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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Will try again…
Just wondering if anyone could help me out. Never been to an away european game before and thinking of going this season, is the only way of doing it through thomas cooks or have you been able to buy the ticket only and arrange your own flights and hotel etc?
Thanks
Oldtim
last time we were there. we stayed down by Sants.
Now while I am not ‘native’ in Spanish, I can hold a reasonable pigeon version conversation. On the way over I got my muckers to practice stock phrases for checking in/out, ordering breakfast, beers, finding lost passports, the nearest bank etc etc.
When we got to the Hotel, Pat – (we’ll call him that cos that’s his name) – did the honours but was met by totally blank stares and immovable silence.
“You B……., ” he said to me “You taught us gibberish”.
“Look leave it too me…you need the right swagger as well as the words you know”
I got the same reaction, just for the manager to come out and apologise for us trying register with the television engineer who only spoke Russian.
Hail hail
Estadio
Raspac
The Makems have become the Takems
hail hail
Estadio
.
Bloke109..
Great Post and agree with Most of it..
Howevvvvva..
I just can’t Envisage the Spartak coach Pinning Up a Blog post from a Wee Internet Bampot Fae Carfin..
Now if NFL Said that..
Anyway You Russkie will just say it was Lost in Translation..;0)
Summa
We need a central midfielder who is genuinely creative.
By that I mean a guy that will do something that surprises everyone.
We don’t have that, and no matter how technically proficient Ki is, he doesn’t have it either.
Get the creative in, and take the pressure off the wings.
(Or play Paddy on steroids).
LTF
Only time I’ve taken tickets and travel through the club were Anderlecht and Copenhagen. For a couple of others….Celtic have been able to provide ticket upon proof of travel arrangements and season card. But for Barca, Milan, Benfica, and others with big grounds….no problem in getting tickets there.
In fact in Barca we got some for mates at the stadium before the 0-0 match. If you get there early enough have a word with the Guvnor in the Michael Collins Bar – he can get plenty. For Lisbon – Herraghty’s bar. (in Milan the tickets were on sale in banks)
For Moscow….your only chance of a ticket unless you travel with Saltmarket bus or Celtic. is to shave your head, put on a judo outfit and kid on you are Vladimir Putin.
Hail hail
Estadio
LTF
Only time I’ve taken tickets and travel through the club were Anderlecht and Copenhagen. For a couple of others….Celtic have been able to provide ticket upon proof of travel arrangements and season card. But for Barca, Milan, Benfica, and others with big grounds….no problem in getting tickets there.
In fact in Barca we got some for mates at the stadium before the 0-0 match. If you get there early enough have a word with the Guvnor in the Michael Collins Bar – he can get plenty. For Lisbon – Herraghty’s bar. (in Milan the tickets were on sale in banks)
For Moscow….your only chance of a ticket unless you travel with Saltmarket bus or Celtic. is to shave your head, put on a judo outfit and kid on you are Vladimir Putin.
Hail hail
Estadio
Rascar..
Apologies, I got your name wrong.
Hail hail
Estadio
Rascar Capac
So you will be happy to have Del Piero m8ty. ;)
I trust Neil to make the right signings that will give us every chance to get out of the group.
Celtic will do very well in Europe this year I reckon. And massive respect to the Club for pitching the prices low for the Season Ticket holders. I think they could have dropped them to 75 for ST and upped them to 114 for non ST holders and still filled the stadium for all 3 games. And added more to the season ticket totals.
Good prices all the same.
Beastadio
No problem.
i have an idea why dont we get sevco back in to the spl call
them rangers and everything will be fine no more frightening
losses,and we will never question our leaders again,if only
we had listened to the msm in the first place, what were we thinking of to think we could manage without them,sevco please
comeback and save our balance sheet.
Petec
Aye!
Del Piero has me tingling.
Might not work out, but then again it might be exactly what we need.
For every young player that makes it, there’s a few wee throw back into the sea.
The same gamble might work with the oldsters.
