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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Lennons passion, that’s a fair article but misses the raw impact of what Lawell and others would see as Being as a result of Rangers not being in the league.
Peter would probably see the drop in season ticket sales as a direct result of Rangers not being in the league. The decision was also made to drop the season ticket by 100 quid. (It will go back up next season when they come back)
There’s also a drop in retail and sponsorship.
If you take 100 off the average at the high point of season ticket sales of 50,000 that’s 5million, then also factor in the loss of 10000 season tickets at 400 that’s 4 million. I imagine Peter is also factoring in the high point of sponsorship and advertising at 1million. Easy to get there but the figures are based on what Peter would see as the reasons for the drop in season ticket price and sales.
Peter must know that the season tickets sold while Rangers where still in the league was dropping like a stone. The figures are there in the accounts so I imagine he’s aware. To put the loss of this revenue purely down to Rangers demise is a fallacy. I can’t get into the 11/12 accounts but I am sure we only sold 43000 season tickets. There were the extortionate tickets for the bigot games of 45 quid for non season ticket holders when a Rangers still existed though so maybe that’s rolled in.
Bottom line for me is that Peter can’t put the loss of season ticket sales purely down to Rangers that is a lie and ignores the other possible reason folk are not turning up in the same numbers which is lack of good investment in the team to take us forward.
The current policy on projects us towards the further reduction.
Without fans football is nothing.
JFH.
Even if we win today and we don’t sign Scepovic, most will feel the board is taking the p**s, myself included.
Never mind a standing area for the fans, we need one for all the players that aren’t fit
to wear the hoops.HH
I hope i get offered an old firm free zone season ticket, in my seat in the North stand, not interested in paying 100 pounds extra to see games against the zombies
Celtic are going to have to market this carefully
If Van Dijk leaves in the next 24 hours, it will be against the will of the club, who feel they could maximise their money by keeping him for another season.
Then do not sell him!!!!!!!!!!
lionroars67
08:47 on 31 August, 2014
That’s a pipe dream.
An assertion that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Similar to ‘A yes vote will destroy the Labour Party in England’ and ‘ a yes vote will inevitably lead to a united Ireland’ both of which were posted over night.
We are to believe a yes vote is the panacea for all of society’s ills. It’s not and I’m wary of those who claim it is.
Nationalism (and that’s what it is) is divisive and reactionary. It appeals to the daft, the naive and the gullible.
LIONROARS 67
Good point,mate. £50 a ticket to watch that mob pollute our dear green place?
Celtic might consider offering all tickets on the basis you suggest.
It gives us a chance to demonstrate the depth of our feeling against the charade that they are.
sipsini. Its a difficult one if your not happy the only thing you really can do in my opinion is not go to games.However,that also punishes your good self so the Celtic support at the moment are between a rock and a hard place. Well im off to mass cheers for now.H.H.
lionroars67
08:53 on 31 August, 2014
The non hun game tickets will be for the Lisbon lions stand that the huns occupy for the games.
If you want to keep your seat you’ll have to buy a full book.
ERNIE
We agree on the vote,had I one I would vote No.
But I know a lot of Yes voters. They have failed to convince me of their arguments,but few are daft gullible and naïve.
Misguided,maybe. As is always the case with someone whose opinion differs from mine!
I might have it wrong, but I vaguely remember PL telling us a couple of AGM’s ago that Celtic was run as a stand alone club and never relied on input from any other club.
I’m also sure that in the past it has been quoted that CL money was always viewed as a bonus and not something that was budgeted for.
His comments about the impact rangers death has had on us will further alienate some supporters at a time when the support in general are as disillusioned as we’ve been for some time.
This coupled with the tweet this morning (If true) about future moneys being handed to rangers early to help them fulfil their fixtures only adds to the bad taste.
Keep away from the monkey Peter, they’re bad news.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
08:59 on 31 August, 2014
Anyone who believes the nat arguments is either daft or gullible.
lionroars67 –
I’ve already made the decision that if we ever have a match against the new Rangers and if there is any suggestion that it is being marketed as being against the former club I will not be there and my seat will lie empty.
But the situation is even clearer after reading Peter’s comments this morning. Not sure whether I’d be willing to support a decision to increase the season ticket by at least £100 next season solely because the latest Rangers are in the top division. IT’s arguable that what we’re paying now (with or without a Rangers) is already too much for the entertainment we get over a season.
Of course, with the developments over the last couple of days I think it will be some time yet before we’ll have to play a league game against them. The cup competitions are another thing mind you.
Deila also admitted he had never seen Scepovic in the flesh – but claimed he has 100 per cent trust in John Park and the structure Celtic have under him.
He said: “I’ve never seen him playing. He has not played. But John Park has seen him. I’ve seen a lot of videos. I trust the system here. They’ve brought in a lot of players who are good buys and have raised a lot of money.
“I don’t know the percentage but I think that has been managed quite well in the last five or so years.”
Ernie
What …that great footballing institution ?( according to DD)
Some on here tried to suggest he was playing to the cameras ….aye right
Lawwell is a busted flush ….his latest round of cosy press sound bites are a pathetic attempt to regain credibility ….
If Deila bombs ..he goes too …IMO he should have gone after the TM debacle
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
08:56 on
31 August, 2014
LIONROARS 67
Good point,mate. £50 a ticket to watch that mob pollute our dear green place?
Celtic might consider offering all tickets on the basis you suggest.
