Script written for packed Celtic Park

101

Young Boys manager Giorgio Contini was appointed last month and is set for his second competitive game in charge of the Swiss champions at Celtic Park tonight.  Saturday saw him open his domestic league account with a 0-0 at home to Winterthur, who remain bottom of the table.

They sit alongside our earlier opponents Slovan Bratislava and RB Leipzig as the only clubs yet to collect a point in this season’s Champions League after six games.  Domestically, Young Boys have 10 games to overtake at least three clubs above them and close a six point gap to make it into the top half of the table before the league splits. This feels like the end of the golden era, for a club that has won the Swiss title six of the previous seven seasons.

Three years ago we looked forward to a Europa Cup tie against Bodo/Glimt, who like Young Boys, were fresh from a winter break.  The anticipated result did not materialise, as the Norwegians contained Celtic, wining home and away.  This is a lesson for anyone thinking we only have to turn up and collect the points.

I watched Young Boys last Champions League game, away at Stuttgart.  The 5-1 score flattered the home side.  Young Boys were level and looked comfortable into the second half when a controversial VAR decision went against them.  Every player we face tonight will be better than the majority of those we face in domestic competition.  Hard work and patience will be required.

The prize is great.  A win will see Celtic secure qualification for the Knockout Round playoff, with the chance to test ourselves further at this level.  The win bonus, playoff round payment and an extra home game will bring in over £5m.

Brendan Rodgers is likely to start with the same 11 selected last time out against Kilmarnock.  Options off the bench are more limited than in earlier games.  We will see Adam Idah, Paulo Bernardo and probably Luke McCowan at some point, but with uncertainty over Alex Valle’s future the club, he is less likely to feature.

A packed Celtic Park on a European night has spooked many better teams that Young Boys.  The script is written, it just needs us to pull together and get the job done.

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  1. The hand of God on

    Massive game tonight,missed lots of chance on Saturday hopefully we were saving the goals for tonight.

  2. Majestic Hartson on

    Good afternoon BRRB & Hand of God,

     

     

    Hope you are both well.

     

     

    How many young prospects/punts can we buy with £5m?

  3. The hand of God on

    Good afternoon to you Majestic Hartson , I would punt that £5M on Jota.Got a feeling Kyogo will score tonight maybe more than once.Young boys did beat Galatasaray in the play off round home and away so can’t be that bad.

  4. The hand of God on

    If we get through we may dip into the transfer market for the play off round this season and play off for qualification next season

  5. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Nice one Paul.

     

     

    “it just needs us to pull together and get the job done”

     

     

    Loud “Amen” to that.

     

     

    Seven hours to go ……… lights, tune, action

  6. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    Maybe when Young Boys hear about the review at another Scottish club they will be so worried about how good this will make Celtic that they will be scared to turn up?

     

    Then again you have to wonder if Celtic will turn up. Could it be viewed as too much of a gamble to risk injuries which could scupper their Scottish Cup ambitions?????

  7. bournesouprecipe on

    No ‘ easy ‘ teams not even Kilmarnock, never mind Berne. RB Leipzig ‘zero points’ shows that self entitlement and complacency have no place at Parkhead.

     

     

    A win will test the seriousness of Celtic, and whatever the ‘top strategists’ have in mind for the supporters that continually pony up in these unprecedented wealthy . No ‘ easy ‘ teams not even Kilmarnock, never mind Berne. RB Leipzig ‘zero points’ shows that self entitlement and complacency have no place at Parkhead.

     

     

    A win will test the seriousness of Celtic, and whatever the ‘top strategists’ have in mind for the supporters that continually pony up in these unprecedented wealthy times.

  8. Not had pre-game butterflies for too long, these are the matches with genuine gravitas & weighty achievement.

     

    Mastering lesser home oppos is fun but this is where real reputations are forged.

     

    Despite my nerves I reckon we’ll prevail & Brendan will deliver.

     

    Khun & Maeda to both score.

     

     

    COME ON YOU BHOYS IN GREEN!!!

  9. bournesouprecipe on

    BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 22ND JANUARY 2025 12:55 PM

     

     

    Indeed he will 👍

  10. The hand of God on

    Any win will be gladly received, I’m hoping for a very comfortable win to avoid any unnecessary anxiety 😅

  11. Paul 67 and we will also move higher in the 36 team table with a win, each place gets a guaranteed 250k, 250k for 36th 500k for 35th and upwards, that is my understanding of the finances at stake.

     

     

    In a sporting sense I want to see a fully commited team for the full game, do that and I think we will get a good result.

  12. bigrailroadblues on

    Nerves kicking in already. Hit them fast and hard like Ray Robinson! More beer, barkeep!!!!

  13. Just recheckes my figures it’s £230k per placing, position 1 gets £8.4 m just for finishing first in group qualifying

  14. Interesting to know that if Celtic and arsenal win

     

     

    We go thru to the play offs

     

     

    Will have half an eye on that game tonight, which also kicks off at 8pm

  15. Tiny Tim

     

     

    Heading out now into town to meet folk before the game,Sorry i did not have any reply to requests for rtickets for tonight.i wish you and your friends well

     

     

    HH

  16. celtic park will not be full.

     

     

    there will be away sections not completely full.

     

    there will be uefa and sponsors areas , even hospitality boxes under utilised.

     

     

    and then the now famus waste of good seats the 3 rows behind each goal.

     

    meanwhile celtic supporters are charged £60 for a seat, and families cant afford to take the kids because prices are over charged, £34 for a season ticket holding primary school kid.

     

     

    greedy profiteering plc.

     

     

    estimated attendance – 57,800

  17. dessybhoy on 22nd January 2025 1:39 pm

     

    Just recheckes my figures it’s £230k per placing, position 1 gets £8.4 m just for finishing first in group qualifying

     

     

    and another £2m for finishing in the top 8.

  18. I watched the start of YB vs Stuttgart – they looked composed, competent and took the lead with a very good goal. 5-1 was not a fair reflection.

     

     

    I hope that those lucky enough to be at the game tonight will keep the faith and support, if we concede early. I’m not seeing this as an easy win.

  19. Just recheckes my figures it’s £230k per placing,.

     

     

    It is going to be more than that.

     

     

    each win pays “.1m euros.

     

     

    but a drawn game only 1.4m, (700k each)

     

     

    the other 700k goes into the places pot. to be dvidrd up.

     

     

    the payouts are incredible.

     

     

    as a revenue stream i think cl particpation overtakes season sales

  20. The returnof weeron on

    bigrailroadblues on 22nd January 2025 12:01 pm

     

    Good afternoon all.

     

     

    RIP Garth Hudson. Another great gone.

     

    ————————-

     

     

    Indeed.

     

    Weeron

  21. The returnof weeron on

    Let’s all get behind the team today. Whether you are in the stadium, at a CSC, in a pub, or watching at home. (I’ll be in y CSC which is, strangely enough, in a pub) – let’s get the positive vibes going.

     

     

    We can all be critics tomorrow morning, but today is a day for Supporters.

     

     

    Cheers,

     

    Weeron.

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