Celtic were not the only seeds to get a bloody nose in this week’s Champions League play-off round first leg games. Lyon and Real Sociedad looked well matched before the game but Lyon’s 0-2 home defeat suggests the seeds were outclassed.
Austria Vienna were the team I wanted this round but despite indifferent domestic form they upset the odds and beat Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 in Croatia. Perhaps the biggest surprise was Schalke’s 1-1 home draw with Poak Salonika.
Our defeat was, apparently, an historic sporting occasion for a country who are only a decade or so into their relationship with the game. Kazak prime minister, Serik Akhmetov, went into the home dressing room after the game on Tuesday to congratulate Shakhter and bask in the fruits of his sports development policies, but I hear there is trepidation ahead of their trip to Glasgow.
Top Russian TV analyst, Vasily Utkin, predicted, “Celtic will solve all the problems before second game, they will learn what mistakes they did in Astana and they will show their real power. If this happens I’m pretty sure Celtic will go through.
“In the previous round Shakhter beat Albanian champions Skenderbeu 3-0 but in Albania they were down 3-0. They are the team whose emotions are very important. If Celtic start the game well at Celtic Park, with all their songs from the stands and support given by their fans, the players from Karaganda may start the game on their knees.
“Their only chance will be on the counter attack. Whether this will be productive is the question for Celtic. A goal for Shakhter would complicate Celtic’s situation.
“I see Celtic reaching the Champions League group games. They are Champions League quality. Whatever Shakhter will do they are not Champions League quality, at least not yet.”
“This… is a question for Celtic” is the key phrase. Champions League qualification is in our own hands. Beat Shakhter Karagandy by more than 2-0 at home is as good an offer as anyone will get to qualify for the Champions League.
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Barcabhoy At 02:06
I don’t think there is a thinking Tim alive who wants the Club to mirror the signing policy, or business model, of Rangers (deceased). I don’t think there is a thinking Tim alive who needs to be reminded about the consequences of not playing fair with the Clubs income. Boards too, I’m sure, are well aware of the consequences of misleading their Supporters, sure, it wasn’t too long ago Celtic themselves went through their own wee drama.
However, as is evidenced on here, more and more Tims, nore and more often, are beginning to be more and more vocal in their disparagement of the signing policy adopted by Celtic. In the pond that Celtic trawl they are well aware they are not the only ones who embrace the policy of buy low sell high.
In the last 5 years the following players were brought in:
Robbie Keane
Edson Braafheid
Sung-Yong Ki
Jos Hooiveld
Thomas Rogne
Diomansy Kamara
Josh Thompson
Zhi Zheng
Landry N’Guemo
Marc-Antoine Fortuné
Danny Fox
Lukasz Zaluska
…………………………………………………..Neil Lennon takes over
Kris Commons
Fredrik Ljungberg
Olivier Kapo
Anthony Stokes
Fraser Forster
Emilio Izaguirre
Daniel Majstorovic
Daryl Murphy
Joe Ledley
Gary Hooper
Efraín Juárez
Biram Kayal
Charlie Mulgrew
Du-Ri Cha
Pawel Brozek
Mikael Lustig
Ibrahim Rabiu
Andre Blackman
Mohamed Bangura
Badr El Kaddouri *
Victor Wanyama
Adam Matthews
Kelvin Wilson
Jos Hooiveld
Duncan
Viktor Noring
Tom Rogic
Rami Gershon
Lassad Nouioui
Lubos Kamenar
Miku
Efe Ambrose
Derk Boerrigter
Steven Mouyokolo
Virgil van Dijk
Amido Baldé
You said in your post that some of the board’s decisions seem to defy logic and then attach the excusing caveat that we are not aware of all the facts. True, with the caveat that we are not aware of all the facts because the board does not trust us with them. Corporate silence leaves the Supporters to indulge conjecture and conclude with prejudice; whether in favour or not, as is their prerogative, with corporate history the foundation of their conclusions.
