Despite their mid-season status, KR Reykjavik should offer little genuine challenge to Celtic’s squad of Champions League experienced professionals. Still, the nerves tingle a little seeing a new management team lead the squad out of Glasgow Airport this morning.
Hopefully we have six qualifying games ahead. Where we sit right now, chances of qualification are high, but far from assured. There is a lot of work ahead.
It will be fantastic to see Martin O’Neill back at Celtic Park to lead Ireland against Scotland in the nations’ Euro 2016 qualifier. Seeing the traditional away side of the stadium covered in green, while Scotland fans occupy the bulk of the stadium, will provide an interesting photo opportunity. Apart from the ‘doe a dear’ lot, it’s likely to be a wall-to wall Celtic fan event. Good to see Roy Keane back too. In the away dug-out.
Hosting Scotland-England a few days later will cement the stadium’s position as a major event venue after a year of unique opportunities.
One of Adidas’ World Cup sponsor properties was to name and present Player and Goalkeeper of the Tournament. What could go wrong? Dragging the Adidas-sponsored and clearly embarrassed Lionel Messi up the stairs to receive his award looked contrived. Despite reaching the final and, at last, building a World Cup goals tally worthy of comment (5 across 3 tournaments), Leo wasn’t even Argentina’s best player.
These awards are subjective, so there are no right or wrong decisions, but this one brought Adidas derision.
Delighted for Germany. The demographics are moving against European football but the continental game has never been as strong.
Many thanks to everyone who bid on the auction or bought a raffle ticket for the signed canvasses last week. The raffle raised £604 and was won by CQN legend, Kolnbhoy. Funds from both canvasses are going to Glasgow the Caring City and The Cookie Jar Foundation.
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Looking forward to the return of real football tonight.
I expect us to go with largely tried and tested men. Wholesale changes, such as the introduction of Van Dijk and Moyokoulo last year, can lead to surprises. I am happy to accept a boring win until this new team and style evolves.
It takes time to make your mark on a team. Jock’s team did not start winning immediately but their evolution was very quick. I expect Mr. Deila to take a little longer because his raw materials are not as good as those available to Jock.
Three rounds of qualification will be tricky. We should be 90% favourites for this round and 80% favourites for the next one but the final qualification will be nearer to 55 or 60%. No amount of spending cash within our means would change that equation significantly.
We are right to bemoan the qualification risks for our club. We are not alone in this. Famous names such as Aberdeen, Gothenburg, Rosenborg and Ferencvaros have started even earlier than us.
Let’s wish ourselves good luck and hope we do not need it.
An early goal (For the Celts of course) will settle the nerves. I expect the Ice men to park the bobsleigh and it will be up to us to break them down. I hope we go with an attacking team and I would like to see at least one of our young Turks in the side (preferably Henderson). Anyways I’m counting down the hours, its at a time like this I really appreciate CQN. Prior to discovering CQN, I would be spending a day like this in splendid isolation, nervous & fretful and generally pishing off Mrs corkcelt. At least now I can talk about the game and if I end up talking through my erchie, just end up pishing off a denizen from Cowie or Kilbride.
MickTT
10:29 on 15 July, 2014
Morning, right this is it, what we’ve all been waiting for, the start of our season. I’m a tad excited. Canny wait till tonight, hopefully stil meeting a few bhoys in Ayrshire’s Saturday venue.!
Ayrshire is Green and White
===========================================
Ayrshire has a safe Saturday venue for Tims???!!?? At this time of year?
Anyway, no excuses for the bhoys in hoops tonight. No hiding places.
JC and RD will demand focus and performance from the off.
The right pair IMO for such an early start.
Bet of the day – big Virgil for 2 or more – 60/1. Ker-ching!
foster
Matthews, Van Dijk, Mulgrew, Izzy
Biton, Johansen
Griffiths Commons Boeriggter
Stokes
Waiting in the wings to come on a make an impact, Henderson, McGregor, and Pukki….
