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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Heard nothing overseasbhoy.
Seems a stretch for Wednesday’s game with medicals in Moscow and link up in Slovenia. I imagine that if it goes through it was never intended for tomorrow. I assume though that he’d also be out for 2nd leg if we didn’t make it.
Fax machine’s in melt down perhaps.
HH
Let’s just play him anyway – not like anybody’s watching !
only for 4 minutes when we are sure to go through..
Having the complete support of Scottish Football and Media is my comfort blanket should we sneak the bhoy on,
We’ll be well covered.
With BBC and Sky leading the way !
RWE
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/sport/video-1113486/Sportsmails-10-ice-bucket-challenges.html
Celtic boss Deila poised to seal Wakaso loan deal from Rubin Kazan today
Posted: Tuesday, 19th August 2014 0 comments – you should start the discussion!
Wakaso is expected to join Celtic today
Celtic are unlikely to be able to field the Ghana winger Mubarak Wakaso in either leg of their Champions League play-off against NK Maribor.
Wakaso, 24, who joined the Russian side Rubin Kazan from Espanyol last year, has emerged as the latest transfer target for the Scots.
The deal — if it goes ahead — would be on a loan basis, suggesting a significant shift in transfer policy.
On the eve of the return leg of their second qualifying round tie against KR Reykjavic at Murrayfield last month, Celtic manager Ronny Deila made it clear he did not see short-term signings as the way forward.
“Loan deals are a possibility but loans are not ideal,” he said. “You don’t want to develop other clubs’ talent and not get money for it.
“The important thing is to get someone who will make the team much better. So it could be older players, who have no future value, but who can use their experience and skills to help us. So that’s another opportunity.”
Despite bringing in £11.2?million from the sale of Fraser Forster and Tony Watt to Southampton and Standard Liège respectively, the only player brought in on a permanent basis is the goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who had his medical before Deila had even been unveiled as the successor to Neil Lennon.
Since then Jo Inge Berget (Cardiff City), Jason Denayer (Manchester City) and Aleksandar Tonev (Aston Villa) have arrived on loan, with Wakaso — like Berget and Tonev, a wide attacking player — likely to follow that now well-trodden path.
Celtic appear to have switched from signing young players with potential — the “projects” of which Lennon despaired — who can be sold on at a profit, to borrowing players who cannot get a game with their parent clubs.
The move for Mubarak is further complicated by the need for a work permit.
He is not likely to meet the required criteria because he has not played in 75 per cent of matches for his national team in the last two years.
Mitigating circumstances, such as injuries, could circumvent that obstacle but the Uefa signing deadline for the match in Slovenia tomorrow (and the return at Parkhead next week) is 11am today and Mubarak would first need to be registered with the Scottish Football Association, who will require that work permit.
Mubarak, of course, could still be signed (permit permitting) and then listed in the squad for either the Champions League or the Europa League group phase, depending on the outcome of the tie against
Maribor.
He came off the bench to help Ghana to a 2-2 draw against Germany, the eventual winners, at the World Cup finals.
Herald article
Celcer: Celtic should ‘beware’ Brazilian forward in play-off tie
Staff Writer
Tuesday 19 August 2014
Marcos Tavares will pose the greatest threat to Celtic’s hopes of progressing to the Champions League group stages this season, according to the Ross County defender Uros Celcer.
The Slovene was formerly a player with Maribor and observed first hand the talents of Brazilian striker Tavares.
The Celtic players will be given the same opportunity tomorrow evening when they contest the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie with Maribor. Having joined Maribor at the age of 10, Celcer will follow events in Slovenia with interest but acknowledged last night that the Scottish champions will have a greater chance of gaining an advantage in the tie if they can keep Tavares quiet.
“The striker Marcos Tavares, is a very big favourite with the fans,” said the County defender. “He is the top club scorer of all time. They love ‘Tava’ and Celtic should beware.
“He is not only a decent finisher but a real leader of the team. So much in the game comes through him. I would say he’s the man that Celtic must stop to win the tie. Marcos is actually the only player left there who I played alongside when I was at Maribor, but I have played against them with Gorica for the last few seasons.
“They also have this player Agim Ibraimi, a right winger from Macedonia who has come back from a loan at Cagliari in Serie A. He is excellent, too, a big threat, but they have many good players. I can vouch for the fact they are strong right through the team.
“They are the Slovenian national champions for a reason and have been for five of the last six seasons. They are also a really compact unit, so it’s going to be tough for Celtic.”
The Celtic board seem to have adopted Betty Windsor’s maxim ; ‘never complain never explain’.
If there’s a PR department at the club then they only work on February 29.
Marrakesh, I would have loved to have seen the coupons of the unsurpassed dignified ones when that ring tone went off.
I was getting slagged last night about United lying down to us by a sticky then we were informed about the score at Ibrox last night. I said talking of lying down. I got no reply.
A lot of discussion last night about the low crowd at Ibrokes last night ( lower than a snakes belly normally applies to their crowd. )
I was thinking that with pistol peer giving our st holders 2 of the 3 champions league tickets free … Mibbees sevco have follow followed us on this strategy and let da bears in for free for their European qualifiers in the Petrofac training cup
Dallas
That funny incident at Murray Park was in 2003.
setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox but saying no to CQN racists
12:31 on
18 August
Sorry do not agree with you argument.
