Celtic will play Swedish champions Helsingborg IF in the Champions League play-off round later this month. Helsingborg eliminated Polish champions Slask Wroclaw in the last round, winning 0-3 in the first leg in Poland, but our man in Poland assures me Slask were one of the weakest Polish champions in recent season and have lost several players over the close season. Helsingborg also eliminated The New Saints (you thought you knew British football) from Wales in the second qualification round.
Although like all sensible Northern European leagues, the Swedes are midseason, this is a straightforward proposition for Celtic, who will be slight favourites to qualify for the Champions League group stage.
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A thoroughly astonishing post from FF…..
I mean, where d’ye start??
“I’m a Rangers fan, but I’m no’ a bigot”
——————————————————————————–
Ask a Rangers fan just one question: why do you support Rangers?
He’ll likely try to answer it without referring to the elephant in the room: Protestantism.
He’ll talk about it being his father’s team, or maybe his grandfather’s: he’ll mention any number of reasons, but only a few will dare to mention the ‘P’ word.
Travel internationally to see Rangers and glimpse at the local newspapers. Even in languages that Scots are not fully conversant in, the message is always glaring: Rangers are Protestant and Celtic are Catholic.
In Scotland though, if folk cite religious persuasion as a reason for following a football club, sanctimonious moral highground perchers rush to cast aspersion.
We even have a situation where one word – ‘Protestant’ – is so besmirched that few dare to use it. People can go into shops and buy Catholic publications and no-one bats an eyelid, but what publication would dare to have ‘Protestant’ in its name? What shop would stock it?
This is where we are at. A friend of mine used to say that the Conservative vote in Scotland was the vote that dare not speak its name. It would vote Conservative, but preferred not to openly admit it.
Scottish Protestants are now in the same boat: they’re non-Catholic now. It’s easier to say what they are not than to admit what they are or where they come from. If pushed, Protestants will say that they belong to the Church of Scotland because they don’t want to use the ‘P’ word. That would label them negatively, and they know it, so they don’t use it.
In this modern era then, how have we arrived at a situation where tens of thousands of people are reluctant to say what they are – or once were?
A Jew will never shy away from telling the world that he’s a Jew – even if he’s lapsed Jew. A Catholic will seize the moment to openly declare his faith too, but in this northern outpost, Protestants will not easily declare their religious allegiance or heritage.
Is it guilt? Is it shame? Is it fear?
Or is it a politically correct-inspired climate of intolerance that has made the largest religious culture in Scotland awkward in its own skin?
As Rangers fans, due to a powerful association with Protestantism, we are ‘outed’ as soon as we admit our sporting allegiance, and this is a load that some find difficult to carry.
The safe haven of atheism is where some prefer to tie up. From there, they feel immune from accusations of bigotry and sectarianism. No longer being a God-botherer provides them with an invisible shield when ‘Orange bastard’ taunts come calling.
The fact remains though, Protestant Scotland, and Rangers fans, are living in an increasingly uneasy climate of intimidation in the 21st century, and it manifests itself in some very strange ways.
Incredibly, when I was introduced to a fellow Rangers fan a few years ago, his opening line was: “I’m a Rangers fan, but I’m no’ a bigot”.
We really have to wonder: when people are this frightened, and this defensive, whatever it is that has gone wrong in this country has gone very badly wrong indeed.
sixtwo
The £700m megadome with floating pitch, casino and Sevco village has been built already. Although to view it you need blue tinted ultra super megadome with floating pitch, casino and Sevco Village specs. Oh! And some illegal drugs.
MWD
Celtic_First on 10 August, 2012 at 11:45 said:….
Excellent point. An important aspect of the beautiful game is being able to make a pass into your central midfield, and have your player receive the ball and be able to advance with it.
Scott Brown pushed up aggressively and took this pass away from HJK on many occasions. Even if he didn’t have to make a tackle, he either forced the midfielder to pass it back to the CB….or he prevented the CB from even attempting the pass. This can work if you are not outnumbered in midfield.
It was only in that early 2nd half period, that HJK were able to complete this pass and build on it.
The first time I saw MON’s team (away to Dundee United), I was impressed by the pressing game we played. Pressing can’t be done by one player alone – although it sometimes looks that way. It is a team effort. Henrick led from the front on that score.
