The headline at halftime had a familiar feel, Celtic’s run of poor results looked like continuing, but despite this, we dared to hope a corner had been turned. The apparent lack of Commitment to the Cause which – seemed to envelop the team (I may be wrong) was not evident. Instead, players looked up for it.
Whatever ailed Kieran Tierney until recently was not evident, this was the KT we remembered. Available and energetic. Sebastian Tounekti looked to be synchronised with his left-sided partner. A word too for Michel-Ange Balikwisha, his late cameo brought energy and a bit of physicality which helped get the game over the line.
Benjamin Nygren was destined for headlines after last night. I counted six headed chances he had. Benji is not a winger, nor is he a target-man striker, but he has a nose for goal and after passing up four headed chances, he connected with a corner to put Celtic ahead. He needed the goal; we all did.
Just three minutes earlier Liam Scales drew Celtic level, a move which also started with a corner, following yet another Nygren chance. The equaliser was not a glorious goal, Colby Donovan’s cross was mis-hit, but Scales shifted his body angle and made the necessary connection.
You are going to think I am ridiculous, but hear me out. There is a Celtic European tradition of sticking a foot out to make contact with a ball and divert it into the net. When Liam’s shot crossed the line, I got the feeling things were going to be OK. Inspired by legends, and all that!
I was calling for Reo Hatate to be hooked for most of the game. That spark he so-often brings was absent. However, he proved important during the last 20 minutes. Despite being a man down, Strum were able to get into the Celtic final third far too often. Reo was the man who slowed the play down and looked to impose structure.
We need to learn to hold the ball better. This involves players moving into space, and not passing to others who do not have more than one option. Reo’s muscle memory for this was evident. Better game management would have kept Sturm out of our box during added time.
The game cost us Kelechi Iheanacho and Alastair Johnston, both likely to be out for a month at least. We win things because we have the biggest budget and strongest squad. It is for others to step up.
Last night’s attendance seemed down on the Braga game three weeks earlier, but those who were there were as committed to the task as the players. The stadium had an energy about it, which perhaps lifted players’ confidence. That quality – confidence – is as important a takeaway as the three points.
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Decent Euro victory but a few getting a bit carried away with our performance last night , our defending at set pieces is diabolical , we are far to easily opened up with a single forward pass from the opposition that causes havoc and panic within our defence , there is not a single player in the team that can take a decent direct free kick (if we ever get one) still far too many misplaced passes and over passing at the back even KS was coming out of his box to take part in the square passing.
Must not lose game this Sunday.
Onwards and upwards👍
Really enjoyed that game last night, in the last few seasons, Celtic have been at their best when we are clinical – last night was about the grit and endeavour of old school Celtic getting a European tie over the line…
“We need to learn to hold the ball better. This involves players moving into space, and not passing to others who do not have more than one option. Reo’s muscle memory for this was evident. Better game management would have kept Sturm out of our box during added time.”
If that’s the take away from last night then no worries, one thing that we can do in spades is hold on to the ball.
Hail Hail
Excellent performance last night. I had Scales as MOTM due to his drive from the back and passing. Won his headers too.
Graz were not a great team but able to transition through our midfield easily. This is something we have to live with at the moment. Centre halves have to be brave and they were last night.
Young Kenny has a great chance to be a hero on Sunday
Skip in my step today.
The manager said it was a must win game and we won.
I’m sure p67 would be the 1st to congratulate him 👍🏻
The line congratulating Brendan for inspiring his charges well enough to overcome all the pain and hurt he’d caused them due to his Japanese jalopy jibe seems missing P67; something like…
‘Well done Brendan, too, for changing the game plan up enough and for whatever half-time pep talk you gave the squad, which inspired the eventual win after a highly charged and critical week full of blogger condemnation and fan fears.
Also, I disagree with your point Paul that: ‘The equaliser was not a glorious goal, Colby Donovan’s cross was mis-hit, but Scales shifted his body angle and made the necessary connection.’
