The first half of our Champions League campaign saw games against both our Pot 1 teams (Dortmund, Leipzig), one of our Pot 2 teams (Atalanta), and Slovan Bratislava, who were the highest ranked Pot 4 team – immediately below Celtic in the rankings.
Before a ball was kicked, my expectations at this stage was to be sitting on 3 points, while Opta told us finishing with 9 points would be enough to qualify in 69% of simulations. A lot has changed since.
There are some ominously strong Champions League sides below us. Atletico, Real Madrid, Milan and Bayern Munich (all on 6 points), with PSG on 4. Nice, though it would be to see them drop out, we should expect all four to finish strong.
Opta have not updated these specific stats since this week’s results but if they do, the chance of qualification on 9 points will be significantly less than 69%. 10 points, which they previously allocated a 99% chance, is now likely to be the cutoff, with a lot less certainty than at the start of the season.
Tuesday’s performance was so impressive that we have earned the right to look forward confidently, but we are not alone. Brugge’s win over Aston Villa last night put them on 6 points ahead of their visit to Glasgow this month.
They had a poor start to the season but their only defeat since September was away to Milan. Matchday 5 could put us looking at a seeded position, or we could be among those looking ominously at Atletico, Real and the like. There are no hiding places at this altitude.
Not everyone has this stress, look out for our Coefficient Monkeys to earn us some points in the lesser leagues tonight.
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Interesting read back at times.
Re Liam not starting; it was Ange who kinda said it’s not about first picks or second picks but about having good players who are used to suit the plan for different games and opponents etc (I think around the time there was the JJ v TR and AJ v TR debates).
And revisiting that old joke; What’s a Greek urn ? Only one point against pish poor Hunnish opposition seemingly.
MORECAMBEANDWISE CSC
SFTB earlier – great quote.
The kind of things one would hope a Professor of Ethics would say.
Mixed week for Scottish clubs in Europe.
Celtic – €2.1m
R2ngers – €210,000
Hearts – zilch
The Donald has arrived.
https://forbiddenknowledgetv.net/agenda47-the-official-plan-to-dismantle-the-deep-state-and-return-power-to-the-american-people/
Nobody should be in any Parliament for 20, 30, 40, 50, years, unless they are a doing a 24/7 loaves and fishes service for the public – not back door companies controlled by you know who!
I hope Ange puts a stronger team out v Sevco
Bognorbhoy
Thank you mate for the history update,hadnt heard of them.You up anytime soon? Long time since the old Blane Valley days with Davie Oldtim67.hope all well down down south
HH
Johnny Kenny has had a good season with Shamrock Rovers this year.(Season Feb to Nov)
Scored again for Rovers in Conference League last night.
Last year I thought he would never make it (lots of pace,terrible finishing and too easily shrugged off the ball)
This season he has improved immensely. Finishing much better and he is now outmuscling centre halves.Credit to Rovers manager Stephen Bradley who has developed him into a better player.Rovers want to sign him permanently but Celtic want big money (big in a League of Ireland sense)
I hope Ange puts a stronger team out v Sevco
—
hopefully hoddle, waddle, ardiles and blanchflower are all fit 🙏
Test
Good morning all from a dry at the moment Garngad.
Killie away on that miserable pitch on Sunday.
With stands lying empty and they say they have no cash.
CHEATS
Anyhoo anywin will do to carry momentum but 3 -0 to the Tic is my prediction.
Have a happy Friday all.
D. :)
Good morning from a mizzly North Staffs – 50 years ago today was Friday 8th November 1974
setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on 7th November 2024 10:26 pm
“I’m not the kind of fan who gets too far ahead of himself but can somebody tell me if the World Club final is a two legged affair still”
:-)))))))))
David66 on 8th November 2024 5:38 am
………
Good to see your Post this morning as I have been a bit concerned about you not Posting much in the last couple of weeks and ALSO not replying to any of my Texts that I sent to you since last week ?
Have you CHANGED your phone number ?
As long as you and the family are all okay, thats the main thing ?
HH Mate.
I watched all of the Hun game last night.
It was pretty dire stuff and Olympiacos were shocking, and the Huns weren’t much better.
CLEMENT and the Hun Media will no doubt get carried away with the 1 – 1 Draw away in Greece…likewise the Hun fans.
The ” FRESH AIR” swipe… or lack of a tackle on Dessers leading up to the Huns Goal, must have been the WORST attempt at Defending in the whole of Europe this week ?
Celtic would have taken SIX off Olympiacos….Nae Problem !
HH.
One interesting aspect of their game last night was Clement dropped his captain, Tavernier, and used Sterling as RB. Their fans have been shouting for this for weeks. Sterling was then taken off early (and he was none too happy about it) and replaced by Kasanwirjo. Tavernier eventually got on with 5 mins to go.
With a drought in penalties being awarded to them, Tavernier’s days look to be numbered. Shame as seeing Maeda torturing him is always a highlight of these fixtures.
Good morning all from Govanhill.
Huns won’t score enough goals this season – they’ll be fortunate to finish within 15 points of us.
We are a good team and are setting new standards.
HH. IBWT
Alan Morrison from Celtic by numbers was spot on some weeks back. Almost all of their away games will be 50/50 in terms of them dropping points.
See the Isrealis not happy following attacks on Maccabi fans…All I can say is…
Having been to Amsterdam twice to see Celtic v Ajax ……both the police and Ajax fans a complete scumbags and like nothing more than fighting with visiting fans..
Would never go to Amsterdam to see Celtic again..
WITS
I watched Jonny Kenny last night (brilliant goal) v The New Saints and last month against Larne. He’s looking very good and is fast and strong, as you say. He is also a good finisher. I think Celtic should renew his contract for two years and bring him into the fold at the end of this season. He should be able to see what he can offer us.
Celtic are close to agreeing a new contract with Alistair Johnston after tabling a deal that will hand the 26-year-old Canada right-back a significant increase in salary and will increase the length of his contract beyond his existing deal to the summer of 2027. (Daily Record), external
Brentford see Celtic’s £25m-rated winger, Nicolas Kuhn, as a potential replacement for Bryan Mbeumo after the 24-year-old German scored twice in the 3-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig. (The Boot Room), external
Gustaf Lagerbielke admits he is frustrated after failing to start a single league game for Twente Enschede so far on loan from Celtic, but the 24-year-old centre-half accepts that the team has been playing well and their defence has been excellent. (The National)
new article posted.
Cheers Paul, will grab a podium!