The incentive for Brendan Rodgers and his players is clear, beat AEK Athens and you will face either Malmo or Vidi (known as Videoton until earlier this year) in the Champions League play-off round.
Malmo, who are 16 games into their league programme, will be slight favourites to make the play-off round. They beat Romanians Cluj in the last round and Kosovans Drita in the first qualifier.
The Swedes were eliminated from the second qualifying round last year by Vardar of Macedona – a stage which did not offer the compensation of a Europa League entry.
Vidi recorded the result of the last round by eliminating Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 on aggregate. They overcame Maltese and Estonian opposition a year ago, before recording a remarkable away goals victory over Girondins Bordeaux. Eventually losing 4-0 on aggregate to Partizan Belgrade.
It all went wrong for Celtic three years ago when former player, Jo Inge Berget returned to haunt us for Malmo. Berget scored twice in the Champions League play-off first leg at Celtic Park in a 3-2 Celtic win, but the Swedes progressed after winning the return 2-0.
Malmo changed manager in June, appointing Uwe Rosler, who was sacked by Fleetwood Town in February, Not a conventional route to Champions League glory.
There are pitfalls if we approach the tie as ill-prepared as we were in 2015, or as Bordeaux were last month, but AEK are by far the strongest team we will face in order to reach the group stage.
It’s all about Celtic Park on Wednesday; the hugest or hugest games.
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BSR @ 12.20
The CB state of flux has been known about since March.
If the only name we had on our list was the now injured SMcK then we have been poorly prepared for this season.
Not sure if games are being played, points being made or cards being marked but the CFC Squad management process is currently not fit for purpose.
We are in a great positions but we are squandering it — RB, LB and CB.
@ BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 7TH AUGUST 2018 12:20 PM
Celtic fans would have every right to be angry with the board if J McG makes his way to Villa after BR has made it clear that he wants to sign him. Hibs are playing hard ball and rightly so given that AV are supposedly interested and willing to meet their valuation (we would do the same with one of our players).
As for Boyata, i would imagine that the majority of Celtic fans would be happy to sell him provided the money was re-invested in the team. However, selling for nearly £10m and then buying McKenna of Aberdeen would not suffice.
S/S @ 12.31
Patter is pretty weak with this one.
Madmitch,
Mc Carthy would have bankrupted us with his hospital bills.
A few of those CFs that could not hack it with us are doing quite nicely for themselves presently.Hindsight is such awonderful thing.Especially among some Celtic fans.
David17, good point, I will withold my judgement.
Is Declan John available? ?
The reality is that Celtic Park hasn’t been the best place to develop young talent.
I remember thinking we should have steamed in and signed McGinn when he was a free, Snodgrass when he was at Livi and McCarthy at Hamilton Accies. I genuinely believe that Scottish lads are more likely to stay for the long haul like Griffiths, Brown and Tierney.
But we have had too many coaches that favoured experience like Lennon, O’Neill and Strachan. Thing improved in that regard under Ronnie and even more so under Brendan Rodgers.
John McGinn might be a miss but I believe Paul67 when he says Hibs will be trying to sell him to anybody else but us. Even if we matched the Villa bid we wouldn’t end up with McGinn….
Jason McGrogan is useless…
TB @ 12.35
JMcC and hospital bills you say …
Same guy that played 77 EPL games in his first 3 seasons …
The guy who in 2012/13 played in every league match …
Note quite getting the sick note vibe you allude to.
Madmitch…you say we are in a great position…to do what?
And that initials only thing is annoying!
The hands cant hit,
Who exactly would suffice for you?There are two bang average CHs in the EPL going for £100 million the pair.Every club is scouring the world for players.When Brendan spies someone like Mc Kenna,and thinks he will do a job for him,you are not pleased.What is it you want exactly?
But you know that…
If John McGinn really wants to play for Celtic and Celtic really want to sign him and both are willing to wait (if need be) until the winter transfer window, then he doesn’t sign for anyone else. Sounds simple I know, but surely given his family connections to the club, there is some level of communication between them.
