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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Nice to see the Labour party is open to all
https://www.thenational.scot/news/17800171.labour-politician-fire-taking-top-job-orange-order/
Watching Dundee v ICT game and Dundee winning I thought bet East Fife get that mob😵😱
gftb
And rightly so. Big George would have played at the 1974 World Cup finals had he not been injured, certainly helped us get there. And if you look at the period when George did play for Celtic, during which a mix of Lions and younger players it was one of our most successful periods.
There is a photograph out there somewhere, full squad at start of 1966-67, first team in the hoops and the rest in all green, which would say to you this is the best Celtic squad in history, nobody will get in our way, not Manchester United, and not even Inter Milan. Just like in 1887, the stars aligned…
Celtic Mac 6.36pm
I learn more about Celtic on here than anywhere before I could see for myself :-)
I’ve had to change
This season never mind “whits the goalie doin”
With MacGregor it should be
“Who is the the goalie attacking this week Tom”
Talking of Kenny D.
When he left, that was the first Celtic hurt I can remember.
One of many subsequent ones, but that’s the first that registered.
I tend to disregard most of what he comments on now.
Bankiebhoy1 6.49pm
Kenny was my first “let down” by the time July 1989 came around “super
Mo” kicked me right in the teeth …
I suppose we need players like this to appreciate players like the Maestro & McGrain …
gftb
McGregor woulda got away with murder last season, and that was only the 8.
Was also thinking recently that in the last two seasons in Cup finals I think, two of our best young players have both received serious head injuries, Kieran Tierney 2018 and Ryan Christie just recently. Not sure if any red cards were shown, doubt it. 26 of 32 (was 27) of our top referees are RIFC supporting freemasons. It’s not red cards the perps should be worrying about, it should be red mist! Ask Willie Johnson how that feels.
Sevco love the home friendly games…I can see them organising some midweek friendlies after they fail to make Europa.
Celtic Mac 7.04pm
Even though I would love Kieran to stay I sort of understand why he might leave … it’s really easy for all of us to say “I wouldn’t leave £20k @ week is better than what I earn” … but you have hit the nail on the head some clown fae Aberdeen Jayden Stockley now playing in lower leagues of England hospitalised KT … life is too short for all of us ….. even Celtic fanatics like Kieran …. I really want him to stay but sort of looking forward to him showing the rest of the football world how good he actually is
In my opinion i think Andrew Robertson is a very good left back but not even near as good as Kieran T
GFTB……aye.
We can take some of our best for granted.
I think KT’s for the off. The Bhoy done good.
We’ll get the right money for him – he’s done his bit.
HH
Read the qualifications section : shame on the Labour party
https://www.freewebs.com/district46/
KT is insured and will not be seen down the dole office if he has the awful misfortune of a career ending injury.
An Dun 7.20pm
Dole office ???
I was talking about his career, again I hope he stays but career wise has collected the last 9 domestic trophies so to further the bhoys career I can understand him moving
By the way dole office isn’t a great description I take it you have been lucky enough not to “sign on”
Read the qualifications section : shame on the Labour party
https://www.freewebs.com/district46/
——
“…dangerous doctines…”
—
wtf is a ‘doctine’?
apart from a made up word
i blame kafflik skools
KT can go if he wants to and we get the money we want. I think £25mill is far too cheap in today’s market.
I’m very happy a genius like Larsson didn’t decide to test himself after four years with us and that Paul McStay decided to stay in the early 90s.
KT can go with my thanks and respect, but a Celtic legend he’ll never be. He’ll be a Daglish type figure. Great player, fondly remembered but never in a million years a Tommy Burns.
Just watching the Celtic TV fan commentary from the festival,very good it is.
Love Celtic and the marvelous Celtic support.
HH. 🍀 🏆 👏☺️
KT was instrumental in helping the club win the Treble Treble.
Honestly I can’t be over critical of any of the players whom helped achieve what nobody thought possible.
They are immortals, even Ntcham.