Is 37 old?
Rascar Capac
37 is young if you have the brain and willing youngsters ready to do the running for you.
As I say, I trust Neil to make the right signings as he knows PRECISELY what his team needs.
Rascar
Neil has said he expects 4 to come through into the team this season.
This is not about the team as it is just now, it is about the team in 6 months and 12 months time, IMO.
.
What has Peter Lawwell done with the McGeady Money..?
AND SydneyTims posts..?
Summa
Petec
Aye, ye keep saying Neil knows best.
But if we don’t post our pish on here, what are we going to do?
Get friends?
Talk to a girl?
Contribute to society?
I’m scaring myself now…
Thanks Estadio.
Thankfully I wasn’t planning on going to russia haha! Hopefully my student budget with stretch to a couple of days in Barcelona. First away european game so was needing a few pointers, thanks for your helpful reply.
Hail Hail
Summa of Sammi….
Saving it up to be able to offer Georgios a new and well deserved contract.
The Big Man is coming alive. A Greek tragedy…..Aye right.
Rascar
I’m saying Neil knows best about his team, nothing more. ;))
And you’re talking more sense than me. :)
You are my food guru after all.
@Davie ……..Strachan has always stood up for our football club and will always have a special place in our illustrious history
I for one can not wait for the very winnable champions league group, it’s great to be a tim
Hail Hail
Celtic v Barcelona…..I’ll be there…flights booked. There really is nothing else to say.
HH!
I asked a few days ago about what happens to Rangers history and was accused of some terrible things, but further to Paul’s post the other day. I still ask the question. Has anybody heard anything from those in charge of the game SFA, UEFA etc?
I have never seen anything in writing from these sources on this matter, so I decided to email the SFA bellow is my question and there answer.
Hi,
I was wondering if you could help me with an answer to a question? When Rangers got demoted to the third division did they become a newco or are they still Rangers? Also do they still have the history of the old Rangers team that played in the SPL?
Hi Scott,
Re your e-mail. The Scottish Football League has accepted Rangers as an Associate Member. The Scottish Football Association membership of Rangers FC was transferred from Rangers Football Club PLC (in Administration) (“Oldco”) to Sevco Scotland Limited (now called The Rangers Football Club Limited) (“Newco”) in terms of Article 14 of the Scottish FA’s Articles of Association and, therefore, it is entirely appropriate for the Scottish Football League to represent the club as “Rangers”.
Regards,
SFL
By the sounds of this they see oldco and newco as one in the same. I also take it that this means that the newco is able to claim the previous history.
I have always had the fear that Rangers are going to walk away from this pretty much unscathed, and in a stronger position than us financially speaking. Here’s my take on what I think is about to go down.
With league reconstruction they will be back in the top league in two years, will have qualified to play in European competition in three years, and thanks to the SFA and the SFL even if UEFA sees them as a newco they will be able to provide three years worth of accounts, so will be able to play in Europe. If anyone doubts that they will be in the top league or in a league position where they will qualify fir European competition I think all we have to do is look at some of the refereeing decisions in their last few games to know that the powers that be will give them all the help that they need.
So realistically what would the punishment have been to them. Getting send to the third division? Being banned from playing in Europe for three years? I don’t know sounds like a good deal to me. Clear lets say 100 million in debt by getting kicked out the top league for two years? Your still clearing 50 million of debt a year, which even if they played in the SPL and CL they would never clear that sort of money.
I know we are all expecting them to get hammered for the whole EBT thing, but I have a strange feeling that like the whole year transfer ban, is going to in real terms mean nothing.
Before I am accused again of being one of them. I hope they boot the boot right in there and Rangers no longer exist in any form.
Petec
I have read all the books on nutrition, brain chemistry, human behavior, self help.
And I’ve helped loads of people through their difficulties.
But I’m still overweight and drink too much.
I am my worst enemy.
,
miki67
Enjoy the best Team in the World.
And look out for Xavi, Messi, Iniesta and Alba and the rest of the Barcelona team as they are really good too.
