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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The current inexperienced VVD would get ripped a new one in the EPL.The evidence from his performances in Europe is there for everyone to see
Up to him to stick or twist
Stick for a couple of years and develop into a decent player with a chance of performing at a higher level, as he has all the physical attributes to do this.
Twist and take the chance of turning into another Boumsong a year down the line…..Maybe not that bad, as he was voted into the EPL worst ever team.
Up to you Virgil son…..or maybe not if someone is pushing you out?
madmitch
09:26 on 30 August, 2014
Tbj
What does PL have to do — in your eyes — to lose his job?
He has no divine right to be the club CEO?
He has to earn that role through results.
Genuine question, but as I have to go out I’ll catch any response later. Please name one football CEO operating in a similar environment with better sporting and financial results than Peter Lawwell?
That is 6 out of the last ten titles in the competition they have entered into, repeated qualification for the Champions League group stages, three times to the knock out stage and various national and league cup victories. In addition a prudent financial policy that has seen the club come through the worst financial crash since the 30s.
EKBhoy
09:41 on
________
As far as I know, there has only been ‘one’ person in the history of the world who, didn’t tell lies.
Do you know what happened to him?
He got nailed to a cross.
Take care.
weet weet weet(gbwo)
09:08 on 30 August, 2014
———–
Me and Wee BGFC giggling away here – that’s funny :-))))
Saturday and no Celtic game. Guess we better get used to it
I think Lawell is a genuine Celtic Supporter and I think he is very competent at his job. He is answerable to the Board and to DD in particular. They set out the broad parameters under which the Club must operate and PL is the man who implements their decisions. My main beef with the Board is lack of forward planning to have the team in the best possible shape for the Champions League qualifiers. We always seem in turmoil at the beginning of every season. Players leaving, strange pre season schedules, delays in getting in new guys. The team & squad at the end of January transfer window, should be the one geared to qualify us for the Champions League & pre season schedule should be built around our qualifying games.
ryecatcher how does one “push out” somebody who is in the second year of -I think- a 5 year contract? Do you have evidence or just a hunch and who is the alleged “pusher” Hail Hail Hebcelt
Bob loblaw,
I’d discount the last two titles for a start – which takes us to 4 in 8 years, one of which in the rangers administration season, so you’d expect that one given they were docked points. Which gives us 3 titles in 7 years! Not a great success rate given this was our generation of domination!
Good Morning Bhoys If big VVD wants to leave I would sell him as there is no point in having an unhappy player in the camp.Has there been anything from Celtic saying they have signed a striker yet ? I havnt seen anything it is all a bit strange. H.H.
Bob LobLaw
A genuine, reasoned question, hopefully you’ll get genuine, reasoned responses.
For Peter Lawell to be sacked ,he will have to fail to meet the goals set by the board for him to achieve.
He will have to fail at a rate that is not acceptable to the board.
TT
Spidey101
Discounting the last two titles, is something the press and sevconians think. We won those titles fair and square, sorry but we did, because we looked after our club and business and other didn’t.
There are hundreds of clubs throughout the world with players who want to leave and go to bigger clubs
In many cases the player has to stay
Only at Celtic is the player automatically transfered
One of the best run clubs in the world. The guy is delusional
Time for a change
corkcelt
09:54 on 30 August, 2014
Peter Lawell is genuinely a Celtic supporter, he has been all his life, certainly according to the guy who’s sat in front of me at Parkhead since the new stadium was built. He grew up with him and can vouch for his Celtic credentials.
That doesn’t excuse his mistakes and failings.
“so you’d expect that one given they were docked points”
Spidey,
Celtic would have still won the league if rangers hadn’t been docked points.
spidey101
09:55 on 30 August, 2014
Bob loblaw,
I’d discount the last two titles for a start – which takes us to 4 in 8 years, one of which in the rangers administration season, so you’d expect that one given they were docked points. Which gives us 3 titles in 7 years! Not a great success rate given this was our generation of domination!
Why the hell would you discount the last two titles??????
Neganon2
Re PL aye he brings it on himself….
I am no fan of the current board.
Kikinthenakas
I told yeez….I TOLD YEEZ…..hahaha……TICK TOCK
https://twitter.com/grahamspiers/status/505637121802379264
Hebcelt…..
I have no evidence …… Just a hunch
He wouldn’t be the first professional footballer that was ‘pushed ‘ when under contract.
What a load of dross today in the “Greatest league in the world”I would not look out the window if they were playing in my back garden.Crap.
So Virgil has said he wants to leave Celtic, good go,if the going gets tough will playing for us, well your time is up there.if he dosent move on in this window,just watch him being a disruptive person,until the January transfer window opens, if Celtic are offered 6 million for him over the week end ,take it,and if we are offered 2 million for Kris take that to, he kris is at a age were it would be good business for him and the club.
sydneytim- would you be happy at VVD picking up a wage and not trying a leg?
