Note of caution on potential European opponents

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If it’s a choice between a trip to Macedonia or Azerbaijan, Celtic would doubtlessly prefer the former. Baku, where Azerbaijani club Qarabag reside, is not as far west as Astana, where Celtic played two years ago, but it’s east of Iraq and it’s not a city which appears in many tourist lists.

Rudar Pljevlja returned from Baku midweek with a 0-0 draw.  In days gone by that was regarded as a great away European result, but the lack of away goal will much of the second leg is played on a knife-edge.

One large note of caution, Qarabag went out of Europe last season by a one goal aggregate margin to Red Bull Salzburg, who lost in Baku, but won in Glasgow a few months later.  They have twice eliminated Polish opposition in the last five years.

My hunch is that Celtic are better than each potential opponent, but if we’re short of fitness or preparation, we’ll have more trouble than we want.

The good news is that neither club plays summer football, so they should be no better prepared that Celtic.  Rudar finished competitively in May, Qarabag a week later, while both played their first competitive games of the season on Wednesday.  From what I can tell, both also play on grass, so we’ll avoid the Scandinavian bounce.

Before concerning ourselves too much with the 3rd Champions League qualifying round we need to use today’s game against La Liga side Eibar to sharpen fitness, and take care of business in Iceland on Wednesday.

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  1. Any of the ghuys from the CQN ayr day out still out and about, forgot it was on today, is it still on the go??

  2. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Clunks

     

    Have exchanged texts with PF

     

    I’ll ask if they are still out

  3. ThompsonTwin on

    Lower EPL clubs, or, top Championship favourites, would pay only around £5 million plus maybe add-ons for VVD – similar to Hooper and Ki.

     

     

    Fantasy to believe otherwise.

  4. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Done clunks

     

    I’ll let you know if he responds

  5. Cork v Kerry on Premier Sports. A hundred times more exciting than the Swiss Super League football on BT Sport. Match tied but both teams having a right go..

  6. Thomsontit- this is not the Daily R or Snyde you’re posting on!

     

     

    A well known tactic of theirs to undermine & undervalue our players.

     

     

    You said you were ‘holding your breath’ so start now and I’ll tell you when to stop.

  7. We could possibly send Scepovic on loan to Eibar.

     

     

    He does speak the language after all.

     

     

    Spanish that is.

     

     

    Not sure if he knows Basque.

     

     

    Same result on Wednesday.

     

     

    HH!!

  8. Roccobhoy: not a member of Naomh Pádraig but go to most of their events when I’m not in Glasgow. The last time I met you was in Glasgow airport after the last match of this season. I spoke to you about the Easter 1916 event in Dublin.

  9. rudicantfail on

    thompsontwin

     

     

    20:00 on 18 July, 2015

     

    Lower EPL clubs, or, top Championship favourites, would pay only around £5 million plus maybe add-ons for VVD – similar to Hooper and Ki.

     

     

    Fantasy to believe otherwise.

     

     

     

    Careful….You will get ridiculed on here for pragmatism…….

  10. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    rudicantfail

     

     

    No you get ridiculed for being err…………ridiculous.

  11. Almore, vague recollections mate. I/We met Efe Embrose at Glasgow airport that evening if memory serves me. I may drop in on Wednesday.

     

     

    HH

     

    Roccobhoy

  12. rudicantfail on

    big-cup-winners

     

     

    20:13 on 18 July, 2015

     

    rudicantfail

     

     

    No you get ridiculed for being err…………ridiculous.

     

     

    Lol….touché.

  13. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    No problem clunks

     

    No response, think ole PF is well on

  14. phone the pub they are in and asked if BMCUWP was in……….his real name tho………but bar lady said he had left……

     

     

    lol

  15. thompsontwin

     

    19:48 on 18 July, 2015

     

     

    Why are you riled up with negativity about a hypothetical situation?

     

    Don’t beat yourself up about it.

     

    .

     

    .

     

    .

     

    .

     

    Post your address and I’m sure someone will volunteer to give you a right good flagellation.

  16. No analogy, no similarity just a story with a cocktail of weird and wonderful characters combining as one

  17. rudicantfail on

    The game that stopped the tainted 10…..

     

     

     

    Stubbsy….We salute you!

     

     

    Celtic 1 Rangers 1 SPL 19th November 1997 – YouTube

     

    ▶ 5:01

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a6OHQH9a7s

     

    1 Dec 2011 – Uploaded by RangersMatches

     

    Gazza’s red card was a joke he fouled nobody and how lucky were celtic to scrape a draw v …

  18. 5 pt game in favour of Kerry !

     

    The Kingdom doin to Cork what Kerry normally do :(

     

    2pts only 2nd half not good enough Brian Cuthbert !!!!!!!!!!

  19. Cheesy I know.

     

     

    But set to macaroon classic ditty.

     

     

    Leighs Leighs

     

    scores when he please.

     

     

    Leighs leighs

     

    scores when he please.

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