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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hamiltontim
13:10 on 30 August, 2014
Aye right, I’ll crack the jokes…:)
Oh, I once sold an U2 Ticket because Celtic were playing Arsenal in a preseason friendly at CP. Wanted to see Charlie Nicholas play again at CP. It was the right decision but wrong reason, my excuse I was young…you probably wouldn’t remember as you’d be in Nappies…:)
aiden bhoy
13:09 on 30 August, 2014
Cheers mate.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Jacymacs family just away heading to love st..
none of them had fish…
Neganon2
I’d call it more despair than disrespect but hear that charge from you is hilarious.
You call for better communication with Celtic but call what you are told lies.
You make the job of persuading Celtic to be more open and transparent a very hard sell when they can point out that no matter what they say some folk just say they are being lied to.
Yes despair is the word.
So don’t try labeling me with your world view. I don’t fit it.
What have you done for Celtic recently?
What are your plans for sorting things out once you have mounted the barricade you have helped form?
Did Samaras and Ledley force Lawwell’s hand?
goldstar10:
Correct. Their board should have been summoned to Hampden when they made that announcement the other day. The press should have clamoured for answers on that.
Instead they chose to focus on whether Ronny was still going to have a job at Xmas.
Sevco might not even be in business by then. Good to know our press and governing bodies have their priorities straight, as per.
NegAnon2
13:12 on
30 August, 2014
Natnow. I am perfectly self aware. I can be disrespectful to other supporters on this site whom I believe are propping up a regime which is alienating the support in general.
I will try not to be disrespectful in future but throat doesn’t mean agreeing with everyone.
——————————————
I wouldn’t expect you, or anyone else on the blog, not to disagree – and I didn’t suggest that. As you know. But for you to accuse someone else on the blog of being disrespectful to other fans really is remarkable.
Cowiebhoy
I’ve read with interest your posts about the job that John Park does at Celtic.
We’ll have a chat next time I see you :-)
Neganon,
I am not sure what ‘balance’ would look like.
I think the only way to evaluate our approach (without waiting for time to elapse and see the results) would be to know what the alternatives were.
What names were on the table? What did our scouts think of them? How sure were we about any of them? Moreso….how gun shy were we from the Derk/Amido/Pukki experience?
On top of that, with a new coaching team, neither of whom would ever have given the merest thought about being able to buy a 2 million pound player.
There is a plausible argument to suggest that this strategy might have been the best one available. At this point in time.
Ronny has a huge hill to climb. I don’t know if he’ll make it. So there is lots to be concerned about. His comment on loans isn’t one of them. In my view.
Seanoc 13:15….
Good post. This would force s to call up development p,ayers more often. It would also be a nudge away from quantity t,o quality.
Well said.
James Forrest
Thanks, so everyone else is as confused as me
B-)
seanoc @ 13.15
That is indeed the problem. Quantity instead of quality plus youth. It is unfathomable that we have a squad of 40 players.
doctor whatfor
I’m not excusing Ambrose for his hair raising moments this season or last, they’ve been there for all to see.
However, I just believe that the reaction to his mistakes has been blown completely out of proportion and many forget the positive aspects of his game.
VVD is a footballer. He’s calm, assured and confident on the ball.
In my opinion he’s also lazy, frequently leaving others (most notably Izzy and Efe) to do jobs that he should be doing. I also think his reading of the game needs to improve greatly before he can be considered top class.
On balance we’d be a poorer team without him though.
Man U drawing 0-0 at Burnley. No great play from United yet but they should win. New boy ADM looks a top player.
monteblanco
13:29 on 30 August, 2014
In what way?
Jobo Baldie
12:53 on
30 August, 2014
22 min 11 secs
Well done the jobo bhoy 11secs under target :)))))
jobo baldie
13:14 on 30 August, 2014
BT – 3 match package is £60.00
___________
Doffed cap to bada bing, he tipped that from the off.
I’ll be getting mine and my bhoys, still a wee bit down but you never know what a wee run can bring. HH
Lennybhoy
U2?
Charlie Nicholas?
I remember my granda talking about these things you speak of.
Did you listen to the ‘hit parade’ too? :-)
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
ianinascoli.
Agreed, uninspiring performance from Man Utd, but as you say they may well win.
Maybe to satisfy the fans the new manager should spend, spend, spend. A British record fee would help.
Oh wait a minute.
HH.
“However, I just believe that the reaction to his mistakes has been blown completely out of proportion and many forget the positive aspects of his game.”
Agree completely.
He’s had a few howlers. Who hasn’t?
I’ve said previously that the place was in a panic at the thought of him not making the juve game. Many still can’t see past that night.
Sips
much is kids package?
Guys,
Someone posted a while back about a website which allowed you to hide your ip address – does anyone remember the name?
I am currently in the US and wanted to login to my bet365 account but it is blocked and am lookimg for a solution – thanks in advance for any help!!
Cheers,
BJM
Who gets 1888
ht
Agree about Efe. I’ll be watching VVD more closely now.
HH
hamiltontim
13:45 on 30 August, 2014
Me and your Granda had a lot in common, we both love the Celtic as well…:)
You too would have loved the other two back in the day had you been around of course…:)
The ‘Hit Parade’, was only one song worth remembering fro that…You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Definitely away this time.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
AfternoonTim land.
some one here posted the other night about Tattoos having a negative affect on the players,what a lorry load of S@ite.
think i will get one of the celtic crest, just to see what the affect it has on me being a
supporter.
Hail Hail
BT,
Bada tipped a fiver a game, reckon if he’s right again, he drinks with PL ;))
Neganon2
On loans.
Others have quoted what was said.
It’s not spin to make sense of what he said and see the difference between try before you buy and a loan.
The “spin”as you call it just does not suit your agenda.
I would concede on it and go find other examples of cognitive dissonance to back your case for human nature being what it is there are bound to be some.
Is “Rob Devine” Sleekit’s nome-de-plume?
http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/30/ally-mccoist-may-be-struggling-with-rangers-on-the-field-but-off-it-his-dignity-remains-strong-4850867/?
Dr Whatfor
He’ll play like Beckenbaur now wait and see :-)
Robin bhoy was the ghuy who had the info VPM I think, Google it. Hail Hail Hebcelt
I like Effe
I like it when he recovers from an error.
I shake my head when he doesn’t.
He entertains me.
I like that.
Butsybhoy
Well impressed seeing you in the gym at 0600 the other day. Had the boozer just closed? :-)
Here’s another Peter Lawell theory to test. …
We have done well replacing players?
Samaras?
Ledley?
Wanyama?
Hooper?
Forster? Maybe
Ki?
If VVD and Commons go that’s almost a full team.
We have done more good business than bad? I don’t think so.
Robinbhoy was the man with the info,VPM? I think,Google it. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Sorry double post was for BJM
BJM you won’t get any access to any betting account from the US …..ip will always be blocked ,
Auldheid,
I agree but I wish he wouldn’t try and dribble out of our penalty area so often. He’s always likely to lose out and so are we. But he is most certainly an entertainer.