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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I’d like
Sevilla ( a knock out team)
Porto (to paste them)
Copenhagen (boring low scoring team)
PS Scotland being no 10 in the rankings is really good for a 5m population; plenty bigger countries behind us. Pound for pound, Belgium probably more impressive (Portugal have the Brazil visa thing which really should be illegal)
Reflects the huge financial support for local football in Scotland from fans
If I recall correctly, Reo said he would discuss a contract extension after 31st depending on what happened in the interim? So will he still be with us tomorrow or will he get a move to EPL . . . No rumours of a bid yet.
Have we signed any power and strength yet?
Lol. Bourne love it.
Reo has no suitors, no one has bid for him at all. He has said he wants to play at higher level,the rest is media noise.
He will get fit and kick on with a new deal and pay rise with Abada and take it from there.
He’s on buttons just now for his ability. I guess, all the Asian players are on poor money.
KLV
Great to Oh and Kobe fit and training again. Oh will get some minutes on Sunday.
KLV
Saint Stivs on 31st August 2023 1:53 pm
ta scullybhoy that was an interesting time filling wee read, fair to say Colraine have “mixed” players ? no sectarian baggage there ?
are there any other celtic connections to them ?
That team group from 74, it is like the Prison team from Porridge the movie.
I want that goalkeeper. Height, power, physicality and a head band.
https://colerainefc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/pic17.jpg
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Current manager is Oran Kearney as in ex-St. Mirren manager. He is the son-in-law of former Derry City manager Kenny Shiels, and brother-in-law of Dean Shiels who is the former manager of Dungannon Swifts.
Speculate to Accumulate !
Albian Ajeti!
T
Shine on Brendan 12/1 ,8/15 Newcastle ,
Tobago street
You need to kiss a lot of frogs …….
Whoever we get we need to start winning at home against decent teams. We’re due a shock victory against a big team but we need to start scoring against any cl opposition if we’re to see any signs of progress.
saint stivs
From a couple of days back.
Had another look at the Italian Connection.
The map (showing Italian family residences) you linked to did not actually exist in the 1930s, but was created for an exhibition ‘Family Portrait; The Scots-Italians 1890-1940’ at the the National records of Scotland, (December 2015-January 2016). The names and addresses were based on the Scottish entries of the 1936 edition; ‘Guida Generale Degli Italiani in Gran Bretagna’, compiled by the Italian Consulate.
The map itself was created by the Nat Records and Nat Library of Scotland, and Dr. Carlo Pirozzi (St Andrews Univ) for the exhibit using various maps from the 1920s and 1930s, Ordinance Survey/Bartholomews etc of that time period.
So, nothing sinister about it, and in this case, Scotland not guilty. Or at least not provan.
good information celtic mac ta for sharing that.
is business finished for the day?
Heavy hints that we were expecting multiple bits of business today, but I’m not detecting anything just now to suggest any more is likely?
oh, I’ve been on the site since 2005 and read it every day. Just a very infrequent poster
BASHI-BAZOUKS – Nat Phillips from Liverpool is expected to sign today until January. Benfica midfielder Bernardo close to joining as well, reportedly . . .
Good afternoon all from the Georgic.
12 midday for a few beers tomorrow at the Shipbank. No riff raff please. Ffs I’ll be there masel. 🙄
If we get £1m for Ajeti it will be the steal of the century.
I really can’t believe we are getting anything.
HH.
GREENPINATA on 31ST AUGUST 2023 2:5
Regrdless fella, let’s stop for a moment, and celebrate Turkey.
They are willing to take both our worst players and our worst fans.
:)
HH
Greenpinata
More likely we gave £1m as a sweetner 🤔
Pot 1
Manchester City (ENG, Champions League holders)
Sevilla (ESP, Europa League holders)
Barcelona (ESP)
Napoli (ITA)
Bayern München (GER)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Benfica (POR)
Feyenoord (NED)
Pot 2
Real Madrid (ESP)
Manchester United (ENG)
Inter (ITA)
Dortmund (GER)
Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Leipzig (GER)
Porto (POR)
Arsenal (ENG)
Pot 3
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Salzburg (AUT)
Milan (ITA)
Braga (POR)
PSV (NED)
Lazio (ITA)
Crvena zvezda (SRB)
Copenhagen (DEN)
Pot 4
Young Boys (SUI)
Real Sociedad (ESP)
Galatasaray (TUR)
Celtic (SCO)
Newcastle (ENG)
Union Berlin (GER)
Antwerp (BEL)
Lens (FRA)
BASHI-BAZOUKS
I was reading CQN from the early days, after my son had mentioned it to me.
