It’s all about Pot 3

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Celtic have a strategic problem.  The great Neil Lennon European campaign of 2019 is slipping from our coefficient status, and we have done little of note since.  Neil’s team are the only Celtic side to win a European group, finishing above Lazio, Rennes and Cluj.  Four wins, a draw and defeat in a dead rubber in Romania required some breathtaking performances.

If we are to continue at the Continent’s top table, we need to get back to winning games in Europe.  This is remarkably difficult in the Champions League, although Neil and Gordon Strachan had a formula.  Thier teams defended, played to their strengths and gave us some of the most memorable Celtic games in the last 50 years.

Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou changed all that.  Pragmatism was sacrificed for purity as record heavy defeats arrived in droves.  It remains to be seen what learning has been achieved.

The threats and opportunities within this afternoon’s pots are not evenly distributed.  We could get Manchester City or Feyenoord from Pot 1, Inter or Porto from Pot 2, Milan or Red Star from Pot 3.  There are five current or previous European Champions in Pots 1 and 2, three in Pot 3 and we are the only one in Pot 4.  Liverpool, Juventus and Ajax didn’t make the cut.

If it’s Feyenoord and Porto, fair enough, let’s see what we can do, but for me, the draw is all about Pot 3.  That is where we are most likely to find a team with comparable resources and challenges, and therefore collect some points.

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403 Comments

  1. if I was a player with the ability of McGinn or Toney I would not be asking any prospective Celtic manager how much game time I would be getting if I signed, I would be telling him I’ll be playing every week….

     

    “Don’t worry about that”

  2. Possibly we should credit Celtic for not signing Tonev.

     

     

    Possibly we detected something in our background checks that deemed the player unsuitable.

     

     

    No matter, events have proven our decision correct znd we should all be relieved.

     

     

    HH.

  3. HAIRLIKESPAGHETTI @ 7:52 AM,

     

     

    Thank you for commenting on my posts but please read them

     

     

    I didn’t mention anything about a 50 mn budget

     

     

    My comment on our current Chairman, ex CEO’s 2.3 mn bonus related directly to the discussion

     

     

    CELTIC40ME stated

     

     

    We won two trebles the two seasons after McGinn signed for Villa. I think history might not look on that mistake quite as harshly as you do.

     

     

    That 2018 summer transfer window, we failed to strengthen the squad and sold 30 mn in players.

     

     

    The CEO got that bonus based on his KPI’s that must have included the money we made, we then went on to crash and burn during Lenny’s second coming

     

     

    For me this is totally wrong, the Executive should be rewarded on getting the best team on the park, not how much profit they can gain from player sales

     

     

    My understanding is that this has changed now.

     

     

    Yet we are still to see the executive tasked with supporting the manager to recruit the best players available, as this window has shown.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  4. MANCHESTER CITY have completed the signing of Celtic Academy prospect Josh Adam. The 16-year-old was stalling on his decision to sign a pro contract with Celtic meaning that City were able to swoop in and take him to Manchester for a minimal cross-border compensation fee.

     

     

     

    Happy to finally announce that I have signed with @mancity can’t wait for the new season 🔵⚪️#sharkteam🦈

     

     

    A post shared by 🔟🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@joshadam10) on Sep 20, 2020 at 11:02am PDT

     

     

    The departure of Adam is another blow to Celtic following Liam Morrison’s move to Germany as it would mean another talented youngster lost. Adam confirmed the move to City on Instagram.

  5. Bhoy From The Boyne on

    For Poundland. I would play a back 4 of:

     

     

    Hart

     

     

    Johnston Philips Lagerbielke Scales (lb)

     

     

    Iwata Calmac

     

     

    Abada O’Reilly Yang

     

     

    Kyogo

  6. Scullybhoy

     

    Without giving too much away, I was recently on the premises of a professional club and heard a conversation about a young prospect. “ The laddie is fine but the parents can smell the money”. Lots of factors at play in the life of a 16 year old.

  7. theBHOYfromU.N.C.L.E on

    Old news regarding Josh Adam ………A post shared by 🔟🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@joshadam10) on Sep 20, 2020 at 11:02am PDT

     

     

    What is his status now ?

  8. Dexter P. Bampot on

    Incredible that the lovely 120 Year Commemorative shirt is now in sale whilst the home kit is such a monstrosity. What an og

  9. Scottish “football” has been on a downward spiral for many years, imo, since Hearts lost the league to Albert Kidd’s heroics. Hearts had replaced skill and technical ability with non-stop running and the getting tore into them nonsense that most other clubs have copied.

     

     

    It hasn’t helped that we are next door to the richest leagues in football.

     

     

    Scotland must be one of the last places skillful players want to ply their trade.

     

     

    Our own talented players will only improve if they play regularly against other quality players.

  10. What use is world class youth training and development facilities if we get low quality results?

  11. Bhoy From The Boyne on 1st September 2023 8:46 am

     

     

    For Poundland. I would play a back 4 of:

     

     

    Hart

     

    Johnston Philips Lagerbielke Scales (lb)

     

    Iwata Calmac

     

    Abada O’Reilly Yang

     

    Kyogo

     

     

    ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

     

     

    Interesting. My two changes would be Greg for Liam, as I think Liam is too slow. Daizen for Yang as they will throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at us in the first 10 minutes, and Daizen’s energy will be vital to see us through that period.

