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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According to Peter Lawwell we should accept defeats in Europe to teams with a fraction of our budget because it’s part of the transition of new managers settling in to the Club.
He cites the failures of Martin, Gordon and Neil as mitigation for our latest fairest….
I’m thinking Peter is presiding over a lot of avoidable failure?
Vinniethedog,
Season tickets will fall next season even if Sevco make it up. I am not sure they will wither due to admin or Mccoists incompetence.
The damage has been done this summer…..by the elephant in the room.
Anyway … football. We don’t have a new striker? I thought he had agreed terms but now seems not to have signed. So do we have other options we can pick up n very quickly?
Today’s team will see a few defensive changes from midweek, I would think. I expect to see Denayer back alongside VVD and Lustig at right back. Dundee is a very different game and they will be up for it. We will need to match their passion to win.
Can we talk about Celtic ffs
Get your priorities right at least.
What about Lawells bleating, what about Scepovic?
HH
………….well that didn’t last long!
Google debate referendum lots of sites why can’t the obsessed go to some of them. This is a Celtic site remember them they are playing a game in just over 2 hours.
Wouldn’t mind so much if it wasn’t the same pish day in day out.
Anyway I’m away to watch the famous. COYBIG
Jamesgang
I’m not convinced by the glorious balance sheets argument although it is obvious failings in player recruitment last year have aided the downturn this season.
On placements how many of the coefficient points wee gained via the EL? Basically is that a fair means of comparison.?
Of non qualification how many tie in with a new manager? Managers cone and go. It is always a fraught period. See Man Utd. Are Celtic above the same risk factor associated with management change.
Bragg have direct access to Brazilian players not sure about other countries but some are attractive places to live. Does that help them recruit players?
Does the manager recruiting players automatically mean we get better ones? Since I don’t know the system I cannot be sure but if NL had a say in the failures then then one set up is no more likely to succeed than another. But it’s failure whatever it has been is evident so that is a problem.
Well run clubs are not necessarily successful clubs in trophy title terms. Arsenal being a good example. It’s a simple fact of Soccernomics.
I agree that to sort a problem you have to know what it is and if it’s fixable. The one area there that should be looked at as it’s in the clubs immediate power to address is player recruitment.
To know how to address it we need to know how it’s done in more detail then perhaps the solution will come out.
I realise in posting this it looks like I’m disputing the findings which I am but not the conclusion but if I were in charge at Celtic and this were brought to me I’d be making the same points AND if I did not want to look into the matter I would dismiss it because the case made gave me the opportunity.
ernie lynch
09:44 on
31 August, 2014
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
09:24 on 31 August, 2014
Firstly let me just apologise for having had the temerity to go to bed without first seeking your consent and therefore not being available to reply to your post at 18 minutes past midnight.
Secondly do you think maybe that the policies you mention, all of which are what are known as populist (look it up), might just perhaps, might possibly have been implemented in order to win people over to vote yes. Naive, gullible people, who can’t or won’t apply any degree of critical analysis. Won’t perhaps wonder if those policies are sustainable or have been thought through. The truth is they haven’t been, but that doesn’t matter. The purpose of the policies is to get people to vote yes. If that works that’s all that matters. The consequences are irrelevant.
Thirdly. You think freezing the council tax is a progressive measure? That’s not naive or gullible. That’s just stupid.
Lastly. Don’t get to het up if I don’t respond to you within the time-scale you consider acceptable. The world does not revolve round you.
———————————————
Ernie005
So 005 let me get this right: a government implementing policies that people find attractive is what, run that by me again…….. Go on read your words.
Presumably you prefer Westminster’s policies of raising pension age (Labour did that), or forcing people into Food banks ?
And I’m gullible naive, stupid ………doh ?
You went to bed last night ?
Fair do’s, but remember a couple of weeks ago when you posed a jibe at me……..here it is: “I have to ask, is English your first language?”.
Of course you won’t, you’ll conveniently forget that, like you conveniently couldn’t recall insulting Delaneys ?
I can repost your jibe………but the gist of your contribution was to ask me about my “English” skills, only to then include your own gibberish. Oh how I laughed.
Think you must’ve went to bed then too……….midday Sunday.
Ernie005 you’re playing a blinder for the Nats mate………….off to bed.
2 things. That there are people on here who still think Sevco will crash & burn and fail to make our top league is astonishing. I’m astounded of forehead. The Devil in the detail of Lawell’s brass tacks cascade is that if it’s costing us £10m without the bigot brigade then it stands to reason their return will enhance our balance by £10m. The elephant in the room is that their coffers will swell by £10m also. Sustenance. We will qualify their malfeasance. We are part of it. Sopped by Old Firm season tickets or Old Firm Light season tickets. Meet the new boss.
