News this morning that Uefa president, Michel Platini told newspaper, Quest-France, that the governing body are considering dispensing with the Europa League and broadening the Champions League from 23 to 64 teams is far from welcome.
Celtic fans have grown to love the Champions League since our early exploits in the group stage in 2001 but while national TV market values continue to determine who has a chance of winning the tournament there will continue to be a need for a second competition.
10 years ago today Henrik Larsson scored the only goal of the game as Celtic beat Celta Vigo 1-0 in the Uefa Cup on their way to an away goals victory which ensured they were in European competition for the first Christmas since 1979. That was a huge tie for us and an unlikely victory, given 23 years of failure experienced without exception at that level.
The excitement rolled on, Stuttgart, Liverpool and Boavista were eliminated at Celtic reached the final in Seville but all this happened after we’d lost to Basel in the Champions League play-off round. I remember looking at the quarter finalists of the Champions League that year, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Milan, Inter, Valencia, Juventus, Barcelona and only Ajax from outside the then top three leagues in Europe, all of them tier-one clubs.
It’s difficult to imagine our progress in the Uefa Cup meaning any more to us if we had been Champions League but the other quarter finalists were Besiktas, Lazio, Boavista, Malaga, Liverpool, Porto and Panathinaikos. I was really glad Real Madrid & co were not in the same competition; we needed more mortal opponents to stand a chance. For me, it’s infinitely better to beat Boavista than lose to Milan.
Compare this scenario with the SPL, which currently have five teams within a point at the top, a truly magnificent competition. St Johnstone, in sixth place, could go clear at the top if they beat Hibs tonight and Celtic stumble at Tynecastle.
We are the only fly in the ointment. It doesn’t really matter how well Inverness or Motherwell prepare, Celtic have vastly more resources than all other challengers combined. For that reason and that reason only, they will win the league, probably by some margin as their stronger squad allows them to ease through the injuries and suspensions which will have a disproportionality sever effect on others.
CQN Annual – perfect Christmas present
I read some joyous tweets from an Inverness Caley supporters’ account last night, including, “This has to be one of the most exciting spl seasons yet! Very close and all to play for. Who needs Rangers?!”
Who needs Rangers? Certainly not Inverness Caley. I wonder if they realise they don’t need Celtic either. Together these two clubs have robbed Scottish football of what it has a wee taste of right now, genuine competition. Those running the game here are still concerned with squeezing more life out of the broken model instead of giving fans what you and I got a taste of 10 years ago tonight – a sporting chance to compete and win a tournament against a group of our peers.
It’s time to tell Celtic to stop talking and go find themselves another league to play in, they are not needed in Scotland.
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parkheadcumsalford- is the league not competitive this year?
Regular entertainment has been lacking because Celtic are not playing well on a regular basis, especially at home.
And as for playing in England- not going to happen, any time soon. They’ve just landed a huge TV deal.
Why not invite English clubs to play in our league?
And clubs from the land across the sea.
The Londoncentric set up in England displeases many.
If Celtic hadn’t gone and won The European Cup and did all the things they did in the Jock Stein era us Celts now wouldn’t be such a shower of malcontents.
And the buns’ coupins wouldn’t have been trippin them this last half century :-)
Ntassoolla
15:45 on
28 November, 2012
stevo states ”
15:11 on 28 November, 2012 –
Ntassoolla – that’s a maid you are thinking of ….”
I’d like to see you call your wife that :-)
——————————————————
HA HA – just NO!
goldstar …… you could be onto something there! Perhaps if we buy a ST for CP we should be forced to also buy a season ticket for the ground nearest our home address??
Watch the EPL with the sound off and you will see that it is not bad at all.
Watch the SPL with the sound off and you will see that it is not bad at all.
The difference? We are regularly told that the EPL is wonderful; the best League in the World. We are regularly told that the SPL is rubbish ; this is repeated wherever fans meet until they actually believe the spin.
An old saying applies here : People would die rather than think……and millions have.
JJ
Celtic will never be invited into the EPL – NEVER!
Totally agree with SoS.
Been saying the same thing myself for years.
HH!!
If Celtic had won every league game so far by DBBIA’s prescribed 5-0, we’d complain that it was too much of a dawdle and that it would be nice to have some competition.
That’s anhedonia in Caledonia for you.
General question :
Are we still to refrain from posting links to so called illicit sites showing games ?
I have found a site which allows me to view games on ESPN via very a good stream (a channel I refuse to pay extra for, on top of Sky Sports). However, the site in question also provides viewing of Sky Sports channels also.
Did someone mention French?
http://www.modculture.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/battleof4.jpg
Ntassoolla
Yes they do!
Andrew67
Not been on today and only read this page and saw people referring to your request for spares for tonight.
I only got one last night and made a few calls to see if I could get any extras, sadly to no avail mate.
Think Tynecastle is going to become the new Ibrox for us Tims.
Equipe pour ce soir:
A.Camus
M.Curie P.Curie C. de Gaulle S.Mahe
Joanne D’Arc S.Gainsbourg J.Birkin S.Bonnes
N.Bonaparte [cpt] E.Piaf
myboysnowatim
16:21 on
28 November, 2012
It’s not just that the blog is against the posting of such sites, it’s more that it is illegal and could land the host in bother, poster as well I think. So better not to post links.
Hamiltontim
Think Tynecastle is going to become the new Ibrox for us Tims.
___
Flats by Christmas
If Peter Green was French would he be known as Pierre Vert?
