Austria Wien have played three league games this season, won one, drew one, lost one. Scored six conceded eight. Stuffed 5-1 by Salzburg two weeks ago. They have only had to play one round of Champions League qualifiers so far, which they won 1-0 on aggregate against the Icelandic champions-cum-day-job-professionals. Send them over, please, Uefa.
Ludogorets Razgrad, from Bulgaria, knocked Dinamo Zagreb out of the Champions League qualifiers last season before going down to Slovan Bratislava in the play-off round. They’ve won two, lost one, of their three league games this season. Beat Partizan Belgrade home and away in last round, beat Slovan Bratislava on aggregate in round before that. They also have to play their home game for the next round at an alternate venue to due to a date clash with a concert. Happy to take this lot.
Legia Warsaw, won all three league games this season, scoring 12, conceding one. Eliminated Molde, after drawing both games, in last round, took care of The New Saints (Wales) home and away in earlier round. Would be a great European tie though not sure if Zbyszek can arrange the result for us.
Maribor, from Slovenia, have won all three league games this season, scored 11, conceded two. Eliminated APOEL Nicosia after two draws in last round. APOEL got to the last eight of the Champions League in 2012, so this team are no pushover. Maribor also have the distinction of being the last team to knock Rangers out of Europe. Ever!
Shakhtyor Karaganda, 12 points off the pace after 22 games in Kazakhstan. Beat Albanians, Korce, in last round and Bate Borisov (who recorded Champions League wins against Bayern Munich and Lille in 2012) in the earlier round. The travel would be an issue; Karaganda is farther east that eastern Afghanistan. If I can paraphrase an Ibrox legend, define Europe. The fact they are midseason and, like Celtic, they’ve won through two rounds already, makes this a less attractive tie, but they are surely not a Champions League team.
Preferences: Shakhtyor Karaganda are the easiest possible opponents but a trip to Austria or Bulgaria would be best.
Would rather avoid: Legia will be the most difficult draw. Maribor will be a similar challenge as Elfsborg.
Lots more to blog about: last night’s performance, Kelvin, Honest Dave King… maybe later.
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2-3
2-3 after four each.
Gon the saints!!
Minsk to win it again.
Second match point, if you will.
Saves.
2-3.
pfayr 22.06
I guess I have accepted that they are not going to go down that route . If you saw my credit card statements you would know I am in no position to criticise caution.
Like you I have found it difficult to accept losing two top players , especially Victor.
Looks like we will have to get used to it
Minsk miss…..3-3
XXOO
OOXXO
FFS!!!
MacLean to take the last of the set of ten.
Must score.
Saved.
Saints out.
Minsk win
oh well st j done themselves justice and earn a few co points for Scottish football, every little helps.
motherwell + hib = joke
Ya big dumplin’.
Rumpus inside the box.
Red card for somebody.
What was the Well score tonight ?
How bad is Rob McLean.several seconds after the kick before he announced if it was a save or a goal
One team in Europe.
PFAyr
Re-the GB.
I posted on Monday after the news about the GB broke to express my disgust at the decision to close 111. I also emailed JP Taylor to say I wouldn’t attend another game until the section re-opens.
Tonight I received information from an extremely good source who has had first-hand discussions with Celtic on the matter.
Suffice to say that Celtic have bent over backwards to try and accommodate the GB. Celtic do not want to lose the GB and are fearful of the consequences if they do.
I’m sure the matter can be resolved by the next home game, as long as there is a bit of pragmatism from the GB with regards to lateral movement.
Surely, removing this from their tremendous repertoire isn’t asking too much.
Just spoke to a young man of my acquaintance who held a season ticket for block 111He has been offered an alternative seat in block ??? and he has also been offered a full refund on his ST if he fails to take up the offer. He stated to me that he will take up the offer of the refund and will choose to purchase tickets on individual basis for games at Celtic Park. I suspect that if the quality of football we are watching on a regular basis continues as it is just now the choice made by the young man to attend games at Celtic Park on an individual basis will become the choice of many
Celtic have made their bed by reducing the price of season tickets and I cannot see fans accepting any sort of increases for the forseeable future
Motherwell lost 1-0, making it 3-0 on aggregate. Stephen McManus scored an og. Both teams missed penalties.
