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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I have a strange feeling that selling Eboui Kouassi might come back to bite us on the posterior one day.
🍀⚽️
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/transfer-window-checkpoint/
With four in, Lennon says he is “miles” from being finished. Here is my review of the squad and potential “stays”, “ins” and “outs”.
If we sell Tierney, Kouassi, Sinclair, Rogic then I can see us coming out of this transfer window with more money in the bank.
Man U are seriously interested in Dembele and we could earn another few million from his sale.
So far £11.6m spent but potentially £40m to come in.
I know the priorities are the playing staff….My question, given that I know nowt about fitba’…To get everything right,….. everything……….How much would it cost in todays market?
Celticbynumbers,
Still feel another right back will come in.
Centre back
One or two midfielders depending on what happens with Ntcham
Another left back
Striker (someone may come in for Edouard so this needs watched too)
In all seriousness we may spend another 20m this window.
……..oh, and anither thng……
are thur two AC Milan’s?
…..askin’ furra freen.
;)
Lawwell would be happy with a net spend that protected the money in the bank already.
Projecting £120m turnover (with champions league qualification), £50m wage bill, £40m cash at the bank.
By next season with a successful Champions League we have rising saleable players and quantity of plus £10m assets.
Ajer
McGregor
Forrest
Edouard
Christie
Ntcham
Add in possible good season for Johnstone, Dembele, Henderson Shved and you have further assets.
There’s plenty of bunce. I’d be going all out for a striker.
TravellerBhoy….thank you ;-))
H.H.
When we meet again…no holds barred…am not a child anymore
Did I say that out loud
TakeapartCSC
Bankiebhoy…to get everything right? Start with Trump…then Bolsonaro…then Boris…and now wee Angela’s decided not to run again we might see the right on the rise once more in her patch…
It seems everything is heading in the right direction…macjay will be well pleased…
But at what cost?
Wee Mikey has no ‘e’…wee Jinky did…
Mods please delete my 11.11 post…ta
I see Sevco want to increase there capacity to around 5,000,making it 52,000,now if we Celtic Football Club,have supposedly have a waiting list?,then why don’t the directors try and redeveloped the front and the main stand?
Imagine the peace that would break out…no huns…..at Parkheid
Ouh and our third strip is attrocious….think POG got in right lol
H.H.
Internet search…shows he’s dead….mmmm
Wheres ma anger go
Catharsis…thank you for your patience
Not thsnk you for your patient
Yours.
H Shipman
Too soon lol
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 27TH JULY 2019 11:05 AM
Angela is significantly responsible for the rise of the ” right ” .
Nothing could be more obvious.
Not to mention her responsibility for the drowning of 130 or so in the Med. this week.
Nothing to do with ” wings “. A stupid outdated term anyway.
The issue is the safety of the West, its institutions and the people.
Anyone who is unable to see a significant and growing threat , from multiple sources , to ” our ” way of life is simply not paying attention.
Thank God electorates can see that threat and are increasingly voting accordingly.
In many cases , thanks to Angela , the enemy is within the walls.
Trying to re-sign Izzy? Someone is having a laugh….
“Rangers 2-0 Progres Niederkorn: Steven Gerrard urges his side to be ‘more clinical'”.
Last season’s issues still there by the looks of it.
TheLurkinTim
Are you ok friend?
Genuine question.
HH
I would be astounded if Lennon is not fully aware that Sevco beat us last twice at Ibrox because of the physicality of their team, this has been a priority for Gerrard as he knows to beat us on skill would take more money than they have available. We are not up for a physical game with cowards like Forrest and Sinclair, add in Johnson etc. etc. then it is the only way they can beat us. Lennon needs to get in players who are up to the fight, even if they are not used versus Hamilton at home, we need horses for courses. We therefore urgently need someone to support Brown who is alone in this physical fight. Also we need a lacy striker who can get on the end of crosses and make himself a physical nuisance. Basically we are too nice to play against physically. We have also lost an important leadership character in Lustig and Tierney also can fit that description, it’s not all about having nice wee footballers, get it sorted, we play in Scotland not Spain or Holland.
PACY striker 😂😂😂
A lacy striker might be a distraction however
Breen
Agree.
Teams reflect the attitude of their coaches.
I do not expect NFLs Celtic to lack the physicality needed to compete against the usual suspects.
Issue then becomes keeping 11 men on the field for 90 minutes.
HH
Racy striker – oooer missus
I s Mike Ashley’s big hoose still open?
Timbhoy
And I want to be very friendly with Halley Berry
The outcomes are the same!
PS… There capacity is already 52,000
Their
Fool Time Whistle
“I do not expect NFLs Celtic to lack the physicality needed to compete against the usual suspects.”
Unless we now sign them we don’t have this physical presence. We need in midfield and we need today’s version of Hartson or Sutton otherwise we will be intimidated, we have seen it before, nice wee players at home when no aggression. However we know what’s coming, get it sorted, otherwise as it stands they can take us.
See we’ve ‘swooped’ for another English teenager. Apparently he was encouraged to join by mini Dembele!
deeply concerned if the reports are true about izzy beibg offered another deal..seriously concerned…
Breeny
The “nice wee players” are all a legacy of Rodgers regime.
He favoured a non-contact form of training and play during games.
Move the ball quickly & accurately then excessive physicality is removed from the game – was his mantra.
That was fine until other teams realized that we could be bullied off our game.
The opening fixture against Hearts last season & games at Hades – we didn’t look up for it.
Referees indulged those two opponents and others.
Meanwhile, we had a “non” sweeper keeper trying to play sweeper keeper to comply with the Rodgers instruction to play it out from the back – regardless of the risk.
Lustig & Tierney were repeatedly battered as they tried to take a Gordon “9 iron” chip with an opponent charging in on them.
I saw more aggression from Mikey Johnson in the game on Wednesday than I did last season so I’m hopeful that NFL has been talking to all the players about the need for having an appetite for the scrap.
I agree that that is the only way we will lose the league this year. If it is battered out of us.
We have the skill, tactics, stamina & fitness & coach.
In a league such as the EPL where referees will protect the ball playing teams, the Rodgers tippy tappy players will do well. As you say, we do not play in the EPL so we need to protect our players in whatever way we can within the environment we are forced to play in.
HH
Breeny
One more thing.
If Ryan Christie can morph into the physical player he’s become without losing his goal threat and skills then he is the template for others currently at Celtic. I suspect that we have other diamonds like Ryan in our squad, who in the past were discouraged from playing that way.
I’d still be happy if we could sign a new young Roy Keane mind…
HH
Fool Time Whistle
Yep, think we are on the same wavelength but I don’t see our physicality coming from Johnson or Christie, leave them to do what they do best when the occasion demands. However the crucial games v Sevco, Aberdeen, Hearts and Kilmarnock we need to add a physicality that we don’t currently have. I repeat that it is the only thing that can defeat us, we need to sort it out. Make no mistake Gerrard is well tuned in to this, he has no other option, we must close it down.
FTW
Zackly wot you said.
I think big Nir and big Krisshows plenty steel at back or mid; he won’t back down: We told Eboue likes it tasty too. If he stays.
If Neil’s adding some cement to the mixer, it’s not so good for the Olli’s, Jamesy’s, Daniel’s and Scotty’s of the squad. I saw Tony R as a no-back down dude too; not sure why his career is stalling?
agree that selling Eboui Kouassi might come back to bite us on the posterior one day , another player we spent good money on and never given a proper run in the team to get established even taking injuries into consideration that always seems to be the case in our transfer dealings , they are either found out after we purchase them that they are not good enough or we take the easy way out and say that they are injured or not fit to play , who is scouting these players .