Europa door ajar for Celtic

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When we drew Maribor I wrote about their performance in last season’s Europa League, when they were eliminated by eventual winners, Sevilla.  Our man, Blaz, in Slovenia, also warned me that this was a settled team who had improved since ending Rangers’ interest in European football three years ago.

I watched Red Bull Salzburg destroy Ajax in Amsterdam last season with some sublime football, and my pal in Austria tells me not to put too much store in their 3-0 humbling by Malmo, who, apparently, rode their luck to an incredible degree.  Having said that, on the balance of probabilities, they are by far the top seed we would have chosen.

As Croatia Zagreb, Dinamo Zagreb bossed Celtic out of the Champions League play-off round in 1998, our first attempt at the tournament.  Zagreb’s stock has fallen since, so while you could make a good case to suggest we are far from ready to tackle any European team right now, this is a good draw.  They are also not Legia Warsaw, which would have been an unwelcome confrontation at this time.

So far, so good.  Then we draw a complete unknown from pot 4, who happened to eliminate Lyon in the last round.

Between now and the middle of next month Celtic have to be ready for these challenges.  We have an opportunity to progress in the Europa League, earn some badly needed coefficient points, and revenue in the second half of the season.

Bring it on.

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  1. Yogiy@ 17:40 are you Billy bhoy 05?

     

     

    Same line used to come from him. It’s simply not true.

  2. pheersy

     

    17:38 on

     

    29 August, 2014

     

    quonno

     

     

    17:29 on 29 August, 2014

     

     

    So PL, DD inter alia in Celtic boardroom are hurting.

     

     

    Not hurting half as bad as ordinary Celtic fans who had to put up with sniggering Huns on Wednesday morning.

     

     

    Are you serious ?

     

     

    Unless the last four years has taught the average Hun humility, then I am serious.

  3. glendalystonsils on

    celticbhoy73

     

    17:42 on

     

    29 August, 2014

     

    Griffiths to hibs now???

     

     

    Where did you hear that?

  4. Quonno

     

     

    Ah will tak a Stab at this.

     

     

    Whit..”this”?

     

     

    Why.. THIS..

     

     

    “Ah believe that Lenny, hid hid. Enuff..”

     

     

    “Enuff” of Whit?

     

     

    Heck.. ye ask …too Miny Damn Questions!

     

     

    Well..if ye must Know..

     

     

    Neil, Hid Hid It “Up tae Here..”

     

     

    Noo. Ye Know..

     

     

    Ur ye Happy. wi that explanation?

     

     

    Good..

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin

  5. The Battered Bunnet on

    Auldheid

     

     

    The share price has no impact on the business unless we need to raise more capital. At the moment we don’t. We haven’t had to go to the market for 10 years.

     

     

    Some folk think Celtic is a good investment because some time or another surely, there will be reorganisation of regional European football, and Celtic will be major players. Share price will shoot up as good things happen, and folk will make a killing selling the shares they bought for 30/40/60p for ££s at a time.

     

     

    I think Dermot Desmond bought that idea, and a few others that came in with him. It hasn’t transpired.

     

     

    15 years after the “Atlantic League” was first mooted by Harry van Raaij, and 10 years since we were 5 years away from joining the English Premiership, here we are. Still.

     

     

    Celtic’s share price is pretty steady because few folk consider there’s much of a return to be had from them, and that’s largely because the club is steady state, stationary, neither asking shareholders for new capital, nor distributing dividends. Since there are no meaningful prospects of new income which would increase share price, and no dividends received for holding shares, it’s not a business to invest in.

     

     

    We do though have a pile of cash sitting doing very little. I too noted PL saying it was a ‘small pile’ and I’ll be interested to see his definition of small when the accounts are published, but my fag packet says at end June 2014 we had a £10M positive movement in cash and receivables, minimum, putting net cash at 8 figures.

