Nothing to lose rubbish, we have everything to lose

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I don’t subscribe to the ‘Nothing to lose’ lobby, who seem to think underdogs can play free from the burden of having to win.  Let me remind you where this Celtic team have come from…..

Celtic came through two qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League group stage, as bottom seed.  The collected 10 points in six incredibly tight games to finish above Benfica and Spartak Moscow to reach the knock out stage, losing only twice.

The margin between success (first or second place) and failure (bottom) was incredibly tight.  We are now 10 games into our European campaign and in the knock out stage for the first time in five years.  For Celtic, these opportunities are few and far between.

The team with nothing to lose is Juventus.  They are Italian champions and will be so again this year.  Their major competitors, Inter and Milan, occupy fourth and fifth place in the league respectively.  Napoli are the only team within 9 points of the top and they only won the league when Diego was strutting his stuff.

Juventus will be in the Champions League group stage next season and will be seeded to qualify for the knock out stage.  It could easily be the quarter finals before they face another tier-one side.  In other words, if Juve lost this tie, there will soon be another chance.

No one in the Celtic team knows if they will have another opportunity to reach deep inside the Champions League.

Nothing to lose?  For Forster, Matthews, Hooper, Lustig, Samaras, Commons, Wanyama and Mulgew, this is the greatest chance of their professional lives.  Win it and they become celebrated across Europe.  They before more valuable professionals, likely to earn bigger contracts in the future.  They have everything to lose.

On Friday 1 March the Lisbon Lions will be at the Kerrydale Suite providing commentary and answering questions on their magnificent European Cup final win in 1967. This has never happened in 46 years since that game, to say it is a unique opportunity fails to tell the whole story.

The event is part of our 125 4 125 campaign – central to reinvigorating the charitable spirit which is part of the club we love. It will be a family occasions, tickets are available at £10 for adults and £5 for children. The night has been organised by several fans working in conjunction with the people at Celtic Charity, so please do your best to support this great occasion. Individual tickets or tables are available, details here.

I’ll see you there.
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318 Comments

  1. We have reached the final knockout stage, ‘only’ three wins to get to the final, three home games in particular to remind Europe what we are about

  2. floridaghirl

     

    16:23 on

     

    11 February, 2013

     

    Henrik just arrived in Glasgow. .

     

    Did Murdo pick him up?

  3. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Summa…,

     

    narrabhoat.., was a lightweight with interruption issues:oD))))

  4. TBB

     

     

    It would be too soon, but surely at one point in the near future, the model will become to do whatever is required, within reasonable parameters, to get into the Champions’ League every season.

     

     

    Yes, we will have to play qualifiers, but there must be a way of making Celtic the strongest club in the ‘champions’ route’ part of the qualifying set-up. If we have to qualify because we come from a wee country, we might as well make the most of our status as a big fish.

     

     

    Anything can happen on a football field over the course of a game, but we should hold all the aces. I’m not saying I know the best way to achieve that.

  5. TBB

     

     

    What I mean is, if the prize (CL money) is so valuable, we must speculate to accumulate it. Again, within all reasonable parameters.

  6. Sneddoni,

     

    Yes, someone did post that comment earlier and it did make me laugh. Later, I was in Morrison`s and, as is my wont, I looked at the back page of the DR. What I considered,and I guess most normal people considered, a light-hearted comment, was headlined in aformentioned rag as : Commons TAUNTS `Gers (or whatever they call them).

     

    Whoever is responsible for that headline really has to have a good look at himself. Sevco fans are already a dangerous admixture of anger and feelings of being victimised without reckless clowns such as this being allowed to stoke that bitterness even further.

     

    JJ

  7. sixtaeseven - 4 fouls 4 cards & penalty, a day in the life on

    tamrabam

     

     

    serves them right for pinching SPL bins…

     

    ;o)

  8. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    voguepunter

     

     

    16:19 on

     

    11 February, 2013

     

     

    They’ll all be in a spin…….LLLLOOOOLLLL….well done to the Board and to the CELTIC SUPPORTERS…….OVER AND OVER, WE WILL FOLLOW YOU

  9. ScotPatsFan

     

    15:49 on

     

    11 February, 2013

     

     

    mickbhoy1888

     

    16:19 on

     

    11 February, 2013

     

     

    Local knowledge always helps Many thanks for the advice. Time to re-think me thinks.

  10. mickbhoy1888

     

    16:26

     

    “Achhhhh the pleasures of being retired and self employed ”

     

    eh????

  11. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Summa.,

     

    where is the Dolphin

     

    I know there is an Irish boozers at the Sheraton but told there is a rugbly club where tims seem to congregate.

     

    I like the idea of the Dolphin as its a favorite watering hle in Partick, so theres a nice symmetry about it all.

