Celtic always had the look of winners last night, but until Odsonne Edouard pounced on the rebound from Ryan Christie’s shot, the outcome was in the balance. We are going to face a lot of packed defences like that this season, though fortunately or not, that could be the last we see of them in the Europa League.
Christie was back to his best. I know his stats are far from impressive and he is criticised (by others) for his decision making, but I spent almost three years during Brendan Rodgers time wanting someone to mix it up. Take shots that would force the keeper to work or a defender to block, or play the low percentage pass that we all know is going to miss most of the time, but will result in loose balls in dangerous areas.
Those poor stats are a consequence of randomness, which is something we loved in Frank McGarvey, but that was before the stats came along to both inform and confuse. Stats are all about interpretation, which is the real lesson of Michael Lewis’ Moneyball for those who never read the book, or those who did, but didn’t understand it.
I tried most of the second half to figure out what changes Neil Lennon made at halftime that freed up Jeremie Frimpong. During the first half, he was so well shackled, I considered the Sarajevo left back as a possible recruit. At the break, the suggestion was made to me, maybe he is better as an impact player?
Sarajevo certainly opened up at the break, which may have helped, but Jeremie was back at his impactful self during the second period. Credit also to Greg Taylor, who had his best game in a Celtic shirt.
I’m still pretty gutted about not being in the Champions League and at the manner of our exit, but Pot 1 seed in the Europa is an important place to land. Last week we spoke about how it was to our advantage that all domestic rivals also reach the group stage. We didn’t want them having a week to plan games against St Mirren etc., while we traverse the Continent. Not this season.
That kind of left hemisphere thinking was nowhere to be found once kick offs were underway last night. You can’t fake this stuff, it is just not possible to subvert the tribal instinct (which is why nationalism is so potent, and why Celtic is my only identity). But, in a crisp and sunny autumnal morning, logic is back on top. No one will get an easy pass to the title this season, including Celtic.
Uefa’s methods of seeding have never been perfect, this is not tennis, but those pots are full of variance. I’m hoping to avoid sides from the big nations. Farewell, Copenhagen, Basel, Sporting, Rosenborg, Legia (sorry, Zbyszek) and yes, even Galatasaray. Strong sides are out of Europe, the potential to join them was real.
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BILLYBHOY1967 @ 5:46 PM,
Yes, I totally accept Rangers died and Newco had to apply to enter the SPFL. Therefore no Rangers to play in Europe.
However the SFA gave the Newco – old Rangers’ SFA membership, The SFA, SPL, SFL entered the five way agreement to give oldco and newco continuity and the SPL cemmented the continuity through the LNS Commision.
So yes, a new Club who had to apply for SFA and League membership but whose terms and conditions, assured continuity between the two Clubs.
The “same club” nonsense is of course great for banter but on 17-October-2020 @ 12:30, Rangers and the old firm will be all too real.
Hail Hail
Tough draw? Maybe. Great draw to keep current players and attract one or two more? Absolutely!
take frimpong out of there team and we are shockingly low on players who can make things happen , take a man on, spark energy into the team. He has been a MASSIVE factor and keeping fans interested in what has otherwise been a pedestrian boring football team – sorry to be honest.
Mikey Johnston come back soon I hope but he need to mature mentally. We need a character and someone with a bit of arrogance about him.
HOT SMOKED @5:55pm
Did they collect the 2nd place prize money though 🤔
I never wanted Rangers to die – I wanted their titles stripped for cheating! There is nothing better than watching green and white hoops line up against the blue of Rangers! I love the fixture and the rivalry and long may it continue with us making the 10 and surpassing their titles won.
This season we should finally take a risk financially and do everything possible to win the title. The will be crippled financially! should they win, and they can, the money could be their savior for winning more in the years to come.
Get it done board
So the BBC write up on the British clubs chances…
( and yes our group looks tough on paper )
FA Cup winners Arsenal will face League of Ireland side Dundalk, Rapid Vienna and Molde in Group B of the 2020-21 Europa League.
Tottenham have been drawn alongside Bulgarian champions Ludogorets, LASK and Royal Antwerp in Group J.
Leicester City will face Braga, AEK Athens and Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk in Group G.
Scottish champions Celtic face a tough task in Group H as they take on AC Milan, Lille and Sparta Prague.
Rangers are in Group D alongside Benfica, Standard Liege and Lech Poznan.
So the other teams will breeze it ,whilst we will struggle
stebhoy
agree with the first part of your post
but not convinced on the mikey johnston bit
for me hes another wee bhoy that will do well in the spfl but get bullied in europe
we need to move on from that
That didn’t really work the way I would have liked…
Arsenal will face..
Tottenham. have been drawn…
Leicester will face..
