I’ve been trying to interpret the Champions League group all evening. It’s an exciting draw. The world’s biggest box office team will come to Glasgow, a chance for us to marvel at, and test ourselves against, Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and the rest. We also have a sporting chance of finishing second or third, either of which would be acceptable.
For me most of this analysis is irrelevant for now. The two most important games are the first, Benfica, and the last Spartak Moscow, both at home, so for now, all that really matters is the 90 minutes at Celtic Park against Benfica on 19 September. Beat Benfica and you go to Moscow in the following game with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Can we beat Benfica at Celtic Park? Benfica have lost all three games they have played at Celtic Park, twice in recent Champions League history, but they are not a pot two team and we are not a pot four team for nothing. They have played only two league games this season and did not benefit from being tested by a Champions League qualifying competition.
In short, playing Benfica in the first game, when we will have played twice as many competitive games as they have, is ideal. We will be ready for them.
Tomorrow is a big day. Who was it said ‘perfect day to bury bad news’? While some of us are busy trying to keep a server online as transfer speculation reaches its annual crescendo, what chance last year’s accounts will be released?
If they are (and I have no information on this), you can count on some very bad news. Losses will be frightening, which sheds some light on some of the earthy tones from Neil Lennon today on just how big a result the win over Helsingborgs was.
We needed that win. We needed Messi and his pals to help us sell 60,000 ticket packages, and to prompt Celtic fans to go out and buy some of the many thousands of season tickets still available.
Let me leave you with a word that came out from the Spartak camp tonight. Andrey Tikhonov, Spartak player until he became a coach at the club last year, said, “Barcelona are favourites from the group. We and Benfica will be fighting for second place.
“Celtic are outsiders. The Champions League competition is about very good technical football. It has nothing to do with running after the ball that somebody kicked forward.”
Beat these clowns, Celtic.
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JF-he
Serious question
Could Bentnar be the new Chris Sutton?
No. Not for me
THE BARCA MOLE 0817
Aye,betcha you don’t miss it much,eh?
They do seem able to exercise forensic investigative journalism when dealing with negative Celtic stories.
BTW,still on for the 6th? If so,I’ll ask PAUL67 to send you my e-mail address so I can let you know the details. Should be fun…..
Bendtner not signed for juve?
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning!
08:35 on 31 August, 2012
Got a text from a hun mate last night saying he thought we’d get pumped in the CL
Group Stages.
I replied –
“Good luck in the Ramsdens”
Ah, well.
petec
08:36 on 31 August, 2012
KevJungle
JR battered the establishment to pieces. He done nothing for us on the field but he wasn’t brought in to oversee a utopia of Celtic Football Club.
_______________________________________________________
Not looking for a ruck but, as far as I remember – the establishment didn’t receive a battering until JR had left the premises. I wouldn’t call – reference’s of the ‘holy willies’ as battering. JR said that – we wouldn’t be sitting at the back of the bus forever(bravado ?) but, we sat at the back of the bus until JR left us. imo.
We are both aiming for the same goal ye know :0)))
God Bless
Hail Hail
feedthebhear
Hadn’t heard that. Last I heard was on Wed night when talksport were talking about him being availablle for a few million quid
Bendtner joining Juventus – initially on loan I think:
HH!!
MSM in Scotland take note.
http://t.co/b5BJSPFK
I’ve absolutely no idea what happened to post @ 8:43
Gremlins ?!?!?
Apologie’s to all concerned.
Back to lurking – CSC
ASonOfDan
08:17 on
31 August, 2012
I had a feeling Neil was holding something back yesterday at the press conference. Media seemed to take his comments as an outright denial; that’s not how I interpreted them.
HH
JJ67 – Seen that too about Del Piero joining Celtic – on an Italian website on the NEWS NOW Celtic site. Update came in about an hour ago.
From the Daily Rager on the news that SPL clubs will share a 1.5 million pound windfall on the back of Celtic’s CL success……………………………….
“SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster, who had warned of financial gloom minus Gers, said: “Our congratulations go to all at Celtic”.
“Their success is a welcome boost for the entire game in Scotland – both financially and reputationally.”
Armageddon is apparently not all its cracked up to be.
Good morning from a calm and sunny Carmyllie.
Bring on the Spaniards and wee Aiden.
HH
Central defender! Heard yesterday that we’re in for a guy called Ambrose (Nigerian international playing with an Israeli club). Nowt about this on the Sky Sports Transfer Centre website….
Any other central defender rumours knocking about?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
08:39 on 31 August, 2012……….
Miss some things y’know but certainly not the shegite media…….
Usually back twice a year but the flights are becoming frighteningly expensive…
Will be available for the wee soiree……..In fact working my return flights round it, so haven’t booked yet but not a problem….Cheers.
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
Nothing defenite yet on Del Piero on Sky Sports News (Italia).
Still weighing up his options according to them.
They could be behind the times ‘though.
HH!!
Tallybhoy 08:56
Why? What did the times say?
Hail Hail
Estadio
Tom McLaughlin
Its a bit unfair to say that the real place to fear if it comes down to an intimidating atmosphere is Dortmund. They do have a great stadium, just a bit better than ours due to it being larger capacity and one kop holding 25000 standing. However CP on Wednesday for a game against a mediocre club was awesome and even Dortmund would not have had this backing. Second to none on European nights and wait till Barca come.
0748 this morning on the Tutto Juve website – if anyone speaks Italian!?
