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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ADI_DASSLER on 27TH JULY 2019 1:47 PM
Norriem
Imo
Jack H doesnt have the pace for RB
__________
Actually, one thing about Jack H, he is very quick. Maybe not cut out for being a right back, whom I prefer to be under 6′ and quicker on the turn.
I doubt we’ll see the boy play for us again and I don’t really know how good or bad he is.
We are very quick to judge players nowadays and some of the comments on Boli are a joke.
Sadly, it looks like KT might be going. No excuse then for finally flexing some financial muscle in the transfer front. Please get out of this slumber and get Neil the players we need.
Jack Hendry was hung out to dry with his then manager … he was instructed to travel out of defence with the ball AND actually sometimes it actually worked … when it didn’t that’s when you end up reading “Hendry is rubbish, not good enough” etc, he was carrying out his managers instructions
Gene
👍👍🍀🍀
HH
ziggydoc1
My sentiments exactly. It was ever thus. I’d be surprised if there is one player in the Celtic squad who could outpace Jack Hendry over any distance, in fact I would go further, he could turn and still outrun them. Then again I’ve been following him since he was at Thistle. Whatever weaknesses he has that is not one them. Many on here regularly wrote off Dedryk Boyota after he arrived and for years afterwards, but any fool could see he was quick, good in the air and could either take the ball forward and or play it forward. He played in a tournament that Scottish players last played at in the last century. Hendry shares some of his qualities.
I see Cluj won 1-0 in the league tonight .. “if” (we get by Kelju) and we meet them on Aug 6th/7th… I would take a 1-1 draw in a minute … BUT would be better if Maccabi Haifa get through for a wee 6pm kick off …
Market Inn CSC
gftb
Spot on Gerry! It is about making the right decisions at the right time.
Celtic Mac 9.23pm
Canny blame the worker for doing what his boss tells him what to do …
Jack Hendry was hung out to dry and far too many are too quick to judge ..
I don’t know how good or bad Jack is but for a player to play a handful or maybe a dozen or two games plenty have made their mind up … easy target :-)
gftb
I agree. Only ever written off a player after one game, Marvin (Morton) Comppner. Not sure if he’s down at Leicester now.
I have to agree re Jack Hendry…I thought he got a raw deal from Rodgers and some of our expert fans…(snigger)…
Celtic Mac 9.35pm
Marvin was a puzzler
Was it personal ?
Did something happen in Dubai ?
Did big Peter pull rank ?
I need to admit when the £1m signing was announced I was delighted a centre half fae the bundesliga will stroll the Spl …
Hoping it’s not the same with big Julie Ann :-)
Ligue 1… £7.5m, he should stroll the spl
Sometimes it’s not the money it’s the player
So is Sinky off to Preston for £2.5M or no?
Hendry never good enough IMO ,we sold Shevchenko, and replaced him with Hendry and Commper….
Bada 9.44pm
I know you meant the Danish bhoy but Shevchenko in the hoops would have been magic … even at centre half :-)
GFTB- Had a few beers and spellchecker beat me mate…😆
Good luck to him if he plays the huns soon,he will be well primed to get El Dufalo red carded
Bada Bing…c’mon the spellchecker…
I think Jack Hendry is a fine footballer .
JJ
One thing regarding Hendry and indeed some other players over the past few years. As much as I thought Rodgers was an excellent manager, I always thought about the Jock Stein comment “don’t ask a player to do something he’s not capable of” (or words to that effect), Brendan often did. Far too much playing the ball around at the back with some players clearly uncomfortable trying to do so.
HS- I always thought Hendry was nervous when he played…
Bada 9.51pm
I knew exactly who you meant … but I would have still loved Shevchenko in the hoops :-)
Seems like a lot of booze consumed tonight.
Visions of Jack Hendry as a footballer obvious signs of the delirium tremors…
:)
Ziggy- very true
GFTB👍😆,hope you are well HH
What do you call Hoopy’s missus?
Bholo83…
dogged lol
H.H.
Bada 10.02pm
Logged off the old work pc yesterday at 2pm and don’t need to log back on till 20th August … happy days
If you are in contact with Weet Weet Weet tell him I hope everything is going well, he always said he liked lurking not posting … so I take that as a good thing :-)
Pronounced….dog ged lol
Hot Smoked 9.57pm
I agree… and surely Brendan did as well as he bought him
I, too, think that Hendry has become the latest scapegoat. Not been given as much game time, allowing for injury, in comparison to some others. Blamed, unfairly imo, for the failings of more experienced team-mates.
CQN = Jack Hendry CSC :-)
Hope big Julienne doesn’t misplace any passes ….
BADA
Agree about Hendry. A bit of the ‘Pukki’ syndrome . The responsibility of playing for Celtic seemed too much much for them.
THELURKINTIM on 27TH JULY 2019 8:11 PM
FTW….so it’s better out than in…lol
ShartedCSC
………………
I will share that with Mrs FTW when she’s had a glass or 2 of vino…
HH
Thelurkintim
Lol im actually genuinely enquiring as i never knew he was married / dating
😀
GFTB
You still heading for Craig Tara next month ? STATICCARAVANSCSC
NFL seems to giving chances to many who we thought were in the wilderness so may be Jack Hendry can find his mojo and become a starter for us.
Good footballer woth pace and he’s 6’2″ – perfect for us once he gets mojoed up.
HH
PR67 10.37pm
By hook or by crook I will be in the Market Inn on the 6th/7th… I missed it last year but am Craig Tara bound 5th-9th … don’t want to be too presumptuous in case Kelju beat us 6-0 with five Hugh Dallas penalties and an offside goal … Maccabi ? Cluj ? The earlier the kick off the better as the rest of the family are going into Ayr for food while I watch the champions
PR67 … get my mobile fae Lennybhoy if need be … and see if any other Ayrshire bhoys fancy a wee shandy or two … … I will probably only escape we columbo (MissGFTB) for a few hours so the early the meet the better 👍
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