It’s why you do it…
McFadden, Fletcher, McCarthy and McGinn are the completed answers in today’s MadMitch codex competition?
Insert smiley face
WBC @ 12.41
A position to expand the club, improve the playing squad and play better football.
ZIGGYDOC1 on 7TH AUGUST 2018 12:44 PM
If John McGinn really wants to play for Celtic and Celtic really want to sign him and both are willing to wait (if need be) until the winter transfer window, then he doesn’t sign for anyone else. Sounds simple I know, but surely given his family connections to the club, there is some level of communication between them.
_______
The cynical view would be that McGinn would rather be on Aston villa wages for 12 months than Hibs wages.
Villa can pay bigger wages than Celtic anyway…..
Madmitch,
I see you left out the last 5 years.I would not think that 77 games in 3 seasons,when he was younger and,lets say,less inclined to be injured was a fantastic record.On those figures he would miss 2/3 of our season.
Figures eh.Amazing what you can make of them.
Celtic with probably biggest game of the seasom coming up – zero discussion.
MSM press buttons on Celtic transfer crisis with subplots of boardroom fallouts – off the scale.
Well done MSM….
Think we have enough to qualify now and believe we will be stronger by end of August.
Mc Fadden,Fletcher,Mc Carthy.Dear God.
Big wavy,
As do I.
MM @ 12.48….thanks for reply…I’ll judge at the end of this tranfer period…
Is it ridiculous to suggest with his known leanings & probable in family communications he knows he can sign in January and get a big wage and a huge part of the 2 million offered???
BW
:0
Most are a parody of usual MSM guff. Just that.
The significant thing currantly for scoddish football “reporting” is the relegation of any real Celtic News below the radar or just below the swimmin’, cyclin’, bowlin’, etc etc…..and no worryin’ news abooot The Rainjurz is allowed……… or allowed to live long……….
There are 3 particular parts that need to agree to a transfer.
Buying club. Selling club. The player involved.
The chat from Paul67 , the Timternet & a couple of posters, who know the family, on CQN is that John McGinn wants to play for Celtic.
I sincerely hope he does. I don’t give a Bombay about egos , especially Petrie ‘s .
Brendan wants him , I don’t disagree. I would be gutted to lose him for a small amount when we’ve got a huge bank balance.
Concerned CSC
Turkeybhoy
Good man….I blame the heatwave personally. So many positives at the moment CQN is fast turning into the Victor Meldrew of the Celtic social space…
@ TURKEYBHOY on 7TH AUGUST 2018 12:43 PM
For some reason this fake argument continues to be made that Celtic have to pay EPL prices for a CB. Look around Europe, the EPL is unique in the money it spends on players (for example, look at discrepancy in spending between newly promoted teams across the top 5 leagues: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/93o4o7/spending_for_the_newly_promoted_clubs_in_the_top/ ).
Certainly, if Celtic were looking only at the English market, they wouldn’t be able to afford the players as there is a huge EPL premium to pay. However, given the length of time we have known that the CB position has been a problem issue and Celtic’s relative size and resources, we should be able to scout the European market for alternatives. Another example, Anderlecht signed Ognjen Vranjes (35 caps for Bosnia and AEK’s starting CB last season) for €3 million. That hardly sits with the narrative of Celtic having to pay £20m for a CB.
As for your McKenna comment, it is clear that if we sign McKenna (and on top of Hendry) that we limiting Rodgers’ transfer budget to this market. He has talked of bringing in quality players only. Can you sit there and make an argument that either of McKenna and Hendry are quality players.
Plus, Rodgers’ signings are clearly limited to the budget we afford him. If he is told that he has £1m to spend on a CB then he gets Hendry. If he is told that he has £10m, do you think he still gets Hendry?
:)))))))))))))))))))
Madmitch.
A position to expand the club.
