Rogic, Zenit’s final prep

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Pictures of Tom Rogic back at training are very welcome but he will surely be weeks away from competing at the top level, I don’t hold out any hope for him playing in the away game against Zenit, never mind the home game.  You will remember Brendan Rodgers took a long time before allowing Tom to play an entire 90 minutes, suggesting latent concerns about the player’s natural fitness.  I have him down for an appearance at the end of the month.

Zenit got the better of Maribor in Turkey on Saturday in their final warm-up game before facing Celtic, although the Slovenians, also on a midterm break, had more of the play and chances. There is little confidence ahead of Thursday’s Europa League tie, but that nervousness you feel in July, when we leave for Scandinavia to play a team 22 games into their season, will be felt in Russia right now.

Zenit may be stronger, but we have reasons to be hopeful.

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296 Comments

  1. Getting to the CL group stages is obviously huge for us and maybe we wouldn’t have complained too much if Anderlecht had pipped us for 3rd.

     

     

    Now though we have a new knock-out tourney to play in and I would like to hear, not the players but BR and Chris Davies say that we want to compete in the latter stages.

     

     

    I don’t want a performance that makes the players better ie learning to always play the ball out from the back against top quality players, but playing for a result and if that means going long or just clearing our lines first and foremost then I think that’s imo what we should do.

     

     

    I think the players would get a huge long term boost if we maybe got through a few rounds so I think we should go for a more safety first approach.

     

     

    I think what I’m trying to say is we’re delighted to qualify for the CL but we shouldn’t look on this as an extra Euro tie as a reward for coming 3rd but as a tournament to show we are a serious team that outwith the elite teams we can hold our own even with a smaller budget.

     

     

    Would be delighted with a draw and a Samarasesque heroic performance in Russia.

     

     

    Anyway, still great Celtic times regardless.

  2. What does the transfer fee matter for Celtic players?

     

     

    Tierney cost nothing, Forrest cost nothing, Ajer small fee, Gordon free, Dembele 500k

     

     

    Larsson 600k, Lubo small fee

     

     

    Lions only 2 were buys

     

     

    Size of transfer says nothing about quality of the player.

  3. Harry Boe a couple of things.

     

     

    Firstly the tired old ghost of rangers isn’t apt here. Absolutely no one is advocating reckless behaviour. This ghost rattling stuff is tiresome. Please desist.

     

     

    On your point about healthy tension. Is there a healthy tension? I don’t think there is. Celtic, for whatever reason , have amassed over £50m in cash (remember the £30m is net cash at bank). Quite apart from why they are doing this I think the likes of auldheid is inventing excuses, something I have noticed he is more and more likely to do (more on later). Where was the healthy tension that led to poor Ronny being appointed when he shouldn’t have been. The sort of healthy tension that leads to an incredibly poor sevco side beating us in a cup semi final? The sort of healthy tension that leads us to write off the zenit game but at the same time charge supporters a ridiculous amount of money.

     

     

    The problem is, without Celtic fans walking away, the board feel absolutely no sense of tension. We are their cash cow to exploit. Where is the healthy tension when the board are calling us criminal racists for daring to try and drive a sense of marality into them? Or when they illegally send all our details to the police?

     

     

    Or when they ban supporters en masse for small disturbances?

     

     

    There is no healthy tension. Just an unhealthy disdain and exploitation.

     

     

    That’s what allows you to a mass £50m and write of any sense of ambition against zenit. It’s pretty pathetic really. It’s a.so pathetic that Davies (he of the sound bite) is wheeled out to essentially tell you all you have no chance against zenit.

     

     

    Code for “don’t complain if we get horsed”

     

     

    Someone said earlier that Brendan was happy with what he got in the transfer window. So what happened to the we are only bringing in players who can increase the quality we don’t need numbers etc. We simply didn’t do this. It was the same nonsense about selling dembele and then not selling dembele.

     

     

    And auldheid I am not sure if you are deliberately misrepresenting me but your jam tomorrow stuff really does take the biscuit. The downward spiral I spoke was the one kicked off by Celtic by not maximising chances for cl qualification. That will cause the downward spiral because it will lead to prudence based on prudence. Saying lets save up another 20 to 30m so we can have 70 to 80 m in the bank isn’t even a territory paul67 would get into without blushing (and that’s saying something). These days Paul stays clear of this savings drive because it’s simply not a credible thing to do for a football club………..

  4. Neganon2,

     

    You have posted regularly that Celtic have £50m in cash,

     

    how do you work that out,sorry if its obvious and i just dont see it

  5. Ghordybhoy net cash at bank £30m. This is offset against long term loans which I am sure are around £20m ish. Ergo £50m

  6. Why are none of these financial GENIUSES running Celtic? We surely need them.

     

    Why doesnt Peter Lawwell post on here?

