Absolutely delighted for St Johnstone, who recorded one of the finest aggregate results by a Scottish club in European football in the last 30 years. My brother was speaking to a Saints player this week, who told him the successful strategy and drive came from chairman, Steve Brown, a fact which Hibernian would do well to ponder today.
Malmo’s 0-7 victory at Easter Road yesterday was chastening ahead of our game against fellow Swedes, Elfsborg on Wednesday. Celtic are in a remarkably strong position now, having produced excellent on and off-field results for the first time in the modern era, but those seven goals last night (not to mention the multitudes we shipped preseason) are a cautionary tale. It’s also worth remembering that Rangers decline into liquidation was precipitated by Champions League elimination at the hands of Swedish opposition two years ago (“Larsson has scored”). Wednesday presents a huge challenge.
As soon as I heard the stadium announcement on Tuesday I knew there was trouble in store from Uefa. The second pyro punishment will lead to a heavier fine. Celtic’s statement yesterday advised of matters of concern to Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group, who issue stadium safety licence, regarding a whole range of issues (overcrowding, lateral movement, moshing, body surfing). What to say about 131 broken seats? Ouch.
The club and Green Brigade (whose members occupy only a part of section 111) have met and we carry on as normal for now. Question is, can either control everyone in the section? I hope so but it’s a big ask. All it takes is one off-message person keen to ‘stick it to the man’, and there’s a long season ahead. Place your bets, folks.
Our thoughts are with Paul Lennon and the Thai Tims after the news that one of the boys who sang on the Celtic videos died in a road accident while another is critically ill.
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Its ‘gonnae be a tuff nite tae dig up a burd at the jiggin’ the nite.
Ther’s a loatta guys makin a kwik exit & headin’ fur the auld palais glide.
And respectful others
✊
“others are more realistic and believe that with 40m to spend ”
Klv proving he does humour. :)
Back then offski…..
John O N
KTF
Am I the only one confident that we will dispose of the Swedes? They remain mediocre. Celtic on top form with our support fully behind the team will attack, attack and win. So excited about the game.
Gottae go, MO…. Afore aw the ugly wans aw git snapped up.
:¬)))
Jmccormick
If we don’t have European football this year and the squad remains as is ….I really fear for attendance numbers
A large portion of the home SPL games last season were dreadful …
Re finance
We had next to no debt as at Jun2012
We sold Ki and had a bumper money spinner in the CL …we must have a fair amount in reserve …then we rake in £17-5 m from player sales
Are we planning on making huge loses soon
Geordie Munro
Aye , but pretty sure he didn`t specify what the “m” stood for. Minutes ?
Pfayr
“We must be four or five players down from last season”
Not from cl Shirley??
Vic and ghoops must be the only euro regulars?
Geordie
Correct
But the players who have left played some part in the long season …I was talking about the squad in general and it’s ability to cope with a large number if games, injuries and suspensions
gotta agree with JO’N (oops) on the elfsborg, they will be downed next week without too much problem in my opinion, it’s ok to say they scored 11 goals in the previous round, but there is an enquiry going on into that result, I did not know they scored 6 goals in 31 minutes,
Masty
Hope your right pal
If we can’t dispatch Elfsborg we dont deserve CL football
Here Here and Hail Hail! 67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditor
KLV
John @1944
“Am I the only one confident that we will dispose of the Swedes?”
I’m rarely confident regarding euro ties. But isn’t it a sign of the confidence of fans when we almost expect to pump the Swedish champions!???
Ktf
pf
honestly don’t see them matching us, in the last 3 games you can see our tempo getting that wee bit quicker each game, still a way to go right enough.
twists
sparrow ran like a coo ..
….PFayr
Not disagreeing with your facts at all, however we will run at a loss without regular CL income , maybe all it needs is every other season?
It appears the wage bill is set at the lower end of that level, unless we get a Bosman like Ledley whose wage is at the top end.
I believe , sorry hope, that the strategy is to be in the camp of the cash rich clubs when the next round of Uefa proposals come into play and new leagues, tournaments are being touted to the TV moguls , guys like Al Jazeeraa, BT are gonna want a bit of the SKY pie and they will want wealthy clubs who can attract players without the possibilty of them going bust every 2-3 seasons.
We offer a good TV picture , packed and noisy stands , like Dortmund and a larger global reach than even them. It may be years away ,it may never happen , but surely that is the plan?
