Assuming Celtic hold onto their three goal lead over Cliftonville they will almost certainly face Elfsborg in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The script is written for Elfsborg striker and current Celtic employee, Mo Bangura, to score his first goal at Celtic Park, while it is another tie for Henrik Larsson to politically wish both of his former clubs the best of luck.
Elfsborg are five points off the pace after 16 games in the Swedish league. Happy with the draw.
It’s the Columba Club, Blantyre, tonight for Paul McConville, Phil Mac Giolla Bhain and myself for what is sure to be another thoroughly enjoyable Question and Answer. Proceedings get underway at 19:30, tickets available at the door.
See you there.
At the turn of the century then St Johnstone chairman, Geoff Brown, told the world his club would rather suffer relegation than indulge in the financial craziness which was then going on in Scottish football. Relegation soon followed, creating its own financial problems for St Johnstone, while others, most notably for Saints, Dundee, paid over 100% of turnover in player wages.
What do you do when your direct competitors are acting like lunatics, when remaining competitive requires you to behave likewise? I remember feeling frustrated for Brown and St Johnstone fans. They did the right thing but suffered as a consequence.
Yesterday’s win, away to Ronsenborg, who are 16 games into their league programme and top of the table, was among the most impressive by a Scottish club in Europe in the last 25 years. This is a well-run club. In the last six years they have lost Owen Coyle, Derek McInnes and Steve Lomas, all cherry-picked by better-funded, but not better-organised English clubs, but their progress continues. Coyle was taken before he reached the Premier League, McInnes won promotion and Lomas reached Europe. Tommy Wright has now made an impact in Europe within six weeks of being appointed.
Still a lot of work to do next week, Rosenborg will arrive in Perth capable of winning the game, but the scene is set for a special night’s football.
The Celtic Charity Five-a-side tournament takes place on Saturday, 12 October (an international weekend) at Lennoxtown (where the scouts are based, this could be your big chance!!). If you can get a seven player squad together and think you can raise £40-per-head for charity, get your application in now. Ages 18 and over, winners get to take a halftime bow at a subsequent home game. To sign up email janemaguire@celticfc.co.uk.
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1,826 Comments- Pages:
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canamalar
He chucked them out.
I love fish – but I draw the line at fish eggs!
HH!!
Tallybboy
So yer no a champaign and caviar mhan then
paolosboats
were you playing 5s last night? How was it?
HH
CRC
https://twitter.com/rioferdy5/status/358183628221607936/photo/1
Rio Ferdinand@rioferdy59m
Just bumped into a #Legend of the game…. #PaulMcstay what a player this fella was!
canamalar
I’ll drink champagne if someone gives me it as a present.
Otherwise quite happy with a ‘nice’ Prosecco.
HH!!
TALLYBHOY
The trains run to Reading till dark o’clock.
Get there,find the local Iceland or Aldi,and cadge a lift back to Swindon from the delivery driver.
Contingencies,old pal. Not always stuck in outposts like Troon.
BADA
From last article
JF and masel will be there
HH
Trust us to get the hardest possible draw from a small group of clubs.
Not delighted with the draw.
Other clubs we could’ve got we would be 100% to progress but this tie is much closer. Would be happy for Mo Bangura to play they will have better players to worry about than him.
I always thought The Blood Transfusion Service was a charity.
Positive-haha-it was,back in the day.
Tallybhoy,
I’m quite partial to roe, reckon I’m partly responsible for low fish stocks
Celtic v Swedish opposition:
Scored 47, conceded 9.
Won 11, drawn 1, lost 1.
Paul67
I would be very disappointed. One of us would not play in the Champions League Cup final
.
Still think this a hard draw. On a funny note saw a zombie wearing a t-shirt, ‘Nae dough Two in a row’. Think I have pulled a stomach muscle…
CRC was a good game, but ended up spraining my wrist saving a thunderbolt from Setting Free the Bears which has put me out of action. He was very apologetic to be fair next time i’ll get out the road quicker?
CANAMALAR
Just rattling yer chain,like the good old days…
I don’t agree with buying for the hell of it,and it p….s me off when we look like we haven’t done our homework on a player.
But the worst period of buying must have been under Fergus.
Don’t bite ma heid aff,ffs!!!!
Not bad buys this time,but how many great signings did that wee genius authorise,only to see them succumb to ridiculous injuries?
Still hurts….,.
I know little or nothing about Elfsborg – but I’m sure big Johann does.
