Preparing professionally for the Europa League

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At his presidential inauguration in 1963, Lydon B. Johnson said, “I would give anything not to be standing here today”.  It is with a similar sense of mourning that we look at tonight’s Europa League qualifier between two Baltic sides, Spartaks Jurmala and Suduva, to discover who we face in the play-off round.  I wouldn’t give anything to be in the Champions League qualifier, but I’d happily concede a few league defeats.

Europa League group stage qualification can be worth up to £10m to Celtic, but even winning the trophy will not come near to closing the financial gap between this tournament and Champions League group stage money.  Still, it is an important tournament for reasons other than money.

Accumulating Uefa coefficient points in the Champions League has proven very difficult for Celtic.  Winning games in the Europa will be easier; we have to deliver on this target.  It is also important to qualify from the group into the knockout stages.  We have not faced genuine domestic competition in a very long time, and I see little change this year.  As a consequence, we need European action after Christmas.  Better teams that Celtic have licked their wounds and got on with life in the Europa League, we need to do the same and prepare for the tournament in a professional manner.

I don’t know if the intervening 16 years have been kind to Suduva since we last met 16 years ago, but they hold a special place in our folklore, so I hope they progress tonight.  I also have a great wee story of one man pitching up in the North Stand for a few minutes at the home game, just to be there.

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448 Comments

  1. Delaneys Dunky on

    David66

     

    It is all the fault of Croatian Tims wearing Polis uniforms in Slovenia. Expect a couple of stabbings in self defence fae the innocent Chelsea fans. Scotland’s shame indeed Daviebhoy.

  2. if im right john fallon and frank haffey wore yellow jerseys. but Ronnie simpson wore a green one. am I right or wrong.hh.

  3. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    SOUKOS. 607

     

     

    It’s becoming very difficult to know what to believe about any Celtic-related subject.

     

     

    We need to have a more open and honest relationship with the fans in many areas. This might put a stop to stories like the one(s) you refer to.

  4. weebobbycollins on

    BSR…strange that!

     

    Overheard at the coffee machine, “Those fenian bigots want to know everything.”

  5. the glorious balance sheet on

    Some interesting score lines

     

     

    Legia Warsaw down 4-1 on aggregate to a team from Luxembourg

     

     

    Zenit 3-0 up with 15 minutes to go after losing their first leg 4-0. They’re down to 10 men too

  6. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BIGPACKY

     

     

    Too young to have seen Frank Haffey. You’re right about the other two though.

     

     

    I think all Celtic goalies wore yellow from then,until Peter Latchford arrived.

  7. weebobbycollins on

    Green was the colour of choice for English goalies, yellow in Scotia…but yes, faither preferred green…

  8. prestonpans bhoys on

    Got a stream on the hun game Maribor starting to impose themselves on the game. Oh huns wearing their Orange top too

  9. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    RONBACARDI

     

     

    Easiest way to do it is via a press conference or interview with Celtic TV.

  10. Delaneys Dunky on

    WBC

     

    As a kid, I used to love seeing Pat Jennings playing for the occupied 6 counties team, at Windsor Park, resplendent in yellow shirt, white shorts and green socks. Think Pat liked that colour scheme too. ;)))

  11. mike in toronto on

    Ron Bacardi/BMCUWP

     

     

    I was thinking in a different direction …. a baseball bat and a phone book would be involved.

  12. FK Sūduva is a professional football club based in the city of Marijampolė, Lithuania. Founded in 1921, they currently play in the Lithuanian top division, the A Lyga. The team is currently the champions of A Lyga.

     

     

    The club has played in the A Lyga since 2002 and have never been relegated from the Lithuanian top division. In 2006 the team won the Lithuanian Cup, a feat they repeated in 2009 with a 1–0 victory over Tauras in the final.[1] In 2017 Sūduva won the A Lyga.

     

     

    The team’s colours are white and red. The club plays at ARVI Football Arena in Marijampolė

     

     

    wiki CSC