League fixture ?
Therefore , I have placed a small wager on Celtic to beat St Johnstone by the CORRECT SCORE of 6 – 0.
The odds on THAT Correct Score coming up are Ladbrokes at ONLY 20/1…….But with BET365 the odds are 33/1.
HH.
I watched the REAL MADRID v ARSENAL CL match last night.
I had to turn DOWN any commentary due to that Hun CHUMP McCoist yet again.
Real Madrid were shocking IMHO, with many of their players NOT ONLY Playing poorly, but some of their Players were DIVING and CHEATING at every opportunity, so although I am NOT a Fan of Arsenal and/or their Manager ARTETA, I was glad to see Arsenal beat them.
Arsenal fully deserved their Victory by playing so well in BOTH Legs.
TNT SPORTS have some cheek, NOT ONLY forcing McCoist on us but, but also begging for Charity Donations throughout the Match from TV Viewers….HOW MUCH did McCoist and Rio Ferdinand donate ?
HOW MUCH did the Multi Millionaire players and staff of BOTH Clubs Donate ?
HOW MUCH did TNT SPORTS Donate ?
Paul67
“ The preparatory work SHOULD already be underway.”
Makes me think that you are concerned that it isn’t?
TT
We have a scouting network – so we’re always on the lookout
GENE – I wonder if the scouting network is still active in Japan? We got lucky with Ange’s local knowledge but I would guess there is still much better value to be found there than in England. The fact we have players active with the national team has to be a huge selling point for any emerging talent that wants to play abroad.
Maeda and Reo will be well known (as would Kyogo have been) so players know they are coming to a club that has some understanding of their culture and needs and helping them to settle.
If we could find Maeda’s midfield playing twin we’d have reasons to be cheerful :)
DeniaBhoy
That would be a find.
My point is that I don’t buy into the “we’re doing nothing” and leave things to the last minute.
There are usually multiple parties involved in the transfer process – we are just one of them
McCoist was insufferable last night. He was that busy blabbing on he failed to notice the referee going to the VAR for the arsenal penalty.
new article posted.