HH. 🍀
An Dun
The Maestro yes … Henrik was well remunerated and probably on wages that matched other top clubs at that time.. with a tax free testimonial flung in …. reading between the lines you probably don’t want Kieran to stay or using KT as an excuse for a bit of negativity … each to their own :-)
I can assure you that I want KT to stay. I want all our best players to remain with us.
Kieran is young man on 20-30K a week. Wild horses couldn’t drag me outta Celtic Park on those terms with the ten around the corner.
But KT is a professional not a fan some will say. Fair enough but as a professional cut out the badge kissing and the megaphone if Celtic is merely a job.
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/does-griffiths-set-edouard-free/
Lennon played two strikers against Nomme Kalju. This may be a future trend. How did it impact the performances of Edouard and Griffiths?
GFTB
Tax free…? How does that work ?.
An Dun 8pm
I don’t think it’s “merely a job” the badge kissing & megaphone is just a fan living the dream ….
Again it’s really easy to use the money thing, I noticed you ignored that Henrik was well remunerated … but Henrik then went to Man Utd & Barcelona … so would you deny that for Kieran ?
I think he is a far better left back than the champions league winning Andrew Robertson
Adi Dassler 8.08pm
If you ever buy a ticket for a testimonial it’s a donation and not an actual price … think that’s why some players donate to charity
Scott Brown … to name but one
Don’t think Henrik did, he might have made a donation to Phil O’Donnell charity as I think that was around the same time … probably Peter Lawells fault :-)
Sevco have just issued a new statement
We are currently organising “testimonials” for every single player who has participated in our journey
Dodgy Dave the 2nd has just realised what “tax free” means, Dodgy Dave the first now wishes he used “testimonial” instead of “EBTs”
Adi 8.08pm
I questioned myself in case I was havering …
From Gov.uk
Sporting testimonial tax changes
From 6 April 2017, new rules apply to the treatment of sporting testimonial income.
Income Tax is due on income from all sporting testimonial and benefit match events. Corporation Tax and VAT may also be due depending on the nature of the income or how payments are made.
The government has agreed to a ‘one-off’ tax exempt amount of £100,000 for income from a non-contractual or non-customary sporting testimonial event (or year), if certain conditions are met.
The new rules cover income from events that take place on or after 6 April 2017, but only where the testimonial has been announced on or after 25 November 2015.
The new rules do not apply to National Insurance contributions. Matching changes for National Insurance contributions will apply from 6 April 2020.
This means existing arrangements for the payment of National Insurance contributions will apply until 5 April 2020.
An dun@8pm,how will you ever know what you would do if you were in KT shoes,calm down 🤔
Fairhill Bhoy 8.30pm
What do you think KT will do ?
🏌️♂️🏌️♂️🏌️♂️🏌️♂️
Has a channel been announced for Tuesday’s game?
Gftb-the world is his lobster😉
#arthurdaley
Hvanski tim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ-Rw1g7k30
The latest from Carine. GFTB – my daughter
CELTIC MAC on 28TH JULY 2019 6:36 PM
gftb
… full squad at start of 1966-67 which would say to you this is the best Celtic squad in history, nobody will get in our way, not Manchester United, and not even Inter Milan.
______________________
That’s not at all fanciful. You just couldn’t see anything other than success. Great players were replaced by more great players – sometimes even better players. Kenny’s departure marked the end of that era.
Frambo11
Nothing listed on either BT sports or Premier sports
Looks like dodgey feed
Can someone delete that post at 8.21,
absolutely shocking
It’s a football forum, fairhill – hypotheticals arise from time to time. The concept hopefully doesn’t go above your head.
Fairhill Bhoy 8.43pm
Answer the question .. will he stay or will he go … now ?
Johnbay 8.45pm
That was worth turning JavaScript on, reading between the lines was that your daughter chanting ? Just told MissGFTB that you provided her ticket for the the Broony testimonial … she said … “the football was rubbish I liked the superstore” typical wummin :-) apologies to Dena & other ladies who actually enjoy the Celtic 🍀
So is Sinky off ?
Gordybhoy 8.54pm
Maybe a rubbish analogy but surely my post 8.21pm wasn’t worth a deletion
An dun-what was hypothetical about your posts.
I’m only 5’6 so a lot goes above my head