….PFayr
Your auld local team got beat 1 nil
Love
Information received from both sides on the GB issue (in chronological order);
Celtic apparently under pressure from GCC and Police Scotland over “legacy” issues re behaviour from last season and wish to engage the GB in dialogue pre-season. Celtic require to be seen to be controlling the situation to avoid external interference. Prospects of dialogue considered remote as GB have previously shown no inclination to engage with Celtic.
John Paul Taylor returns to Celtic as Supporter Liaison and assures PL etc that he can engage GB in discussions. Meetings duly take place and all parties comfortable. GB will “police” s111.
Flares appear at Cliftonville away amongst Celtic support. Celtic will be fined 40,000 Euros. Accepted GB members not directly involved.
Fireworks at Cliftonville home. Referee reports to Celtic officials that players had (momentarily) become alarmed. Celtic receive a fax from UEFA within 24 hours advising of investigation. Celtic will likely be fined 40 Euros. GB state their members not involved. GB suggest the loss of their “veto” over applicants for seats in s111 has diminished their ability to self-steward.
Celtic decide to close s111. GB informed and express extreme surprise. JPT acts as conduit between both sides. Agreement reached on 5 issues re behaviour. Agreement to be tested during next two games.
Borussia game passes almost without incident. Lateral movement occurs near 90 mins. Elfsborg game passes without incident. Celtic pleased.
Evening before Ross County game, GB inform JPT that they plan to participate in lateral movement. GB view the request not to participate as controlling and an excuse to force them out of Celtic Park. The thin end of the wedge. Celtic again advise of external issues. Lateral movement occurs During Ross County game.
Celtic decide to close s111. GB “shocked”. JPT engages in further discussion between both parties. GB remain of the view that Celtic want them out regardless. They simply don’t believe Celtic under pressure from external agencies. Celtic advise that if GB undertake to refrain from lateral movement they can re-occupy s111 at any time. Celtic re-state external pressures, risk to safety certificate and need to be seen to acting. GB ask for evidence of external pressures. Celtic will provide this.GB will consult membership.
So that’s where we are.
Celtic are acutely aware of the support the GB enjoy from the wider fan base. They will say they recognise the GB’s contribution and the risk of a diminished match day experience should s111 remain closed. A steady decline in attendances directly attributable to the absence of the GB is a real prospect.
We cannot contemplate a return to the pre GB atmosphere within Celtic Park. Ambivalence will set in and we’ll be handing the media and the others who detest our mere existence a gift beyond their wildest dreams, all arising of course as a consequence of the death of our former rivals as far as they are concerned.
It seems to me only a small measure of compromise is needed. So if the evidence is there and there is transparency with no hidden agendas, come on GB, show how much Celtic mean to you and let the world watch in awe as we show that we are truly a club like no other.
offskie now, have a good night bhoys and ghirls
HH
borgo67
22:19 on 8 August, 2013
pfayr 22.06
Please don’t get me wrong in all of this…..ni, like every Celtic fan, am gutted to lose Big Vic …..
pfayr
Well lost one nil. McManus OG
….PFayr
22:14 on 8 August, 2013
I agree we were rank last night, but last week against the elves we should have one 3-0, we had a fairly decent game, the refereeing was abysmal. Against County it should have been 5-1 to us we hit the woodwork a couple of times and big Fraser did not have much to do.
We need to get a few players in but I believe we have some real quality in a few we have signed and not seen much of yet, Virgil, Derk and Myokolko(sp). We also have a good few youngsters coming through. Someone needs to tell we Jamesy that you cant beat a man when you are touching noses with him or running up his arse. Aiden used to do the same and then changed his game. I would like us to sit him down for a bit and give Dylan some time.
gsu
Close the stadium? That`s not the issue.