HH
HamiltonTim, so you expect a Tesco in Gorgie?
C1st -Anhedonia, word of the day.
The word was coined by Theodule-Armand Ribot, a French psychologist.
We’ll have to change the bhlog to Nouvelles du Celtic Rapide
greenmaestro/Doc
I’m glad that it’s a 7.30 KO.
Any later and I fear I may have a ticket for the frozen chicken aisle ;-)
Celtic first
I agree. Remember the last quarter of last season when the only excitement was, “Will the old Rangers hold onto second place.” This season is much more exciting. Too often dire football to watch but exciting nonetheless. Wait until we see the position after winter.
Does anyone know if Andrew 67 was able to source a spare ticket
If not one of the Bhoys on the bus has one and I can pass onsame at Tynecastle
Need to know in the next 10 mins
Doc,
Aye thought it was still a no no.
Pity as it contains the best streams Ive found so far without the annoying ads, chat at the side and that ‘iLivid’ irritation.
Cheers.
DBBIA
That renowned Italian defender Claudio Gentile modelled his game on the ‘agricultural’ style of ole Charlie de Gaulle.
A little known, if totally untrue, ‘fact’.
HH!!
Ta furra responses…..it’s always heartening to know I’m not just howling at masel’!
Even though I do that anyway. Ye know? Like wan ae thae random jakies at war wi’ the world and themsels’. I sorta understand where all that comes fae.
“Anger is an energy”….gets messy when it’s directed inwards.
HH!
COYBIG! the night agin the miniz. Got ZZTop windin’ me up.
: > )
Although his time with us was a little mixed, It’s good to see Tony Mowbray doing well with Middlesborough.
They are third in the Championship, still being helped along by the moaning marsupial.
Camus was a goalkeeper who said that everything he knew of philosophy he gained from playing football.
Totally true.
myboysnowatim
I know mate, but we don’t want the site in bother.
HT, enjoy the game, stay safe, no the friendliest of locals.
Mickybhoy
I’ve just text someone who knows him and he still needs a spare.
I could arrange to meet you and make arrangements to get the ticket to him?
Miki67
Pavarotti was a goalkeeper who said everything he knew of singing he gained from the Green Brigade.
Totally made up.
oh HT, watch oot for frostbite in the frozen isle!
It will always mystify me how TM got it so wrong managing The Bhoys. He’s a good manager and a Bhoy himsel’. Don’t quite get it. I, amongst thousands, thought he’d be stellar.
Unfortunately….well, we all saw what we saw. Too bad, Tony, you still hold a place in the hearts of Tims.
Sorry ticket Away
7.30 Kick off tonight Bhoys.
Doc
They have riot control measures in place outside the ground nowadays. Huge steel thingies that go from one side of the road to the other and that are of a sufficient height that neither set of supporters can even see each other!!!
Pretty safe these days most of the time….
stevo- A season ticket to watch Kirkie Rob Roy- that’s what I will be getting if there is any Sevco fast tracking jiggerypokery on the menu.
HH
Thanks winning captains.
Never been in the place but good to know what kind of place they are.
When I was a wee bhoy we used to scale the face of the building further along to steal doo’s eggs.
Sevco fans in Europe?
A Gendarme spots a hire car approaching the Champs Elysees
with a rear light out. He beckons the driver to pull over, which he
does and winds his window down. The Officer has a good look inside the
car and notices that the driver and passenger are conjoined twins,
Boaby and Davy.
Instead of making an issue over the rear light,
he begins to engage in some friendly chat.
Gendarme: Ah, you are on ‘oliday, my friends?
Davy: Aye, that’s right, big yin. We’ve been coming every September
weekend for the last 9 years.
Gendarme: So I guess you come to France to get away from ze rainy
weather you ‘ave in Ecosse?
Davy: Naw, it nearly always buckets doon when we come here. Your
weather’s nae better than oors, in’t that right Boaby?
Boaby: Aye.
Gendarme: Zen I take it you are ‘ere to enjoy our delicious French
food, very ‘ealthy.
Davy: Naw, yer food’s rotten big man, everything reeks of garlic.
We’ve brought a box of pieces to avoid eating your stuff.
Gendarme: Zen surely you must be ‘ere to drink our famous wines and cognac.
Davy: Yer swally’s boggin, we’ve hid tae bring a kerry oot. In’t that
right Boaby?
Boaby: Aye.
Gendarme (by now ever so slightly bemused): Well in that case you must
be ‘ere to see the Parisienne madamoiselles, ze most beautiful women
in in ze ‘ole of Europe.
Davy: Yer kiddin in’t ye! The burds here are dugs, ah widnae touch
them wae a barge pole, big yin.
Gendarme (by now rather irate): Zen why do you people come to our
country if everysing ees so bad?
Boaby: Well, it’s the only chance oor Davy gets tae drive!
doctor whatfor16:34 on 28 November, 2012
>>>>
If you said it was true I’d believe you…..well, not really, but I am pure as crystal, innocent and unflawed, gentle and unassuming, gullible and naive,just ask awe naw aw etc.,.
FullOfÎt CSC
DBBIA
Serge Gainsbourg .
Italian record company executive who gave the go ahead to Je T’aime being released in Italy was sacked following pressure from The Vatican .
His —Histoire de Melody Nelson is one of the woman from Padova’s favorite LPs – I hear it at least once a fortnight
Rab Douglas was a goalie who said that everything he knew about football he learned from layin’ bricks.
And havin’ watched ole Rab between the sticks for the ole Hoops I laid a few masel.