Real Betis are home to Bayer Leverkusen tonight, both having six points from two games in the Europa League group also containing Celtic and Ferencvaros. If we can all agree that Leverkusen occupy a universe far beyond Celtic right now, catching Betis is the only realistic prospect Celtic have of qualifying for the knock out stage.
That 4-3 defeat in Seville still rankles; we played very well and deserved to go two goals ahead, before a familiar crumble. A point, or more, was possible. So too is a win against Betis in Glasgow, although other results are also a realistic outcome.
If Leverkusen win tonight and Celtic can beat Ferencvaros in Budapest, second place in the group could come down to what we can do against Betis in Glasgow. Of course, there is a case to be made that third place and the Europa Conference, is a better prospect that facing a Champions League dropout team in the first Europa knock out. It is also a lot more likely.
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Afternoon.
Hola
Test For Echo
Oops I’ve done it again.
Who’s my saviour and transfer my last post on previous
onto here please.
Ta much.
H.H. Mick
I’m leaning towards giving a good account of ourselves in the remaining games and getting a crack at the conference after Christmas.
Successfully negotiating a couple of rounds in the conference will bring the team on and earn us more money than a last 32 exit in the Europa.
Budapest is key though. Going there and getting at least a point will seem a significant marker in our development.
MELBOURNE MICK on 21ST OCTOBER 2021 12:05 PM
Hello again all you young rebels.
From a beautiful warm evening in a soon to be opening
up Melbourne, yes at midnight it’s Willie Wallace day
it’s “ Freedom “ .
After almost three months the exitement is palpable here
with pubs, restaurants, all opening a minute after twelve.
Each and everyone all fully booked and most now with outside
Seating areas as the roads and lanes all shut off to traffic.
Our CSC president PADDYMACOZ already organising a Christmas
party at the rebel town beach park, oh my daze, phew I’m
getting overcome with emulsion. 🥳🍺🥃🍷🍾🍸🍼
H.H. Mick
You paint a great picture mick 😜😜
Thank you so much BOGNORBHOY.
That would have taken me another hour to type that.
Counting the minutes now to midnight and “ AFF OOT “
H.H. Mick
AN DUN
I’m leaning towards giving a good account of ourselves in the remaining games and getting a crack at the conference after Christmas.
Successfully negotiating a couple of rounds in the conference will bring the team on and earn us more money than a last 32 exit in the Europa.
Budapest is key though. Going there and getting at least a point will seem a significant marker in our development.
_______
It’s a hard one to call but that tactical approach might be better for the long term strategy. Just go out to win every game and let’s see where we end up. It’s a pity that we never scored the other two or three goals on Tuesday, as goal difference could come into play. A good professional display without losing in Hungary and I’ll be delighted. A few important league games to be won first, though.
Any European involvement after Christmas is always to be welcomed. This new third tier competition offers an additional opportunity. Avoiding defeat in Budapest is a must.
Result of this week must be Ajax 4-0 Dortmund. What is it that the Amsterdam outfit manage to do in terms of recruitment and coaching that we can’t ? The Dutch league is nothing special and whilst Ajax generate greater revenue than Celtic, it is not off the scale EPL greater.
How far do we have to fall before the happy clappers / board groupies start to question the efforts of the Irish Raj and his second rate bean counter gimp to run the club into the grubber?
The CL was / is beyond us at the moment — and still the clapped.
Now the EuL is now — for many — a standard we cannot be cope with.
The EuC / third tier is where we need to aspire to — far too many fall for pot hunting in the slow lane.
Soon it will be the Petrofac Cup is our goal.
18 years ago BM danced on the park at P/head for scraping out a draw.
That is where we had managed to get ourselves in the 21st century.
Now we are discussing whether we can cut it with a second rank Spanish team or the German version of the Hibbees — and that is us on the up after the shambles of last season.
DD and PL have “destroyed” the club right in front of our eyes — and yet still they clapped.
And made excuses for the dysfunctional management that paid £4mill plus for CS.
JIMDOM
Their latest young superstar is Antony, they paid £13m for him (rising to 18m) when he was 19 from São Paulo in Brazil. He’s already being touted for a move to one of the big EPL clubs at 21.
They’re able to scout, attract and afford the best young talent from around the world. We can’t, unfortunately
Jimdom 12:31
“What is it that the Amsterdam outfit manage to do in terms of recruitment and coaching that we can’t ? ”
—————
Not so much can’t as don’t/won’t.
Ajax don’t have a partner club that they can’t get too far ahead of.
JD @ 12.31
They have focus and they plan for growth.
We have neither as the Bronskis on the board just want an easy life playing TFOD2.1 six times a year.
I thought Tuesday was an important step in the right direction. A result in Hungary would be another
C40 @ 12.43
The Scottish Cringe / Board Groupie excuse generator in less words than a tweet.
I wonder how much their CEO gets paid?
Did they find their last manager in the showers?
With nearly everyone back in full training, a good chance for AP to have a couple of weeks with them at Lennoxtown, really looking forward to Saturday.
Good stuff Mick.
Have colleagues over there and I know it’s been tough for many. Your Government didn’t help but let’s not go there as I avoid politics on here.
