Travel bans and Uefa forfeit

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Uefa’s decision yesterday, that if a club cannot visit to play a Champions or Europa League qualification game due to travel restrictions, if must forfeit the tie, will force some harsh planning on Celtic.

Travellers from a specific nation could be prohibited from entering Scotland, while Celtic players could be quarantined if they travel to that country.  In this event, Celtic would probably have to base their European squad in a (relatively) safe European country until the ban was lifted or quarantine restrictions expire, or withdraw from the European competition.  Neither prospect is appealing.

The problem does not expire after the qualifiers; governments will remain edgy about spikes as they arise for months to come.

The consequences of the crisis for season 2019-20 were almost impossible to imagine as recently as February.  It feels optimistic that plans for season 2020-21 will go without a hitch.  Contingency plans should note we may need a larger than normal squad.  All rivalries aside, this is one season where it would be useful to have our domestic competitors involved in European football as often as we are.

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  1. I thought Cluj and Copenagen were similar, physical, big, pace in forward areas and hung in there, we didnt finish them off gave up chances which both sides took against us, the Copenhagen keeper was outstanding against us almost like the flying pig.

  2. Dessybhoy- Copenhagen games were on Eurosport last few weeks, fkn hopeless, really poor, and if we want to get further in EL/CL,we need to beat teams like this.

  3. Bada

     

    I agree but we gave them hope by not finishing the game, ended up losing it completely

  4. Stephen Fletcher : Perhaps in 2009, not now.

     

     

    I thought the days were gone when players at the twilight of their career could receive a pay day at Paradise. ( I know he is only 33, but he is well past his best )

     

     

    HH to all.

  5. Fletcher is a highly experienced Pro, who will offer something different

     

    The Bhoy has allegedly looked after himself throughout his career and with a decent scoring record

     

    A 1 year, pay as you play deal (rumoured) sounds ok to me

  6. !!BADA BING!! on 5TH AUGUST 2020 9:58 PM

     

     

    Hearing Steven Fletcher 1 year deal

     

     

    *why not, huns did it in 1975 with stein, stopped our 10, did it again in 21 year later with hhhhhately after he had been hunted out of Helensburgh tae give them the tainted thievin lyin 9.

     

     

    1 year for a 33 times capped forward with 10 goals, gives us time to let our younger forwards including Polish Paddy and Mikey Johnston, time to mature and heal.

  7. So we tried to sign Hickey 5 or 6 times and Hearts refused. But they gift wrapped Lafferty to the huns.

     

     

    And Hibs refused to let Fletcher and McGinn move to Celtic. But gift wrapped Kamberi to the huns.

     

     

    Makes you wonder.

  8. If Fletcher comes in then its the end for Bayo and probably means Ajeti isn’t happening. Toney will probably not happen either now unless Edouard is sold.

  9. David17 – Nicked from KDS. I’m not so sure about that.

     

     

    2010-11:

     

    Hooper

     

    Stokes

     

    Samaras

     

    Murphy

     

     

    2011-12:

     

    Hooper

     

    Stokes

     

    Samaras

     

    Bangura

     

    Brozek

     

     

    2012-13:

     

    Hooper

     

    Stokes

     

    Samaras

     

    Miku

     

    Lassad

     

    Watt

     

     

    2013-14:

     

    Stokes

     

    Pukki

     

    Balde

     

    Samaras

     

    Griffiths

     

     

    Lennon likes to have a lot of striking options.

  10. DAVID17 on 5TH AUGUST 2020 10:25 PM

     

     

    So we tried to sign Hickey 5 or 6 times and Hearts refused. But they gift wrapped Lafferty to the huns.

     

     

    And Hibs refused to let Fletcher and McGinn move to Celtic. But gift wrapped Kamberi to the huns.

     

     

    Makes you wonder.

     

     

    *nothing tae ponder about there David, the calvinists we know about. I recall as a youngster hoping Hibs would win an embra derby, my mother questioned why so I gave her the name, strip etc and her response was “that’s all the have in common with us”, with the jambos it was “better the devil you know.

     

     

    That leith mob are no friends of ours, never have been since we signed James Kelly and no we never stole him from them, he was never going there anyway, the only player we took was Mick Dunbar who was a family friend of the Maleys in Cathcart. He went on tae become a Director with the club. Any other players we signed from them around that time were as a result of one of their committee bailing out tae the States with the club funds and them going out of the game for a season. This so happened to be the 1st season of the Scottish Football League which is why they were not a member at that time.

  11. Fletcher is better than Bayo.

     

     

    Let’s get Ajeti or Toney.

     

     

    Think Griff is for the off.

  12. OVERSEASBHOY on 5TH AUGUST 2020 10:42 PM

     

     

    Just 9 years too late ….,,,dearie me. Big Pete’s a joke.