Legia made the mistake and fell foul of the rules. The consequence of that error would be the same for every team. This is not a misguided fan throwing a bottle on or a fan running on to the park that the home team may be responsible for, may try to prevent but cannot stop it happening.
This error lies squarely with the team who did not follow the rules it may have been a mistake but they did not follow the rules and are paying the consequence.
Celtic are mere bystanders here. Lucky bystanders but if some one crashes into my parked car and says it was a mistake do you say that’s OK and I wont make a claim on your insurance and I will pay for the repairs myself?
Celtic are fortunate I agree but the issue is between Legia and the ruling body who are applying the rules and sanctions. Bringing Celtic into it is only an attempt by Legia to muddy the water and make them appear victims.
The only ones who want that view to prevail are Legia, BBC, Scottish Sports journos and of course Sevonians.
Tough on Legia but that’s their problem.
Will be interesting if we sign Mubarak – the Ghana team he was in really stymied the Germans in Brazil, who hadn’t expected so quick and well-organised an opposition. In other news, Dynamo Dresden, who we drew with pre-season, knocked Schalke out of the cup last night.
Good morning friends from a rather bright, dry and calm East Kilbride.
Morning from the delayed 7.06 from Blantyre to G3.
Bit chilly today.
Dry and bright in the Bishop town.
Got rescue hens at home too and agree that it is wonderful to see how they adapt to outdoor life and freedom to roam.
I have a soft spot for foxes too though . Clever animals and been demonised for centuries as an excuse for man’s failings.
Good afternoon from a rather stormy Sydney (100mm of rain in the past 3 days)
Oz based bhoys
Maribor game live on ESPN HD Ch508 Thursday k.o 4.45am EST
HH
lymmbhoy
07:21 on 19 August, 2014
—
Do u need the foxtel sports channels for espn 1?
I cancelled mine couple months ago because i work away. Might have to get them in and get missus to record it
Deekbhoy
The only people who didnt view it as an open and shut case where Legia and the Smsm/Sevconia. One lot out of desperation (understandably), the other out of sheer rage and envy.
Whats the latest rumour about a striker ?
We need a new one badly
proudbhoy
07:27 on
19 August, 2014
Whats the latest rumour about a striker ?
There is none. Only wingers.
proudbhoy
Yes, you do need the Sports package for ESPN.
HH
And midfielders
Looks like the new guy knows how to strike a ball
http://youtu.be/MH93GaCsL4w
Morning from a bright, but chilly Knightswood.
Just noticed the St. J game on Saturday is live on BT Sport.
Meant to be working tho’, hmmm…..
Art,you mean Cally ?
Killers at bellahouston tonight
Zombies close by last night
Timbhoy, oops my bad. Still half asleep, coffee beckons….
Thanks for correction mate! :-)
neilbhoy
Foxes have their work cut out to survive round here. The gamekeepers are ultra efficient in killing them and any other wild-life that they think are a threat to the toffs game birds.
A couple of miles away in the town its quite common to sight foxes.
Morning all. Beautifully clear and sunny, if a wee bit cool, down here at the moment.
Beautifully clear and sunny is our future, I hope.
Did anyone else feel that Radio Scotland (and in particular McLean) was a wee bit over the top in its reporting of the greatest football match ever played in Scotland at Ibrox last night?
Good morning CQN.
Stunning early autumn day in dunblane.
Kids back at school. Wee Mhan not impressed!
HH jamesgang
The smsm were REALLY pleased that we had been awarded the CL qualification place ….. Bless thur wee cotton soaks……. Hahahahahahaha ….. Hilarious
Parkheadcumsalford- shortbread is beyond parody.
They now make SSB sound like the Algonquin Round Table.
On a happier note, it was good to see the team put on a show for Mr McCann on Saturday. Lord knows he must have sat through some dross when he first rode to the rescue.
DBBIA,
Very true, especially the bit about Fergus. I was absolutely delighted he got such a wonderful reception. Long overdue. Great too that we played so well. Long may that continue.
lymmbhoy
07:21 on 19 August, 2014
Good afternoon from a rather stormy Sydney (100mm of rain in the past 3 days)
Oz based bhoys
Maribor game live on ESPN HD Ch508 Thursday k.o 4.45am EST
HH
lymmbhoy,
I’m staying in a Melbourne hotel just now and doubt I’ll see first leg.
I’ll be in Sydney for the return. do you know any pub that will be showing the game there?
neilbhoy
07:20 on 19 August, 2014
‘Got rescue hens at home too and agree that it is wonderful to see how they adapt to outdoor life and freedom to roam.
I have a soft spot for foxes too though . Clever animals and been demonised for centuries as an excuse for man’s failings.’
###
In the absence of a naturally occurring apex predator (lynx, bear, wolves etc) there’s an artificially high number of foxes and that causes problems for things lower down the food chain, like ground nesting birds. The same is true for badgers.