I predict 2-1 to us over there….. 3 – 0 at Murrayfield…. 5-1 Aggregate Win.!!
corkcelt
…….or Hamilton :-)
HT indeed Neil’s 424 did cost us a few times. But his lack of options in middle of park swayed him that way sometime
You can batter defences as much as you like, but goal scorers cost money. Something our club did not want to do on one player
The CL was frankly an embarrassment We know where we have to strengthen , but Ronny was brought in as he says he likes to develop players Pl was jumping through hoops at that one. No transfer budget is the way forward I fear , plus a balance sheet transfer :(
Ps. You Married yet?
2 youths are going round Coatbridge collecting for Yorkhill Sick Childrens its a SCAM!! If you gave them money phone the police and get this scum locked up. There are quite a few SCAMS going on just now so be ready for them!!!
If they do come to your door take a picture of them and watch them scamper!!!
Even take a selfie!!!
For those in Ireland who can’t get BBC Scotland, the game is on 3e at 7.55.
“We battered Morton and in another night we could have scored a barra load, it was nothing to do with lack of options in the middle or up front.
Against Aberdeen Neil Lennon picked the wrong team.
He played with two ‘wingers’ leaving us with 2 central players up against Aberdeen’s 3/4 in midfield.
His tactics cost us that day not a lack of options”
Agree 100% HT.
Much the same as the decision to leave us light in the middle against the 5 of Ross county in the sc semi.
ACGR
Just for you. Josh is playing in this tourny!!
http://www.denislawlegacytrust.co.uk/tournament/2014
ACGR
Yes. I will `phone with details.
JJ
leftclicktic
Thanks . Just a case of Monday morning blues 24 hours late.
Sydneytim
You make me laugh.
ST
Do you think that teams who DO spend big money never suffer shock defeats in Cup competitions? In Scottish terms, Celtic spend an enormous amount of money. Individual defeats happen for individual reasons and not because of overall policy at a Club. Any Club.
JJ
beaten by Barcelona, According Milan and ajax embarrassing.?
Get away with ye.
So is my ability to type on a phone in the sunshine, right enough.!
sydneytim
With the strikers we had as options we were good enough to beat Morton that night.
It would be different if we’d been well beaten, now that would have been more concerning. I’ve seen much better teams than Celtic that night batter the opposition without getting what they deserve, sometimes these things happen.
The absence of Brown had a really detrimental effect on our CL performances and results, I think that has to be taken into consideration.
I do share many of your concerns, as I’m sure you’re aware, I just think other factors such as those I’ve mentioned need to be considered also.
Ps we’re having a long courtship :-)
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/
11:53 on
15 July, 2014
2 youths are going round Coatbridge collecting for Yorkhill Sick Childrens its a SCAM!! If you gave them money phone the police and get this scum locked up. There are quite a few SCAMS going on just now so be ready for them!!!
If they do come to your door take a picture of them and watch them scamper!!!
————————————————————————-
Jude…Coatbrig cops more than likely to arrest the photo taker for takin pictures of weans.
A customer of mine is a Morton fan , really nice guy, chose not to go to the cup game against Celtic , he said they were playing so poorly he couldn’t bare to see them lose by double figures.
Picked the wrong one to miss as Hamilton shipped ten past them at the end of the season
BCW,
At least it is sunny where you are.
Some posters on here make Joe Btfsplk look happy.
GM
If we ever meet I’ll share my views on why I think NL went with the team selection that he did against Aberdeen (and some others)
I wouldn’t do it on here these days, sadly there are too many willing to attach labels to you because you voice an opinion as a Tim.
Mrs j. “Thot you said the football was finished”? Me “no darling its just starting”!!!
Corkcelt
‘Park the bobsleigh’
V funny. ;-))
Leftie
You’re a smile and a chuckle with a heartbeat. Hope the black pudding makers go easy on you!