  12. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    I’ve had some real ‘tussles’ with Board bashers on CQN……….I remain a VERY HAPPY CLAPPER, since I know our wonderful Club is in ‘ghood hands’ ……and has been since the day FERGUS arrived……..and Brian Quinn is one helluva unsung hero …… !!!!!!!!!!!

  13. Philbhoy - It's just the beginning! on

    !!Bada Bing!!

     

     

    If it was the huns in the CL the programme would be on at 7:30!

     

     

    I’ll be in my bed at 10!!

  14. brnobhoy

     

    15:02 on

     

    11 February, 2013

     

     

    Thanks for your help, very much appreciated. ( leads me to question, is there anything that can’t be sorted out via CQN? :) )

     

     

    Will get your email from Paul and send you the details for Brno once we sort out the rest of the trip.

     

     

    Thanks again

     

     

    HH

  15. The Battered Bunnet on

    C_F

     

     

    It’s a circle no one in Scottish football can easily square. We’ve seen enough over the years, let alone this season, to know that there is no sure thing in knock out competitions, and the club is somewhat unlikely to attempt to disprove that by blowing the dough on a couple of superstars in time for ECL qualifying in July.

     

     

    Most likely thing this summer is to sign a couple of good players in June/July, and sell when the qualifiers are concluded.

     

     

    If we qualify we can strengthen again before the window closes. If we don’t, we have covered the cash.

     

     

    What’s imperative is that we increase the coefficient such that we qualify automatically at some point in the future, but this can best be achieved with good results from other Scottish clubs, something I’m not holding my breath about short term.

     

     

    To be an absolute shoo-in for next year’s competition, it’s best we simply win this year’s. That’ll keep most folk happy :¬)

  16. TBB-As one who is always positively trying to promote the Celtic cause,and look to new revenue streams,do you think the increase in profits might be used to reduce Season Ticket prices to make it easier for folks? It might seem a radical suggestion but it might bear fruit in coming years.

  17. Favouriteuncle @ 16:33

     

     

    Confirmed the Briggs Bar is shut but I doss doon in a hoose not far away from it and do my training up in mulguy

  18. TBB – I think the money will allow Neil and JP to take a punt on 1 or 2 of the players on JP’s £3m – £4m list. The ones he expects to be £20m+ players.

     

     

    We are currently buying on his £1.5m list.

  19. Jungle Jim @ 16:34

     

     

    Retired and bought a taxi so only my conscience to wrestle with now when I don’t go into work

  20. Just saw the interim report. Wow.

     

     

    Armageddon rearing it’s head. Oh my god how we need Sevco.

     

     

    Ahem…….not!

  21. Money and football .

     

     

    The man who will be between the sticks for Juve tomorrow night cost 55 million Euros

  22. Canamalar,

     

     

    this may mean more to you than me:

     

     

    “Admirals, The Ritz, 22:45 kick off.”

     

     

    Hope that helps mate.

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  23. mickbhoy1888

     

     

    Makes more sense now but I think of retired as not working and self-employed as working.

     

    For instance, I felt I had come out of retirement today because I Hoovered the carpets 0:-)

     

    JJ

     

     

    PS I Hoovered to take my mind off tomorrow! I`m going up the Gym later to, hopefully, tire myself enough to be able to sleep tonight. Is everyone else paricularly excited about this one? I think the Barca game has energised us as a support even more than normally for these games.

     

     

    PPS Ps is longer than post! Sooooo excited!

  24. The Battered Bunnet

     

    16:07 on

     

    11 February, 2013

     

    Stonking set of interim figures from Celtic, that will improve further at year end.

     

     

    I expect an 8 figure + bank balance after netting off debt.

     

     

    How do you work that out?

     

    The only revenue not already included in these figures is the monies from UEFA for the Juve game and the gate money .If we dont progress then the only extra monies over and above the norm in till 30th June 2013 is the Juve money. The net debt of £130k takes into account the monies in the bank of £10m and the loans outstanding of £10m . So at a guess max £5.0 m in the bank as at 30th June assuming we don’t progress.

     

    In fact probably optimistic since ST money already in.

  25. Canamalar,

     

     

    get my email addy off BT.

     

     

    EN gave me some contact details for you to get in touch if you want.

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  26. The Boy Jinky

     

    15:45 on

     

    11 February, 2013

     

    So were £130K in debt with a pot of cash in the bank.. And at least one big pay day tomorrow as well as scottish cup revenue and the money from the st mirren semi.

