Maribor are currently playing monopoly with the Slovenian league, having won four titles in a row, and have a very settled, experienced, team.
The season before they eliminated Rangers into oblivion in 2011 they defeated Hibernian home and away, who had Anthony Stokes in their side. It’s worth noting that Edinburgh police arrested 30 Maribor fans following a riot in the city after that tie; this lot have an unfortunate reputation for trouble.
They lost away on Saturday, a defeat which was largely a consequence of their defence having a nightmare, however, among others, they rested key central defender, Marko Suler, who Celtic came close to signing four years ago. They were also reduced to 10 men 30 minutes into the game. It’s unlikely they will be so poor at the back against Celtic.
Dare Vrsoc is their creative fulcrum. He also likes to shoot from distance, with some justification. Whoever in the Celtic team is tasked with winning a personal battle with him will have a great deal of responsibility.
If Celtic leave space at the back Mitja Viler will be the player most likely to exploit. He is lightning fast and will have noticed how Celtic lost goals to pace against Legia. The early scare Gary Mackay-Steven gave us on Saturday further emphasises this vulnerability.
Brazilian-Slovenian striker Marcos Tavares, 30, is Maribor’s royalty. He has scored more goals than anyone in the club’s history, but he is a player who has found his level. He has been over the European football course before so will know how to unsettle defenders.
Macedonian international winger, Agim Ibraimi, scored the goals in the last round which got Maribor this far. He had a couple of unsuccessful seasons in Seria A before returning to Maribor. Good player with tendencies to lunacy.
The fans boo boy is goalkeeper, Jasmin Handanovic, who remains in place despite a disastrous last season. Slovenian clubs throw cross balls into the box to put pressure on him as often as possible. Some early attention might turn the atmosphere inside the stadium on Wednesday.
They score a lot of goals from headers: five of the 12 this season, before the o.g. they benefited from on Saturday.
Our man Blaz in Slovenia tells me they are better than they were when they brought the end of days to Rangers in 2011. Last season’s Europa League campaign, when they progressed from a group containing Russian, English and Belgian opposition, before giving eventual winners, Sevilla a fright, gives an indication of what we can expect.
After those performances last season they knew this could be their Champions League year. Drawing Celtic has put them in a state approaching over-confidence. A shift like we delivered on Saturday will come as a shock.
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….PFayr supports WeeOscar 22:22 on 18 August, 2014
“I do all of that…… but CRC sustain them by advertising with them and allowing to advertise at CP”
I know that. Likewise. In get a headache just thinking about listening to Radio Clyde.
Folk who have made a similar decision to us will not be influenced by advertising. It would be better if we had absolutely nothing to do with them, but unfortunately that will never happen.
Channelisland,
I was in Glasgow on Saturday night. Wish I knew about the gig at the bandstand.
Any conversation about football on CQN is better than the sanctimonious political and religious tripe which bores the tits off a great many of us.
Micktt
Priest? :)
weefrathetim
22:30 on 18 August, 2014
martybhoy59
Cheers for your reply. Was beginning to think I was invisible again. Lol.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
No problem, hope things are getting back to some semblance of normality following your mums passing.
i’ll take a punt and go for 2 each on Wednesday night….. be happy wae that
Micktt
Face painter?
captain beefheart
Chill and
Lick My Decals Off Baby
Love
Dallas
I will tell you stories of my schoolmate T McK and the media when I meet you next. Met one of my old band on Saturday, big Lou and his son. Been 7 years. :))
Marrakesh Express 22:26 on 18 August, 2014
“No, this goes beyond free speech or freedom of the press. Many in the msm see it as their remit to damage the image of CFC”
I agree.
The obsession with tarnishing Celtic led to their favourite team being placed in liquidation.
I have no problem with that. Nothing Celtic does will change their agenda.
geordie ,didnt know a thing about myself ,just cropped in conversation ,i said to the guy that i would have a bit of that ,he had a spare . What a great night in such wonderful surroundings !