HH jamesgang
traditionalist88
11:36 on 15 July, 2014
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Spot on about stokes and also couple of other posts you made.
Nervous about 2night
Short break for team.
New management team
no new signings,
3 first teamers only back from brazil.
Playing team half way throu their league season
Broony missing.. These are the games you need him.
Big-Cup-Winners
So AC is not Athletic Club Milan after all? Accordion Club Milan are my new Italian team 0:-)
JJ
Trad88
I’m not saying the Stokes is CL class but the guy has undoubted ability. In my opinion he needs to match that with his application and work rate.
AC Milan 2-0 Celtic – outplayed them, threw away game in last 10 min
Celtic 0-1 Barca – 10 Hoops led by Samaras played almost the game of their lives and but for a great save from Forrest may have snatched victory from one of the best teams on earth.
Celti 2-1 Ajax – Resurgent, restructured due to suspension and injury, Celts win a must-win tie with backs to the wall.
Halfway through the 2013 group stage and we’re right in the thick of it and everyone’s buoyant.
Then it inexplicably collapsed for the last 3 games; too many players hit a bad patch at the wrong time for a squad of our limited quality.
But embarrassing? Whit?
Same again please, Hoops, save the second round of matches.
proudbhoy
Cheers – yes its only natural to be nervous about these games. In some ways we can’t win anyway – win 3-0 and it’ll be ‘oh you should be beating these teams’ and lose..well its the end of the world!
I think we’ll be ok this round anyway, not setting my heart on CL just in case though.
HH
hamiltontim
12:08 on 15 July, 2014
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Post your thoughts , your in my never scroll past list :-)
Just learn to ignore the people you need to.. The type that even if you proved them wrong with a million facts they would still argue.
That type is everywhere in life.. drains life outta me sometimes. Im a sucker for biting at the sneeky comments .
HT,
Look forward to it:)
Most supporters worry about possible defeat for their team in any game so I understand the slight concerns some have for tonight`s game. I have to say, though, that I don`t have any worries at all. We could, of course, come away with only a 0-0 but, overall, I am very confident of our progress.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
Just read on TSFM that sevco fans are trying to organise a “blue wall” of fans to disrupt the opening ceremony of the common wealth games at Celtic Park in protest of being “hounded” by HMRC and against BBC etc. Apparently it has the backing of some official or officials at Ibrox. Sleekit ? He needs called to account big time. Where do you even start with this.!!!!! Wonder if the cowards from the judicial system, the SFA , SPL etc are worried that they could be embarrassed by something that they should have dealt with 2 years ago . ……….Scunnered !
traditionalist88
12:15 on 15 July, 2014
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Ah dont talk.. Hear it all season then if we drop points get tortured by epl muppets .. Win the league they still moan sure its crap league.. Type of people not worth wasting breath on.
after being less than impressed with our potential new gaffer list iv well and truly bought into ronnie/john. More excited about them than i was with lennon, mowbray an wgs.. My biggest fear is we get dumped out and the massive pressure is on our new leaders.
They have hardly got great backing from the board.. Apart from vocally . But sure thats free
Hamiltontim
Yes, he has scored some fine goals and linked up very well with Hooper at times- he will have a big role to play,
HH
Roddybhoy I hope that rumour is true because it will bring their disgrace into a wider public arena.
In Cornwall at the moment without much wifi access. Have we signed anyone yet? It’s portably a rhetorical question!!!
C’mon the hoops tonight! I think I have found somewhere to watch the game !!!
RODDYBHOY
Don’t they need 28 days advance notice for this?
Everyone else does.
Aye,I know…
Roddybhoy
12:19 on
15 July, 2014
======================
Won’t be a problem mate, the pigs practiced on the Green Brigade when they tried to walk from the Gallogate to CP.
Be ‘interesting’ how this pans oot.
proudbhoy
I think we will cruise this tie but would be nice to do some transfer business to give us a boost ahhead of the next rounds,
HH