I read Paul67’s thoughts each day.
The layout was a different design from what we now have.
After a week or so, he mentioned something that he had read on CQN, that I wasn’t aware of.
The following exchange took place 👇
“I didn’t see that, was it in a second article?
“No , It was in the comments!
” it has comments !! how do you see the comments?
” you click COMMENTS ”
Son walks away shaking his head…😀
Some days the comments numbered 20 or 30… as it grew, it took more and more of my time at work.
I’m sure my colleagues thought 8 was the most diligent worker in the office..😀
The Onlooker
Which clubs are paired in the Champions League draw?
To ensure that paired clubs from the same country play on separate days, the eight groups will be distinguished by colour: Groups A to D will be red and Groups E to H will be blue. When a paired club is drawn, for example, in one of the red groups (A, B, C or D), the other paired club – once it has been drawn – will automatically be assigned to one of the four blue groups (E, F, G or H). The pairings are as follows:
A Manchester City & Manchester United
B Sevilla & Atlético
C Barcelona & Real Madrid
D Napoli & Lazio
E Bayern & Dortmund
F Paris & Lens
G Benfica & Porto
H Feyenoord & PSV
I Inter & AC Milan
J Leipzig & Union Berlin
K Arsenal & Newcastle
thanks everyone for comments
THE ONLOOKER on 31ST AUGUST 2023 3:03 PM
oh, I know the feeling. I also remember in the first few years the regular occurrence of the blog going down if there were a urge in posts due to a big game or event e.g. Helicopter thursday took the blog off for 2 days
BASHI-BAZOUKS on 31ST AUGUST 2023 3:13 PM
THE ONLOOKER on 31ST AUGUST 2023 3:03 PM
oh, I know the feeling. I also remember in the first few years the regular occurrence of the blog going down if there were a urge in posts due to a big game or event e.g. Helicopter thursday took the blog off for 2 days
*what’s this helicopter Thursday you talk about only huns talk of helicopters, military and all, it was Tommy Buns Thursday, must admit sitting at my desk in a secluded office my eyes filled up that afternoon, oh and we called it Black sundae no heli one ok.
Allegedly we got £500k for Ajeti
TONTINE TIM on 31ST AUGUST 2023 3:35 PM
mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!
I won’t do it again – honest
Barring no medical hitches, i would imagine Celtic announcing the Phillips deal once the CL draw has been made.
SAINT STIVS on 31ST AUGUST 2023 3:01 PM
These days because of how the coefficients work if you’re in pots 3 or 4 you’re getting 2 teams from the big 4 leagues.
WGS had one in 2006/7 and 2007/8 and qualified, he had two in 2008/9 and didnt.
We were in pot 2 in 2006/7 but our coefficient that year wouldnt get us anywhere near it this season.
Even if we bump up our coefficient and make it into pot 3 it will make hardly any difference to our chances of progression.
All the money we spend, all the strategic planning and argument about transfer windows is all about whether we finish 3rd or 4th.
Does anyone know if Phillips has played any football in recent weeks? Assume he will be short of match fitness and not likely to play on Sunday.
12.08
Madra Rua
Benfica and Braga can’t be drawn in the same group .
They are both from Portugal.
TT
I don’t think we’ll see any new signings on Sunday. It’s going to be a very difficult game because of the climate we will be in, and it’s not the kind of introduction Brendan will want to give to our new players. The whole thing with no opposing fans is an embarrassment for Scotland.
Not sure why I quoted SAINT STIVS there
BASHI-BAZOUKS
Welcome!
MNCELT on 31ST AUGUST 2023 3:49 PM
I don’t think we’ll see any new signings on Sunday. It’s going to be a very difficult game because of the climate we will be in, and it’s not the kind of introduction Brendan will want to give to our new players. The whole thing with no opposing fans is an embarrassment for Scotland.
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Alistair Johnston disagrees with this message.
I think he will. Philips, Palma & Bernardo for me.
Scales, Maeda & Turnbull sit it out. 3 woefully out of sorts players at the moment.
Would feel better if we pulled a LB & GK out in the next 24 hours but looking unlikely.
HH
St Stivs
why are Celtic not paired with anyone?
BASHI-BAZOUKS on 31ST AUGUST 2023 3:37 PM
TONTINE TIM on 31ST AUGUST 2023 3:35 PM
mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!
I won’t do it again – honest
*Oh a former latin altar boy just like myself “Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatæ Mariæ semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, etc”
A lot of glum, brainless huns in here today. Their default character I suppose. Played the goals from last night on my phone. Went down a treat. 😂😂
Apparently, Nat Phillips is going out with Liam Gallagher’s daughter.