Del Piero verso il Celtic
31.08.2012 08:26 di Daniele Gamberini articolo letto 3264 volte
© foto di Matteo Gribaudi/Image Sport
Secondo fonti vicine alla famiglia, pare che Del Piero abbia finalmente deciso dove giocherà la stagione appena iniziata. Si trasferirà, a meno di clamorosi retromarcia (in verità piuttosto frequenti durante questa sessione di mercato), a Glasgow sponda Celtic. A convincere l’ex capitano bianconero, la possibilità di vestire la maglia di uno dei club più storici d’Europa oltre alla facilità del campionato nazionale e la conseguente opportunità di concentrarsi maggiormente sulla Champions League, che gli scozzesi affronteranno in uno dei gironi più autorevoli.
rothbhoy
Glasgow sponda Celtic
Hades sponda huns
Hail Hail
Estadio
Morning celtic cyber space……… Last day of the transfer window – Im a 40 year old man and i really shouldnt be getting this excited….
Im one of the posse of long term lurkers / infrequent posters banished to password reset purgatory…. Now that im live again, cannae think o any witty banter…..
Del Piero eh, mmmmmmmm. Have fond memories of attending a rrfc game in the langtoon on one of the post darnel Juve pumpings : The whole stand chanting ‘Del Piero’ at Alex Clelland was a joy to behold.
Heres hoping for a satisfactory outcome today whomever oor Lenny decides to go for.
Enjoy and keep it real….
Langtoongladtobebackamongsthisainfowkcsc
Sevcomedia:
“Bids fail for templeton and mcgowan
So vlad wants more of our British pounds does he”
rothbhoy
Basically says that ‘sources’ close to Del Piero’s family believe that he has decided to join Celtic – barring any last minute hitches.
Reasons given: the chance to play for one of Europe’s most historic clubs in the CL.
HH!!
TALLYBHOY
Nae luck wi the dates for the CL-close but no cigar.
Actually,you would have been closer were you still in Italy!
BUT LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE…..
We might still get Juve and/or AC MILAN in the last 16/last 8.
You’ll be chuckling then……
I wouldnt be surprised to see another player being sold. Just a hunch. I expect to see 3 coming in – Ambrose, a striker – dont think it will be Russell and Henricksen
BMCUW
Howdy!
Aye, no luck!
You’re right I’ll just have to go Milan or Turin, or both, for the knockìout stages!
Want a ticket?
HH!!
ESTADIO
Just simmering a cheeky wee Chili con Carne,using Scotch Bonnets.
Little wonder my taste buds are wrecked,wi stuff like that,twenty-a-day,and an insatiable appetite for the golden nectar.
Did you have any luck yesterday tracking down a few of these fiery little devils?
Cheers Tallybhoy!
Just fine with Swedish, Danish and Norwegian but my grasp of Italian is hovering around the 5 or 6 words mark!!!!!
Feedthebear @ 08:01
Thanks for posting the article from stevie, i had read his first one and will continue to be inspired by his words
Did we sign anyone yet??????
Mullet – I agree. This is the quietest window for rumours that I can remember : Think SSM is playing the MSM and there will be a couple from left field as you suggest.
I noticed that Klasnic is still floating around on a free… I wouldnae say naw..
Langtoon
TALLYBHOY 0920
Would need a passport first,bud.
Then I would have no excuse for spurning my parents’ offers to visit their little casa in Spain!
Tempting,though….
FF bemoans the state of Scottish football as evinced by teams celebrating qualification for European tournaments. The solution:
“Maybe UEFA should make clubs actually win things to gain access to their competitions, even the also rans one but they won’t out of sheer greed.”
Agreed. Let’s backdate it. Who won the Scottish Cup in 1971?……………..Oh dear!
I’m not privvy to the goings-on behind the scenes at CP but, I have to say or more like, I’m hoping that John Kennedy has been working with Kelvin Wilson as I’m sure I can see shades of JK in KW’s recent displays.
Howling at the moon again – or what ?
Hail Hail
If Del Piero is out of contract (which he is) then we don’t need to sign him today, we can do the deal after the window has closed. With this in mind, I hope Pistol Pete is focussing on a centre half and a striker this afternoon – Del can mosey over any time before the Benfica game.
ps – Ahm no an artist formerly known as the hun but have been on these hallowed pages long enough to know that such an accusation is a right of passage to being accepted on CQN. Let they name calling begin….
Langtoon
rothbhoy
Nae problemo, as we say over here!
BMCUW
Go on,go on, go on – get yourself a passport – you know it makes sense!
Off for some ‘messages’ now – running low on birra and vino!
Cin cin!!
HH!!
Spreadsheet built with details of
Flight options
Hotel selection
Buckie smugglin routines
Appropriate Celtic wear
Gift list for friends and family left at home
Budget plans for spending no more than £1,000 per day (austerity’s an insidious imposition on the gallivantin Tim)
Tickets x 3 arranged with Spartak, Benfica and Barca for the main stands
Off out now to finalise everything when I buy tomorrow’s winning lottery ticket!
Wish me luck and none of youse steal my plan!
Hail Hail
Estadio
OUTING FOR CEREALS 0853
You sure you’ve not misplaced an “e” and it’s
LIES FORCE OUT REGAN
NotthexwordkingCSC
Interesting snippet via the BBC’s ‘Gossip’ page:
Rangers could be prevented from signing too many senior players under a 10-year-old SFL rule that forbids more than 22 players aged over 21 being registered to encourage youth development. (The Daily Record)
The interesting thing for me being that it is presented as though a ’10 year old SFL rule’ is somehow obsolete, hidden or otherwise unfair to Sevco.
Maybe someone ought to point out that there’s a sneaky 150 year old rule about putting the ball in the net. There’s another one about the number of players each team is permitted on the park, and of course, oh, another one about how to go about properly registering those players.
Maybe someone ought to let Sevco know…