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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Celtic will be going to Israel again.
I’m certain of that. ;))
YOUTH GROUP: Forever Young…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rQi8wEHMm5Y
HH
MTA won their League by 22 points last Season.
I’d rather play Cluj than MTA.
I expect Celtic to be visiting the Holy Land again, despite Cluj holding an impressive 1-0 advantage.
Nattali Rize – One People …
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eNQTZ_lxLXs
HH
Dbhoy,
Lennys just in the place
I was a bit annoyed the previous midweek, the last midweek Celtic looked on it.
Something inside so Strong Neil Francis Lennon of Glasgow Celtic.
DD, totally agree, his wife and kids will be devastated, horrible illness GNGB , hopefully we will meet again soon, HH
weebawbabitty – God Bless You and Everyone that knows you.
TRUE
Petec , thanks partner,! goodnight god bless KEVJ CSC
Petec 2.05
More good memories, cheers
Ultrasonic in town in next couple of weeks, only found out they were still touring.
HH
Bullsh!t – methinks
Certain people might want to.
weebawbabitty,
Where is Kevj – I only really look in @ the weekends.
He isnae posting at all?
Info Bro?
Dbhoy on 27th July 2019 2:15 am
Petec 2.05
More good memories, cheers
Ultrasonic in town in next couple of weeks, only found out they were still touring.
HH
……………………
It is Good to make a Living out of Something ye Love.
Thats the Dream.
Ultrasonic produced Quality Tunes back in the day – I got too snobbish I guess Bach in the olde Day – the only sonics making the hairs stand up on the Back of ones neck – listening again were Ultrasonics – Delighted for them.
ULTRASONIC
The Big Bang Fantazia touched down in Australia too…… The World Tour was Big.
Petec
It is Good to make a Living out of Something ye Love
————
That’s what I tell my kids when they ask what sort of job should they look to do when they leave school. Make it something you enjoy
HH
Dbhoy,
Kids have no idea really.
This World is Bonkers.
Fitba and not a lot of other Jobs fit the bill.
Petec
My youngest tells me he wants to be a football player ‘ but not for the money, cause I love it ‘. He says.
I learn from my kids everyday, feels like they’re teaching me things sometimes..:)
HH
Gregory Gibbons rip
Prayers I support of those left devastated
—————————-
Alright DD,sometimes there are no answers my friend.loss of our young men is at epidemic proportions.poverty and it’s tenticles run deep deprivation,exclusion,drugs etc are a few of it’s cancerous impact on society.
Catch to at the coarna soon G.:-)
HH
Petec
One game at Paradise and both my boys were hooked, they just can’t get enough…:)
HH
Listened to this a lot back in the day…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tTJQIWvCtY4
Oof out as they say.
HH
Dbhoy,
NFL is a Fighter, Stevie G is a Fighter.
Thats the Bottom Line.
Pedro Truth.
Battle it oot.
The odds are closer than you think when you factor in the Bias.
Penalties galore with the Skilled players we huv.
Mikey J really impressed me @ Ibrokes when we had no Support Really.
The Bhoy has it.
He is a Gem of a player.
CELTIC.
Neil Francis Lennon.
A guy that Builds Bridges wherever he can…. by hook or by crook.
Who knows Anything?
Measles is good to get when young – No?
Not manmade
Clouds….. Little Fluffy Clouds have Distorted the Data.
You are Being LIED To. Evolution – the Royals started this House of no 666 Foundation jibber jabber.
Finland&Japan.CSC
They went on forever
Little Fluffy Clouds, Little Fluffy Clouds.
The establishment
Closes ranks
Innocence
RIP
Meanwhile
In North Britain
Only
Catholics are bad
Don’t you know
Blah blah blah
Tontine Tim & Gordon.
Incredible.
And now the press are talking about increasing Ibrox by, not a hover pitch, but lowering it. That’s because they are loaded😱😵
Good morning, friends. There’s wet stuff falling out of the sky over EK; it must be the weekend! A return to Pollock ParkRun for me this weekend and a 5K target of 23m 15s.
But first, breakfast and the very enjoyable Frank Skinner with his weekly award winning ‘Frank on the Radio’ show on Absolute Radio. Funny, funny stuff (usually!)
TRAVELLERBHOY
Watching BBC Scotland news they certainly never miss a chance to hi-light the Catholic angle.
Then I did not that most of the other institutions under investigation are non-catholic public schools -colleges. I wonder if shortbread will give them the same coverage?
And it does seem that whistle-blowers in the UK are likely to end up in jail themselves for a long time.
Bamboo and Travellerbhoy………
Good points. Agreed. Sadly, bent churnalists obscure the truth of such horrors.
In ither news….this very morn
The Big Hoose must be fallin’ dooon………….standby for Hover pitch+2.
“Modernising” The Dilapidated Victorian Lavvy Facade……………????
There must be more than a few holes in the asbestos.
Dark Ages…stuff and guff.
HH.
iniesta v Barcelona live on free sports 10am… not sure what channel for sky but channel 64 on BT
I know it’s a friendly but strange to see Iniesta play against Barca
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WARNING,!!!!!
DON’T HIT THE LINK ABOVE. IT TAKES YOU OUT OF CQN AND DOESN’T LET YOU BACK IN.
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Apologies if my fault, but I’ve done hundreds of links and that’s the first time that’s happened. 🤓
🍀⚽️
Borna Sosa would be a great addition at left back.
Wallace. Hannover 96. Brazilian defensive midfielder. Could get him for about £8m.