Auldheid recently alluded that the board is averse to communicating with the Supporters lest the Supporters latterly use the board’s communications against them. I don’t think any thinking Tim would use their words against them as long as transparent and honest endeavour was applied in making their communications manifest. If, however, time proved their words to be fanciful at best and deceitfully pacifying at worst, then the Supporters have every right to shed their faithful through and through tee-shirts and engage brain and memory and rage and remind the board of promises made.
With quick asides to Mo Bangura, only God knows if his presence in a Celtic strip would have made any difference to the result against Shakhter Karagandy. After his recent performances against us, I don’t think we would have been any the worse off had he played; but again, only God could confirm that.
Getting back to Celtic’s transfer policy, I’ve yet to see anybody yet advocate spending 5 million on one player. But what is so wrong in spending 5 million on a striker if he scores the goals. The goals will bring the Club reciprocal glory and coin. All that most Supporters of Celtic want to see is Celtic plugging the gaps in the squad with a wee bit of quality and being proactive in doing so, so as not to be seen, and reported, rushing around like a bull of a headless chicken in a china shop on the last day of the window. Most supporters just want to see Celtic sign a striker who is worthy of a first team place (preferably before next Wednesday); what is knee-jerk about that? They just want to see a team that they can be proud of. The vast majority of them are grown up enough to handle defeat and our limitations too.
Have you had a wee peak at our first team squad of late, I wouldn’t call it threadbare but it is getting a wee bitty shiny in the embarrassing vernacular.
Just think what a couple of injuries, coupled with a suspension or two, would do to the team that would take the hopes of the legions onto the field unless that squad gets beefed up.
You say the strategy is working, I look at the above list and if that is the result of the strategy working then maybe instead of another striker Celtic might be better rewarded by investing in a second scatter-gun.
You say the club has earned the right to be trusted yet not so long ago I remember you tearing into Celtic and Peter Lawwell over our sponsorship deals. What has changed since then?
I’d love to trust those in office at the Club but at the top of a long list of questions I would first like to ask three:
• Why was Campbell Ogilvie re-elected in the manner in which he was?
• Why doesn’t the Club have a recognized striker on our books when at the end of last season we had four, bearing in mind, as a Club we are now looking down the barrel of Champions League elimination? (Corporate Prudence)
• How does the Club define Celtic FC ambition?
I love Celtic, it is a bigger part of my life than perhaps itt should be; hence… sometimes I get a wee bit het up, but I don’t trust the Club’s office holders just for the sake of it.
Do the club give a toss what I think, why would they? Why should they?
Glad the GB are in their rightful place, we will need them in the week ahead.
Anymore rumours about Ki?
Nothing like this will happen, but the SFA should have McCoist up at Hampden as soon as Monday, reason I say that is if it was a ginger headed guy I know over at the east end of Glasgow who would make that statement even off camera his arse would be at the 6 floor at our national stadium at 10.am this coming Monday, and the SMSM would be all over him saying, “he brings it on himself” shamefully ignoring this sleekit little warf rat only encourages others, wait for Fatsos pals to back him up, aweeee c’mon it’s Ally, you how he Caries on he just a cheekiness chappy, AYE RIGHT,
A Stor Mo Chroi
10:35 on 23 August, 2013
Barcabhoy At 02:06
………………………………………
Well said. The love of our club shines through that piece.
A Stor Mo Chroi
You just about said it all.
Recongratulations to the club and the GB for getting things sorted
Barcabhoy
02:06 on 23 August, 2013,
A truly excellent post and one which sums up my own feelings entirely.
I’m very happy with the way our Football Club is being run at the moment. Very happy.
Sure, we need a prolific striker and some creativity in midfield but the players we crave to fill these voids aren’t gonna come to Scotland.
Wages, competition and, dare I say, our climate are all factors that hinder our ability to bring in established, quality players. The prospect of playing in the Champions League is a carrot that we can dangle in front of prospective signings but even that only holds so much sway.
We are consigned to searching for and purchasing ‘diamonds in the rough’ types who we can mould into better players and sell-on for a big profit as we did with Vic & Gary.