It gives us a chance to demonstrate the depth of our feeling against the charade that they are.
In complete agreement happy for Celtic to cash in substantially on the couch potato DR/Sun reading old firm fan, they can have my seat for £50 a pop i will go to all the other league games
Gary67
That’ll be the system that signed Bangura, Miku , Lassad , Pukki , Boeriggter and Balde ……FFS
Scepovic can go and take **** to himself as far as I’m concerned.
Gary67
09:06 on 31 August, 2014
Can you imagine Jock Stein having that attitude?
Anyone who votes no is a coward
He’s playing in the Spanish second division ffs and as far as Celtic is concerned he appears to be the tail wagging the dog.
Not for me.
ernie lynch
08:55 on
31 August, 2014
Ernie my point on the Scottish labour party stands i have good connections in that regard, it will begin to change dramatically on the 18th of september if a yes vote is delivered
That’s Mel Gibson on now.
Oh dear.
L67
Did you aw naw that article, we don’t think we are gods gift ..
Go and sign a left back Celtic!!
And play Griffiths as a striker!!
It’s no rocket science!!
lionroars67
09:11 on 31 August, 2014
Yeah, of course it will.
The weather will improve as well.
It’s going to be dead good, so it is.
Scepovic is playing us ….that’s what happens when you leave yourself exposed as we have here
Shocking business practice
TBJ
No their no ..right!!!
I see the sites resident arse hole has plenty to say as usual
Ernie:
“Nationalism (and that’s what it is) is divisive and reactionary. It appeals to the daft, the naive and the gullible”
Genuinely interested in whether you feel that comment has universal application or whether you are only referring to the Scottish context?
Seemingly depressing news on the prospective striker, sigh
…PFayr
Agree.
How long does it take to sign a player?
This one has been dragging on for well over a week!
It’s obvious to me that if he wanted to play for Celtic he would be signed, settled and in the squad for Dundee today.
Celtic must know this and when he doesn’t sign they will say they tried their best.
Bollocks!
Then tomorrow will be to late to sign a striker of note.
Jobo Baldie
09:03 on
31 August, 2014
Jobo i hope Celtic will take into account the views of season ticket holders in relation to the zombie club however i fear Ernie is right (need a lie down) and the club will not publicly wish to recognise those views on the zombie club by offering to all season ticket holders the choice of two season tickets, one for Celtic fans without zombie games and one the other season ticket for old firm fans, it may be a costly mistake
We are paying over the odds to watch the SPFL we do it to support the club!
Morning all. Beautiful day down here. Great weather for a football match. Hope that’s true for Dundee.
NatKnow,
What I was trying to say last night was that I am not really interested in a cultural revival among the Glasgow West End chattering classes, from whom the bulk of those mentioned by Andrew Marr are probably drawn. I would far rather see all of us imbued with a sense of Scottishness which is not portrayed as it has been by the media from the Sunday Post to Hollywood. Bill Forsyth captures us closest, I think. Billy Connolly too reflects us to ourselves. Imo, the spectators at the Commonwealth Games gave us a true reflection of what we essentially are. If I believed that spirit were to be nourished , I would happily vote Yes. The SNP don’t inspire that sense of inclusivity in me.
Zombies will come back,£100 back on season book. First zombie game at paradise will be a sell out. Season book sales will go up next season.
Anyone thinking different are not living in the real world.
morning CQN,
having read the translation on the Skepovic transfer…..it seems he has no real desire to pull on the hoops, unless a player really wants to play at Paradise then they should not be considered, we need players with a 110% attitude EVERY time they pull on our jersey.
Looking forward to seeing Mubarak play, he wants to be here, having read the sad story of his 4 month old son I think he will have a very strong character indeed and will give his all for us.
a good result today is essential, 3 points an absolute must
COYBIG
Right, I’m on gardening leave for a couple of hours… :-(
West Wales Celt
09:16 on 31 August, 2014
Nationalism can be progressive if it’s allied to anti imperialism/ anti colonialism, otherwise it’s reactionary.
Scotland isn’t a colony. We are not under an imperialist yoke.
Einstein was right.
‘Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.’
Repost from last night:
ernie lynch
No, do you realise how obnoxious and stupid you sound ?
But let’s focus on my naivety eh ?
Are my prescriptions free ?
Do we have a right wing government currently penalising unemployed people for being out of work. They are Hell-bent on enabling employers to pay less, as those in work will be too scared to loose their jobs ?
Has my Community charge risen ?
Does my kid have to pay for his FE ?
Then there is that farsighted policy of raising the retirement age. Strange that youth unemployment is at record levels.
You can answer the above if you wish. But tell me why it’s better to let my neighbour run, control and dictate what happens in my house ?
Ps Ernie, remember Billy Bhoy05 ? He had a penchant for getting into debates then disappearing when things got tough. Are you he ?
“When Rangers went down we took £100 off the season tickets,” Lawwell said. “So that is £4m for two years. The Rangers games, that is at least another £3m. The fact there is a perception among our supporters that there is no competition and you are going to win anyway, and you don’t go to the game, so it could be £10m. We could have lost £10m a year, quite easily, on the back of Rangers going down.”
“Could have lost” but we didn’t as celtic supporters stepped up to help the club for the past few years without them in the league.
Either there’s a quote missing that states this, wouldn’t put it past the MSM, or supporters aren’t getting the recognition they deserve.