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.
[calameo code=000390171586f6fbaa2ba lang=en page=122 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
3,233 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- ...
- 86
- »
EKBhoy
10:28 on 30 August, 2014
______________________
I don’t think any fan on here is looking for £5-6 million strikers
What the main gist is – I think? – is the use of the money spent?
One wee issue that gets right up my nose….why do we ‘keep’
bringing on foreign players?
My theory….there’s a racket going on with foreign agents and, whoever
scouts / sources these players out and, John Park and Peter Lawwell.
I might be in contempt by saying that – so…ban me / hang me/ use me for cannon fodder in the Somme.
Joe f
I didn’t say we didn’t earn them, just that we didn’t have any real competition. The only way pl could take credit is by saying we won those titles despite a decline in quality of player – I don’t think the two are unconnected: since the barca season we’ve basically downgraded all over the park.
Geordiemunro: I stand corrected he said 8 out of 11, so above average either way.
I stand by my general comment: the last two seasons winning the league was the minimum we expected. We chased all sorts of records (unbeaten, goals, points, clean sheets) last year to keep the players/managers interest.
Justafan,
I honestly was going to include Gordon. Then I was going to say ‘outfield’ player.
Then a wrestling match with a 3 year old broke out.
Then I forgot :)
There was actually a few who were borderline. They are my only 3 definites.
Martim1980. I think that he has built our club into an efficient business
That what he has done in every job he has done
But he delusional if he think that is the most important think
Players on the park and the team is the most important things to the fans
The team/squad is the poorest for 10 years. The youth program since he has been the CEO has been a failure
There was zero planning for CL( which is the most important item at the club/business at present )
His wage structure has meant we have brought in poor players and then brought in more poor players to replace them which has brought about a massive squad ( lots I of Salarys ) a squad which only one is sellable
Best run club in the world lol
How come legia and Maribor beat us ?
His time is at an end. If he is there next CL qualifiers then same again
So peter ,we are one of the best run clubs in the world.
Yeah peter…but the team is s***
You forgot to mention that.
Peter…you live in some cloud cuckoo fantasy world…why do you think supporters are giving you stick..
Oh thats right….its because the supporters
cannot comprehend your special brand of mystical economics.
We are not worthy peter.
You truly are magnificent. …how could we doubt you.
HH
BT
I think you could be right about the appointment being a requirement, I did read that previously.
Bourne
My concern is that even the number of ‘supporters’ is dwindling.
Our first away game of the season, away to Inverness, and I’ve never seen so many spare tickets or seats.
Twists n Turns 10.17
We’ll said.
VVD was sold the club as a stepping stone.
ALL OF THESE PROSPECTS ARE SOLD ON THAT BASIS.
Our business plan in now founded on it.
The club have openly stated it.
We will never keep star players and build a top European side ,because we can’t compete with the riches of EPL football.
So .
If you can’t beat them ,join them.
TT
Till later all
Wee mhan frying my head :))))
He’s had more Ps this morning than Whippersnapper.
Have a great day all and never forget we are blessed with Celtic FC.
geordie munro
10:34 on 30 August, 2014
Twists,
Agreed mate.
If someone feels Pl is doing a terrible job they should be able to say so without being labeled a hun.
———-
Aye, good luck with that on here these days!!! :-)
Re VVD…
Seems to me from day one VVD has always spoken of ‘ambition’ to try higher things.
I have no problem with that as long as the business is done on the park.
I have been impressed by him but not to the extent of some others. Think he has been shown up in many European games ( like a few other team-mates!) and indeed has not been as good a defender as Kelvin was in his brief peak period with us.
Someone earlier posted that VVD is immune from criticism and to a limited degree that is true. I was certainly the recipient of some light hearted ridicule when I was unflattering about his efforts in the last European campaign!!!
Anyway I refuse to get worked up about the issue. VVD will be well on his way when he helps us win the Euro League Final in Warsaw next May…
There should be some sort of representation but a board of fans? For a start nobody on the Celtic board are not Celtic supporters to my knowledge. They might be millionaire highly educated/posh/privileged Celtic supporters. But Celtic supporters all the same.
I think it would be good to have more fan interaction and representation in general. But a board made up of the every day fan would be anarchy.
We keep saying clubs like Maribor shouldn’t be able to compete with us and our size/revenue. That is 100% but do you not think that’s what we’re not trying to get at. Being at that (which is the level we’re at just now) level but spending their kind of budget – and then using our additional resources to surpass that and become a force again.
But that takes vision and time.
Ronny Deila has the vision. But will he get the support from the fans and board, and the time?
Greenman he indeed lives in a fantasy world. A world that he is well paid to see out team get worse and worse
2% of turnover goes into his personal bank account
Sydney Tim.
“I think that he has built our club into an efficient business”
I agree.
Legia and Maribor beat us because their managers had the advantage over Ronny having building their teams for years, Ronny had months. We could have spent 10mill to try and go through but no-one would have learned anything. It would have been a short term fix and not sorted the football problem.
Ronny is here to change our footballing ethos, something that was called for and something I’m looking forward to see.
VVD I will be very sad to see leave. He’s not the finished article but I think it’s quite clear that he’s *capable* of being thee best defender Celtic have had in my lifetime, and probably one of the best players in general.
sydney….
Think you hit nail on head but maybe not intended…
“best run CLUB in the world…”
sadly not the best run TEAM in the world!
HT@ 1039
Shut it ya hun.
x
Predictablereply csc;)
Malone Bhoy
10:40 on 30 August, 2014
He will get mine .
Malone bhoy
Id take issue with that.
Personally, Im extremely dubious of the claim that the board are all Celtic fans.