That won’t please a lot of folk but that’s where we are. Spending millions of pounds doesn’t guarantee anything. Have a look across the city for proof of that.
I’m certainly not saying we shouldn’t spend, just that we shouldn’t spend until we find a player and a deal that both the management and the Board are happy with. I don’t believe for one second that we are not continuously assessing the market to bring in players to enhance the squad.
As I’ve said, we do need a few fresh faces and I believe we’ll get them. Hopefully, when/if we do get them, they’ll improve our wonderful Football Club.
My formative years were spent watching Celtic throughout the 90’s. It wasn’t pretty and the Club was a mess both on the park and off it. That’s why I’m thankful of how our Club is being run today.
Support the team bhoys. That’s what we are best at. We all know being a Celtic supporter is an emotional rollercoaster. We are gonna have some low points in the future, of that there is no doubt.
It just makes the good times all the sweeter!
Hail Hail.
Uncle Fester
Well said uncle fester and Barca, I totally agree, god bless the board, Pl,NFL, and the staff, and Celtic Players a result tomorrow against Big Bawheed Tell will make it a lovely weekend.
A Stor…,
Two things,
I’d like us to sign a £5M player, even if he turned out to be a dud, I’d be disappointed but pleased with the board for showing a bit of ambition.
I believe when we have all the players fit and available for whatever reason we are weakest, it seems when we are forced to fill gaps due to injury and suspension we play much better. I think the results bare that out all the way back to WGS
Now that the threat of closure of Section 111 has been removed for the present, why doesn’t be more proactive and request permission from the police & council to open a safe standing area? Use Section 111 to trial it and if successful, and the demand is there, extend across to Sections 112, 113 etc.
Germany is, rightly, held up as the model for modern football stadium in terms of pricing and atmosphere. Safe standing areas are in almost all stadiums and its from there that the atmosphere is generated.
Tom McLaughlin – All the very best with the procedure you are about to go through.
I hope the Bhoys start gelling now that they have had a wake up call. Looking forward to seeing Derk and Virgil getting most of the game tomorrow.
I hope Beram plays and shines because last week I seen the olde Beram, A mind that was as sharp as a tack.
canamalar:
I saw how well our ‘reserves’ played against Real Madrid and Benfica in the States and Liverpool in Dublin, and yet how little opportunity do they get to shine in the domestic game, even the poxy league cup for Gods sake.
One thing that has got me puzzled just a wee bit, Amido Balde/Tony Watt?
No statement yet from the SFA? A football manager claims to know about “hundreds” of players and officials breaking the rules and they do nothing?
Either the failed quiz show captain should give his names to the governing body immediately or he should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
Kayal…,
What about the poor buggers behind section 111, safe standing area will cost a few bob, the steps are a bit high so barriers and kick boards are likely needed.
Also if you look at the German model you’ll notice the crowd ratio is the same so it’s no like you could squeeze more in to cover the costs of alterations, also I would not like to cover the costs of alterations in an increase on all season ticket prices just because some bugger doesn’t want to sit on their arse. So the cost should be bourne by those who want to stand.
With that in mind can you see anyone wanting to pay more to stand ?
I have seen this forum used as a platform for a number of issues but last night…..a bereavement forum for deid dugs…….that really takes the Bonio
Fully expecting to come on tonight and see links posted to Greyfriars Boaby, Lassie and Michael Jacksons rendition of Ben
JUncle Fester @ 10;47,
This may sound rather trite but it’s not meant to be…
Over the last 40years we have just about always had free scoring Strikers, why with the Club in an excellent Financial positiom we cannot secure one?
I accept totally and have argued vigourously, the Boards prudence is vital.
But so is the Team.
A Stor Mo Chroi @ 10;35 – Excellent post.
Hail Hail
A Stor…,
James Forrest
Barcabhoy
A Stor Mo Chroi
Uncle Fester
All great construciive posts, I’m with ASMC on this one.
The board view us as customers, they don’t value our opinion, we need a forum to express that and for them to justify their actions or their lack of.
Glad the GB are sorted, atmosphere is stagnant without them.