     

     

    Doubtless the ‘small end’ of 8 figures mind, and the only thing it provides is a safety net in case we screw up. We seem to be doing our best to need it…

  6. Geordie Munro

     

    17:41 on

     

    29 August, 2014

     

    Quonno,

     

     

    Why do you find them such a relevance?

     

     

    Maybe it’s the company I keep or the way I conduct myself but no-one sniggered at me on Wednesday.

     

     

    It is the hurting Celtic fan that I find relevant.

  7. Kojo

     

    17:46 on

     

    29 August, 2014

     

    Quonno

     

     

    Ah will tak a Stab at this.

     

     

    Whit..”this”?

     

     

    Why.. THIS..

     

     

    “Ah believe that Lenny, hid hid. Enuff..”

     

     

    “Enuff” of Whit?

     

     

    Heck.. ye ask …too Miny Damn Questions!

     

     

    Well..if ye must Know..

     

     

    Neil, Hid Hid It “Up tae Here..”

     

     

    Noo. Ye Know..

     

     

    Ur ye Happy. wi that explanation?

     

     

    Good..

     

     

    Haven’t a scoobie what you are on about.

  8. Why is it a Yes voter is allowed to vote on what they think is best for Scotland yet a note voter isn’t allowed to vote on the basis on what they think is best for Scotland?

     

     

    Open question.

  9. £60 for Europa

     

     

    and

     

     

    £15 for Hearts tie

     

     

    is fair enough

     

     

    I’ll be there with all the hardcore

  10. Quonno, I could spell it out for you!

     

    Lennon Was applying for jobs behind PL and DD back which might I add he was entitled to do due to his rolling contract, DD And PL ask him out of courtesy to let them know in future, However he applied for the Cardiff job when McKay was gave the bullet in January which he lost out to Ole Gunner , at the London meeting DD again asked Lennon his intentions for the future and Lennon responded by saying he would take the first job available which was going in England. ….DD quite rightly terminated the rolling contract, this information was passed to me months ago by a big Celtic man and Ex player! Been disappointed by a few of NL comments recently!! People in glass houses etc etc.HH

  11. spikeysauldman on

    Yogiy

     

     

    I’m voting NO. I’m no unionist. I dont want a monarchy. I don’t want what is being offered.

     

     

    Just as YES doesnt mean SNP. No deosn’t mean UNIONIST.

  12. 60 quid not awful

     

     

    Like the lower tier system, created a decent atmosphere with 30k crowd v Aberdeen in cup last year

     

     

    HH

  13. So, despite the opinions of some posters on here over the weekend, the Wakaso and Scepovic loan/transfers actually took place. I feel for those who are disappointed that the club have spent money on a striker, and signed on loan another young, fast player. It must be so depressing when personal prejudice tainted by anger allow people to be so distrustful, only then to find your accusations have no merit.

     

     

    Another poster on here yesterday, actually suggested that the Wakaso loan signing had been cancelled after the defeat to Maribor, but – wait for it – had been reactivated by the club after the protests on Tuesday night. Seriously, this guff gets oxygen and becomes common chatter before the end of the night. By the next day it is accepted as fact.

     

     

    Gawd, the media don’t have to work hard to discredit Celtic – our fans do a better job.

     

     

    When justifiable criticism crosses over and becomes constant negative spinning on everything about the club, regardless of the actual facts, then such critics make themselves an irrelevance. How? Well, their justifiable criticism gets lost amongst the other trash and pretty soon it becomes impossible to tell the difference, and they become marginalized.

     

     

    If ALL you can do is find fault and cause to complain in a relationship, then maybe you need to step back and re-assess that relationship.

     

     

    It sometimes appears that some fans prefer it when things to go pear-shaped with Celtic, so that they can say “See, I told you so. I was right all along.”

     

     

    I repeat the important part of that. “Sometimes appears”.

     

     

    3 points on Sunday would be great Ronny.