And with regards to Samaras we have to take the good with the bad, if Sammi had the final ball every time he would be a world beater and most likely playing for Real but fortunately for us his inconsistency mean’s he is still gracing us with his moments of brilliance.
Bring on the Spaniards by the score
Rascar Capac
02:10 on 31 August, 2012
Petec
I have read all the books on nutrition, brain chemistry, human behavior, self help.
And I’ve helped loads of people through their difficulties.
But I’m still overweight and drink too much.
I am my worst enemy.
,
——————————————————————————-
And you can’t see what you are doing?
You might feel like you are doing nothing or even self destructing, your choices after all.
You are helping people, you don’t have to help them but you are choosing to help them, even when you are “still overweight and drinking too much”. It would be very easy to not even bother.
Your a Good Guy Rascar, A Celtic Person.
Petec
I think I’m a good guy, and I kinda like being me.
I am self destructing, but it’s gentle and quite interesting.
When I help people, I am genuinely concerned for them.
And then I take their money.
It’s not easy to look into the eyes of a dying man, as he tells his life’s story.
I couldn’t really help him.
We both knew that, but he wanted to make the effort.
It was beautiful really.
I still took his money.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Scottimac,
Fire off a copy of that reply to
Trading standards authority
Advertising standards authority
Companies house
And request clarification
Hail hail ya Hun :o)
Rascar Capac
Rascar, You don’t have kids? I’m guessing. And apologies if I am totally wrong.
As soon as you have them you are worrying about their futures more than your own, the instant that child is born your own life goes to the 2nd division, and the main object of your own life is to secure the future of your kids lives.
You are a Good person as I said earlier.
Stay strong m8 and get in touch if you need to chat.
Petec
No kids, but spent the early evening wiping bums and sorting out squabbles.
OK, one bum, three squabbles.
Yes, I can see how my own kids (rather than my sisters) would motivate me.
If I said , ” King Ned ” ,you would automatically know who I was referring to.
He’s The Prince of Rats. The Sleekit Storyteller. The Liar. ” Ah didnae meen tae ” etc., etc., and all that carefully crafted legalese in his fake conciliatory rant, spouted to keep his ned pals smirking and continuing their campaigns of intimidation, pretty much unchecked, until they can return to wrecking major cities in the name of football. The wee dictator of Scottish football in his Napoleonesque poses ; cretins like Jabba et al, the presstitutes bloated on the scraps from the tables of masters of fantasy , enabling the continuation of goosestepping mindsets with their adulatory prose for the most dismal excesses of the lowest common denominator antics which continue to blight the game in Scotia.
Only a seismic event will shake these capstones of corruption from their foundations.
Until then, King Ned , like all overfed, overly pampered babies, will continue with his menacing demands. And be indulged in them without fear of restraint.
“Absolutely, absolutely.”
Rascar Capac
02:51 on 31 August, 2012
Petec
No kids, but spent the early evening wiping bums and sorting out squabbles.
OK, one bum, three squabbles.
Yes, I can see how my own kids (rather than my sisters) would motivate me.
________________________________________________________________
And I bet you loved it. ;))
miki67
An absolute then. ;))
Petec
17 nieces and nephews.
And yes, they make my heart sing!
scottimac02:10 on 31 August, 2012
>>>>>>
This is easy….if newco is really just the oldco….and seemingly that’s how them bams and their pals want to play it….then the newco is completely liable for all the oldco’s everything….
obvious as a bluenose in a green field.
HH!
miki67
Relax m8, the hun power has been destroyed. OBLITERATED.
They are being delusional in the third division rather than the SPL.
It’s an amazing comedy show by the loyalist bears, If they ever make it to next year!!!!!!!
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC
Those days are GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aye….you’re dead right….and I’ll be in the stands on Nov.6th. like a mad yin as Celtic F.C. tangles with F.C.Barcelona. Unbridled joy is not an inappropriate emotion right now!
HH!