Helsingborgs club director Paul Myllenberg on the draw.
– Yes, mission completed. It was what we wanted. We took a sporting and commercial winning ticket
So who do we want in the last 16 of the Champions League, I would have said Milan but I fancy them in our group so would settle for Man City as they didn’t do that well against green and white hoops of lisbon last year;)
HH
I’m not being presumptive, and know we face a tough task against Helsingborg, however the financials are compelling for success
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/management/finance/news/newsid=1845591.html#uefa+champions+league+revenue+distribution
if i read this correctly we can expect the following
€2.1 million for playing in the play off round against Helsingborg
€8.6 million base fee for Group stages
€ to be quantified as share of market pool, however likely to be over €10 million as RFC received €9.3 million 2 years ago
€1 million per win and €500,000 per draw
This should give us a minimum of €20.7 million. Two wins and two draws would earn us another €3 million
This means we could earn €23.7 million which at todays exchange rate is £18.6 million. Add in 4 home gates to come at an average of 55,000 per game @£30 per head and thats another £6.6 million. A £25 million boost to revenues is whats possible this year
If this is Armageddon I can live with it
Tuesday 21st away v Helsinborgs
Wednesday 29th at home
THUNDER time
HH
traditionalist88
I’ll go for Clug in the final.
Ta
MWD overconfidene breeds angry wee green men on CQN
Barcabhoy
You forgot to divide the final figure by x (x being the number MSM will divide total earnings by for Celtic or multiply total earnings by for Sevco).
So 25m/5 = 5m drakma
MWD :-)
Celtic_First on 10 August, 2012 at 11:45 said:
I cannot recall seeing Celtic press so high up the field so well in any game at any level as in the first half, especially, in Helsinki.
I missed the game on Wednesday, but that is interesting to hear as I was just talking to someone about this on Saturday. We looked good when pressing Helsinki high up the field in the first half. IMO the best celtic team I have seen with Larsson and Sutton up front used to play like this routinely, defended from the front and really harried defenders and deep midfielders on the ball. Hope it continues!
THE eagerly-anticipated draw for the UEFA Champions League play-off has paired Celtic with Henrik Larsson’s former team, Helsingborgs IF of Sweden in what is the final hurdle between the Bhoys and a triumphant return to the Champions League group stages.
Celtic will travel to Sweden for the first leg which goes ahead on Tuesday, August 21, with the return taking place here at Celtic Park the following Wednesday, August 29.
After Wednesday night’s well-earned victory in Helsinki, Swedish champions Helsingborgs are the team who stand in the way of the Hoops and a place at Europe’s top table!
With European football guaranteed at Celtic Park until at least December, Neil Lennon’s side will be focused on combating the Helsingborgs challenge and reaching the prestigious UEFA Champions League group stages where Europe’s elite teams lie in wait.
Season Ticket holders can purchase tickets for the home match from 9.30am on Saturday, August 11.
Tickets are priced £20 for adults and £10 for concessions. The deadline for season tickets holders is Friday, August 17.
vandalgrease …. 12:00 on 10 August, 2012
Thanks for that …… I hope Kevin’s is PERMANENTLY banned from CP …….. He really is a weirdo……
…….and sincere thanks to the poster of the CP Development Plans ……excellent / exciting incite………..
Moonbeams
What about the Super Cup?
HH
Delighted with the draw. Positives include we didn’t draw cluj who have had CL experience in recent years, not too much travel involved, game not in hot climate (not Cyprus!) and the fact they are half way thru their season allows us to gauge them better. It’s all good, bring it on.
Ps. I’m not saying it will be easy.
We should be able to overturn the Swedes or else we are Turnips.
hearts v Liverpool
I made the pilgrimage to Helsingborg in 2007.
The stadium was shut, there wasn’t a single person to be seen for miles, and it rained heavily the entire day.
Poorlyplannedtripcsc
Motherwell v Levante
Barca bhoy ……. We’re on the one road…….. And we’re together now, who cares
Folks…….who do you think should replace Viktor in the away game ….??
Hearts v Liverpool & Motherwell v Levante
No coefficient boost likely there then
No bobby @12.43 -and apart from that?
No Bobby Does It Petta
Great nom de blog.
