Sustained football success is all about the money. Any team can do a St Johnstone, win three trophies in a decade to become Scotland’s second most decorated club in that era, but if you don’t have the income, you will revert to a lowly mean soon enough.
This season’s Champions League qualification ties, therefore, are vitally important in determining the structural advantage Celtic have over would-be rivals.
Newco opened strongly against Union Saint-Gilloise. The Belgians, playing in front of their home fans, clearly set out a stall to inhibit the visitors and play on the counter. This paid dividends 27 minutes in when calamitous defensive gaps allowed Union to score their first ever European goal (they lost both legs to Juventus 1-0 in their previous tie 58 years ago).
Union’s penalty clearly shocked Newco, not to mention their former players in the Premier Sports studio. That’s not the kind of decision that goes against this team in domestic football and they were not happy seeing “rules” catch them out, which an infuriated Kenny Miller bemoaned after the game.
Long before the second goal arrived, Newco were a diminished force. They have played only four games since last season, Union played twice as many. The contrasting fitness was clear as the game concluded with Union creating openings that could have put the tie to bed. This short Newco preseason looked like a potential mistake beforehand, four games is not enough to get a squad fully fit.
As it stands, Newco retain a fighting chance of qualifying for the play-off round. If they get there, they earn a €5m bonus, plus gate money. Failure against Union, and they go straight to the Europa League, no bonus payment and not even a play-off round to generate gate money. If Celtic are the only Scottish team to reach the CL Group Stage, they retain the entire Scottish TV pot, which would be worth an extra €3m to Celtic.
Make no mistake, we have a real and active interest in the Champions League qualifiers. These figures are huge factors in determining competitive outcomes in Scotland. There is a spreadsheet somewhere in Govan that no one will open today.
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Sorry, not the mother, the daughter.
I think clubs have stopped doing PPV ,SPFL Games now….will struggle for a stream on Saturday, CTV Abroad, audio only, hopefully the BBC can be intercepted, looks like they only ones covering it.
That awkward moment when there’s no hesgoal
The fabulous McColgans CSC
Congrats Liz as a mammy
Congrats Eilish on her run
Bout covers it PCS :-)
HH
No interest in the colonial games but was Chanel hopping there and saw Eilis McColgan at the 4,000 meter mark. Kept watching. Brilliant run. Well done her.
Try vip league.
Two things I absolutely can’t stomach.
Intolerance ….
… and lactose.
Did hesgoal cover the sheep game?
” She couldn’t have done it without the crowd urging her on ”
Well done Eilish , what a performance. What determination.
The girls are putting the sport back in sport.
`JACKIEMAC on 3RD AUGUST 2022 8:32 PM
Great run`
Absolutely superb. I am very low on the patriotism register but I really enjoyed watching that. Eilish was ` Chust sublime,` .
Nite all
Brian
Seen this from twitter
https://twitter.com/BBCSportScot/status/1554922560885850113?t=mimv7Ug9a2zr0YYjndZe7Q&s=19
HH
This made me smile:
Chris Sutton
@chris_sutton73
·
23h
Not a great night for the coefficient.
:-))))
With a name like Eilish can I take it that the wee girl is likely to be a ghirl.
CORKCELT,
I think her father is Irish.
Cancer update. I had a consultation today. Consultant said that I have 2 chemo sessions to go from max of 10. Then they decide what next. Then he said they would love to find out why I have never suffered any effects from the chemo. He mentioned genetics. I will be happy if they wish to use me for tests.
Ron Bacardi.
Thanks for your update.
Keep positive Celt
Will keep the prayer goin in support.
Take care mate
HH
RON BACARDI
Best of luck 👍
Ron: best of luck. Wishing you the best.
Keep Fighting Ron, We never stop. Best of Luck.
JOHN HUGHES: AN APPRECIATION
Posted by St Anthony
http://celticunderground.net/john-hu…-appreciation/
John Hughes was something of a teenage sensation when he broke into the Celtic first team, aged just 17 in 1960. John was part of the ‘Kelly Kids’ crop of young players which spawned some great Celts but in those formative years at Parkhead he was to suffer some huge disappointments. The 1961 and 1963 Scottish Cup finals were lost in replays, to Dunfermline and Rangers respectively, with the Dunfermline defeat particularly hard to suffer given that Celtic were denied by a heroic performance from the Pars’ keeper, Eddie Connachan.
By the mid 1960’s desperation was setting in amongst the Celtic support and much flak was aimed at a team, who in the main, were still only youngsters and mainly lacking in guidance. The 1964 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final was lost in spectacular fashion after Celtic threw a 3-0 lead away in the second leg in Hungary against MTK Budapest, although even during these difficult times John was a guiding light in Celtic’s darkness. In September 1964, on a day of atrocious weather, he was the inspiration in, what was back then, a very rare Celtic triumph over Rangers. In January 1965 big John then became something of a Celtic legend, when he turned out in what he later called ‘a pair of sannies’ on an icy Parkhead pitch and ran riot, scoring five, in an unforgettable 8-0 win. This was something which Celtic fans of that period loved to discuss in the many years that followed.
Scottish football changed totally when Jock Stein returned to Parkhead as Celtic manager in March 1965. John was named as centre forward when Celtic won the Scottish Cup in April 1965, in dramatic fashion, their first trophy since 1957. Many people think that was Celtic’s turning point on the road to success but that truly came in the 1965 League Cup final in October. John, now fielded at outside left, scored twice from the penalty spot in the 2-1 over Rangers, showing remarkable coolness in doing so. This was the first time Celtic had beaten Rangers in a crucial match since the 7-1 League Cup final win in 1957 and Celtic’s fortunes had now changed utterly. This truly was a sign that the Celtic tide had finally turned.
