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.
634 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 17
- »
Gene
You are probably correct..
It was so embarrassing that all the commentators agreed.
Chris Sutton & Wee Daryl & Steven Craigan.
Now heard that Douglas Ross has apologised to Hibs manager.
Not so much a right back we need as a new kit designer. The new home kit is not going to look right on fans of a certain timbre, the away kit looks familiar but poor use of the colours, and the new third strip resembles something designed by a committee. You would think that you could not go wrong with the Celtic colours, great strips around the world using green on its’ own, or a green-gold combination, but you would be mistaken. Then again if you use 1970s Topshop catalogues as your inspiration then this is what you are likely to come up with. Without the 1970s prices naturally.
GENE on 26TH JULY 2019 8:44 PM
Bognorbhoy
Think a few teams took that name back in the day
**************
Yep, I guested for AC Milanda at St. Andrews Uni circa 1970. Same year as John Cleese was their president. My wee pal was the token working class student there. Reckon only 3 of the team had ever heard of Milanda. Couldn’t get away quick enough.
CELTIC MAC
Good point. The home kit should be the top seller of the three but if you don’t have the physique the players have you are just going to look silly in it . MAnufacturers are maybe going to have to think about producing a slightly , er , ‘looser ‘ fitting version for those of us with ‘looser’ figures-))
FAIRHILL BOY,
Enough of the hilarious banter.My sides are aching.Have you been passed the Neganon 2 book of ripping reposts?.Fekin sounds like it.By the way still playing darts,Champion again this year,still walking the Dug ,and still crabbit,but only with knobheads.
Keep on enjoying Fairhill.Hows the burglary problem there.
glendalystonsils
I liked the Seville strip, suited both the players and the supporters. And Lisbon of course. Liked Umbro, proper firm back then, and to be fair we have had some good strips over the years.
And then, he turns over to BT and finds Hibernian FC wearing an all blue effort. Where the Hibs go we follow?
Was in Kusadasi today and saw the new Hoops top.Said to the guy,how much.Worked out at £9,so did not even do the expected barter crap with him.He then said,”Dont have your size,only kids and XXXL left”I said”What size is that one hanging up,let me see it down”.He did,was an XXXL,I am a 38 chest,fitted perfect.
Was thinking about the fat Huns who ordered their tops from here,and gave their size for their mates to bring back.
Is the 3rd kit not in the colours of Broonies chosen charity and some of the proceeds from sales go towards said charity ?
When I see Douglas Ross at a game on the telly, my subconscious quietly chants in my bonce… “Blackshirt! Blackshirt! Blackshirt!
Wishtherewasstillnaetorympsinscotland CSC
🍀⚽️
Words fail me on that new 3rd top. Is that New Balances last top, hope so, dreadful😱😵
Sports Direct says it regrets rescuing House of Fraser in its much-delayed results, which revealed a €674m (£605m) tax bill from Belgium authorities.
The firm, which bought the department store out of administration a year ago, said: “If we had the gift of hindsight we might have made a different decision in August 2018.”
——-
One assumes the SDI executive will be in a rather unforgiving mood in relation to its other business ventures.
CELTIC MAC
Yep. The Seville strip was a great strip for a great time and Umbro stuff was always good.
As for blue strips….! More chance of Dave King turning honest than of Celtic wearing a blue strip . Would love to know what the Hibs fans think of it!
PP
I concur, pyoor gash.
🍀⚽️
3 certainties on cqn
poppy debate
song debate
3rd strip debate
why on earth do folk get their knickers in a knot about the 3rd strip every time
we know what the concept of a 3rd strip is, what its purpose is and how it is generally a bit of arty bollocks and of little importance
go and worry about something more important and stop stressing about it
https://www.ft.com/content/a357d5f4-af77-11e9-8030-530adfa879c2
Ashley in the news again
GO TELL THE SPARTIM on 26TH JULY 2019 9:28 PM
Is the 3rd kit not in the colours of Broonies chosen charity and some of the proceeds from sales go towards said charity ?
…………..
I don’t know if it is or isn’t but I thought I’d bump it on for others to chew on.
If it is I hope if flies off the shelves.
