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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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  11. Travellerbhoy on

    https://youtu.be/ySwuOw3sl7s

     

    My all time favourite version of this timeless song written by north Brit rabbie burns

     

    who wasnt as good as old Wullie Shakespeare

     

     

    Source (daily fekard)

     

     

     

    Addendum

     

    Unfortunately since this article was fabricated the daily fekard has drowned in its own pish

  20. Henry Joy on

    Asked for “Belfast Mill” once and only ….. was reminded it was a closed Protestant shop – black shirt fascist scum.

  25. Travellerbhoy on

    Hey man

     

    Don’t give a shit about cath/prod

     

    Love the song

     

    I’m a (not very good ) Christian

     

    Hail Hail

  27. Henry Joy on

    Travellerbhoy on 28th July 2019 6:32 am

     

    ——————————————————————–

     

    The Belfast Mill cared about religion among other things. “No blacks. No dogs. No Irish.”

     

    As an Irish Scots Republican I couldn’t care less what colour, creed, anyone has.

  31. Travellerbhoy on

    https://youtu.be/G7IYPrTTpZA

     

     

    My father in law’s other funeral song

     

    A mighty good man who took me under his wing and learned me about proper family

     

    He’s been dead 16 year and I think about him everyday

     

    Best father I ever had

     

    Unfortunately he was a hun

  34. Travellerbhoy on

    Celtic

     

    Open to all

     

    Even travellers

     

    Who have to suffer

     

    The last acceptable racism

     

    As well as Irish

     

    And Catholics

     

    In the country I was born

     

    And served

     

    As a soldier

     

    As did my grandad

     

    Who volunteered

     

    To a new regiment

     

    During ww2

     

    And was missing

     

    Presumed dead

     

    At Arnhem

     

    For 9 month

     

    Until he walked

     

    Back home

     

    Upon discharge

     

    He was treated

     

    Like a gyppo

     

    Spat at by a

     

    Seargeant

     

    Who served

     

    With him

     

    A tink

     

    Always

     

    No matter what

     

    My kids

     

    Achieve

     

    And still

     

    Get it

     

    From

     

    So called

     

    Peers

     

    We call it out now

     

    Leading to

     

    Unavoidable

     

    Fights

     

    By my

     

    4 daughters

     

    No more

     

    We are

     

    Equal to anybody

     

    On this earth

     

    We are travellers

     

    We are Celtic

  36. bankiebhoy1 on

    G’ mornin’ champs…………..some incredible posts thru the nite and some excellent choons.

     

     

    Mon’TheFureys CSC

  40. GFTB on

    Bankiebhoy 9.37am

     

     

    In ither news ….

     

     

    I have a feeling Ryan Christie will be a major contender for player of the year .. Hot Smoked went early (correctly) with his Callum MacGregor shout last season, I think if Ryan can stay fit (avoid the hatchet men) he will pick up the award this season as well as an outside shot (20/1) of top goal scorer, Edouard is 7/2 with Moreloss 4/1 (the 2nd favourite will be a non runner if a championship team offers £4m)

  41. HighlandBhoy on

    Travellerbhoy,he may have supported the dark side but he doesn’t sound like a hun to me. Good to see to u posting again

     

     

    Hail Hail

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