When Celtic make their trip to the ‘neat little town they call Belfast’ (I’ve been off radar recently, assume it’s still described thus) they will have no reason to believe they are ready for a game of football which could determine the success or failure of the coming season. Instead the players will share a degree of anxiousness.
Cliftonville rank about as low as is possible to get in European competition but they will be better than the Arbroath team which left Glasgow with a draw last season against a Celtic team who were motoring at the time.
We have some concerning history against the Irish. Celtic’s first ever Champions League qualifier was against St Patrick’s Athletic in 1998. The visitors left Celtic Park with a 0-0 draw before Celtic won 0-2 in Ireland. In the 1979-80 European Cup Dundalk gave us a fright. Celtic won the first leg 3-2, at home, but had to endure a nervous second half in Dundalk as the home side searched, in vain as it turned out, for the goal which would allow them to win the tie on away goals.
Anything less than 100% on Wednesday will see Celtic walk a tightrope………
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Sergi Roberto
Born in Reus, Tarragona, Catalonia, Sergi Roberto arrived in FC Barcelona’s youth academy aged 14, from neighbours Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[1] In the 2009–10 season, at only 17, he first appeared with Barça’s reserves, contributing with 22 games as the side returned to the second division after 11 years.
On 10 November 2010 Roberto made his debut for the first team, playing the second half of a 5–1 home win against AD Ceuta for the season’s Spanish Cup (7–1 on aggregate). On 27 April of the following year he made his first UEFA Champions League appearance, coming on as a substitute for David Villa in the last minute of a 2–0 away win against Real Madrid, for the competition semifinals’ first leg.[2]
Roberto first appeared in La Liga on 21 May 2011, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 win at Málaga CF, in the season’s last round.[3] His first start for the main squad came on 6 December of that year, against FC BATE Borisov in the Champions League group stage, as manager Pep Guardiola rested all his starters for the upcoming El Clásico: in the 35th minute, he opened the scoring in an eventual 4–0 home win.[4]
In only his third official appearance for Barcelona’s first team, on 12 January 2012, Roberto scored his second goal, helping the visitors come from behind to win it 2–1 against CA Osasuna in the season’s domestic cup (6–1 on aggregate).[5]
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS 16:25 on 15 July, 2013
“Pea and ham fae a chicken?”
Aye. One of my favourite adverts.
I’ve always been surprised Baxters didn’t launch weight-watchers soups known as the Slim Jim range.
Dont see Roberto coming over to us. Wd like to tho
Its a bit of a nervy time but a decent result and performance on Wed.will settle things down and buy us a bit of time. I have absolutely no doubt that Lenny has at least a dozen Irons in various fires and it remains to see what comes to fruition, I’m expecting at least 3 signings and at least 4 if Hoops goes.
Rather than give a Barca B player a year’s experience, why not play one of our own young midfielders. We have plenty to choose from, Irvine, McGregor, Twardzik, Henderson and George to name 5.
A striker who will score 20 goals a season?
What about one who will score 30+ a season – as Gary Hooper did last season (31).
What happened to the strikers that we have had in the past who scored 40+ in a season, and those who scored 50+?!
Them were the days!
HH!!
Greeninfurafenian
You Are right.. Billy Sharp is Sharp as a Tack…and That’s.. Sharp!
Ah always regretted that he goat away fae us..
Judging by his Performances at Sheffield .. when he went there..
Ah figured that he Was Not quite.. Higher League Material..at the time he played there.
he wiz.. whit.. 22.. 23 years Old?
Jist as Ah wid suppose that Gary Hooper wull turn oot Not tae be Quite Ready fur Prime Time,eethur…when he wiz that age.
Heck…it happens..
Players kin Mature.
But, the S.P.L. wid be right up Billy’s Alley and doon his Street,as well!
He wid Mak it .. his own.
As far as the C.L. is Concerned.. Billy, wid be a question Mark.. but.. Hey.. Gary did aweright there…Heck
Even, a Kid Like.. Tony Watt. managed quite well tae Burn a few Tails in the C.L. Competition..
So.. Ah don’t see why Billy wid Not be able tae cut the Mustard there,as well.
Hope Neil..is Serious aboot being ..well.. Serious in Going oot tae get Billy.
Kojo
Still Laughin’
Kayal33
Have just heard that Alfred Finnbogason is not a Hibs fan, so thats a relief. Apparently he wants to leave Heerenveen and the price is around 5M Euro. Couple teams in Germany having a look as well as Villa.
Tim Tanium
16:18 on
15 July, 2013
Kojo trust me to give Griffiths a mair Celtic sounding name.
maybe he would become a better person wae the noame…Liam.
Maybe we could have Liam Sharp..caelic form of Williamoz as you know Liam is a derivative of William for which Billy is a shortened version of
Liam is not a drivative of anything. Liam is the Gaelic form of William
kayal33
how could stokes play?
he cant be a registered player unless
he has signed a new contract.
so
foster
lustig van dijk Wilson izzy
brown kayal rogic
forrest samaras commons
that team should coast it
Marrakesh Express
Hi, thanks for your kind reply to my request for help on Friday. I’d replied in the afternoon and sent Paul67 a request for your contact details, but think Paul may be on his hols just now ?