HH
Ruggyman,
I’d take 2 each. Decent result and would be kinda entertaining I’d imagine.
That said….I hope we’re not 2 nil up with 10 mins to go and 2 each is final score
embramike
Couldn’t, agree more, this referendum can’t be over and done quick enough for me.
micktt
Minister?
HH jamesgang
micktt
Polis?
HH jamesgang
micktt
22:31 on 18 August, 2014,
Reckon I know, welcome back mate. Hail Hail.
Micktt,
Bouncy castle repair man?
iPaddy McCourt
21:57 on
18 August, 2014
Wee Barry Guardiola doing well as a manager then eh?
—————-
you need to be a right pish manager to be out smarted by ally.
still a record win for the new club is in the record books.
unless of course bazza was lined up as the new billy king, and said feck that
Mick TT
is your mate an optimist :)
MSP?
Councillor?
HH jamesgang
Weefra
You were invisible on Saturday when I came looking for you at the coarner. :)
Mick
taxman?
Or a male stripper in a gogo bar ?
Kayal has a engine.
He is Back tae his Best.
If Kayal disnae Play tomorrow.. No Soup ..fur ME!
Wako, rumour. .rumour, rumour..
After receiving his Medica…. O.K.. He will sign fur us.. Tuesday..
Warning..
This is a Rumour..
But, Ah like the idea.
Kojo
Still
Laughin
DD
you and your bhoy were too busy fawning over thog to notice weefra
MickTT
22:31 on 18 August, 2014
I’m guessing he either makes or retails sticks of rock.
Weefra tried running away when he heard I’d arrived!
I had to chase him down like the auld dawg he is!!!
;-)
HH jamesgang
embramike
22:34 on
18 August, 2014
Any conversation about football on CQN is better than the sanctimonious political and religious tripe which bores the tits off a great many of
————
och that was rubbish , how you voting in the referndumb ?
Those clowns can write or report what they want as our club just does not challenge them.
On Staurday however, the daily record crossed a line by publishing that Polish Goalie’s comments about how clubs worldwide should shun Celtic.
That to me was inflammatory and if any Celtic fan is attacked on our European travels that rag is culpable for printing such an article. They stoke the flames and through their biased reporting have created so much hostility to our club and us, their fans.
I know many on here advocate not buying or subscribing to their papers or their channels. That’s fair enough but it still isn’t acceptable for such reporting and it really is time Celtic challenged every one them and do it publicly!
Taxman would be best!
Go get ’em!
HH jamesgang
Marrakesh express 21.57
The meeja follow their well honed and expected path.lamb is seasonal until the full tsunami of the ‘its back but forget bout the cheating’ guff sky have ready.
If our own SFA….just imagine for a minute. ..governed fairly and in a balanced way…..and not in the corrupt and squinted way it did…..should have been supporting its champions…old habits eh.time
Shame on our Fa.we got exactly that of you in support.
HH
Delaney’s, your long lost soul mate, Big Lou. I hope he’s well.
An AndytownTim, you can’t ask for better.
If you meet him again, give him my best wishes.
Came here for the 4 2 game at Ibrox in 1983 and stayed.
martybhoy69
Thanks for that kiddo. Spent most of today completing insurance forms, hard thing to do. Even had to miss out on the ole BMCUW weekly update. Thankfully he’s checking in tomorrow. Lol.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Can anyone who watched the glamour cup tie confirm if bazza took the opportunity to hand back his £500,000 “loan” or in all the excitement of going back to the Asbestosdome did he leave his cheque book on the kitchen table?
I think he might be a specialist asbestos removal technician
Good night all
Weefra
any problems give me a call..
Dallas
I stood near Joe Miller at a junior game four years ago. His phone went off and the ringtone was Fields of Athenrye. While on that subject, I was at Murray Park for an Oldco v Dundee Utd under 19 game. As I stood in the reception watching the United players check in, one of their phones rang, loud and clear, The Celtic Song. The boy just let it ring out amid much laughter and hilarity. The wee dour faced receptionist guy in the Oldco blazer and tie was raging.