Amid the noise ahead of our Champions League duties the most important news in European football went largely below radar. Angel Maria Villar Llona pulled out of the race to become Uefa president ahead of next week’s election. This leaves former Ajax chief, Michael van Praag and Slovenian FA president, Aleksander Ceferin, left in the race.
This is good news. The big Spanish clubs have been prime movers in clawing as much power for Europe’s richest leagues, their cause would have been boosted if Villar Llona was elected. By contrast, van Praag’s Ajax heritage reflects those marginalised by smaller TV deals, including Celtic.
We don’t want an inextricable slide towards a Champions League where meritocracy is replaced by the rich looking after themselves. This is the desire of rich clubs in Spain and Germany, who worry about the commercial drift towards the FA Premier League.
Instead, regionalisation of Europe’s leagues is a far better option, even for the Spanish, who if they want to earn commercial deals comparable to the English and Welsh league should team up with Portugal and France.
Every month I’m asked by an 11-year-old, “Will Celtic win the Champions League in my lifetime?” If we want to be champions of Europe again we need to end the national league structure which has disenfranchised more than half of the continent already, including many former powers in the game.
News that Leonel Messi has returned to light training after injury means he is almost certain to start against Celtic on Tuesday. His base fitness and lifestyle is such that a few days training is all that he’ll need to be match ready.
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BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:24 PM
VFR
the oldest Mod in the standing section.. 8)
___________________________
Well, the jacket is by Lambretta and I’ll most likely have a pair of Monkey Boots on as well!
FAC the Act
KTF
Fre Perry, Harrington and a VFR800?
Does not compute
I think Bitton will have a place on the bench for Saturday with McGregor starting and vice versa away in the Camp Nou.
In addition I expect DDV to take up the number 1 position.
Team for Saturday
Gordon
Lustig Toure Sviatchenko Tierney
Brown
Roberts Henderson Sinclair
Rogic
Griffiths
Hail Hail
TBB,
The Vespa upgrade for the older generation Mod?
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
THEBATTEREDBUNNET
He’d be a walking contradiction if it wisnae for the bike!
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:28 PM
Fre Perry, Harrington and a VFR800?
Does not compute
____________________________
Too fat for a scooter now; and it’s no longer a VFR. It’s a Ducati Monster 1200S. :>)
FAC the Act
KTF
VFR800A8 on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 12:31 PM
Finally got around to the Survey. A lot of hard work has obviously gone in to the prearation and launch. Hope it gets rewarded.
THE TOKEN TIM on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:38 PM
TBB,
The Vespa upgrade for the older generation Mod?
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
___________________________
Nah, that’d be a Pan European!
FAC the Act
KTF
AULDHEID on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:40 PM
VFR800A8 on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 12:31 PM
Finally got around to the Survey. A lot of hard work has obviously gone in to the prearation and launch. Hope it gets rewarded.
_______________________
Good man!
FAC the Act
KTF
Also completed the survey a few weeks back, hope it helps!
HH
Bmcuw/ TGM,
Just caught your replies to my post at the tail end of the last thread.
At no point did i support any of Tony’s points or his manner of delivery.
What I did say that there were jibes made against him, based on his perceived poor level of education.
If that was cited as a reason for his blog persona, what excuse have those who use similar, or worse language towards him? Too much education.
And Bobby, while you are around. What is this high horse you are on about?
Around the 18th of last month, I posted in support of your point re accepting the consequences of our actions, in this case, the impending UEFA fine.
I received a couple of non sequitur comments from two posters, to which I replied.
This brought a vile, abusive response from one, including jibes about age and the invitation to perform an impossible act.
There is too much of this on the blog and I don’t believe the lack of education in responsible.
PS.
This post is me defending myself, without the use of vindictive or foul language.
G’day fholks.