Like taking the the turnoverto almost £ 100 million.
To having the best sponsorship deals in the clubs history.
To be in the process of building Hotel,Superstore,Museum.
Improve the playing squad
A squad that contains,KT,Ajer,Forrest,Broony,Mc Gregor,Rogic,Ntcham,Edouarde,Dembele,Sinclair,LG,and a collection of terrific prospects,including the incoming Arzani.
To play better football.
I wont even answer that,except to say,that about 99% of fans are delighted with the football.
Madmitch
That’s poor by your standards
The unaltered plan took a proverbial knock when Simunovic was suspended and Boyata’s stay at the WC was longer than expected.
That’s right management plan was “not to enter the transfer market” for the qualifiers when we’d already bought two, CBs? Hendry and Compper
Both not good enough? ( or just the one fill your boots )
Whether you object to ‘the plan’ is another matter but I don’t see where Bre
The plan remains the same ( until the English window closes and Boyata decides what he’s doing coming or going Brendan Rodgers own words )
Only then will Celtic spend ‘big’ on a suitable CB if there is one.
We’ve bought two CB’s for development I doubt the McKenna story as soon as Celtic supporters on the internet fall for it.
Next thing you know you’ll be telling us you knew Dedryk was worth £12M
THE HANDS
Again repetitive and poor by your standards
No, the Celtic supporters wouldn’t be angry when you don’t know what Brendan Rodgers really thinks or do you?
No, you don’t, and you only read the Daily Record or its equivalent.
Yes, Brendan Rodgers wants John McGinn but at Celtic’s price only, not SMSM’s.
You amongst others are the Pied Piper’s dinner money lapping up the laptop loyal sh874 available nearly every day, with a twist.
I would hope the back fall position for McGinn isn’t another loan with a view to protracted annual negotiation.
G-D
That’s the plan,bud.
The hands cant hit,
Do you honestly believe that we have not been scouting Europe?As stupid as the EPL clubs are,they will be doing the same.As will the other big 4 countries.The best players will go there.Brendan keeps saying he does not just want numbers.Your opinion on Mc Kenna is based on what?How often have you seen him play?He is discarded because he is Scottish.Hendry is a project that Brendan thinks he can work with.Our history would be much changed if we had never signed Mc Bride,Wallace,Mc Clair,Walker,Provan,Broony,all Scottish.
TIMALOY29 on 7TH AUGUST 2018 12:49 PM
The cynical view would be that McGinn would rather be on Aston villa wages for 12 months than Hibs wages.
Villa can pay bigger wages than Celtic anyway…..
————–
That may well be the case and I wouldn’t begrudge the boy. However, that means he doesn’t really want to play for Celtic enough.
Hibs want Scott Allan…….a free player plus cash…
@ BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 7TH AUGUST 2018 1:08 PM
Unsure how my post is lapping up the laptop loyal’s nonsense.
Celtic (read Rodgers) want McGinn. We have made 3 offers. Hibs want more.
Now, whether the AV interest is true or not, we are in a situation where Hibs are playing hard ball and we run the risk of missing out on McGinn. Everything I’ve said seems fairly objective.
Turkeybhoy on 7th August 2018 1:06 pm
Madmitch.
A position to expand the club.
Like taking the the turnoverto almost £ 100 million.
To having the best sponsorship deals in the clubs history.
To be in the process of building Hotel,Superstore,Museum.
Improve the playing squad
A squad that contains,KT,Ajer,Forrest,Broony,Mc Gregor,Rogic,Ntcham,Edouarde,Dembele,Sinclair,LG,and a collection of terrific prospects,including the incoming Arzani.
To play better football.
I wont even answer that,except to say,that about 99% of fans are delighted with the football.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Excellent post
@ TURKEYBHOY on 7TH AUGUST 2018 1:18 PM
You are right Turkeybhoy, McKenna is the signing to come in and sort out of defensive woes. He wouldn’t be an underwhelming signing at all.