     

    Maybe he’s too busy…running Celtic.

  7. Neganon2,

     

    cheers for the reply,but if Celtic spend £50m

     

    they would then be £20 m in debt,why would you want them to do that,

     

    i have no issues with spending the majority of the £30m they have on the right players

  8. how about.

     

     

    wages

     

    winning the spl

     

    going to the group stages.

     

    we have no tv deal to fall back on.

  9. I would love the financial geniuses on here to list the players that Celtic should be signing, do these players want to:

     

     

    (a) Accept the wages that Celtic can reasonably cover

     

    (b) Accept going to places like Dingwall (Global Energy Stadium) on a wet cold night (apologies to Ross County)

     

     

    They might do this if they are a VvD or a Big Victor starting out – but hey is that not what Celtic are already doing?

  10. SCULLYBHOY

     

    Nobody starts at the top. VVD and Wanyama, and the rest knew if they couldn;t make it there they couldn’t make it anywhere… I’m off on another theme now arnt I?

  11. Ghuys.. if anyone interested.. 5 a side Football for Seniors.

     

    Over 55’s game, Fridays between 6 and 7, Eastfield Leisure Centre, Rutherglen, Glasgow. Emphasis on fun, fitness and friendship.. Strips and astro turf trainers provided, £2.70 for the game, or £5.00 game, swim and sauna. Great bunch of Guys, good fun, C’mon join in.

     

    Cheers.

     

    Drop me a line, andyr53@btinternet.com.

     

    HH.

  12. Andyr53

     

    On my doorstep, and a good night and time for me alas i will have to wait 6 years for a game.

     

    If your short or need a ringer I’m your man

  13. Good morning, friends, from a cold but dry East Kilbride.

     

    In no particular order –

     

    Happy Ash Wednesday

     

    Happy Valentines Day

     

    Happy Administration Day

  14. Harry Boe @ 8.44 on Page 6 – a nice succinct thought provoking post which I’ll now think about on my way for the ole Ashes…

  15. Looking forward in anticipation to a performance tomorrow that surpasses our recent form.

     

    I will also be looking at the crowd, and if it’s not a near capacity crowd I know where the blame should lie.

     

     

    I have enjoyed the posts discussing our transfer policy. Hypothetically what use would breaking the bank be for a multi million £ player if we then fail to motivate him.?

     

     

    Not for the first time I state :- get the mental psychology correct and our undoubted talent will take care of itself

     

     

    COYBIG.

     

     

    PS : let’s hope we don’t have cause to remind ourselves how good a keeper CG actually is.

  16. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    GREENPINATA

     

     

    Hope you enjoy the match tomorrow,mate.

     

     

    Jealous as…

  17. SCULLYBHOY on 14TH FEBRUARY 2018 12:20 AM

     

    I would love the financial geniuses on here to list the players that Celtic should be signing, do these players want to:

     

     

    (a) Accept the wages that Celtic can reasonably cover

     

     

    (b) Accept going to places like Dingwall (Global Energy Stadium) on a wet cold night (apologies to Ross County)

     

     

    They might do this if they are a VvD or a Big Victor starting out – but hey is that not what Celtic are already doing?

     

    ——————————————————————————————————————————————

     

    It’s a very good question and if you conclude no marquee player would want to come and play in Scotland?Ross County on a wet Tuesday then you have to wonder why the club is banging on about how much money it has in in the bank. If however, the business model is to sign players such as VvD and Wanayama at rock bottom prices to sell them on for a vast profit then we don’t really need a war-chest unless it’s to pay for big infrastructure developments that in turn will increase the company’s turnover and profit margins.

     

     

    At the moment, we need the CL and/or selling assets to generate the multi-million pound turnover that yields a healthy profit margin. If the money in the bank then finances the hotel/museum development and this in turn provides the company with a regular multi-million pound income yield then I can see where this is all going. Income from the CL and/or selling assets cannot always be relied on whereas a successful hotel will provide much greater certainty for the business which is something all business strive for.

  18. Greenpinata @7:27

     

     

    Your post does not exactly reflect the mood of someone `looking forward` to an event.

     

     

     

    BMCUW

     

     

    ” GREENPINATA

     

     

    Hope you enjoy the match tomorrow,mate.”

     

     

    I fear your hopes may be dashed,M.

     

     

    JJ

  19. CBN @ 7:34

     

    Interesting stuff there. Thanks for that.

     

    JJ

     

     

    PS I do find factual stuff so much more interesting than brash opinion.

  20. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    HOTSMOKED

     

     

    My wee romantic self-hey,it’s the day for such things!-has never countenanced anything bar a victory going into a game.