HH
Hoops, away tops, pink strips, yellow strips, bumble bee taps …. etc
It’s called merchandise and a valuable revenue for the club, personally I would purchase from Celtic direct and grateful we have a Celtic shop in Coatbrig …
CQN want specialist right backs but then moan when the club bring out a strip some don’t like, which this valuable income stream could deliver
Quality moaning :-)
It could be worse … some other company could be making a profit from your strip purchases …
The kids love every new strip it’s only us oldies that don’t and it’s not actually the strip it’s the fitting into it
Mon the hoops …. even though they make us all look that wee bit wider
GrumpyOldBhoysCSC
Douglas Ross, Esq., M.P. Assistant Referee, Fud.
LETS ALL…
I. Fully understand the concept of a third strip. I am completely unstressed about it.
I do however choose to exercise my freedom of expression through the medium of Blogging by pointing out that I think the design and colour are honking. 🤢😉
🍀⚽️
Scaniel 2.09pm
Gutted to read what happened, delighted to read you & your good lady are ok and not letting it get to you
Take care
Did the festival today, back on Sunday. Enjoyed a fun day, well done Celtic.
——————————————————————————————————–
Read Bobby Madden today. We should pay attention, he’s not our enemy now. Working the uefa gravy train.
Current uefa referee standings for Scots. Elite, Collum. Cat1, Madden Beaton. Cat2, Clancy Robertson. Cat3 Walsh.
One down from last season. Dallas jnr obviously. We can follow his appointments back home all season. Dallas snr confirmed a remunerative position this summer.
Given that 3rd strips are nowt but a bit of a lark , I predict that they will get more and more outrageous as time goes on and that more and more of us auld gits on CQN will be calling on nurse for the pills -))
GFTB
You too! 😉
Righttoexpressmaopinion CSC
TERJE VIGEN on 26TH JULY 2019 10:39 PM
All true ma man, all true.
🍀⚽️
Coldplay – Shiver…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u8XFFTWwSvY
HH
Is it April 1st?
If the kids will nag their parents to buy any Celtic kit. Then no stupid colours need apply.
Every kit should be green white or gold.
It will sell out Everytime.
Bin new balance.
Foir anyone that still misses the ole Sandman Ratings, here’s his latest offering – as usual, from The Celtic Star.
https://thecelticstar.com/sandmans-definitive-ratings-the-spark-is-back-blootered-in-a-bar-somewhere-in-gran-canaria/
Hunderbirds 11.09pm
I didn’t say I disagreed with you :-)
Am pretty sure our marketing people know their audience … (& it’s not us) :-)
One of the best away tops we’ve had was black with green and white vertical pin stripes, early nineties, no sponsor. Belter!
HH
Celtic’s new 3rd kit?
Even the romanian national cycling team would be laughed out of town if they pedalled up to le Tour in such a monstrosity.
It can only be be New Balance’s GIRUY to Celtic in response to us moving on.
Whirlpools End Paul Weller…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TxNNBnwLD28&list=PL4C229326210672A0&index=20&t=0s
HH
Away tops … 1986 green top with shorts a wee tiny bit darker at love street… also white strip with the green pin stripes and green strip with the white pin stripes … best trackie was all green with the white across the shoulder blades … Billy McNeill wore itvas manager …
But … we should always wear the hoops, when possible, during a competitive game
GFTB
Speak for yourself. Every time I’m down visiting my daughters in the Dear Green Place, I always pop in the Celtic shop, and… eh.. look at the new strips (before buying a tee shirt and getting out before I threaten to spend my beer allowance) 😃
🍀⚽️
The success of the celtic festival is good for the club. its a great way to bring fans and players, past and present, together. Would love to see a perm fanzone, large screens, superstore, cafe, restuarant, museum and hotel, increased and improved parking and landscaping etc… at celtic park so that the club could stage such events on our patch an a yearly basis (summer) and offer better match day/ non-match day entertainment/ activity to supporters and visitors.
Celtic needs to find the best ways to improve income to try to be as competitive as possible. A look around celtic park shows there is plenty of scope for improvement and growth. Some progress has been made over the last few season but much more is needed. Yes there is a large cost but that needs to be measured against the benefits to be gained.
We may be a little ahead of the curve in scotland but We are behind the curve when measured against others accross europe.
HH
My fave away top is the green and black vertical. Like the Inter strip, but wi green instead of blue.
🍀⚽️
Kasabian – Club Foot…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xE0AHq3FlrY
HH
Hunderbirds 11.37pm
Am more of a Celtic polo shirt man myself these days…..
those dam hoops don’t lie :-)