     

     

    Armageddons rubbish

     

     

    What a load of cobblers lets all play a simple game of Arithmetic here

     

    Money coming In

     

    1) Sale of Ki 6.25 million

     

    2) CL Group Stages Qualification 15 Million

     

    3) Points tally Ten 3 Million for three wins & 500K for a draw total £3.5 Million

     

    4) Home Gate Receipts & TV money from Sky @ Least £5,000.000

     

    5) Qualification for CL last 16/2013 £5,000,000

     

     

    Payers out the door and off the wage bill

     

    1)Slow Danny 2) Cha-Do-Ray 3) Glen Loovens 4) Daryl Murphy 5) Ras The Dane

     

    6) Darren O’Day 7) The American Goalie 8) The Wee African Fellow To Club Paper Roses 9) 10) 11) Are other fringe players in fact everyone please feel free to add

     

    who I’ve missed

     

    Players In:

     

    1) Efe Ambrose Price £1.5 Million

     

    2) Lassad (Free Agent)

     

    3) Mixu (Loan)

     

    4) Croat Goalie (Free Agent)

     

    5) New Australian Bhoy 400K

     

    6) New Israel Player (Loan)

     

    7) New Young Irish Bhoy (Pre-Contract & Probably Free Agent)

     

    Spent on transfer fees £1.9 million so far this Season

     

    But their are more players off the book of wages than on the book of wages

     

    Also where is the mention of collecting £2.5 million for winning

     

    the SPL last Season? (2011/2012)

     

    So if you add SPL Title winnings too the Hoops exploits in the CL this

     

    Season + the sale of Ki to Swansea for 6.25 Mil & CL Group Stage Point’s tally

     

    TV Money (Sky) & Home Gate Receipts that all add’s up to £37,250.000

     

    37.25 Mil & That’s not even counting the ITV TV Money for the Juve home match

     

    & Gate receipts which will take said tally to over £40,000,000 (40 Mil)

     

    Forget the Scottish Cup money etc-etc for the time being who is on the

     

    serious fiddle here because if you even take into account writing off the

     

    Hoops debt, the players CL win bonus’s and wages, out of said amount

     

    of money coming in @ the end of this Season there should still be plenty

     

    of shekels left over with an additional 2.5 Mil for winning the SPL for Season

     

    2012/2013 to be added on as well with everything else being a bonus

  27. Celtic Football Club‏@celticfc

     

     

    Scott Brown chats to the assembled media. (KM) #forzaceltic pic.twitter.com/33NBUqTo

     

     

     

     

    View photo Reply

     

    Retweet

     

     

    Favorite

     

     

    More

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    5mCeltic Football Club‏@celticfc

     

     

    A few pictures from the pre-match press conference. Story coming soon. (KM) #forzaceltic pic.twitter.com/7gSTA6zI

     

     

     

     

    View photo

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    5mWe Are @Celtic‏@celtic

     

     

    Celtic interims stunning-ageddon http://dlvr.it/2x1FdZ #celtic

     

     

     

     

    from Glasgow City, Glasgow City

  28. Yeah Re: above post I forgot to add another 6 Mil for the new

     

    3 Year Magners Cider Sponsorship deal which will also be

     

    added from Summer time on-wards with no doubt new tops

     

    being bought up like going out of fashion quick time @ a bulls

     

    eye (£50) a top and we are skint don’t make me laugh LOL

     

    oh my sides are getting sore who ever made that report is

     

    on another planet or what medication is he on can I get some

     

    to put my brain into vacation mode

  29. thindimebhoy:13:22 on11 February, 2013:miki67

     

    Nae offence taken mate although I’m partial to some pizza keech from time to time..!

     

    >>>>>

     

    I used to love the occasional pizza…….Asda (no advertising intended) are doing a great dal on ‘design yer own’ pizza @the cooked foods counter. Pretty damn’ good.

     

    However…..such things are off the menu for yours truly for now.

     

    HH!

     

    Anyway I hope we leave Juve with Pizza onna their arrogantly coiffeured nappers on Pizza (or is it Pancake?) Tuesday.

     

    Ra morra! COYBIG!!!

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69O4PXzAQ5Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

  30. charliebhoy

     

     

    Ha, funny that I hear “lasagne” too – you are not alone.

     

     

    Bloody difficult to shift the notion once you’ve thought about it too.

  31. bournesouprecipe: 15:22 on 11 February, 2013

     

    >>>>>

     

    Heartwarming. Brought a smile to my face. Ta.

     

    HH!

     

    All Hail The Thai Tims!

  32. Favorite (Spelled The American Way) Uncle & MickyBhoy1888

     

    The Briggs will soon be turning into one of those World Buffets

     

    According to Friend of mine he reckons the one over in Pollock

     

    is very good with good quality food available for £10 per head

     

    eat as much as you want I’ll have to let Adam Richman of Man

     

    v Food know about this one with the following food available

     

    1) Indian 2) Chinese 3) Italian 4) Toby Cavery 5) A Doggy Bag

     

    Yes Please