     

     

    HH

  14. In Kevin Keegan style… I would have loved it if a sniggering Hun came anywhere near me on weds morning..

  15. Big Wavy – thanks for calling me fella and not a hun.

     

    Come to think of it, no one actually Has called me a hun.

     

    I’m glad I gave you the giggles and I’m glad that positivity only goes so far and not too far. I’ve always been a realist rather than an optimist OR a pessimist – which is why I only text when I feel something is SERIOUSLY wrong or right – I don’t over react either way. Now if I’ve got it Wrong and this Club does not have BIGGER problems than it has had – please enlighten me.

     

    Joe Filippis Haircut – sorry for getting your name wrong earlier – “if I got it wrong I’ll get it right this time”.

     

    Kojo – 3 points:-

     

    1- you’ll have noticed by now that I’m NOT a fan of the board, PL, or DD and YES I will admit that I’ve no respect for authority figures ….. but mainly (not always) when they are completely OVERATED (like Barry Ferguson )and WRONG as I believe they are, but I’m NOT IRISH – I was born and bred in the Galloway area of South West Scotland and STILL live there.

     

    2- have you now gone off Amido, as you included him in your list of players to punt but you were, to me and others on here, Amido’s biggest fan.

     

    I used to agree with you on that so please don’t think I’m having a go at you – I’m not. Is Amido’s time up too?

     

    3- you stated earlier that Peter has NO say in which players the Club brings in as He’s only the accountant. If this is true then WHY according to some websites has he just spent 3 DAYS negotiating Scepovic’s signing. Couldn’t Ronny do that? – enlighten me please.

     

    Of all the posters on here I enjoy reading yours the most because I almost always agree with them so I’d like to know what you think.

     

     

    CFC not PLC

     

    Downsizing Lawwell… but only after DD has gone

     

    HH

  16. Geordie Munro

     

     

    Little credit if we won the Europa League, are you serious? You are right about the Neil Lennon sequence though, I forgot about Neil’s earlier European campaigns.

     

    Even so, in language you will most definitely understand, we have have got a mountain to climb!

  17. Ernie, I see your ‘Friend of Israel, and Draft Dodger Jim ‘I’m a Socialist really’ Murphy has abandoned John Major the sequel tour due to an egg being thrown at him in Kirkcaldy. He was heckledl by a former Labour voters, but this will be abuse by Nats I suppose .

     

     

    I imagine the wretched people of Gaza are saying amongst each other, ‘what have we got to moan about, did you hear what happened to Jim Murphy?’ Hats off to the people of Kirkcaldy and Dundee.

  18. Blindlemonchitlin on

    I’m uncomfortable with censorship as a concept. I didn’t like Shug Keevins being cold shouldered. I don’t likethe race to ‘outing’ newish posters on here either.

     

     

    But I will admit to being ever so slightly suspicious of any Celtic supporter using the surname only of any of our managers and players, past or present.

     

     

    It’s just too rude for us. We were brought up better than that.

  19. bournesouprecipe on

    “The Stefan Scepovic transfer to Celtic has collapsed”

     

     

    Hugh Keevans

     

     

    WhyWasHisBanLifted? CSC

  20. squire danaher on

    spikeysauldman

     

     

    17:49 on 29 August, 2014

     

     

    Surely vote YES to break the Union and then bin the monarchy at a later date?

     

     

    An independent Scotland is surely more likely in due course to bin the monarchy than the UK ever would?

  21. I’m in east Lothian know a lot of hibbees and rumour is rife through here, I think playing lee through the middle for us would save us a fair few quid

  22. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    Kojo. I would never slag Lennie for quitting Celtic as the man had been threatened assaulted and a person can only take so much.Also for me his achievement of winning the league last year was tarnished due to our CL performances and our cup performances his annual appraisal from big Peter may well have read must do better.As I also believe he sanctioned the signing of Balde Boerighter and Pukki ( despite what others say on CQN ). Mjalby had already walked away and Neil decided he had enough and also walked away a big mistake in my opinion.H.H.

