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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VFR
Rejected my attempts at sending you email
COWIEBHOY on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 6:10 PM
Give Torontony my best it’s been awhile since we’ve met.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Oldtim
Really looking forward to meeting Zbyszek on Friday, and you again. Be in BV for about 4.
Andy Murray on Eurosport, 1 set up
DELANEYS DUNKY.
I’m glad your coming along,It’s a long time since I’ve seen you in the BV ,see you there.
Bitton
Was massive fan of his and couldn’t understand why Lennon wouldn’t find place in team for him
But
The cup game against the Huns last season put me right off him… Holding hammy and looking to come off then when he realised subs were all used he was looking to take free kicks and everything.
Good player in the wrong league I think ..
Oldtim
Aye, we missed your presence before Astana match. Look forward to a catch up on Friday.
Apropos Saturday ( I doff my hat to Phil & JJ ) , I will happily settle for a 1-0, although a tanning ( doffing my hat to Tommy Sheridan) would indeed be luvlay biscuits !
In view of our advantages ( financial , commercial et all ) I really should feel more confident but my niggling concerns about our midfield – composition and overall balance – persist. But we elected not to act in January therefore I will trust our decision makers whose football judgements are , plainly , better than mine.
Mon the hoops !!
Hello this WEE BGFC. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
iVE HAD IT WITH THE CELTIC TICKET OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOOK EVERY TICKET THEY OFFERED US LAST YEAR AND SO FAR THIS YEAR – NOTHING FOR HEARTS, NOTHING FOR INVERNESS – AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH
C;mon wee man, get the caps aff! ;-)
Alex Rae raving about young Dembele from U15s
OLDTIM67 on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 7:37 PM
I’ll in just after 16:00 when I finish, handy just being round the corner.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
BB
Saw him in Saint Kevin’s tourney in Dublin at Easter. Young Dembelè was sensational against Barca boys. We all commented on his skill.
i feel your pain wee bgfc
Oldtim
More stairs in Wallace monument than the salt mines so beware
Lennybhoy
Nice one mate. See you Friday.
HH
VFR – Email sent
Lennybhoy – Hola amigo, thanks for the shout out and it’s good to hear from ya. I was offline for a while because I was blocked at work; must be a hun aboot or sumfin. Anyway, back to lurkin mostly as there are times that the blog is unreadable and not much fun. Fingers crossed it gets better.
I still enjoy reading the comments of the great guys I’ve met from the blog; yourself, BT, Whitedoghunch, PFAyr, MWD, sannabhoy, Hrvaski Jim, ACGR and TET.
Looking forward to meeting Cowiebhoy and enjoying a few pints.
Keep well
slainte
tony
Tony
Ole Cowiebhoy is a non drinker so is always good for a lift home
Enjoy mucker ☘
Right, that’s the consultation survey done.
That’s them telt.
TorontoTony
You’ll love Cowiebhoy’s company. Absolute gent and doesn’t drink so makes a good taxi driver. :-)
MWD
BT – MIT is pretty much a non-drinker tae; hopefully they don’t mind buying a few:)
I’ll be taking the subway and advantage of a free chariot ride home. Enjoy the BV, very good steak pie in there. Best enjoyed with the traditional Scottish starter – Pakora:0)
slainte
tony
MWD – I might go aff the drink tae, right after you and acgr go aff it;)
I hope your keeping well my friend, keep fighting the good fight!
slainte
tony
Survey done
Felt a bit thick doing it. Truth will out I suppose.
Away to watch an old episode of the Avengers. My intellectual level.
Jim
DD- i have read bhoys like yourself post about young Dembele, Alex Rae said he was phenomenal against St Mirren last week.
Tony
Now we know why you enjoy coming home, to meet some fellow jakey tims instead of yon sensible chaps
VFR800A8 on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 7:01 PM
SUPERSUTTON on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 6:59 PM
VFR800A8 on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 4:04 PM
How can you make 33 passes if you only receive the ball 25 times? Did he make multiple passes at the same time?
______________________________
Interceptions; throw in etc.
FAC the Act
KTF
———
I’ll allow interceptions, but not throw-ins (not that Bitton takes them normally).
I was thinking free kicks, but would that include corners – which would tend to lower that persons completion rate.
Cheers.
DELANEYS DUNKY on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 7:55 PM
Look forward to catching up with you mate.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
p.s. Technically an interception is receiving the ball, just not for a team mate.
BLANTYRETIM.
Ah the Salt Mines,They took the breath Away,Only thing that kept me going was the sight of a chapel 300 yards below ground,There’s me trying to stay out of church’s and I was dragged down to the deepest church ever.
TORONTONY on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 7:58 PM
Glad your doing well mate, Cowiebhoy is indeed a true Gent, give him my best and tell him I said “Until we meet again”…
“Keep the Faith”
Hail Hail!
Oldtim
Seriously heart attack material climbing stairs in Wallace Monument
I’ll give it a miss Friday as you seem to have a full house
Has anyone got a spare ticket for Saturday ? My cousins in London and has just been let down having been promised one. He’s coming up on Friday anyway but he’s gutted at the prospect of watching it in the pub. Will be more than happy to add a case of beer to the price of the ticket. HH
My genuine thanks to those of you who’ve managed to complete the consultation survey thus, it’s hugely appreciated.
TIMABHOUY on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 7:11 PM
http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/S/FootballActRepealBill/
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Thanks for the link.
To HT, VFR, and all others, keep up the good work.
BTW, the final action required is to click the “Finish Survey” button, not “Submit”.
HH
Pedantic CSC
Have I broken the blog?
HH
Great tennis between Murray and Nishikori.
One set all.
And despite Murray breaking serve on first game of third Nishikori goes up 2-1.
TWENTYFIRSTOFMAY1979 on7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 8:17 PM
Have u been sorted ?