Are you new here? Sorry if I’ve missed you before.
Is this Philvis in disguise? I think we should be told…..
£20 is excellent value; carry on our current good away form in Europe and should be a full house at CP.
The Return of the King?
traditionalist88
Not sure but I think a Peruvian\El Salvaadorian\Equadorian team would be a good shout.
MWD
sixtwo on 10 August, 2012 at 12:28 said:
All this talk of a museum and new superstore is all well and good, but won’t it be overshadowed by the £700m megadome casino development at ibrox?!
======================================
Once more Pete Lawwell shows complete lack of ambition. He could have gone for a Celtic Theme Park, got a tie in deal with Richard Branson to launch his trips to outer space from where the London Road school now stands. We would have made Billions. But what does he do? Applies to build a museum and a shop.
If only we had a business genius like Lord Murray to guide us…………
Is that the supercup?
No thats between Europa and CL isn’t it.
Helsinki will do then.
MWD
I always pronounce Cluj as ‘Kludge’.
A bit juvenile but hey ho.
BMCUWP- too pinko for ole Philvis.
My CQN experience is all wonky. What’s going on?
Great draw, only one hour drive from Ystad. Easiest for the bhoys flying over is plane to copenhagen then train to Helsingborg, should be à cheap journey too if flying from Edinburgh. See yi in Helsingborg.
Must say I am surpised at the confidence people are showing over the draw,I think its a tough tie and we could have got it easier
Three guy’s in blackburn sentenced to 17 years between them for vat fraud.
Trading in platinum and keeping the vat .
They made £4.5 mill over a two year period.
Wonder if any chance the same being applied to messers minty, white etc ?
RobertTressell
We already have the gates to Paradise but na, it’s just no good enough for some Tims. Is it? They want Space hubs to the Universe and MIB HQ (not to be mistaken for MIB Refs HQ) on our doorstep.
MWD
This is a decent draw. I would have fancied us against all the teams we could have drawn. Helsingborgs were not my first choice but it means relatively easy travelling, a style of football we will be used to and a very good chance to go through.
I am not surprised they think they have won a watch drawing us. It will sell them tickets on the back of the Henrik connection and increase TV money for them as a result of it being the truly global Celtic brand they are involved with.
They will also look at our euro record of late and think we are beatable. I think we are a better team than at any time in the last 3 years. It will take a few good results in europe for foreign clubs to notice. We may have an element of surprise on our side.
Winnable, but not a foregone conclusion by any chance.
archdeaconsbench – The fact remains though, Protestant Scotland, and Rangers fans, are living in an increasingly uneasy climate of intimidation in the 21st century
I’m sorry to hear that Rangers fans and Protestants live in a climate of intimidation in Scotland.
What with all the anti-Protestant sectarian marches during the summer, the recent attacks on Protestant Churches, the letterbombs sent to Ally McCoist and other prominent Rangers supporters, and the occasional casual stabbing of Rangers fans who happen be wearing their team colours in the wrong place at the wrong time, Scotland can seem like a bigoted and intolerant place.
My wife is a Protestant, and she literally cowers in fear every time we cross the border and see that ominous sign warning “Failte gu Alba”, but I remind her that the vast preponderance of the Catholic majority in Scotland are not small-minded bigots.
These Catholic bigots on their forums such as “Sequor, Sequor” may turn part of the internet into their own demented echo chamber where rabid anti-Protestant hate is presented as a reasonable, indeed courageous, point of view. They may obsess and execrate over such topics as Protestant ministers, Protestant schools, or the Moderator of the Church of Scotland. They may delight in making up vile ditties about how Protestants must go back to Northern Ireland.
But ultimately these internet weirdos, these keyboard hardmen, are just sad and embittered losers – usually of the comically obese persuasion – who do not represent the decent Catholic majority in Scotland.
Equally I’m sure this culture of intimidation that Rangers suffered during its existence will not be extended to the new club, Sevco. (thumbsup)
Moonbeams
yes thats more like it- that would have been a game changer in terms of us moving to Holland:)
You were thinking of the World Club Cup I believe. Don’t be getting ahead of yourself;)
HH
Arsenal have told out-of-favour striker Park Chu-Young he must find a new club this summer – or face spending another season sat in the stands.
Swap deal and cash for Ki?