My son is very keen to get an apprenticeship, with engineering high on his list.
I’ve set up an Email account: paul_mca@yahoo.co.uk and if you are still able to help would be very grateful if you wish to contact me via this Email.
Thanks.
Was just looking at defensive midfielders that might be able to fill the big hole vacated by big vic. Was thinking of Landry N’Guemo , he played well for us but clubs couldn’t agree a fee after his loan and we were hardly flush for cash then. He is playing with Bodeaux and he would fit in easier than some others, is 27 with good experience. Lenny liked him & i thought he had a good season in the hoops, whats your thoughts, he’s contracted to them till 2014 so wouldn’t be too expensive!
rt rev david hay
16:52 on 15 July, 2013
Celtic invoked the one year option on his current contract and are trying to get him to sign a new extended one. He is eligible for Wednesday
Houl yer wheest
I stand corrected and I will do as your name suggests.
Statement from the ole orange order – “It was Chelsea fans.”
rt rev david hay – no Ledley?
rt rev david hay 16:52 on 15 July, 2013
kayal33
how could stokes play?
——
I thought Anto still had a year left on his current contract.
Clint Dempsey looking for a new club!!!
Dunne deal down de dunny!!
kayal33.
cheers, didn’t realise they’d invoked clause.
changes team sheet that one does.
tomtheleedstim
ledley is injured. hed be in if fit.
foster
lustig van dijk Wilson izzy
brown kayal rogic
commons samaras
stokes
Now the Ole Windae is hotting up!!
Canalamar1
The Ghod Like Genius of Georgios Samaras is my kind of Celtic player too!
Love him to bits! Just surprised other clubs don’t see the gem that he is.
The 5pm deadline has come and gone. Come on Delia, let’s be having you!!
Everything I read about Sergi Roberto suggests the Catalan fans see him as stepping into Thiago shoes… the suggestion he might go to Betis was greeted with derision…
sounds unlikely…
Houl yer wheest,
“Uilleam” for William in Scottish Gaelic? (Pronounced oolliam.)
You can see where Liam comes in…
Delia missed the 5 pm deadline because she had to go home and make her man’s tea.
HH!!
Arthur Griffiths.
Gerd Muller was 5′ 91/2″……………???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerd_Müller
The difference is he knew where the goals where.
Talent is talent….if you have it you have it.
What it needs to support it is drive, desire in combination with speed, strength and fitness
The knack of being in the right place at the right time (football intelligence) A willingness to chase everything down and the courage to put your body out there when most people would stay in bed…..this is what separates the winners from the “jeez he was a player” that never made it.
Celtic need genuine speed with strength coming off the flanks to deliver crosses and diagonal passes to a genuine goal scorer (or two)….its all about % and if you cant score 35+ goals in Scotland your not the real deal.
4M+ for Hooper?…….put the mask on and run with the bag.
Its about game winning goals…..not adding to a 3-0 game and in that respect Samaras is much more valuable to Celtic…IMO
Melanie Griffiths
you’ve been pranked….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmc2jA5ba9U&sns=em
Orange Order blame police & parades commission for rioting, ffs what drugs are these muppets on, be careful in Belfast for those that don’t know it well. Stay safe…mo chara
Kenneth Griffith – Welsh, but had a thing or two to say about Irish political history.
Wee snippet from today’s Financial Times. Think the money men/women are getting a tad nervous, not good for their investment oh dear :)
New balls
Bless Rangers, the Glasgow football club, for coming up with an altogether fresh approach to the governance of listed companies. Since floating on Aim in December at 70p a share, apart from losing more than a quarter of its value, it has lost its chief executive, and as of last week its chairman and Phil Cartmell, one of the non-executive directors on the six-man board. Mr Cartmell has been replaced by local businessman and bus operator James Easdale. A perusal of Companies House entries suggests that now just one of the Rangers’ non-executives has significant experience as a main board director of a listed UK company. Gers has also replaced Cenkos as nomad and broker. A spokesman says “it was time for a fresh approach”. Small Talk has seen staler fish at the supermarket.
Kate Burgess is the Financial Times’s small business correspondent
Ferenc Puskas was 5′ 8″ tall and managed to score 700 goals in 709 competitive matches.
Yes, another era.
But.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferenc_Pusk%C3%A1s
HH!!
Puskas Ferenc was not an ole centre forward;
I can wee Jimmy Crankie bein’ called to the ole colours.
I cannot see this Billy Sharpe story having any legs if Celtic were interested and he was for sale why didnt we make him part of the big Victor deal ? it would have seemed the logical sensible thing to do. I think we are just throwing names against the wall to see who sticksH.H.
Terry Griffiths, if we need snookers.