It’s always glorious when a natural defender facing right hand side of target, anticipates where the ball is travelling, opens up his body so he can use his preferred left peg to delicately stroke it into the net.
Scalesy and Seb vied for my MoTM. Nicking the goal edged in in Liam’s favour for me.
Great win Celtic: Bring on the diets !!
CCV out for 6-9 month, Achilles
Great win – especially after going behind and losing two players early on. Not the reaction you would expect from a team where the manager has ‘lost the players.’
Tounekti outstanding – not sure why anybody would want to waste him in a 3-5-2.
Tierney very impressive – even if he ‘can’t last ninety minutes ‘.
Seriously, Joseph Bazalgette would struggle to filter out some of the ‘stuff’ on here at times.
Hope CCV injury not too concerning.
Jings! Scrap that last line then.
Give Johnny Kenny a chance and he will come good
Colby Donovan’s cross was mis-hit…
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im not so sure, i would like to hear what he says about it himself, if he did mean a cross or if he knew scales was there
Fellow supporters actively helped motivate our players last night, which was a joy to behold. Made for a pleasant change anyway!
Braga – Attendance: 46,232
Graz – Attendance: 48,278
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Good attendance I suppose given the level of tier 2 competition, and many saying we are not attending.
However, if Nic and Chris think this is ok for the business, you know , just to be there, with a paticipation in Europe, Well that is ok, at least we take part.
Well, it is not, we are iiterally missing on on millions in revenue – this isnt good enough.
And to those who say, Europa is our level, and at least we can compete, well that is no ambition at all, that is not good enough either.
Having said that, catching up on the goals show, the big boys in CL, I think last season they felt their way into the league gormat, this season, they are scoring goals for fun, and I think want to be in that top 8 as early as possible to gaurantee revenure.
———————————————
Meanwhile our opportunity cost in lost revenues –
25.000 unoccupied seats across two home games at £40 = £1,000,000
——————-
Some figures to chew over –
Losing the CL Playoff – Celtic got 4.3m euros (vs 18m for CL lParticipation.)/
Here are the sums for EL Particpation –
Share for clubs participating in the UEL league phase onwards – basis: €565m (2.4 billion in CL)
For the 2024–27 cycle, the net revenue available to participating clubs will be divided into three
different pillars:
– 27.5% will be allocated to equal shares (starting fee) (€155m)
– 37.5% will be allocated to performance-related fixed amounts (€212m)
– 35% will be allocated to the newly created value pillar (€198m)
1.2 UEFA Europa League
Share for clubs participating in the UEL league phase onwards – basis: €565m
For the 2024–27 cycle, the net revenue available to participating clubs will be divided into three
different pillars:
– 27.5% will be allocated to equal shares (starting fee) (€155m)
– 37.5% will be allocated to performance-related fixed amounts (€212m)
– 35% will be allocated to the newly created value pillar (€198m)
1.2.1 Equal shares – starting fee (€155m)
Each of the 36 clubs that qualify for the league phase can expect to receive a league phase
allocation of €4.31m, split into a down-payment of €4.14m and a balance of €170k.
1.2.2 Performance-related amounts (€212m)
• League phase performance bonuses will be paid for each match: €450k per win and €150k
per draw. Undistributed amounts (€150k per draw) will be allocated proportionally to the
league phase ranking referred to in the next bullet point.
• The mechanism of the league ranking bonuses is explained under 1.1.2.2. The initial value of
each share will be €75k. The lowest-ranked team will receive one share (€75k), and the
highest-ranked team will receive 36 shares. Any savings from draws in the league phase (see
above bullet point) will proportionally increase the initial value of the shares distributed to
each position.
• Clubs ranked 1 to 8 in the league ranking will receive an additional €600k and clubs ranked
9 to 16 will receive an additional €300k.