Celtic’s success carried on under Stein with John Hughes very much to the fore. In 1967 the Celts reached the European Cup final, although there was disappointment for John that he missed the final through injury. Fate was particularly unkind as the big man had played in five of the eight games to get to the final and would likely to have been a certain starter had he been fit for that final in Lisbon against Inter Milan.
John was capable of being effective in any forward position and Stein was to put this versatility to good use. Stein was also a believer in ‘horses for courses’ with Bobby Lennox being preferred on hard, dry ground, with John viewed as being the more reliable on heavy pitches, in which his strong running and powerful shooting was could be a great asset.
In the 1970 European Cup semi-final John had an inspirational game against Leeds United’s England centre half, Jack Charlton. John, playing in a modern striker’s role, scored the equaliser from a header as Celtic won 2-1 in front of an incredible record European crowd of 136,000. That Leeds semi was to be Celtic’s pinnacle as they lost the final to Feyenoord by 2-1 in Milan, just a few weeks later. Apart from goalkeeper Evan Williams, no Celtic player played well, and in later years John thought it very unfair that he appeared to carry the can for a chance he missed at the beginning of extra time.
I was fortunate enough to interview John at his home in Baillieston a few years ago and he was still very bitter about the nature of his departure from Celtic in October 1971. John was Celtic through and through and was sold against his wishes when he was still only 29 and had a lot left to offer. It was a sad end to a 12 year career which saw him score 189 goals in 416 games and win 17 major trophies in the process. He also described the difficult relationship he had with Jock Stein, stating that Jock, like many managers of that period, could have a cruel streak in them.
Older Celtic fans still wax lyrical about some of John Hughes’ goals. In 1964, against Morton at Cappielow, on a mud bath pitch, he scored a spectacular goal from 35 yards and in 1965, at Dens Park, he perhaps surpassed that with an outstanding run and shot from 30 yards which flew past the Dundee goalkeeper. Celtic fans of my father’s generation would talk endlessly of John’s powerful running and shooting.
John became renowned during his Celtic years for the nickname, ‘Yogi Bear’, a term which was used for the rest of his days. There are a few stories of how he came by that particular moniker and it was to stick with him for the rest of his days. He was much loved by the supporters who would sing in their thousands ‘Feed the Bear, feed the Bear, feed the Bear’ in an effort to get the big man on the ball. There was also a lesser known chant to the tune of Glory, Glory, Halleluiah.
Yogi Bear he plays for Celtic
Yogi Bear he plays for Celtic
Yogi Bear he plays for Celtic
Cause he’s smarter than the average Gers
In later years a Celtic fan told me a story about ‘Big Yogi’ which is worth recalling This person was a teenager in a Catholic seminary in Coatbridge, very near to the public house which John Hughes ran at that time, in 1970. There was an old Italian priest in the seminary, and when Celtic drew Fiorentina in the European Cup quarter finals, the priest was very keen to go but had no way of getting a ticket. One of the boys wrote a letter to John and put it through the pub door, asking for two tickets, and saying they would pay in return by postal order. A few days later a letter arrived at seminary addressed to the Italian priest. It was from John Hughes, with two tickets enclosed, stating that no payment was necessary but just to ‘say a prayer for my family.’ The boy and the old priest viewed a 3-0 Celtic win in front of 77,000 fans on a never to be forgotten night for both.
John Hughes passed away last weekend and his family say he was still watching Celtic to the very last, on television, in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen. A Celtic man to the last. As fans, we should mourn Yogi’s passing, and the other Lisbon Lions who have gone, because not only will we not see their likes as a team again, we will not see their likes again as men.
Rest in peace Yogi, you gave so much to so many, and for that you will never be forgotten.
Quick reply to this message
RONBACARDI
👍
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 3RD AUGUST 2022 10:21 PM
JOHN HUGHES: AN APPRECIATION
Posted by St Anthony
http://celticunderground.net/john-hu…-appreciation/
Thanks for posting BSR. HH
St Gilloise,will adapt their game next week,like they did all last season.Beat Bruges,Gent,Etc,not by flukes or one offs.Over a whole season.I fully expect them to go through next week,and will be putting cash on it.Cards on the table.
Ron Bacardi ….from a brandy man …keep on keeping on …fight the good fight …you are a star …one day we will hopefully be rid of this horrible disease ..you are indeed essempio di prima classe
Turkeybhoy ….love the logic, sentiment and conclusion …bring it on …make all Tim’s 10th of August be joyous
Ps I am aware the game is played the night before but in my experience the day after is always sweeter after they have had the night to sleep on their failure …
AN TEARMANN @ 10.52
St Anthony is a guy called Stephen Murray – see TEN MEN WON THE LEAGUE
Ifyoulikethecutofhisgib CSC
BSR
Thanks fir info👍,a fine book indeed.Himself and Tirnanog are good follows on twitter.
A fine eulogy by Stephen.
HH
Castlebhoy
the programs
might have a home if you still have them
i’ve recently given a few to a guy in the carehome my daughter sometimes works in
he was over the moon
paul67 should be able to give you my email address ?
Ron Bacardi
Good luck with your recovery
TT
Corkcelt
I expected them to qualify last year .
I expected them to win the league also.
I expected them to lose to Dortmund .
This season I think they will qualify for the CL and win the league .
As you can see I’m a poor predictor of how well they do.
I’ll stick with jinxing them .
TT
Take care Ron,
KLV
How good is it to sit back and watch others take part in European season defining games.
I hope and trust Ange uses this time productively
HH, the journey continues.
Good morning all from a damp underfoot but dry and blue skied Garngad
Ron – keep on fighting Amigo.
D :)
Good morning from a dry but overcast North Staffs.
Ron- good luck with your continued treatment.