Will be even worse with people on wi-fi and not watching the game.
canamalar prays Oscar can do it again
0948
Thanks for the thoughts ….so true the memories will linger for ever.
Northbhoy..,
I’m actually really surprised you’ve no had much response and many more people offering their condolences, unless they were offered previously.
Take care
Hail Hail
I read a post on here recently that Celtic had an application for a standing area refused by the council a few months ago. don’t know if there’s any truth in it
Northboy.
I’ll light a candle sunday in memory of your father..
.
MickyBoy1888..
You any Rabbits Mate..?
Summa of PlayBhoyBunniesCSC
Anyone whom thinks the present board don’t act in Celtic’s best interests at all times clearly doesn’t have a grasp on reality. every penny generated is reinvested in the club. you cant ask more than that.
Wouldn’t surprise me if the GB where on probation, and been told the safety rules once more, so time will tell how this will pan out, going on past experience I don’t see them doing the safety thing to well, hopefully I am wrong, and if I am I will only be to glad to say so, was going to keep my powder dry but! The GB lovers going to be all over me whether I kept dry or not, may as well get hung for a sheep as a lamb, as we are already getting the ….”I wonder if Celtic backed down ” theory, so I will fight in the boards corner, as I do most times, fill yer boots.
foxy,
Are dividend payments invested in the club ?
PedantsareusCSC
.
BlantyreTim..
How is that Wee Niggle on Your Knee..?
..;-)))))
Summa
Ps..Only Kiddin..;-(
Summa.
Getting there mate.
Working from home for last couple of weeks and next week before venturing back on public transport..
Wee scratch but clearing up..
SoS
Ryan tells me he’s down your way next week, staying near or at St Kilda’s.
Pack yir bags CSC
:¬)
Hypothetical i know but
Would anyone here refuse a move to the EPL if it meant Celtic had to comply with legislation regarding compulsory all seated stadia in that league
summa of sammi….
11:15 on 23 August, 2013
Maybe I have the rampant variety bouncing about somewhere
M1888
We have no chance of getting there so no point.
If we are lucky we will be in 1st div or championship if really lucky.
Vmhan..,
You had your season ticket returned yet ?
:o)
vmhan:
I had a wee package I sent to you returned. Only found out yesterday. SMB is over here next week so I’ll just hand it to him in person and he can pass it on to you.
Chairbhoy @ 11.05,
A totally valid point and unfortunately one I cannot answer.
Most of my Celtic heroes were / are goalscoring strikers. We are crying out for one just now and it irks me that we don’t have one.
However, I am totally confident that the Club are doing all they can to find one. I don’t think it’s as easy as saying we should just go and spend £5-7m on a top striker.
Proven, established, qualtiy players don’t want to play in Scotland for a variety of reasons as I touched on in my previous post.
I thought Barcabhoy hit the nail right on the head when he stated that ‘£5m players don’t want to join us, they want to leave us’.
That’s a tough one to swallow but it’s true. These guys wanna play in England (even at Championship level), Germany, Spain, France, etc……..
Uncle Fester
canamalar prays Oscar can do it again
11:04 on
23 August, 2013
*************
I’d pay more to stand!
Through the winter its bliddy freezing sitting on your hands, in 111 its roasting hot with all the free aerobic stuff going on :¬)
Seriously I hate sitting, 7hrs on the bus or car than sitting down watching a footie match, its just naw right!
V
I was told the degree of elevation and construction of the stadium means a standing area is not possible with the currently engineered options out there. I remember there was a demo and a wee section installed for photos but it clearly didn’t ‘fit’.
You need to be able to put the seats back for European games, these convertible terraces in Germany were designed for that purpose, ours was designed to be all seater. The companies selling ‘bolt ons’ have yet to satisfactorily come up with one for Celtic Park, it’s an engineering issue. So I’m told.
I believe it may be possible to have a standing enclosure! I’m sure PL will love sitting behind the GB :-)
A Stor Mo Chroi,
I enjoyed reading Barcabhoys post last night.
An excellent post today, ASMC.
U2 – One