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Cluj on a roll but the stats flatter

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

I thought it would be worth looking at our next Champions League qualification opponents from the Cluj-Maccabi Tel-Aviv tie.  The Romanians won their home leg 1-0, leaving the outcome wide open.

With 3.5 coefficient points, Cluj look like a dangerous non-seed.  They eliminated Astana, who have 27.5 points (Celtic have 31), in the first round and hold that slim advantage over Maccabi Tel-Aviv, who have 16 points, but there are signs in the detail that these results flatter.

Celtic twice faced strong Kazak opposition in recent years but not only did this Astana team lose to Cluj, they managed only a 0-0 draw in the Europa League qualifiers in Andorra this week.  On the face of it, this result looks a bit like Celtic’s afternoon in Gibraltar three years ago, but unlike Celtic then, Astana 19 games into their season.  It looks like the fizz has flowed out of Kazak football, to the benefit of Cluj.

Both Cluj and Maccabi Tel-Aviv were in close season over the summer, but their preparations could not have been more different.  Before their game this mid-week, Cluj played five friendlies, a Super Cup game, two qualifiers against Astana and two domestic league games.  Maccabi Tel-Aviv arrived in Romania having played only three friendlies and a Super Cup game since May.

After 10 games, the Cluj squad would have been near full fitness.  After four, not many of the Maccabi squad will have played a complete 90 minute game.  Cluj are ready, Maccabi are not.

Celtic will have played nine games, including our opening league encounter, by the third round.  Not as many as Cluj, but we will be well up to speed.  I remember taking a look at AEK Athens this time last year and getting an ominous feeling.  The draw has been significantly kinder this time.

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  1. bigrailroadblues on

    Good evening all from shawlands. Moreorless to AC Milanda? Hahahahaha my aching sides. Oh no missus. 🤣🤣🤣🤔

  2. david17 on

    Cant wait until we lose a game in January and someone posts about how it was a mistake to get rid of Hendry. Good looking boy but never good enough for us and doesn’t have the mentality. Also the punters have decided he’s not upto it and his very inclusion in the team causes unrest on the terraces. Best for all parties that he moves on.

  4. Park Road 67 on

    BIGRAILROADBLUES

     

    Moreorless to AC Milanda ? The huns have got to earn a crust from somewhere with them being outsiders 😂 !

  5. stephbhoy on

    Hendry has been very poor for us. I am trusing my own eyes nothing else. I am sure rodgers did tell hendry to play a bit as he did with others. However, it was jack who made the decision when he stepped out and when he pass, poor decision making cost jack more that anything else. He may go on and have a good career but not at celtic.

     

     

    This season millers, kouassi should be off, Reckon sinclair will be punted and If a good bid comes in for ntcham and/ rogic came i would punt. Reckon Kt is for the off.

     

     

    That would give us a chunk of change to get a leftback, rightback, box to box midfielder and striker in the door and we will be good to go 532, 442 and 433 this season.

     

     

    HH

  7. GFTB on

    PR67 11.23pm

     

     

    Good stuff …

     

     

    Looking forward to Craig Tara and hopefully a wee trip to watch the hoops against the Romanians/Israelis

     

     

    Hail Hail

  13. weebawbabitty on

    Emdy, think Dan dangerous will buy Jack Hendry fur His new favourite team ! Apart from his new Chinese new team! Asking fur big pheat 😂😁👍🍀!! Answers to Sentenial celts 😘

  14. Travellerbhoy on

    Was sober for 6 months but realised it made no difference to my state of mind

     

    So why deny ?

     

    So been on a bender for a week and wish I could stay in this perpetual misty haze

     

    Wonderful state

     

     

    Reality is overrated when you realise us plebs are playing to different rules to the brown nosed connected

     

     

    It is a thankless task trying to hold them to account and if you try the consequences are brutal

     

     

    Watched that miniseries ” when they see us ” recently and took heart

     

     

    But for a turn of conscience they would still be tarred with that unspeakable crime

     

     

    But it gives you hope that injustice can be overcome

     

     

    I personally take inspiration from the Hillsborough families that the establishment can be overcome.

     

     

    Never give up

     

    Fight them all

     

    Never walk alone

     

    A bit like

     

    Celtic really

     

     

    Hail Hail

  15. Travellerbhoy on

    Mods

     

    Why was I deleted on the score updates “thread on wed/Thurs

     

    Please contact me to explain why?

     

    Thanks

     

    Hail Hail

  19. GFTB on

    Travellerbhoy

     

     

    Never read back then you will never know about deletions .. I sort of wish I could delete all of my posts once posted :-)

     

     

    Hope all is ok as ok can be

     

     

    Mcchuills CSC

  42. Travellerbhoy on

    Mackay 349

     

    Probably all our intro to reggae

     

    Me being younger I can’t help singing

     

    Vitality to that chorus

     

    In case you’ve been away too long that’s a margarine where they had that tune promoting it.

     

    Hell Google it if u don’t know .hailhail

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