Incidentally , how mant season tickets do you think we have sold? Every other SPL team have gone backwards , Thistle excepted. Incidentally my freind at the Emirates says AFC are well down with only Spurs showing an increase amongst the big EPL players.
Guys … I posted early this morning about the wee bhoys in Thailand. … not been on since and just read back a page or so.
Moaners the lotto you…
No perspective …
In the words of the great kev jungle … im off oot
Repeatez vous:
Victor Wanyama DID NOT want to play for Celtic any more.
Gary Hooper DID NOT want to play for Celtic any more.
Any argument about keeping/playing etc., etc. is MOOT when the basic truth of the above is finally comprehend.
You don’t qualify for anything with two disinterested principal players.
We would NEVER have gotten performance levels out of them anywhere near the requisite for CL participation.
The cub’s strategy comes down to basics – make 10 million quid to guarantee survival for another year.
If that 10 million can come without the gamble of CL qualification, all the better.
The club comes first. The club is a corporate entity. Which needs 10 million squids per annum. Minimum.
The football side comes second, the fans third. Fergus deigned it this way in order we survive the financial turbulence of playing in Scotland. It is the ONLY way there will still be a competitive Celtic for the future.
If you don’t like it, go support Thistle; nobody’s going to question your ethics. Or care.
Now we wait and see if we can get through to the CL groups with what we have in the squad…
If we do, NEXT summer will be the flush time – doubling up, minimum debt, NO bigtime players running out of contract time – THAT’S the time to strengthen in depth.
Good luck in the next month, Lenny; you’ll be a hero if you pull it off.
And God Bless the Thai Tims.
Pfayr… Well say that then!!! Yer post was mainly about champions league. ;)
I do get yer point though.
I’m less worried by the long domestic season. It’s the euro games that frighten me.
Hugh Keevins turns up for another shift on Clyde SSB……………….. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201437257511155&set=a.2936840897875.2154567.1166681591&type=1&theater
Vmhan
I want to see Tony in the team but obviously the Barca game went to his head and Neil has pulled him back down to earth much to TW annoyance it would seem.But the KC one was just nonsense from the media. It could be Tony Watts season if he gets a chance but like i said we have just sold our top goal scorer for the last 3 years and only have 2 tonys raring to go. The Archer and A raw talent, I would have thought we would be stronger going into the season after the last 16 not weaker. But we will see.
Hail Hail
KLV
Buona Sera Mi Amici
Come Stai?
Did I mention we’re off to Jesolo soon?
How’s things been on the ranch? The boys been whoopin’ it up?
U
Burnley78 18.31
Amide Balde did.
Or are you saying he isn’t a decent player?
TT
Sorry B78 @ 19.31
Quonno – you are right. The truth often hurts. The fact is that the real church – the people have been let down very very badly and consistently by the institutional church. I am astounded at the stance the Bishops of the church continue to take in Scotland and Ireland. Serious cognitive dissonance going on there.
I think I would have been a protestant during the reformation!!
Geordie
We were able to rest players for the CL by using the squad ….few options available at the moment
I see alot of people are quoting 22.2 m as the money made from our CL run, this figure does not include gate money so I would imagine the true figure would be nearer 30m, less costs of course.
One wee nagging doubt in my mind about the transfers of Hooper and Wanyama is the position taken by Paul67 some months back when he spoke of it not making financial sense to sell before the qualifiers were over. Do you still hold that opinion Paul or am I misquoting you?
Sandman
I sure those who run CFC would care a great deal is swathes of fans went off and supported other teams
Does anyone have the official Celtic Android App? If so what is on it and is it any good?
TT
Are you saying he is :-))
If we get past Elfsborg (and I’m confident we will), do we still have to get through another qualifying round before the CL groups?
Glendaly
Yes
Oh and for all the talk of books I went on to amazon to get the one recommended by South of Tunis and ended up buying a terry eagleton book on reason, faith and revolution. HAd an hour with it on the Kindle. It’s very good so far.
PFayr
in that case, I will worry if we haven’t strengthened.
BigYinMilan
19:03 on 26 July, 2013
Shug O’Neill, yes I remember, Geography and I’m pretty sure he did take a football team.
Pfayr
I think we have more than you think. Balde and Virgil will hopefully fit. With a bit of luck the guys who missed large chunks of last season will play more. Rogic looks to be improving.
That said, I think we are 2 possibly 3 players short of where I’d want to be and at least one of them a ‘first pick’ acquisition. Not a squad player.