Just off the phone to Brendan,says it’ll be one of these two sides he’ll pick for Saturday:
~~~~~~~~~~De Vries~~~~~~~~~~
Gamboa ~Toure~ Sviatchenko~ Tierney
~~~~~~Brown~~~~~~ Biton~~~~~~
Roberts~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sinclair
~~~~~~Griffiths~~~~~~ Dembele~~~~~~
OR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~De Vries~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~Lustig~~~ Toure~~~ Sviatchenko~~~~~~
Gamboa~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tierney
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brown~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~Roberts~~~~~~ Rogic~~~~~~ Sinclair~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Griffiths~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Said he’s bricking it at the thought of whatever side he picks having to face Kiernan,Wilson,Senderos,Garner and Windarse.Told me he thinks it’s unfair that Sevco are allowed to use magic to get £8m Liverpool players for buttons,and bend time and reality.In fact,he confessed to me that he’s been furiously rubbing any lamps he passes hoping to release a genie who can enable his wish of having to face Sinclair,Roberts,Dembele and Griffiths rather than the despondancy of having to pick them.
Thing he’s most upset at,though,is not having an invisible paranormal pillbox capable of providing tactical trickery.
ThomTheTim
The jibes are generally made in irony due to Tony’s disregard for anyone who is educated, i.e. student, Uni guys, teachers etc. He has a long history of this and attacks on these groups. Turning this around on him with ironic jibes is wholly deserved. IMO.
This is real irony in it’s truest sense. Not the type TirONY attempted to misdirect with regards someone’s honest opinion of his mutterings this morning.
If he can give it out then surely he is capable of taking it.
MWD
Surely Forrest will get the nod ahead of Roberts?
Had a quick look at today’ Celtic View; no mention of Old Firm or any historical matches between Celtic and the dead co.
FAC the Act
KTF
VFR800
Quite the bike. Funny though, I thought you’d be a Laverda man.
If James Forrest is injured then I’d start with Roberts, however, if he is not then I’d start with JF. Tell him to go run the legs off The Grass for an hour or so, and then bring on young Patrick for the last hour to torment the life out of wallace and co.
Think big Nir has to start due to superior his ball retention and passing ability, to that of the busier McGregor. (Although I still have not forgiven him for that semi last season. Don’t know if i ever will for that matter, however a 30 yarder and a couple of assists on Sat will go a long way to me doing so…)
Regardless, we better go out and destroy this mob on Saturday. None of this 2-0 or 3-0 up then easing off to a stroll. BURY THEM!!! ANNIHILATE THEM! Leave them no doubts whatsoever as to where their place is.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
VFR800,
I’ll bow to your far superior 2-wheeled knowledge.
Much more of a 4-wheeled man myself.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:58 PM
I was a Vespa owner and fan and both are now under the Piaggio banner, so loosely I could say that I am!
FAC the Act
KTF
TTT
I agree with much of that except big Nir. I wouldn’t start with Brown and Nir ever and I’d always go with Scott over Nir.
MWD
Messi will chicken out when he realises he’ll be up against Kieran :-)
Interesting teams being muted. What we’ve seen from Rodgers so far is tactical nouse and ability to use his bench to change formation and make his opponent react.
Here’s my thoughts on the 11 and subs:
DDV
Lustig Toure Sviatchenko Tierney
Forrest Brown McGregor Sinclair
Rogic
Griffiths
Subs to come on:
Roberts for Forrest
Gamboa forMcGregor
Dembele for Rogic
I think holding back that pace on the bench to brin on in second half would really have Warbs on the rack.
All above is an ideal world where Celtic get the first goal. Warns gets the first goal, we are in for a long afternoon.
What your thoughts CQNers?
Thom The Tim
If you look at the terminology TD67 uses…..its stuck in a bubble.
He speaks of ‘Uni Socialists’ ‘Malcontents’ ‘Fringe Groups’…..and a few that i wont repeat.
Where would you think that he picks that kind of thing up?
Like other posters have said….If he is trying to wind people up, well, he is fair game imo
He wont be bothered at all….He will be p himself laughing at the stooshie he has caused.
Thats what he does…..Its not big deal.