     

     

    Frequently,I’ve turned to my mates after five minutes and said F… it,might as well go home,we’ll jooost no’ score the day* but for all my mineshafting,I’m always optimistic before a game. It’s why I don’t EVER bet on Celtic matches!

     

     

    * I recall saying that to my big pal in the early 80s when we’d battered the crossbar. He was still a newbie as a Celt,and it was part of the learning process. Home game v Dundee Utd,IIRC.

     

     

    Anyway,wi about five minutes to go,and a goal down,we’d pummelled them and got nowhere. Even he had had enough. We headed off for a few comforting means of drowning our sorrows.

     

     

    Sitting on the train back to Ardrossan,he asked how I knew we wouldn’t score that day,and so early too. Bitter experience,I replied. I hope you never learn it.

     

     

    Fella behind us said-eh,we did score!

     

     

    Yes,ya beauty,canny believe it,what a result!

     

     

    Aye,last minute,he said. They went straight back up the park and scored the winner.

     

     

    At least I saved him from that. His learning process was at an early stage,and he might have never recovered!!!

  21. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    WEETWEETWEET

     

     

    Thinking of you today,mate. For obvious reasons.

     

     

    Look out for a mail from me in a few minutes. Aye,it’s also sadly about loss,but I hope it brings even a wry smile to you.

     

     

    HH.

  22. Celtic were narrow favourites to win the home leg of the tie against Zenit around 2 weeks ago. Now, both teams at CP are rated as 7/4 with the draw at 33/13.

     

     

    Although I rate Zenit as a technically efficient team, the kind we often struggle against e.g. Gladbach and Legia, I did fancy that we could sneak a home win before probably losing over 2 ties.

     

     

    Does this shortening of the Zenit odds for CP suggest there is some Russian money being lumped on or are we betting on the opposition in disgust at the Board?

     

     

    Or is it The Zombies?

  23. Hot Smoked.

     

     

    I’ll decide if I’m looking forward to the game :)))))))

     

     

    Do you not hope we raise our game ?

     

    Do you not hope we have a full house ?

     

    Do you not hope our players are motivated and mentally tuned?

     

    Do you not hope we don’t miss Craig Gordon. ?

     

     

    Nothing remotely controversial there, The day I accept mediocrity as the norm and any lack of ambition or progress as acceptable, is the day I reevaluate my support.

     

     

    It’s a blog, opinions are oxygen, or we just become the Celtic view mk2.

     

     

    HH to you.

  24. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    Good morning. Some Sky/BT chat –

     

     

    The FA Premier League has announced that five of its seven live UK broadcast rights packages for the 2020-22 seasons have been awarded with BT winning one and Sky four. Sky has won all of the Sunday games and every weekend first pick match. BT has won the 32 Saturday games at 12:30pm, including 20 second picks, relinquishing its Saturday evening “wrap up” slot, which had anyway been diluted by the arrival of the eight later matches at 19:45 in package D. The sales process has not concluded on two packages which have fewer and lower value mid-week and bank holiday matches. FAPL says that it has interest from multiple bidders for the unsold two packages although it doesn’t say if bidding has exceeded its reserve prices. BT says that it remains engaged with the FAPL over the remaining rights packages. For the packages awarded so far, Sky is paying £1,193m pa for 128 games per season; that’s down 14% overall and down 16% per game even without the dilutive effect of including a lower value package. BT is paying £295m for 32 games, which is down 8% overall but up 21% on a per game basis. With fewer prime matches BT’s lower priced package would have had a greater dilutive impact on its per game cost last time. It remains to be seen if an OTT bidder emerges on the winning side for one or both of the remaining packages or if BT and/or Sky’s total bill is yet to rise a bit. Prime rights have been retained and the cost is down (so far), especially since Sky has successfully reined back its overbidding from last time.

  25. BALORNOCK BHOY..

     

    Good to hear from you.. Age is only a number Mhate, and we dont ask for Birth Certificates.

     

    Drop me a wee line and I’ll give you all the details.

     

    Take Care Pal.. See you soon I hope.

     

    Cheers.

  26. m6bhoy on 14th February 2018 7:54 am

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Would it be fair to suggest that Celtic are simply pointing out that they are a well run business considering the environment they operate in?

  27. Bobby

     

    Took my wife to her first ever game v Aberdeen. Cadete came for hoops debut.

     

    We scored 5.

     

    She was in awe of the atmosphere.

     

     

    My daughter. First game I took her to, Dundee Utd . We scored 5. She was blown away.

     

     

    Last year. My nephew. His first game. Brendan’s first match v Sevco. We hit 5. He was amazed by it all.

     

     

    So….. anyone needs to attend their first hoops game, come with me.