     

     

    Hyun-jun will be an excellent sub later as the hammer throwers get tired.

     

     

     

    HH

  12. theBHOYfromU.N.C.L.E on 1st September 2023 8:56 am

     

     

    :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

     

     

    I take your point, but he is now only 19 and like we never got to see if what Man City saw was true. Would Ben Doak be in our first team, of course he would.

     

     

    I totally agree with –

     

    Parkheadcumsalford on 1st September 2023 9:00 am

     

     

    Scottish “football” has been on a downward spiral for many years, imo, since Hearts lost the league to Albert Kidd’s heroics. Hearts had replaced skill and technical ability with non-stop running and the getting tore into them nonsense that most other clubs have copied.

     

     

    It hasn’t helped that we are next door to the richest leagues in football.

     

     

    Scotland must be one of the last places skillful players want to ply their trade.

     

     

    Our own talented players will only improve if they play regularly against other quality players.

  13. scullybhoy

     

     

    Is that the same Liam Morrison now on loan to Wigan, a good move with wee Shaun in charge down at the pier? Or how about Barry Hepburn, who also left for Bayern Munich and now on loan at Queen’s Park? Not a bad decision either,( worked out for Andy Robertson after being rejected at Parkhead), and hopefully will also work out him. Hope too Ben McPherson does not lament his own loan move to the Spiders.

     

    As for Ben Doak, well he is making some progress at Anfield, but dont forget Ange had already given him some game time and he might have done better staying at Celtic. Will never know on that one, and as with Aaron Hickey et al, there does not always seem to be a pathway to the first team at Celtic via our own Academy.

  14. spikeysauldman on 1st September 2023 7:44 am

     

     

    I don’t think we should have sold him mate. But I’ve no doubt that under our current model, he would have been sold with at least two maybe three years left on his contract.

     

     

    I don’t unconditionally support the idea of asset management. Yes we’re a business but we’re not running run buying tesco jerseys for our kids. We stand for more and players should sometimes be kept to give the next generation their heroes.

  15. markiebhoy on 1st September 2023 8:51 am

     

     

    ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

     

     

    Totally agree, but some might also want to play in a competitive arena where they can see themselves developing their skills. Much as I enjoyed the defeats of Sevco and the mini huns, the state of Scottish football is tragic and surely grassroots development is where you start?

     

     

    Anyway, too much time on my hands this morning. Time to put the adult diaper on and face the day.

     

    https://www.nru.co.uk/disposable-nappies

     

     

    HH

  16. dexter/bognorbhoy

     

     

    Now that is more like it, get the Bhoys wearing it for our Champions League home games.

     

    As for the new strip, I’ve said before on here before, makes it look like we are sponsoring Adidas and not the other way round.

  17. AN DÚN on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2023 6:29 AM

     

    As things stand, Celtic are not close to securing a LB.

     

     

    AN DUN, was out with some fellow Tims yesterday, one connected down south suggested we are looking at Leif Davis from Ipswich Town. Fits our profile – good age (23), height (6′), games played (c.60).

     

     

    Don’t shoot the messenger.

     

     

    Ave Ave

  18. Celtic40me,

     

     

    From last night. All good my side.

     

     

    Still think you’re wrong though :)

     

     

    HH

  19. Everything Celtic

     

    @aboutceltic

     

    ·

     

    11m

     

    🇲🇪 | 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙃𝙖𝙠𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙘 – 𝙋𝘼𝙊𝙆

     

     

    Greek side PAOK have made an offer of £1.7M to Celtic for Sead Haksabanovic.

     

     

    This would recoup the entire fee Celtic paid for the Montenegro international & the Greek window has ten days left to run.

  20. Gene,

     

     

    A land of overflowing milk and honey that has a bloody cheek to criticise the Saudis.

     

     

    Saying that, Palmer is a terrific player, lost in the best squad in the world.

     

     

    HH

  21. Think Celtic will go with Yang and Palma wide initially, kyogo centrally, Palma is fit and was playing for his old club, we can bring Maeda and Abada on later when they will be shattered still would play 4 5 1 we have pace to get forward, central 3 of Calmac Iwata and O riley, dont lose the midfield and we will be fine.

  22. All we are saying…..

     

     

    Please give us a………Keeper, Left back, proper midfielder and a forward……

     

     

    Pitchforks at the ready

     

     

    HH

  23. DESSYBHOY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2023 10:36 AM

     

    Think Celtic will go with Yang and Palma wide initially, kyogo centrally, Palma is fit and was playing for his old club, we can bring Maeda and Abada on later when they will be shattered still would play 4 5 1 we have pace to get forward, central 3 of Calmac Iwata and O riley, dont lose the midfield and we will be fine.

     

    ————————–

     

    Unless Yang and Palma are tearing it up in training, I can’t see BR starting them.

     

     

    He’ll likely go with tried and tested ie Maeda and Abada.

  24. No rumours of any more players ….if Haksa goes surely that palma would be his replacement and we’d still be after a jota replacement?!!…….and I’ve had the prayer mat out again hoping paulo has PACE and can’t be easily shoved off the ball !!….too much to hope for ?!