And Mr Deila doesn’t see players we sign in the flesh? And doesn’t know the percentage success return rate, but thinks it must be good? Aye Ronnie – have you watched Derk closely at all?
Thoroughly depressed at the state and stance of my club. Possibly an avenue of no return for me…
CultsBhoy
10:01 on
31 August, 2014
Absolutely agree. Just because there are precedents for our latest failure doesn’t make it any less of a failure. In fact ,the repetition makes it even more worrying!
Gordon J
I’d be surprised if VVD played today with horse trading going on for him. Lustig injured again. Mulgrew back in there beside Denayer.
Up front should be the one to watch. I expect Berget, Stokes and Commons or perhaps Wakuso from the start.
What PL actually said:
“We could have lost £10m a year, quite easily, on the back of Rangers going down. How we have coped with that is seeing that ahead and keeping that strategy of being successful on the park, stable off it”
So we COULD have lost 10m. What the SMSM don’t spin in their headlines is that we haven’t lost anything in fact we’ve been raking it in. How about a bit of perspective ffsake
Why don’t we just buy Hunco and ensure they are in top flight.. Keep Peter Happy ?
Don’t come on here greetin later….if PL gets gets the old GTF chant.
He is playing a very dangerous game with the supporters hopes and dreams.
He is a total chancer imo.
Not long ago, he was telling us that Celtic stand alone and depend on nobody.
Now he is trying to tell us we need sevco.
Well Peter, we don’t need sevco, and we don’t need you either.
HH
Auldheid
I welcome your input. In tone and content.
I think you ask important questions and offer important caveats that would help to refine our definition of exactly the challenges we face and how best to address them.
Would love to think there was a Brains Trust at CFC doing likewise!
HH jamesgang
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
BBO5 was a nice guy, he made mistakes, we all do.
I wasn’t having a go at him, but he did bolt when he couldn’t answer. Matter of record mate.
He made a lot of sensible points, others not so, took a lot of insults from the “superior being”, but he failed to answered a question I posed continuously. At the time I was still considering how to vote .
Lawwell will be sitting in his office fielding bids by telephone hammer in one hand… Gleeful in anticipation of knocking down and shouting ‘sold to the highest bidder’… He’s probably forgot we’re playing today.
Post 3000 on its way.
Is this a record?
And how many have been about Celtic,how few in a positive way?
glendalystonsils
It’s quite an astonishing judgment on himself .. Although I think he is unaware
Not surprised with the spin put on the PL interview, none of which he said of course unless his been giving more information to the press, or could they be making it up?
I think Celtic prefer to run a football club the way we are at present, and the media could have spun the interview that way, but didn’t. No desire here to return to the SFA guided fraudulent set up, no more honest mistakes, no more being treated differently.
If Celtic don’t understand that our supporters are better off not together with the Sevco spawn, then we are in serious trouble.
But then PL doesn’t really tell you what Celtic think, after all we easily give them the money, a £4m interest free loan investment would be peanuts to Celtic.
We’re not that much of a business though, and we are ‘stand alone’….aren’t we Peter.
big wavy,
I thought Lustig was OK? Maybe not. Could be Matthews at RB then – assuming he is fit.
If VVD doesn’t play then he is away. I hope not, for him and for us.
The £
Italiabhoy
It is the loony right,Gideon Osbourne, who by saying the Scots cant use their own currency has opened up a speculators charter.one contradicted Darling in debate and confirmed by wee jo’skwerr go’lamont.
1.The £ = £ eng £ wal £ sco £ nir.
2.The £ DONT = £ eng £ wal £ nir
3.The £ DONT = £ Sco
1 is certainty and can be disengaged over a period of time.A planned course,accounting for commerce on BOTH sides of the border.this is what was done since 1919 in ireland, from £ to punt to euro.
All done with democratic consent of theur people
2 &3 in my opinion are a speculators charter; using uncertainty farted above by Gideon augmented by the interdependence of our economies to cause uncertainty and chaos in both.
As a side note do you not find it interesting Gideon announces it in edin but he is speaking to the city of london and attempting to quell uncertainty in a market that makes its billions from such actions.
Black monday & friday along with darlings credit boom based banking failure in 2008 highlight how ‘capital’ can reek havoc on any democratic economy.
As an aside to may I point out any keynesian econ principles went down the pan in 1976 when Labour(I think it was the old one) under Denis Healey implemented
Friedmanite/chicago school policies, as a result of a £583 BILLION bail out from the international monetary fund.hence cutting the foundations for Thatcher.another long forgotten bit of history from the party of the working class( my ass)
Hope your well bhud I am the white hoop to your green one thankfully
HH
A stall in the barras….could have put togeather a deal for Scepovic by now.