     

     

    *I know:

     

     

    13 Titles 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18 , 2018–19, 2019-20

     

     

    8 SC 2003–04, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19

     

     

    7 LC 2005–06, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019-20

     

     

    Included in this are:

     

     

    3 Trebles Scottish Cup, League Cup and League Titles:

     

    2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19

     

     

    4 Scottish Cup and League Title Doubles:

     

    2003–04, 2006–07, 2012–13

     

     

    4 League Cup and League Title Doubles

     

    2005–06, 2014–15, 2018–19, 2019-20

  13. BIG WAVY on 5TH AUGUST 2020 10:46 PM

     

     

    Fletcher is better than Bayo. Let’s get Ajeti or Toney.

     

     

    Think Griff is for the off.

     

     

    *Hmmmm, interestingly LG is only 3 years younger than Fletch.

  14. Only what I heard from a good source, I can see pros and cons, but I would have him off the bench than Bayo

  15. Sky just done a rerun from last season, Madden seen Kent punching Broonie and absolutely shat it,and Ajer had a brilliant block to get the 3 points

  16. Watching this gangster Trump just now,like watching a playground bully being surrounded

  17. No one could argue that fletcher is an upgrade on Bayo at this time. Eduard, fletcher, klimala and griff make up a strong front 4.

     

     

     

    HH

  18. Happy to accept Fletcher, i think some might be pleasantly surprised if he can keep himself fit. This is someone who will bed in right away, give us a different striking option and his link play and all round play is very good.

     

     

    However im hoping the money saved on Fletcher is reinvested in to the other areas that need strengthened, left back and Centre half.

  19. and with a different regime, we may never have won anything close to 9 in a row,

     

    You can’t argue on what might have happened,

     

    We know what has happened and I for one am satisfied with the domestic success achieved.

     

    I will concede that European results could have been better but in football as in life you have to accept the ups & downs.

  20. OVERSEASBHOY on 5TH AUGUST 2020 11:32 PM

     

     

    there were a few oldtime posters who would call out huns.

     

     

    ACGR and the fella in germany.

     

     

    i am going for …………………….

  21. Our front line will be stronger if we keep eduard, klimala (has had time to settle in), griff and replace Bayo with fletcher, than was the case last season.

     

     

    Our midfield remains much the same as last season but Soro has had a few months to settle. I would say its stronger than last season as a result.

     

     

    There has been no significant change on the wings, but dembele’s introduction to the first team squad is positive. At worst we are operating at the same level with regards strength in this area.

     

     

    The backline is much the same as last season but we have replaced Jozo with welsh. We remain weak at leftback and left centreback. We are a little weaker than was the case last season.

     

     

    We paid a lot of money to get our new gk and it’s hard to know if he is better worse than foster.

     

     

    If we sign fletcher, and a first choice left sided centreback and / or leftback I would argue we will be in better shape than last season, adding only fletcher would likely mean our squad has not improved overall.

     

     

    Shved, ralston and bayo should be moved on if possible. I would be happy to sell one of ntcham or rogic to fund the purchase of a leftback/ left centreback.

     

     

    HH

  22. I do like the look of Toney and think he definitely would have been a success for us. However, 6m+ for a player who has only ever done it at League 1 level and who has never been capped by any Englamd underage team is pretty steep.

     

     

    As a few have pointed out above Edouard, Griffiths, Klimala and Fletcher provides strong options. Fletcher will be a good 3rd/ 4th choice striker. I hope we use the money we have to strengthen the CB and LB positions.

     

     

    Next year when Eddie moves on we can use the 40m to buy two really good young strikers, a winger and a Brown replacement.

  23. Lenny go get the 10.

     

     

    Even if yoi Dinnae dae it.

     

     

    Yer Star is shining Bright.

     

     

    Europe is where its at.

     

     

    Kickass Neil.

  24. Cameron Carter-Vickers, 22 year old center back with 8 full U.S. caps, available from Spurs for £2.5M.

  25. Good morning cqn from a dry Garngad

     

     

    So we have Fletcher in, he will do ok against SPFL opposition.

     

     

    Get in another few Lennybhoy.

     

     

    Let’s see if the Scottish press are falling over themselves to spout pish about Fletcher in the same way they have with the 2 Chumps/ no Mark’s that have signed for sevco….ps I heard we signed Fletcher for an undisclosed fee but it’s really £30 million… there you go Scottish main stream media run with that.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    D :)

  26. Good morning, friends, from a dry, clear-ish skied and opTIMistic looking East Kilbride.

  27. I am disappointed that we are not going to sign young Hickey. I do though like the idea of Fletch.

  28. Sevco seemingly paying 6 million for 2 additions,us with all the dosh we have trying to sign a freebie,you really couldn’t make it up ,as for him being better than Bayo ,but as I have said previously ,the end off the season will tell us everything,also who will be still be employed at Celtic Football Club or being chased along London Road .

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