In the last couple of years Ajax have sold 4 players from the Netherlands for over £200m. Two players for £110m came through the academy. Sold to Juventus, Barcelona, Man United and Chelsea, all European Super League clubs.
Ajax are an anomaly. Comparisons are unfair
Even when it comes to financial prudence they outdo us. They have consistently had a larger cash balance than us, sometimes much larger
MadMitch
I totally agree with you about the lack of ambition in Europe. As far as I’m concerned, if Celtic ever play in the European Conference League, it would be an abomination. We are far better than that. Our Board is a disgrace as is the major shareholder of the find that acceptable. It is, as you say, the Petrofac Cup of Europe.
*if they
Ref Ajax 2020-21
Income – €k
CEO – Edwin van der Sar
Basic salary 450
Retention bonus 150
Bonus (nonsporting performance) 200
Bonus (sporting performance 850
Total 1 650
Director of Football – Marc Overmars
Basic salary 446
Retention bonus 250
Bonus (nonsporting performance) 75
Bonus (sporting performance) 900
Total 1 671
(Source https://www.ajax.nl/media/wjqp25hn/ajax-jaarverslag-2020-2021-1.pdf) – p71
Roles
CEO – Strategy, Press & Comms, Match organisation, The Future Training Complex, Group/Association events etc, Ajax Coaching Academy
Director of Football – Prof & Youth Football, Youth Academy, Video analysis, Scouting prof football, Scouting youth, Women’s Football, Performance & Medical, Team mgt
(Source https://www.ajax.nl/media/wjqp25hn/ajax-jaarverslag-2020-2021-1.pdf) – P42
CELTIC40ME on 21ST OCTOBER 2021 12:57 PM
Ajax are an anomaly. Comparisons are unfair
————————————————————–
Anomaly: something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.
Well, they have been an anomaly for over 50 years now. A continued pursuit of excellence, competing with the best in Europe despite not being part of the Big 5 leagues. Not, as far as I’m aware, funded by petro-dollars. Also, unlike Celtic, they do not have the geographical advantage of being in full view of the mega-rich EPL.
Please PLC blazers, can Celtic be an anomaly .
£1.5m isn’t exactly nothing
CELTIC40ME @ 12:57 PM,
Celtic are an anomaly – don’t believe me ask those who knew Jock Stein.
BTE: VVD is a 100M pound player, you could get a few bob for Keiran Tierney and Andy Robertson. Ivan Toney could develop into a 50 million pound player,youd get a few Bob for John McGinn. Brendan Rodgers and his backroom staff make a first class team…
Need I go on…
Hail Hail
Can you imagine DD reading those Ajax CEO and DoF salary figures in the Club House after a wee round! “FFS, Get the Defibulator!!!” :))) por cierto
C40 @ 12.53
Do you get £50mill valuations for young players through their performances in the Dutch League?
The answer is no — you get those valuations through their performances in Europe.
We have had a number of hugely talented young players in our team.
Just a case that we can’t wait to sell them once they are worth £10/15mill.
We also don’t spend the money on coaching and we play them when injured.
KA — Ajax would get £30mill for him.
OE — Ajax would have have gotten £40mill for him.
ON — Ajax would have gotten £20mill for him.
JH — Ajax wouldn’t have touched him with a bargepole.
Young JF — Ajax would have kept him for another 18 months and sold him for £30mill.
Old JF — Ajax would have booted him up the erse and then sold him.
JNPF — Ajax have sacked the scout that missed him.
Erik ten Hag is rumoured to earn € 1m per year salary, with a generous bonus for sporting achievement on top. Looking at Van der Sar & Overmars – we can assume ten Hag receives € 1.6m – € 1.8m in a good year.
All three to NUFC?
Facts, facts……….FACT.
:))))))))))))))))))))
There was a brilliant documentary on Ajax a few years ago on BBC, it showed how the structure of the Club worked,youth set up,salary groups,selling players, succession planning etc
“BBBbbbbut, But he hud a heatit’ drivewye….!!
JIMDOM on 21ST OCTOBER 2021 1:21 PM
Well, they have been an anomaly for over 50 years now
They have been in as much as they consistently produce and sell world class players fir lots of money.
However they haven’t won a European competition since 1995, since when they’ve won 9 league titles.
They won their league 3 times in 14 years from 1996.
Not anomalous
!!BADA BING!! on 21ST OCTOBER 2021 12:49 PM
With nearly everyone back in full training, a good chance for AP to have a couple of weeks with them at Lennoxtown, really looking forward to Saturday.
-———————
Yip and 3 good signings in the window would/should see us to the title barring a plague of injuries….
If not this season (to much to be done (hurdles) early on for Big Ange) next season is looking extremely positive…
Some day the yawning itch might actually attend a Celtic game
BANKIEBHOY1 @ 1:31 PM,
Come on, you can do better than that, you should have all the excuses at your fingertips by now, you’ve been practicing long enuff:))
ExcuseXExcuseXExuseCSC
Hail Hail
TOM MCLAUGHLIN @ SQUIRE DANAHER ( From last article )
Thank you. You are both correct. Inexplicable memory failure ( or maybe not 😂 ) on my part.
Maybe I need a wee checkup.