  23. mullet and co 2 on

    Interesting seeding decisions re champs league.

     

     

    If top 8 are

     

    Spain

     

    England

     

    Germany

     

    France

     

    Portugal

     

    Italy

     

    Russia

     

    Ukraine

     

     

    Then what happens if 1 of their league sides wins champions league? Do we go to the 8th placed nation as one of the top 8 or… If say Liverpool win chps league and man city win league I presume both go as top 8?

     

     

    Are there further ramifications for us?

  24. GerryBhoy

     

     

    17:35 on 29 August, 2014

     

     

     

    If you don’t mind me saying so, that is a bit splapdash. Is it the best you can do?

     

     

    The problem is that the whole nat bandwagon is being driven by zealots.

     

     

    They want a separate Scotland whatever the cost.

     

     

    No matter how bad it might be for the people of Scotland, for the nats, it would be a price worth paying, just to get a separate Scotland. They regard it as an almost sacred goal, an end in itself.

     

     

    We got a taste of it last night from a poster who, frankly, sounded utterly demented, wittering on about Ukraine and whatnot.

     

     

    That’s why they’re so short on detail. The detal doesn’t matter. The consequences don’t matter. Say anything, do anything just to convince people to vote yes.

  25. “Little credit if we won the Europa League,”

     

     

    Celtic mac,

     

     

     

    Steady lad;)

     

     

    Little credit if we beat some of the teams in our group.

  26. Alasdair MacLean on

    Martim1980

     

    17:48 on 29 August, 2014

     

    Why is it a Yes voter is allowed to vote on what they think is best for Scotland yet a note voter isn’t allowed to vote on the basis on what they think is best for Scotland?

     

    Open question.

     

    ———————————————-

     

    Martim1980

     

     

    In time honoured CQN fasion I have to ask you; what or who has convinced you that no voters aren’t allowed to vote – on whatever basis they want?

  27. bournesouprecipe

     

     

    17:51 on 29 August, 2014

     

     

    Celtic are now a lower tier club.

     

     

    VG

  28. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    bournesouprecipe. If that is accurate we surely cant afford to loan Griffiths to Hibs. H.H.

  29. Tom McLaughlin great point. A couple of nights ago I asked for ONE name to replace Peter Lawwell. The response was laughable, Cultsbhoy and PF Ayr, no names, but they offered to do the job for MORE money than they are on now? They are avaricious. P.S. They have no experience. Irresistible.

     

    Can’t recall a campaign by PF Ayr for the resignation of the PF at Edinburgh or The Lord Advocate to resign after the Lennon verdict. The charges were ‘loaded’ on a not guilty verdict an ‘honest mistake’.

  30. auld bertie

     

     

    17:54 on 29 August, 2014

     

     

    Good for you. You must be very proud. Well done.

     

     

    And remember.

     

     

    It’s A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity!

  31. squire danaher

     

     

    17:56 on 29 August, 2014

     

     

    spikeysauldman

     

     

    17:49 on 29 August, 2014

     

     

    Surely vote YES to break the Union and then bin the monarchy at a later date?

     

     

    An independent Scotland is surely more likely in due course to bin the monarchy than the UK ever would?

     

     

     

    Well stated. That is what it is all about.

  32. Alasdair MacLean

     

     

    It’s seems on here(frequently) and almost everywhere else No voters are often labelled and put in groups by some Yes voters who don’t like their logic.

     

     

    It’s never left to, the fact they might just be voting on what they think best for Scotland too. I’m not promoting either side, but I would expect you have seen this?

     

     

    For example moments ago this was posted:

     

     

    “Yogiy

     

    17:40 on

     

    29 August, 2014

     

    setting free the bears, I am aware some Celtic supporters will be voting No, they are simply unionists, simple.”

     

     

    I think it is more than a little unfair.

  33. So according to stv Rangers may go into administration AGAIN. I wasn’t aware Sevco had already been in administration?

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