Commonwealth Games.
pf912912
22:22 on 8 August, 2013
Absolutely ……. Celtic need the GB, and the GB need Celtic …… Here’s hoping…
Much more encouraging news re the GB ..hope the news is correct
no apologists
22:23
Thank you.
All of this appears to make sense to this observer.
I think young Forrest can be a great player.
Our slow ponderous build up nullifies his strength which is pace and a decent crossing ability.
In first game against Effsborg the service to him was to slow or high balls allowing him to be closed down immediately and he was poor apart from one great run in first when he got an early ball.
Our crossing never looks great as the time our build up takes allows opponents to defensively set and outman us.
Neil may be a fan of James F but our playing style does a lot to negate his strengths.
Vmhan
22:17 on
8 August, 2013
***********************************
I am in the fortunate position to have access to the GCC position I dont need to go through the FOI process. I was not going to post as both sides may have a meeting soon.
But GCC were getting slagged for their actions and the information was not correct I am only setting the record straight.
I liked the passion in your post the other day, it is a time for people with cool heads to discuss honestly the issues in the section and the issues the GB have inside and outside the Ground.
It has to be resolved lets hope we can get the compromise.
Just realised it took me three minutes to type seven words .
I am claiming this as a world record
Doddsy: “When is it going to change? When are we going to stop with the ‘hard luck’ stories with Scottish clubs?”
Richard Gordon: “Well, to be fair, Celtic have been winning in Europe.”
Doddsy: “Aye, but that’s not a hard-luck story. You know what I mean.”
—
If Richard Gordon knows what he means, he’s better at psychology than I am.
Fed up listening to the debate on the GB.A giant smokescreen stopping 50% of the fans demanding the signing of a striker.Forget CHs and midfielders,we will not get them.All the penny pinchers out there,just WTF have the finances got to do with you?.We employ a good few people and pay the handsomely to take care of the finances,thank you.If the finances are bad,we tighten the belts as we have done in the past.If on the other hand,we are rolling in money,and can possibly bring in a replacement for Hooper at less than what we recieved for him,how can that be bad?.
Just where in our signing and selling policy does it mention a figure that cannot be breached.If we buy a player for £4 million,get 3 great years from him,then sell him on for £8-10 million,is that not in line with our policy?.
In case you have forgotten,our club have told us many times that “They do not budget on CL money””Every penny taken in on transfers will be re-invested in the playing pool”
H,mmmmm.They have a week to get someone in,and not Kevin Doyle.
No Apoligists
Thanks for that
seems to make sense
ASonOfDan
20:24 on 8 August, 2013
kilbowie kelt
I take it you did not see the Bangura Tweets I posted . Bragging about always being late for training and how he loved going out clubbing all the time when at Celtic.
Professional? *** Off!
_____________________
No, SonofDan. I did not see your post about Tweets.
Not that it would matter a great deal to me.
Some of the best players I have ever seen were so-called ‘playboys’…Not my business!
Mo Bangura is currently on contract at Celtic Park. He has never indicated any wish to be elsewhere.
Until that situation changes, he will get nothing but support from me.
I don’t pick who plays for Celtic. I only support them.
Every one of them.
Quite apart from that, I think the guy has a lot of talent & might have plenty to offer Celtic.
A far better footballer than any of us saw the talent in Mo Bangura.
Who am I to argue ?
no apologists
22:23 on 8 August, 2013
excellent post. I still think the board need to let us know from who the external pressure with regards to the lateral movement has originated. Its all a wee bit too vague.
Does anyone have a copy of Glasgow City’s communication to Celtic FC regarding the issuance of their safety certificate?
“Stadium safety is covered by a Stadium General Safety Certificate, which is issued annually by Glasgow City Council in terms of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975.
I’ve enjoyed the various discussions tonight and am no further forward in any of them. :D