Ringers alongside
Celtic. face a tough task …
I Like CQN,
Wow how Time goes.
TIMe is actually Unstoppable.
TIMe is actually Unstoppable.
—
indeed it is Petec
the arrow of time only points in one direction
aa the 2nd law of thermodynamics tells you
you will be well clued up in that obviously!!
*as
not
aa
CHAIRBHOY on 2ND OCTOBER 2020 6:14 PM
There’s no continuity. The team that play out of ibrox are called sevco.
Kheredine Ideshun just described Celtic’s away result last night as a narrow win, yet Sevco’s home result was a Marquee win.
These peepul are really desperate and hurting
FRANKTERRY @ 6:56 PM,
I would like to agree on this point but the fact is they’re not.
Sevco Scotland legally changed there name with the permission of Rangers Administrators, Duff & Phelpd to The Rangers Football Club Ltd. The Rangers Football Club PLC changed it’s name to RFC 2012 Ltd.
The Sevco stuff is great for the banter but we shouldn’t delude ourselves.
Hail Hail
CHAIRBHOY on 2ND OCTOBER 2020 7:06 PM
Okay, the team that play out of ibrox were originally called sevco (and being a traditionalist that is what i will always call them out of respect.)
Also, i genuinely don’t know any Celtic fans who talk about the ‘old firm’ anymore. Because it doesn’t exist. Because one half died.
Did we draw the second seeded team in each of the three pots? If so, could it have been much harder.
Nae luck Celtic.
Lots of folks being wound up by the SMSM.
I’ll yet again torture Lincoln’s Gettysburg address by repeating that in Scoddland we have football media of the peepul, by the peepul FOR the peepul.
In plain English it means we Celtic supporters are not the target market for SMSM ‘journalism’/media.
It’s a constant source of frustration that so many do not seem to realise this.
Again, as I’ve said many, many times, I have no problem with this. Commercial organisations will live and die by market forces.
BBC Scotland on the other hand employ EBT tax cheats to peddle Hun propaganda at the tax payers (you and me) expense.
WeeJoe 7.13
We did, indeed.
let all do the huddle – agree Bhoy! I’m hoping players like Mikey and others on long term injury, work on their physique. When I was wee – the go to believe it or not was Guinness and weights. He definitely needs stronger upper body and he increase his value to the team.
Joe.
The top seeds were.
Pot 2 Dinamo Zagreb Crotia
Pot 3 Granada Spain.
Pot 4. Zorya Luhansk Ukraine.
JIMMYNOTPAUL-hi buddy.It wouldn’t be out of place to think looking at our group we were seeded 3/4.
Hope you’re well 👍
Brody Paterson following the Andy Robertson route to fame and fortune this season. A loan deal to Queen’s Park for the lefty.
Train hard and get picked in the team when games come around.
Anyone read anywhere in the SMSM that Celtic were in Pot 1 and them in Pot 3?
Media for the peepul😉
PHILBHOY-where are you 🤔
I want to discuss how we’re gonna do in the group stages😉🤷♀️
TET…
Just been catching up, sorry to read of your goodladys troubles, hopefully you get good news. 🍀
Will SNP be banned for two weeks?
Will tbe next mp to beeak rules mean all politacal parties are shut down?
F.B. 7.26.
Good to hear from you.
I couldn’t agree more.
When you look at other top seeds groups, ours is much more exciting.
P.S.
That was a cracking question you asked the other night, elsewhere.
It remains unanswered.
FAIRHILL BHOY
We are gonna romp it!
Bring em on!
Away to pour myself a whisky…………….back shortly.
Madmitch is right about the draw. It’s all about protecting teams from the large media markets. In other words the draw is fixed, it’s as clear as day.
JIMMYNOTPAUL-I agree ours is definitely a great group.Wish we could be at those home games.
I ask a lot of unanswered questions.You will need to be more specific 😉🤷♀️
Which one philbhoy
Don’t read any of the SMSM but do often watch news programmes on TV which include the EBT tax cheats, and the fact that they play to a certain demographic doesn’t make it any more acceptable or indeed less noteworthy.
I believe that if we were just to accept this without comment or indeed just accept that this is the way of things, then we are just playing along with their narrative and would be as well accepting our place at the back of the bus.
I believe that my position on this is at least as valid as those who may be constantly frustrated that the rest of us are somehow less aware than they think they are.
IHTCMNBTJM
Aberlour 12 y o Speyside Single Malt.
40%abv.
Needs a wee splash of water, but still very nice!
Got Green Spot in the loft!
PHILBHOY-🥃 wit, just the one🥃🥃😉
FAIRHILL BHOY
I poured it masel so it was……………largish!
Hope you and your lovely lady are better than good!