• Clubs that qualify for the knockout stage can expect to receive the following amounts:
− qualification for the knockout round play-offs: €300k per club
− qualification for the round of 16: €1.75m per club
− qualification for the quarter-finals: €2.5m per club
− qualification for the semi-finals: €4.2m per club
− qualification for the final: €7m per club
• The UEL winners can expect to receive an additional €6m
1.2.3 Value pillar (€198m)
The mechanism of the new value pillar is explained under 1.1.2.3. The allocations to the
two parts (European and non-European) will be based on the actual outcome of the media
rights sales for UEL/UECL, which are bundled and commercialised together.
• The amount available for the European part of the value pillar is divided into
666 shares (1+2+3+…+35+36). The lowest-ranked team receives one share:
€217k. One share is added to every rank, with the highest-ranked team
receiving 36 shares.
• The amount available for the non-European part of the value pillar is divided
into 666 shares (1+2+3+…+35+36). The lowest-ranked team receives one
share: €80k. One share is added to every rank with the highest-ranked team
receiving 36 shares.
—————
Quick fag packet calculation, if we equal last seasons 3 wins, 3 draws, and a playoff round – we will be down an estimated 24m euros.
Only upside to the counters of the beans – at least they had a play off round with 54000 or so paying premium prices.
450k euros for a win in Europa vs 2.1m in the chamions leage.
Chris and Nic can probaly have a shoulder shrug and a whats app message of at least we wont have to pay big bonuses to the players.
GlassTwoThirdsFull @ 12:26 pm,
Eh! Naw!!
Sunday is the must win game.!?
Keep up:)))))
Hail Hail
woops jus found 4m eurod down the back of the couch.
A team that loses the UCL play-offs will receive no payments for participating in the
qualifying rounds (but will receive the UCL play-offs amounts as well as the UEL league
phase amounts both coming from the centralised phase distribution).
Yes Scales was terrific ,but he is not like that all the time.Sometimes too many touches bringing the ball out,then passes poorly.On last nights performance,he is top class.
Young Donovan has to be brought on slowly not experienced enough,as we saw against Braga,and his first 30 mins last night.A player there,to be nurtured.
Engels,KT,Calmac near his best,all excellent .
For Sunday,Trusty fit,if CCV is out.Tony at RB,same midfield,and hope Maeda can play.If not,we go with the same as lat night.Kenny has to score soon,his willingness deservess it.Nygren,an enigma.Misses two sitters with his head,then climbs above a crowded 6 yard line to head home the hardest chance.
We should really be working more on,weaponising Engels wonderful set piece delivery.
saint stivs
So not all bad news then Stivs?
“Can Hearts really challenge Old Firm for title?” BBC headline today. Hearts are 13 points clear of the tribute act.
The Blue BC can’t help themselves.
Where is this news about CCV coming from, I do not see anything on the official Celtic FC website?
Does not matter a jot that we will be down £20 odd million this year.The team would never have got a whiff of it.What did we get from last seasons money?
They seem happy enough with the Europa cash,the Board,that is.We should not ever count on CL cash transforming the squad.
Plants taking a rest? Well earned, to be fair…..
Not sure the club is losing a lot of revenue on attendances of 46 k or 48k. As I understand it, a lot of season ticket holders did not buy the 4 match package which averaged £35 per adult, down to £25 for children.
Non season ticket holders bought up a lot of these at £45.
I don’t know the numbers, but would this not work out much the same overall?
Dont know if anyone else saw the scum at the end of their game last night.
When the players were applauding them at the end,they were all down at the barriers,beckoning the players to come closer.When they did,they let loose a barrage of abuse,a lot of it personal.Hhow to make the players really care.
Brennan67 still cannot praise Brendan. I can feel his pain at a Celtic win.
Bada,
Was that a rumour.?
TURKEYBHOY
They Orcs also ranted at the directors in the airport, shouting and swearing. The Yanks must think they’ve bought a lunatic asylum by mistake. Wonder how long they’ll keep this up.