HH
just a wee reminder that our Polish correspondent and friend arrives tomorrow. I will be taking him up to oldtims(well Mrs BT will be driving) for board and lodgings.
as you would expect oldtim will be lavishing him with the delights of his drinks cabinet and will be bringing him into town on Friday afternoon for a wee refreshment…
usual rules apply…open to all in usual pub any time after 3.15
THE TOKEN TIM on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:58 PM
BURY THEM!!! ANNIHILATE THEM! Leave them no doubts whatsoever as to where their place is.
————————————
Yes that will do for me no quarter.
A wee bit of this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LHVjjlSSKuM
Hail! Hail! PMYTH
Goood morning ( well it is in Toronto ) CQN
No idea why or what a few of you see in Calum McGregor to justify his place in any Celtic team to start on Saturday
I also agree, Brown and Bitton together is not ideal
Just put out the U-20’s for experience
And focus on Tues game
Hail Hail from Toronto
Maybe TD67 could explain why he no longer resides here
Re the team on Sat, I think Brendan will stick with Gordon in goals but I expect DDV to get his chance at some point this season. When depends on CG, one bad game and he’s out.
my team for Saturday
Simpson, Craig and Gemmell
Murdoch McNeil Clark
Johnstone Wallace Chalmers Auld and Lennox
KINGLuBO
Cowiebhoy on 7th September 2016 2:09 pm
Goood morning ( well it is in Toronto ) CQN
No idea why or what a few of you see in Calum McGregor to justify his place in any Celtic team to start on Saturday
====
Despite the fact he can go missing and influence on games in which we are under sustained pressure is questionable, BR likes him because he is an excellent passer short and long range, and a goal threat with both feet from distance and coming into the box from deep.
Thats why he’ll be in contention for Saturday and not Tuesday.
Its a big call.
HH
KINGLUBO
Magic
What id give to see that team play again.
Can i be Bobby Lennox:)
HH
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3777660/Rangers-manager-Mark-Warburton-says-players-t-enjoy-Old-Firm-derby-shouldn-t-playing-football.html
Includes these words
“Celtic and Rangers have not played each other in Scotland’s top flight since the latter entered liquidation in 2012.
Rangers were forced to reconstitute as a new club placed in the third division and have subsequently risen through the ranks to re-join the Premiership this season.”
At least one part of the Scottish Press shows accuracy.
COWIEBHOY
I agree on McGregor but pick him ahead of Bitton because McGregor keeps the tempo up.
Bitton is not Rodgers material and will give our opposition chances to influence the game. Need someone in the middle moving the ball quickly to Forrest/Sinclair/Roberts to create a barrowfield of chances.
Excuse my ignorance on matters UEFA, but why can’t all the smaller countries not out-vote this barbaric leaning to the big 4 countries and simply make it fairer. It is called the Champions League. Champions of Scotland, Belgium, Norway, Poland etc should all be in it before teams finishing 3rd and 4th in these countries who simply have bigger populations.
Team for Saturday
Gordon
Lustig Toure Sviatchenko Tierney
Forrest Brown Rogic Sinclair
Roberts
Griffiths
Ennisbhoy @1.04
Best team quoted so far – in my opinion , for first half Saturday
DDV
Lustig Toure Sviatchenko Tierney
Bitton
Brown Rogic
Roberts Sinclair
Griffiths
But when 3-0 up at halftime make changes with Tues in mind, so drop Gambeo in with Lustig stepping over to create 3 in middle, of defence, get some practice for Tues
Right wee Riley (sisters dog) to walk and breakfast, then a call to Mike in Toronto to finalise arrangements for a Friday Huddle with Toronto Tony and Dan – Tim Horton you can join us ?
Hail Hail
PROUDBHOY – where are you staying in Lisboa?
Hrvatski Jim on 7th September 2016 2:16 pm
Its like they’ve anticipated the hun backlash by then saying they have ‘re-joined’ the premiership!
HH
HRVATSKI JIM on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 2:16 PM
Glad I now bought a Mail for the flight on Saturday, and I only bought it for the free chewing gum
Anyway, that Winning Captains fhella, must have had someone reading his articles :-))))
Hail Hail