However, I am sure that, like many Scandinavian clubs at this time of the year, their players will be match fit and also quite physical.
A tough tie, but I remain positive and upbeat.
Surely we have enough in our armoury to defeat them. Are they any better than Helsingborg last season?
HH!!
Elfsborg probably as good as it could get for next round, the possible exception being the Icelandic team. Assume Bangura can’t play and we should be insisting he doesn’t. Don’t care how good/bad he is, if you can weaken the opposition, by legal means, before the tie then you do it.
http://uk.soccerway.com/national/sweden/allsvenskan/2013/regular-season/r20020/
Elfborg currently 5th in Swedish league, 5 points behind leaders Malmo & 4 behind 2nd placed Helsingborg
@rioferdy5: Just bumped into a #Legend of the game…. #PaulMcstay what a player this fella was! http://t.co/kaJGhwJNLB
blantyretim.
Is there any Hotels in Blantyre.
If we can’t beat Elfsborg over two legs then we don’t deserve to play in the Champions League group stage. Simples!
BMCUW,
Great point, even Vic and hoops spent time on the treatment table.
There are no guarantees
Are we noting that 1 million RFC shares have moved today. That’s a lot for them.
Z, thanks for responding. Yes I know you are Polish. Visited Poland twice and have many Polish friends. Good luck to Legia. Maybe we will meet in Russia one day.
Hope our Irish opponents are not as thuggish as they were last time.
1) Elfsborg are 2-1-3 in last 6 league games
Wheels have come off midseason for some reason
Soccerway geeks could dig in and see if they’ve had injuries, or maybe they’re concentrating on CL
2) common sense says that if ole Mo Bangura is still a Celtic player he shouldnt be allowed under any circumstances to play against us
3) Harald Brattbakk had many faults but he had a turn of foot. Bangura has deceptive pace – he gets slower when he breaks into a trot
To compare him to HB is an insult to Brattbakk
Kayall33 , I agree, don’t see him playing tbh, my worry provided we get past C/ville would be complacency after we won last year. I thought we looked good the other night however even if we do add that creative midfielder and striker it does take time to integrate them and we don’t have that time. What is interesting is the Gary Hooper scenario has gone quiet, has he got cold feet maybe after watching the match on wed!
If he goes to QPR and doesn’t do the business, its not all about the money. Celtics Marketing manager can hold off on the tears…
Oldtim.
No did you try Hamilton (south Lanarkshire) or Bothwell
Well said Rio Ferdinand.
God bless the maestro!
HH!!
If the manager is looking for one new signing before Cliftonville on Tuesday, how many is he looking for ahead of Elfsborg the following midweek?
How many of our crocks will be back by then. Ledley? Matthews? Van Dyck? Mulgrew? Hooper?
weeminger- moving laterally, or downwards?
How come we’re playing at home first when we’re the seeded team?
OLDTIM67 1244
You spelt hovels wrongly……
squire danaher
I saw Elfsborg about 4 weeks ago, and they battered some team. banger scored a good goal and then hit the bar with another decent header. he won’t play against us though – no chance.
I was watching in a swedish over here. The other guys watching were AIK fans (their game was on the other channel simultaneously… take note SPL….) and they were all saying that they liked having Banger last year, and wanted him again, but couldn’t afford him. maybe he has jsut found his level, but he looked in great form. Swedish league doesn’t seem to be far behind the SPL.
Gone very quiet on the Gary Hooper transfer front.
Does he really want to sign for QPR, and play in the Championship?
Somehow I don’t think so.
HH!!
ASonOfDan
12:35 on 19 July, 2013
Still think this a hard draw. On a funny note saw a zombie wearing a t-shirt, ‘Nae dough Two in a row’. Think I have pulled a stomach muscle…
———–
That made me smile broadly, they have no shame or dignity but by God they are good for a laugh:))
Gutted I wont make Blantiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir the night but for anyone thinking of going, just go it will be worth the effort.
ps wife asked me how i was feeling this morning,A “good bit better” says I foolishly ,
Thats the hedges and grass cut :))
Tally bhoy,
I’d get shot of him anyway 88 my ass
Great draw for us as long as Mo don’t suddenly turn into a player!
I agree with most who say a quick resolution to the Hooper situation is needed.
Undoubtedly, he is our best no. 88 in history though !
West Ham will make a move for Hooper on Monday.
I see that one going through. Good move for all parties.
LB