Corkcelt. The club is now a well run club. Peter lawell has a lot to do with that
But CL planning is now the most important item in our club now
The CEO has failed at that. To bring a striker in after our CL exit and not in June is a Sackable offence
Businesses have to plan PL has failed at that and cost our club 20m He has to go
Kevj
I’m sure if CQN had been around , he would have been accused of all sorts by the regular flow of malcontents which would have built up to a crescendo on the seventh day ……
HH
SydneyTim
You are saying the guy the board pay up to £1 million a year is delusional.
When he’s managed growth in nearly every department at Celtic during an eco downturn, whilst managing to knock of a ton off season books.
And you think HE’s delusional. Hahahahahahahahahaha
Corkcelt,
Lawwell is too busy topping up his tan to prepare for the CL qualifiers.
We are now out and it looks like he has got round to buying a second division Spanish League striker.
He will have done the maths and with the sales of Forster, Watt he knows his bonus is secured. However being the beancounter he is I will not be surprised to see Virgil head out as cash is the new corporate trophy to hold aloft.
Lawwell is slaughtered on other Celtic websites and by the fans in general and quite rightly so. He has driven the downsizing and is responsible for the poorest Celtic team in 3 seasons and a managerial project in Ronny.
Lawwell will continue to destroy Celtic until Dermot wakens from his slumber in Merrion Square.
Ryecatcher thanks your honesty some on here give their opinions and hunches as fact KTF Hail Hail Hebcelt
If the rumours of VVD wanting to leave are true then cash in and use the money to sign a left back, I don’t want any player at this club who does not want to stay. As a poster stated earlier he is prone to costly errors but these are overlooked as the fans home in on easier targets
latchford
have you thought about listening to other perspectives, instead of repeating the same thing every day?
All is not lost for the Sevco/huns.The DR has trotted out again the old”Dave King” myth once more.Ha ha ha.Thank god for the DR sometimes.In a week of misery,they can still put a smile on my face.
Seriously though,they are in some deep doo doo,are they not?.
Whats the latest on the Serbian striker
Why did we not sign a striker before the CL qualifiers? Does anyone have a definitive answer or are we all just guessing?
Were targets not identified? Was money not authorised for a transfer fee and/ or wages? Did the coaching staff think that the current squad was capable of doing the job?
Spidey101
09:55 on
30 August, 2014
Bob loblaw,
I’d discount the last two titles for a start – which takes us to 4 in 8 years, one of which in the rangers administration season, so you’d expect that one given they were docked points. Which gives us 3 titles in 7 years! Not a great success rate given this was our generation of domination!
===============================================
hahahahahaha
That definitely smacks of “Apart from that, what have the Romans done for us?”
Some of our biggest points wins was with the Huns in the league.
T’internet allows faceless people to whip up a storm against individuals, pretty cowardly but that’s modern times.
Years ago I was involved at the birth of Keep The Faith website.
A big smashing Irish fella told me he enjoyed the site in the beginning as he was conversing with fellow Celtic fans who happened to own and use computers. He stopped using the site as it was being infiltrated with people who had computers who had a vague connection with Celtic, not always supportive and/or helpful.
He was spot on.
timbhoy2. I have asked the same question it has gone very quiet and there is nothing from Celtic about signing the player. H.H.
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, for those who are in the CQN Saturday Naps competition, please go back and post today’s selection at the end of the previous article :
“Mubarak brings echoes of another adamant player”
All the best, fleagle1888
Morning all,
Europe I think we all accept was a bit of a disaster.
Speaking prior to the Legia game with a couple of mates we pretty much agreed that champions league, as much as we wanted it, may be beyond us this year.
What no one expected was the humiliation of the Legia defeat and the embarrassment of blowing a fantastic second chance against a team we should be expected to beat.
My concern with PL’s interview is that he seemed to suggest that this is no big deal, bad results happen in football, he appears to miss ( or chooses to ignore) that out of the four main games we played we were hopelessly short against teams that we should have the upper hand against, I thought we played reasonably well away to Maribor.
I personally feel that it is harsh to criticise the amount of investment that we put into the team (with the exception of this year), it’s the strategy on how it’s spent.
If Celtic are to get back to anywhere near what we want them to be we absolutely need to go for quality over quantity.
If PL can’t see this then it is time he stepped aside and a fresh pair of eyes were allowed to take a clearer view of what’s going on.
Hail Hail
Peter Lawell is an ex Bellarmine pupil (Big Kafflik School) that was in Pollok.
If you arrive early at the Gazebo he walks up to the front door with his son(s)smiling, nodding and giving the occasional autograph. The most common thing heard from the fans is, “Awright big man” or “Awright Peter” .
I haven’t seen him since they knocked down London rd school where he used to park his Roller.
Anecdotes CSC
latchford
I say this because, you have looked at where we sign players from. Wanyam came from the second division in Belgium. You’ve discounted Sevco Panicfest (anagram of Stefan Scepovic) before he’s here, because he’s from the Spanish second.
did you like watching wanyama play? does it matter where a player comes from?