HH
GM
Walked into that one :-)
Malone Bhoy
10:40 on 30 August, 2014
_____________________
The fans on the ‘bored’ just now are, exactly the kind of fans that DD wants on there.
The kind who will fit nicely into his pocket.
Good Morning Timland.
It makes sense to hold on to VVD till January,he’s under
contract after all,by that time some EPL side will be under
threat of relegation and will pay through the nose.
SydneyTim
Green Man
The CEO and Board just appointed a new manager to address the issues you have with the team. It will take longer than two months for Ronny to build his team.
Can you accept the club has tried to address your issues with it and can you accept this won’t happen over night?
No-one has any right to judge the manager until he given more time. If you do you are thinking in the short term only and that’s too simplistic an approach, sorry.
Martim1980. We spent nothing before qualifiers. Nothing no planning
Neil was there for 4 years and struggled because of PL
We had one striker in hooper. We ended back up but he was denied funds. He was sold and Neil was denied funds to buy one player with associated wages. He had no option but buy players in PL wage structure
Lawwell has to go
Malone bhoy
For example….would a real Celtic supporter…wax lyrical about the deid bigots and cheats….like DD did?
HH
Mornin’ Fight Fans!
Kwik-fire kostooom changes from the “many and varied” :)
‘Big Peter Depreciation Society’……… Oh aye.
The skripts are greeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaat!
Watch ’em go bhoys!
Kevjungle
Please go and read up on the Battle of the Somme, come back on here and apologise for your shocking post.
Then get back under the stone you crawled out from.
For good, please.
TBB. While it is often portrayed as such i don’t agree that celtics recent approach is low risk. Quite the opposite. It is high risk and not maximising chances of success.
The fall out is all around you.
Still lots of supporters on this site making excuses for selling vvd. Pretty sad really.
Delusional visions of us reinvesting the money.
Clearly so,e are not paying attention.
*the king vic 67*
10:16 on 30 August, 2014
I come neither to bury or praise P Lawwell.
It needs to be regularly pointed out that he is simply implementing the plan approved by The Great Desmondo.
Change CEO all you want. DD thinks PW is doing a job. If the support think PW’s KPIs are all wrong because they are business and not football related, remember who set them in the first place
DD lost interest when the offer if the Golden Ticket to the Greatestleagueintheworld drifted away.
All business plans relate to the OF and that is why Celtic plc – despite the hopes/beliefs/apparent logic of such eminent contributors here such as BRTH and james forrest – are standing still awaiting the arrival of Sevco.
Thanks to the likes of Latchford, The Green Man etc CQN , for me, is becoming a much more base site. Just angry people mouthing off without any evidence for their black and white nonsense. If Celtic are rubbish, what are Aberdeen? Dundee United? St Johnstone?
Hearts? Raith Rovers? Arbroath? I could go on but it feels like a waste of time. Negativity from simple minded posters is hardly News of any speed.
Cheerio,
JJ
The Green Man @10:44
Id take issue with that.
Personally, Im extremely dubious of the claim that the board are all Celtic fans.
——————————————————
I think the same about you. The board act more like the Celtic fans I know, than you do.
All you do is try to plant negative, speculative, nonsense about our club. They don’t.
SydneyTim
you think he has to go, but this could be down to you low mood perhaps, rather than reality of the situation.
Try more exercise, eating, porridge, chillies and dark high cocoa chocolate all great for boosting mood.
take care ;-)
Latest from Oor Phil…..
Thinking the fat lady is about to clear her throat for a wee song……
I have submitted the following question to the Scottish Football Association.
“Can the Scottish Football Association confirm or deny that you have been informed by Rangers International Football Club or by The Rangers Football Club (RIFC/TRFC) that an Insolvency Event at Ibrox is likely this season?”
I will publish any answer here if and when I receive one.
martim1980
“Ronny is here to change our footballing ethos, something that was called for and something I’m looking forward to see.”
Do you honestly believe that?
On that theory, why was he at least 3rd in the pecking order for the role?
Clearly he was a cheap option, he will continue to fall short of what a celtic manager has to achieve.
Let’s base out debate on facts…
His win ratio at celtic to date I beleive is 36%
His win ratio at stromsgodset was 45.05%
Who’s kiddin who????
Philbhoy
10:48 on 30 August, 2014
_____________________
Shocking post?
Oh, my!
Who’s version will I read?
Your ‘tight-ripping’ one?
Or, the version from the Irish folk who
as I said – were used as ‘cannon-fodder’
in the Somme – by those dasrardly
butchers apron wearers>
Hmmmmm?
Decisions?!?!?
Martim saying one thing and doing another is a worrying trait.
That’s precisely what Ronny is doing.
Now it’s not his fault as such.
Look at what he said about loan players and what we actually did.
If Ronny is taking time to evaluate things as peter claims then why is he saying we are trying to bring in players?
The team are a shambles. That’s not a sign of success.
Building a team we are told. Do you build a team by selling your top talent?
You see the thing is that our old friend cognitive dissonance is alive and well at cp.
Contradictions everywhere and disastrous results……
And you are defending this and believe there is some great master plan at work?
Martim1980
Ive no problem with RD
Its the failure to take responsibility for failure by the board that gets me.
Theres no accountability.
The board…have divorced themselves from the supporters…that has to resolved.
Too much power divested in too few hands, thats not viable in the long run.
The board dont own Celtic…and we should remind them of that fact.
HH
Although I don’t buy newspapers for myself, I pick up a Daily Mail on a Saturday morning for an elderly neighbour.
The newspaper carries a Q & A session on the further problems of the hun and the man with the answers is Neil Patey of Ernst and Young.
When asked how worried the hun followers should be he is quoted as saying –
“I think this is the worst point for the club since they came out of administration two years ago”
Is he the office boy?
Typos…
so fluck!