And just wait for the triumphalist Remembrance Day stuff with full military bampots abseiling in. All in front of a young German manager who will probably feel sick.
WHAT IS THE STARZ on 24TH OCTOBER 2025 12:30 PM
Give Johnny Kenny a chance and he will come good
……………………..
Absolutely agree. I think I was the first on here last year to advocate that we bring him back from his loan with Shamrock Rovers. I had watched his Conference League performances for them and he was great. I have no doubt that had he been our regular starter he would be banging them in now. He was great last night. He was a handful for the opposition defence and he got himself into great scoring positions. I noted that he came back into midfield to battle for the ball and he helped out in defence at their set pieces. He made a couple of poor choices but all in all I’m happy with JK and I have a good feeling that he’ll be our match winner on Sunday.
The bare bones squad we are taking to Tynecastle,and probably Hampden,could not be a bigger indictment of the Boards dereliction of duty in the summer,in the transfer window.
Of course Burnley and his little band will just Trump any criticism away.”False news”.
We now have only Kenny as 1st pick striker.A 22 year old from the Irish League.
Great stuff. Amazing what can be achieved when the hand brake is off eh.
kingLUBO
Calmac was very good in a slightly forward roll. Message to Brendan there
Bhoys Town,
It was the sheet naked rage they were showing towards their players.You could see the fear.
Maniac Bigots.A bad MX.
CCV out for up to 5 months is breaking news headline on SSN. It comes from an interview with Brendan who confirmed injury.
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 24th October 2025 1:57 pm
WHAT IS THE STARZ on 24TH OCTOBER 2025 12:30 PM
Give Johnny Kenny a chance and he will come good
=====
Every now and again I see a player with qualities that make me think he can make it.
I saw a lot of that in Kenny last night.
Sad news about CCV, however….
Lets be honest that there’s been concerns over his form having shaded for a while so – altho unfortunate – maybe this spell on sidelines will kinda reinvigorate him.
In Auston, Dane and Jamahl we offer a great opp for one of them to claim CCV’s shirt.
We will be just fine. KTF
Enjoyed the game immensely – well, the second half anyway.
Has the recent malaise dissipated – hope so.
Perhaps the Bhoys have just hit their stride?
Breaking Hearts would be nice – they havent become giant killers overnight, their purple patch has perhaps just coincided with our false start and the hun implosion………..
Talking of Huns, talking about Ugly Scenes????
Berserking Bears…………..
I’m sure Cavenagh an’ Co are delighted with their choice of ” franchise”
Hell Mend Thum!
I dipped into one of their blogs. We might have some hysterics on our blogsphere but take a look at this:
The blogger concedes a good vibe about the appointment – “but that doesn’t make him a Rangers-level coach. That good vibe doesn’t change the truth. We don’t dislike him the way we did Russell Martin. He really was toxic. But Rohl’s not up to it. We know that once again, the usual happy clappers will be screaming “give him time,” “it’s only one game,” the same excuses they’ve used for every single manager that fails. And they’re free to do so. They’re like a broken record we hear all the time.
It isn’t all on Rohl — we admit that. He’s not to blame for everything. But he did pick the players.”
ONE GAME and they’ve turned on him. It’s too funny…
I see an obscure Cleric from NI is calling for King Charles to abdicate after visiting Pope Leo in the Vatican and joining in prayer, Camilla too, in the Sistine Chapel no less. Rev Kyle Paisley is the guilty party, a name that sounds vaguely familiar. That said his Mother, Elizabeth R met no less than five Popes, Francis in 2014, Benedict in 2010, John Paul II (first time in Oct 1980 with Lizzy respendant all in black with bejewelled Tiara in the Vatican), John Paul XXIII in 1961, and even Pope Pius XII in 1951before she ascended to the throne.
The words to GSTK will be sticking in a few craws next time round……