Seriously….what the flying feck are this board all about?.
Are they fecking daft or what.
HH
We will always sell our best players.
They will always want to go.
Reason?
Money available in England.
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
VVD:
I hope he plays and stays.
Don’t think he’ll be here though. He stated his aim was CL and the pics of him at Full-Time showed a man in a quandary.
Being told we lose millions if Sevco had to star all over again is nothing new, Paul67 article fro a few years back
If these events took place before Christmas, Rangers Newco FC could be debt-free and signing players in January to enhance their league challenge.
To force the deal through, Rangers Newco FC would require 10 of the remaining 11 SPL clubs to vote in their favour. If any two clubs stand against them, they would have to apply for membership of the Scottish Football League, but, having researched this story for several days, I expect Rangers Newco FC Ltd would get enough support to pick-up the place of the defunct Rangers FC.
Any natural sympathies towards Rangers aside (which will not exist in all places), money talks and, apart from Celtic, this league is neck-deep in debt. Celtic might be in a position to survive Rangers failing…………..but it would cost our club tens of millions!!!!
However what ever happened to this position
“Watch the media coverage of these events carefully. If and when the decision time comes, the case to acquiesce to Rangers Newco’s demands will be overwhelming. Sincere ‘impartial’ observers will do their upmost to convince us all we must do whatever necessary to save Rangers for the good of the Scottish game. Some voices will even tell you Celtic need Rangers Newco. Whatever part of my club is dependent on Rangers I am willing to lose.”
Whatever part of my club is dependant on Sevco i am willing to lose
I haven’t changed………………………….has Paul67 and Celtic
jist in fae the jiggin’…..
Of Course, We need Sevco!..
That’s a Given..
N.. Sevco’s Demise has cost us Money….. A Bundle.
n..as Everbuddy Knows…
“It’s Alwiz aboot the Money ,Hohey!” ( No .. Everybudd, Knows,pal.. Na.. No Everybuddyy~,,,, ed.)
O.K. …Hard tae believe, pal… But…Ye ur right.
Celtic, need the Money..
N..
Lawwell,his done a Bang up joab.. in makin Sure that we get It..
Kojo
Still,Laughin
BIGCUPWINNERS
I know you weren’t,mate. He’s a good guy,and every bit as forthright in the flesh as he is on here.
He is very passionate about independence and passion can colour your invective. He is simply unable,in all honesty,to understand why anyone can consider the status quo.
Not quite to the point of zealotry,but not far from it. I admire passion like that. In all honesty,I do.
But it doesn’t stop me from correcting him-IMO-when he allows it to defy reality.
I know we will still be able to quaff a few beers together after the vote. I hope that others will accept the result in a similar fashion,either way,without recrimination.
My feeling though is that there will be rancour for some time afterwards.
Heyho,show me a good loser,etc!
Morning all, Post 3000?
bournesouprecipe
That was kind of my point. If they are worth. £10m a year to Celtic. Why don’t we buy them and run them at a level that ensures they remain in SPFL .. We’d also get then£10m from their side…
It’s a joke
Damn, premature again :+(
Why cant we buy a decent striker?
I just do not understand.
Someone please enlighten me.
We can sell our best players very quickly, yet we can never conclude a deal, without it turning into a farce.
Who is responsible for this embarrassing ineptitude?
Is it me.
HH
I see at another big club, Louis Van Gaal is busy trying to offload as many players as he can, some say up to fifteen. He’s been there a lot less time
than RD has been at Celtic, and I’ll be disappointed if we don’t lighten the wage bill at Celtic before the deadline.
Too many players now surplus to requirements hinders progress at Celtic and there are players who need moved on, so that RD can be given the chance to freshen the squad.
Ah another example of cognitive dissonance and Ronny. Ronny wants to take his time and ensure we get the right players in. Reality. He trusts JP and is signing players he hasn’t seen before……..
Oh dear.
What a shambles…..
I will return to Peters latest ramblings once I have read back. But it seems the mask has slipped…….
Enjoy your day CQN a very entertaining morning on CQN lots of passion on all subjects
Good luck to the hoops today, have great reservations about RD and his dream philosophy
Take a win by any means necessary today
AN TEARMANN
The Healey IMF loan was £2.3bn.
3000 not out
GordonJ
Have not new labour thro ed balls already assured Gideons eton collective they will align new labour with his austerity policies……just to assure the markets…..
Sounds v much like big Gordons assurance in 1997.
My problem with new labour is I have a memory.when it gets to the nitty gritty they bow at the alter of paper profit and to hell with those they betray in doing so.
Anyway any team for today? :-)
HH